Backroads Touring - July 10, 2011

July 10, 2011 .... Stepping outside at 7:00 am getting ready to depart, and with the temperature hovering around ninety degrees it meant one thing ... it was probably going to get a tad bit warmer before the day was through.

Leaving from Wichita today were Brady Allensworth - BMW 1150GS, and Roger Baugh - KLX250. We rode paved two-lane blacktop almost the entire way to Cassoday, but managed to find some interesting open range between Wichita and DeGraff. Close to Degraff, we paused a few minutes to view the entrance to a decommissioned Titan missile silo complex, hence the "deadly force" sign. Meeting us in Cassoday was Glen Krause of Emporia riding his KTM 990 Adventure. After fueling, we were ready to ride.

Rolling to the northwest, our first destination was Coyne Creek Road and some shade. Entering the area from the west, we enjoyed a cooler and shaded rest stop along the creek. Leaving the Coyne Creek valley, we then turned northeast and worked our way up to Cottonwood Falls and the welcomed air conditioning that awaited us at the Emma Chase Cafe.

After chowing down and hydrating, we re-entered the July crucible and rode to Den Creek Road and then Bazaar. At Bazaar, we turned south and rode open range along the Sharpes Creek Road. Continuing south, we picked up Madison Road and headed east to Texaco Hill. At Texaco Hill, we parted ways, with Glen continuing eastward back to Emporia and Brady and I riding to the southwest towards Cassoday, then Wichita.

How hot was it out there? Back in Wichita, it reached 111 degrees F. It was one of those days where it was cooler to keep the faceshield locked down when running at speed on the pavement, otherwise the furnace wind would dry out the eyeballs in a hurry! We encountered no issues the entire day. Early in the morning, we came across numerous wild turkeys and turkey vultures. Only once did we have a whitetail deer pop-up close to us, but it didn't pose a potential collision threat. Despite the heat, it was a good day to get out and once again enjoy the Flint Hills!

... rb

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