The Battlefield Run -- Do We Love Rain??? NO!!!

Rabbit Ears set the stage for the day (July 1, Friday) with his fashion statement for breakfast.  Sad to say that photo won't post?  Boots, shorts and a t-shirt. 

We soon got over that, and were on the road toward Joplin, Missouri.  As usual, we got sidetracked.  This time as we passed through Kansas.  We had heard about a town named Galena and went looking for it to do a photo stop for our good friend, Galena Goldstone. 

But before we got to Galena, we got sidetracked yet again as we passed through Sedan, Kansas.  What do you think we found there?

We found the Yellow Brick Road.  It’s not really a road, but a more than 10,000-brick sidewalk.  People buy a brick and put their name on it.  Of course, we had to have a photo.

Follow the yellow brick road.

Sedan is one of the Kansas towns that connects with the Wizard of Oz movie … and yes, we were still in Kansas.  This is just one of the fun things you can find when looking for Roadside America Attractions. 

We finally found Galena, Kansas, and got the photo.  But there were a few other interesting things here.   

And there you have it ... on old Route 66 in Kansas.

Galena had a beautiful mural.

The Tow Tater was an interesting little place with old cars, and Route 66 signs, and is another Roadside America Attraction.  I’m still not sure exactly what the place was … Tow Mater was apparently a vehicle that inspired a movie for Disney.  And it’s a part of this whole scene … I’ve never seen the movie, “Cars,” but that’s the one if you’ve seen it. 

The Tow Mater truck is the one on the right.  I think they're both goofy looking. 

What does it mean? 

But in looking for Galena, we found even more … the Rainbow Bridge.  Built in 1923, the bridge is over Brush Creek, near Riverton, Kansas on former Route 66.  The bridge is a single-span concrete Marsh arch bridge and is the sole surviving bridge of this type on the entire length of the former highway.  Often covered with graffiti, it was repainted a pristine white.  The best part of all was that we could ride across it.

Rockin' Rita rockin the bridge.

Smudge and Rabbit Ears making their mark.

Thumbs up.  We done it.

The bridge is a beautiful piece of architecture, and it's fun that it's still useable.

Route 66.  Just the name is magic.  Route 66.  It will always mean going somewhere.  Michael Wallis

We arrived at the Joplin Harley-Davidson shop and there was a mission here.  Rockin’ Rita had been having issues seeing through the smoke-tinted screen on her Tri-glide.  So she’d called ahead and they had one here and replaced it for her.  That resulted in some fun for all of us as she wanted to smash the tinted one with a hammer.  It was a bit more of a job than we’d expected.  The screens are pretty tough, but we “got er dun.”  In using several hammers, I took my turn and broke the hammer.  Whoops.

That thing was tough.

Rabbit Ears took a shot at it.

Patience.  I think we've got this.

Whoops.

The next day (Saturday, July 2) we had more overcast weather and heavy humidity.  Ugh.  Once again we ran into rain this time near Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  The “show me” state.  All it showed me is a lot of road kill and that I have an intolerance for overcast, humid, rainy days.  I had to put on a jacket and gloves.  But that didn’t matter.  We rode the last 45 miles in rain.  So, wet again. 

The big event of the morning (Sunday, July 3) was the automatic pancake maker at the hotel.  It was fascinating, pouring a little blob of batter that flattened on a treadmill-type belt, and was heated and cooked before being popped out onto a plate.  I had to eat one just so I could work the machine.

I hadn't seen a pancake maker before.  The little blob of batter comes out and settles onto the belt.

And a pancake shoots out onto your plate, ready for your breakfast pleasure.

There was a window of nice weather ... t-shirt riding kind.

There's our tailgunner.

While we had difficulties getting on interstates we ended up on some beautiful roads.  We met Anna from Oklahoma near Lexington and invited her to ride with us.  Once again, we hit rain, rain and more rain. 

We invited Anna to stay with us and we all packed in a room for the night.  That sure made it reasonable.  And we do like that.

Happy Independence Day (July 4). 

My Fourth of July outfit ... but I couldn't wear it riding ... crappy weather again.

What did we get today for our traveling pleasure?  More rain.  And lots of fog.  We rode slowly through the mountain passes.  They’re most likely quite beautiful, but we couldn’t take the time away from the road to look around much.  Attention to the road was first and foremost.  We stopped a time or two, including at a Cinnabons.  Sometimes you don’t have many photo ops, but you make up for it with sweets and ice cream.  Haha.  At this point I was so wet when I dripped it was like I was peeing.  Cept not warm.  Ugh. 

We finally found the hotel in Gettysburg and pulled in about 5:30 p.m. 

Soaked but safely at our destination in Gettysburg.

Imagine the surprise to be greeted by one of the gals I’d met last year at a HOG rally, Catt.  She hugged me … although I warned her about being wet.  She didn’t care.  And then we dripped our way into the lobby to register.  At last.  We’ll be here a few days, so let it rain.