DAY #3...HEBRON, NEBRASKA TO HUTCHINSON, KANSAS...187 MILES (473 MILES)

I, along with two others, left Hebron this morning shortly after 8:00 a.m. Once again the skies looked very much like rain, and this time there was some fog thrown in for good measure. The pavement was dry though, so I wasn't complaining. We stopped in Salina, Kansas for lunch, with only a few sprinkles falling from the sky, but once we left Salina, it started raining pretty steady.
I made it back to Thumperville a little after 12:00 noon, with everything dry except for the motorcycle.
Considering the entire weekend had 75-100% rain chances, we were all fortunate that it didn't rain any more than it did.
Thanks to everyone that attended the ThumperCafe. It was a great day with very good food and service, as mentioned before. For those that couldn't make it, you missed one of the best ones that I've attended.
This was the last ThumperCafe for 2011, the 25th anniversary year. Hope to see you next year in 2012.
Motor Mike

DAY #2...HEBRON, NEBRASKA TO GILEAD, NEBRASKA, THEN BACK TO HEBRON...26 MILES (286 MILES)

First of all, just a reminder that if you click on my pictures, you get the full size version.
Today was a great day. #000, 0001/2 and I left the motel about 9:00 a.m. for our short ride to Gilead. The skies even looked more threatening today than Friday, but for the most part all the rain went around us.Considering we had an 80% chance of rain, all we got were a few sprinkles during the event. I did spend about 30 minutes looking for Carol Gilmore when it started to rain, because I just knew she had to be there in Gilead somewhere. (I couldn't resist Carol)
We had 40+ people attending, and the food and service were better than best. Thanks Karen and staff....you were great.
Hebron is the home of the worlds largest swing, according to them anyway. Here's a picture of it anyway.


Tomorrow I head for home, a lot closer than I'm used to, but considering I'm riding the tiddler, I'm kind of glad.
I'll post one more time Sunday evening, after I return back to Thumperville.
Motor Mike

DAY #1...HUTCHINSON, KS. TO HEBRON, NEBRASKA...260 MILES

We rode out of Thumperville about 8:00 this morning under increasingly threatning skies. All day long you could see rain in the distance, but we didn't have as much as a drop. We started out riding north on highway 14, ending up in Cawker City, Kansas, home of the worlds largest ball of twine.

Along the way we found an old limestone bridge a short distance from the road.

We then started meandering our way back east and north to our destination for the day, Hebron, Nebraska.

The wind was gusting around 40 MPH out of the south, so while riding north it was great. I was getting close to 80 MPG because of the huge tailwind.

Riding east was not quite as much fun, but I got use some of the rubber off the sides of my tires, so that was a positive.

About 16 of us had supper together tonight, renewing old friendships and making some new ones.

That's about it for today. I'm not used to such short days, but it was kind of nice.

Stay tuned for tomorrow nights report after the ThumperCafe.

Motor Mike

IN ONE MORE DAY WE WILL BE MEETING IN GILEAD,NEBRASKA

What a treat this ThumperCafe is going to be. You will be eating in a building built in 1887 for the Railroad, Stagecoach, and Pony Express. I can't imagine the stories that would come from the walls of this building, if they could talk.
This cafe sits in the middle of the country on highway 136, between Fairbury and Hebron, in Gilead, Nebraska. You won't want to miss this one........see you there.

THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING!!

Only one more week until the ThumperCafe in Gilead, Nebraska. Not only is the excitement building within our membership, but also the locals around Gilead. We've received welcomes from the Hebron Chamber of Commerce, and also Karen at the Pioneer Inn in Gilead, the location of our event.

"Thank you for choosing us for you Thumper Event on Saturday Oct.8. We are spreading the word and hopefully the town will be full to see you. We are serving you Broasted Chicken and Roast Beef with pies for Dessert. See you Saturday at Pioneers Inn, Gilead."
Karen

The event was also published on the front page of the local newspaper in Hebron. Here's the link if you would like to read it. hebronjournalregister.com

See you all in Gilead....
Motor Mike

WHAT I'M RIDING TO GILEAD, NEBRASKA

Being as though this is a "tiddler" event, I'm going to ride my Yamaha WR250X to Gilead. Going to give the KLR a little rest. You don't have to ride a "tiddler", but there will be a special class for them at the ThumperCafe. What's a "tiddler" you ask.......any Thumper that's 250cc or less.
See you all there in 2 weeks.