Fun Fest 2009

A number of us went up to Storm Lake this weekend to attend Fun Fest 2009. This is Iowa GWTA's state rally to raise funds for the state directors to be able to fund their activities throughout the year. This is their only budget.

There was a good crowd there this year. Around 60 people and it appears that everyone had a good time. All the chapters in Iowa were represented and we had several couples from Nebraska and I think maybe Missouri had people present.

We left with the Green's on Friday night and went up to Ray and Judy's to pick them up. They had decided to fix us dinner so we wouldn't have to stop on the way to eat. As usual, Judy put on a heck of a spread. Lots of food that they pulled right out of the garden and whipped us up a meal with. As usual, this fat old man ate way way too much but it is so good, it is hard not to overeat.

As we got ready to leave, Ray suggested some sights to see on the way up and wondered if we'd like to go a few miles out of our way to see them. We said sure and he led us on a great ride through Doliver Park and around the town of Otho and that area. Wonderful riding. Then we made our way us highway 7 to Storm Lake. I suppose we got in to the motel around 9. Those out at the campground had been messaging and wanted us to come out so we did. They greeted us at the campgrounds laughing and clapping and cheering. I am sure that alcohol had some influence on that. We spent time talking with old friends and new aquaintances before deciding to call it a night.

Got up the next morning to moderate rain and the forecast was not looking good. We walked on over to Storm Lake Honda as it was only about a block from our motel. The gang and Storm Lake put on a breakfast pizza feed that was pretty darn good. They spent a ton on money on pizza, juice and coffee. As usual, they were very hospitable to us and went out of their way to help anyone out in any way that they could. They made some sales, especially on rain gear.

Finally, the weather cleared up and it looked like a good time to go out on the poker run. We took off and other than some gloomy skies, wind and some rain first off, the ride was wonderful. Barry Frum did a good job at planning the route. It was very nice, lots of scenery. After the ride, we went to the campground and just sat around talking. We met a very nice couple from Panora who are members of chapter H. They were the only ones in that chapter to attend this year. They have an embroidery shop and we are working with them for patches and other things the chapter may like. It was very nice to meet them and to get to talk to them for some time. During this time, there was door prize giveaways. Lots of stuff. I think they were able to give everyone a door prize. It was nice that our chapter members donated a lot of stuff to be used as door prizes and auction items.

A little later, Don and Kathy got dinner underway. Food was great. People brought lots of side dishes and Don had been able to procur 100 pork chops from the Iowa Pork Producers. The pork chops weighed in at about 1 pound a piece. These things were huge. Don Thomason and Don Douthit worked the grill and did a good job of grilling up the meat in a timely manner. Baked beans were provided by one of our favorite restauarnts, The Sunrise Cafe in LeGrand. Otherwise we had pasta salad, cookies, and other desserts and lots of good stuff.

After dinner, Dan Dolan and his wife Joyce (Nebraska), headed up the auction. We had a lot of nice stuff to auction off and the auction raised a little over $600 which I think was more than most expected. I came away with a boot dryer that I had been wanting and it only cost me $10. I'm just tickled pink.

Some awards were given out for the poker run. Ernie got $50 for second place and Pam got $25 for third place. They actually paid first, second and third place and had some fun gifts for those who had the worst hands. Ben Ress was the big winner in the 50/50 drawing getting $135 dollars which he promptly used to pay off his auction balance. He got some good stuff at the auction and was a major contributor to the auction fund so it was nice to see him win that so he could not dig so deep in his pockets.

After all this, we had some talks and announcements by National and Region Staff and by chapter directors. Then for some reason, I was ganged up on and it was decided they needed to roast me for some of my errant ways. It was all done in the spirit of love and fun and I truely enjoyed all the comments and the gifts I got. I'm stocked up for Christmas, I don't need anything else. And I actually got some stuff I can use.

Things started winding down then. Clean up and putting away of supplies. Some people started getting things packed away for the trip home. We stayed and talked at the shelter for awhile and then a lot of people went over to the bonfire at the campsite. I am told they had a big group and had a great time. We went back to the motel and pretty much just crashed. I was pretty wore out. Wished we hadn't missed the campfire but maybe next time.

Got up this morning and it had been raining and looked like it was going to be a soggy ride home. Forecast was for some strong storms but later in the day and we were hoping we would avoid them. Got our group together for breakfast and many more for the campground showed up. After we finished, we grouped up and headed south. We were going to make a couple of stops to see some things but with the forecast, we just decided to make a run for home. It was pretty gloomy when we left but he farther south we got, the better it was looking. By the time we got to Perry, it was bright sunshine and really warm. I was afraid this was going to bring on more storms but as of this point, none have materialized. Everyone is home safe and sound.

My thanks to all those who attended and who helped to make this event a success for Don and Kathy. Being their first state event, I think they did a heck of a job and they got a lot of support not only from Iowa but from other states. These type of events are what you make of them. If you go to have fun, you will and I think we all had a good time. Next year will be in Winterset (a popular choice among all who attended this years rally) and it should be a great time as well. Put the third weekend of August on your calendar and come out and have a good time.

Baxter Bike night

On Wednesday the Busch's and us got together and went up to O'Kellys in Baxter for their bike night. It was a nice night for a ride and we had a good time. The musician playing wasn't exactly real good but he was tolerable. At least it wasn't excessively loud and it wasn't head banging music.

We ate some food, talked for awhile and looked at the bikes. i think this was one of the bigger crowds I have seen there. Something I haven't done all year and it was a good time.

Give it a shot some time. If you don't' like the destination, at least getting there can be fun.

Chaper J Fun Run

5 couples from here went to the Fun Run in Clarinda over the weekend. Us, Ress', Guenthers, Thomasons, and Greens.

Ress' and us met for breakfast in Redfield at the American Legion Hall. This is a good place for breakfast. All you want to eat for 6 bucks. They are only open for this on Saturdays and they only do it early. They serve from 6-8:30. It is a fun time if you are one that can get up early enough. It is always a fun ride.

After breakfast we took a leisurely drive down the white pole road. Stopped in Adair for fuel and then off again toward Anita where we picked up hwy. 148. Took that to hwy. 2 and into Clarinda. Stayed off of hwy. 71 since they were asphalting it. They did finish that on Saturday night. It was a good ride over.

After checking in to the motel, we got ahold of the Douthits and Don came over and took us on a short ride to Shenandoah where we ate lunch at the Depot. Nice place with good food. After lunch, Don took us the long way back showing us a number of sites. He was the perfect tour guide. Too bad not everyone had a CB and could hear him describe everything.

We got back into Clarinda and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Douthits chatting and waiting on other. Don and Kathy and Pam and Glenn arrived mid afternoon and more talking went on. Around 5 we took our bikes back to the motel and all hopped in cars to go to Bedford for dinner. Just too hot to ride. Bedford was great as always. Home cooked food and great ice cream and strawberry shortcake. Worth the drive. Not too far for a Sunday ice cream ride. At least not for me. At the dinner, we presented Don and Kim Douthit with the Golden Heart Award that the chapter (specifically Pam) sponsored for their work, support and caring they gave Jay and Sherry Liniger after he went down on his bike on the way to Gold Rush. It was great to be able to do this and they were very touched.

Got back to Clarinda and we all split up. Ben and Sherrill and us were at the motel and we just sat around and talked. We went to the pool and hot tub for awhile then decided to call it a night as the long day and heat had gotten to us.

Sunday we got up and had breakfast at Vaughn's in downtown Clarinda. Another good place to eat if you are in the area. Then we met the rest of the group at the city park. Ernie and Louise made it down in the morning and joined us. Some of the group stayed at the park and talked while getting the lunch we took down ready for when the fun run was done. Ress' and us decided to go on the ride. It was beginning to look like bad weather and stuff was forming in the Omaha area but we were able to do the ride without getting wet. It was a nice ride down into Missouri and back. Only bad part of the ride is Donna got stung by something as we left Bedford and headed back into Clarinda. She's OK, just hurts her some.

After getting back we had our lunch and conversations with the various members from different chapters. Then they gave out the awards and door prizes. We presented the award to Don again so that all the attendees could see it. It was well deserved and was nice to let all the people who came see this presentation. The group was very thankful for our attendance and for the fact that we were willing to bring down food and feed all the people. Jay was very moved by this and it was great be able to do this for them.

I want to thank everyone who did anything for this event. If you sent money, if you went and helped set up the lunch, if you provided something for the lunch, if you just showed up and did the ride, if you just showed up at all, my sincere and profound thanks. This meant a lot to them and it meant a lot to this group to be able to do that for them.

My thanks also to Pam and Donna specifically and to anyone else who helped out in getting the needed paperwork pushed through to Helping Hands so quickly so that Jay and Sherry could get a check for $500 to help tide them over in this trying time for them. Every little bit helps and they really appreciated it. Also, thanks to these people again for getting the Golden Heart paperwork turned in so that we could give that to Don and Kim.

Friendship is what this chapter is all about and it really showed here.

After the awards, we got word that nasty weather was moving in and we had better be heading home. Those going to Nebraska were heading into bad stuff and we were trying to outrun it. We stayed south until we got to Mt. Ayr and refueled. We checked the radar and it looked like we were in the clear so we headed north on hwy. 169. As we got close to Winterset the sky looked really bad but we had no bad wind or rain. Ben and Sherrill split from us then and headed north into what looked to be the worst of it while us and Ernie and Louise headed east hoping to stay ahead of it. We came up from Martensdale into Norwalk and back to home. Got home just in time to get stuff unloaded before the weather cut loose. Glad we got inside. However, Ben and Sherrill got caught up in it but were able to get under cover in Adel and wait it out until they could make it home. We are very thankful for that. Pam and Glenn were in their truck and still had to pull off and wait it out at the New Virginia exit. They said it was really bad, I am glad that no one on bikes had to deal with that. Hopefully, everyone at the Fun Run got home safe and sound. We have been in touch with our people and we all got back OK.

Consider going to this run next year. They put on a good time.

Steak Center

We rode with another group the other night to State Center and found out that Steak Center is no longer Steak Center. It is now Woodrows Bar and Grill. Food was ok, service was just so so. A place to try again I guess and see if we like it better the next time.

Carol's in Conrad

We ate at Carols in Conrad on Aug 1st. Many from the group attended. Several had tenderloins. They are hand breaded and she makes the bun homemade to fit this monster. This is half of the tenderloin with all the trimmings. The thing must be 4 inches thick.

This is a top view of half a tenderloin. See how it still fills up the plate.

This is the full tenderloin. The straw is there for reference sake. This thing is huge. I measured it and it is about 6"wide by 9" long.

Would you believe that Randy Heath ate this whole darn thing (with the trimmings) plus the salad that went with it, plus spinach that went with it and then had the audacity to order pie to top it off.

This was a fun night. 17 people on 9 bikes and one car took a trip from Bondurant to the restaurant. Other food had was chicken fried steak that looked really good. I had a seafood platter that was good and very plentiful. Definitely a place worth visiting again. We could even make this a dinner ride location. Would have to meet on the east side and make it a hot shot but the ride is a little less than an hour and is doable.

Owner and waitress were very friendly and the service was very good. Prices are very good. The loin only cost like 8 or 9 bucks with all the extras. If you are in the area, stop in and give them some business.