I am beginning to realize the historical importance of this ride. Yesterday, the town of Marion, Iowa had an ice cream social for us in the park. As we rode into town, there were people on the street waving flags, they'd reserved parking for us around the square, had home made ice cream for us. It was so cool. Everyone in the park wanted to talk to someone on the ride. One woman we talked with was a Vietnam vet, she asked me not to repeat her story, and so with respect and admiration for her, I will not share that. Suffice it to say, I will never forget it or her face. A gentleman came up to me after that and starting asking me questions about the ride, he and his wife are riders. He was shy, almost hesitant to ask too many questions. Turns out he owns a craft beer and wine bistro on the square - he pointed to the green awnings - everyone who knows me knows how I reacted to that. About 45 minutes later, 9R and I, along with about 4 others headed over to buy something to take back to the hotel for the night. He was still in the park, so I went back to find him, he was so glad. We all had a great time, see FB photos. Side note here -- it is very frustrating to upload photos to this site, so I am just going to post 1 at the top and the rest to FB.
Every evening after we've unloaded our gear, changed out of our gear, and opened a beer, I go down to tend to stormy's chain, check her fluids, lock her up, thank her and say goodnight. Last night a man in an International Harvester, with greasy shirt and jeans was walking around looking at all the bikes. I introduced myself. He is a diesel mechanic, was driving home from work and saw all the bikes. He loves any kind of engine, so he thought he'd just take a look. We traded stories for an hr. Or more. 9R came looking for me, that led to more conversations. Then a guy on a Harley Sportster pulls up -- shorts, Birkenstocks, Hawaiian shirt, looks like he was freshly showered. He knew about the ride and was disappointed because he missed us at the park. He looked and talked like an earth child. He was Vietnam Vet. The 4 of us talked for another half an hr. Then 9R and I begged off --- still lots to do, already 8:30 pm. We all hugged goodbye, then 9R and I raced for the shower -- we smelled like diesel fuel.
Yesterdays ride was a really good one after the first 88.6 miles of I-88. From there we went back to rt. 30 and the Lincoln Highway, this part of the Lincoln Highway was pretty. The day before we were on rt 30 most of the day -- it was boring and lots of lights -- 9R and I made a competition of the lights -- who could get through without having to put a foot down. We both rocked it. We stopped in Fulton to see an authentic Dutch windmill right on the Mississippi. The stories of windmills are fascinating ones. I loved this stop. From Fulton we crossed the Mississsipi on a two lane bridge and headed W on rt. 136, the Grant Wood Byway - Grant Wood was an American painter from Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his "American Gothic" which is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The byway named for him is fun. It runs through beautiful Iowa cornfields, with scattered farms, all neat and tended. The corn right now is "as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's going clear up to the sky." Gently rolling curves abound and just a scattered truck here and there. It was heaven. Best riding of the trip to date, says 9R. I have to agree.
That led us to US 61 and The National Museum of Motorcycles. Another huge welcome and lunch --- Ceasar salad, grilled chicken, pulled pork, fresh fruit! Lisa and I had a blast in this museum ---- This used to be in Sturges, but the town wasn't very cooperative and it was going to be closed. The owner of J&P Cycles, John took on the museum's $70,000 debt and moved it here to his home town. He has since sold his cycle business and is not in great health, but he was there to welcome us to lunch. He loves everything related to motorcycles and this museum reflects that. It is well laid out, the exhibits are fun and interesting, even if you don't know anything. It is filled with love of life and the adventures that brings.
Misc. thoughts
neither one of us have seen so many dead skunks on the road
Why have hotels stopped putting fans in bathrooms? The only thing I can come up with is they are trying to make it harder to smoke in rooms???
Every evening after we've unloaded our gear, changed out of our gear, and opened a beer, I go down to tend to stormy's chain, check her fluids, lock her up, thank her and say goodnight. Last night a man in an International Harvester, with greasy shirt and jeans was walking around looking at all the bikes. I introduced myself. He is a diesel mechanic, was driving home from work and saw all the bikes. He loves any kind of engine, so he thought he'd just take a look. We traded stories for an hr. Or more. 9R came looking for me, that led to more conversations. Then a guy on a Harley Sportster pulls up -- shorts, Birkenstocks, Hawaiian shirt, looks like he was freshly showered. He knew about the ride and was disappointed because he missed us at the park. He looked and talked like an earth child. He was Vietnam Vet. The 4 of us talked for another half an hr. Then 9R and I begged off --- still lots to do, already 8:30 pm. We all hugged goodbye, then 9R and I raced for the shower -- we smelled like diesel fuel.
Yesterdays ride was a really good one after the first 88.6 miles of I-88. From there we went back to rt. 30 and the Lincoln Highway, this part of the Lincoln Highway was pretty. The day before we were on rt 30 most of the day -- it was boring and lots of lights -- 9R and I made a competition of the lights -- who could get through without having to put a foot down. We both rocked it. We stopped in Fulton to see an authentic Dutch windmill right on the Mississippi. The stories of windmills are fascinating ones. I loved this stop. From Fulton we crossed the Mississsipi on a two lane bridge and headed W on rt. 136, the Grant Wood Byway - Grant Wood was an American painter from Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his "American Gothic" which is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The byway named for him is fun. It runs through beautiful Iowa cornfields, with scattered farms, all neat and tended. The corn right now is "as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's going clear up to the sky." Gently rolling curves abound and just a scattered truck here and there. It was heaven. Best riding of the trip to date, says 9R. I have to agree.
That led us to US 61 and The National Museum of Motorcycles. Another huge welcome and lunch --- Ceasar salad, grilled chicken, pulled pork, fresh fruit! Lisa and I had a blast in this museum ---- This used to be in Sturges, but the town wasn't very cooperative and it was going to be closed. The owner of J&P Cycles, John took on the museum's $70,000 debt and moved it here to his home town. He has since sold his cycle business and is not in great health, but he was there to welcome us to lunch. He loves everything related to motorcycles and this museum reflects that. It is well laid out, the exhibits are fun and interesting, even if you don't know anything. It is filled with love of life and the adventures that brings.
Misc. thoughts
neither one of us have seen so many dead skunks on the road
Why have hotels stopped putting fans in bathrooms? The only thing I can come up with is they are trying to make it harder to smoke in rooms???
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