This was a day with several highlights. The first came quite early in the morning when, shortly after 6:00AM some old cowboy in a Chevy pickup came whistling past me northbound in the southbound lanes of I-135 just South of Salina, KS. Talk about surrealistic! I saw him coming from some distance - driving along as if he were just on some two lane road. I slowed a bit and kept well right, flashed my lights but he just cruised on by. Fascinating. And kinda freaky. First destination today was Wichita where I was treated to a coffee break by friend Lori and also got to spend some time with my favorite Kansas girlfriend, her dog Heidi. After a too brief visit I was back underway eastbound first through Kansas City then on into Missouri toward St. Louis. Later came a crossing of the Missouri River near Columbia, MO and shortly afterward the odometer turned over 10,000 miles for the trip! 10,000+ miles in 24 riding days - as advertised! No weather issues today and the projection is for it to stay dry and nice through at least my arrival in Chattanooga on Saturday morning. That's good news because I don't like the idea of riding in the rain on my tires which are rapidly approaching the status of "slicks." With just 500-600 miles to go, they'll make it to the end but will be throwaways when I get there. Tomorrow begins with a morning meeting with some folks from the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America in nearby Ballwin, MO. Afterward I'll be off again with the goal of getting to the Nashville area tomorrow evening. Then Saturday it's the remaining short ride into Chattanooga and the Open House at Pandora's European Motorsports. Can't believe the Chattanooga celebration is that close. After that, of course, there's still the not-inconsiderable task of riding home to Pennsylvania. That'll probably happen over Sunday and Monday but stay tuned for details.
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| Another pre-dawn departure. |
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| Sunrise beginning. I-135 between Salina and Wichita. |
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| He's still following me. |
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| Amber waves of grain. Or something like that. |
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| My favorite Kansas girlfriend, Heidi. |
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| Across the Missouri River near Columbia, MO. |
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| Nutritious road lunch. |
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