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Published: December 12th 2006
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MO Space Shuttle
This was in a Methodist Church parking lot. What a hoot. This is the first part of a series thats about the ride I took on my 2005 883 Low Harley Sportster from Kansas City to Novia Scotia and back. This was part of my vacation from 4 to 20 AUG 2006
Friday 4 Aug 2006
August 4th I started my far east trip. I am planning to ride from Kansas city as far east as Canada to see both Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia . Working on HOG’s ABC’s of Touring the purpose of this trip is to collect the remaining 23 continental states, 3 Canada Provinces, a few HOG rallies and some other missing points. I am also working on the “I’ve Been Everywhere” challenge from our HOG group, using this trip to pick up some of the cities mentioned in Johnny Cash’s song ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’.
As usual leaving work a little early I got out of KC before rush hour. The trip was hot but uneventful until I got on the south side of Springfield MO. US160 heading east was totally awesome. I have been on 160 west of Springfield but not any further east. Twisty, shady and very few cars were elements that
MO Valley View
Southern MO is really pretty, usually the smaller highways are shaded and joy to ride on a hot day. made this a great ride. It will be well worth revisiting next year.
There were a couple Kodak moments that made me pull over for a quick snap shot or two. One was a beautiful scenic view of the valley, the second pull over was caused by a church bus parked alongside the road. This bus was a hoot. It had been fixed to resemble a space shuttle. It had the rocket exhaust things on the back and wings on the side. It was painted in the white and black décor that is normal for the space shuttles.
I passed an accident. It was in the valley of 2 steep hills. 3 guys were directing the on coming traffic from the west. I stopped and then proceeded past the accident. Just as I am reaching the end the west bound traffic that is waiting to go, a truck pulling a boat comes flying around the corner. I drove through a white cloud caused by burning tires as the truck made an emergency stop. I’m sure we both shit our drawers.
That evening I also saw a deer. By the time I saw it, it had its head up and was looking for me. As soon as it found me coming down the road it ran back into the woods. So I am pondering how well my ‘Hornet’ deer alert is working. What I know is: I have traveled southern NE, central, southern and western KS farm lands both at dusk and sunrise. I rarely see a deer. Last weekends’ 5 state trip (AR WEST RUN) I did not see a single deer. In my travels the ones I see do not move toward me, or stand ground, they run away. I am happy with the Hornet deer alert.
I wanted to make it past Bakersfield for the day, but the GPS was insistent on sending me down a gravel road for 10 miles. I was just as insistent I was not going. It was already dark so I turned around and came back to Gainesville MO for the night, it had 2 motels in it. The gas station in Tecumseh suggested the Antler Motel, but the steep road leading down to it was a nightmare of holes, gravel & large rocks not something I wanted to negotiate in good conditions, if it rains tonight, it would be a nightmare to get out of. The Gainesville Bullseye station said the Vaught Motel was fine and also had nice rooms. So for $46 I had my choice of doubles or a king bed. The room is really nice. I am surprised this room doesn’t have a little refrigerator, not that I had anything to put in it, it just seems that all the little hotels had refrigerators as standard equipment. The owner was very helpful on directions to Bakersfield using paved roads, so I am all set for the morning. I asked for a 6am wake up, but the hotel has a restaurant that has a breakfast buffet in the morning. It starts at 7am, so I might hang around until they start serving breakfast.
The Route Map for the trip is located in the last Journal:
06 Far East Ride - Day 17 - HOME
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