Thursday, July 16th, 2009 Goldrush Kentucky

This is the last day of Goldrush. Everyone was having such a great time checking out the scenery. Some members were going to the Convention center and doing things there. Some of us decided to do more riding. We had heard about a castle in the near by area, so were on the hunt for it. We found it. It is an amazing castle. Apparently you can stay in it over night for a handsome price.

We decided to continue to ride and ended up at Frankfort, the capitol of Kentucky, and of course had to have "Kentucky Fried Chicken".... we had grilled ;)

We found this horse farm, where they mow the fields so the blue grass can come in. Some amazing farms here.

We had a great time and by the time we got back we were all ready to sit and cool off in the shade. We went to Sams for supper, then back to rest at the camp grounds.

Rick and Patti's son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter arrived and camped with them, then were all going back to their house for a few days.

We had rain during the night so will let the campers dry a bit Friday a.m. before tearing down and slowly heading back to Iowa.

more to come....

Wednesday, July 15th Goldrush in Kentucky

Wednesday, we decided to go check out the Kentucky Horse park, just down the road from the campgrounds. Man of War was buried there, there was a Thoroughbred museum and a working horse farm. You could spend hours there. 2010, Lexington will hold the World Equine Fair, first time in the United States.

We took off for a ride and found some really nice roads, up and down hills covered with a canopy of trees. We saw some beautiful areas of Kentucky.

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There were many farms with horses and either the white or black wooden fences surrounding the farms. We stopped to get a drink of water at a gas station and the raindrops started, so we returned to the campgrounds. The rain caught up and we holed up in the campers for awhile. The shower didn't last long and we soon were all out at the picnic table in the shade. We went to supper at SAMS, a truckstop restaurant with really good food. They also serve a local favorite, Kentucky Browns... a large plate of 1/2 sandwich of turkey, covered with bacon, cheese, onion and more.

Congratulations to Rick for winning a trophy at the Bike show.

Pam and Bob had left early to go on down to see family since they were so close.

We had a relaxing evening at the campgrounds and enjoyed visiting with others.

A couple of vendors from the convention center, had heard about our "giant" campers and came out to see our Bunkhouse. We had the 8 X 10 add-a-room set up with the camper and they were amazed to find out that we had a king size bed and air conditioner. They were from Alabama and said they had started the first GWTA chapter in Alabama. We enjoyed their visit.

While doing laundry, we visited with a couple from Canada that were vacationing and wanting to see horses. We also visited with a gentleman from Denmark that was traveling. He loved the motorcycles and said the people in the United States were so friendly, helpful and interesting.

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 Goldrush in Kentucky

Tuesday a.m. was the Living Logo, some members went to do this.

We decided to go check out the country side.

We had breakfast and then decided to go for a ride. We headed out of town, with some U-turn practice out of the way :) We did find that at least in the area we rode, they do not really have gravel roads in Kentucky... some are very narrow and are tree covered, a lush canopy of trees overhead.

We went to the Daniel Boone National forest to ride. Beautiful hilly, winding, twisty roads, with lots of history in the area.

We passed tobacco fields, in various stages of growth. There were places in the trees where a green vine had invaded the area and totally covered everything in the area. Jon said it had been brought over from Europe as a ground cover but got out of control and can actually kill the trees and bushes that it covers.

We passed a building that had been used as a hospital during the Cival War. There was a fort that you could go see and so much more but ran out of time. We headed back to campgrounds to cool off, as the temperatures remained in the upper 80's with high humidity.

We enjoyed the coolness of the shade at our campsites.

There was so much to see and do at the convention center and to ride in the country side and see.

We visited with others in the campground and one of the GWTA members put together a group of us, about 25 GWTA members that were also camping there at the campgrounds, and we did a light parade for the campground. Other people that were camping sat in lawn chairs near their campers and along the road, and we covered the entire campground. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Monday July 13th, Goldrush in Lexington, Kentucky

Everyone was up early and went to breakfast and then the Convention center. It was great to have CB's and between other GWTA members, help locate the Center. We parked in a parking ramp near the center. Registration went smoothly and we had a little time to visit before going in. Iowa sat together. Chapter H, Friendship Riders of Iowa, had 10 members present at opening ceremonies. We received the schedule of events and found that next Year, Goldrush returns to Billings, Montana.

Congratulations to our Region C Family of the Year, Doug and Michelle Sullivan and daughter-
for being selected as the 2009 National Family of the Year.

At opening ceremonies, Region C donated over $1,000.00 for Helping Hands.
We went and checked out the Vendors and the guys all drooled over the chrome and lights.
There was even the opportunity to do some crab racing, with some of the proceeds going to Helping Hands.
We decided to do a short ride back to the campgrounds.
The horse farms are amazing with either white or black painted wooden fences surrounding the farms and horses. The fields are mowed so the blue grass can grow. The horses are treated like Royalty... It was beautiful.
We went to the Man o War Harley Tailgate party... Good BBQ and saw the Bowwow girls perform in the parking lot.
There was a light parade and ice cream stop afterwards. Some members attended the ride.

Goldrush Lexington Kentucky

Sunday, we were up bright and early and off again. We heard from Pam and Bob and they had arrived safely at a town ahead of us and were leaving later than we were.

We were amazed to see so many working oil stations pumping oil in both Illinois and Indiana. We had the time change as we arrived in Indiana. Cell phones changed but the GPS on the 1800's did not.

We were surprised at the change in scenery as we went south in Indiana towards Louisville Kentucky... We were on some very winding, hilly, twisty roads. Would have been much more fun to ride not pulling the campers.

Not likely to find ice in the tunnel when it is 88 degrees with 98 % humidity!

We arrived safely at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground and set up camp. It was a very shady nice campground. We were just setting the finishing touches, when Pam and Bob and friends arrived. We ordered Pizza and had it delivered to our campers and had a picnic, cooling off and relaxing. Tomorrow was a big day! Rick and Patti arrived and set up across the drive from us.

Goldrush 2009 Lexington Kentucky

Goldrush was a great time. It was held in Lexington Kentucky from July 13 to the 16th.
Chapter H, Friendship Riders of Iowa had 10 members present at Opening Ceremonies.

We left early Saturday a.m., July 11th and traveled with Bill and Dee, Jon and Rosalee ( and their Hitchhiker... as far as Knoxville!) It was a very warm day as the day progressed. We skirted through St Louis and landed in Carlyle, Illinois the first night.

Picture of the Guys

OK, in the June post with the pictures.... The picture of the backs of Dennis, Jon, Steve and Bill looking out at the lake....

Don't you just wonder what the four guys are up to?

Mrs Welaxn :)

Members travel - Great Friends

Our group loves to travel, many go to see children and family. Or just take a long weekend or a long ride to go out to eat!

Jan and Jerry go to Colorado and to see that beautiful grandbaby girl.

Don and LaVone are used to traveling but have had to put a hold on things for now until she is feeling and doing much better.

Bill and Dee, recent retirees, go to Missouri to see their kids and recently took a trip to New York to Americade rally, via their "train." Ask Bill about New York :) They returned in time to join us, go to Door County in Wisconsin and go to Region C in Chippewa Falls.

We have a wonderful group that support each other, visit, laugh and have a great time. Truly great friends!

July supper rides

Our first ride in July was to Winterset to the Mexican Restaurant.
We celebrated all members birthdays with a cake, courtesy of Dee.

Many of our members will be going to Goldrush this year in Lexington Kentucky. Dates are July 13 to 16th. We will arrive by Sunday before and ride the area and return the end of the week. We look forward to seeing friends and making new ones as always. There is always a lot to see and do at Goldrush.

Supper rides
July 13th Sports Page in Indianola
July 20th Family Table in Osceola
July 27th Hickory Park in Ames

July is busy as well

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July... We thank all the veterans and those serving our country for the many sacrifices they make and have made for our Freedoms. Everyone celebrated in their own way. We took a trip up to NW Iowa, SW Minnesota for the 4th of July Weekend. On our way up we saw in Sac City, the World's Largest Popcorn Ball... 900 pounds of popcorn! http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/9264

We stayed in Pipestone Minnesota, known for the stone that Native Americans considered sacred and used for making ceremonial pipes.
We stayed in Beresford South Dakota and watched Fireworks from our motel room window with a perfect view.

We send a special get well wish to one of our "Two Kids" and hope that she is recovering quickly so she can get this all over, put on her dancing shoes and be able to ride again. We miss you, LaVone.

June was a busy month

Several members vacationed early before Region C Rally that was held in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin from June 12 to 14th, 2009.

We rode up and camped in a campground less than 1/2 mile from Lake Michigan. It was cool and rainy the first few days, but we saw many cool sites and rode up into Door County.

It was really windy and cool and decided not to take the Ferry to the island that day.

We did get to have some Very Fresh Fish at an ice Cream store, imagine that!

While we were gone we got the news that a friend and fellow GWTA rider was killed in a motorcycle accident. Bob Anderson loved to talk and was always there to visit with at Colorama and other events in other states. He will be missed. We send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his wife.

We arrived at Chippewa Falls for the GWTA Tail Gate party... There was a good show of members from different chapters and states. Chapter H had 12 members present. Great showing. We camped and rode some of the great rides.

We checked out the Ice Age National Trail... lakes left from a glacier ...

The food was good at Region C. We got to visit with some of our friends and made new ones.

We played "Dirty Bingo" and came home with some "prizes." They had many items for auction.

There was plenty to do and see. Next year Region C will be held in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and grandfathers.

June supper rides, held on Monday nights were

Roadside Inn in Martensdale

Georgios in Colfax

PJ's in Panora-hottest day of the year so far

Rumor Mill in St Charles.

We have had some good supper rides and enjoy the friendship of all.