Lion’s Club Eastern Kansas Dual Sport Safari 2018

   After months of planning and riding our little slice of heaven in Eastern Kansas, the day finally came. Being a first time ever event for us, we didn’t know what to expect from a participation standpoint and the registrations came in and kept coming. We were thrilled, but I don’t think we ever expected 50 Motorcycles to show up and just be some of the best guys we have ever met and had the opportunity to break bread and share our hobby and our neighborhood we think so much of. Lets get the Thank you’s and adda boys done first!
   Dane Hicks, I have never met a more fearless guy. 20 year hiatus from 2 wheels to a ride leader in one year! You are the man. Not many guys just jump on and ride with us crazy guys like you! This event would NEVER have happened without your leadership and effort! After all the whole thing was you’re your idea and you would not take no for an answer (even though I wanted to say no, and think I did). The Lions Club and all of us motorcycle junkies owe you a thanks! So. Thanks Dane!
   Larry Webber, you are the man the myth the legend and the best dang map guy I believe anyone will ever meet! Your leadership and guidance in mapping and routing is second to none! Thank you for giving of your knowledge and your time!
   Pat Schettler, your friendship and willingness to ride with your crazy schedule is very much appreciated. You have helped us in many ways and I know next year you will plan one hell of a route for everyone to enjoy! Looks like you might be a third trail guy if were being honest!
   I also want to thank Vic Blaufuss. Vic was our second trails ride leader and he gave of himself and his time to come map the trails and be ready for whatever came! Scott Smith… Thank you for being my sweep! I apologize for getting upset with you when you lost one of my riders. But after we found Nick well that was an honest mistake he flat out dissapeared!
   And the Garnett Lion’s Club, Steaks were awesome, the breakfast was awesome, and your servant hearts and attitudes embody the charitable work that you volunteer yourselves to perform!

GO FAST Ride report
   Being the trail leader I first want to thank the landowner for graciously offering up his life’s work for us to enjoy. It seems God had another plan for our trail ride. I think he wanted you to see more of our countryside than you would have seen only on the trails and there is always next time (or makeup).   
       After the rain the ride leaders knew the roads would be just perfect for a day of riding, and that the trails would be un-passable on 2 wheels, so we were forced to minimize into three groups because our other ride leaders were prepared for the trails and not the roads. So we improvised. The two road routes that we planned went on as planned and I was forced to improvise with the go fast group.
Well we started off going fast. Then found out a couple bikes couldn’t handle the speed because they geared for the trails. So they opted to join Birdman on his route. We settled in as it seemed 60-70 mph was the magic number for “go fast and stay together” as we learned. Having no planned route and knowing that at these speeds we would cover a lot of miles we went to places that I had not been since High School!
   We snaked through Anderson County on some fun roads, landing in Linn County, we passed through Centerville, Farlinville, Paris Township, and on the way to Boicourt well… we had to stop for a train, and in doing so I checked my phone for messages and Nick Bright had texted me. “Well I’m ok, but I think my bike is totaled, could you send the trailer to get me?” I looked back at Scott Smith and I was a little upset at my sweep rider to be honest I probably was not as gracious as I should have been. But I was missing a rider who totaled his bike and I was scared! (again, I apologize Scott!) Derek Smith and I rode as fast as a DR will go back over 5 miles (where we lost him) and found Nick meandering around and kicking rocks with a cheeky grin on his face, but we could not see his bike. The pictures below tell the story! Thank the Lord above that he did not get hurt. He just missed the corner. But on the positive side there is one less KLR in this world to have to tow back to HQ! Nick my friend, bury the bike. Shoot it in the head and bury it. It’s over my friend! My father came down and pulled the bike out of the ditch and Danes Wife Barb came and rescued us, and the rest of us carried on. We twisted through the federal wetlands near Trading Post, and went to Pleasanton and had a gourmet meal at the “Super Casey’s”. Because of some of the range on the bikes, I opted not to take everyone to Guthry’s mound and instead went through some of Linn County roads going through Mound City, out to the City Lake for a photo op. Then we went to Blue Mound and the Blue Mound Lake for the wheelie competition (go team Husaberg)! After having rode all day in the heat and the wind, I thought we would give the trails a try. So we hauled as straight a line as we could back to the trails and we tried the TB2 trails and they were not that bad, rode the railroad cliff road and down to the rail pond and took a break to enjoy the scenery. With that being passable we went to the “Petersille Property” and road the trails and they were really too muddy we had a KLR go down and I was steering my DR like I was piloting a sail boat so we went to the Roberts property where we suffered a flat tire break and rode straight through and all the trails were too muddy to even touch so we came north and went through the scipio bottoms and greely ridge and rode it back to ride HQ.
   I enjoyed every member of my ride group. I sincerely hope and pray I get to ride many more adventures with you guys you are all men of integrity and I have much to learn from your ride skills! I hope you will all ride with me again next year! God Bless.

Could have been a lot worse than it was, I think landing in the mud helped a lot!

Repairs are actually going to not be as bad as I thought either! If the frame is straight, forks and a wheel won't cost too much 

Fortunately my shoulder felt better Sunday morning than Saturday night, and even better today (didn't even take any ibuprofen this morning), so I think everything is good.

Great ride report and it sounds like it was a fantastic time, well, except the part where Nick and his KLR had a disagreement on which way they were going to go!! Glad your ok Nick!! Hats off to all involved in organizing this event! I see hope for our region and am damn glad to see folks picking up the torch from our elders in the sport!! Great job!!

What a great sounding ride!  I do hope I'm able to attend next year.  Sorry to hear of your mishap, Nick, and glad you seem to have bounced back.

Video of some of the best bits of the track led by Larry Webber.  Hats off to Larry for all the work he did putting this route together.  I think he commented he rode over 700 mile building this track and it shows.  I hope i didn’t affend anyone with my slipping around in the group trying to get a little video of everyone.  I should have made that known before we took off that I might do that but it was my first time of shooting video of a group like this.  Next time I will.  I also want to thank Burt and Dane for all the work and time they poured into this event.  I am so glad they were rewarded with such a great turnout.  Very impressive!   I was a ride leader for the trails but the rain kept that form happening.   They would have been a hoot.  On the other hand, glad i was able to ride the road because of the rain.  You can click settings and set the video quality to HD for a better video.

Intermediate ride report, by Larry Weber  (bird man)


It all started several weeks ago when Burt call me asking me about roads and rides in Anderson and Linn co.  In the past years I have ridden virtually all of Anderson co. and have been collecting info and planning a route for Linn co. ….well before the conversation was over I had volunteered to lead a route if needed.  Burt took some of us out one sat. and showed us some of the good stuff in Linn co. and with that info I started building routes, some of which were not very successful. Their was just so much I wanted to include. I had trouble trimming it down to the very best.

Our route ended up being approx. 130 miles with lunch at Garrets bbq and burger in Mound City. Thank you Garrets for quick service and good bbq.  Starting in Garnett we worked our way south east through Centerville then on south past Blue Mound Lake ,on south to Yellowstone road and checked out an 1896 iron bridge over the little osage river.  Then on east to Xenia and did some roads that I believe are still roads but not on the map, (good stuff). There a several water crossing in the Xenia area 3 of which we did but there are 3 more that we didn’t get to do because I decided  the water was to deep. I checked them out the day before in the pickup and didn’t cross two them but attempted. From there we headed north and did one of the best Min. Maint. Roads in Linn. Co. 100 rd. west of Mapleton

After lunch we headed north from Mound city and did several miles of very twisty , hilly and senic roads much of which was covered by tree canopy. After that area we headed back west toward Centerville then north west to our final creek crossing of the day 1900 rd crossing east of Garnett. Then one last loop north toward Greely then west taking in some of the best of the Pottawatomie river bottoms north east of Garnett.

One of the many highlights of the day occurred when we came across a large tree fallen completely across the road, tree line to tree line. I remembered, I still have a tree saw in my stash of tools so a group effort with the saw cut us a hole in the tree and the whole group rode through the  cycle size hole.  In all the think we did 10 water crossing.
 
I want to commend the whole group on their exellent responsible group riding ability. Our group had 19 riders total. We lost no riders and had no group ride related problems.  Didn’t even have any mechanical problem delays. I thank each one of you for doing your part to make it a good experience for the group, I also want the thank Fred Goertzen  for riding sweep for the group. Without a doubt the best large group ride experience I have ever had.

Watch orange crash (Vic) video of our ride ,above, he did an exellent job of  capturing the best of our days riding.  Thank you Vic.

Thanks guys for organizing a great FIRST SAFARI!

Larry you did great getting the group through without a hitch.
All of our riders were great!
I am glad we stopped and decided to hit the two track south of Xenia, even though the big ole' KLR was sideways a few times.

Thanks Larry for volunteering to lead and plan out a great route.
I have attached a gpx file of it if anyone wants it.

Looks like that was a great ride! I saved the GPX file, hope to get to ride it some day

Sorry for the delay.  Here's some pics captured from my Gopro for the intermediate ride. 

Sooo...isn't this due an update....?   

Sooo...isn't this due an update....?   

Since you asked...

Everyone met up at the quansit, gave the rundown, signed the forms, split into two groups. One group headed to Larry's trails out west of town, the other group went with me to the more open trails and big hills east of town. So we headed out with a threat of rain looming in the immediate area. We hit one maybe two trails and no more than said how nice it feels outside and BOOM! The Heavens opened up and not just a little bit!! It rained like crazy! I knew of a barn we could stash in and shelter, and i pull out guys behind me (so I thought) and we get to the barn, unload, I am missing three riders from the back. URGH! somebody didn't do his job! So, now I have to go do mine, and find them. Back to the trails, REALLY WET trails! Cant find them hell I can't see ten feet! I decide they are not on the trails so I go to the barn convinced they headed for town. My phone (Left behind for obvious reasons in the dry) is ringing. It's Vic, he's a bit pissed as he should be, and he (had a gps track) went to the next trail assuming that is where we were headed. Smart!. I said find a tree and wait it is almost gone on radar we will meet you. So 30 minutes and it clears. Not thinking the trails would be usable we went to get Vic and go to town. But the trails were "passable" so we rode them. There was some slipping and some sliding and on hill that was like a flying circus movie people down everywhere, and the TW trying to tractor up between them... and nope! But all good. Scott, "ASIS" almost became ASISWHEREIS. Due to a laydown which led to a mechanical issue which led to like 5 more laydowns. He is tough! He walked out like a man and at our urging threw in the towel as little "Nel" had gotten a little bent, nothing serious. But she needed a break. We headed for lunch, and to meet the Western Group.
After Lunch the trails were MUCH MUCH better!  I feel bad the morning group didn't get a fair shake out east. But it didn't rain on Larry's trails at all so I was told. I have decided next year we are going to sell rain tickets to the local farmers, and we get paid based on the 10th of an inch of rain that falls on the day we schedule our ride Lions Club will make out like a bandit. JULY! MIDDLE OF A DROUGHT! SERIOUSLY! Oh well.

All in all I think a great day was had by all but maybe ASISWHEREIS and Nell. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the CRF never hit the ground even when I used my genitals to clear the trees out of your way! I'm ok if your were wondering.

Dane and Larry will have to speak to the western experience as I stuck to guiding the east.

Prominent mentions and attaboys:

ASISWHEREIS gets the honorable mention for TOUGH GUY. I will ride with ya anyday man. You are a man's man.

Dan Clarke, right there on the tough guy! He went down twice on the same BIG hill and last time ended up under the bike waiting for Derek and I to finish our conversation to hear him yell for help. Looked like it hurt!

Kurt Klein smallest bike biggest ride award. The little TW that could did almost everything except climb the muddy hill. But you gave it everything it had trying!

Can't remember his name but Husaberg guy. SON OF A GUN can that guy ride a wheelie! Man. Just an excellent rider! Love to watch him ride that thing.

Derek Smith, fastest lap time by FAR!!!

Nick Bright. didn't even go down! Must have been the Honda? 

Mike Bright finally showed me that nobody will make every hill. He usually rides a little wheelie at the top to show off. But his bike did NOT hit the ground!

I have had a blast riding with you guys, I love to joke and have a good time and you guys have been a pleasure to be around and I look forward to many years of riding with you all!

HBADVENTURE

That is an awesome looking blue bike in the picture.

I had a great time riding both places and meeting those in the group. 

Sometimes I needed to take two runs to get up some of the hills but I did get up each one.  I more aggressive tire would have been helpful.

Eddie

You are so right ajayhawkfan! YOU and Nick both suffered from "worntiresyndrome" and these hills generally eat those guys up. But you two rode brilliantly getting up with those slicks on. Good to have ya!

Great report Burt and thx! Thanks as well for the kindness but it was only 4 times
Despite my lack of judgement about attending due to my health, I would have (and would be able to) kick my own ass had I not shown up. Once healed and able I will not attempt that for showing.

Thanks for all that gave us the privilege and organized it all.

Scott