Well I (we) tried....after a venue change and then a weather-forced change, my race watching trip to central MO became instead a simple road exploration of some fantastic riding. That was after all a primary reason that I chose the race, its timing and location, as justification for the trip. I won't go into all of the pre-trip changes, suffice it to say that adjustments were made.
1504 miles.....
After numerous failed plans and one failed trip, my hope was to finally visit the Floyd County, IA History Museum where one wing of the facility is dedicated to Oliver farm equipment. Charles City, IA had been the location of Oliver manufacturing and its headquarters.
I'd mentioned my plans to some riding friends and expressed my desire to make the ride on my own but that I'd enjoy their company at both the museum and at the races. Again, there were more changes and by the time early June arrived, Greg and I were the only participants.
Thursday afternoon was our last day of school for the year, I parked the school bus, drove home, changed and headed out the driveway on my '07 Moto Guzzi 750 Breva, destination Charles City. Greg had texted me earlier in the day that he was on his way and that he'd see me at our reserved motel.
After a light overnight shower, it was museum time.
There were numerous photos of Oliver's doing work on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Anyone know why?
Friday Greg and I each took our separate paths to Lexington, MO.....the Hotellexihill Motel our reserved stay.
On the way, I stopped in Pleasant Hill, IA for lunch at the Pleasant Hill Diner.
Dinnertime in Lexington....
My very first time at a Maid-Rite.....Greg and old hand.
1954 and 1955 Maid-Rite menus....
Saturday morning, some quiet roads together to downtown Knob Noster.....yes, Knob Noster. Where else would a B2 Bomber Base be located? First we stopped for a casual coffee....just the kind of guys we are. We DID so because we'd walked a block from the motel for a SONIC breakfast w/coffee advertised "but no longer available". So a casual coffee (and fuel) were called for at the CENEX station.
Then we wound our way through downtown to the Whiteman AFB where I was hoping, since it was the weekend, that just possibly they might be giving rides. Apparently we got a wrong weekend.....we didn't even see any B2's....should have checked the schedule. We did see an airplane whose design was as old as I am.
From the Base, we separated paths again, Greg taking the slow way home. My goal was to take the slow way east and south. Since I didn't really have any targets, only a direction, I decided to chase a couple of the suggestions that Kansas City Paul had shared (Thank you!). Since the races had been cancelled due to an overwhelming amount of water in the preceding days, the day's end location remained the same....how I was going to get there was much less direct than initially planned. Camdenton and Dave's Hideaway would be the day's endpoint.
One of Paul's suggestions was the General Store in Rocheport....seemed like a good idea. Clouds were getting dark that direction.....
I was riding with only my mesh jacket on, was in no hurry (hungry though) and according to the storm's movement, it would only take 15 or 20 minutes for most of the worst to move east. Stubbornness about refusing to dress for rain was winning out.
I crossed the Wide Missouri only to have caught up with drops and looking east towards Rocheport, only hazy, rain-drenched grey. So I stopped to learn.....
Finally a bit of brightness returned and I could finally make Rocheport.
After lunch, the big puffy clouds came out and it was absolutely perfect.
This is 'Steve Routing', I normally don't use it but decided to do some gravel road exploring. A solid purple (magenta) vector with dashed lines both back to and directly forward to your destination. I got off the pavement and then had trouble finding it again. I wasn't aware that County paved roads would or could simply cease.
There were actually quite a few of these signs....
My return to pavement.....very welcomed!
Don't ask me how I knew....but the Donut Palace was a mere 150 second walk away from my lodgings...and....most important, open at 5 am Sunday morning. This is the sort of thing that's crucial for the Traveler to be aware of.
Sunday's venture....to Postosi and then north to Sullivan.
Bearfoot Cafe in Potosi....
The Flying J on I-44 at Sullivan. It was getting warm, I was sleepy and needed a break. The break took an hour, I decided that I'd had enough and decided to look for a motel. The people and trucks were easy watching.
Monday's route from Sullivan, MO to Muscatine, IA....
Breakfast in Troy....these "See" signs are different than the ones I see around home, the message the same though.
Always a special treat to see the entire Hostess product line....
Saverton, just south of Hannibal......'Old 79' away from the river. Lock and Dam 22.
Tuesday's run....
Breakfast in Muscatine....
Lunch in Guttenberg....
Desert in Guttenberg.....my favorite town along the river.
One last afternoon coffee break in Le Crescent....
And home. Six great days, barely a drop over 1500 miles. Any real rain happened over night. The last couple of days were windy, extra tiring. The 750 ran like a champ, the perfect bike for this sort of trip.
Thanks for coming along, I sure had fun doing it and reporting.
