On the road to Arkansas

KSU 0800

Looks like it may rain somewhere along the way, so my perfect sunny day trip may come to an end...oh well

Update...rained in Oklahoma, by the time I got my gear on, an opening in the storm appeared and I just had to endure the rooster tails for a while
Arrived in Ft Smith, Ark. around 3pm. Kind of stormy here also. So went looking for Ralphs pink flamingo BBQ.  As usual this trip, Ralphs is open till 3pm on Tues. Too bad for me, this place was supposed to  be good.
But I did pass a place on my way through town

Neumeier's Rib Room


OMG! Rib Nirvana! This place also calls itself Rib Room and Beer Garden Two levels with the center open air, And a covered STAGE! And they're playing rock and roll! And 25 cent drafts at 5pm!

Ok, the food
I got the combo platter, 4 ribs and pulled chopped pork, fries and beans. I got the ribs dry. Nice dry rub with the regular and spicy (not too) sauces very good. Beans overly sweet, but smoky. Plenty of fries and a Jalepeno in the center of plate
Ribs were moist and smoky and the chopped pork also very good
Band was warming up for this evenings show,,,,Jimi Hendrix
And..fine BBQ people travel in the same circles, Ted Nugent will be there next week. sorry, no pics. Forgot to take SD card out of netbook

Food- A+
Atmosphere- A+
Value- A+
http://www.ribroom.com/

And for those wondering what happened in my search for Bob...well. I searched the Hayes area looking for the sighting area, no luck.  When I got back to the bike I had a passenger


This is Cody, he's from the Colorado herd, how do I know?

He's got a brand

So, Ive got a new co-pilot

Mileage- 85850

On the road to Kansas

KSU 0730

Rained like hell last night in Denver with a few tornado warnings thrown in. Cool out this morning, in the 60's and warmed up to low 80's Definite cold front moving into Kansas, I was keeping just ahead of the dark clouds. Rolled into Salina around 3pm

Some more pics from Sunday

HICKORY HUT BBQ

There seems to be a lot of these BBQ joints with drive thru's. This one's not too bad. I had the ribs.

Moist and hickory smoked with a light glaze. Big and meaty. Hot sauce not really hot, but tasty. regular sauce a bit on the sweet side

TASTE- A
VALUE- A+
ATMOSHERE- B




Tomorrow- Ft Smith, Arkansas. I imagine the temps will keep climbing

MILEAGE-  85461 4000 mile mark

The Old Farts

KSU 0800

A laid back Sunday ride through some canyons and back roads. Deer,Elk and plenty oh hairpin and switchbacks. Stopped along the way to see Buffalo Bills grave and some awesome pizza at Beau Jo's.

And the Red Rocks amphitheatre and park is an awesome place to see a concert

Well at 84746 miles, it finally happened. My first problem with the VTX.. Speedometer shelled out on me and now have to rely on the GPS for speed and mileage. No way of knowing if it's the sensor or speedo 'till I get home

Tonight was the awards dinner BBQ

Bennett's BBQ catered to the La Quinta

Chicken, pulled pork and pulled beef

The chicken was pretty standard Q along with the pulled pork But the pulled beef was outstanding! Perfect standing alone or with the sauce which was also pretty good
Taste- A

Awards were given out for the bike games

as were awards for oldest, youngest etc. And the furthest distance awarded to yours truly. Plus door prizes a plenty

Last day for me,tomorrow I'm back on the road, next stop Salina, Kansas


Mileage-  85024

Colorado day 4 Ride to Breckinridge

KSU at 830. 180 mile loop with riding through South Park,Red Rocks. Lunch at Breckinridge at a restaurant 10100 ft. Highest point-  12000 ft at Loveland Pass and the Continental Divide

  A lot of hairpin and switchbacks curves and no guardrails make for some hair raising riding. Add to that, the roads are'nt the greatest

                                                                  

LONESTAR STEAKHOUSE

Took a break from the BBQ to savor some Colorado Angus steak. This place comes highly recommended and did'nt dis-appoint. Steaks are cooked over a hickory flame and were probably the best steaks I've had in a long long time. A 20 oz Porterhouse for 22$

Atmosphere- A
Service- A+ 
Food- A+                                                                   
Value-A+ 

Mileage- 84854 

Colorado Day 3- The first big ride!

KSU at 0730 for a ride to the Royal Gorge bridge. This suspension bridge spans the gorge at over a mile above the Arkansas river.  

Yes, those are wooden planks and they're loose
Started off rather cool this morning in the mountains upper 50s - 60s warmed up to high 80s by afternoo


A long way down
There's a river down there
And just to show it's not all fun and games, Ed, one of the Colorado guys who was our tailgunner went down around a curve on some gravel. Broke his finger. Not sure how his bike faired


A BOB SIGHTING?

Could it be??

I got an anonymous email this morning with this newspaper clipping

 I don't know...A hoax? Like little green men? I'll have to watch to see if anything develops

Brothers BBQ 


Actually was my second choice The economy took out Tennessee BBQ which had some excellent reviews..too bad

Of course Brothers is famous for their ribs, so I got the ribs
Not bad really. Lightly sauced, but can't stand on their own. Moist, meaty, fall off the bone. Hot sauce very good, with a hint of Jalepeno. The original sauce tasty, but the sweet hits the spot
I'm not impressed by food served in styrofoam. too cheesy.If ya got good food put it on a good plate

Not outstanding by any means, but ok

Mileage   84677

Colorado day 2

Burned through my first tank of gas with a spirited ride through the mountains. Roads are in pretty good shape, not much loose gravel. But you have to know which roads to ride on. That's what makes this get together nice, Rides are planned and escorted. Riders are pulling into the La Quinta hourly. BBQ at Sun Honda later (how did they know?)



Had the meet and greet at the hotel and later at Sun Honda. J R's flight  was delayed, so the 930am arrival became a 415pm arrival. So we got to Honda late and the food was almost gone.

So, no BBQ  report tonight, and in fact the food was grilled and not real bar-b anyhow
 But drinking beer poolside is always a good substitute

Mileage  84357    now over 3K

Welcome to Colorado

Perfect riding weather, low 80's. Crosswinds in the high plains gave you a workout trying to stay upright

Pulled into Lakewood around 2pm. GPS was was getting confused  about the last half hour, . But I'm here.
Tros split off and headed north to Steamboat Springs.

                                                 A very sad note                       
                                                 Bob died today

Somewhere between West Kansas and East Colorado, Bob committed suicide by jumping off the bike into the path of oncoming traffic

For those who did'nt know Bob, he was my co-pilot on my long motorcycle excursions. Bob was from Sturgis and leaves behind no family (other than me). Really Bob, I did'nt know you were having problems. You should have said something. R.I.P. BOB


Bob the Bison
Born- Sturgis, S.D.
Age- 4 years old

So, I'm all settled in at the hotel. Time to find some BBQ

Piggin' out BBQ

No inside dining, tables and chairs outside with umbrellas

The ribs are their specialty, so I got them. Smokey, moist with a nice pink smoke ring. Dry rubbed to perfection. Choice of hot or mild sauces, hot sauce was tasty and not too hot. Home made mac and cheese al dente..excellent! and home made cornbread

Voted top five bbq of Denver                                  

Great Stuff!! 

Mileage  84120