Day 11
August 15, 2010
Clayton, IA to Jefferson City, MO: 362 Miles

With all my cousins out of town, I bypassed St. Louis, the original plan, to make a more direct line to Batesville. Stopped at J & R Cycles to pick out another touring bag.  They were quite helpful in letting me drag all their bags out to the parking lot to see how each would fit with my current set up. I settled on a T-bag that worked well with my Marsee.

There is some really beautiful country in eastern Iowa:

Hot and humid. I was reminded again that the breeze never blows lower than the height of the corn.

The Prison Brewery offered a fine IPA and “fall-off-the-bone” ribs. Well worth the stop.

Day 10
August 14, 2010
Cedar Rapids, IA to Clayton, IA: 96 Miles

Well, perhaps too good a time: got off to a super slow start. It was a good thing I was only going to Clayton. On my way up 151, I ran across the National Motorcycle Museum.

I could have stayed there all day, but only got to spend an hour there since Dave was expecting me at his cabin on the Mississippi for dinner. Here are a few shots of the museum:

1908 Indian Racer

Mach-Ness: Built on a helicopter jet engine

57 Chevy theme bike by Arlen Ness

1936 Norton Manx Racer

A replica of Dennis Hopper’s ride in Easy Rider

The original Captain America from Easy Rider (It was fully restored after the crash in the movie.)

Turned out to be a beautiful day as this shot of the river from just south of Clayton shows:

Had a great time catching up with Dave (thanks for the steak dinner Dave!) and then went north 10 miles to Pikes Peak State Park to turn in early.

Day 9
August 13, 2010
Hays KS to Cedar Rapids, IA:  586 Miles

An early start to a long day was rewarded with this sunrise.

But that was about it for the photo opportunities for the day.

The end of the day was rewarded by good friends, good brew, and a great time catching up. Sorry to have missed the ones that couldn’t make it; maybe next time. Thanks Cindy for setting it all up!

Day 8
August 12, 2010
Bailey, CO to Hays KS: 379 Miles

I debated heading for Sturgis, but decided against it since no one I knew was planning on being there. I think that is a trip better planned with friends. Of course Billy Bartels calls me when I’m gassing up in Denver to ask if I was in SD yet. He had just flown in to pick up some bikes and ride them back to So Cal. He was only at Sturgis for 24 hrs, so we reluctantly determined that our paths wouldn’t cross on this trip.

The large storm system south of Denver encouraged me to head east:

Storms both north and south of me kept me moving east. I watched this rainbow and rain shower for almost an hour before stopping to take a photo.

Again, I missed the rain and stopped long enough in the afternoon to cook up my next destination: Cedar Rapids, IA to visit friends/former co-workers. Although I was up for a couple more hours on the bike, a lighting storm drove me shelter in Hays with this in my rear view mirror:

Day 6 & 7
August 10-11, 2010
Bailey, CO

I spent a great two days with Eric & Rachel. Eric was kind enough to let me set up and work out of his office which allowed me to catch up with work and get caught up with them after 5.