July 18-20 Weekend Ride

[Whistler]

Here it is a weekend that I hope interests many. It has History, Riding, Sightseeing, Fellowship, and hopefully, good Food!

It all starts Friday afternoon and evening, or whenever you can get there. We will be gathering at the Historic Midland Railroad Hotel in Wilson, Ks. This was totally renovated a few years ago and modernized while keeping its heritage intact. I have blocked a group of fifteen rooms for Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. A King room will run $86.00 and a Queen will run $78.00, of course plus tax. If we can get 12 rooms guaranteed I believe we get a 10% discount.  They have a restaurant/bar called the Sample Room that will be available for dinner and socializing. Of course “Made from Scratch” is like two blocks away!  Here is the website if you would like to check this out, along with the phone number to call in your reservations!  Ask for the Kansas Valkyrie Riders group.

http://www.midlandrailroadhotel.com
Contact us at (785) 658-2284
manager@midlandrailroadhotel.com for Glenda Buttenhoff, Assistant General Manager
414 26th Street
Wilson, KS  67490

I believe a breakfast is included in the room as well, hope to have more on that later. Again “Made from Scratch” is across the street!

Saturday will include about a 200 mile ride that will include stops in Lucas, Victoria, and Russell in the morning. For the afternoon we will head south to Ellinwood where we will tour the Historic Tunnels, the city under the city! This will cost $6 for adults, what better way to cool off on a July afternoon!

http://kansastravel.org/ellinwoodunderground.htm

Once we leave here we will make a stop at the Cheyenne Bottoms Observation center on our way to Ellsworth. At Ellsworth we will be dining at “Pretty Boy Floyd’s” a restaurant in a basement with an alley entrance! What more would you expect. I have been told the atmosphere is really cool and historic, with really good food! It’s then a quick ride back to the Hotel for more social time.

http://www.kansassampler.org/erv/blog.php?act=view&id=68

Sunday is currently under wraps, but planned. There will be a couple of options available and we will discuss them Saturday night! Plan to be wrapped up around 13:00 Sunday. I believe most can make home by 6 pm at the latest.

So let me know if this is something you want to do! I have tried to set it up far enough out to allow for planning for it. Half the votes I got on the survey were for July, hopefully it works for most.

JDW  

[KSDragonRider]

Count us in

[Whistler]

 

Count us in

Outstanding!

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

We're in.   

[WamegoRob]

Us, too.

[Whistler]

Here is the information on the Breakfast offered with the room.

We offer a complimentary continental breakfast each morning.
            Waffles
            Danishes
            Fruit
            Toast
            Cereal and
            Coffee and juice

I think I will be hitting "Made from Scratch" for breakfast. 

[Gary W]

We are planning on coming.  Sounds like a very fun trip

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

John Whistler,  is this something we are going to do or are you just putting out feelers? If it's a go we will make our reservations. 

[Whistler]

This is a GO! I talked with Glenda at the Midland this past week she is looking forward to seeing us! Make your reservations and your plans for this! I have mine made and can not wait for some July weather!!

JDW

[KSDragonRider]

Talked with Will, he said he and Dawn where in as well.

[Whistler]

Okay everyone a bump up! Don't forget to get your rooms reserved!

JDW

[Whistler]

Put this on the main board today just to let those who don't follow the Kansas Board know.

JDW

[Whistler]

Getting closer and I am getting more excited! Get your reservations made and plan on a good time!

JDW

[yldcats]

My better half and I will be in attendance with both Valks.

Looking forward to it!

[Whistler]

Bump up, it is fast approaching! Get your reservations made for another Kansas Group Weekend ride they are Legendary!

JDW

[KSDragonRider]

I will be there and riding solo.  Am however bringing a friend from solomon on his bike.
Not going to be staying the night though.

[Whistler]

Okay folks it looks like we are losing more than we are gaining. Here's what I have for a count if I am missing someone let me know. If you have not made your reservation please do so as soon as I get back I will be doing the reservation calls at the restaurants and the underground city tour.

John and Cyndi
Dave and Pam
Gary and Ginger
Gene and Dawn
Larry and Marsha?
Dalen and friend for the day

How about the rest of you? Studebakers, Holmes, Huntzinger, Dale, anyone else coming let me know please!

John
 

[Whistler]

Talked with Glenda at the Midland Railroad Motel tonight. We have seven reservations, I had five so I am not sure if someone made a reservation and have not said they are coming ye, or someone made one that needs to be cancelled. Either way, she still has rooms available, even though she is not holding any rooms for us, seven  rooms is nice if we could get 10 we get a discount. She reminded me that the lounge/restaurant will be available Friday and Saturday when we get back along with the patio area.

Hope to see you Friday!

[KSDragonRider]

Will and dawn, steve and his wife.   That is the other two rooms.  Will went to Baldwin with us, Steve is from bobs bikes.

I will be there Saturday.  I will have Jeremy with me.

[Whistler]

THanks Dalen! Look forward to seeing you!

JDW

[Boogietoone]

Doesn't look like we'll make it. Everyone have fun and ride safe!

[Whistler]

Doesn't look like we'll make it. Everyone have fun and ride safe!

I for one am sorry to hear this!

JDW

[KSDragonRider]

It is going to be a super duper nice day for mid July.  I mean when do you see 88 degrees and cloudy when you want to go on a long group ride? 
I am looking forward to it a bunch!

[Whistler]

For those that are going what time are you looking at arriving in Wilson Friday? Cyndi gets off around noon so I am thinking we will be there around 4 p.m. Not in a rush gonna take a nice easy ride up!

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

We left today.  Tomorrow looks to be a busy day as we are riding out to see the world's biggest ball of twine. Hopefully I get some sleep tonight. The anticipation of seeing this may make getting sleep difficult. We plan on arriving sometime early afternoon.

[Willow]

Had a great time with John and Cyndi; Dave and Pamela; Dalen and Jeremy; and Mama.  It was a special treat when Mrs. Dalen showed up for dinner.  Almost got a haircut out of the touring deal.

Thank you, John, for your planning and leadership.

[Rams]

What, No Pics?    Would have loved to have attended this event.    Knew I couldn't but have been following the thread anyway.    Was hoping to see some pics.

Ron

[KSDragonRider]

Lunch stop


Darn it Dave was it it... took away from the beauty of the bikes with dave in the shot hogging up all the glory


Worlds largest Toilet in Lucas.  Next to an amazing little meat shop... stop at the meat shop...

[KSDragonRider]

Had a great time with John and Cyndi; Dave and Pamela; Dalen and Jeremy; and Mama.  It was a special treat when Mrs. Dalen showed up for dinner.  Almost got a haircut out of the touring deal.

Thank you, John, for your planning and leadership.

She was really touched with all those that said she was missed, then on the way home she let me know that the real reason she was missed was not cause she was special, but cause I did not have anyone running the shock collar.  I let her know that Pam was on the button most of the day. This made her feel better.

[Whistler]

Okay so I just spent an hour typing my report to have the internet crash and dump the whole thing! It's coming just later than planned! 

JDW

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

Dalen, when I'm in a picture it doesn't take away from the beauty. It adds to the beauty.   

[Whistler]

Well, we had a great weekend with friends, fun, and of course food! Cyndi and I arrived at Midland Railroad Hotel in Wilson about 15:30. Huh, we weren’t expecting to get there till about 16:00 to 16:30, but that darn throttle just kept creeping backward the closer we got. Well so much for the easy cruise up! We checked in and decided to explore the town. It has changed quite a bit since we were there last. We did find a great old fashion soda shop to quench our thirst.

Dave and Pam arrived a bit later, after we got them settled in and a short discussion, it was decided we were it, so………..Let’s eat! The Midland has a nice little bar/hospitality room in the basement. It just occurred to me that we spent a lot of time in basements this weekend! So while we caught up and were enjoying our salads in pops Lori and Carl, surprise!  It was a pretty good meal and the waitress was kept hopping!

After a small walk it was of course, Ice Cream time, back to the soda shop! We had a good time with the staff and enjoyed homemade waffle cones/bowls and ice cream. Once the cracks were filled it was back to the Hotel where Pam and Dave introduced us to the “Mexican Train”. About 11 it was determined we might ought to get some sleep, someone has kickstands up scheduled for 8 a.m., WHAT!
Saturday we woke up to cool cloudy skies, jackets and chaps in July? Really! Dalen and Jeremy, on his super sharp 1100 Blue Shadow, arrived around 7:30ish. Introductions and tire kicking began and someone said a lie was told, but it has not been proven yet! Fuel up and we are off!

We had a very strenuous ride by Wilson Lake, across the Dam and into Lucas! Someone in the planning department neglected to see what time the city of Lucas opened, huh! So our 9:00 arrival time found everything shuttered and quiet! Well, almost.
We were given a grand tour of the city’s Public toilet, and it was impressive! Lots of creativity. Not sure who gave us the tour, but he was sure knowledgeable and informative.

The manager of the Flying Pig Art Museum is walking around fresh out of bed looking for coffee. So I ask, what time do you open? Eleven, um that’s problematic. It must have been the “Oh” as he said, are you wanting to see it? Yep we were, well come on in! What a neat place. Small town America you have to love it.

Off to the Butcher Shop for free samples of some awesome sausages and cheeses. It was great fun watching Carl trying to City Slicker the Country Hick owner! The owner wins, it was great fun! This business is 92 years old, third generation, very cool and worth the trip.
Went to another Museum and seen some really interesting handcrafted art, made out of everything from recyclables to pop tabs, including a motorcycle. A wooden farm scene where everything moved was very cool.

We finished the Lucas tour with a stop at the Garden of Eden, another example of being slightly off center! It is truly a unique formation of concrete and recycled items, built before it was popular to do so!

We had decided to skip the Cathedral on the Plains at Victoria, so there would be no rushing through Lucas. I truly wanted this to be a relaxing social event. The only thing really on a schedule was a tour in Ellinwood at 3 pm.

So off to Russell and Meridy’s  a very well know establishment in this part of the country. Most of us had the traditional Chicken Fried Steak. It was pretty good , we have had better, but we have had a lot worse for sure. Once everyone was full it was off to Ellinwood.

We rode to Ellinwood via a cruise through Hoisington, passed Barton County Community College, and into the back way of Ellinwood. Ellinwood has a yearly “After Harvest Festival” with a parade, etc. We arrived after most of the activity, but still had time to get “eyeballed” by the Kansas Sidewinders Chapter, who have a clubhouse downtown.

We were here to tour the underground city, which we did! It was very interesting and informative. Carl even came close to getting a haircut and shave with the cut one, pull three clippers. He passed at the last minute! I do think he was seriously considering the 5 cent bath though.

After the tour it was off to Ellsworth, past Claflin and into Holyrood for a fuel stop.  It was determined we were way ahead of our 6:30 dinner reservation, so we changed directions and headed back to Wilson, via the county roads! When we got to Wilson, Dalen and Jeremy went to get Shay so she could at least have dinner with us.

After a short respite we headed for Ellsworth to the underground, back alley entrance that you would expect for a place called “Pretty Boy Floyd’s”! The decoration was neat and the food was great, from Alligator to Ribeye’s, it was all good. Great conversation, great food, and great fun! No dessert again, man these meals were awesome.

We bid Shay and Dalen goodbye, Jeremy passed on the return trip so we did not get to say bye to him, but he is welcome anytime we ride. Enjoyed meeting you Jeremy! A quick ride back to Wilson got us there right at closing time for the Soda Shop. Despite mine and Dave’s best efforts at begging in the front window at the clean up crew we could not convince them to let us in! Well maybe it wasn’t such a great place after all. No, it was pretty awesome.

Back to the Hotel for the finish of the Mexican Train and a midnight turn in. It was a great day.

Sunday brought the dreaded goodbye depression. Carl and Lori headed for the big city. Dave and Pam followed Cyndi and I to McPherson,
where I got called to work(really) and we lost Dave and Pam somewhere around a Braum’s!  

Cyndi and I hit the interstate and flew home. I unloaded the bike and changed clothes, grabbed my bags and off to my 12 hour train job, ugh.  It was a great weekend, very relaxing, and very enjoyable. Now back to the grind!

[HayHauler]

Sounds like a great trip!  And Whistler, not one        OR    in your whole post.  The medication must be working bud.

Thanks for the reports and pics.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[KSDragonRider]

Sounds like a great trip!  And Whistler, not one        OR    in your whole post.  The medication must be working bud.

Thanks for the reports and pics.

Hay 
Jimmyt

hahhahahahhahahahahahahhahaha
it was all grins all weekend Jimmy.  It was a good time had by all i think.
When Jeremy left my place, he asked when the next ride/lunch was.  I really think he enjoyed it, and i think he enjoyed the company.

He told me after he gets the shadow paid off, he is looking for some kind of GL bike, 1100 or 1500 or 1500c.   He is impressed with them alot.  I really think he liked the looks of carls super valk.  I can see him with one in the future, or super winging an old 1100.  (maybe i will have to buy that shadow from him for shay and i to use for local running around.)

[Gary W]

John,  we are so sorry to have missed this wonderful trip with you guys.  We were really looking forward to it.  I know that you did a lot of work planning this and we felt really bad about having to miss it.  Thank you for all you do to get us all together.  We always look forward to our time with all of you.
Gary and Ginger

[Whistler]

John,  we are so sorry to have missed this wonderful trip with you guys.  We were really looking forward to it.  I know that you did a lot of work planning this and we felt really bad about having to miss it.  Thank you for all you do to get us all together.  We always look forward to our time with all of you.
Gary and Ginger

No problem Gary we missed you and Ginger, but we understand, sorry for your loss. Don't think anything of it, sometimes life has other plans for us and we can't always make it. I understand that completely.

JDW