Just A Memory

It is Sunday, and time to head home. Betsy and Mike are always fun and we really had a great time together. We've had another great year at Bikes Blues and Barbecue. This is the the largest charitable motorcycle event sanctioned by Harley Davidson in the United States. This is really a tribute to Arkansas bikers and they're genuine concern for others. Phillip and I truly enjoyed our stay at the lake. It is really beautiful at Beaver Lake this time of the year. We sat on the screened porch every morning, had coffee, and watched the sun come up and the deer play in the yard. Retirement just doesn't get any better. Can't wait until next year. ROM

Dixon Street, Fayettville. AR

Saturday afternoon and Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville. This is the place where all bikers come to show their goods. It is a traffic congested mix of people from all walks of life with all kinds of bikes and dress. There are vendors of every kind and prices for every pocketbook. We rode the Arkansas Missouri Railroad from Baum stadium to downtown Fayetteville. For five dollars round-trip you do not have to fight the traffic downtown. It was a great afternoon, always fun and the weather was perfect. Saturday night is our traditional meal at Copeland's of crawfish étouffée.ROM

Guns, Motorcycles and Cars

Saturday morning was spent at Arvest Park at a military gun show , antique motorcycle exhibition and antique automobile competition. It is always fun seeing what others are interested in or have preserved. A glimpse at historical artifacts. ROM

Ride Day

On Friday we spent the day riding through North Arkansas and the southern part of Missouri. There were a few trails that we had ridden before but there were also some new ones that Phillip had selected for us. Some great choices and some beautiful scenery. We had lunch at the Under the Cliff Café on the outskirts of Joplin Missouri. This is a café that we enjoy going to each year. It is unique in its location and is a favorite for bikers at BB&B. After a long afternoon drive back to Rogers Arkansas we rersted and had dinner at the Outback. You can tell that eating is a big part of the enjoyment for the trip. This is true with any trip. ROM

Bikes Blues and BBQ

So begins another Adventure this is always great fun and
the last for 2015. Gaylen was in Canada fishing and will miss this trip again for another year. Our friends Mike and Betsy Smith joined us for the next four days. This is always a great trip and a fun time to ride the Ozarks. It was estimated that there were approximately 400,000 riders. On the way we stopped in Jenny Lind Country Cafe in Jenny Lind, Arkansas and had lunch. As on all of our trips we always try to find unique places to eat. After lunch we headed to Rogers Arkansas and the events of the Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers area. ROM

Home Sweet Home

We spent our last night on the road in Hays Kansas. We had stayed here on our way as we began our journey. It was here that we made our last Harley stop at Doerfler's Harley Davidson dealership. We had been there several years ago. On Saturday, 29 August we began our trip to Rogers Arkansas. It was here in Rogers that we said goodbye to Phillip, took our traditional photograph and headed home on Sunday, August 30. We arrived in Rogers about three days early and just in time for Cindy's  birthday. In summarizing our trip I would have to say that this was the best one yet. It was not so much the places that we stopped and saw as much as it was the scenery we saw as we traveled through the various states to the West Coast. This was truly about the ride ( a total of 6490 miles ) and not the destination. We really only had one day of rain and the temperatures were mild enough throughout the trip show that we were comfortable. We all agreed that at Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier were two of the premier places that we visited on our journey. The ride and the fellowship will always be the part of the journey that brings us back year after year for another adventure, A special thanks to our wives for allowing us this privilege. Y'all are the best! (Sorry this last post is so late.) ROM

High Country Harley

Harley stop at Fredrick, CO, just north of Denver. ROM

Louisville: Family and Friends

Gaylen's grandson Dan and his family hosted us two years ago on our way home from Nova Scotia when they lay out in St. Louis. They are such a great family. They have become like family to Philip and I. We got to meet Romyn for the first time because he was born in October after we were there in August of that year. He was really a character and we were so surprised say how much Hydi and Nolyn have grown. Krista had become Dr. Schuck in our absence. Dan is staying busier at times than he thought he would designing Webb sights and managing his own home maintenance and repurposing business. That evening we all went to dinner at Lu Lu's and stuck great grandpa Schuck with the check. For Phillip and I this was the best part of the evening. After dinner we all went to the Sweet Cow for a scoop of ice cream. ( except for me ). We got up and Dan cooked breakfast for all of us. Great grandpa Schuck got to have breakfast with his great grandchildren. ( last pic. ) We reluctantly said goodbye after a trip to Krista's clinic for a Chiorpractic adjustment each and a Hydro-massage. Relaxing ride today! Thanks, Dr. Schuck. ROM

Thank you

A really awesome evening stay with Dan, Krista, Hydi, Nolyn and Romyn. Thank you so much. And if you can't tell, all 3 Grandpas are smiling after an adjustment and Hydro Massage at Krista's clinic. GMS

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Night riders

Hydi, Nolyn and Romyn just had to sit on the 3 Grandpas Wild Hogs cycles. GMS 

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Dinner

Here we are at one of Louisville 's hot spots, Lu Lu's BBQ on the porch. Great fun and food. After dinner called for a short walk to the Sweet Cow for an ice cream. GMS

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Dan and Krista's house

Located in a nice suburb of Denver, Louisville, this two story, full basement, 3 bedroom home was built in the 80s. The entire neighborhood is families and kids about the same age, on a cul-de-sac. With lots of bike and hike trails. Also about a 5 minute drive or 10 minute bike ride to Krista's office. Here Richard and Dan inspect the back yard and Nolyn by the back fence. GMS

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Louisville, CO

A good day of riding over the Rockies, some after showers, cold, warm and various conditions in between, we arrive at Dan and Krista's and three smiling faces of great grand kids, any aches and pains melt away after hugs and smiles. GMS

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Denver ( Louisville) Or Bust

We left Green River Thursday morning headed for Louisville Colorado a suburb of Denver. This is where Dan Schuck, Gaylen's grandson recently moved with his family. Green river is sort of the gateway to the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. I have included a few landscape shots of the approach to the mountains but it is very difficult to ride and take pictures as we travel through the Rockies.The large plateau in the first picture is adjacent to the city of Green River. It was tremendous in size and very majestic.The Rocky Mountains were very beautiful this time of year. They were very green and very colorful with flowers and trees of a variety of kinds. The Rocky Mountains still remain one of the nations destinations during the summer months for recreation sports of all kinds. It seems like water sports were the most popular because of the number of kayaks and rafts in the various rivers that we saw. Even if you have traveled this area before the beauty and the wonder of the Rocky Mountains still intrigues and amazes you. It is said by most who live here that" it is the winters that get you to come here but it is the summers that keep you here." I believe that is probably a true. ROM

Coming to Ely, Nv

On Hwy 50, about 7 miles west of Ely, the clouds were gathering and it looked sure that we were getting wet before getting there. This very different rainbow appeared to be coming out of the top of the Mountain. GMS

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Eureka

We left Grass Valley Tuesday morning on our way to Ely, NV. On the way we stopped at the small town of Eureka which was about halfway to our destination. It had a neat Historical District. Here are but a few of the buildings. ROM

Ely to Green River

The trip from Ely to Greenriver was another one of those journeys when you see a great deal of country side. Excluded are a few photos that prove that. We did have an interesting encounter at Ely but no pictures. As we left the motel to go and get dinner the local police seem to have an interest in the three bikers from Arkansas. Blue lights flashing, we pulled into the Twin Wok for our evening meal.The two young officers approached us and wanted to know where our helmets were because Nevada is a helmet law state. We told them the helmets were. in the room at the motel where we were staying and that we and only rode about three blocks. We tried to convince them (and it was true) that we wear helmets all the time. They were very nice and polite and because of our age and the funny look on our face they let us go. Not even a warning.The little Chinese couple and their children that ran the restaurant was looking through the door to see what was going on. We went into the dinning roomn and explained to all the customers who were laughing that we were not criminals. I think it really helped us to the two officers were interested in elk hunting and were familiar with Arkansas and it's growing elk population.they probably would have stayed and talked with us but got a call and had to go to a domestic disturbance. It was just like on TV, they handed us our IDs back and took off quickly. We made a lot of new friends. ROM

Landscapes

The landscape between Ely and Green River was great. I wish that it were possible to include all of the pictures that I took. One shows a salt flat in Utah, an approaching rain storm that we rode through and flat land with some some mountains in the background. ROM