Wednesday North Central ROMEO Lunch Ride for 8-19-15

[Richard]

Guys - It's been years since we were at this little place. Many i'm sure remember the place because of the looong wait to get our order. It probably was my fault because the place had just opened and we inundated it way before they had a chance to get their systems working.
I recall that Nick had to be somewhere by 5:00 pm and had to leave before he got his order or he wouldn't have been able to get back home to Cuba in time. It was a date with his wife or some such thing that he could have really been in bad shape if he hadn't left when he did. Others followed his lead and left hungry as well. I doubt this will happen this time!
Joyce and I took a little trip over to their cemetary to find a Geo Cache and stopped by the cafe to check it out and lo and behold the owner was still on site so we made arrangements in person rather than over the phone which is more common for me to do. Anyway, she explained that they are normally closed for business every wednesday but would open up special just for us. I referred to our last visit and she said they have a lot more experience now and would fix a special of salsbury steak with trimmings which goes pretty fast and it could be supplemented with burgers for those not wanting the special. But for heavens sake, don't go and order something exotic from the menu and throw the process into a tizzy.
This is a very small relaxed place and I get the feeling nobody there ever hurries for anything. We met an old gent at the cemetery while we were there and he said a while back they had a death in the downtown community and it was three days before anyone checked to see while he was still sitting in his car. Now that's relaxed!
According to my mapquest, it's just a tad under 60 miles over so most of you can get there and back on less than a tank of gas as opposed to the marathon ride we had last week. I just hope the weather is as enjoyable as it was then.
Last week Denny was the only one from Hutch to show up so Joyce, the 'Bird Dog', as Louie has designated her, located this one especially for them. Denny suggested we have a lunch ride at Spangles on 31st street since it seems to be the only place they go to anymore! I thought that may be inappropriate but Joyce said this place is close enough to their back yard to get them out....we'll see!

Here's the time.............................................High Noon

Here's the place...........................................Reece's Cafe
202 Pioneer Street
Alden, Kansas 67512
620-534-2500

As always............................ride careful, ride safe and I'll see you in Alden. Richard
http://mapq.st/1FGty7L
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Guys - As you can see below, I picked the right guy. Marty is doing a fine job as my 'Official' photographer and his take of the day is a joy to read. Well, that should go without saying because as many of you already know, Marty is just a joy to be around anyway and his Martyisms can go head to head with my favorite....Yogi-isms.
The turnout today was fantastic with 49 recorded in the attendance book. We had a few brand new guys attend today and it's my hope that they had a very good time. I really look forward to 'hump day' as wednesday is called by the still working masses. As I venture out on a trip to another ROMEO lunch I often smile as I go by businesses with employees running about thinking they just don't have a clue how much better life is on the outside.
It looked pretty ominous outside when I got up today but a peek at the weather channel told me not to worry. I should have called the little place we were heading for because they apparently were nervous about cooking that much food until they actually saw butts in chairs. The owner confided in me that last winter times were so tough that they seriously considered pulling the plug and locking the doors shutting down their business altogether. Guys, it's stories like that that keeps me motivated into continue doing what we do to try to gain awareness of these little places struggle for survival in these little communities. Some need more help than others and I was proud of each one of you that came out today.
They would have been overwhelmed with each ordering from the menu but everthing came out OK when the decision was finally made to go with brisket and serve family style. Joyce immediately dropped into help mode and made herself useful and things got in gear. We passed out plates, served fried tater chips, french fries and green beans and drinks while the only two on staff today dealt with the kitchen necessities. We got a few sad looks until the first of the brisket started appearing but after that things picked up and things started falling into place. I want to thank everyone who attended today for their patience beause even a larger place with attendance like we had today would have been a challenge.
Sometimes you just have to improvise and today it made all the difference.
In comparrison to the last time we were here, where everyone ordered seperately from the menu, a disaster was averted. A little place like this has no staff and no experience to deal with it and no labor market from which to draw from. Such is why these places are disappearing. This is one of the underlying reasons we do what we do! Thank you for being a ROMEO!

[Al.]

On Wednesday, Rice County did an oil and sand seal on 8th road north of Chase. This means lots of loose gravel.
There is a “loose gravel” sigh on 8th road south of Chase going to Alden. The loose gravel may extend thru Alden.
I will try to find out how much of the road thru Alden has loose gravel and post it here before Wednesday. Lots of people, including me, don’t like to ride their good bikes on loose gravel.
Al.

[Richard]

Alan - Joyce and I did a geo cache at Alden cemetary on friday and didn't run into any. We got there by way of the Lyons to Sterling road and over 5 miles west from the Alden turnoff...it was clear. We didn't run into any either going or coming back. Richard

[Al.]

You are correct. I drove the road last night and the only loose gravel is in the first two miles south of Chase, and there is not much of that. The county has removed their machinery from the area, so I don’t think they will be doing any more sanding for now.

The road west from Alden to Chase is getting bad especially around the curves, so road repair may be in the near future.

[Roadpounder]

Today started out as a very promising day for the ride to Alden. Every Wednesday Leo picks up on more cues about which day it is and starts getting excited earlier every time. I had a few errands to run before we left for the meeting at Spangles, but finally the time came and Leo was more than ready. The weather was a little cool and cloudy, but what the heck, it'll get warmer. I arrived at Spangles just after Emory and soon others came flooding in. I didn't count the crowd leaving Salina, but there were a fair number of bikes. Traffic leaving Spangles gave everyone time to get fired up and we stayed a little more grouped, which I really enjoyed. Much to my surprise and delight the route that Emory chose was the same as my road trip planner mapped out and I plugged into my GPS. I've started bringing my GPS along to help me get hopelessly lost.

Pulling through Little River, I think, we came to a stop sign where we encountered an apparently very young pigeon who seemed to exhibit far more courage than wisdom. Two or three bikes passed within 3 feet of this bird and it just stood there and watched them pass.

The clouds soon parted and the sun shone down and temps rose to a very comfortable level. The day was getting better by the minuet. Pulling into Alden we were greeted by the sight of about twenty bikes already there. Lots of chrome and color eye candy. Leo leashed and watered I started to make the rounds with my camera. Lots of gorgeous bikes and the Cushman scooter guys even showed, making an interesting addition to the group. Love them classics.

Entering the restaurant I swiftly realized the dining room was about 80% full and still more trickling in. I immediately started feverishly snapping pics in an effort to get everyone in. My most profound apologies if I missed anyone.

Since the restaurant is usually closed on Wednesdays the menu was reduced to beef brisket with green beans and home made potato chips or fries. It was obvious that the restaurant staff of two was swiftly overwhelmed so Richard and Joyce charged to the rescue and soon food was flying fast and furiously. The home made potato chips were excellent as was the brisket. Many thanks to Richard and Joyce. The owners of the restaurant were very gracious hosts and the food was plentiful and of excellent quality. I doubt that anyone left hungry, including Leo, who, pound for pound, probably ate more than I did.

After all were fed and went out to kick tires and swap lies, Richard took our hostess for a ride in his Ural side car rig. Meanwhile I got some shots of the street full of bikes at the request of our host. Upon their return I got to try out another feature of my new camera. Sequential shooting. It can be set to continuously shoot at 1 second intervals as long as I keep the shutter pressed. It worked well and I can use the best shot in the sequence.

As the crowd thinned Richard got his ice cream radar on and zeroed in on Marquette. Sounded good to me, and Leo thought it was the best idea all day. He DOES like his ice cream. We left a little after Richard and Co. By that time the temperature was perfect and the sky was lightly dotted with a few puffy clouds. It was the kind of day that motorcycles were invented for. I followed the GPS to more familiar territory, where I could find my way to Marquette. Upon pulling into town I found the guys standing in line to place their orders. After taking care of some (ahem) personal business, I took my place in line. After ordering the obligatory chocolate malt and a small dish of vanilla for Leo we stepped outside to enjoy our treats. Leo immediately attacked his ice cream with abandon, chasing his dish further down the street with each lick. I considered starting a pool to see which would run out first. His ice cream or his leash.

Having thoroughly enjoyed a good visit and great malt it came time to head home. Settling into a comfortable ride home, it occurred to me that we bikers are an odd lot. After all, we are willing to place a large container filled with a flammable liquid on top of a hot running engine, then put the whole lot between our legs and ride it until we are too tired to stand, too sore to sit, our hands are too numb to grasp, our knees are too stiff to bend, and our ears are ringing like church bells. After exposing ourselves to that kind of peril, and enduring that kind of torture, what do we have to say?!? --- “THAT WAS A GREAT RIDE!”

See you next week.

Marty

[fatboy00]

Marty and Richard's inputs of our Wednesday ventures are priceless.