Aerobatic Demonstration

I received an email from Andy Darlington (Marion Airport manager) that there would be an Aerobatic Demonstration at Marion Airport, and the airport would be closed from 9:30AM until 10:30AM Saturday, 15, 2012. I emailed some of the riders and told them what was going on, and that they might like to go to the airport and see the demonstration. Merle Combs and Larry Miller were at the airport when I got there. We had to wait awhile, and then the demonstration started. A WW2 Stearman trainer airplane put on an aerobatic demonstration and then the airplane, and a fellow on a motorcycle raced each other down the 6008-foot  runway. The motorcycle was traveling approximately 180mph, at the end, and easily passed the airplane, which was flying at approximately 140mph. Then the motorcycle raced down the runway, and the pilot dipped his wing so the motorcycle rider could touch the wingtip of the airplane. It was pretty exciting and a nice show.

(Click pictures to enlarge)

Boeing Stearman PT-17

(Click to see movie)

(Click to see movie)

After the demonstration, we rode to Fairmount to pick up Jon Nave, as we were still early to meet at Gabriel's for Saturday's ride. The four of us rode back to Marion and were joined by Art Adrianson and David Payne. Merle led us up north to the junction of IN 15 and IN 14, the home of The Red Rose Pancake House where we ate lunch. After lunch, we rode east to IN 13 and rode north to Syracuse and Lake Wawasee. We had ice cream at McDonald's and then, rode around the lake. After the lake circuit, we headed home.

I rode 176 miles. The weather started out a little chilly (low 60s), but warmed up to 76F.

(Top of ride)

(Bottom of ride)

Riding today were Merle Combs, Larry Miller, John Nave, Larry Davis, Dave Payne, and Art Adrianson.

Trail of Death

Ominous title--"Trail of Death".

We rode to Ugalde's Restaurant, across from Grissom ARB on US 31, for lunch. Merle led us along the Wabash River (water is really high) from Peru to Logansport. West of Logansport we rode to Towpath Road, also called "The Trail of Death." The Potawatomi Indians were led along this road on their way to be relocated in Kansas. See this webpage: Trail of Death also: http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/

We crossed over the Wabash north of Delphi and quickly ran into 3-4 miles of newly graveled roads. Finally, we came to IN 25, and rode on into Delphi.

The Wabash and Erie Canal came through Delphi in the 1800s, thus Towpath Road as the towpath was where the mules/oxen/horses walked to pull the canal boats. There is a small section of the canal still in Delphi.

Also, Delphi is the hometown of William "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis - Professional wrestler, for you "old timers!" 

We had coffee and/or ice cream sundaes at McDonald's and continued on IN 18 back home.

Very nice ride, warm temperatures in the low 80s. Six of us rode today-Merle Combs, Larry Burk, Larry Miller, John Nave, Art Adrianson, and myself, Larry Davis.

I rode 145 miles:

(Click map to make larger)

White River Ride

Larry Burke led us on a ride of the White River through Muncie. I'd never ridden along the river through Muncie, so it was all new to me. They have a nice walkway beside the river that several people were using. One man appeared to be washing his clothes in the river! We came upon two police cars with lights flashing and an agitated woman nearby. I don't know if someone had drowned or what. For the most of it's distance, the river is too shallow to drown in, due to the drought we're having. I was trying to watch for everything, as there was a lot of traffic, so I didn't take any pictures. Here's where we rode along the White River:

(Click to make larger)

Here's a map of the entire ride:

Six of us rode today-Larry Burke, Larry Davis, Larry Miller, John Nave, Jerry Cole, and Jack McClain. We rode 103 miles and the weather couldn't have been nicer.

We ate lunch at The Mill Cafe in Gaston and took a break for ice cream at McDonalds in Albany.

Just for fun, it's Hammertime:

Billy Is Back!

Billy Niverson joined us today for a ride to Gaston and lunch at the Mill Street Inn.

Jerry Cole on the left, Merle Combs center, and Billy on the right.

Larry Burke rode his scooter with the seat installed that he had just upholstered himself. I told him he could have a job doing seats for motorcycles and scooters as he is that good! Here's his new seat:

Joining us today was Steve Smith, Billy Niverson, John Nave, Jerry Cole, Merle Combs, Larry Burke, Charles Thomas, and myself, Larry Davis.

I rode 68 miles, and it was HOT! I was glad to get home and in the AC!

The Seven Pillars - August 1, 2012

Sorry, but I've been busy and away for a while. Anyway, I'll try to make up for my absence with two posts tonight. First, The Seven Pillars:

 The Seven Pillars (click here:) http://indianapolis-indiana.funcityfinder.com/2010/07/11/seven-pillars-of-the-mississinewa-in-peru-indiana/

Usually, we ride along Francis Slocum Trail up north to IN 124 and then west to Peru. We've passed the sign that locates the Seven Pillars but since it's on top of them, you can't see anything. Larry Burke suggested we ride back along the Mississinewa River, on the south side, and we could look at the Seven Pillars from across the river. Which we did. However, first, we rode up IN 15 through the fresh chip-seal, north of Wabash, to the Red Rose Cafe at the junction of IN 15 and IN 114. After lunch, we rode back south through the covered bridge at Roann, and on south to the Seven Pillars, and home. We decided to make a short day of it, as the temperatures were climbing into the nineties.

Here are a few pictures of The Seven Pillars from E 200 S on the south side of the river:

Merle Combs (Left) and Larry Burk (Right) studying the Seven Pillars.

Riding today were Art Adrianson, Larry Miller, Merle Combs, Larry Burke, and myself, Larry Davis.

I rode 124 miles today and the weather was nice.

Ride to Monon..

I led the group to Monon, Indiana to see the train museum and restaurant. The ride was suggested by Jo Ann McGhee. I've been looking for new places to ride, as we seem to go to the same places over and over. I led the group, John Nave, Jack McClain, Merle Combs, Billy Niverson, and myself over to Ugalde's Restaurant on U.S. 31, across from Grissom Reserve Air Force base.

(As usual, click on pictures for larger view)

Ugalde's Restaurant

Water Tower at Grissom Aeroplex

 

We had a nice lunch and then I led the group on a "Mystery Ride". I love to take the group to new places and not tell them where were going. It's a nice surprise, usually.

We picked up U.S. 24 at Peru and rode west past Logansport to Monticello, where I turned north. We rode north to Buffalo, IN and then west to Monon, IN. After asking several people where the railroad museum was (I should have looked it up on the internet before hand) we rode north out of Monon 1-1/2 miles to the Whistlestop Restaurant and Railroad Museum.

As soon as the guys saw a restaurant they went inside, ( I was hoping we would take a tour of the museum first), so I followed them into the restaurant.

Here's a link to the restaurant: http://www.mononconnection.com/

After we sit down we noticed the trains running above our heads:

(Movie I shot of the trains in the Whistlestop Restaurant)

After the waitress took our order, we noticed Billy acting strangely. He could not get hold of anything and looked strange. Merle said to me, "There's something wrong with Billy!". I agree with him, and asked Billy to smile. He did, but on the right side of his face only, not the left side. I'd read that was a sign of stroke, so I asked the waitress to call 911. She did, and since one of the waitresses was an E.M.T., she took care of Billy until the ambulance from Monticello arrived. The E.M.T.s from the Mono Fire Department arrived before the ambulance, so they looked after Billy, also. The ambulance arrived, they tested his blood gulose, which was very low, put him in the ambulance and started an I.V.  The ambulance attendants got his blood gulose level back up, but said there was more than that wrong with him, so they took him to I.U. Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, IN.

The rest of us decided to ride home, as we couldn't do anything more. I called Billy's wife after I got home, and told her what had happened, and where Billy was. She had her brother take her over to Lafayette to visit Billy. Merle drove me back over to Monon, Saturday evening, and I drove Billy's T-REX back to my house where I garaged it until Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning Kate Niverson told me that Billy was doing better and could swallow (which he couldn't do Saturday), knew where he was, and his condition. He only mumbles, and can't speak well. Kate said he will go through 30 days of inpatient therapy to get all his motor functions back. Merle drove out to my house, Sunday afternoon, and followed me as I drove Billy's T-REX back over to Kate and Billy's house, and put it in their garage. Kate gave us an update while we were there, and said mostly what she had told me before, Billy is getting better. Hopefully, Billy will be back traveling with us in no time!

I rode 186 miles-very hot, near 90 degrees, little wind. At first, we thought Billy had gotten too hot in his T-Rex, but that was not the case, as it turned out.

Five of us rode today, Jack McClain, John Nave, Merle Combs, Billy Niverson, and myself.

P.S. I wasn't going to post this until Billy is completely "out of the woods", but he's much better, and I thought some who read this blog would want to know what happened to him.

Ride to Lunch..

Merle led us over to The Diner Bell at Burlington, Wednesday, for lunch. We like to go there as  the food is good and not too expensive.

After lunch, John and Merle rode home so the rest of us, Larry Burk, Art Adrianson, Billy Niverson, and myself rode back east, lead by Larry Burke. Larry took us through "Mennonite Country" west of Kokomo. I was shocked to see a very large wind turbine going up behind Northwestern High School (marked on the trip map). We skirted around Kokomo and road back home through Plevna.

Six of us rode today, Merle Combs, Larry Burke, John Nave, Art Adrianson, Billy Niverson, and myself, Larry Davis.

Nice weather, hot, near 90 degrees. I rode 100.2 miles.

The Dixie..

We decided to ride up to Syracuse, Indiana today. We ate lunch at Gabriel's, before the ride. There were eight of us at lunch--Charles Thomas, Larry Burk, John Nave, Larry Davis, Jerry Cole, Billy Niverson, Art Adrianson, and Merle Comb. We talked about cars, riding, TV shows, China, and listening to Randy's Record Shop when we were young men. Do any of you remember WLAC Gallatin, Tennessee and Ernie's Record Mart and Randy's Record Shops? Listening late at night, 1510 on your AM dial? Click on this link for a little history lesson:  Randy's Records

After lunch seven of us rode to Wabash (Billy had an appointment), where Larry Burk and Art Adrianson left for home. Five of us rode to Syracuse where we stopped at McDonald's for ice cream and coffee. On the way back south we stopped to see The Dixie in North Webster. I'd not seen The Dixie since I was a kid. It was a great thrill, back then, to ride around Lake Webster on a paddle wheel boat, The Dixie. Probably still is a thrill! :) A little movie:

And some pictures (click pictures to enlarge):

Gabriel's where we ate:

The sign at The Dixie dock:

The Dixie bow:

Side view of The Dixie:

She will start touring Lake Webster this weekend, Memorial Day, 2012. The Dixie website: The Dixie

I rode 123 mile--temps in the low 80s, no wind. Very nice ride with good friends.

Indian Lake Is The Place You Can Take..

Merle has wanted to ride over to Indian Lake, Ohio for a few weeks, so we rode over there today. First, we stopped at Pullman Bay Restaurant, Celina, Ohio for lunch. Here's looking out the restaurant window overlooking St. Mary's Lake, Celina:

(Click all pictures to enlarge)

There must have been a motorcycle rally somewhere, as we saw 50-60 motorcycles riding around the point at St. Mary's lake in groups of 10 to 20 bikes.

After lunch, Larry Burk rode home as he didn't want to go as far as we were going--to Indian Lake. It's only about 35 miles east of Celina to Indian Lake. Here's a map:

It looks like this, up close:

As you can see, the lake has many islands, some tied together with bridges and causeways. The main town there is Russells Point.  Merle led us from Russells Point, up over the bridges and causeways to Seminole Island, which we rode all the way around. Here's a track of our ride around the lake:

Here's a video of us riding into the Indian Lake area:

We stopped at the bottom of the lake at the spillway (overflow dam on the map) that handles the overflow of the lake:

Here's John Nave, Merle Combs, and Billy Niverson at Indian Lake:

After riding around the lake, we stopped at McDonalds for an ice cream sundae. The McDonalds at Russells Point has boat docks in the back so you can boat in, dock, and eat at McDonalds. There was even an Amish boy and girl in a horse and wagon eating there! After ice cream, we rode on home.

I rode 213 miles. Seven hours all together, and got home a little before 6:00PM

Riding today-Merle Combs, Larry Davis, John Nave, Larry Burk, and Billy Niverson.

It was hot - 88 degrees, little wind.

The last hour was one too many in the saddle, but it was a good ride. Thanks Merle for thinking of the destination and for leading the ride. It's always nice to see something new.

Once again I had to leave the ride early, so here's what I experienced before leaving the ride. Nine of us met today at Five Points Mall and rode to Cammack Station for lunch. Here's what the restaurant looks like inside:

(As always, click on pictures and maps to make larger)

And:

The food is good, if "pricey." Service is a little slow. It's nice to see all the gas pumps and signs there. Old tractors. etc.

Jack McClain, Larry Burk, and Larry Davis left the ride after lunch. The rest of the guys were riding to Winchester for pie, ice cream, and coffee at Mrs. Wick's, I believe. Larry Burke led, and he and I rode back home through rural roads near Upland. Jack McClain rode home. Nice ride today. Warm temperatures in the 70s.

Riding today were Merle Combs, Larry Miller, Larry Davis, Larry Burke, Jack McClain, Jerry Cole, Art Adrianson, John Nave, and Billy Niverson.

I made a map, so if anyone wants to ride or drive to Cammack Station to eat, you can find it. It's 1/2 mile south of IN 332 off Gaston-Yorktown Road (N 600 County Road W). IN 332 turns into McGalliard Road in Muncie. Turn south on Gaston-Yorktown Pike (N 600 County Road W) (3 miles east of I69) and go 1/2mile south to Jackson Street East. Turn east (left) on Jackson Street and go into Cammack. The restaurant is at the stop sign (on your left or north side) in Cammack. You can also go to Gaston and drive south all the way to Jackson Street on the Gaston-Yorktown Pike (N 600 County Road W) which is the main north-south street through Gaston.

Here's two maps of our ride while I was on it:

 

After I got home, I rode to see my niece and her husband (Anna Mae and Curt Warren) in Sims. I rode 111 miles altogether.

Here's a smaller map of Cammack:

Short Ride Today..

Eight of us met at the mall parking lot today. We rode to the Country Post Restaurant at Huntington for lunch. The waitress was nice enough to take this picture of our group:

 (Click on picture to make larger)

After lunch Merle led us along the Wabash River to Wabash. By this time, I was not feeling well so I cut the ride short and rode home. The group rode on west to Peru, I think.

Riding today--and from left to right in the picture above--Billy Niverson, Charlie Thomas, John Nave, Larry Davis, Merle Combs, Larry Miller, Jack McClain, and in front, nearest the camera, Dave Payne.

The weather was great-temperatures in the 70s--I rode 67 miles.

Culver Ride

Only four of us today-Merle Combs, Larry Davis, John Nave, and Billy Niverson. Merle lead us up to Culver, in northern Indiana. First, we ate lunch at Ugalde's near Grissom AFRB. We had a scare near Kewanna when we went around a 90 degree turn at about 10 miles per hour. It felt like someone had dropped oil on the road over a tar strip. Merle kept his bike upright by putting his foot down, my bike's rear end slid over a little, as did John's bike. Billy had no problem with it. No one went down, so no harm done, unless Merle comes up limping. We stopped at the McDonald's on US 31, near Argos, for Coffee and Ice Cream. On the way back home we stopped at Tippecanoe High School, about five miles north of Akron, to look at the wind turbine there.

We rode about 165 miles--temperature in the 70s, light wind. Very nice ride. Thanks Merle for leading.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Bippus and beyond..

Odd, how small minds think alike! I was thinking about riding to Roanoke for lunch when riding into the mall today. After forming up for the ride, Jerry Cole and John Nave told me they had been thinking the same thing! So, off we rode for lunch at Nick's Junction at Roanoke:

After a nice lunch (don't order the Breaded Cheeseburger! What was I thinking!), Larry Miller rode home to mow his yard, and the rest of us rode west on E 900 N. I say we rode west, and the map says we rode west, but it always seems like we are going north out of Roanoke! I think it has to do with the gradual curve in US 24 as you ride from Huntington to Roanoke. It always turns me around. We ran into a detour on E 900 N, but finally made it to South Whitley. From there, we rode to North Manchester for coffee and ice cream at McDonald's. I was glad to get off the bike for awhile as the wind was gusting something fierce! My helmet must have looked like a bobble doll!

After leaving North Manchester, we reached the highlight of our ride--a ride through Bippus--although, not a lot had changed since we were there last. Merle lead us down south to Andrews, and we finished the ride by riding along the Wabash River back to Wabash and home.

Seven rode today--Merle Combs, Art Adrianson, Larry Miller, Jerry Cole, Larry Davis, John Nave, and Billy Niverson.

I rode 125 miles and the temperatures were in the 80s with wind gusts up to 35mph.

I was glad to get home and mow the yard. Too much wind for me.

Garfield Revisited

Under the threat of rain, I rode in to Gabriel's today. Turns out, only Jack McClain and I rode. Five ate lunch, Jack, John Nave, Jerry Cole, Charlie Thomas, and myself.

After lunch, I followed Jack back to his house, just to have some place to ride. After leaving Jack, I rode toward Anderson, east past Anderson Highland High School (first time I'd ever seen the campus), on over to Yorktown, and east almost to Muncie, where I turned back north.

This was an "adventure", meaning I didn't know where I was going! :) I ended up back in Gaston and then Matthews. I thought, since I'm here, I'll ride to the Matthews Community Center, as I read in the Chronicle Tribune that they had put "Fisherman Garfield" there. I was so happy to see the statue standing there, just to the left of the entrance of the building! I got off my bike and took a picture:

This completes the Garfield pictures I took here at this link:

http://larryharleyplace.blogspot.com/2011/08/garfield-statuesthursday-august-4th-and.html

I rode over to "Old Town cemetery" and through the covered bride. On to Upland, and home. Once I got home, I changed the oil and oil filter on the bike, as I'd just rolled over 600 miles on the ride today. It started out with rain, but ended being a nice day to ride. I rode 100 miles today. Temperatures in the high 60s hitting 70 once.

(Click to enlarge)

Seven of us rode to Richards Restaurant in Elwood, yesterday, for lunch.

We were surprised to see the "Wild Cat Wind Farm" being installed just north of Elwood beside State Road 37.

They have already installed the pads for some of the towers and have the sub-station built. The cranes are in place to raise the towers:

After lunch we rode down to Strawtown and over to Cicero.

Here is a video of part of the ride to Strawtown, and the causeway at Cicero--also the TV tower north of IN 37 near Strawtown:

Some of the houses at Cicero:

And:

Fishing from a boat:

Or from the causeway:

 

It's all good on Morse Reservoir!

We rode over to Sheridan and then north to Frankfort. We stopped at McDonald's at Frankfort for coffee and ice cream. After refreshments, we rode back through Tipton and home.

Those riding today were Merle Combs, Larry Davis, Larry Miller, Art Adrianson, John Nave, Jerry Cole, and Billy Niverson.

We rode 150 miles and the temperatures were in the 60s and 70s. Very nice ride.

(Click to enlarge)