Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Started Saturday morning at the hotel restaurant and a breakfast buffet.  Everything was delicious although the sausage gravy was a little spicy. Seems the cook likes to add jalapeños to the mix!

We decided to head up to Black Hawk and on the way we stumbled upon  Beer Festival in Central City so we stopped to check it out. We ended up ignoring all the food venders on the street and grabbed a table in the closest brew pub.

While waiting on the pizza we ordered, Marybeth and I each put $20 in a video poker machine at the bar. I lost about half at Jacks or Better before switching over to Deuces Wild. Then I hit for four Deuces!  1000 credits. Ended up making $265 once I cashed out!  And about a third of the way through the thousand and some odd quarters dropping, the machine stops and say call attendant. They had to refill the thing with quarters so I could finish getting paid. A good problem to have I guess!

Soon after we walked out to the street, it started raining. We headed for our bikes and by the time we pulled out of the parking garage, the rain was steady. We headed back a different route, through Black Hawk and down Route 119 and Clear Creek Canyon. It was a nice ride despite the rain.

Back in Denver, we hit more rain as we made our way to the Piper Inn in the SE section of the city. It's a nice biker bar with motorcycle only parking in the front. We had a beer with Ron and his friends that live locally, then returned to the hotel to clean up for diner with Tom And Dawn Terwilliger. 

Tom suggested a place at Larimer Square, a short walk from our hotel called Ted's Montana Grill. Marybeth and I both had the Bison Fillet. Excellent food. 

We had a good visit with the Denver Terwilligers and then they had to leave to make attend a birthday get together. We searched and found a Irish Pub a block over on Market St called Nallen's. we had a couple beers and a couple shots of Red Breast Irish Whiskey and people watched!  We headed back and called it a night about 11:30. Time to get some rest for a Sunday of riding in the beautiful state of Colorado. 

Don't point that thing at me!

     So, up again at 5 am and we enjoy a free Hampton breakfast.  Not the sausage gravy and biscuits we were hoping for but scrambled eggs and bacon with a side of oatmeal will do.  while packing the bikes and about to leave, another hotel guest is out snapping pictures with a fancy camera.  She offers to take a group shot of us when she sees Marybeth doing selfies.  She takes our picture with our camera, then Bill offers to take her picture by the bikes with her camera.  He starts snapping away and and then she asked if he focused the camera.  Nope, didn't tough a thing he replies.  Well it's not an auto focus and when he looks to check the photos, she advises him that there is no preview because it's a film camera! Geez!  Do they still sell film anywhere?  Yep, Walgreens!

     We head out on the road and Marybeth spots a rainbow.  As we get on I-80, we realize it's a double rainbow!  Wow, it's going to be a good day!  We start taking pictures of the rainbow and next thing you know, it's raining.  But the rain was short lived and not a downpour so not too bad.

     We come up on Kearney Nebraska and pass under The Great Platte River Road Archway Memorial which you can read about here.   http://www.archway.org/       

     We pull off to get gas in Lexington, NE and spot the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles.  What an awesome museum.  They have all kind of military vehicles and weapons.  they even have a M.A.S.H. display!

  

     After we do a quick recon of the Military Museum and drag Bill out of there, we push on.  It's a beautiful day for riding, not too hot, a little overcast, and the drivers are courteous.  People passing and moving to their right when done.  Only a few on cell phones.  As we are approaching Exit 126 on I-80, the Ogallala exit, there's a white Ford Taurus with Wyoming plates in the right lane.  We're clipping along at about 75 - 80 (don't worry Captain Safety, the speed limit is 75) and I move to the left lane to pass, as does Marybeth and Bill.  Bill's got a SUV and a Van behind him.  As I get up next to the Taurus, it starts to drift into my lane.  Not unusual, it's a straight boring road.  I hit the horn.  Not an obnoxious blast, but just enough to get the driver's attention.  The young lady behind the wheel looks kinda startled and she moves back into her lane.  After I'm by, I watch in my mirror as Marybeth starts to pass her.  All of a sudden, this bitch is intentionally pulling into the left lane trying to run Marybeth off the road!  I pull to the right lane since Marybeth accelerated to get out of her way and the lunatic (The Taurus driver, not Marybeth.) wants the left lane.  Now she's between Bill and I.  As I quickly formulate a plan to protect the group and neutralize the threat, the crazy bitch veers back to the right and takes the exit ramp, flipping us the bird as she goes!  I didn't go with my first instinct, which is to deal out some old west justice, since she is off the highway and no longer a threat.  The van and the SUV both pass us and the occupants both give us the thumbs up.  They should have a good story to tell!  Without stopping, we gather our thoughts and check our shorts, and motor on down the road two more exits for gas.  We discuss what just happened as we gas up. We couldn't figure out if the broad was crazy, high or both.  But she did come real close to dying from lead poisoning!

     We stop for lunch at Lucy's Cafe, about 19 miles into Colorado.  Bill insists on calling it Juicy Lucy's but I don't think she would appreciate that.  We rolled into denver about 3:30 and it looks like all the bad weather has passed by we made it to the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown without getting hailed upon.  We headed out in a big ol' SUV from Executive Rides, LLC, to a Triple D spot called the Highland Tavern.  Their featured dish was the Tavern Tots.  Fresh Tater Tots made right on premises!  Delicious!  As you can see, everybody dug in before I could get a photo of the full order.  And the Confit Rib Tips were quite tasty.

Day 2

Up at 5 am to meet for breakfast at 6 only to find out the Continental Breakfast doesn't start until 6:30!  Oh well, finish packing, then breakfast. A frozen croissant with egg and sausage out of the fridge and into the microwave!  Yum. It wasn't a Hampton Inn breakfast but it filled the void.

As we start loading the bikes, the rain started. We checked the radar and it looked clear to the west, maybe something brewing out by Iowa City. We opt not to put on the rain gear. That turned out to be a good call because by the the time we pulled out and got gas, the rain was done. The sky was overcast but that only made it comfortable riding. We cruised west on I-80 and hit a little rain just before crossing the Mississippi River.

Not enough to matter. On we went, past corn fields and the I-80 dog wash and truck stop. The traffic was light and the drivers moved out of our way after they passed who they wanted to pass. A pretty uneventful ride. Caught a little more rain just as the first gas stop was coming up. We stopped and fueled and two guys from the area pulled in. They were heading to the northwest and the radar was showing some nasty stuff up that way. They talked about getting some garbage bags since they didn't have rain gear with them. To the west it looked like if we timed it right, we would avoid the nasty weather that was heading for Iowa City. We rode on and did miss the nasty stuff. Corn for miles and miles.  I take some pictures to pass the time.

 

 By the time we were approaching Council Bluffs Iowa, the sun came out. As it was last year, the  road through Council Bluffs was in bad need of paving and you couldn't go over the speed limit without busting a rib or something! It was probably a good thing too, since the first cops we had seen all day were busy making traffic stops.

We crossed into Omaha Nebraska and got off the first exit. We were now in a helmet state but I was going to chance it since our lunch destination was right off the first exit. We pulled up to Starsky's to have some of their famous pig wings and as I walk to the door, I see they're closed!  WTF. Why is a bar closed at 1:00 pm on a Thursday?  What? Do these people work or something?  I look on their web site and see they don't open until 3 pm. But they so have another location and its in the direction we are going. We head over there and pass someone getting arrested along the highway. Looks lime their vehicle got searches and some contraband was found. We find the other location and its in an industrial area. I miss the sign but don't realize it until I look in my mirror and nobody is following me. You would think one of them would have beeped the horn or something as they pulled in. Nope. They just let me drive on another 300 yards until I realize it myself. 

Marybeth and I of course order the Pig Wings and the Currans both take advantage of the burger special. BOGO.

After a filling meal and a cup of coffee to stay awake, we press on. More corn.

 We roll into York Nebraska and our Hampton Inn is right off the highway. We get checked in and cleaned up.to head downtown to eat. The choice is between the Chances R Restaurant and Lounge and the sports bar next door, 4th Quarter. Chances R has a bunch of Cadillacs and Buicks in front and there's two vehicles parked in front of the sports bar and a sign that says Oil Wrestling- 8 PM. Yep. We pick the sports bar. As we're waiting for our food, we can hear thuds and booms upstairs. Must be the wrestlers warming up. We leave just before 8 since the ladies don't care to take in the oil wrestling. 

We head back to the hotel for some pool time and blogging. And then bed. And thoughts of what might be on the Hampton Inn breakfast menu. We're hoping its sausage gravy and biscuits. Fingers crossed!

Heading west

Got out of the house about 7:15 and headed to Bob Evans to meet Bill and Sue Curran for breakfast.

65° and sunny but a little cool without a jacket.

Had a tasty breakfast and headed out on the Ohio Turnpike and the world of road construction. The air had warmed up a bit and it wasn't too bad. 

The ride was uneventful for the most part. We stopped for lunch at the Five Star Dive Bar in Elkhart, Indiana. The food was delicious. I had the Bourbon BLT and Parmesean Cheddar Tots!  Awesome!  The waiter/bartender was friendly and on top of things. 

After lunch we had another 40 miles to our next gas stop. Bill pulled in almost on fumes and put 4.9 gallons in his 5 gallon tank. I say that's perfect planning!  

After another 150 miles, we reached our destination for the night, the Annawan Illinois Best Western. Brand new place in the middle of a corn field. I guess they said build it and they will come. And we are here!  Tomorrow, on to York Nebraska. 

Prepping for the road trip

Well, it's been way too long since we've been on a bike trip and the time is just about here for this year's. We both took the day off to cut the lawn, clean the house, pack, pay bills, get money out of the bank, load music on my new Garmin GPS, prep the bikes and do whatever else needed done before heading out on the road for two and a half weeks. It's nearly 8pm as I write this and I'm exhausted!  The mind is constantly trying to think of something that may have been overlooked. 

The new Garmin is a story in itself. My old Garmin only held small sections of maps so I could only load about one days travel  on it at a time so that's what I did. Every evening I'd have to load the next days route from the laptop to the GPS. But when I went to load our first leg of our trip on Sunday, I discovered that the permanent battery wouldn't hold a charge. Which is alright until I realized that it needs to run on the battery while the maps are loading. So unless I wanted to travel around the state of Ohio, I would need a new GPS. I know, I know, I could just use a map like the old days!  Or just make my own trip tiks but a GPS makes it nice to find places to eat or see where the next gas station may be. And hey, I like technology so if its available, use it. So we headed up to South East Harley and bought a Garmin Zūmo 660. I can load music on it and play it through my stereo along with turn by turn directions. I spent Sunday evening installing the mount for it which involved drilling a few hold in the fairing. That was a bit nerve racking!  

So now we're all set and sitting by the fire having a couple adult beverages, because after all, we are on vacation!

Zombies and Armadillos!

    When we left you, we were heading out the door to grab a bite to eat on Lower Broadway and then go see The Maloneys, Phil Hummer and the White Falcons and The Buddies at the Zombie Shop.  Earlier while on Lower Broadway, we spotted these two characters hanging out, collecting tips for just sitting and looking pretty.
     So after a dinner of Fried Bologna Sandwiches and sweet potato fries at Robert's, we mapped it out on the old smart phone and saw that the Zombie Shop was 5 blocks away but about a half mile walk due to the new Nashville Convention Center construction right between us and it.  The Zombie Shop is located in the 500 block of 6th Avenue South, in the industrial area just south of the Convention Center.  It's actually a
Moped repair shop by day.  We arrived to find an unmarked building but the door was open and we could hear music and see a few people milling around so we figured we were in the right place.

There were a few people hanging around when we walked in.  A table/bar was set up with a sign that read "DRANK $2.00".  PBR's for $2.00.  A few chairs and a sofa set up in a seating area.  The opposite side of the room sported a drum kit and amps.  To the left sat the remains of a small delivery van.  The back section contained mopeds and small motorbikes.

Phil Hummer and The White Falcons

Finally the Hummers arrived and soon took the "stage" and put on another outstanding show.  Next up, The Buddies. A mix of Nashvillians and Chicagoans.  They were very good, with Kim the drummer also playing the accordion on a couple tunes while working the pedal on the bass drum.  After their set, just when you thought the show was over, they broke into an Irish drinking song.

The Buddies

     Which brings us to the walk back to Lower Broadway.  It was a particularly drunken night, not us but all around us and at one point a young man was walking toward us on 4th Ave, bouncing off the exterior wall of the Hampton Inn.  at first I thought he may be a zombie, but I resisted the urge to neutralize him.  He walked by without trying to eat our brains so I guess it was a good idea not to.  We walked on and made our way back to Broadway and headed for the Full Moon Saloon where we were greeted by bartenders Samantha and Melinda, and the sounds of the Travis Mann Band on stage.  We grabbed a taxi afterwards and headed back to the hotel and called it a night.
     Saturday we headed out to Lebanon to visit with relatives, and then spent the evening saying goodbye to all our servers at Robert's and the Full Moon and were in by 11 PM for a 6 o'clock wakeup to head home.  We grabbed breakfast at Noshville and when paying the check, our waitress told us about an armadillo under a car parked on the street outside.  Now I don't know about you, but I'd never seen a living armadillo.  The only ones I'd seen were laying on their back's along the roadways in Florida and Texas.  I had to see this. We went outside and there he was.  As I laid on my belly snapping pictures with my iPhone, Marybeth asks if they attack like opossum.  I didn't think so but I didn't hang around to find out.  We headed to the nearby gas station and gasses up and decided to put on the full face helmets and rain jackets.  Good choice because when we  pulled out from under the canopy, it was already raining.  And it rained for the next  130 miles.  Unfortunately, we didn't put on the whole rain suit so by the time we got home at 6:30, my socks were still soaked.  Not bad though for a 4812 mile trip covering 15 states and that was the only serious rain we hit.  Now it's time to start planning the next trip!

Landing in Nashville!

We left Russellville Arkansas and headed east. Destination, Nashville! Nice cool weather and light traffic. Cruising at about 80 in a 70, I spot an Arkansas Trooper on the median about 20 miles into the day's ride. Too late now. After we pass, I see the trooper pulling out. Ah crap, a delay. I keep watching my mirror and I see his lights come on but he's way back in the distance. Then I see he's stopping someone else. That'll keep him busy. I hit the resume button on the cruise control and we're rolling again. Everyone is minding their manners. They pass who they need to pass and then get back over in the right lane. The way it is supposed to be done.
We hit a construction zone in Conway but they only slow traffic down to 60 but they maintain 2 lanes and everybody just zips through the 8 mile stretch. Little Rock is a little more congested but it's still not that bad. We hit another construction zone about 60 miles from the Tennessee border and the light up signs are telling us to expect delays. They have it down to single lane and 55 MPH but they also give warnings about a mile before that the left lane is closed and they erect signs telling drivers to "MERGE NOW"! They mean it! Not like Ohio where they throw up a sign about construction and then a hundred yards later have a lane shut down.
We decide to stop for gas and put on helmets about 20 miles from the border so the next exit coming up has several gas stations. We get to the exit and there is no slow down lane! It's just veer right at 70 MPH and hit the curve on the ramp! I'm surprised there wasn't a pile of vehicles off the side of the exit from trying to take the turn too fast. We hit the Shell station right near the top of the ramp and start pumping gas. We could've watched grass grow while the damn thing pumped about 1/2 gallon a minute! We shut it down with less than a gallon in Marybeth's bike and head to the BP. Much better. Then I notice we're at the West Memphis Service Center and all thats around there is seedy motels and a few homeless roaming around.
We hit Memphis a little before noon and find one of our favorite eating spots in that city, Gus's Famous Fried Chicken. Usually there is about a 1/2 hour to 45 minute wait at lunch time but the hostess says 15 - 20 minutes. She was right on. The lunch was awesome. This chicken is juicy and the batter is crispy and spicy. Not ridiculous spicy, but just spicy enough with good flavor.
     Now we're heading to Nashville and the roads are good and the traffic isn't too bad. As we're reaching Jackson, TN, we had planned on stopping at Bumpus Harley Davidson so Marybeth could pick up some new riding glasses since she had broken the ones she borrowed from me after breaking her own last year. It worked out well because the rain started right about a mile before the exit and stopped just as fast. It was still cloudy when we pulled out and a sprinkle here and there but it cleared up quickly.
Now we had the last stretch to Nashville. The roads started getting hillier and that means the trucks start trying to pass each other. Now if you are a trucker, or know a trucker, or are related to a trucker, please explain to them that no matter how fast they think their truck is, it's not that much faster than the truck they are about to pass and they probably won't get past the other truck before they reach the next incline. So it'll take them a good mile or more to make their pass and all they do is look stupid and piss other drivers off. I know the make America move by hauling our consumer goods but PLEEZ! Have some courtesy! And DOT, put in some truck lanes in hill country!
We made another gas stop about 40 miles outside of Nashville. When we're getting back on, we discovered the entrance ramp was very short and with a truck in the right lane, another truck driver decides to pass him so he can't get over so we end up running the berm for about a hundred yards before we can merge over behind the truck in the right lane. We hit Nashville and traffic is rolling nicely. As we approach the I-40/I-65 merge, I hear over the CB "Back it down boys, you're about to hit a parking lot through the middle of the city!". Sure enough, brake light start lighting up and a mile from our exit, the traffic comes to a slow crawl. Luckily I'm familiar with the area and we get off at the next exit, but not before the freight train passing under the bridge we're on blasts his horn a couple times and scares the shit outta me! Damn that was loud.
We get to within two blocks of the hotel and the secondary roads are gridlocked because of the I-40 backup and the idiots going in the opposite direction are blocking us and the cars in front of us from turning left to get where we need to be. These people are driving with blinders on and have no courtesy. The lady adjacent to me is waiving the driver behind me to turn left in front of her since the traffic in front of her has moved but lady, he doesn't want to turn there, he wants to turn where I want to turn but we can't turn because you got the street blocked up. Yes I called her a moron as I did several other drivers who I had observed blocking the intersection while we sat there in 90° heat, waiting to turn. Finally, we got moving again and made it to our Home 2 hotel.
This is the first time we've ever stayed at one. It's like an extended stay by Hilton complete with a dishwasher, some dishes, microwave and fridge with freezer. Kinda like a dorm room. We got settled and headed down town to Lower Broadway via the hotel shuttle. The driver was all full of himself, telling some young ladies in the van he had a doctorate degree and were thinking, "why you driving a damn hotel shuttle then?". He was impressing them with his knowledge of sensible shoes and eateries around downtown. He drops these 4 or 5 gals off right at the front door of the restaurant they're going to after getting out and opening the side doors for them and taking their hands to help them exit. We pull away and I ask him if he can drop us off by Roberts and the other couple asks to be dropped off at Margaritaville which are in the 4 and 500 blocks of Broadway. Nope! Can't do it. He'll drop us off at 2nd Ave and Broadway because the other is out of his way. He stops the van and lets us fend for ourselves to climb out of the van. I watch then as he turns to the west and drives right past where we wanted to go, you so of a bitch!
We hoof it to Roberts as we chat with the other couple who are visiting from Australia. Welcome to some southern hospitality courtesy of the van driver. We find our spots at the bar and Sammy and Cooper are tending bar. We order up a couple cold ones and a couple cheese burgers. Yum!
A while later Marybeth's cousin Tuffy shows up and then our Facebook friend David Brown from Indiana walks in. We spend some time chatting and watching the drunks before heading next door to Layla's Bluegrass Inn to listen to the remains of Slim Chance and the Can't Hardly Playboys with Josh Hedley on vocals. A while later, our friend who we met on our last Nashville trip, Loiusa, aka Baberham Lincoln, shows up. Louisa likes to dance and Marybeth musta been drunk cuz she got up to join her on the dance floor. We left soon after that and caught a cab ride back to the hotel.
Friday morning we were awaken at well before 8am by the garbage truck. Then at about 8 am, house keeping decides to do some big time wrestling or renovation in the storage room next to our suite. And about 20 minutes later, a couple housekeepers decide to have a meeting outside our door. I opened the door and politely reminded them that people were trying to sleep! Then at 10 am, a couple children began running up and down the hall and slamming doors. About the third time, I threw on some pants and went into the hall. A-HA! The room across the hall. I hear children talking and it sounds like they may be leaving soon. I wait. Out comes two little girls about 5 or 6 with their father. "Are you the ones running up and down the hall?" Again I politely remind them that this is not a playground and people are trying to sleep!
We finally get up about 11 and get ready to head to Willie Mae's in Springfield for some fantastic BBQ served up by Joe and Gail and we have lunch with David Brown before he heads home to Indiana.
Tonight, back down to Broadway and then to see the Hummers play