| Author | Message | ||
     Racerboy |
Rob, so noted...You're first to respond...Let's see what others say... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Gravedigger |
Bob, Looks good for me also. calender looks clear. | ||
| Racerboy |
Keith, gotcha down... Bob | ||
| Ninjagirl_6366 |
Hey, Bob, is the Eureka QT the one off the 109 exit? I will check my email and monitor this board this morning, but this afternoon I will be out at the firing range for shotgun qualification, so maybe call me too. I would hate to go to the wrong location; but I guess now you will know where I will be waiting if I don't show up at the correct QT (as long as I am not chewing gum and riding at the same time--then who knows where I might wind up! hee-hee). Jenn | ||
| Gravedigger |
Bob, What do you have in mind for the July ride? Just take in some of the rodes or make a weekend out of it??? Keith p.s. I hear the nightlife at the lake is quite nice!  | ||
| Gravedigger |
And I guarantee you can find a nice meal!!!!  | ||
| Dave |
Weekdays are difficult for me BOb in my current vocation. It's getting better though in that I've moved over to the "QC/QA" side of the house. Okay ... so they haven't had one here and now all of a sudden they want a program up and running ... yesterday.  DAve | ||
| Richieg150 |
Racerboy,the KC Boys are up for a monthly ride to meet the St.Louis bunch somewhere in the middle for some riding!Lets all plan a get togeather!Did I hear correctly that you all have a ride the third Sunday of each month??Lets try to get the ball rolling on this one huh! | ||
| Racerboy |
Richie...We're all planning a ride to the Lake of the Ozarks Third Sunday in July...Hope you guys can make it...The Quincy guys are in and so is Pilk (Rob)...Talk it over and make plans for July... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Gravedigger |
Heres the report from my little southern IL jaunt. Arrived Thursday night, people we were meeting were running errands so we decided to catch a midnight breakfast in Paducah, KY. Sat near a very nice local couple and struck up conversation on must see things in the area. They mentioned Shawnee national forest etc... I ask about "land between the lakes" They immediately tell me that I have to stop at Patty's for the pork chop! HUH?????? Our friends get done running errands. We sit around thier home and discuss what is going on the next day. Women running wedding related errands. Guy (the groom) we are staying with that night is a Illinois State patrol officer. He mentions that he has to work all day til 4. I ask him about good roads to ride, how to avoid running into him and his other friends in those white and yellow cars. He gives me the info that i was looking for. Many suggestions on areas in shawnee. I ask about "land between the lakes" He immediately pipes up. You have to gotto Patty's and eat if you have time. The "pork chop" is awesome! HUH???????????? this sounds familiar!!! Friday morning! hop on the bike and of I head. I start leaving the Metropolis area north on IL 45. First few miles are wuite straight and flat. Stopped a few miles up the road at Melmet conservation area. I heard that it was a very good duck and goose hunting area. Seeing as how that is what I do during the winter when the roads are to icy to ride it was a must stop. Was just beautiful from a duck hunters aspect. Geese everywhere. They wouldn't hardly get off the road as I road through. I found that a quick rev of a loud V-Twin tended to change thier minds about blocking my path!! Left Melmet and continued north on 45 started out the same. straight and flat. A few miles down the road I ran into a few hills and curves. Stopped for my morning coffee in Viena. Struck up conversation with the cashier. Asked about hings to see etc.. Told her I intended to travel through Shawnee then head down to "land between the lakes" You have to stop at Pattys for lunch or supper!! They have the best "Pork Chop"!! HUH???????? now this is just getting plain rediculus!!! Heading into and out of Vienna. I keep seeing these red and white "SAVE VIENNA PRISON" signs. I exit Vienna on IL 146 towards Dixon Springs. 146 is pretty straight and then has a few long sweepers, but nothing overly exciting. There is a cool looking swamp or marsh type area that you pass, but other than that no that great. I catch IL 145 and head towards Eddyville. 145 has a few more long sweeping turning and a few hills. Much better than what I had seen all morning. | ||
| Racerboy |
Okay, he's leaving us hanging!... | ||
| Gravedigger |
When I arrive at Eddyville, I decide it is time to start lookign for curvy roads and/ or blacktops. I take Eddyville Rd south towards Golconda. Imediately I know the difference. Think to myself, What a nice choice!!  THis is a MUST RIDE road!!!!!!!!! Hills, CURVES, good pavement!!! Beautful road!!! The curves are very nice and talk about elevation changes!! My ears popped a few times dropping down some of the hills. Also very little traffic. This was definately a ride again road! SO I DID!! Back in Eddyville.  I see what looks like another curvy raod on the map that breaks off Eddyvile road about half way to Golconda. So I head out looking for it. (note, this is 2 1/2 times over the same area of pavement!) I find it! Its called Raum Road. Raum Road starts out looking innocent enough for about a hlaf mile or so. Then turns to gravel!!  Being in the adventurous spirit that I am in, I decided "what the hell" lets try it!!! LET ME STATE! THIS IS NOT A GOOD ROAD FOR A BUELL!!!! torque and loose gravel do not mix!!!! I managed to keep the rubber side down though there were a few hairy moments! Would be great for an enduro bike though!!! This road is the essence of SHAWNEE though. The scenery was absolutely wonderful. I even had to cross a small creek!! water 3 inches deep running over a small slab of concrete that is supposed to be some southern Illinois joke for a bridge. again, not suggested Buell road! but fun none the less and well worth seeing. I continue to see those little red and white signs everywhere I go. even in the national forest. I realize that it probably a good thing that Gov. Ryan is not running for office again. as if that wasn't an allready well know factor. end up in Herod. AH PAVEMENT!!!! head south on IL 34 for a couple miles and turn East on Karbers Ridge road. Head towards "Garden of the Gods". Raods leading to this area have some nice curves and hills. few spots where vehicles have drug gravel onto the pavement. Arrive at "Garden of the Gods" Gorgeus area. find out this is not a drive by event. I actually have to get off the bike and hike to see the rock formations. Beautiful 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile hike. very rough terrain but well worth it. realize at thsi point what I forgot to pack! my dman camera!!!!  Very bad mistake. not only for the scenery but beacuse Heather is the maid of honor at a wedding the next day! gonna here about this one!! All that hiking made me hungry. "Pork chops" come to mind for some reason. Head down Karbers Ridge road east again towards IL 1. Road gets much better in the curves and hills aspect but the pavement gets worse. pretty rough pavement. Especially since I have food on my mind and my pace has quickened. IL 1 is quite boring a few curves and hills but nothing to get excited about. I arrive in the Town of Cave in Rock. Decided that While there I might as well check out the cave and park. Head into the park. See restaurant and hunger makes me head into it. Once in the restaurant I decide this is not the place that I am going to eat. that Damn pork chop is on my mind.  Grab a cup of coffee and strike up conversation with waitress. Ask her about the cave and the area. She proceeds to tell me that the cave is flooded and I can't go in it. there goes my point of stopping there! Tell her that I am headed towards "land between the Lakes" and she mentions that I had better do it soon because if the Ohio river rises anymore I won't be able to cross into kentucky. Then she mentions, I you are stopping there you have to eat at Patty's! they have the best pork chop!!! Are you fricking kidding me!!!!!!! by the way, they have a real good cup of coffe there. I catch the Ferry crossing and head into Kentucky. River is running real fast. awesome though!! there is just something very enjoyable about a Ferry ride accross a river. (bed time, part two tommorrow) we'll just call it the journey to find Patty's!  | ||
| Pilk |
It's tomorrow already. Tell us the rest. Pilk | ||
| Gravedigger |
OK, here is the Journey to find Patty's! Just entering Kentucky via ferry on KY 91. As soon as I get off the ferry I notice a sign that has a horse and buggy. the little light bulb goes off in my head. This must be amish territory, wonder if I will see one? Very nice road nice hils and curves. good pavement. very little traffic except what just got off the ferry with me. needless to say they were not a factor very long. many amish craft type place blurr bye. I think one was even a saw mill. very pretty country. I am blazing down the road and come up over hill to find what I was looking for! The horse and buggy! Don't think the amish guy really liked hearing that V-Twin race past him. Didn't seem to startle the horse much though. probably a good thing they have those blinders on. I enter the small town of Marion, KY and find KY 641. cool looking little town, would have probably checked it out more if I didn't have that damn pork chop on my mind!! 641 to Eddyville KY was a nice road. There are two Eddyvilles?????? one in KY and one in IL who would have thought!! again hills and nice curves. good pavement. Great views of typical Kentucky countryside. Scattered with little towns. Most of which I probably blinked and missed along the way. After eddyville 641 heading towards grand rivers almost turns into a super slab. Quite a few vehicles trailering boats etc. I went over Barkley damn. I think i was a TVA damn or something. great view while riding over it though. Right after I found KY 453 into grand rivers. looks like a large coal area. I think it was a barge loading area. Don't think I've ever seen that much coal. Kinda ugly looking area, but your past it in about 1/2 mile or so. Immediately after passing that area the whole area definately takes on a little resort area look. There is a nice marina off to your right with what seemd like a couple hundred sailboats! Awesome sight when most of us are probably used to seeing powerboats either on the Mississippi or down at lake of the ozarks. Almost had a east coast kind of look. Holy Shit!!! Whats that sign say???????? "Patti's 1880's Settlement"!!!!! they even have thier own road sign???????? Quick left turn! Pull into the parking lot, couldn;t get the helmet and gloves off fast enough. the stomach really starts to growl now. must be anticipation. Two old farmer looking types a headed accross the parking lot (wearing bibs even!) and I stike up conversation with them. "WE hear this place has the best pork chop"!! At this point I've given up! whether this is the best pork chop or not, I am eating the damn thing and enjoying it!!!! WE wonder up to the building and there are two entrances. One says "Bills" and the other says "Patti's". I look at the two farmers blankly and they look at me the same way. We agree that we are headed in the direction of the one that says Patti's since this is the name we both heard. Walk in throught this little gift shop. where they sell crafts, spices, etc. and find my way to the little restaurant lobby/craft area type place. Get my name put on the list and am informed it is going to be about a 10 minute wait. COOL! I had heard that it might take 3 times this amount of time! Time to slip out for a smoke and look over the little pamphlet thing they distribute. Neat little history to this place. Head back in and am informed that my table is ready. Neat looking old building. Get seated and the hostess gives me a short little history on the restaurant and informs me my waitress would be with me in just a sec. I pull out the other pamplhet that caught my eyes in the lobby. Key word on top of the pamphlet is "BEER". start reading the pamplet and realize that I am in a DRY COUNTY!!! This is just not going to work! I mean I don;t drink and ride, but one bear to wash down a pork chop I've been waitng for all day doesn't seem like too much to ask for! Waitress comes ask for my drink order and I get coffee. She lays the menu on the table and say she will be back in just a moment to take my order. I say "hold on a sec, I allready know what I want". She says "OK". I say "I want the pork chop!" She smiles and says "will that be the 1inch or th 2 inch?" "HUH?" "I think I'll have the 2 inch!" Hey why screw around at this point. I work over the cup of coffee and look at a few other pamphlets I picked up about the region. Looks like a great place to visit again sometime and look over a little more thoroughly. Note to self, bring beer, if planning on staying long. I look around to see what everyone else is eating. Image that. ALL PORK CHOPS!! Well except this one couple whole is done with thier meal allready. Wait a minute. What is the waitress bringing them?????? MMMMMM DROOL!!!! Lemon Meringue pie!!! This is no lie!! this Pie is at least a foot tall!!! probably 9 or 10 inches of meringue!!!!!! note to self. GET ONE OF THOSE!!!! Waitress shows up with some bread and my salad. I comes in a pot. the orange one like you would put a plant in. on the side is regular butter and strawberry butter. Talk about good!!!!!!! steaming hot bread with strawberry butter!!!! OH MY! I ate the whole damn loaf!!!!! As soon as I finish my bread and salad the waitress shows up with the pork chop and potatoe. Did I mention that thier service is excellent??? No LIE, this PORK CHOP is at least 2 inches thick!! The Pork chop takes up half the plate and the potatoe takes up the other half!! Biggest damn potatoe I have ever seen!!!! I slice open the pork chop and the juices just pour out. WOW, this WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!!!! EVERYONE WAS RIGHT! THIS IS THE BEST DAMN PORK CHOP i HAVE EVER EATEN!!!! I decide that sinceI am staying in a hotel, I'll work the potatoe over and if there is any pork chop left I take it with me to the hotel for a midnight snack. That didn't work, after finishing off the potatoe I finished off the pork chop. Now I can't move!!!!! IF YOU GO TO THIS AREA< YOU MUST EAT THERE!!!!!! my only question is? BOB, WHY DON"T YOU LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR??????? I mean a place that serves a pork chop that you hear about for hundreds of miles????? I definately know why you knew about this place, HELL YA CAN"T MISS IT!!!!!!! everybody talks about it down there!!!!! I forget, was this a motorcycle trip story or a food story?????? So I pay the check a waddle out to the bike. This is going to be a rough trip back to metropolis, ughhh. stomach full, must go lay down! Head out on US 24 and head back to metropolis. One pitstop along the way. vibration of V-TWin and full stomach don't mix. race into a gas station, handle the problem, and get ready to get back on the highway. KY state cop passes by. glad this is where I saw him!!! One cop all day and I am not moving at the time!!!!!! can't ask for anything better!!!! Back to metropolis, get checked into hotel, try to lay down for a few minutes. phone rings! "ARE YOU READY YET???" Shit!!! jump in shower, change, and out the door I go! watch wedding rehearsal, goto rehearsal dinner (southern BBQ). Heather asks "HOW COME YOU ARE NOT EATING????" "just not real hungry for some reason, sweetie." SSSSHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! SHE DON"T NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! p.s. BOB, I hope that satisfy's your needs for trip logging! my damn fingers are tired now! | ||
| Pilk |
AWESOME story, thanks. Now I'm forced to go there and get a porkchop. Pilk | ||
| Ninjagirl_6366 |
Anyone want to ride with me on Saturday? Jenn | ||
| Racerboy |
Jenn, please call me at work this evening...I may be able to ride for a shortwhile... 314.821.0776 ... ALL...As you know, John and I will be in CA for the Third Sunday ride and need someone to volunteer to lead this months ride...I can give you some ideas and past routes...It's important to have this ride because we are now hosting it for HSTA as well...Please call me at the above number or at home...636.938.3788... HSTA and SLAB are considering CHANGING (again!) the meeting location...After talking it over we think Hooters is a bit TOO NOISY...As soon as I know something definite, I'll post it here...The location being considered is in the same general location as Hooters...This is good because it is so centrally located for most of us... See Ya! Bob See Ya! Bob | ||
| Josh |
I plan on being there and actually riding this time, but there's no way I'm leading Josh | ||
| Racerboy |
Josh...Call me...You were one of the guys I thought of...314.821.0776... | ||
| Racerboy |
Josh has graciously agreed to host May's Third Sunday SLAB/HSTA ride...As you know John and I will be riding the left coast and will miss you guys...Have fun!...The route we have planned will take you on a ferry ride to a cajun restaurant... CHANGE IS GOOD...HSTA and SLAB have decided to change the monthly meeting place to Malone's Grill and Pub, 11660 Administration, NE corner of Page and Schuetz...The time is still 6 to 10 p.m...HSTA had been discussing this issue and then when we joined them it simply exasperated the problems of Hooters being too loud, not enough TV access, meeting room...Plus. we get $1.10 long necks at Malone's... See Ya! Bob |
