Backroads Touring - September 1, 2012

September 1, 2012 .... Eastern Kansas was getting drenched from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac's northward path, but it looked like the pattern would miss central Kansas altogether. As much as we wanted the rain, we wanted to ride even more!

Eleven riders made the rendezvous point in Beaumont, KS: Jeremy Duerksen - Hillsboro - XR650L, Jason Murray - Wichita - Yamaha Tenere, Tim Ens - Wichita - KLR650, Damon Schimming - Wichita - BMW R100GS PD, Dan Coffey - Andover - BMW 650GS, Barry Wood - Towanda - KL650, Denise Burkholder - Towanda - KLR650, Kent Jantzen - Moundridge - KLR650, Orin Auld - Junction City - KLR650, Mike Steinfort - Junction City - KLR650, and Roger Baugh - Wichita - KLX250S.

We enjoyed a good breakfast and conversations at the Beaumont Hotel, then followed-up with a rider meeting before mounting up. Heading south, we rode through the wind farm and then turned to the southeast toward Howard. Of course, we made a small side trip to the impressive outlook seen from the Green Ranch.

Refueling in Howard, we rode down the Elk River valley to Elk Falls. The drought was clearly visible, as today we could have renamed the place "Elk Trickles"! Turning west, we enjoyed a backroads cruise to Grenola, then turned northward into the Ferguson ranch spread to see one of the many stone arch bridges found in the Cowley County Grouse Creek area.

The temperature was starting to climb, and liquids were running low, so we rode along the Grouse Creek valley a ways and then turned our bikes towards Latham, as fluids in all varieties could be secured at the Latham Saloon. Following replenishment, we then turned westward again for our final leg to the ghost town of Bois D'Arc and the 1885 iron bridge found there. After a short rest, the group turned north for the short hop to Augusta to refuel and part ways.

We had not one, but two flats today ... and no get-offs. Most of the route was either recently heavily "rocked" or graded, so riders had to contend with less than ideal conditions. The tire repairs were done efficiently and in good time, with team support being a primary factor to getting us rolling again. We had a few group separations, but were able to reconnect everyone. With so many riders new to one another, separations will happen from time to time ... the important item is that every rider eventually remembers the "plan" and follows it.

My tripmeter showed close to 230 miles of riding today ... and would have to say that this ride and group of outriders was truly a most enjoyable one!

...... Roger Baugh

Route Maps Download ... PDF format, (816 kb)

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