Day 5, 5-16-10

Woke up to this.......



Then, right after breakfast...



So we waited a while and took off. We drove in a light rain most of the day. We stopped in Bethany, MO for the night.

Day 4, 5-15-10

Today, we took a ride on the bus/trolley system, then had lunch downtown. It rained all morning and into the early afternoon. We didn't get much riding in today, just a quick trip around town and then stopped to gas up the bikes.
We will head for home tomorrow.

Day 3, 5-14-10

Today's forecast... quarter size hail and 60 mph winds....crap!




OK, the weather broke. We got SUN! We took off down 23 to 16 to 21 to 62. A nice loop of rural Arkansas, south of Eureak Springs. We put on 140 miles.



This big guy was not too keen on getting his picture taken! Just after I took his picture, he turned to face me and stared me down.







After the ride we got in on the group FJR picture

Day 2, 5-13-10

We woke up to more rain. It quit about the time we went to breakfast. We had a pretty good ride down 65, but it started raining again at about Branson, MO.
If yesterday's rain storm dumped 5 gallon pails on us, today's rain was more like little kids pails full. At least there was no lightening!
We got to Eureka Springs about 3:30. 747 miles.








After getting checked in and dried off, we took part in the all you can eat buffett, then stood around in the parking lot talking to people.

SFO day1, 5-12-10

Starting miles = 23526.
I met up with John at hwy 52 and cr 42 in Rosemount at 0900.
The skies were gray overcast with a temp of 45. We headed down 52 towards Rochester. It started to rain just south of Rochester. It continued until we stopped for lunch in Waterloo, IA. It started again later and we drove in a light rain all day.
After lunch we continued down 63 to 137. Then 137 to 5. We took 5 all the way into Missouri. We continued down 5 to 139. In Hale, Missouri, the weather started to look BAD. There were pink/orange lightning strikes and black skies all around us. We thought we'd take a short-cut to 65 so we could get to Marshall. It turned out that the short-cut was't.... The bridge was out, so we had to turn around and try another route. We took YY south and we were going to take M over to 65. It started to rain, and RAIN HARD. It was so bad I couldn't see! I was surrounded by HUGE strikes of pink/orange lightning and it was CLOSE! I lost track of John, and ended up getting to 65 by way of WW. I knew that John was ahead of me somewhere but I couldn't see him. I waited at a gas station at WW and 65 hoping that John would ride by. I was there long enough for the weather to let up a bit. I figured John was still headed for Marshall, so I started south again. I met up with John a few miles down 65.
We stopped for the night at the same motel as last year. It rained all night and into the next morning.

Getting Ready for SFO-10

Today I changed the engine oil and final drive oil in the FJR. I now have 23476 miles on it. I put new tires on it last summer after returning for Arkansas, but I spent most of my riding time on the Zx-14 so the tires are still like new.

I leave for Eureka Springs, Arkansas on wednesday morning. John and I are going to the Southern Fjr Owners rally. We went last year and had a great time even though it rained ever day. We are going to try a new route down this year. I'm thinking John will try hwy 52 through Rochester, then 63 through Iowa.
We'll be headed home on sunday morning, and should be home by monday afternoon.

So Long Bushtec

Last spring I traded in my Goldwing and the dealer was not interested in my matching Bushtec trailer. So, a few weeks ago I put an add up on the bulletin board at Dr. Mudspringers in Blaine. For the last few days I have been talking to a guy that wants to come over and see it. Tonight, he came with two friends and they checked it out. He bought it. My trailer pulling days are over.

A Quick 200 Miles

Today, John and I took a road trip to Augusta, WI, just a short 97 miles from Prescott. We were going to stop at Tep's Drive In for a homemade root beer. We got there only to see a sign that said they open in May. Oh well, Taco Johns is just 15 miles back the way we came. We stopped there to stretch and have a quick snack. We pulled over in Strum to get picture of this AH-1 Cobra. John had to get home so we kept up a good pace all the way back to Prescott. We stopped at the BP gas station and filled up. John headed off to St. Paul and I went home.

Back to Arkansas.

Both John and I have now registered for the SFO-10. We will leave on the 12th of May and stay in Eureka Springs untill sunday the 16th. I'll be home on monday the 17th. I still have to call the hotel and book a room.

My New '10 Blog

Today I took the Zx-14 out for the first ride of spring. It's still a little too cold for riding, but I've got the itch to start riding soon. I have a few things to do before the start of the season. My FJR developed a fork seal leak and that's going to need some attention. Then there's oil to be changed, wash jobs and wax jobs for all.

I didn't go to the cycle show this winter. Everyone was busy and I'm not in the market for a new bike this year.

John and I have discussed plans for this years trips. In May, we are going back down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for the SFO (southern fjr owners) rally. We were there last year and had a great time even though it rained ALL the time. In August, we'll do the Sturgis thing for the 12th time. This year, we plan to leave home early. We'll spend some time at the rally then take off for the south west section of the country. I hope to do Utah and Nevada again. I'd like to see more of Arizona and New Mexico too. It may be a 3 week vacation!