MCImoneyman

I am not opposed to changes, but it seems to me we are throwing the baby out with the bath water. I think there are only 2 or 3 legs that are having a tough time getting riders. The legs East of Kansas City seem to be fairly well attended. The two legs between Kansas City and Denver/Castle Rock are tough recruit riders, it is a very sparse population out there. It is also my understanding that the leg across the desert is also tough.

I don't understand this at all. Are we foregoing the baton pass? I know there was an idea floated to do this over a few weekends but isn't the idea to go across the country not just ride a given leg?

Thanks to John for accepting my offer. I completed the purchase of the two items a few minutes ago. Can't wait for the Tootsie Roll to show up!

If I looked at the calendar right, I will be joining this ride at lunch. Cruising into KC with the pack!

Looks like all of you had a great time on Sunday. I know it was great seeing everyone Saturday evening.

I can do leg 7 captain if needed. Traditionally Spike has been the captain on this leg, but I am planning to ride and would be willing to captain if needed. Hotel and MITM dinner already planned. Hey, it can't possibly be any worse than last year; 3 riders lost and a bike down, can it?

Tom and Pattie you've been wonderful friends for years. Bet you'll never forget lunch in Sharon Springs when you had to see my bruise!

Where the hell is the Ozards? JK SWMBO and I will be there for sure.

Well Kansas City crew could certainly do it, but we're a little further west than most consider Mid-Atlantic, 8) . Though a Lake of the Ozarks isn't necessarily a bad idea.

I floated the idea a few years back to assign the meet to the regions on a rotating basis moving them around, but it never got any traction.

Pictures from SWMBO and the moneyman

Leg 8 and some 9

Well we had a few tribulations getting the baton across Kansas. But I assume that the baton and bag have now made it to Castle Rock. Our fun in Kansas: All ready to go on time from the meet point on time Friday morning. We get 8 miles down the road and Brent signals me to pull over, we're missing Itchy. I had forgot about him as he was staying in another hotel. After about a 45 minute delay trying to track him down and talking to his wife a couple of times, we decided to meet him on down the road a short ways. We get to the hoped for rendezvous, but no Itchy. Another 15 minutes and another call wife his wife, we go on. At the meet point in Topeka, Itchy pulls in as we're getting ready to leave. He found us by the "Spot" tracking. We believe all to be good and make our two planned stops in Topeka. But we couldn't leave Topeka without losing two riders. We stop in Wamego to view the eagle memorial there, I ask as we park where are Bill and Charlie? I am told we lost them in Topeka. Huh? I can't quite figure out why nobody sped up and let me know. We stop to fuel up after the eagle, HotWheels pulls away from the pump and heads back to town. I ask what's going on? She is going back to look for a glove that GravelFinder lost as we left the eagle. OK, it's a small town, shouldn't be long, but another 10 minute delay. We get to the lunch stop 1.5 hours late, no biggie, it isn't a long leg and we only have about 100 miles to go after lunch. Bill and Charlie show up as we are about done with lunch, good to know they're alive and well. Two minutes after leaving lunch, I get flagged down again. Itchy is missing. Huh? Itchy pulls up, he has lost his mufflers. He has lost his mufflers. They fell off. They fell the fuck off? He says he is going back, and for us to go on, he will meet us in Wilson. We are going to historical society museums in Ellsworth, as they expect us to stop every year. The ladies really are very nice. They have iced tea, lemonade, brownies and cookies waiting for us. But this simple stop can't be simple on this day. Brent doesn't see my turn signal and brake light, as I start to make my right turn, we just about collide. I swerve left, he applies brakes hastily. He hits sand, rear tire locks up, bike fishtails, Brent goes down. Couple of bumps and bruises, and a broken right mirror. GravelFinder and HotWheels get the bike off of Brent, and he is back on his feet right away. Thursday night and Friday morning are marvelous, Paul and Tina hosted all of us at their lake home. We sat on the deck watching the sunset over the lake Thursday evening. Tina prepared us great breakfast this morning. Looks like Friday is going to be a better day. But wait..... Paul mentioned that his radio and dash were blinking off occasionally, GravelFinder and I both said check the connections at the battery. He got them tightened up Thursday evening, but he has bigger problems, bike started missing and not starting Friday morning out by Goodland. He decides he had better stop where he is, and passes the backpack to GravelFinder to take to Castle Rock, problem solved. Paul gets a call from another rider they were to meet at Limon, CO asking if everything is OK, "Spot" hasn't moved in two hours. Shit! Spot is in trunk, backpack is just about to Limon. And all of you thought nothing happens in Kansas.

If I were king, it would be so decreed. Seems like a simple thing for the board to do, or does it even need board approval.

A very HISTORICAL site is being added to the ride! As far as I know, this site has not ever been visited on the V2V on the Veterans Leg. This will not add more than 15 minutes to the ride. The site honors all branches of the armed services and POW-MIA's. Plus there is a memorial that is very hard to believe to be found in Topeka, KS. I would guess 80% of the people living in Topeka are not even aware of this landmark. For those of you close enough to meet us, I will post an easy spot for us to find you, and easy for you to find on the East side of Topeka. We'll definitely take pictures to share with others. I am sure future Veterans Leg Captains will include this site on future rides, it is that cool. Done with the teaser. Next post will be about where to meet the riders on Friday. Oh, and I am talking to that politician brother-in-law of mine about having a special guest meet us there.