Backroads Touring - April 14, 2013

April 13, 2013 .... the first ride of the new season. What better choice of locales than to ride the Flint Hills?

Seventeen riders gathered in Cassoday to ride through Chase County. This day's gathering included: Mike Bright - Chanute - KTM950, K.J. Robinson - Wichita - KLR250, Ray Henson - Wichita - KLR650, Damon Schimming - Wichita - BMW R100GS/PD, Barry Wood - Towanda - KLR650, Denise Burkholder - Towanda - KLR650, Kent Jantzen - Moundridge - KLR650, Khalid Ebrahim - Wichita - KTM LC640, Jason Murray - Wichita - Yamaha Super Tenere, Gordon Polston - Herington - KLR650, Roger Stith - Newton - KLR650, Chuck Tibben - St. Charles, IA - DR-Z400, Keith Harris - Andover - KTM 690R, Chris Owens - Garden Plain - KLX250S, Dan Booth - Miami, OK - KLR650, and Roger Baugh - Wichita - KLX250S.

Once gathered in Cassoday, we rode to the north, seeking the Rock Creek Valley, and the picturesque road that starts as a two-track on the southern end. Proceeding northeast, we entered the Den Creek Valley. Looping back around to the west, we arrived at a favorite location, the Coyne Creek Valley, and the minimum maintenance road that runs through it. We weren't disappointed with the mud and water crossings that challenged us along the way!

From Clements, we rode the Camp Wood Road to its namesake, Camp Wood YMCA, located to the west of Elmdale, KS. Staff members greeted us, and even let us handle the local fauna ... a black rat snake. Leaving Camp Wood, we rode into Elmdale, stopping to see the restoration work on the old schoolhouse there. Leaving Elmdale, we rode to the east, stopping briefly to see one of the most picturesque lakes the state has to offer, the Chase County Fishing Lake.

Sue Smith, owner of the Emma Chase Cafe' in Cottonwood Falls, was ready for our famished crew ... and no one went away hungry. Always a delight to break bread in that location, and it gave the patrol a chance to visit and swap tales.

After fueling in Cottonwood, we rode south to Bazaar, and entered into the Sharpes Creek Valley. Upon exiting this highly scenic area, we turned west to Matfield Green and took a final rest stop there before returning to our starting point in Cassoday, ten miles to the south.

It was a good start our first group ride, and with riders who were prepared to ride! No mechanical issues or mishaps ... always the best way to open a new riding season.

...... Roger Baugh

Route Maps Download ... PDF format, (568 kb)

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