Still hard to get used to seeing folks actually "do the LDR thing" like Brad Hogue, who rode in 600+ miles about 6:15p from the Denver area on his Goldwing, had dinner and conversation with everyone, then remounted the 'Wing about 8:30p for the run back home. Happens alla time. Or visiting with Dale Horstman, midway thru a SS2000 attempt on a new Kawasaki Concours, having come from Dale City, VA to KC; have dinner; then mount up for another 1000+ miles back home. Incredible folks.
I rode only the 240'ish miles to Kansas City from my St. Louis home, no big deal on a Saturday morning. This was my first run with new soft saddlebags and a tail trunk, and no dice...while roomy enough for a weekend trip, I can't survive rides with the tail trunk in the passenger space, I need that room to stretch out on the short SR saddle. Live and learn.
I made great time to KC, stopped off to see my daughter's godparents (surprise!), then made my way to Belton, MO to meet the folks. Had a blast visiting with everyone, dinner was good if a little crowded, and we bench-raced and kicked tires till almost midnite. Several folks took advantage of the proximity to visit the state of Kansas a few blocks west, and no one was fazed by the overnite thunderstorm that indeed got a little fierce.
I rode home the next day thru Nevada, MO,
crossing over on US54 to US50 and back to St. Louis. I had wanted
to pre-run this stretch of US54 to check it for traffic flow and suitability
for including in my SaddleSore 1000 route later in the summer. It
should work just fine.
Bench racing and tire kickin' starts right away, of course.
Small gathering of LD
mounts: Wing, Connie, Venture, SR...
Dale Horstman explaining
the virtues of the new BugSlayer to Doug Garrison, Andrew Duthie, and Bill
Lewis
Dale Horstman unwinding
with Bill Lewis and Rowland Hill after an easy 1000+ from Virginia
The MotoGuzzi drew a
crowd, for sure.
Tire kickin' at the restaurant...
A nice lineup of bikes.