As I have written recently, Amy and I just got back from a great vacation. Tomorrow is my first day back to work in eleven days.  It seems like I haven’t been to work in a month.  I really had a great time.  I managed to add about 3200 miles to my motorcycle in the course of eight days.  We had a great time riding and spending time with family.  We got to ride some great roads, some that I have already written about, and many that I will write about.  One of my favorite rides was heading out of Knoxville and going west.  We ended up riding TN 30 for a long way.  That road has some great sweepers.  I will write more about that ride later.  I am fortunate enough to have a wife that loves to ride.  I have a few friends that would love to have a motorcycle, but their wives aren’t sure about the idea.

Here is Amy's new favorite photo of us together. This was taken at Bald River Falls just off of the Cherohala Skyway.

I took the bike to the store again today, and when I came out of the store, there was a BMW K100RS parked next to my bike.  I have seen this bike around town and I have been admiring it.  There is some missing tupperware, but the owner explained that the previous owner had laid the bike down and cracked the fairing.  He said he is going to attempt a repair of the fairing, as it is too expensive to buy a new one.  It turns out that we have secretly been admiring each other’s bikes.  I talked to the owner and his significant other (i think girlfriend, may have been wife, or maybe sister, sorry I do not want to make assumptions) and they were super nice people.  Hopefully Amy and I will have a few new people to go riding with.

I have been looking through some older photos on Amy’s computer.  It seems I will have enough material to keep me busy for years writing about some of the trips we have already taken.  With all of that plus future trips, this little project promises to have tons of content!  I am kind of a geek, so I love doing this website.  Look for much more in the future!

About one year ago, my Dad and Uncle had an idea that it would be fun to ride 630 miles for supper, then ride home the next day. Not being one to turn down a great meal and a motorcycle ride, I went along. My sister, who lives in Atlanta wanted to go along but could not get a flight into Akron Canton Airport. She did the next best thing and went to Cincinnati and we picked her up on the way. After picking her up, we headed for LaGrange, KY (where I lived as a small child). We met with my Uncle Greg in LaGrange and headed west toward Sikeston, MO, the home of Lambert’s.

Here are my family members that went with me to Lambert's Cafe. Uncle Greg and Aunt Jo on the BMW K1200LT. Dad and Stepmother on the Kawasaki Voyager. Not Pictured is my sister, as she took the photo.

Lambert’s cafe has been featured on the Food Network several times. It is “The Home of Throwed Rolls.” Their website is http://www.throwedrolls.com .  I have been to their Springfield, Mo location three times.  They have some of the best food you could imagine, and portions that keep them from selling desserts.  The first time I ate there, I ordered a full rack of ribs that was served on a plate that looked more like the lid of a garbage can than a plate.  The ribs were hanging off of the plate on both ends.  I was asked what sides I wanted and I replied “Okra and fried potatoes.”  I was told I could not order those, because the walk around with pans serving those to everybody.  So, I ordered two different sides and still got my okra and fried potatoes.  The thing that Lambert’s is most famous for is the rolls.  Here is a short video of the guy throwing the rolls.

They usually do not take it too easy throwing the rolls.  I have caught some fast pitches there.  If you miss, expect to take some heckling from the roll thrower and the crowd.  Lambert’s is a great dining experience.    If you ever get the chance to go there, do it!  Do yourself a favor and make reservations for a hotel (if you need one) ahead of time.  When we were checking in, there were two rooms available at two different hotels.  My sister ended up sleeping on a love seat (we don’t let Dad forget that one).  Check out Hotels.com
 for rates and reservations.

Here are Dad and Flo on their Kawasaki Voyager

The ride there was uneventful, but HOT.  It was a great ride.  It turns out the Lambert’s is on US 62.  US 62 runs right here through Canton, OH.  I had been out US 62 before heading northeast to go to Niagara Falls.  We took interstates to get to Lambert’s as we wanted to make it in one day.  We brought US 62 all of the way home.  US 62 has some great twisties in a few areas.  It is a great scenic route to take to avoid the freeways.  There are some areas where the going is slow, like in Lexington, Ky, but for the most part, you can make pretty good time on it.

On the way home, we got a late start and we spent the night in Bardstown, KY.  Those of you that drink bourbon should recognize that town.  It seems every bourbon distillery in the world is in Bardstown.  None of us in our group drink, so I guess it was a wasted stop for us.  You can see the massive distillery buildings everywhere.  It was pretty impressive to see the huge buildings up on the hills.  We stayed at a small motel across from the Stephen Foster Restaurant.  It was a nice old place.  you could tell that the place was kept up well, but they still had the old door hardware and bathroom fixtures.  The motel had small room by today’s standards, but I would stay there again.  

Here we are at the Cincinnati airport to pickup Liz. I am on the Honda CB900 Custom in the rear. In the front is Dad's Kawasaki Voyager

The next day, we rode the rest of the way home on US 62.  We ate at a Sonic about 20 miles east of Bardstown.  The girl working there asked us what happen if it rains, then she asked if a convertible top was stored anywhere on the motorcycles.  My sister, always a joker, informed the girl that usually when you are planning a ride where it might rain, you always take somebody with you on the back of your bike so they can hold an umbrella.  The waitress believed it!  I can’t imagine trying to hold an umbrella at 70 miles per hour!  

This was a great trip and I hope to do it again.  It is kind of funny trying to make time on a bike that needs to stop for gas every 160 miles and a seat good for 100 miles.  The Honda CB900 Custom doesn’t allow much air to hit the rider with the fairing installed.  The windshield is an extra tall one that has been cut down some so you can see over it and not have to look through it all of the time.  My wife did not get to go to Lambert’s with us because of work.  We hope to go there, maybe even this year.