A Ride to the Country

[flynavyj]

After getting the clutch fixed on my nighthawk, putting in a new battery, and replacing the starter, the bike is finally getting reliable enough that i can take it for some rides. I've used it as transportation to work several times this week to ensure it was going to be trouble free, and so off I was to the country to take in some scenery. I brought the camera along and stopped any place it looked good (and safe) for a photo. The day was perfect (just not much sun) but great temps, low winds, and excellent views (just gotta get the bike painted soon, but that's to come).

For anyone who's familiar. I started the ride in Wildwood, MO on Wild Horse Creek Rd (gorgeous twisties, sportbike country) which is filled with rolling hills, horse farms, and that interesting barn with the old oil signs. I eventually rode out to a town called Labadie, home of one of St. Louis' Powerplants. I grabbed lunch at the Hawthorne Inn (good burger), and i'll have to make another trip back to try out 3 Brothers Restaurant and Bar (you've always got to go to a place with a sign, "check your guns at the bar") before making my way further down the road to the town of Washington, MO. It's a little river town, with old textile factories along the waterfront. I then hopped across the bridge and the Missouri River into St. Charles County, stopped for a bathroom break at the local airport (and got to chat about airplanes and flying with the airport manager, always enjoyable) and eventually stopped off in Augusta, MO which is beautiful Missouri Wine Country, full of antique shops and bed and breakfasts. All in all, an excellent day on the motorcycle, no hiccups, safe riding, great weather, good food! ZERO COMPLAINTS!!! I hope you all enjoy the photos.

[drdubb]

Great report. Enjoy that nighthawk.

[JB1290]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. 

[fishmeister]

Great your bike is running well and you get to enjoy riding it. Thanks for the pics, they are fun to check out..

[Hangster]

Nice ride , ya got to love river road rides they are the best (nice bike too) 

[flynavyj]

Thanks for the compliments, had a great relaxing time. If we had oceans or mountains around here i'd ride to those, but instead we have hills, valleys, and rivers. It is beautiful countryside though, and i've always enjoyed finding those twisty roads that stretch across it.

Thanks for the compliments on the bike. It's not a bad looking bike from 20 feet, but a clearcoat didn't agree with a base coat done by the PO, and as a result, the paint has cracks all over the tank. I'm going to try to get some good paint on there this winter, or later in the fall (depending on $$) and hopefully have her looking like a beauty by next spring. I also have a couple spots on the frame that had been coated with hydraulic fluid, and we all know what that'll do to the paint....look black touchup paint and it'll be good as new.

[luckylindy]

Good report and pics.  I've been through some of that country on visits with my wife's family in cental IL.

[ariwhiteboy]

Very nice report!    I think you might be able to use the corn cob pipe ad for the phototag game too. 

[Bumblebee]

I love the radiation hazard symbol on the side of your helmet. It brings back memories from my days at University...I had a tshirt with that on the back and the front said "I (heart) Toxic Waste." It wasn't a cute joke by wannabe posers either. We were bombarding the real stuff with 4.5 KeV beams. The Neutron Lab was an interesting place to work.

[fishball]

Love the photos, quite a few stood out but this was my favorite.

[hppants]

Mr. Bee - you worked in a Physics Accelerator Lab....    Now things are starting to make sense.

So FlynavyJ - what's with the Rad. Sfty symbol on your helmet?

Great pics btw - my favorite is the wider shot of the tressle bridge.

[HawkFuzz]

FlynavyJ, 

Thanks for sharing.  Looks like it was a great ride.

[flynavyj]

Well HP, I think the general consensus is that my head is radioactive, besides that it would match both your bike and my other bike.



It is possible that i'm radioactive too...Anyone ever take a geiger counter up to 37,000? I have a feeling spending a few years up there might cause long term damage...