TEXAS: Wreaths for Vets Burger Burn

June 19, 2013

Wichita Falls TX -- Save the date - June 29, 2013.

Saddle up Texas! And ride out to support a group of veterans and patriots who respectfully place wreaths on the graves of those who have served our country in local cemeteries at Christmastime. Burgers and Dogs are on the menu! Bikes everywhere! It doesn't get much better than that. Hosted by: Red River Harley-Davidson.

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2013 Wreaths for Vets Burger Burn Flyer

Five years ago today

June 25, 2013
Colorado USA

Just US - Father's Day 2013

June 16, 2013
Colorado USA

Our friend and neighbor Al snapped these pics as we were getting ready to roll out this morning.

We had intended a longer ride for this weekend but circumstances dictated otherwise. We are not big on holiday crowds in restaurants so Tim said a picnic ride would work just fine for Father's Day lunch. He likes my tuna fish salad. We thought we would take a picnic up the Poudre Canyon but changed our minds when we got a good look at the clouds hanging low over the canyon. So we rode around the lakes. Horsetooth, No Name and Carter. Same thing happened as we rode toward the mountains thinking about an abbreviated peak-to-peak ride - clouds. So, we headed toward Lyons thinking to eat our sandwiches in the park there - no luck. Clouds were building all around. Rumbles of thunder and spits of rain had us riding east toward a hole in the clouds. Despite the clouds rolling in we unpacked the picnic lunch at a table under the pavilion at the old depot in LaSalle. Like Lyons, this is a favorite picnic spot. It's rare to see more than a couple of kids and we like to watch the trains.

Rumbling skies once again had us rolling... when the virga (rain that is not supposed to hit the ground) stopped being virga we turned the ride toward home and spent the rest of the day dodging rain drops on the patio.

Tim in Lyons CO

Vik in Lyons CO

Tim in LaSalle CO

Vik in LaSalle CO

The Ride in LaSalle CO

Slide show of today's ride (60 photos):

Alternate link to this slide show

Mileage for today's ride = 135 miles

For Military Dads...

June 16, 2013
Colorado, USA

Father's Day Shopping Dealership Ride

June 15, 2013
Colorado USA

All shined up and ready to roll

We rolled out just before 10am this morning for some Father's Day riding/shopping. The first couple of stops were in Loveland. Let's call them ammo hunts. No luck. Then we stopped at the Donut Haus for a couple of chocolate-drizzled cinnamon rolls and coffee. YUM!

The ride at the Donut Haus in Loveland

Chocolate-drizzled cinnamon roll - YUM!

We traveled the back roads to High Country Harley-Davidson which was doing a brisk business as usual, complete with a cookout, vendors and good music. There's always something fun going on at High Country. We shopped for a bit and added a couple of items to the tour pak.

High Country Harley-Davidson

The day was warming up nicely and the clouds were already building so we took the roundabout way to Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson rolling along country roads east of I-25. On CR19 near Platteville we rolled by and noticed some healthy activity at Miller Farms near Platteville. Miller Farms has been in operation since 1949 and is a working farm/produce stand but also sponsors family oriented activities and festivals throughout the year. Viewble from the road is a huge collection of antique farm equipment and other special attractions including vintage vehicles (some CARS lookalikes), a Ghost Busters wagon and flying saucers.

We love country roads...

Millers Market CR19 near Platteville

Rolling up on Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson

Skies turning a bit uncooperative

Father's Day haul

The weather was turning iffy as we rolled away from Thunder Mountain so we moseyed home about 3pm with the skies spitting. We parked the ride and drove to Chili's (Tim's choice) for supper and kicked back on the patio afterwards to finish off the day (until rain and cotton drove us indoors).

Today's ride was a lazy 108.2 miles.

DAD Appreciation

June 14, 2013

Charley Presents Friday’s Edition Of ‘Vickie’s Corner’ – Dad Appreciation
By Charley Barnes

Father’s Day is this Sunday so don’t forget your Dad. Those of you who are lucky enough to still have your Dad with you, let him know and if your Dad is gone now, you can still pay respect to him on his day. (Photo included of my Dad’s grave and what I did on Father’s day 3 years ago.)

As we go about preparations to celebrate the Dads in our lives, let us remember that:

• Some Dads will not celebrate with sons and daughters this year.
• Some sons and daughters will not celebrate with Dads this year.

For a myriad of reasons some Dads will go it alone on Sunday not necessarily by choice as will some sons and daughters.

I am a military brat.

Always on my mind on greeting card holidays are veterans and active duty military personnel. Consider active duty military Dads serving abroad who will not be with their children on Dad’s Day. Consider active duty military sons and daughters serving abroad who will not be with their Dads on Dad’s Day.

My heart goes out to the sons and daughters and Dads of Veterans who are no longer with us. My heart especially goes out to Gold Star Dads, missing a beloved son or daughter. No man signs on to be a Gold Star Dad. No child understands the distinction of membership in a Gold Star family.

For every moment of peace we enjoy, for every day of grace and greatness we owe a person in the service of our country our heartfelt thanks and none are more deserving of that consideration than those who struggle to get through this day without the significant presence of the other half of the Dad’s Day equation.

I number among the fortunate because my Dad is still living large in my life. And for that, I am enormously appreciative not only of Dad himself but grateful to those who have paid the price so the majority of us can celebrate with our Dads any darn good way we please in the USA.

That’s it for today… Happy Dad’s Day to Dads everywhere!

---

Source: K99/Charley Presents Friday’s Edition Of ‘Vickie’s Corner’ – DAD Appreciation

Charley Barnes is a friend and fellow rabble-rousing patriot. He is a DJ at K99 Colorado's Best Country Station. He personally contributes and organizes several charity and fund-raising events in northern Colorado including the Sleigh Riders Motorcycle Toy Run. We met in 2011 when he and a couple of buddies rode their motorcycles across Kansas to Topeka (the home of the Westboro Baptist Blasphemer Church Cult) and gave the WBC a dose of their own medicine. That's how Journey 4 Justice began. J4J teams from across the nation travel to Topeka KS (most of them on motorcycles) and deliver a counter protest to the WBC's hateful message. The difference is: they do it with class. No nasty signs or subversive messages are needed - they simply show up and wave the flags of country, state and armed services. A few weeks ago Charley offered me an opportunity to sound off occasionally on current events in a spot called Vickie's Corner in his little neck of the woods at K99. Is that kool or what?

Getting Flag Day off to a good start - salute!

June 14, 2013
Colorado USA

Say it loud... say it proud... fly it high...

Mount Falcon Picnic Ride

June 9, 2013
Colorado USA

Finally summer-time temps in nothern Colorado! No rain in the forecast. We rolled out just before 11 am with a picnic lunch and absolutely no plan except to burn up some miles, get a good dose of sunshine and find a place to eat a sandwich somewhere down the road.

This was our day: Clear skies, warm temps, light winds, no sleeves! Everything is green and wildflowers are in bloom. Large motorcycle presence on every road.

We rolled south of course, angling our way through Loveland, bypassing busy Boulder, clipped the edge of Golden and traveled Heritage Road past Red Rocks to Morrison. Then we traveled a bit further south the Ken Carul area on the southwest side of Denver where we explored Deer Creek Canyon and rode Turkey Creek Road. We haven't ridden this area in several years now. Turkey Creek road is a gently winding road through rock outcroppings and forest. Just past Tiny Town (a collection of miniature buildings and a small railroad that began as an amusement for a child back in 1915) we decided to look for a picnic spot. This part of Turkey Creed Road lets out on Hwy 285 so we traveled that for a short time turning off on Parmalee Gulch Road. We decided Mount Falcon Park which we have visited only once sounded like a good spot. Mount Falcon is located in the Indian Hills area on Parmalee Gulch Road between Hwy 285 and Hwy 74. The park is a popular spot with several hiking trails. There's a great view of Denver from several vantage points. The park is designated as an open space so no picnic fee required. We picked a table sitting out on a point facing the mountains and munched on tuna fish salad sandwiches, chips, pickles, fruit and cookies.

Tim - Mount Falcon

Vik - Mount Falcon

After the picnic and a short stroll, we decided to it was time to make our way slowly home. There was a miniature traffic jam in Morrison. I believe they were gearing up for a concert at Red Rocks plus the tiny town is a mecca for Denverites, cyclists, bikers and more. We back-tracked on Heritage Road to Hwy 93 through Golden and back through Interlocken, stopping for gas, pepsi and ice cream sandwiches in Erie before rambling home through Berthoud.

Slide show of today's ride = 75 photos

Alternate link to this slide show
Once home, we drug the water hose around, sipped a couple of brews on the patio and grilled some country style ribs.

The odometer rolled over 45,000 miles on the 2010 Ultra today 51 miles from home. It was a good day to own a Harley.

Today's mileage = 203.9 miles

No Dam Ride to Lunch

June 7, 2013
Colorado USA

Today we rolled out under iffy skies for a short lunch ride. We had in mind a dam ride and Vern's but clouds in that direction had us change our minds to another favorite lunch spot in the opposite direction. Serious Texas BBQ is located about 6 miles south in Loveland. It is reasonably priced and reliably good. We have never had a bad meal or service. Today we had Texas tacos (pulled pork in soft flour tortilla topped with cheesy potatos and an excellent jalapeno/pineapple relish) plus Zuberfizz Creamy Rootbeer x2. We caught light rain as we rode back from lunch but no complaints about the lunch or the ride.

The Ride at Serious Texas BBQ

Lunch Today - Texas Taco and Zuberfizz Cream Rootbeer

Friday!

June 7, 2013
Colorado USA

Sixty-Nine Years Ago Today

June 6, 2013
Colorado USA

June 6, 1944 - The brave answered the call to preserve freedom for posterity - I dip my head in remembrance and respect and everlasting gratitude.

Just a long way around ice cream ride

June 2, 2013
Colorado USA

Rolling out about 11am

Obligatory mountain shot

The Flatirons near Boulder

The Platte River near Platteville

Ice Cream



The Ride sitting at McDonald's

Today's long way around ice cream ride = 191 miles