So the weather is beautiful, in the high 60’s heading for the low 70’s (Fahrenheit). I just got the new floorboards installed () and I am itching to get out on the road and try them out. The night before I had plotted some of the points I thought would count toward the Presidential Race challenge that my HOG group is having. The Presidential Race is open to all our members. Every year my HOG group offers some kind of a challenge for fun or t-shirts. In 2006 the challenge was the I’ve Been Everywhere Tour. Using the 91 locations in Johnny Cash’s song, you take a picture of your bike at the sign. That was the year I was traveling all over the US and Canada for the ABC’s of Touring Challenge, so I got ... read more

Our American Legion Riders from Post 370 in Overland Park got together to go see the Patriot Chopper. The Patriot Bike is a National Guard theme chopper built by OCC (Orange County Choppers). It was built on the show American Chopper. We met at 11:30am on Saturday morning. I had to hurry, as I needed to put in a couple hours that morning at work, I work for that American Legion Post. But I got to the post in plenty of time to join the group for the ride. It was in the low 40’s when we left for Cabela’s a local sporting goods superstore. Cabela’s was hosting the bike viewing. It took a little while to get there as we were separated by stoplights on the way. BTW guys, the stoplight at Johnson Drive and ... read more

I had been wanting to make a run up to NE and IA this year. For the last couple years I have made a triangle, leaving KC heading up I-35 to IA cutting across IA on some of their highways to I-29 (NE) and coming back home. On the way I usually run by John Wayne’s birthplace in Winterset IA, this is located in the middle of all the bridges that were made famous by the movie ‘Covered Bridges of Madison County’. There is also an ‘I’ county (Iron I think), I counties are not found too easily so usually I use this one for my ABC’s. Anyway this year I am a little late with my run and because I am becoming less eager to ride in the cold I shortened that route so I ... read more

No. 1092-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 07, 2007 Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132 Public/Industry(703) 428-0711 DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.They died Sept. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Killed were: Sgt. Joel L. Murray, 26, of Kansas City. Spc. David J. Lane, 20, of Emporia, Kan. Pvt. Randol S. Shelton, 22, of Schiller, Park, Ill. Not an ordinary Patriot Guard mission, but what is an ordinary one? It is a sorry thing to witness the internment of our young sons killed in a war faraway. I can not put in words the deep respect and appreciation ... read more

I participated in the Ridin’ the Rockies HOG Touring Rally that was held June 25-28, 2007. The plan for the week was to spend some time with my cousins before the rally started then take the long way home after the rally. I rode my 2005 833 Sportster from KC to the rally and back home. The following is a ride report of the ride. It is divided in to parts because of the pictures. My last day, I am on the way home. I am ready to be home but I have one more night out. I am heading to Garnett, the home of my parents. I promised I would stop there on the way home. On this bright morning the owner of the motel came round as I was packing the bike. I told ... read more