DAY 3

We woke up this morning and packed up our Motorcycles. It wasn't that cold nor was it very windy as it was last night. We walked over to breakfast and then at 8:35 AM we left, heading for Dodge City. We didn't make it to Dodge City last night like we had intended to because of the strong winds. Chuck was leading us and we were going to gas up in Dodge City. At 9:21 AM we arrived in Dodge City after riding 50 miles. We gassed up, left at 9:45 AM, rode 1 more mile and arrived at Boot Hill at 9:48 AM. We toured Boot Hill and took pictures. We stayed until 11:20 AM, not realizing the time, and we left.

I was leading now and we headed northeast. After riding for 84 miles, we arrived at 12:44 PM in a town named Great Bend, KS. We stopped at a Subway and had lunch. We left at 1:20 PM with me still leading.

We rode another 32 miles and at 1:58 PM we arrived in Lyons, KS. We stopped for gas and Chuck tried to contact J.B. to set up a meeting time. Chuck couldn't connect with J.B. so he left a message on J.B.'s cell phone. We left at 2:25 PM with Bruce in the lead.

As Bruce was leading us to the meeting with J.B. in Emporia, Chuck put his Motor on cruise control, got his cell phone and called J.B. while he was riding. Chuck made a connection and spoke with J.B. The weather was cooperating with us today, however, every time we passed an 18 wheeler going the other way, the wind blast was nasty! Speaking of nasty, the western side of Kansas is not only flat, but there are a lot of dairy farms and hundreds and hundreds of cattle. It is not a pleasant odor! For those of you who are following our ride and are on the Department or retired, think of the smell at the PPD Driving Track...western Kansas smells like that! Anyway, we arrived at Emporia and stopped at the Flying J Truck Stop at 4:10 PM after 110 miles. J.B. was not there so Chuck called him. J.B. was a few miles away and rode to our location. Upon his arrival we were happy to see J.B.'s lovely wife, Suzy, riding on the back of his Motor. We visited for awhile and then left, with J.B. leading us to his home in Gladstone, MO. We left at 4:47 PM.

With J.B. leading us, we rode to Lebo, KS. and stopped for gas at 5:13 PM after 29 miles. At 5:27 PM we were off again! After riding for 103 miles, we arrived at J.B.'s house in Gladstone, MO. at 6:47 PM. We visited for a while with Suzy's sister, Nancy, and Suzy's mom, Ann. J.B.'s son, Aaron, was also there. After a while, we got back on our Motors and rode to Stroud's Restaurant for a very good chicken dinner. Suzy dove her car and took Aaron and Kathleen. All of the male employees were wearing a "Stroud's" t-shirt. On the back of the t-shirt it read, "WE CHOCK OUR OWN CHICKENS." We all had a good laugh. We returned to J.B.'s home where we parked all six of the Motors in the garage and tucked them in for the night.

We checked on the weather for tomorrow and it is supposed to have scattered showers and t-showers later in the evening. Jim is going to take his Harley to a nearby H-D service center for a 20,000 service on his Motor and a new tire. J.B. will go with him and possible Chuck also. Believe it or not, this being Day 3, we have NOT been to any Harley Davidson store thus far! LIFE IS GOOD!

Until tomorrow...