Three Wheels West

Happy NE-W Year 2009!

January 1 marked the beginning of a new year... and for us a new riding season. That’s right, Three Wheels West has made their New Year’s resolution for 2009: Get the bikes out of the garage for at least one ride each and every month of the coming year. And what better way to begin than with Chapter W’s Cold Tush Challenge.

This year, the Frenchman Valley Riders challenged all their GWTA Nebraska family to hit the road on New Year’s Day and ride... distance, location, and ride time didn’t matter, we just wanted to see our family doing what they do best... sharing some good times together.

Results: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! Judging by the pictures turned in and the number of faces, we succeeded. You don’t realize just how much your motorcycle family means to you until winter comes and you don’t get to see everyone for a while... the pictures bring back all the joy.... kind of like a virtual supper run! Now that’s what I call a good beginning for GWTA Nebraska and 2009! Hats off to all those who participated, especially those who braved Nebraska’s winter weather. (Three Wheels West took their NYD ride a little further south while enjoying Christmas in Kentucky, but that's another blog post.) Thanks, Chapter G, for "bringing it" and including your Cold Butt Run in the Challenge.

Pictures of the event are available in Chapter NE-W’s on-line photo album and at U2’s Webshots.com album. If you’d still like to have your NYD ride included in the event’s final count, click here to contact U2.

The Cold Tush Challenge also marked our first official act as 2009 Family of the Year for GWTA Nebraska and Chapter NE-W. We're sure this is only the first of many fun times ahead with our motorcycle family. From RR, U2, Britters, and Hammy: Best wishes and Good Health for 2009!

Rider Stocking Stuffers: The Best Mascara!

Warning Guys: This post is for the girls who ride... unless (hint, hint) you're looking for an inexpensive little stocking stuffer to add to your significant-other rider or co-rider's holiday gift pile. In that case, I suggest you read on.

Since my teen years, I've never worn much makeup... give me a little tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, a quick dab of mascara, and some lip color, and I'm out the door. I've always struggled with the mascara bit... a mere two hours after application, I end up with black shadows under my eyes, even with the waterproof versions! Lately I'd just given up, but my eyes need their mascara. This year, I even tried eyelash extensions: I loved waking up with a full set of ready-to-wear lashes for three months, but the salon trips for maintenance every two weeks and the expense did not fit my lifestyle. Then I discovered L'Oreal's Double Extend Beauty Tubes Technology mascara. Eureka!!!! I've found it!!!

This stuff works!!! I can ride and work all day and still NO smudges. Better yet, I can lighten my overnight luggage. This stuff is easily removable at the end of the day with warm water... no need to pack makeup remover. (Even when removed, the "tubes" don't smudge.)

I recommend this stuff to all my friends, and the customer/professional reviewers agree with me. I haven't tried the water-proof version yet; my local retailer only carries the "red tube" version. Normally I only buy waterproof mascara, but the regular version works just fine for me. For more info on the tubes technology, click here and here.

The search is over, and the smudges are gone! No more raccoon eyes!

Merry Christmas, Ladies!

The Cold Tush Challenge

This week, Three Wheels West accomplished one of their goals for 2008 -- to take at least one ride during every month of the year. It helped that January, February, November, and December included some unseasonably warm afternoons. Last week, our thermometer tried to make it into the 70's, so we ditched the farm bookwork and hit the road for a quick break. Maybe we'll get lucky during the holidays and the roads will stay nice and salt-free. It's not the cold that does us in so much these days as the gravel and road debris that gets flung at us by oncoming traffic and at intersections after the weather turns bad.

During the monthly meeting of the Frenchman Valley Riders, a motion was made to extend Chapter NE-W's Cold Tush Challenge to the rest of our GWTA family. Chapter NE-G also has a New Year's Day ride scheduled, so we decided to have a little family fun this year. Game On !! On New Year's Day (January 1, 2009) all members are challenged to get on their bikes and ride... you must get on the bike, engine running, outside the garage, and ride outside as weather permits. Rides in the driveway will count if snow and ice confine you to such. Group or individual photos will be accepted as proof of your ride and can be e-mailed to u2farmer@nebnet.net. Keep it simple or get creative; your choice.

For the latest news or commentary on the event, log on to GWTA Nebraska's forum and browse the thread labeled "Chapter NE-W's Cold Tush Challenge". Even if you don't get a picture, post a reply to let us know you participated. Keep it fun, use common sense, and remember: SAFETY FIRST !!!

Harvest Reading the TA Way: What's In Your Library?

As Harvest 2008 wound down and the combine switched to picking dry-land corn, I found myself with a little more time on my hands between loads. A gal can only listen to the radio for so long, and it is wise not to let the truckers or combine driver catch you napping... they become very resentful and cranky when they catch you taking advantage of a moment's leisure. The trick is to appear busy at all times. I keep a plethora of reading material handy in my lunch bag for just such occasions as this. Usually it includes a newspaper or a magazine or two, something that can be dropped pronto the moment a truck arrives or the combine needs unloading. This year, I decided to slip in a copy of GWTA's TA Way and the updated GWTA Bylaws.

The TA Way is is a MUST read for GWTA chapter directors and recommended for all members of the organization. It's a great way for new members to learn the overall scheme of things and to avoid re-inventing the wheel. The manual is currently undergoing a revision so that it reflects the 2008 changes to the bylaws and other updates, but why wait... I had the time while the combine picked out a ditch-laden field. It only took me 1.5 days of "mini breaks" to complete. It's not rocket science, and reviewing the manual helps keep members, staff, and chapters all on the same road to Destination Friendship.

I also stuffed my bag with Flash Gordon M.D.'s Blood, Sweat & Gears this year. It's one of those books that you can put down at a moment's notice and then pick up again for reading opportunities that must be kept brief. The book is out of print and hard to find, but it caught my interest when the sequel Blood, Sweat & 2nd Gear was released and I heard the author (a rider with more than 30 years of road experience) interviewed in a Ride podcast on Blog Talk Radio. Soon after that, I found the first book in a used bookstore -- a brand new copy, never even opened. I learned a lot from that book and really enjoyed the author's sense of humor in dealing with the subject matter and his patients.

Here's a Sample of What I learned from Blood, Sweat & Gears:

Road Rash -- Timing is everything, attention to the injury within the first 30 minutes results in a vast improvement to the outcome. Don't wait until you get home to treat it. He has some neat tips.
First Aid Kits for Motorcyclists: What to include -- my respect for zync oxide, gauze, chicken wire, Neosporin, and Betadine is renewed.
Proper Removal of Dirt or Gravel From The Eye: Again, don't wait until you get home. Don't wipe your eye; don't rub with your finger... A neat trick for getting a speck out from under the eyelid.
Evaluating Downed Riders For Injury: Out in the boonies? No trained medical help? One step at a time.
Carpel Tunnel Tips: Keep your wrists straight!
Roast Calf: Treating burns and when to get professional help.
'Rhoids: Your Gold Wing will outlast your body's ability to travel long distances in a single sitting. Get fiber!

I found so much stuff in the first book, that I can't wait to dive into the sequel. No wonder Sound Rider magazine considers both these books MUST reads for riders. They're easy to read, funny, informative, and worth a gander.

Happy Thanksgiving! It's In The Bin!!!

Harvest 2008 is over, the crop is in the bin, and we are truly thankful to be done! This year was extremely trying due to weather conditions all throughout the growing season. Spring rains, washouts, hail, unmatured cobs, corn that wouldn't dry down, and confused combines that refused to adjust to this year's field conditions (this does not compute!). But we're done. No more sleep deprivation. Now, we can spend the day in rest and thanks... and in prayer -- that our friends will soon complete a safe harvest also.

For this year's harvest I made three changes and they really seemed to help my energy levels... I'm wondering if I should carry these changes over to my motorcycle cruising trips. My three goals this year were:

no pop -- I didn't even pack it in my lunch bag
no big meals -- I nibbled throughout the day and added a Gnu Flavor & Fiber bar or Fiber One bar
stretch -- when possible I got out of the tractor & tried to get my heart pumping; fresh oxygen to clear my head

These 3 things really improved my quality of life in the field ... no afternoon sleepies, no energy crashes, and the fresh oxygen really did make a difference in circumventing "the 4 pm stupids" -- you know what I'm talking about... the late afternoon brain-fog decisions. Also, I chugged water throughout the day (my MTM podcast guy told me once that if you're grumpy or foggy-headed, think about your water intake... you're probably dehydrated... get H20! He's right!). Warning -- increasing your water intake does have consequences which are especially challenging for female field workers. Nuff said.

During harvest, I spend 12 - 16 hours in my tractor pulling a grain cart at the mercy of the truckers and the combine driver. During the last few years, I've started worrying about blood clots in the legs from all that sitting. Last year, I switched to TravelSox for the field... they really helped. The added stretch breaks kicked it up a notch; my feet and ankles didn't seem to swell as much this season. (Yes, you can do push-ups leaning against a tractor tire... just don't get caught or fellow grain cart drivers and truckers might think you're weird.)

This year, food-wise, I also discovered four new things: Flatouts (healthy with a great flavor, and they make it so much easier to eat a sandwich while driving a tractor!), Gnu Flavor & Fiber Bars (one bar contains 1/2 of your daily fiber requirements; great for people who must sit long periods of time, Orange Cranberry is my favorite!), Breakstone's cottage cheese and pineapple fruit combos, and Hammy's salad... Hammy loves to invent things and she put this salad together for me based on a recipe shared by another Frenchman Valley Rider. The flavor made a great change from sandwiches, and the complex carbs kept me going all afternoon without a post-meal energy crash or afternoon munchies. Here's her recipe:

Hammy's Salad

1 package broccoli slaw
chopped almonds or walnuts
dried cranberries or Craisins
cooked chicken pieces or strips
Poppyseed Dressing

Combine the above ingredients, eyeballing quantities according to personal preference (that's Hammy's mad-scientist mentality for most of her creations -- just throw it in and forget the measuring cups). Just don't get carried away with the dressing.

Enjoy.

The Super-Visor

This time of year always gives me fits as the days get shorter and we end up riding directly into the glare of the sun more often than not on the way to our supper runs. RR and I have open-face Arai helmets with lightly tinted flip-up face shields. The smokey tint helps, but it isn't designed to block a low-angled, direct hit from the sun's rays. We needed to find a product that protected our vision but didn't interfere with the raising and lowering of our face shields. We'd tried the removable strip products that adhere to the top edge of the face shield. Those worked fine for RR, but the strip on my visor started losing adhesion after a couple of rides and kept dangling in front of my face about halfway into the ride -- not a good thing.

When the Super-Visor ad appeared in the back of GWTA's Touring News, we decided to take a chance with $16.95 (plus $3 S&H) and buy the product via their web site. U2's helmet was the guinea-pig for our test project. RR was the installation technician. The results? We more than got our money's worth.

The DOT-approved plastic product is vented, adjustable, available in three colors, and designed to fit all full face and open face helmets with a face shield. With my helmet on and face shield down, we determined the installation height best suited to my line of vision and made adjustments which still allowed me access to my face-shield vents and cooling vents. RR used the adhesive (included with purchase) to glue the visor to my face shield. You'll want to plan ahead and do this when you don't need your helmet for a couple of days; the instructions say to allow 72 hours for the adhesive to set. Since we weren't sure how the add-on would work in rainy or windy conditions, we delayed installation until after a weekend camping trip.

The results: I love it! Now, I have no problems driving directly into the sun. I never realized how much I was squinting (even with sunglasses and a tinted shield) until I added the super-visor. No more squinting or eye fatigue! My eyes stay wide open (though not in this Hammy-Cam shot), my face relaxes, and I really notice a difference in the amount of heat and sun reaching my face from just that little bit of added protection right above my field of vision. Other users have commented on how the visor vent funnels the air into the helmet cooling vents and reduces the heat, wind noise, and buffeting. It even looks nice on the helmet.

During the State Friendship Campout, we rode quite a bit of the way in rain. I had no problems with venting, no fogging inside my face shield, and no water leaks. I loved being able to keep my face shield vents open for ventilation in the rain and still maintain a dry, clear face shield and eyeglasses. The windy ride on the way home didn't seem to bother the product, and the adhesive has held without any problems to date. The Super-Visor passed the test.

Downsides. The visor made it a little harder to open and close the face shield vents while on the go, but since I ride with my vents open most of the time, that issue really didn't effect me. If I do need to close them, I can do it at the next stretch break. The presence of the visor near the top of my line of vision took some getting used to at first, but after a week or two I no longer noticed it. My advice? Take the time to "fit" the super-visor to your preferred line of vision before you attach it to your face shield. (RR installed mine without using the included lift-kit.) The web-site says you can order more glue and tabs to move the shield to a new helmet, but I haven't tried that.

The verdict? I'd say this is one add-on that did the job without doing a job on my pocketbook. We'll see if RR can hold out until Christmas.

A Local Rider Died This Week

This week, western Nebraska lost two motorcyclists in traffic accidents. I don't know much about the North Platte accident, but the other accident hit closer to home. This rider was not a member of our motorcycle chapter or our organization. Most of us did not know him, but he was a member of a nearby community and the first two people to reach the accident scene were Frenchman Valley Riders.

The ride was an informal gathering of locals on their way to a car show. The rider had ridden at a younger age, recently bought a bike, and started riding again. He preferred to ride at the back of the pack... I think he didn't want a group of bikes behind him, so that he and his bike could travel in a way that did not impede other riders. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. The rider died at the scene. Only one bike in the group had a CB radio (most bikes continued on the ride without knowing what had happened until later), and no one will ever really know the cause of the accident.

A life lost is a stunning tragedy. This tragedy has caused us to re-evaluate what we, as members of GWTA and the Frenchman Valley Riders, are doing right to minimize our risks on the road and what we might need to consider changing when we ride as a group:

Formation: I think this incident made us all truly appreciate the roll of the Sweeper in our rides. The Sweeper (aka Tailgunner, Tail End Charlie, and Back Door) is usually the most experienced rider in the group and is always the last bike in formation. A good part of his/her job is to make sure everyone stays together, stays safe, and to communicate needed information to the ride leader. The least experienced riders of the group are placed near the back, just ahead of the sweeper.

Communication: We love our headsets! Having a helmet with CB communications allows the group leader and the sweeper to keep the group intact, informed of safety concerns and rider needs. Radio chit chat always takes second place to keeping the airways open and available for communication between ride leader and the sweeper.

Medical Information and First Aid Training: We're working on that. Riders need to keep their medical and contact info available in a place known by other members of the group. Don't place your medical info inside your personal effects. The availability of medical information or aid was not an issue in this accident, but many EMTs have been trained not to go through personal effects like purses and bike storage compartments. More to come on this issue.

There's more to be learned, but I'm going to end this now with a prayer for the riders, their families and friends, and for those who assisted at the scene.

Also, a big thank you to GWTA's rider education program, especially for the seminars, the skilled rider courses, and the Group Riding Guide. Most of all, a big hug for our own sweeper. Thank you for being back there on our rides and for taking on the job. (We know it's not so fun or "free and easy" at times -- i.e. the accordion effect.) Thank you for encouraging us to practice safe group riding skills even on days when our motorcycle group -- no, our motorcycle family -- is not so big in numbers. Preparation counts. It maximizes each and every ride's potential for becoming a fun day of Destination Friendship. Next time out, remember to thank your sweeper as well as the ride leader. Some days are tough.

Remember the Riders (www.remembertheriders.com) and Ride Safe.

Fort Kearny: State Friendship Campout

Why does it always rain when we ride east for a camping trip?????

Chapter W was scheduled to head out for GWTA Nebraska's State Friendship Campout on Friday afternoon. At 2 pm the day's foggy, gray skies and sprinkles turned into steady rains. We rain-suited up as soon as Hammy stepped off the bus and headed to town to meet up with the other Frenchman Valley Riders. (Note: If you want to really evaluate the condition of your paved roads, ride a trike while pulling a camper in the middle of a rainstorm.) Hammy squealed in delight the whole way to town as plumes of water sprayed out of the wheel ruts and high alongside our floorboards. Hmmmm, haven't we done this before on the way to Region C's Rally? Luckily this day's trip didn't include any tornados, lightning, or even the usual Nebraska wind.

By Holdrege, the rain had stopped, and we paused to visit with FVR members Don & DeEtte. We sipped raspberry tea (fast becoming a FVR staple) and coffee while watching news reports of Hurricane Ike's arrival on the Texas coast. The final leg of our trip ended with some fairly nice late afternoon riding. We pulled into Fort Kearny State Recreation Area and set up camp just after dark. After a late supper and visits with other campers, we called it a night.

Saturday started out the best way possible -- just plain lazy. Give me a cup of coffee, a crispy clear blue sky, a comfy chair around the campfire, and the sounds of fall blowing through the cottonwoods. I love waking up slowly to the sound of leaves dancing in the trees.

Most of the morning's entertainment came from watching Roadrunner's attempts to start a fire. Everything was damp, and we finally resorted to burning junk mail and old road maps to get the wood started. Chapter W soon had chairs around the fire ring, coffee brewing, bacon sizzling, and toast and fresh eggs ready for Chef Bob (a man of many talents, we discovered this trip) to work his magic. The smell of bacon and warmth of the fire soon had members popping out of their tents to enjoy a lazy breakfast among friends. It didn't take Hammy long to scout out a few playmates among the group of geocachers sharing the campground and get a game of HyperDash started.

At noon, campers rode to Fort Kearny Historical Park and toured the grounds. We learned a few things from the Welcome Center's slide show and strolled the grounds. Interesting facts: The stockade design for western forts is something more out of the Hollywood movies than reality... Fort Kearny's original design was actually a group of buildings and a parade ground surrounded by cottonwood trees. Later, earth works were added and a small stockade built. Fort Kearny never suffered a direct attact, even during the years of the Indian wars. It's main purpose was to protect and supply migrants on the Oregon Trail and later workers during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. Fort Kearny is also meantioned in Jules Verne's novel Around the World in 80 Days. COOL!

Next up: the Great Platte River Road Archway and lunch. The archway was built to resemble a covered bridge and spans I-80 near the Kearney exit ramp. The exterior colors of the arch were inspired by our Nebraska sunsets. The interactive displays inside the arch tell the story of our country's migration west via the famous Oregon Trail, the first transcontinental highway (the Lincoln Highway), the first interstate (I-80) and the information highway (fiber optic cable system). While we visited with some newcomers in the parking lot, Hammy made a dash for the entrance to talk to the archway's mountainman as he greeted tourists and directed visitors.

Chapter W was still full from the morning's meal, so we decided to skip lunch and head straight for a Dairy Queen dessert. Before heading back to the campgrounds for a little down time, we visited Cabela's and then grabbed some supplies for the Saturday night cookout.

Back at Fort Kearny, it was time for Wood-Chopping 101. Chapter W's fearless leader Jim provided the afternoon's entertainment as he assisted Zach and Dalton with preparing firewood for the evening campfire. Tragically, one axe and most of a hammer were destroyed in the boys' efforts. Based on the events at Gold Rush and the State Campout, I think this year's Fall Follies will require the presentation of some Axeman Awards! (Congratulations, Jereomy, Dalton, and Zach!)

A good meal was had by all at the State Staff Cookout. Gary, Rick, Roadrunner, and others did a good job of preparing the burgers, brats, and sides. Dave tuned in a radio, and we were able to follow the plays of the Huskers' game.

Everyone ate their fill, and the group moved to the fire ring for a lazy evening of Destination Friendship. Even the Dexters got in on the action as they tried to roast themselves around the campfire. It was a great evening to doze, visit with friends, and share stories. At 8:30, Rick called the group to action... A request had come in earlier that day from the Nebraska Geocachers: "We want a light parade!!!" Fort Kearny SRA is a great place to camp (Just remember to bring quarters for the showers!), but the site's paved, one-way loops around the ponds and campsites are perfect for a motorcycle light parade. Campers assembled along the drives and watched from their campsites as riders turned on the "pretty lights", cranked up the music on their external speakers, and rode through the State Recreation Area a couple of times. It was a great way to top off the evening.

About midnight Saturday, the tents really gave us a scare as a front of strong winds gusted through the area. We didn't get any rain or light shows out of it, but the front moved east and unfortunately combined with the remnants of Hurricane Ike as it traveled up the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys from the Gulf. The combined storms caused a lot of flooding and wind damage all the way to Chicago. At the time this post was written, U2's parents in western Kentucky were on their third day without power... the largest power outage in Kentucky's history.

Sunday morning, Gary (our state chaplain) led the campout services. Chapter W broke camp, leathered up, and fought the wind for most of our ride home. Those headed back east enjoyed a nice tailwind! All in all, the State Friendship Campout was a great way to end our camping season. Our numbers this year may have been less than normal, but they allowed campers the ability to visit with everyone around the campfire circle. My only request for next year.... can we please make at least one trip east without having to wear the rain suits!

Click here to see all the pictures from the weekend.

Campout Day 2: Ashfall Fossil Beds

On Day 2, Hammy hit pay dirt when we passed within 7 miles of Ashfall Fossil Beds State Park (now a National Natural Landmark, too). Dinosaur bones, here we come! After our visit to Yellowstone’s Caldera earlier this summer, Hammy is on a volcano kick. This detour was right down her alley. The Hammy Highpoints were:

the time line walk to the rhino barn (one step equals 30,000 years of history),
the skeletons of Sandy and Justin (a mom rhino and her nursing calf),
touching the bones and volcanic ash,
the volcano map showing the ash cloud travelling from Utah to Nebraska (comparing the Utah volcano’s size to Mt. St. Helen’s and the Yellowstone eruptions),
the mural showing what Nebraska looked like when it had a sub-tropical climate, and
watching and talking to a paleontologist at work on new finds.

The scientist told us they’d recently uncovered their first complete snake skeleton in the ash. This was a real find for them since they normally never find more than one or two snake bones together. Our two hours at Ashfall Park were a great way to finish out our summer travels. I wish we’d had another hour to explore the museum and more of the grounds.

Saturday night, we tried to camp at West Point, home of the Road Gems Car Club's Last Fling 'Til Spring Car Show, the largest single-day automotive event in the Midwest. The annual show is on September 21 this year and includes several motorcycle classes. The town had recently built a new community center, and the construction had wiped out most of the camp sites at the fairground and city park. (There’s more to this story, but you’ll have to ask U2 to make a statement off the record.) It was too late in the day to move on, so we ended up grabbing the last Motel 8 room available. (There was a wedding in town.)

On Day 3, we headed home via one of our favorite routes across Nebraska, NE Hwy 92. Before we left West Point's St. Mary Church parking lot, we grabbed an apple and some on-lookers and photographed Clue #16 for the Nebraska Scavenger Hunt . One West Point grandmother told us she used to ride a bike, and you could tell by the way she looked over our rides and asked questions... this lady still loves bikes! She gathered a small group of parishioners around us in the church parking lot and had them raise their hands over us and join her in a bike blessing and a prayer for our safe journey home. Awesome!

All in all, we had a great weekend. Perfect riding weather, several new friends, and some cool places to see. The red paint has dried on the last county of our Nebraska vest patches... After only two riding seasons, we can proudly say that we have biked in all 93 counties of the great state of Nebraska! Our travels have taken us to the largest city and the smallest town in Nebraska, and we've crossed our great state via NE Hwy 92. What does THIS mean???

Finally, according to Roger Welsch's state citizenship criteria, we can call ourselves "True Nebraskans"!!

Final Note: To see all the photos from our trip, click here!

Campout Day 2: Monowi -- Population One

Day 2’s weather was once again picture perfect for riding! One exception – the grasshoppers… they were all over the roads during our sandhills journey east and even more abundant as we hit Hwy 12's Outlaw Trail. The bikes were covered with… well… you know. Even with our helmets on, we could hear the thunking noises of grass hoppers hitting the road, the bikes and our gear. Talk about road kill! Our goal was to make it to Monowi by noon for cheeseburgers with Elsie.

While refueling in O’Neill, we chatted with the local road commissioner who wanted to talk bikes. He also gave us some information on current road closings east of Monowi and offered alternative routes.

The ride to Monowi took us across a beautiful isthmus situated between the Niobrara and the Missouri Rivers. Seven miles down the road is a historical marker which tells how Lewis and Clark camped near here and encountered a new species of wild life: prairie dogs. We snapped some pictures for our “River Runs Through It” Grand Tour and took a look at Angels' Straw Bale Saloon (Bar & Bait Shop) near the Spencer Dam. Estimated cost: $15 per square foot. Next stop: the Monowi Tavern.

During the 2000 census, Monowi was one of only four places in the United States with a population of 2. Rudy and Elsie Eiler were the sole residents of Nebraska’s smallest town. After Elsie’s husband died, she stayed and still serves as mayor, postmaster, tavern keep, and librarian for Rudy’s Library. Elsie serves the local population, road crews, and hunters almost every day of the year. She’s a one-woman operation, so before we left home, we gave her a call to make sure she wasn’t out of town and was open for business. The burgers were juicy and tasty. The company was even better. And the new outhouse, built by a group of bikers who periodically frequent the tavern, was definitely one of the cleanest restrooms on the road I’ve ever visited.

Hammy was a little upset to leave Elsie, but we still had a few miles to go before sundown if we wanted to grab the as-yet untraveled Nebraska counties this weekend. When setting up this trip I didn’t realize just how many rivers we would cross – North Loup, Middle Loup, South Loup, Calamus, Ponca, Niobrara, Cedar, Elkhorn, etc. By the end of this weekend, I think we ended up crossing all but one Nebraska River during this riding season. GWTA Nebraska's Grand Tour really opened our eyes as to how many rivers wind through our state. Wow! (Thanks Barb!) Hammy had fun trying to grab pictures of all the river signs using her Hammy cam.

Campout Day 1: Ainsworth

What to do? What to do? It’s Friday morning. We’re all packed and ready to camp, but plans have changed.... our chapter campout has been canceled. Life gets in the way sometimes. Even so, Three Wheels West wasn’t about to sit at home this close to the end of riding season and waste a beautiful weekend. Time for Plan B.

Having a Plan B isn’t that hard when you live in a state like Nebraska – there’s always somewhere to go if you know where to look. And for us, it’s not really as much about the destination as it is enjoying the ride, the family time, and the scenery along the way.

This weekend would be a good time to accomplish three things we still needed to do this year: 1) grab the remaining 6 - 7 Nebraska counties we needed for our “93 counties” vest patch, 2) finish up GWTA Nebraska’s 2008 Grand Tour -- "A River Runs Through It", and 3) have a cheeseburger with mayor Elsie in the smallest town in Nebraska. Roadrunner grabbed the maps and plotted a rough course. When Hammy’s school bus pulled in the yard, we hit the road.

First stop: Ainsworth. The town was featured in Nebraska Life’s July/August 2008 issue, and the distance from home gave us just enough time to set up camp before dark. The weather was just right for riding... not too hot, not too cool, no humidity, and just enough breeze to let the clouds play around in that big blue sky!

It felt good to be out in the fresh air and on the bikes. The Sandhills were at their best this day -- undulating green waves of grass gave the rain-fed dunes a life of their own. At every crest, the end-of-day-shadows created ever-new landscapes with the power to soothe Van Gogh's soul... if only he were here to paint them.

While refueling near Brewster, we ran across a father and son from Alabama. They were making the bike trip of a lifetime traveling around our great country with their wives. Destination? -- a month with dad, visiting all the places he’s always wanted to see before it’s too late. (The father had suffered a stroke the previous year.) The son and his wife were riding dad’s old bike; dad and mom were riding a newly converted trike. (Bravo, son! Thanks for making the time to make this trip possible!) That’s what I love about motorcycling – the people you meet. We spent a good 20 minutes chatting and sharing thoughts on “must see” places to visit. (Yes, we did point them to Beartooth Pass for their upcoming visit to Yellowstone.)

That night, we set up camp in Ainsworth City Park. I’m glad I’d read the article on “the Middle of Nowhere” before we arrived. These Sandhillers are right to be proud of their town. We dined at the Golden Steer; and yes, CFS (country fried steak – a Gold Wing biker staple) was on the menu. The restaurant had been rescued and reopened earlier this year by local investors determined to keep a neighborhood steakhouse open in the heart of cattle country.

Need something to chat about while waiting for your food? Two Ainsworth conversation starters:

The World War II Army Air Base created to train fighter pilots. Local workers enjoyed the construction jobs and extra business generated by the base. The unusually long airport runways (for a town this size) are a reminder of the 59 fatal WWII military air crashes in Nebraska and the war effort's rush to catch up after Pearl Harbor.

The NPPD Wind Farm is located just south of town. Officially, this is the windiest spot in Nebraska. We stopped at the roadside information center for Nebraska’s largest wind energy facility. We finally got to see the final destination of all those turbine-loaded semis that had passed near our home several years ago! Most of the 131-foot long blades were turning that day. The 36 turbines generate enough electricity on average to power 19,000 homes each year.

Day One ended with good food, a clean camp site, memories to share, and a clear sky full of stars -- Plan B is starting out as a "way-to-go" weekend!

Parade Day Perfection!

Normally, I don't love a parade. Shocking, but somewhat true. Parades have always been work for me. In school, I was always up early on fall Saturdays, dressed in a hot uniform, and marching with the band... cursing my lack of height which always put me on the end of the saxophone row, where short legs had to make impossibly long strides while rounding street corners in formation. Band kids always envied the kids who got to sleep in and kick back on parade days. This year, parade day was different.

The weather for this year's Chase Co. Fair was PERFECT for a parade. It was sunny, cool, and a little breezy.... a glimpse of fall. Last year, we sweated it out as we waited for the parade to begin. This year, we were prepared with full water bottles and dollar bills to buy more from the 4-H kids pulling little-red-wagonloads of bottled water through the parade staging area. The cooler temperatures and low humidity allowed us to enjoy our staging time, admire fellow bikers' rides, and visit with other participants.

For the last two years, Imperial's main street has been under-going major renovations, and the parade route had to be moved to avoid the construction. This year, we were back on the main drag! Things went a lot smoother. The wide streets had plenty of sidewalk room for the crowds. Bikers could relax a little and not worry as much about kids darting too close to the bikes to grab a piece of candy. This year's parade didn't have so much slow-and-go riding, and we were able to enjoy ourselves. No bikes overheated. We were behind a performance drill team, so occasionally we put the bikes in neutral and relaxed our hands on the clutch -- but not too many times. No dodging of animal deposits or major potholes, just a few puddles -- altogether a pretty smooth event.

The Chase County Fair Parade is one of Chapter W's most "visible" group events for the year. We make an effort to have a good turnout, show off our chapter colors with our vests and/or shirts, and hand out GWTA membership forms. Some parades allow bikers to forgo their helmets during parade events, but I'm glad Chapter W chose to wear theirs.

This year, a bystander's medical condition resulted in an ambulance having to break into the parade to get to their patient in the crowd. With all the usual honks, whistles, and sirens from the parade vehicles, it was hard to distinguish an actual siren alert from the festivities. Chapter W's sweeper tracked the event in his rear-view mirror and communicated via his CB the need for a smooth shift to the right for our group of bikers. The ambulance pulled over before reaching our group, but I think our ability to safely respond to the situation promptly and uniformly amidst some confusion impressed the crowd. Way to go guys! I love my headset!

After the parade, we lined up our bikes at the fairground entrance for the bike show. This event gave people a chance to browse through the bikes, ask questions as we polished them up, and get to know who we are. Hammy was especially taken with a little motorcycle on training wheels. You could see other wheels turning in her brain. (No, Hammy! Absolutely not!) We never really expect to win anything in the show, but we like showing off our rides, talking with people, and getting a prime parking spot for our bikes (and somebody to watch over them) while we enjoy our day at the fair.

This year's fair got an A+ for their carnival. It was a new vendor and their rides had something for everybody. Hammy had finally reached a height which allowed her to ride almost everything. Her first ride? Mega Drop! Brave girl! I couldn't believe she ran straight to this one! She liked it, but her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets on the ride down. Once was enough this year. Her favorite ride? Zero Gravity -- you stand against the edge of a huge circle and the ride pins you against the side wall as it spins. I'll stick with the ferris wheel and the giant slide. Hammy's Runner up favorite? Cliff Hanger. I could handle this one -- strictly forward motion with a little vertical stuff.

We spent the whole day, touring vendor booths, letting Hammy loose with a friend and cousin at the carnival (She's graduated!!!), and enjoying our favorite fair foods with friends. No fair is a fair unless you have at least a taste of a snow cone, funnel cake, and/or cotton candy. Next year, we may have to add a fried dill pickle to that list -- they say it's good.

Hammy would add one more "must-do" to her fair list. Every year, she has her face painted like a cat then her hair sprayed blue and dusted with glitter. Try picturing that face in a silver helmet with black leather chaps and jacket, on the back of a bike just after sunset. Even better, imagine that face approaching you from the line of communicants during Saturday night services. (Sorry, Father!) Note to self: Always bring a helmet liner for Hammy to put over her hair before donning her helmet after the fair. Like I said, Chapter W's 2008 parade day was practically purrrrrrfection!

A Mystery Ride: Warriors, Wagon Trails, and 109 Degrees!

This year, our chapter directors made a slightly insane decision and assigned “Three Wheels West” to Chapter W's Ride Schedule Committee. Members were requesting more scheduled Saturday rides and weekend campouts to accommodate their work weeks. The committee was game to add extra weekend events. Any excuse to get together and ride with the herd was fine with us… then came the Mystery Ride.

Each year, one of our Saturday rides is designated the Mystery Ride. In a Mystery Ride, only the planners know the destination. Everyone else relaxes, enjoys the ride, the sight-seeing, and a meal or two among friends. In mid-May, RR, Hammy, and I planned and tested a mystery ride route. We designated fuel stops according to our member-bikes’ “miles-until-empty” statistics, and tried to select locations along the way for stretches and meals according to our member-stomachs’ “miles-to-cranky” stats. All aspects of the ride easily fell into place during our dry run. The total mileage was perfect – around 325 miles total. Even the weather was beautiful, and the spring rains had made the views from the bike nothing short of a glimpse of paradise. To top things off, nobody was able to pry the secret destination of our ride from Hammy. She never spoiled the surprise for the other members !!!

August 2^nd, the day of the Mystery Ride, was forecasted to be a scorcher. All week long, we’d battled the heat. Even so, eight bikes and 11 riders showed up at Mac’s Superfoods in Wallace prepared to ride. After a pre-ride meeting, the group headed North for Hershey and North River Road. This stretch has become a favorite route to North Platte for us, but not all members had ridden it. We enjoyed the scenery along the North Platte River and were entertained by some sharp turns and a collection of old bath tubs sitting alongside the river. This area is an especially beautiful ride when the cranes are on the move and when the leaves are turning in the fall.

Our first stop was at North Platte’s Court Square, where we stopped and admired the restored Sioux Warrior that had been rescued from Sioux Lookout. In November/December 2007, Nebraska Life magazine published an article on the history of Sioux Lookout and the statue. We’d all passed this statue time and time again while shopping in North Platte, but never paused and really admired it or read the historical marker posted there. It’s sad to think that the remarkable and talented sculptor Ervin Goeller died without means to finance his own burial. Much of the money he earned from his works was said to have been sent home to help his family still in Europe.

(Click here to see all the mystery ride photos.)

Our second stop was at the recently dedicated Twentieth Century Veterans Memorial on the south end of North Platte. This was another one of those “I’ll stop there someday” moments. This time we stopped… and remembered. It was interesting to see the sculptures and tributes paid to the defenders of our country and to the North Platte Canteen workers by the talent of local artists such as the late Ted Long, whose last memorial statue was finished by his son. Their stories had been featured in the North Platte Telegraph during the dedication of the memorial earlier this year.

After lunch and a root-beer float at the local A&W, we rode south to retrace a portion of the original Lincoln Highway from North Platte to Gothenburg -- via a stretch known as the Gothenburg Stairsteps. This route travels south of the Platte River unlike a lot of the LH due to the existing roads at the time of the highway’s formation. Along this portion of the river, most of the existing roads were trails created by farmers taking their harvest to market. Since the land north of the river was sandier, there weren’t many farmers or trail roads along this stretch; therefore, the original Lincoln Highway ran south of the river until it reached North Platte. One look at a map tells you how this stretch got its name: the Highway formed a series of right angles as it coursed along existing property lines like a flight of stairs.

Shortly after leaving North Platte, we passed the Sioux warrior's original home – Sioux Lookout. You could still see the eroded path used by locals to climb to the top, the highest point in Lincoln County. Years ago, Indians used this sight to track buffalo herds and wagon trains as they followed the Platte River Valley. Nebraska Life tells of a “businessman” who hired scouts to report on approaching wagon trains. These wagons were attacked and robbed; the stolen goods were re-sold to the pioneers of future wagon trains as they restocked supplies for the next leg of their journey west.

Stop Number 3 was Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Fort McPherson was originally established nearby to assist travelers along the Oregon Trail and ensure peace on the frontier. The route used by the Pony Express along the Oregon Trail passes through this cemetery.  The cemetery was established in 1873 to hold the relocated remains of soldiers as well as those of settlers. Four recipients of the Medal of Honor (our nation’s highest award for valor in military combat) are buried here (3 from the Indian Campaigns and one from the Vietnam War) and a group known as the Buffalo Soldiers. It is a beautiful and peaceful place of rest to remember those who died fighting for our country.   An impressive white marble monument marks the group burial of the 28 soldiers who were killed in the Grattan Massacre. We spent time locating names on the headstones while enjoying the cool shade as the heat really started to climb.

Our mystery ride included one short gravel-road detour to avoid a bridge replacement near the end of the stairsteps. This job was supposed to have been finished by July 1; it wasn’t. Near Gothenburg, our group turned south and then east for a scenic ride to Elwood and then Arapahoe. Here’s where the ride got interesting. We knew the temperature was supposed to reach the 3- digit mark, but when we turned south at Elwood, it was like hitting a solid wall of furnace-blasts. Never have I ridden in temperatures where you actually got hotter as the wind blew stronger.   The only way I know to describe it is a blast of heated wind similar to what a storm jumper must feel when the forest fire he’s battling creates its own weather. The blast of heat on the plateau was not something we’ve encountered on the bikes before in this area. The thermometers on our bikes showed 110 degrees at one point. The Coolies around our neck had long since dried up, and the water bottles were near empty.

When we entered Arapahoe, we bypassed the fuel station and headed straight for the air conditioning of Goodrich Diary. I thought I was fine until I climbed off the bike and took about 10 steps…. Whoa, just a little dizzy.   We took our time eating ice cream, lowering our body temperatures, and rehydrating before riding on.

By the time we reached McCook in the early evening, the mercury was still reading 109. One exception: the Stone Monument Company’s reading was 115 degrees. Those of us able to find humor in the heat, joked that the company's thermometer wasn't wrong, merely a forecast of a few customers' final destination. At this point, we surrendered and headed for Taste of Texas BBQ for the evening meal and plenty of iced tea and water.

During the final leg home (somewhere around 8 – 9 pm) the temperature finally dropped to 90, and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the clouds above the setting sun during the final leg to Imperial and then home. Chapter W’s 2008 Mystery Ride was one for the record books. Good friends, good food, and good …. Well, we’ll certainly remember what a difference an extra 25 degrees can make while riding a high plains plateau.

Gold Rush XXI: Day 4

Thursday morning opened with HighPoint #3 of my time at Gold Rush: The Little Bighorn Battlefield. My dad’s a history buff, and I knew that if I rode by the sight of Custer’s Last Stand and didn’t stop, I’d be in BIG trouble when I got home. The ride to Little Bighorn took about an hour and we could easily have spent a better part of the day there. I’m glad we'd watched a Discovery Channel documentary on the battle (even if it's findings are now considered controversial) before coming here. The film followed archeologists as they used metal detectors after the recent wild fires to locate the spent shell casings of battle participants and to track the participants' movements during the battle according to the unique tracings left on each casing as it exited the weapon.

Park ranger Michael Donahue (a Texas college professor who has worked every summer of the last 17 years at the battlefield) helped us understand the event by recounting the lives of 4 men who took part in the battle – a doctor, two young warriors, and a candy-maker. Hammy was wearing her Yellowstone coonskin hat that day… she didn’t move an inch or lose focus one second during the ranger’s presentation. He must make history jump right out of the textbook for his students... if only he taught history! His specialty?... art! He interprets drawings and pictorial maps (such as native battle accounts) in their historical context. I also found a picture of him as a young boy in a coonskin cap; he was enthralled with Davey Crockett and the Alamo. No wonder he commented on Hammy’s choice of hats!

The Battle of the Greasy Grass River (or Little Bighorn) was short and fierce. As you climb Last Stand Hill, you get an eerie sense of what happened that hot day. This is considered the most pristine battlefield in America. White markers identify where a Blue-coat fell, Red markers – the location of a native warrior’s fall. (Most of the warriors' bodies were removed from the location at the end of the battle.) We located the names of Dr. George Edwin Lord, assistant surgeon, and Baltimore candy-maker Corp. George C. Brown of Company E on the white stone memorial at the top of the hill. We visited the native Memorial and found the names of Wooden Leg's and Black Elk's companions. If we’d had more time, I would have ridden the bike around to Benteen’s battlefield or walked the paved cement trail down by the canyon where the candy-maker’s body and those of his men were never found or recovered. (One warrior had commented that if all the soldiers had fought as the white horse Company E soldiers in the canyon had fought, the day’s outcome might have been different.) I would have liked to pause amid the markers overlooking the river and the site of the Indian village and near the hill where Wooden Leg and his friends had been watching over the horses when the first shots rang out. Someday, I’d like to visit again and take my dad.

We arrived back at Gold Rush in time for the Battle of the Regions. Region C didn’t win, but we sure had a good time and we sure looked silly! Next? The Closing Ceremonies. Hammy won the award for being the Youngest Rider at Gold Rush XXI. She was also asked to draw the winning GWTA raffle ticket for a new bike or $10,000 cash.

After we made our good-byes (which were rather tearful for Hammy and her new friend Teresa Larson), we quickly made off for Sheridan, Wyoming, due to the weather forecast and dark clouds. U2 was the only one to rain-suit up before departure, and yes, it did actually rain and storm so that the rest of the group had to pull over and pull on their rain suits. (It's nice to be right every once in a while! More importantly, I hate putting on my rain suit in the wind, so I tend to err on the side of caution.) This leg of the trip home was our only bad weather on the whole trip.

The next morning was sunny and a little too warm as we made our iron-butt run through eastern Wyoming and back to western Nebraska. Every leg of the trip seemed to take longer and longer until our group finally crossed I-80 and shared a final ice-cream stop in Ogallala. (There's another story there, but it will have to wait.) Gold Rush XXI was the trip of a lifetime. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. If you ever get the chance to visit that part of our great country, grab it with both hands. It’s worth the ride.

Mileage Total - Roundtrip: 1816
Miles To Billings (Through Yellowstone): 956
Miles While There: 195
Miles To Home: 665

Gold Rush XXI: Day 3

On Wednesday morning, Lyn and U2 participated in the SRC (Skilled Rider’s Course) two-wheel and three-wheel seminars and received GWTA Rider Education Program Level 2 rockers. I really enjoyed the chance to practice the drills on a closed course without risking damage or injury. In my three-wheel group, we had riders at all levels of experience. This is not a pass/fail type of course. The drills meet you at your current level and provide you an opportunity to develop, fine-tune, and brush-up your riding skills outside of “real traffic” road situations. The course instructors are there to encourage riders with tips and suggestions and keep you safe.

My favorite trike exercise was the circle drill. All trike riders know how important it is to maintain awareness of the width of your rear fenders. (This drill is really beneficial to riders who’ve made the switch to three wheels after many years of riding on two wheels.) Each rider entered into a 40-foot circle of orange cones and continued riding inside the cones in a circular pattern. The drill instructor walked nearby and noted your outer rear tire’s distance from the cones as you passed each cone. The object was to get as close to the cones as possible without knocking them down, while maintaining a smooth speed and looking ahead to the next cone – not down at the cone next to your fender. This is one of those drills that you can’t really practice on the road, and it was great to have someone telling you exactly how close your fender was to each stationary object. As I repeatedly circled inside the cones without looking down, the instructor would advise me to hold my distance or move closer to the cones until I was able to gauge my distance while focusing on the cones ahead and maintaining a smooth ride. Each rider practiced this drill in both directions – clockwise and then counter-clockwise until he/she had a real sense of the trike’s width.

Other drills practiced stopping distances, dodging road hazards, and emergency situations. Have you ever tried driving directly toward a man in a bright orange shirt, accelerating and shifting up to a steady speed, and then waiting for him to wave his arm at the last minute so you can swerve left or right of him without hitting him? Kind of like playing chicken, but I'm the one squawking... and I'm not the one in the orange shirt.

I would encourage all GWTA members to periodically take advantage of these SRC events and brush up your riding skills in a pressure-free, closed course environment. Our group had a lot of fun. Remember to bring your gear: over-the-ankle boots, full-fingered gloves, a helmet, eye protection, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Safety first!!! And remember, the guys who run this course gave up a good part of their day at Gold Rush to prepare and supervise this activity. They deserve a pat on the back. Way to go guys! (Thanks Ronnie and Kathe!)

During the SRC, other members of our group participated in the Family Games. These events are always lots of fun. We always walk away from this event with good ideas for party games at home! The most challenging game this year was the Rice Game. Competitors were blind-folded and told to sift their fingers through a bowl of rice grains in search of the tiny safety pins. The competitor who found the most safety pins won. Youth was a definite advantage in this competition! All those age-related health conditions and calluses played a big part in your fingers’ ability to detect the tiny pins among all those grains of rice. RoadRunner ended up getting second place in the adult category… and he only found two pins! Hammy won the kid’s bean toss game.

Teresa became Chapter W’s hero for a day when she filled in for the absentee host of Wednesday’s Craft Seminar. On the spur of the moment and with the help of a generous jewelry vendor (Thank you, Christine!), she put together a bracelet making activity. Jacquie, Hammy, U2, and about 10 other women spent a few hours out of the heat and learned that making fashion jewelry was a fun and relaxing way to spend time with friends and add some more bling to our lives.

Wednesday ended with a tail gate party and a filled parking lot at Beartooth Harley-Davidson. Ralliers enjoyed grilled hot dogs, chips, and Cold Stone ice cream while being entertained by a live stage band and a few gunfights performed by actors in Old West costumes.

Afterwards, we headed to the Billings ballpark but found the game sold out. Gold Rush wouldn’t be complete without RoadRunner’s tour of the dicier side of town. I don’t know how he does it, but RR always manages to find an interesting character during the week who wants to get up close and personal with the trike while RR's fueling or sitting at a red light.