Backroads Touring - Kansas

Greg Mitchell · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: Scenic Ride

As ride leader of one of the Scenic rides, I just thought I would let you know what to expect on my ride. I plan to leave the campground around 9:00am. We will travel by mostly gravel to near Dunlap, to see the Kaw Indian monument and sod house. We will proceed to Kahola Lake, and if the water is running over the spillway, we will stop for pictures at the waterfall. We wil then make our way west to 177 highway and go south to the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, and stop for pictures of the house and barn. We will then go through Strong City and take mostly gravel roads to Emporia for lunch at the Wagon Wheel cafe. Good burgers, etc. After lunch, we will go south towards Olpe and go west towards the big micro wave tower, then on west alittle more to Sharps Creek road. We will take Sharps Creek road to Bazaar. We will take the back sometimes paved road from Bazaar to Cottonwood Falls and sneek around the Rodeo goins on and go west to Chase Co. State Lake. After a stop for pictures, we will ride west to Elmdale. We will then go to Diamond Springs road and work our way back north to 56 highway and come in the back way to the campground. About 75 percent of the time we will be on gravel and about 25% pavement. We will need to keep up a brisk pace, but we will also have plenty of opportunities for pictures, so bring a camera. Gas available in Emporia, Cottonwood Falls, Council Grove, so we shouldn't have any range problems. This is not going to be a fast ride, but we will need to keep up a respectable pace, so be prepared to ride 50mph when gravel is smooth, and the speed limit on the paved sections. We will stick to mostly all weather gravel roads, but may try one or two minimum sections if all are in agreement. Bring a camera, a smile, a good attitude, lunch money, and gas money, and we will see the Flint Hills in all its glory. Til then, be safe, buckeroos, and I will see you at the Stampede!!!! Laughing

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T-Bone
1995 DR350SE
1989 Transalp
2005 KTM 950 Adventure

Greg Mitchell · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject:

As always, routes could be modified due to time constraints, or weather, but the tentative plans are posted in the previous post. Greg Rolling Eyes

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T-Bone
1995 DR350SE
1989 Transalp
2005 KTM 950 Adventure

DirtFarmer · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

No pie? You're not stopping somewhere for pie?

ajayhawkfan · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

I may be stopping for pie.
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Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU!

Ken Clifford · Very Active Member Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 147

Your weak...Your weak. I can understand giving up classified government secrets for pie....but riding for pie?

OK...I'd do the same thing. Don't want to be vetted on this one.
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Ken Clifford
2006 DL650 VStrom-Da Bull
2006 DR650-Ol' Yellar
2000 BMW 1100 RT-SE-Bernice
316-992-5678

Greg Mitchell · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:38 am Post subject:

Yes, we can stop for pie or Ice Cream!!!! We can even stop for ........!!!!
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T-Bone
1995 DR350SE
1989 Transalp
2005 KTM 950 Adventure

Dryflyer · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

Nice route itinerary! Gives riders an idea of what to expect on your ride. Thanks!
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Ireland Turner
2008 KLR 650

sTE610vE · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject: What about MUD?

Hey Greg, where are you planning to get stuck in the MUD??? Laughing

You didn't mention anything about that, that's always my favorite part.......yea right Wink

Everybody was havin' pie at emma chase while we were havin' "smokin clutch" for lunch. One of my favorite memories, even though at the time I could have picked a few other things to be doin...but that's the adventure part ain't it?!? Alot more fun that other "adventures" I had....

Just kidding around, Greg is a great ride leader, I might even tag along if he let's me this year

By the way how much rain did you get up that way in the last few days?

Greg Mitchell · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

Hey Steve, The mud seems to find me somehow. This weekend on the river road north out of Atchison, we ran into a couple of MUD holes that left the Transalp brown instead of white. Why me? I am sure that if we look long enough in the Flint Hills, we will be able to find some mud!! It would sure be alot more fun to be eatin' pie instead!!!! Save me some of that pie, Ken!! Rolling Eyes

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T-Bone
1995 DR350SE
1989 Transalp
2005 KTM 950 Adventure

sTE610vE · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: Transalp in the mud?

britt · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

While you guys were in that mud, I was at the Emma Chase eating pie. Interesting day for sure.
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07 DL650
00 DR650
00 DR200

sTE610vE · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

Greg Mitchell · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

Steve, You are sure making me look bad!! I hope it doesn't rain this weekend, cause I'm sure I could find some mud somewhere!! But then, we would have a new set of mud pictures to show in a couple of years! See you Fri. or Sat. And stay out of the sinkholes this year!! Greg Rolling Eyes

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T-Bone
1995 DR350SE
1989 Transalp
2005 KTM 950 Adventure

BigO · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:36 am Post subject: Background

Hey Greg, that's me digging out mud in the background on my first Stampede. What an initiation to dual sport riding I had. After adjusting my clutch clear out it was still slipping so bad that I couldn't keep ahead of a semi up one of the long hills going back to Council Grove.
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BigO
Larry Ostrom
BrnIIRyd

sTE610vE · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

Oops didn't mean to do that Greg....I actually had a great time it was one of those roads that looks fine but turned out to be just the right combination of water, dirt and small rocks to make a mess, we all learned little about sizing up a road after rain that day. If your going to ride on non-paved roads in the country you bound to get muddy from time to time, heck that is part of the fun!

I guess what I was getting at is that WE seem to find the mud, maybe it's me...hmm considering my infamous canyon jump I'll have to think about that...

Sorry about any misconception, all the ride leaders do a really great job and Greg is a one of the best, I was just poking a little fun at him. See ya'll up there! Very Happy