2008 Ride to Yellowstone and surrounding area

I just got back from what may be the ride of a lifetime. RJ Vogelsberg and I rode to Cheyenne Wyoming, The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and Red Lodge Montana. We had talked about this ride for a year or so but decided to go Monday afternoon. We left Marysville at 6:30 Tuesday morning. (Sort of last minute but we were both ready go to anytime)
The whole trip originated around Dennis Church who lives in Cheyenne Wyo. Dennis is a Union Pacific Engineer. RJ is a Union Pacific Engineer. Dennis runs his trains from Cheyenne to North Platte Nebraska. RJ runs his trains from Marysville to North Platte Nebraska. Both stay in the same railroad motel and have for 20 years. They both are avid hunters and became close friends years ago. (Some pictures of Dennis’s Trophy Room and his trophies from literally around the world.)

http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/DennisChurchCheyenneWyoTrophyRoom

RJ and I rode the 500 + miles to Cheyenne and stayed at Dennis’s Tuesday night. Wednesday we rode the interstate and then the scenic route to Jackson Hole where we spent the night at The Ranch Inn.
Thursday we toured The Tetons and Yellowstone from a prospective few have seen it. Dennis has hunted the area for years. He has spent up to 4 or 5 days at a time walking and horseback riding thought the parks hunting Elk, Long Horned Sheep and Moose. (Probably a few species I’ve missed) His insight into the area and the knowledge of some back roads made a VERY interesting day. We had motel reservations at the Comfort Inn in Red Lodge Montana for the night. We checked in after 10:30 and after riding some 50 miles at 50 MPH avoiding deer and other critters.
Friday morning we headed back to Yellowstone by way of Bear Tooth Pass. There were so many things to see and do in that 67 miles we decided to skip the park and start back to Cheyenne. We took the long and scenic way but the beauty of that route was well worth the extra time. We ate dinner in Cody after noon and realized we had 400 miles go get home to Cheyenne and ½ of that was through the mountains. It was about 10:30 before we got back to Dennis’s.
RJ and I left Cheyenne Saturday morning around 7, I think and we got back to Marysville around 6.
We rode 500 miles per day for 5 days and every minute was cool!

Pics of the ride here.....

http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2008TripToYellowstone#

Fast Forward to Sept. Cassoday

Since I did not take time to write about my trip to Oklahoma two weeks ago and the trip to Milwalkee last week here's the scoop on a weekend trip by the Frontier H.O.G. chapter to the Harley Factory in Kansas City Sept 5 and a ride to Marquette Kansas an overnight in ElDorado KS and ride to Cassoday Sept 6-7. Actualy the ride to KC and the Kansas ride where two different rides both originating at Frontier Harley in Lincoln NE. I made it all one ride and also got Ronda to the Kansas City airport. Friday Carla and I took Ronda to the KCI airport to go back to Mexico City too! (that was another overnight. I rode the bike and Carla drove the car)
I had better add that Marquette Kansas has the Kansas Motorcycle Museum and Cassoday is just a "Biker Breakfast" that started 20? years ago with 5 bikes? and has morphed into a ride the first Sunday of each month that in which 1000's (3 to 5 thousand) bikes show up for whatever bikers do. (Except) There is no booze. This is the fifth one I have been to this year and 3 or 4 last year. I have NEVER heard an argument OR anone complaining about ANYTHING..... Can you tell I enjoyed this ride. (Normally it is a one day, 300 mile around trip ride from Marysville)
Pictures of Cassoday are added.....Pictures from My World....>

Neat 50's and 60's site

Brother James just sent an email with a link to an old cars presentation I had to add it to the BLOG. It takes a few minutes to watch it but it is VERY good.
If you watch this and like it please let me know. I will add more.
thanks,
57hawk@charter.net

2nd Wednesday of the Month

Monday, July 7, I ask Mike Gregory if he thought we could get together a group for a dinner ride on the 2nd Wed of the month to take up the empty week for scheduled Blackhawk or American Legion Riders. We decided to try and got Richard Kyle of the Legion Riders involved too. We emailed members of both clubs and told them of our plans. We said Mike and I were going for a dinner ride Wed. (which by then would be tomorrow) to Steele City NE. and if they would be interested please reply. We would leave from CJ Express at 6:15.
By Wed. I had heard from Gary West and he had a prior engagement but they would be ready for the next one. Roger said he and Mary would join us at the Hanover corner. That's it, 6 of us. I told Brady and Margo at the Salty Dog in Steele City that there would be 6 of us and possibly 12.
On our way to meet at CJ's Carla and I rode by Ted and Julie Griffee's. They were loading up for the ride. When we got to CJ's at 6 there were more bikes there. I called the Salty Dog and said there would be 14 of us. Wrong, by the time we left at 6:15 there were 9 bikes and 9 couples and we picked up 2 bikes and couples at the Pony Express corner.
Although Wed. is not a big evening for Diners at the Salty Dog this Wed. was an exception. They were crowded but had 14 places saved for us. After a few minutes we were all seated and the drink orders had arrived. The meals served were for Mexican to Burgers but all very good and the service was outstanding.
While we were eating the rain shower we were expecting arrived and left. The bikes were wet but nothing we couldn't handle. Before we left for home we took a vote and it was 22 to 0 to do this again next month. Same place same time.
It looks like we have started a "2nd Wednesday of the Month Dinner Ride" group that is bound to grow.
While we were at CJ's and before everyone had showed up, Donna Maschmeier asked if this was a Blackhawks or ALR deal, or anybody's? I told her it was "Nobody's".
This ride will be open to anyone who shows up at CJ's at 6:15 on the 2nd Wed. of the month and wants to ride to eat with us, Nobody's
in picture left to right
Mike Maschmeier
Ruth Maschmeier
Carla Scheller
Teresa Ogg
Mike Gregory (in background)
Russ Ogg
Sherry Gregory (behind Russ)
Carrie Svoboda
Lonnie Johnson
Darrin Svoboda
Sherry Johnson
Deanna and Rick Schroller (behind Darrin and Sherry)
Roger McGarth
Julie Griffee
Ted Griffee
Mary McGrath
missing from picture are
Bud and Donna Maschmeier
Bruce and Jeanne Maschmeier

http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2ndWedRides

Wild 4th of July weekend!

Wow! What a weekend. The 4th of July was on Friday this year so the weekend was a natural for a “Wild One”.
I guess this 4th of July weekend started last Thursday evening when about a dozen of us met at the Legion to set up the doorprizes for the American Legion Riders 4th of July Poker Run.

Friday we registered for the Poker Run at Goob’s in Frankfort then rode to Onaga. The ride to Wamego was along the Vermillion River and a new road to many of the riders. The trip to Possie’s in Randolph from Wamego was super from 99 at Westmoreland to highway 13 through Olsburg. Possie’s showed their usual good hospitality and made the stop there very enjoyable.
Carla and I skipped the location to pick up a card in Linn and we headed to Marysville to help check in the players as they finished their hands at the Legion Post. The run was scheduled to end at 6 o’clock and everyone was in on time. 75 Registered, with around 60 bikes. We probably raised $500.00 to $600.00 for the American Legion Riders Legacy Run being held in August.
Winners were:
1st Place - Selma Packett - $150.00
2nd Place - Tami Mullins - Elsie Grace Gift Basket
3rd Place - Nan Lisher - Jacuzzi Room
4th Place - Eric B. from Seneca - Massage by Ruby
Worst hand - (TIE) Shannon Searcey, Cricket - $25.00 each
All received a door prize.

pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2008ALRFirstJuly4thPokerRun

Saturday morning at 8:30, 4 couples, (Roger and Mary McGrath, Cricket and Karen Geopfert, Mike and Sherry Gregory, and Carla and I), Darrin Svoboda and son Cody, and Ted Griffee met at CJ Express to go to Eldorado Kansas. The idea was to ride the scenic route rather than hurry. We stopped in Marquette and ate at the “Horses and Hawgs Saloon”. We wrote “BLACKHAWKS M/C, Marysville 2008” on the wall at the 12’ ceiling level. The bar owner said there were names and messages from 40 states and several countries written on that wall in the last 6 years. Hopefully we’ll be on the map for a few years. Another highlight of that meal was when we started taking pitures of couples. Ted didn't have Julie so Mike found a beer sign that met the need. When we got to ElDorado, which is about 150 miles from Marysville we had ridden 300 miles. (We did take the scenic route). It was about 6:30 and waiting for us in ElDorado, at the motel, were Gary and Lucy West and Dan and Fran Feldhausen who had left Marysville about noon. The owner of the Sunset Inn got out a garden hose and hooked it up so we could wash our bikes. (Did I mention it was raining when we left Marysville 40 minutes late and rained for about 30 miles?)

Sunday it was 25 miles over to Cassoday and the main reason we were in Southern Kansas anyway. Cassoday is the monthly (First Sunday of the month) ride for breakfast. The 200-mile ride home (instead of 150 miles STRAIGHT home) was uneventful but a VERY pleasant ride. The temperature (80 to 90 degrees) was perfect for ridding and the roads were great. A new road for me was from Tuttle Creek Dam to Olsburg past Lauflin Ranch.
My 50,000 mile service is scheduled for Tuesday and I turned over 51,000 about 5 this afternoon.

pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/4thOfJuly2008

Two weekends in Salina Kansas

Roger and Mary were planning on going to the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina the weekend of June 14th and 15th and we were going to Salina for the Central City Street Rods Car Show June 20th and 21st. We decided to combine the two weekends so we could do a little motorcycle riding together. We rode together to the Riverfest and Carla and I had to come home Saturday afternoon for a Sunday dinner with Aunt Betty and her husband Rick. They were here from San Antonio visiting Mom.
Carla and I went back to Salina for the Cruise Friday night. Carla had taken Friday off from work and we drove the Studebaker up to Lincoln to pickup my bike. (Here's the story)
I had been having trouble keeping the clutch adjusted and while I was at Frontier Wed. afternoon they said they wanted to take it apart and look at it. I do have a service appointment scheduled for next Tuesday but they wanted to look at it NOW. After they took the primary case off I was informed the clutch was toast. It was too late Wed. to overnight parts from Milwaukee but they overnighted them Thursday. It took most of Friday to do the work after the parts arrived.
Carla and I got to Frontier around noon. About 1 o'clock we decided she would go head and drive the Stude to Salina and get registered for the cruise night then wait for me at Jim's or the staging area for the cruise. (Jim is my brother that lives in Salina and the main reason we got hooked up with the Salina carshow in the first place.) The bike could take until 5 to get done and I would come down as soon as possible.
While I was waiting I rode a Frontier Demonstrator. It was a 2008 Heritage and I liked it. Might have to make a Heritage my next scoot. As I was leaving the parking lot I met Dan and Leslie pulling in on their Road King. They had an appointment for service at 2 o'clock. Talked to them for a few minutes and they said they were going down to Salina with Roger and Mary the next day. (Saturday) COOL!
After a 50 mile ride and as I pulled in to park the Heritage, Chuck (a Frontier mechanic, maybe the best they have) (another story, Chuck and I have ridden together on a couple of HOG breakfast rides. One in particular I might have mentioned here earlier) was pulling in on my bike as he had been on a test ride. Everything looked and worked good. It was ready to go and only 4 o'clock. I take a leak, tell Dan and Leslie I'd see them tomorrow, call James and let him know I'm on my way.
It was 180 miles to Salina from Lincoln and the cruise starts at 7:30. Since I would take I-80 and US 81 South it is all 4 lane and the speed limit on 80 is 75 mph. I have plenty of time but it's nice the Studebaker is aready on it's way.
At a gas stop in Geneva, I called and Carla has made it. I arranged to meet Carla and Jim (and his wife Betty and their Avainti) at the host Motel and the start of the cruise. The trip was fantastic, the weather was perfect and I must have been an hour early for the cruise.
The cruise route was different than last year and that was neat. The route had been published in the local paper and in the penny press so there were people in their front yards everywhere we went.
The cruise ended at a BBQ back at the host Econo Motel (or what ever it was). That was good and we should remember who caters that as we would recommend them to anyone. The cars where parked for viewing and the whole thing was pretty impressive.
Saturday morning by the time we got the cars to Thomas Park and ate breakfast, Roger and Mary, and Dan and Leslie met us at the park.
After a look around the place we took off on our planned motorcycle ride to Marquette. The ride to Marquette was not long (maybe 40 miles) but the scenery was really nice. We took Old highway 40 west. We saw that good farmland of the Smoky Hill river bottom and the wheat was just about ready to cut. Next were rolling hills and then flint hills. We cut south and went across the Kanopolis Dam. Kanopopolis Lake was smaller than I had remembered. (Later found out that is where Salina gets 50% of their water) Right south of the dam was Kansas Highway 4 and a sign, Marquette 7 miles east.
We parked in front of the Kansas Motorcycle Museum and walked to the Valley Cafe to eat. After a good Roast Beef dinner we walked to Steve's British Motorcycle Museum. Next it was the main attraction for bikers in Marquette, the MUSEUM.
It's 8 miles east to Lindsberg and the shindig they are having with main blocked off for their Swedish festival and a Volvo carshow in the city park. After a look inside one of the giftshops and a ride around town it was time to get on the 4 lane and back to the Salina Car Show.
Back in Salina all of the show cars were there, we took some pictures, sat in the shade and talked for a while.
Roger and Dan and wives took off for home around 3:30 I think. Trophies were passed out at 4 (we didn't get any:-)) and we left shortly after. Carla drove the Stude to Jim's. I rode around a little before going back and did see some of the wheat harvest starting a few miles east of Salina.
After cleaning up and a little nap we ate at a neat place downtown. We went to bed early. Sunday after breakfast Carla drove the Stude home the normal route and I found a new way home on some back roads.
It was pretty early when I got home so went for a ride east to Fairview then down to Corning. I finally caught someone at the Bar/Grill in Corning and set up a date for the Legion Riders meeting there August 27.
I will be leaving Aug 26 for a ride to Milwaukee for the 105th Anniverary of Harley Davidson. Guess I'll miss that meeting.

Pictures of the Car Show are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2008SalinaCarshow

Ride to the Dog Days of Summer in Steele City

This ride was sort of a spur of the moment ride concieved Friday at the Crusie Night in Marysville. Carla and I and Ted and Julie thought we would catch the carshow at 1 o'clock on Saturday, the BBQ tasteing contest at 2 and then go to Steele City at 3. I emailed Mike Gregory and he put the word out by email of our plans and that we would leave from Schroller Auto Parts parking lot. At three o'clock we had gained Mike and Dan and Fran.The seven of us had a good (windy) ride to Steele City and had plenty to do until the drawing for the 2008 Harley Dyna at 5:30. Carla had a chance on the bike but didn't win.
After another very pleasant ride home we stopped in Joe's and chewed the fat till 8. One thing we did discuss was TO DO THIS AGAIN. We are going to make more dinner rides in the evenings and anyone can start one. Let everyone know by email where you are going, where you are leaving from and what time. Some suggestions, Mexican on Tuesdays at Salty Dog and Posie's. Buffalo Wings on Wed. in Harbine Nebraska

more pics. http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2008DogDaysOfSummerAtTheSaltyDogSteeleCityNebraska