Guess I'm not coming. The bike has developed a weird grinding noise when making a right hand turn. It's got progressively worse in the last 2 days. I've spent the last 2 days trying to find it. It's bad enough I don't trust it not to break down out on the road 500 miles from home. And no one to come get me.
I'll start a new thread about it after I quit crying cause I can't make the trip.
Hope you all have a great time.
There's an interesting landmark relatively near the Flint Hills Rally site that is the geographic center of the US near Lebanon, KS. It is the starting point of the Smackdab Summer Solstice Run that connects the geographic center of the lower 48 states and the geographic center of North America in Rugby, ND. The run will be on June 21 (Solstice day) 2025. There's a pretty good party put on by the good folks of Smith Center KS the night before on behalf of the participants.
Geographic Center of lower 48 states
To my knowledge (and the knowledge of the organizer) there have been no sidecars participate in or complete the run. I intend to correct that deficiency next year to commemorate me being the first person to complete the run in 2015.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the morning. Long hot day. Decided to get a hotel for the night.
Long cool shower & a comfy bed.
What an epic two days it has been.
Weisbrod Air & Space Museum was awesome. Very hands on. You can even climb through some of the planes. Great volunteers with a lot of knowledge, and fun to.listen to. One of the guys I was talking to there has 25 hours in a t-34. He had some epic stories of flying it. Definitely worth the visit if you are near Pueblo Colorado. Would be a great place to bring kids. Just make sure everyone is up to date on tetanus.
Pictures: * 1990 Ural because every Air Museum should have one. *B-27 you can crawl through. * One of two hangars, and there are a bunch of planes & equipment outside as well. A lot of unique stuff I hadn't seen before. * Parking lot & entrance for scale.
Today I went up to Bonner Springs Kansas, to the National agricultural center and Hall of Fame. Another really awesome place that is well worth the visit. I was curious to know what an agricultural Hall of Fame would be. Reading all the plaques it makes perfect sense. It's kind of a synopsis of the who's who that brought advancements in farming, equipment, science, nutrition, and government support that has made the US agricultural industry what it is today. The museum is pretty awesome too.
Pictures: *Half the "Hall of Fame" plaques. * Smith house plaque. * They moved the whole house to this site. It is a walk through attraction setup like a fully equipped house. I couldn't find the dishwasher or beer fridge though. * The detached garage.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Thanks for taking us along the journey (especially for us office-bound folks). Looking fwd to more.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
As the 2024 Joyce Canfield's Sidecars in the Flint Hills Rally draws to a close, with only a Bisquits & Gravy breakfast, and Sunday morning services still on the agenda, I can report...it has been a blast. From the excitement of meeting new friends, greeting olde friends, exploring the small town of Council Grove, Kansas, the fun roads out to the campgrounds, all the sidecar games (some which were embarrassingly fun), all the awards, the door prizes (which were so many, some folks got a 3rd drawing, but everyone got at least 2)...this has once again been an excellent gathering of Sidecarists.
Want to give a special Thank You to all that hosted, organized, and supported this fine event.
I know that Dana @DirtyDR, and John @spat....and Thane @thane-lewis, and myself...all took home several awards and ribbons each for our hooligan antics in the sidecar games, as well as I collected the plaque for Longest Distance sidecar pilot.
This morning, after Bisquits & Gravy, the Church services, Thane and I will skeedaddle northward to Broken Bow, NE, where he resides, then tomorrow morning my tentative plan is to cannonball it back to Washington State. It's just shy of 2,000 miles to home for me, so total mileage on this adventure will be very close to 4,000 miles.
One of the best experiences of attending this event, was meeting Scott @sheath. Love his enthusiastic adventurous spirit, and his SYZ sidecar.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Sure wish we could have been there. Maybe next year.
What a great time. The hosts worked tirelessly to make this awesome. It was also awesome to put more faces with names, and catch up with a few from Iuka. Thanks to all who made this such a welcoming & fun event.
It is a stunning part of the country as well, and (knock on wood) there was only a very light breeze.
Great participation in the games with good ribbing for all.
Awesome dinners, cool movies, beautiful night skies filled with stars and something big that burned up in the atmosphere last night.
Pictures: *people starting to roll in. *Atomic Annie. *A couple more very cool rigs.
Side note: Miles (aka Fling Monkeys @miles-ladue) is as fun and irascible in person as he is here. Oh man did we have fun. 
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Scott @sheath, I have to ask.... what is a
"Fling Monkeys" ???
I mean....Y......Y man ! ? ! ?
Oops! Flying... Flying.
Or maybe it was the way we were flinging barbs & jokes around? 😉 🤣
Good time! 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
To quote Forrest Gump...."I'm really tired. I think I'll go home now "
Today was 765 miles. Started out cool, cooled down to 54*, then by the end of the day it was 95* for the last hour of riding.
"May" try to make it home tomorrow. Just another 790 miles to go 
Total mileage for this trip will be right at 4,000.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Hard to like that one, Miles. You're in our prayers. Don't push it.
We really appreciate you having spent some time with us in Bow.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
It's not a race, Miles. At least, I don't think it is. Take your time.
safe travels on your home stretch Miles. Glad to have traveled the early portion with you. I'm happy to have reached home yesterday, just heard from Dana he is over Vail pass with minimal snow. We traveled the same southern 2 lane roads home, reaching I-70 at the hiway entrance we crossed paths with Colleen and Stephanie merging right in with them as if it were planned they took I-70 from Junction City. Quick lunch and motored back to Denver area together. Great time seeing and meeting all.
First arriving Miles receiving words of wisdom and our random meeting
Photographic send off to Miles and Thane
Till next time
Spat
Pretty epic gentlemen!
Safe travels Miles!
Just completed Day One of the "Lewis & Clark" National Historic Trail. Three Stops:. National Parks Headquarters in Omaha.
Council Bluff (first official meeting between Lewis/Clark & Indians)
Sergeant Floyd's monument in Sioux Falls.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
