Retired and Trippin

Saturday; May 28 This is the third Memorial Day Weekend in a row that we've met our McCreight cousins (on my Dad's side of the family) in Cottonwood Falls.  Until this morning we weren't sure whether we'd be going in a car or on our motorcycles.  It had been raining (a bunch) for the last couple of weeks and we'd decided if rain was in the cards for Saturday or Sunday that we'd go in a car.  Chris and I met Carl and Marge at their house in western Shawnee and, at about 8:40, we rode off to Cottonwood Falls.  We saw high water where ever there was a river, stream, pond or lake.  Shortly before 11:00 we arrived, hooked up with our cousins and photographed the historic Chase County Courthouse. The Cottonwood River, on the north side of town, was also very high.  Where the rapids start (see picture below) is where the falls should have been. After shooting the bull with the cousins (including a pic on the bridge over the river) and lunch downtown w...

Chris and I had a leisurely morning at D&T's B&B drinking coffee, eating breakfast and talking to Deb.  At 10:00 we were on the highway headed home.  Just west of Memphis, MO we rode south on Hwy 15.  A short distance down 15 we turned west onto Hwy 11 and at Kirksville we stopped for a good lunch at Ana's Family Restaurant.  After lunch we took a walk on the campus of Truman State University. From Kirksville we continued west and south on Hwy 11 all the way to its end, where it intersects with Hwy 24.  I don't remember riding Hwy 11 before, certainly not this much of it, and I really enjoyed it.  It is a narrow road in good condition with no shoulder and very few towns to interfere with the ride. We rode west to Carrollton, where we stopped for gas and an ice cream treat at the Burger Bar & Dari Maid ( BurgerBar ). Highways 10 and 210 took us the rest of the way to Kansas City and home. Total mileage today was 279.  The hig...

We took our time getting around this morning and left our motel in Eldridge, IA at 8:45.  It was 54 and the sky was blue clear.  Another beautiful day on the road! Hwy 61 south was our route today with a stop for a waterfall, hike and picnic lunch at Crapo Park in Burlington, IA. This unusual looking tree that Chris is sitting on was in Crapo Park. Another spring-fed waterfall, our sixth of this trip. We stopped early today (12:30) at the D&T B&B in Montrose, IA. Deb, the proprietress, is Chris' cousin and our very good friend! We rode 121 miles today and our high temp was 64.  Life is very very good! For pictures from today click on the following link:  IowaWaterfallsDay4

When we woke up this morning and looked outside it was dark, cloudy and wet.  The parking lot was wet with large puddles all over.  It obviously rained during the night.  At 8:35 when we left the motel, however, it was 54 degrees with blue skies and the roads were dry. Our first stop of the day was to see Beulah Falls, which was located in the Spook Cave & Campground west of McGregor, IA. While there we decided to partake in a boat tour of Spook Cave.  There is a spring inside the cave that provides the water.  A dam built outside the cave regulates the height of water inside the cave so boat tours are possible.  There are spots, especially at the entrance, where the cave ceiling is so low you have to bend way over to keep from banging the old noggin on it.  In the photo below you can see the low opening beyond the tour guide at the front of the boat. The next stop was Pikes Peak State Park near McGregor, IA. This park is on a hill overl...

At 8:10 we rode away from our motel in Marshalltown, IA to the Union Grove State Park south of Gladbrook, IA.  It was 54 degrees with mostly blue clear skies.  We rode all around the park and saw no signs indicating there was a waterfall anywhere.  We were here because this web site told us there was a waterfall ( onlyinyourstate-IowaWaterfalls ).  We parked at the only place where it looked like a waterfall might be and walked a wooded path up to the lake.  There is a spillway at the southeast end of the lake that, when overflowing, would create a waterfall here. Today it was a dry hole and looked like it had been that way a loooong time. After the failed waterfall sighting we rode through Gladbrook, IA.  Two very good friends of ours, Lib and Steve, grew up in this area. Then we were on to Decorah, IA via Highways 96, 63, 24 and 52.  The previously mentioned web site indicated there were three waterfalls here but before checking them out we...

We departed on our new adventure at 8:00 with clear blue skies and a temperature of 50. Interstates 435 and 29 took us north from Shawnee to St. Joseph, MO, where we caught Highway 169 northbound. There are several wind farms and a butt load of regular farms in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa. It was enjoyable riding through the rural countryside. The plan was to take Highway 169 north all the way to Winterset but the Iowa Department of Transportation had other plans. At Highway 2 signs sent us on a detour that took us west, north and back east n highways 2, 25 and 34. We hooked back up with 169 at Afton, IA. As we rode through Lorimor, IA Chris pointed out a sign: I called bullshit because the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are a long way away. How could they possibly divide here? When we stopped for the night I did some internet research and found out what they were referring to. It is like the continental divide in Colorado. Lorimor is on the dividing line where...

I am eagerly awaiting our departure tomorrow morning on a ride to northeast Iowa. Anticipation and preparation are almost half the fun of a ride. I heard about this ride on Facebook. One of Chris' cousins posted a link to a waterfall ride . http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/ia-waterfalls-road-trip/ We really enjoy outdoor hikes and state parks so this looked like just the ticket. Later on Facebook, we found a link to a hike through caves and we are going to incorporate this into our trip also. http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/one-unforgettable-hike-in-ia/ The weather has turned off a little cool but that is OK as we have the electric jacket liners to keep us nice and toasty. Tomorrow we hit the highway!

Friday, April 29 The annual Chicken ride is something I look forward to every year. A bunch of guys riding south to enjoy great company, good food, phenomenal riding, and more than a little B.S. This ride usually takes place on the first full three day weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in May. This year, however, mother's day is part of that first full weekend so our ride leader, Gary, moved it up a week. Larry, Bruce, Carl and I met in Shawnee, KS for the ride to our starting point, Gail's Harley Davidson, in Grandview, MO. There, we met up with Gary, Bill and James. Seven riders (all on Goldwings) are the fewest participants we've had in a very long time. At 8:20 we took off southbound on 71 Highway (also I-49).  It was cloudy and 54 degrees. The first chicken-worthy event occurred just north of Archie, MO. One of the rear speaker covers flew off of Bruce's motorcycle. Larry saw it happen so he, Carl and I stopped on the shoulder. While Larry guarded the...