BMW Rally & Salmon Fishing in Wisconsin

On July 11 under clear skies and cool weather I headed for West Bend, Wisconsin for a BMW rally. It was a great day to ride with the temperatures in the 70's. I went up through Atchison, KS and St Joseph, MO and took US 36 to Cameron, MO. I then took I-35, I-80, I-380 to Cedar Rapids, IA, then on 151 to Dubuque, IA. I followed Wisconsin 11 hi way along the Illinois border and stayed overnight at a campground in Milton, WI on 26 hi way. It cost $19 to pitch a tent and would have been $29 if I wasn't an old poop. It was close to I-90 so I heard truck noise at night but slept fair.


The next day I headed for West Bend which is not far from Lake Michigan. I arrived there mid morning. I set up the tent in a spot I thought looked pretty good and went off to see what was there. Within the first hour I bought a new Olympia mesh riding jacket & pants. The one I was wearing was starting to fade and was black and I wanted this silver one. It is real comfortable and lets in a lot of air so I can wear it in hot weather. There were many exhibits to look at and lots of BMW's. In the evening I listened to Polka music! Not very long though.

I went to bed but there was still a lot of noise and road traffic. I had a hard time getting to sleep and then at 4 AM the beep, beep, beep of a truck backing. I had camped near 15 porta-potties and they were backing in to service them. Then the pump started and I decided to get up and head for the shower, along with many others. They had 4 semi trailers set up with shower facilities but they wouldn't open until 6 AM for some unknown reason. In where the restrooms were there was one shower and 10 people in line so I made it 11. About 45 minutes later and a lot of grumbling I had a shower and headed back for my tent. I layed down for a while but by then others were beginning to get up. I got up and started packing things up. I had one seminar I wanted to attend at 10 AM and then would leave. After I packed everything on the bike I headed to town for breakfast and found a good local restaurant.

About noon I headed north toward Door County. I stayed along the coast of Lake Michigan as much as I could, even taking some paved county roads. I came out at Sturgeon Bay and proceeded north as far as I could go taking 57 hi way. I did not take the ferry to Washington Island. I then came back south on 42 hi way and liked the west shore better. It is really pretty and the cherries were ripe. There were many red sour cherry trees and all were ripe and many bing cherries. I came back down to Sturgeon Bay and found a motel about 5 PM as I wanted to get caught up on some sleep, which I did.

I had made arrangements to stay with my nephew Art & his wife Pam Gerstner and told them I would be there around noon but I think I arrived about 10 AM. Art was going to take me salmon fishing which was a first for me. I was really looking forward to this and it was the highlight of my trip. As luck would have it it was a windy day a we could not go out on Saturday. Art and Pam have two children, Howie 5 and Charlie about 1. This was my first visit to their nice home in northeastern Green Bay. Howie was excited to see me and wanted to play, which I did. Charlie was a cutie. After lunch, Art took me and Howie for a ride to Algoma where we would put the boat in the next day. Many of the charter boats were in with their catches of huge salmon. This made me excited to go and catch some in Art's boat. We went on to Sturgeon Bay and went to the Door County Maritime Museum. Howie was excited to go because they had a pirates display and he LIKES pirates. We spent about an hour going through it. Next Art took us to a cottage along the lake that belongs to Pam's uncle. Art keeps it mowed. We sat out there for a while and had a couple of beers. We then started home and stopped along the way at a cherry stand and I bought two quarts of red bing cherries and a quart of yellow cherries for $10. They were so good and sweet.

Sunday morning we went to church, then came home and Art & me got the boat loaded for fishing. (One thing that was unique about their church was that it did not have kneelers. I liked it because in our church the kneelers are too close to the pew and it is hard to kneel. They stood instead of kneeling.) Art had spent as good deal of time on Saturday getting his equipment ready and it takes a lot of equipment. Art said before church that we should have our first fish on by 1 PM. We made the trip to Algoma, paid the $6 launch fee and launched the boat. The weather was perfect with partly cloudy skies, light wind, cool temperatures and not much for waves. The surface water temperature was 49 degrees which is cool for this time of year. We had problems right off because the kicker motor (small trolling motor) would not stay running and was not pumping water to keep it cool. Art had never tried trolling with the big 150 HP motor but it looked like we could go slow enough to make it work. Art got me lined up and I guided the boat while he put out the lines. First he put out two planer boards, one on each side of the boat, with spoons attached. These run out 30 feet or more to the side of the boat. Then he put out two dipsy divers, one on each side, with a lot of pretty stuff on them. I don't know what all this stuff is called. Then he had two down riggers, one on each side, and put them at a depth of about 40 feet. We were fishing in 60 t0 120 feet of water. Art had one hit one of the spoons but missed it. At exactly 1 PM I caught a rainbow trout. They really jump out of he water. I would guess them to be about 5 pounds. We caught two trout and 4 salmon. We missed several that would hit the lure but we didn't get them hooked.

We really had a thrill when Art hooked a big one from one of the down riggers and at the same time I had one on a dipsy diver. They kept crossing lines and we were trying to keep them from getting tangled. I finally lost mine and I got the net ready to net the one Art had. It was huge and kept trying to get tangled and it finally did. It got in the motor and cut the line. Our excitement ended abruptly! We made a big circle a came back around to see if we could pick up any others in the area and we did. In the next hour we picked up 2 more and one was big. Art got it up near the boat and I wondered how I would get it in the net. I didn't! I missed it and it took off. Art was able to slow it down and bring it back and was telling me how to net it this time. I didn't miss this time and we got it boated. We did not weigh it but estimated it about 18 pounds. It was big and beautiful and I was glad we were able to get it in the boat. We headed back in about 7:30 so we could get in and get the fish cleaned before dark and the other boats came in. We were out about two & a half miles but with the big motor it didn't take long to get in. Art has a GPS and a Garmin fish locater. The GPS shows us where we are and how far out we were. You can also mark spots and go back to the same location. That is how we were able to make circle and go back where we thought there might be more fish.

A guy took our picture with two of the biggest fish. They have a real nice cleaning station with water, conveyor belt and grinder to grind up the waste. It is then used for fertilizer. We cleaned the fish and cut them up, washed them off, and packaged them. The salmon are not native and can not reproduce on their own. When they go up the rivers it is too warm to spawn on their own and they are netted, milked and small fish are raised in hatchery, then released. Salmon live 4 years then die, so those that are 4 and are not harvested are wasted. They were introduced into the lake to control problem fish that were too abundant, dying and covering the beaches with stinking fish. So the salmon were a win - win for everyone. Art says at 3 AM there will be 200 to 300 boats launching at this site alone. Many charter boats take customers out on a regular basis.

Art was a great host and very patient with a first time salmon fisher like me. It was the highlight of my trip. On Monday they were predicting rain and thunderstorms so we opted to go perch fishing on the bay closer the Art's home. We did not catch any keepers but did enjoy a nice day and the birds coming in to see if they could get something to eat. We came home around noon and cleaned out the boat and put things away. I played with Howie and after we ate we went for a walk. So thanks Art & Pam for sharing your home, time and family with me. I really enjoyed it.
I left for home Tuesday morning about 7 AM and arrived in Topeka at 7 PM. It was about 720 miles. The temperature rose to 80 degrees about 11 AM at Cedar Rapids, IA. That was the warmest it had been in a week. Then by the time I got to Des Moines it was 100 and the rest of he trip in he upper 90's. My riding jacket and pants worked well. I rode a total of 1,658 miles and averaged 43.62 miles per gallon. I spent $130 for gas.

Colorado June 07

I made a three day trip to Colorado this past weekend. Saturday morning I took Mary to Jenea's so she could travel with Jenea, Elaine & Dalton to Philadelphia and Delaware. I pick her up at the airport in KC on Wednesday and she will arrive with Elaine & Dalton. Since she was going to be gone I decided to head West.

I left about 8 AM and headed north through St Mary's to Seneca then took US 36 west. I hadn't been this way in quite some time. I saw the much needed improvement in Marysville to 36 highway that goes over the rerouted Union Pacific tracks. As I headed west around Phillipsburg there was an area that had been hailed out. It seemed to cover 20 or 30 miles and I have never seen such a large area of hail. Usually it only covers a small area. I heard later it came a week before I went through and came from the west down US 36.

I went on west , then northwest into Colorado through Ft Morgan, Greeley (pu large feedlot) and stayed overnight in Loveland. It was hot in western Kansas and Eastern Colorado. Sunday morning I ate at an excellent restaurant, Widow McCoy, then headed for Estes Park arriving just in time for 8AM Mass. After the hour and 20 minute service I headed up Trail Ridge Road. Since I am now an old poop with a Golden Age Passport it did not cost me to drive through. They cost $10 and are good for lifetime which I hope is a long time. It was rather cold in the higher elevations and especially when the wind blew. I have heated grips on the BMW and used them. There was still lots of snow. I came out the west side at Grand Lake and from Granby to Winter Park many of the pines are dying and the slopes are brown. It must be the pine beetle killing them. I went up Berthoud Pass and stopped on top for some rest and snacks. I visited with a guy from Michigan that was also riding a BMW. After leaving there went up Mt. Evans again using my Golden Age Passport. I really enjoyed the ride up there and saw sheep and goats. The goats at the top were there for the salt in the snow which was put there to melt the snow around the restrooms. The ranger said they had a rough winter with lots of snow. This was a mother with three babies. I also took a picture of the reddish mountain marmot.

A guy on a Harley took the above picture and I took one of him. After leaving there I rode down through Evergreen. This was where I spent some time and money a few years ago when I had a flat tire on the Yamaha. There were lots of motorcycles here and they must have had some type of event. I went on south to Fairplay where I spent the night. This was where I tried out my new pack stove that is very small. It worked really well and warmed the stew in about two minutes. It went well with the Jack Daniel's. I had a new bag for clothes and sleeping bag that straps on the seat right behind me and makes a great backrest. The air mattress and tent strap on the rack behind. Even through I did not use them this time I like to have them along if a good camping spot can be found when I need it. I really like the setup I have now and it will work good if I go back to Alaska next year.

Monday morning it was 40 degrees in Fairplay. I ate breakfast at a nice cafe called the Brown Burro. I like to eat at local places if I can and try to avoid chain restaurants. I headed towards Colorado Springs and came to Eleven Mile Reservoir. I rode down to it which was 10 miles of flat county through a pasture. Mary and I had visited there when we lived in Colorado Springs. Not much there. I came back out the way I went in and later found could have come a more scenic route through the county. I had not been up Pike's Peak and decided to try that. I had to pay $10 to go up that and later decided they should have paid me instead. It is not nearly as nice as Mt Evans and about half is gravel and is rough. They were working on the road about 14 miles up and there was one way traffic and loose gravel. It reminded me of Alaska. I made it to the top without incident and passed one slow motorcycle on the way up. While I was in the visitor center on the top they announced they needed a Ranger to go to mile 14 as they had a panicked motorcyclist that became too scared to go up and was afraid to go back down. Must have been the one I passed. I never did see him so he must have went back down.

I ate some snacks on the way down and then decided to start for home with intentions of stopping overnight some where to make the next day a shorter ride. I left the east side of Colorado Springs after fueling on 94 highway at 1:10 PM. 94 heads straight east and is a very desolate area without services for 90 miles. Good place to fudge on the speed limit and I topped out once at 95 according to the GPS. I came out on hi way 40 and headed southeast to Kit Carson where 40 heads due east. I came to I-70 at Oakley and it was about 4:30. Looks like I just as well sleep in my own bed tonight so I kept going and arrived home at 9 PM, tired and with a sore butt. I saw all the flooded whaet around Salina and east. Many acres were ruined. It is raining this morning so maybe it was a wise thing anyway. There are more pictures posted on the side.

2nd trip to Greensburg

May 29th Leighton Broxterman, Jerry Holthaus, Marcia Riggs, Rita Barnett, LaVonne Birney and me headed to Greensburg and returned June 5th. We worked three canteen trucks, one being stationary and two mobile. Things have improved since my first tour but there is still much to do. Most of the Army, KDOT and volunteer haulers have left and now there are paid contractors hauling material to the dumps.

There are signs of recovery with building of homes, shingling and leaves on trees. You can now see several blocks away since the rubble has been removed. Most of the pictures I took this time show improvement and building.

As we did the first time, we again stayed in Dodge City and drove back and forth making our day begin at 6:15 AM and end about 8:15 PM.

There are still about 75 Americore young adults there. They are in their early 20's and are very good workers. Most have completed college and are doing this before starting a career. They do a large variety of work including helping residents cleanup or move items, cut trees, clear lots by hand and with Bobcats, and assist the Salvation Army. There are large groups of high school age kids that come with church groups or schools to gather trash from yards. They rake, pickup, scoop, and haul in wheelbarrows to the curb so loaders can pick it up and haul it away.

Greensburg Tornado

Me & Jerry Houltaus left in a Salvation Army van for Greensburg, KS on Friday May 11 and returned home on May 18. We worked a canteen truck for a week. The devastation was unbelievable. Most of the homes and businesses were totally destroyed. It was a wonder more were not killed or injured. We fed many people each day. Many were KDOT and Army personel.

I have attached pictures you may view. Two in particular were interesting. I found a Tigger in the rubble and picked it up before the loaders got to it. I placed it under the windshield wiper and drove around for about two hours feeding. At one stop late in the day a woman in a car stopped and kept looking at me. I got out to see if I could help her and she said, "That is our Tigger." I gave it to her and took a picture. She was elated to find a remembrance. About two minutes later I saw her driving and talking on her cell. She had a big smile on her face.

Jerry and me are heading back to Greensburg on Tuesday, May 29th for another weeks work.

4 Sister's Quilt for 2007

This past Thursday and Friday Vera, Sr. Betty, Sr. Ellie and Mary made their 16th annual quilt and it will be given away at the Suther Family reunion Labor Day weekend. You must be present to win and if you have already won one, you can not win again.

Warmed up to 62 degrees

It warmed up nicely to 62 degrees today so I fired up the bike and went for a ride. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 26 so spring is not here yet.

Driving vehicles for Ed Bozarth

This past week I made two trips to Lee's Summit MO auction to drive back two Trailblazers. On Wednesday 11 of us went down in the van and brought back 10 cars and then Thursday 12 went down and brought back 11 cars. They go to the auction every second Wednesday. I usually get called after lunch and arrive back home around 5 PM.

This past Friday 6 of us drove 6, 2006 low mileage Trailblazers to Denver to another of Bozarth dealerships. They were all 4 wheel drives. We left Topeka at 4 AM and arrived at the Park Meadows dealership about 12:30. We brought back two, 2 wheel drive Blazers and the one we drove back was not in very good condition. Neither the speedometer or fuel guage worked and the windshield was cracked in two places all the way across. The inside had not been cleaned and had trash and dog hair in it.

There was a lot of snow in the fields from Hays to Denver and was very pretty. Coming back we saw several large herds of antelope and two herds of deer. Some of the antelope herds had over 100 in them. They were all on the south side of the road eating wheat where the snow had melted off. We arrived back in Topeka at 10 PM and I went home and went to bed. We drove or rode over 1,100 miles in 18 hours.