Miss the Turn

Day 4 Tuesday, April 20, 2010

My alarm went off at 6 AM. I was already awake and had been for 10 minutes. I turned off the alarm so that I wouldn't wake Chuck. I got dressed and started to pack when Chuck told me that he was awake and that I could put the TV on if I wanted. I didn't. I finished packing and Chuck got up. I had made some coffee and it smelled so good. We both got our bags and went down to our Motors and packed them up. We walked to the lobby for some more coffee and C.E. and Ken were already there. C.E. was on his lap top and Ken was on the lobby computer. We sat around for a while and Bruce came in. We were killing some time because Ken had to take his Motor to the Honda dealership to repair his headlights and it didn't open until 9 AM. We figured that we would drop off Ken's Motor and, while it was being repaired, go to breakfast. If we had to ride to a restaurant, Bruce volunteered to give Ken a ride. After all, Bruce owed him one. Ken gave Bruce a ride on his Motor last year when Bruce's Motor had to be repaired. Ken and Bruce got a lot of ribbing for that. The pictures were priceless! We still talk about it. We got to the Honda dealership as it opened and they took Ken in right away. We looked around for a restaurant and decided that we would walk down the street about two blocks to a Subway and have breakfast. We all walked and C.E. rode. C.E. got there and saved us three tables. We finished our breakfast and returned to the dealership just as they had finished repairing Ken's Motor. Jan had to take some photos of a Gold Wing being repaired. We alway make fun of the Harley riders because they are always having to get one of the Harleys repaired. We finally left the dealership at 10:29 AM. Ken was in the lead.

We were just north of Enid, OK when "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf came on the radio. I cranked up the music, set it on the external speakers, set up may camera for "video" and started my video of the group. This video will be posed on the web site and on U-Tube. We continued on US 60 with Ken in the lead, Bruce was next, then Chuck, then Me, then Jan and C.E. was last. We came up to an intersection of US 60 and US 81. We needed to turn right (east). Ken rode north, Bruce turned east, Chuck also continued north and the rest of us also turned east. We rode a few hundred yards and stopped and waited for Chuck and Ken to come back. A few minutes went by and here they came! Ken told us that he didn't see the sign because of a big truck blocking the sign. Bruce was next in line and saw the sign and turned. Chuck was behind Bruce and went after Ken. We then continued east.

Ken led us to the town of Ponca City where there was a "Y" in the road. One road was US 60 while the other was Business US 60. We all made the correct turn onto US 60, and Chuck, being in the third position, chose the left road to Business US 60. Chuck went on his own while no one when after him to get him back. We continued on US 60 until it met up with Business US 60. Just east of the intersection was the Arkansas River. We rode to the east side of the bridge and waited for Chuck. We knew that he would show up...sometime! We stopped at 11:42 AM, ridded for 69.8 miles and three minutes later, Chuck rode up with a big, shit-eatin' grin! He told us that he just missed the turn. He wasn't paying attention. Fortunately, or unfortunately however way you want to look at it, Chuck met up with us and we continued east.

We rode into a town called Pawhuska, OK. We rode slowly, almost through the town, when Ken slowed and made a u-turn. We all followed and rode back about a half a mile where Ken pulled into a gas station at 12:27 PM. We had ridden for 43.1 miles. We made a pit stop and took a break. It was 68 degrees and we all packed our jackets. It was my turn to lead.

I led the group through more beautiful country. It was rolling hills, green, farm land and livestock. We rode up a hill and when we crested the hill, there was a city that was much larger that what we were used to seeing. There were tall buildings, taller that two stories. This was the town of Bartlesville, OK. We stopped at 1:27 PM for lunch at a Subway after riding 30.0 miles. We talked about going straight to Branson and that is where we were headed. We left at 2:15 PM.

We were riding through the city of Vinita, OK. Us 60 in Vinita is part of the Old Route 66. We were on this same rode two years ago doing the Route 66 ride. We arrived at 3:04 PM and stopped at the same mini-mart that we stopped at two years ago. It was time for our after lunch break. We left at 3:29 PM.`

We rode another 52.5 miles and were stopped at a red light in Neosho, MO. Bruce was to the rear of the group and got word to Chuck that he needed to make a pit stop. We made a right turn and went about two blocks and stopped at a "Kum n Go." What?! That's right, a Kum n Go gas station and mini-mart. Ok you guys, no jokes. This is a legitimate business. There are a lot of Kum n Go's in this neck of the woods. While we were at the Kum n Go (I like saying it!) we decided that we wouldn't have the time to ride to Branson. If we went to Branson, it would be dark. We can't ride in the dark. It's too scary! After our pit stop and discussion as to where we were going, we left at 4:52 PM.

I was leading the group on US 60 and I saw some signs for a town called Granby. For some reason unknown to me, I kept staring at the name. I saw another sign for Granby and, some unknown other reason, I was looking forward to riding through this town. This last sign I saw for Ganby, again I stared at it and didn't look at any other part of the sign, was the sign to turn to Granby and stay on US 60. I went straight. Chuck rode up to me and told me that I missed the turnoff. I looked at my navigation and saw that we were now on US 71. I told Chuck that maybe we should turn around. We all turned and got back onto US 60. Now, for those who think that because I write my blog, I won't rat on myself. Yes I do. It's fair. It's all part of the fun of the ride. There was a large water tower that had the name "GRANBY" and "The Oldest Mining Town in the Southwest."

We rode for another 82.9 miles and got into Springfield, MO. and stopped at a mini-mart to get the map and get our bearings. We were looking for the Best Western. After realizing that we were about 5 miles away, we left at 6:34 PM. It was still light and we finally arrived at the Best Western at 6:45 PM. I parked under the awning, like always. Bruce parked with me while the others rode about 50 yards north of us and parked in the parking stalls. As they all got off of their Motors, Ken was standing by his Motor when the kickstand collapsed and it fell on it's left side. Jan told me later that Chuck, C.E. and Jan helped Ken pick up the Motor before anyone took a picture. I told Jan that he should have called me over and I would have run over and took the picture. Maybe next time. (Hopefully there won't be a next time.) We entered and checked into the motel. They were advertising a great rate and we didn't have to talk the clerk down in price. We parked our Motors by our rooms and took our bags to the rooms. After we got settled, we rode to Chili's for dinner. We finished and returned to the motel and tucked our Motors in for the night.

Tomorrow we will go to Branson to check it out. Who knows, maybe in the morning we will change our minds. We will see. Today we rode 335 miles. That was not bad for getting a late start.