Sunday, September 12, 2010

Walsenburg, CO to Home

When the day started out I didn't know I would be taking a hike later on, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I stayed at a Best Western and it was a great motel. I had a ground floor room as most of them were. When I checked in she said for the continental breakfast the next morning they would have a breakfast burrito. I figured something I would have to warm up, but no. They had a cook there making them fresh and it was very good. I had coffee and orange juice with it. They had many other items to choose from. I also took an apple and a packaged pastry. Maybe lunch?

It was very cool yesterday morning, probably low 40's, so I put an extra coat and pants and even had to use the heated grips for a couple of hours. I really wasn't planning to take pictures unless something really piqued my interest. I took off northeast on 10 highway and the first couple of hours the sun really bothered. I went through La Junta and took 50 hwy there. Just east of there I came to this feed lot and couldn't believe all the dust. Those poor cattle must have their lungs full.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
This dust hung in the air for about a mile. There wasn't any wind so that probably was the reason it hung in there.

The area between La Junta and Lamar is very interesting especially this time of year. There are many, many acres of alfalfa, corn, and soybeans with alfalfa dominating. There are mostly large square bales and hay stacks that look like loaves of bread. Then there are some feedlots but not the large ones in this area. The land is to valuable for that. Most of it is irrigated either by flooding or pivot. This land is all along the Arkansas river.

Just east of Lamar at Granada I headed north on 385 highway. I mostly ran 80 mph and passed one truck and met about three vehicles on this 23 mile stretch. I only saw two or three home steads.

I headed east on 96 highway and soon entered Kansas. 96 is a nice road with very little traffic and 65 mph speed limits, not that I paid that much attention to it. There were many farmers in the field either harvesting corn or sowing wheat.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
Just west of Ness City I pulled into a rest stop that had a historical marker.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
It was so pleasant there and quiet. I ate the pastry and apple and drank some water. There were lots of grasshoppers in the grass. If they were full size they could eat a lot in a day.
I was running along about 75 when I noticed a coyote just leaving a pond by a herd of cattle. I braked hard, pulled to the shoulder and put the kickstand down which kills the engine. I quickly got the camera out and took these pictures.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
I rode on in to Ness City and wanted another picture of the Ness City Bank. It was completed in 1890 at a cost of between $34,000 and $75,000. For more information go to: http://www.texasescapes.com/KansasUSA/Kansas-Ness-City-Skyscraper-1890-Bank.htm
And to show you I actually was along on this trip:
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
I stayed on 96 until Rush Center, then went north to La Crosse and K4 hwy. I filled up with gas there. I stayed on K4 and just before I came to 196 there was a pull over to view Cheyenne Bottoms. I really want to go back there and take some bird pictures. I used to go out there from McPherson and bow fish for carp.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
A barn across the road.
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
I got on 196 and headed northeast to I-70. The way I had it figured I should be home by 5 PM. When I came to Salina my fuel gauge was still showing full which it does until it drops to a half tank. I just got by Salina and it dropped to half. I could have stopped at Chapman or Junction City but didn't. The reserve light came on just east of Junction City. The next gas is at Maple Hill exit. I figured it was cutting it close but at this point no other option except keep going. I should have slowed down and conserved fuel but didn't. Just east of the rest area going up the long hill it started to sputter. I said a prayer to let me make it over the hill and I just made it running 80 mph. I pulled in on the clutch and let it coast. The engine died. I coasted all the way down the hill but the only problem was there was one more hill before the exit. I made it half way up and came to stop on the shoulder. This is where the hike comes in. I started walking and went about a quarter mile and this nice young man asked if I wanted a ride. He took me to the station and I asked if they had a gas can I could borrow. No because every ones keeps them. Looking around I saw a gallon of windshield washer fluid. So I bought it for $3.85 planning on dumping it. The station attendant said to not let him see me putting gas in that knowing I was going to. We went out and I told the young man, failed to get his name, to pop the hood on his car and we would see if it needed fluid. I put all but about a cup in it, shook the jug out good and got a gallon of gas. He insisted on taking me back. He is a college student at Johnson County Community College. He went to the next exit and turned around and dropped me off. I tried to get him to take ten dollars but he wouldn't take insisting I pass it on. I gave it to the Mission in India as we had a visiting priest today. So hopefully they will get some good out of it. I poured the gas in and it started right up. I had enough to get home now and stopped at Dillon's by home and filled up arriving home at 5:30. The jug:
From Colorado, Kansas 2010
I don't know what it is about me arriving home from a trip but it's usually time to harvest. This spring it was cherries and today I rode the cycle up to Roger and Jenea's and picked about 8 gallon of apples. I put them in my side boxes and even through they were not empty I got 4 gallon in each side easy. A five gallon bucket plus bag.
From Apples
I was going to wait until tomorrow to fix them but Mary said she would make applesauce out of some of them if I would fix them today, so I did. We ended up with 5 pints, 8- 1/2 pints, 16- 1/2 cups canned and then 8 quarts pie filling frozen plus 3 pints applesauce and 4- 1/2 pints frozen. Yesterday she made 12- 1/2 pints salsa and 5- 1/2 pints tomato juice. I apples were very nice to work with and no worms. They are a good eating apple and the applesauce is made without sugar added.
From Apples

I traveled 1,504 miles in three days and had great weather most of the time. Saturday was just great with the cool temps and no wind. It is unusual to go through western Kansas without wind. Glad you traveled along and hope to be on the road again soon. That is 19 states so far this year! I have put over 27,000 on this bike in 2 years and two months.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Texas & New Mexico on motorcycle

Well I had to make another motorcycle trip so I could add Texas and New Mexico to the list of states I have been to on my motorcycle. Now I just need South Carolina, Florida, and Hawaii.

I left about 7 AM on Thursday and since Hermine was causing some rain I decided to head west on I-70 in hopes of riding out of it. It wasn't raining hard but enough to keep the pavement wet and spray on the road. It was in the upper 60's when I left Topeka. I went west of Salina then took 156 hwy south. Some where before I got to Great Bend the rain stopped for the most part. I went southwest on 56 hwy to Dodge City then headed south on 283 hwy to 54 hwy. At Meade I stopped for lunch and it was still cool out. I decided to head south out of Meade on 23 hwy rather than go to Liberal. There is lots of truck traffic on 54 and going through Liberal is very time consuming.

It was a wise choice as the roads in Kansas and Oklahoma are 65 mph. Texas is 70. I have a new GPS, Lola 2, which is just like my last one. I found this used one on Amazon for $65 and a new one is around $700 because they are waterproof. This one works great. So I had the address of Kevin Jones in Amarillo programed in and I kept heading south and west on different highways. It really worked out nice. The first picture I took was in Beaver, OK. They have pretty white sand dunes there and many people go there with their 4 wheelers. There is a little sand showing in this picture.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
I filled up with gas there and it was starting to warm up so I took my rain gear off and used my vented gear. Another wise choice because the sun came out and it warmed up in a hurry. Some pictures in southern Oklahoma.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
And then I came to Texas.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
Then it really got hot and windy. The temperature went up in the mid 90's. I rode 520 miles and arrived at Kevin's around 4:30. Here is the Spot tracker log for two days.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0p1iDfMKLECtBhOFskU0rNOCNVxddsIHE
Kevin and Julie Jones and their four wonderful children made me feel right at home. I took a shower and then Kevin handed me a Bud Light. Julie had some cheese and crackers for us and then some rather hot peppers stuffed with a cream cheese with bacon on top. I ate 3 halves a one in particular made my eyes water. The Kevin grilled some of the best steaks I have ever eaten. Must be the Texas beef! We had a great dinner, some great wine and conversation then every one had to tell their high and low for the day and when they we finished they chose the next person. Looking back on it I would have to say my high for the day was the great dinner and hospitality while visiting the Jones. And since that was such a high I forgot what the low was. Thanks Kevin, Julie, Crystal, Carrie, Christie and Trent for the great time.
This is Christie. What a cutie she is! Later she put on her apron and had her order pad to take my after dinner entrees.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
This is Trent and he is taking after his golfing dad. He already has tales to tell!
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
Kevin looked my bike over too.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip

Carrie made me a duct tape sticker that read, "I love the Jones pub, grill and lodge."
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
Trent and Julie.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
Crystal showing me her duct tape billfolds and Carrie with her Friendship Rug which I signed.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
Their many rolls of duct tape. I thought it only came in gray!
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
All good things must end and so after coffee, breakfast and goodbye's I headed west to New Mexico. Texas has wind energy.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
And across the road lots of smelly gas!
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
I made it to New Mexico.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
I went west to Tucumcari and got on Route 66 for a ways and then headed northwest. Some of the same Indian fighters in Kansas also came to New Mexico.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
You can see for a long ways.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
I couldn't see any water but there may be some in the tank the pickup is pulling.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
There was even a Christmas tree.
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
And when I got to this cattle guard
From Texas, New Mexico MC trip
the guard was missing and here is why according to Phyllis Scherich.

We no longer have cattle guards - Obama fired them! I know because I
saw it on the internet!
A few months ago, President Obama received a report that there were over
100,000 cattle guards in Kansas. Because Kansas ranchers had
protested his proposed changes in grazing policies, he ordered the
Secretary of the Interior to fire half of the guards immediately. Before
the Interior Secretary could respond and presumably straighten him out,
Vice-President, Joe Biden, intervened with a request that before any
guards were fired, they should be given six months of retraining.

The weather today was just great. There was not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures were cool. I came through one area and there was a BMW motorcycle rally at Sipapu, NM, located 25 miles SE of Taos, NM on state highway 518. I stopped and visited for a while and the guy was from Olathe, KS. I parked beside a BMW with Jackson County tags which is just north of Topeka. I met many, many BMW's on the road.
I am in Walsenburg, CO tonight so will probably be home tomorrow night. I rode 430 miles today for a total of 950 miles now.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

19th Suther Four Sisters Reunion

Today we attended Mass in St Bernard's new Catholic church in Wamego, KS. We then attended the 4 Suther Sisters reunion held in the parish hall. A good group was present for the delicious pot luck dinner and for visiting. About 2:30 a drawing was held for the 19th quilt the 4 sisters quilted. Each year they get together and in a couple of days they have a quilt made and give it away usually on Labor day weekend. The quilt this year was called " Winging It" since it had some birds on it.
From 4 Sisters Reunion
The lucky winner this year was Gavin Strunk, son of Paul and Jana Strunk.
From 4 Sisters Reunion
There were also 3 matching pillows for the quilt. Gavin was not quite sure at first if he wanted this quilt but we compromised and let him have his choice of this prize too.
From 4 Sisters Reunion
Here are the four sisters along with the three Suther brothers.
From 4 Sisters Reunion
Jerry and Dee Suther celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary today also. Congratulations to both of you!
From 4 Sisters Reunion