We awoke early in Moline. The rain had stopped but everything was still wet. We dried the bikes off and after a quick breakfast, headed west. We made good time riding across Iowa and made a planned stop at Lincoln Nebraska. Jim’s daughter was going to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, so we stopped for a break and took Cassandra to lunch. At lunch Cassandra got lots of attention from a young, handsome waiter. Oh, to be young again! After a very enjoyable lunch we were back on the road.

FLHTPI
Louis and his borrowed ride. You can tell that I-80 is a major route across the country from the amount of truck traffic. Gas stops, pit stops, pie stops. On we went. We soon passed another exit and did a double take. Here on the ramp was a beer truck. Apparently a couple of his slider doors on the side were open when he entered the ramp and he dumped the entire contents onto the ramp. There were cases, silver cans and broken glass bottles everywhere. We all looked at each other and wondered if we should stop and offer to help, but there already seemed to be plenty of volunteers. A police car was there to direct traffic (and to guard against public intoxication?) and we rode on. It was great sight, all they needed was a ‘Free Beer’ sign, and we all laughed! Wish I had the opportunity to get my camera out, but we were past it much too quickly.

There is not a lot to say about our travels through Nebraska. I enjoyed the scenery but it was a mix of farms and low hills. We stopped for the night in North Platt. I took the guys picture in front of Buffalo Bill’s Trading Post. It looks to be an interesting place to visit had it been open.

We got a room and went over to the Garden Café for supper. Apparently someone didn’t show up for work as they only had one waitress this evening and they were very full! In fact, we visited with a gal clearing tables that was not in uniform. She explained that she worked there but this was her day off. She had stopped by for coffee and saw they were so busy, so she was helping out.

So while the waitress tried to catch up, we patiently passed the time making new friends and visiting with Cathy and Tom. They were traveling also and we enjoyed their company. When we awoke the next morning, we went down to the lobby for breakfast. There was Tom and Cathy on the other side of a room full of people. I stood on a chair to get their attention and waived. I was politely but very firmly told to get off the chair by the hostess. Yes, Mamm!

We headed out again. This morning was much cooler and we bundled up. We got off I-80 and onto I-76 at we passed into Colorado. As we came to Sterling Colorado, we stopped to have some coffee (no pie!) and get warm.
Outside Denver
a full parking lot clears faster.

Takin' It Off
shedding layers as it warms.

We were in rolling hills now but the most striking feature was the round fields. Seems if you wish to farm here, you need to irrigate. Since the irrigation systems traveled in a circle about the wells, the resulting fields were round! Interesting. As we rode Denny would point to the right about every half mile. We were all puzzling about what he was pointing at. Then I realized that there was a hawk sitting on the telephone pole! Neat! In fact there were many of them, regularly spaced out, as we passed along the highway. So Denny and I both started pointing when we would approach one. It took a little while for Ron and Jim to catch on to what we were doing then they started watching also. I attempted to count them as we rode along, but soon gave up. Let’s just say I have never seen so many hawks in my life! As we came to the Denver area, it warmed up quickly. It seemed to jump from the low 40s into the 70s in just a few miles. Traffic had gotten heavy through Denver and now that we were past it, it slowed to a crawl. This was now mountain country. I used to think that you wouldn’t see much great scenery from an expressway, but I was wrong! I-70 through Colorado is an awesome road!

We took advantage of the slow traffic and pulled over to change out of our heavy riding gear into lighter weight clothing. I took a quick pit stop on the side of the road. The guys hooted, said I would get us all arrested but hey, I couldn’t wait any longer! We were soon back on the road but now we were in stop and go traffic.

We puttered along for a short while but then Jim’s Harley died. We managed to just get off the road when it fired up again. We discussed it a little and decided to ride down the shoulder of the road.
Scenic Interstate
big surprise, it's awesome.

Fall Colors
colorful aspen...is this a clue?

We made good time this way passing stopped traffic but had only gone about two miles when we met a Colorado State Trooper giving people tickets for riding on the shoulder! (Hey, we were only doing it in case Jim’s bike died again, honest!) We were lucky. She was busy writing a ticket and only shook her finger at us and pointed back on to the highway. Yes, Mamm! Back into the stop and go traffic again.

We soon came to construction and realized the cause for the delays. We got off at the Georgetown exit for a break and a bite to eat. We needed to rest our clutch hands!

At the restaurant, we again visited with the waitress and patrons. Interesting what you can learn. Seems the waitress was a biker also and we had a nice visit. We also learned how difficult it was getting from one end of town to the other on a weekend. Seems most of these towns are long and narrow, some only having one main street. When the traffic is bad (as from the construction) it is almost impossible to get from the south side of the road to the north side! She said the construction lasted for several miles and suggested we take the access road and avoid much of it.

She also introduced us to her niece Melissa, and told us she was affectionately known to her friends as ‘Cantilope butt’. Of course this elicited some friendly kidding which she took in stride. Melissa left and we were just getting ready to go pay our bill when she came back around the corner. She was carrying a small child, which she introduced as her nephew. Walking up to me (as I was on the end of the table), she said to him “Does this man look like your Daddy? What do you think?” Okay, Melissa, you got us! We all told her we couldn’t even try to top that one and sheepishly left. Of course she got a great tip.

We gassed up and headed on. It was neat riding along beside the expressway, looking at all the stopped traffic! After about fifteen miles, the road split and we took the wrong turn. Now we were headed north on 40 and away from the direction we wanted to travel. So we turned around and took the other fork. This dumped us back on to I-70 again, but traffic was much better now. We got off again at Glenwood Springs as the guys wanted to buy Harley shirts and I wanted to get a spare quart of oil.

Denny Vasher
slept in a chair and still smiling.

Four Horsemen
Last chance for group photo! Wow, traffic was bumper to bumper, stop and go. I think it took us 45 minutes to go three miles to the Harley dealership. After they got their shirts we headed back through the traffic towards I-70 again. Denny and I got separated from Ron and Jim and stopped and waited for them at I-70. We waited and we waited. No Ron and Jim. Finally they showed up. Jim’s bike had died again in all that traffic. It seemed to be running okay now so we decided to press on rather than take another hour to go back to the Harley dealer.

We got into Grand Junction about supper time. We stopped at several motels attempting to find a room. None were available. This was Friday night and there was a convention in town. Finally we found a room downtown (the kind of place where you lock everything up). One room, three small beds and a chair. Denny, being the newbie, generously offer to sleep in the chair. Thank you Denny.

The next morning we had a discussion at breakfast. Jim was worried about his bike quitting again on the road, so decided to go to the Harley dealer in town and get it checked out.

We discussed the options. The original plan was to all ride together to Carson City. Then the guys were going to break north and ride the coast from Washington to California while I was in school. I was the only one on a time schedule as I had to be in Carson City, Sunday night. So we all decided that Ron and Denny would stay with Jim, and I would head out ahead. If it all worked out, they could rejoin me that night, if not, they would head north towards Salt Lake City. The bike is running good, it’s September and the weather is decent, so how bad could it be anyway? So with handshakes all around, I got back on I-70 and headed west again. Sometimes it’s a good thing that we are oblivious.

Check out the rest of the trip by Ron, Jim, and Dennis by clicking HERE.

-LC