6/19-21/09 Bon Rally

365 Group (f)


This morning was absolutely beautiful a perfect morning for riding.

I had picked up something on the way home from work Thursday and as a result had a flat on the rear. My bike sat all Friday until I got in to change it. Since it was a tube tire I couldn't air it up and run to a shop. I grabbed a floor jack and started improvising. After about twenty minutes I had the tire off. I loaded it and the new tube and headed to a friends shop. I replaced the tube and had everything back together by around 9:30. It wasn't as bad as it has been in the past.
So this morning when I went out I was tickled to say the least that the tire was still up.
I grabbed my camera gear and headed out to put on some miles. Stopping at the One Stop in town I topped off and watched as several bikes headed East. Remembering the BON Rally this weekend I paid for my gas and also headed East.
My ride over to Eureka was a nice ride. The traffic was moderate and there were lots of bikes on the road. I had heard that there was also a poker run benefiting a children's organization going on at the same time. Since I was running a little late I figured that I was meeting the poker run riders.
I made good time over to the motel, Swiss Holiday Resort, no one tried to run me over this time. As I pulled up to the intersection I noticed several bikes around the motel. Looked as if most everyone was already out and going. I pulled in and chatted a bit with a couple of couples and learned that a lot of the riders were out looking the area over. I headed out for something to eat and just sort of made a slow lazy pass toward Berryville and back.
As I came back into town I pulled in to Planet Leather to look around. They usually have the best prices around on leather. I've been stopping in with them for so long now that it's almost a requirement that I go by when I'm in town. I really didn't see anything I needed and ended up just visiting a little.
After Planet Leather I loaded up and headed down town to try and find some lunch. Everything looked packed and I really didn't feel like waiting around so I opted to head back up and grab a burger at Micky D's. Normally I don't like to eat MacDonald's. I made an exception in this case as the bunch of riders I was running with pulled in there. I got a burger and settled in. As we ate they all seemed to be interested in going across the street to Shawbee's (think that's it's name) for a beer three. After eating we all made a pass on down toward the motel and the back to have a beer.
The group was kind of varied. A doctor, carpenter,truck driver and three
"internetsomethingorothers." While we talked I answered questions about the local area and gave them some directions as to making some of the local riding loops.
About 2:30 I headed back up to the motel to check on the time for the band that would be later on tonight, then headed back toward the house. A friend had ridden up from Mississippi to attend a wedding and I wanted to get back to kind of visit a little with him. I made it back to town in time to catch him before they left to go to Devils Den and the ceremony. Jim is a crazy character about my age. We made Bikes,Blues & BBQ a couple of times together and had a good time. He's always lots of fun to be around. I told him of the BON Rally and the live band/concert later that night. If the wedding didn't drag out he said he'd like to run over. I told him to call me when he knew what he was doing and I headed to the house.
I never did hear back from Jim and about 6:00 pm I pulled out for Fayetteville and something to eat. Hoping to catch them on the road. I pulled into a little Mexican place and ordered. While I was waiting a group of riders pulled in and announced that they were headed that way. I thought "what the heck". After we ate, I fell in with them and made a mad dash toward Eureka.
The people were great. The beer was cold and the band live. I was in "pup dog" heaven.
At about four thirty a m I said a few goodbyes to some newly made friends and kicked off toward the house. Worked out just right as I rolled in in time to feed the "little republicans".
Had a good time and met some new friends and a couple of really special people as well as got to see some old friends. I managed to get in about three hundred miles and just stayed in the local area. I hope next weekend is half as good.
Catch ya on the road