We Have KANSAS!

[BigLenny]

We finally got Kansas on our ride map! Oh, wait; I need to color Kansas in on my signature map.

 

Kansas is just up the road from Arkansas, and we've never ridden in that state. Don't really know why. Maybe because I've always perceived it to be flat and boring.

Anywho; This past Friday morning, my wife and I were getting ready for work and talking about how the weather man was forecasting a beautiful weekend. We have been doing a lot of work around our house to get it ready to put on the market, and we had planned to work the weekend on our master bathroom, which we are remodeling. However, during our morning conversation Friday, I casually mentioned how it's going to be a perfect weekend to ride, and that we ought to head up to Kansas and get that on our map. She loved the idea, and about 5:30 Friday afternoon we were on the bike and heading northwest. After riding 3 hours Friday night to get into northwest Arkansas, we then rode all day Saturday in NW Arkansas, SW Missouri, SE Kansas, and NW Oklahoma. Then rode most of the day yesterday through the northern part of our beautiful state heading back home. 705.2 miles total.

 

We haven't ridden the bike much since September due to surgeries that she and I have both had, and having to take care of my wife's brother who broke his hip. Having said that, I fell in love with my RSTD again on this trip. What a wonderful smooth running and smooth riding bike! We've had it 8 years, and I get thoughts of getting rid of it. But, everytime I start thinking that, I go on an extended ride with Red (our RSTD), and fall in love again. She just fits me. She's heavy as all get out, gnarly at slow speeds, top heavy, awkwardly wide in the saddle. She wouldn't fit most people in this world, but for my 6'6" 300lb rump, she feels perfect. And this trip reminded me again of my love for that V4 motor. AND, I love the fact that nobody knows what she is! We stopped at The Oark Cafe in the middle of the Ozark Mountains to grab a phenomenal burger. There was to my count 28 bikes parked around the little 100 year old cafe. Several people talked to me about my bike, but nobody knew what brand it is, or that it's a 4 banger. I love that!

 

Back to the trip. The weather was stunningly beautiful, and we took our time and relaxed. Rode the mother road through Joplin, and points west of there for a while down into Oklahoma. It was cool dancing from the Ozark Mountains into the plains of Kansas and Oklahoma, back to the mountains. Went through a nice area in Oklahoma called Grand Lake. I need to take my boat back there.

 

I'm sooooo blessed to live in this part of the country where we have an over abundance of great motorcycle roads to ride.

 

I'll stop babbling now.

 

PS. I know I need to post pics. Didn't take that many, but they're coming.

[BigLenny]

This is Red. Loaded down.

[Dragonslayer]

Upon reading my first thought " I'm so sorry you ended up in Kansas" meaning no disrespect or insult to any Kansasites (is that a word?) Who may be reading this. It's just that the few times I've traveled the Kansas roads it was not as I recall a fond memory. LONG, FLAT, BORING were the first words that popped into my mind. But then there was that day in 2008 when I rode the Pony Express freeway from Saint Joseph, Missouri to I couldn't take it anymore and had to turn North into Nebraska. It was so hot that day (130* in the shade) I thought I was going to melt into a greasy spot on that long road.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are a bunch of wonderful things to see and do in Kansas and I'm equally sure the folks there are wonderful people. I'm not saying otherwise, I'm just saying that the few times I've been there I must have missed it.

 

I couldn't tell by your post but, other then riding through a corner of the state did you see anything I missed that might change my mind about wanting to revisit Kansas?

[BigLenny]

Bob, We did see this:

Does that change your mind any?

[BigLenny]

The trucks. Not the big pic of my ugly mug. LOL.

[BigLenny]

We saw this in Kansas on Rt 66:

But, compare that to this from Missouri:

Yeah. Kansas struggles in the scenery department. But, to your point, I bet they have great people there.

[Dragonslayer]

Yep, seeing Mater the tow truck would be a reason to go back. Thanks for sharing.:7_6_3[1]: I'll have to but Kansas back on my bucket list:12101::thumbsup: