Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« on: June 30, 2016, 07:52:50 AM » |
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As some of you know I am leaving for Fairbanks AK on Saturday morn. I would love to meet up with any along the way if you are close to the route. Here is the route I am taking and I will post from time to time. Starting a blog also. This is one of my "bucket list" trips that I am lucky enough to get in. Anyone have any experience in this and suggestions I would be happy to hear them. I am coming home July 26th Thanks https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LYtUz-X85Mgwn4vOrCc--KkR3IE&usp=sharing |
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msb
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« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2016, 08:32:01 AM » |
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Wizzard...that looks like an amazing trip you've got planned...good on you for making one of your "bucket list" trips a reality  Your chosen route through BC and Alberta offers up some outstanding riding/driving and scenery. I am just a few short hours ride from your planned route through the Okanogan region of BC, and if the timing works out (weekend or a day close to) I would love to take the time to meet up with you for a coffee and perhaps offer up a few suggestions or answer any questions you may have about your trip through BC. Your route also goes right through my eldest daughter and son in law's home of Fort St John up in Northern BC. I'll PM you with my contact info. cheers, Mike |
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Mike
'99 Red & Black IS
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Valkorado
Member
Posts: 10514
VRCC DS 0242
Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.
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« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2016, 08:35:15 AM » |
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Congrats on this trip, looks like a blast! Take lots of pics for those of us who wish we were coming along!
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good, there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood? - John Prine 97 Tourer "Silver Bullet" 01 Interstate "Ruby"  |
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Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2016, 08:50:35 AM » |
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Wizzard...that looks like an amazing trip you've got planned...good on you for making one of your "bucket list" trips a reality Your chosen route through BC and Alberta offers up some outstanding riding/driving and scenery. I am just a few short hours ride from your planned route through the Okanogan region of BC, and if the timing works out (weekend or a day close to) I would love to take the time to meet up with you for a coffee and perhaps offer up a few suggestions or answer any questions you may have about your trip through BC. Your route also goes right through my eldest daughter and son in law's home of Fort St John up in Northern BC. I'll PM you with my contact info. cheers, Mike i would love to meet up with you. Will keep in contact |
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5232
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2016, 10:26:32 AM » |
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When will you be coming through Alberta, and where will you be overnighting? I'd be happy to get together and maybe ride a few miles with you. PM me for my phone number if you like, and certainly get in touch if you have troubles.
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J.Mencalice
Member
Posts: 1850
"When You're Dead, Your Bank Account Goes to Zero"
Livin' Better Side of The Great Divide
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« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2016, 12:24:59 PM » |
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I see that your route takes you through Crawford, Nebraska. It is a really small town that has one great place to visit/camp. Fort Robinson State Park has an incredible history as a military outpost that goes back to the 1800's as a remount station (picture thousands of horses and mules over 20,000 acres); the site of Red Cloud's Agency where the great Ogallala chief was located. It was active through WWII when it was a training post for military dogs. It's in a beautiful section of the Sand Hills/Pine Ridge area of Nebraska...peaceful. Not a tourist trap or a phony amusement place. http://nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/fort-robinson-sp/r/campground https://www.google.com/search?q=fort+robinson+military+dogs&biw=1787&bih=854&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjpvPcv9DNAhVIKyYKHWFvA1QQsAQIPA&dpr=0.9 A couple of days would be needed to see the whole place briefly, but well worth the night sky viewing and wild burros in the park. May your ride be a blast.  |
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« Last Edit: June 30, 2016, 12:31:30 PM by Willopad357 »
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"The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive." Bill Watterson
Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance...
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Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2016, 12:47:02 PM » |
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I see that your route takes you through Crawford, Nebraska. It is a really small town that has one great place to visit/camp. Fort Robinson State Park has an incredible history as a military outpost that goes back to the 1800's as a remount station (picture thousands of horses and mules over 20,000 acres); the site of Red Cloud's Agency where the great Ogallala chief was located. It was active through WWII when it was a training post for military dogs. It's in a beautiful section of the Sand Hills/Pine Ridge area of Nebraska...peaceful. Not a tourist trap or a phony amusement place. http://nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/fort-robinson-sp/r/campground https://www.google.com/search?q=fort+robinson+military+dogs&biw=1787&bih=854&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjpvPcv9DNAhVIKyYKHWFvA1QQsAQIPA&dpr=0.9 A couple of days would be needed to see the whole place briefly, but well worth the night sky viewing and wild burros in the park. May your ride be a blast. Thats great info. Thanks |
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VRCC # 24157 |
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IamGCW
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« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2016, 12:59:37 PM » |
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Watch for frost heaves north of Watson Lake. They are well marked. Don't be afraid of using the entire roads to get around the nasty ones. In Watson Lake the Air Force lodge is not bad to stay in. I never used much Canadian cash, carried $200. Mosquito net advised. In work zones where they use a pace car try to move to the front and avoid the gravel the RV's toss. Get gas as you leave the towns to extend your maximum range. Licence plates get stolen in Canada that the bad guys use for drive off gas fills. Expect cold weather and rain. Send post cards to the kids from the Post Office at the North Pole (east of Fairbanks) as the USPS has a cool cancellation stamp. The light poles in the town are candy canes. PM me if you need any other ideas.
Gil
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Gil
uıɐƃɐ ʎɐqǝ ɟɟo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ןן,ı
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mike72903
Guest
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« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2016, 01:33:48 PM » |
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Made that trip in 72. I understand the road is better now but watch out for truckers. They haul ass and some don't like to slow down  I went and came back the same northern route. Not sure back then there was any other option except south to Washington. It was a hoot going through Yukon. |
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Moonshot_1
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« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2016, 01:45:55 PM » |
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Your routes are taking you past the front doors of some of the nation's best vistas. If you stopped at even a few of them you'd never make it to Alaska and back.
As to your route through Iowa. You chose Hwy 20. 4 lane through most of the State. Some construction.
Not sure what the construction situation is like east of I-35 but west of it you'll find a small section through Webster City, past that you are on near new 4 lane till the town of Early (Jct. 71) from there Hwy 20 reverts back to 2 lanes. However, they are now working on making the rest of 20 4 lanes. This goes off and on till about 20 miles east of Sioux City.
The one detour is on your route that you posted. Starting at Correctionville it is about a 7 mile detour that parallels Hwy 20. It is, in fact, the "old Hwy 20" from days gone by.
At this time none of the construction (west of I-35) should pose any issues for you but be prepared for traffic particularly truck traffic.
You'll be bypassing Sioux City and the construction there.
Don't know what your time line is. I'm 20 miles north of hwy 20 in Cherokee. I got to work weekends but if the time line works out maybe I can hang with ya for a bit.
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Mike Luken
Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
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Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2016, 01:57:19 PM » |
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Your routes are taking you past the front doors of some of the nation's best vistas. If you stopped at even a few of them you'd never make it to Alaska and back.
As to your route through Iowa. You chose Hwy 20. 4 lane through most of the State. Some construction.
Not sure what the construction situation is like east of I-35 but west of it you'll find a small section through Webster City, past that you are on near new 4 lane till the town of Early (Jct. 71) from there Hwy 20 reverts back to 2 lanes. However, they are now working on making the rest of 20 4 lanes. This goes off and on till about 20 miles east of Sioux City.
The one detour is on your route that you posted. Starting at Correctionville it is about a 7 mile detour that parallels Hwy 20. It is, in fact, the "old Hwy 20" from days gone by.
At this time none of the construction (west of I-35) should pose any issues for you but be prepared for traffic particularly truck traffic.
You'll be bypassing Sioux City and the construction there.
Don't know what your time line is. I'm 20 miles north of hwy 20 in Cherokee. I got to work weekends but if the time line works out maybe I can hang with ya for a bit.
Spending the night in Sioux City. You are not that far away. We should meet up. Send my your phone no and will get in touch. |
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VRCC # 24157 |
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mike72903
Guest
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« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2016, 02:41:24 PM » |
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For sure as Gil mentions, Mosquito protection. They were so thick in May/June I couldn't eat outdoors without them flying in my mouth along with the food. They were like clouds? This was in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon. Don't remember them being so bad in Alaska, but maybe it was just later in the year.
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Davemn
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« Reply #12 on: June 30, 2016, 02:50:59 PM » |
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You should take a day or 2 and go up the north shore of Lake Superior.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2016, 03:10:11 PM » |
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For sure as Gil mentions, Mosquito protection. They were so thick in May/June I couldn't eat outdoors without them flying in my mouth along with the food. They were like clouds? This was in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon. Don't remember them being so bad in Alaska, but maybe it was just later in the year.
It depends on where you are at. I can remember a fly-in fishing trip me ad some buddies did when we were 16. They were so bad they were close to driving us freaking nuts. We would take the raft out on the lake just to get away from them. Only to come back in once and see a bear eating all our food. I got even with him though. DEET is a must in my opinion. I know a lot of people are against it but the full strength stuff is the only thing that works. |
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Ramie
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« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2016, 06:35:51 AM » |
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Stop in Akeley MN and have a beer at the VFW just outside of town, there's also a American Legion in Walker I participate in their ride for Veterans every August. Watch for deer out of Walker on 200, especially if your riding at night. Have a great trip, I'm envious I guess I'm going to have to retire before I manage a trip like that.
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“I am not a courageous person by nature. I have simply discovered that, at certain key moments in this life, you must find courage in yourself, in order to move forward and live. It is like a muscle and it must be exercised, first a little, and then more and more. A deep breath and a leap.”
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GiG
Member
Posts: 2891
"That's just like, your OPINION, Man!"
NEAR the "In 'n' Out Burger"
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« Reply #15 on: July 01, 2016, 06:51:18 AM » |
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Your routes are taking you past the front doors of some of the nation's best vistas. If you stopped at even a few of them you'd never make it to Alaska and back.
As to your route through Iowa. You chose Hwy 20. 4 lane through most of the State. Some construction.
Not sure what the construction situation is like east of I-35 but west of it you'll find a small section through Webster City, past that you are on near new 4 lane till the town of Early (Jct. 71) from there Hwy 20 reverts back to 2 lanes. However, they are now working on making the rest of 20 4 lanes. This goes off and on till about 20 miles east of Sioux City.
The one detour is on your route that you posted. Starting at Correctionville it is about a 7 mile detour that parallels Hwy 20. It is, in fact, the "old Hwy 20" from days gone by.
At this time none of the construction (west of I-35) should pose any issues for you but be prepared for traffic particularly truck traffic.
You'll be bypassing Sioux City and the construction there.
Don't know what your time line is. I'm 20 miles north of hwy 20 in Cherokee. I got to work weekends but if the time line works out maybe I can hang with ya for a bit.
Spending the night in Sioux City. You are not that far away. We should meet up. Send my your phone no and will get in touch. Randy: You might want to think about going past Sioux City a few miles on 50 to Yankton SD Star- Lite Motel is half price of anything in Sioux. Quaint, clean mom & pop place you can walk down to the Mo River for dinner. Also a steak house a block away. Fudgies favorite place 500 Park St, Yankton SD 57078 ph 605 665-7828 Wish I was goin with you, Bro - keep us up to date  |
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Everything is - Nothing is .
When you come to a fork in the road - TAKE IT!
(send it to OSS)
This isn’t Rocket Surgery
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Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« Reply #16 on: July 01, 2016, 07:35:05 AM » |
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Your routes are taking you past the front doors of some of the nation's best vistas. If you stopped at even a few of them you'd never make it to Alaska and back.
As to your route through Iowa. You chose Hwy 20. 4 lane through most of the State. Some construction.
Not sure what the construction situation is like east of I-35 but west of it you'll find a small section through Webster City, past that you are on near new 4 lane till the town of Early (Jct. 71) from there Hwy 20 reverts back to 2 lanes. However, they are now working on making the rest of 20 4 lanes. This goes off and on till about 20 miles east of Sioux City.
The one detour is on your route that you posted. Starting at Correctionville it is about a 7 mile detour that parallels Hwy 20. It is, in fact, the "old Hwy 20" from days gone by.
At this time none of the construction (west of I-35) should pose any issues for you but be prepared for traffic particularly truck traffic.
You'll be bypassing Sioux City and the construction there.
Don't know what your time line is. I'm 20 miles north of hwy 20 in Cherokee. I got to work weekends but if the time line works out maybe I can hang with ya for a bit.
Spending the night in Sioux City. You are not that far away. We should meet up. Send my your phone no and will get in touch. Randy: You might want to think about going past Sioux City a few miles on 50 to Yankton SD Star- Lite Motel is half price of anything in Sioux. Quaint, clean mom & pop place you can walk down to the Mo River for dinner. Also a steak house a block away. Fudgies favorite place 500 Park St, Yankton SD 57078 ph 605 665-7828 Wish I was goin with you, Bro - keep us up to date Yeah I wish you were going too. I already got a place for 55 bucks 4 star place. I know how to find hotel deals. Yankton sounds great except i am going route 20 all the way to the southern end of yellowstone then going south to north through yellowstone. Been west to east but never the other way. |
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VRCC # 24157 |
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GiG
Member
Posts: 2891
"That's just like, your OPINION, Man!"
NEAR the "In 'n' Out Burger"
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« Reply #17 on: July 01, 2016, 08:26:06 AM » |
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Oh yeah, I forgot about you and you hotel deals!  That method NEVER works out for me You taking that goofy Triumph ridin guy with ya? |
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Everything is - Nothing is .
When you come to a fork in the road - TAKE IT!
(send it to OSS)
This isn’t Rocket Surgery
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fudgie
Member
Posts: 10629
Better to be judged by 12, then carried by 6.
Huntington Indiana
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« Reply #18 on: July 01, 2016, 06:06:21 PM » |
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Randy: You might want to think about going past Sioux City a few miles on 50 to Yankton SD Star- Lite Motel is half price of anything in Sioux. Quaint, clean mom & pop place you can walk down to the Mo River for dinner. Also a steak house a block away. Fudgies favorite place 500 Park St, Yankton SD 57078 ph 605 665-7828 Wish I was goin with you, Bro - keep us up to date Ah yes, the Star-lite Inn. Where the shower head is at chest level.  Still cant beat the Warrior Inn in Winner. |
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 Now you're in the world of the wolves... And we welcome all you sheep... VRCC-#7196 VRCCDS-#0175 DTR PGR |
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Ken Tarver
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« Reply #19 on: July 01, 2016, 09:18:28 PM » |
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Wizzard
We went to AK in 2010, wouldn't take anything for the experience. 28 days round trip.
The ride down to Valdez is beautiful...if you have the time should try to do that. It was the ride that was awesome, not the town LOL. Nice waterfall (Horsetail Falls) that don't have to hike 3 miles to see, right next to the highway.
Really enjoyed the town of Talkeetna also...ate the 4 lb burger and 2 lbs of fries at Nagley's store. Adam Richman did one of his "man vs food" shows there against the burger. We shared it 4 ways though, is that cheating? It was good!! Humpy's in Anchorage is another "man vs food" show also.
Something unique we thought, and partook of a couple of times...some of the lodging locations utilize some of the old living quarters that were used by the pipeline workers. They are bare-bones as far as amenities...but give a little more of the "taste" of the lifestyle. HAVE FUN, KNOW YOU WILL ENJOY.!
Ken,
"NO SNIVELING" was a sign on gas pump somewhere in Canada
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Wizzard
Member
Posts: 4043
Bald River Falls
Valparaiso IN
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« Reply #20 on: July 01, 2016, 09:32:48 PM » |
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Oh yeah, I forgot about you and you hotel deals! That method NEVER works out for me You taking that goofy Triumph ridin guy with ya? yeah,, I got to be picky where I go with him. Some places wont let me in  |
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VRCC # 24157 |
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Moonshot_1
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« Reply #21 on: July 02, 2016, 04:20:47 PM » |
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Well after work I went down to cruise Hwy 20 to see if maybe I could catch up with ya. Down there for the afternoon to late afternoon. Figured it was a long shot but I had to ride someplace and that was it.
Would have liked to meet ya but I get to work weekends and the day starts at 5 am. So I usually get home and to bed kind of early.
Hope you got to ride through the Ave. of Flags in Holstein.
Sure lucked out on the weather today. A bit more south and you'd been in the rain.
LEOs were out in force today. Fortunately they were busy giving awards to others.
Hope you are having a safe journey
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Mike Luken
Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
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