08-16-18 (the Event Page...)
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Okay, you guys ... where am I?
Sometimes on FAST FRIDAY when Carrie and I go to lunch (and YOU are always invited to join us...), we can find ourselves a long way from a McDonalds!
And, that was the case a couple of weeks ago when we decided to ride to the Latham Saloon located deep in the Flint Hills grasslands of Kansas for, of all things, "Italian day" ...
I say "we", but actually Carrie didn't make it that day, so perhaps it was to be a solo lunch for me. I must admit, as I sat on an old concrete curb of sorts under the shade of a scraggly tree on main street in Latham awaiting the scheduled dining hour of 1:05PM, when I heard another motorcycle coming in from the north, it made me smile, maybe I wouldn't be dining alone today after all...
It was Wes, FSSNOC #5378 - Kansas, also solo today, riding into town on his Big Dog V-twin chopper. We chatted a bit and shortly, also coming in from the north, was Dwain, #5174 - Kansas, on his Kawasaki KLX250S and Ro, #5357 - Kansas on "Skinnie Minnie", her DR650 Suzuki.
As you may have noted in the photo above, taken after our meal and after Wes had already headed back, I'm riding the orange Repsol Honda CBR250R. The Enfield is home, likely somewhat disgruntled upon being left in the garage on such a beautiful summer day.
1:05 arrived and we all headed across the street to do some serious damage to their inventory of remaining lunchtime food. Upon my earlier arrival in town, about 12:30PM, a row of once shiny late model pickups, most equipped with heavy steel flat-beds that included some sort of appliance that allowed the driver to transport one of those huge round hay bales that are the standard fare for livestock in this area these days, had been parked in front of the Saloon. By now, the line was down to one or two, so seating shouldn't be a problem.
As we juggled for table positions and wrestled for the single menu, we heard the unmistakeable sound of two more motorcycles ... this time a pair of BMW's finest, one a GS flat-twin, the other a GS650 Thumper.
It was Kevin and Sally, FSSNOC #5414 - Kansas. Kevin and Sally had joined FSSNOC a week or so prior and had elected to ride to Latham to join us for lunch, how cool is that! We had a great time, the food was good and the company, even better!
The BMW in the foreground of the photo is the 650cc that Sally was riding that day, and upon a closer inspection, one could see a few fresh scars of battle on the big Single. It seems that Kevin had ridden it to Colorado recently, from Kansas via the Four Corners area in New Mexico, to join up with some friends to do some serious back trails in Colorado. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, several of those trails were on the rugged side and, long story short, Kevin, as he cheerfully put it, "nailed a tree" with the 650 Beemer, hence those fresh battle scars...
We invite you to check out more information on FAST FRIDAY below ...
of note, due to our 2018 FSSNOC rally schedule, our anticipated date for our next lunch is August 31st. - #000.
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FAST FRIDAY DETAILS...
THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB WORLD HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED STRATEGICALLY AT THE CENTER POINT OF THE USA, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS. SHOULD YOU, DEAR CLUB MEMBER, BE TRAVELING THROUGH KANSAS OR SHOULD YOU BE A RESIDENT, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO JOIN CARRIE AND I AT OUR WEEKLY LUNCH, ENDEARINGLY KNOWN AS:
"FAST FRIDAY!"
The Fine Print: FAST FRIDAY is a day of the week that Carrie and I try to get out and enjoy lunch with FSSNOC friends who live locally or are visiting the area. You, as a fellow member of FSSNOC, should it be possible, are invited to join us for food and fellowship. Any questions? You may contact #000 by phone at: 620-663-1869, leave a message if I am riding, okay? We'd love to have you there and I'll save you a chair. - #000.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
THE FSSNOC THUMPERCAFES ARE NOW SCHEDULED AND ARE COMING YOUR WAY, OR BE IT THAT YOU ARE GOING THEIR WAY, ANYWAY, MAKE THIS THE YEAR THAT YOU GET TO ATTEND THESE TIME HONORED EVENTS. ARRIVE BY "TRAINS, PLANES, OR AUTOMOBILES" LIKE THE MOVIE OR RIDE YOUR THUMPER, WHATEVER FORM OF TRANSPORT YOU WISH. COME MEET - GREET - and EAT WITH YOUR FELLOW CLUB MEMBERS...
THE FOURTH WEEK OF AUGUST, 2018:
AUGUST 20, 2018 - MONDAY LUNCH ... COME VISIT THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM IN ANAMOSA, IOWA. WE DINE AS A GROUP AT APPROXIMATELY 1:05PM AT THE POPULAR McOTTO'S RESTAURANT LOCATED CONVENIENTLY IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MUSEUM. YOU CAN VISIT THE MUSEUM IN THE MORNING, LEAVE FOR OUR GROUP LUNCH, AND GO BACK FOR MORE MOTO-EYE-CANDY IN THE AFTERNOON, ALL ON THE SAME DIME! YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR YOUR FSSNOC CLUB T-SHIRT OR CAP DURING THE THUMPERCAFE SO THAT WE CAN ALL MAXIMIZE THIS UNIQUE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITY. WATCH THIS SITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS EVENT...
AUGUST 24, 2018 - FRIDAY LUNCH ... YOU'LL LOVE THE INFORMAL DOWN-HOME ATMOSPHERE OF FREEMON'S GENERAL STORE LOCATED NEAR RURAL CREEDE, COLORADO. JOIN US THERE AS WE STEP BACK IN TIME AND PAUSE TO ENJOY A LEISURELY NOON MEAL (group dine time is 1:05PM) AMIDST THE UNDENIABLE CHARM OF THE MAJESTIC COLORADO ROCKIES. AGAIN, PLAN TO BE ATTIRED IN YOUR FSSNOC GEAR AND ARRIVE AT OUR DESTINATION IN OR ON THE CONVEYANCE OF YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE...
AND THAT AIN'T ALL! LAST YEAR, WE SHARED WITH YOU THE SOLAR SPECTACULAR MOMENTS OF A TOTAL ECLIPSE. THIS YEAR MAY BE JUST AS AMAZING! NOTE THAT THERE IS A FOUR DAY TIME FRAME BETWEEN OUR TWO FSSNOC THUMPERCAFE EVENTS. WE DO HAVE SORT OF AN 'OPTIONAL" SURPRISE (IN NEBRASKA) FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO CHECK IT OUT WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE COLORADO EVENT ON THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY...
UPDATED INSERT:
HERE'S A FEW DETAILS ON THIS SURPRISE STOP ... IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED AND HAVE THE TIME, JOIN CARRIE AND I ON TUESDAY, THE DAY AFTER THE THUMPERCAFE IN ANAMOSA, AS WE STOP FOR A LUNCH TREAT AT BOB'S BURGERS IN MARTINSBURG, NEBRASKA. IT IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE, AND DEPENDING ON YOUR ROUTE, IT MAY BE JUST A SKIP AND A THUMP OFF YOUR BEATEN PATH, SO SEE YOU THERE? OF COURSE, IF YOUR SCHEDULE DOESN'T ALIGN WITH OURS, STOPPING BY ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE IS YOUR OPTION AS WELL.
TO MAKE THIS TUESDAY LUNCH EASIER TO MAKE BY NOON, CARRIE AND I PLAN TO ARRIVE IN ANAMOSA ON SATURDAY NIGHT SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TOUR THE MUSEUM ON SUNDAY. THAT WAY, WHEN OUR CLUB LUNCH IS OVER, WE'LL BLAST OFF FOR NEBRASKA ... I'M THINKING IT IS ABOUT 300 MILES FROM ANAMOSA TO MARTINSBURG ... ANYWAY, JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY THIS UNIQUE SPOT OF AMERICANA!
.... THUMP WHEN YOU CAN AND STAY SAFE! - #000.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN, OR PERHAPS TO MEET YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME! PLEASE TRAVEL SAFELY AND WISELY. ENJOY THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND THE SCENERY THAT ABOUNDS AROUND EVERY CURVE AND OVER EVERY HILL...
SEE YOU IN AUGUST! --- JACK, FSSNOC #000/DIRECTOR
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Reprinted here from the Thumper Garage Page...
"Rocket" is, as he states in his post, a former FSSNOC member. Back in his prime, Bob had a KLR650 Kawasaki that indeed had long legs. He attended lots of club gatherings, even hosted an early day ThumperCafe in Fort Collins, Colorado, and always added many a laugh to whatever the setting ... what say you, Bob?
Oh Great One, alias "Triple Zip" - Enjoyed visiting with you this evening; here's the information on that motel in Colorado should some of the August, 2018 "ThumperCafé" attendees wish to give it a try........it's a neat, one of a kind, place and something to take pictures of for the grandkids to pester you about for a return stay....!
The MOVIE MANOR MOTEL, located about three miles WEST of Monte Vista, Colorado on U.S. Highway 160 (and about 60 miles from your destination near Creede, Colorado) has a very nice motel that also has one of the last Drive-In theaters in its courtyard. You actually can watch a feature movie (or double feature depending on the date) right from your room at NO EXTRA COST...........speakers with volume control in each room, popcorn stand in the parking lot, the works!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last time I was there (been awhile!!) it was in the $70-90 range which included breakfast. Just a thought for those that might be coming through that area. The ride from Monte Vista to Creede is a great run and follows the Rio Grande River for several miles. Pretty scenery and good road surface all the way to Creede.
The particulars............Movie Manor Motel, 2830 U.S. Highway 160, Monte Vista Colorado 81144; phone (direct to the motel which I recommend over the "800" number) is 1/719-852-5921. You can type in Movie Manor Motel on your web search engine and it will give you the scoop! Trip Advisor (for what that's worth!) rating of 4.8 out of 5. The staff is (or was last time I was there) "motorcycle friendly" and most accommodating.......... Enjoy the ride..........Colorado in August is a great place/ride!
Rocket Bob (former FSSNOCer #3725 and proud CBR'XX' rider!
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THUMPERCAFE EVENTS ... are for FSSNOC members. If you aren't currently a member, we invite you to join our group. Membership applications are available at the FSSNOC sign-in areas at each ThumperCafe event. Also, in the interest of safety, we ask that everyone abstain from alcoholic beverages before and during our events.
...........................WHAT DO WE DO AT A THUMPERCAFE?............................
Each year since 1986, FSSNOC members have been invited to gather at more than 130 ThumperCafe sites in the USA to spend time with old and new friends alike. We share our love for Four-Stroke Single cylinder motorcycles, enjoy an often unique lunch, and have a short light-hearted "business" meeting after our meal. You'll meet genuine people with great motorcycling stories and big smiles on mileage-worn faces. What a wonderful way to spend part of a perfect day!
Each of our ThumperCafes is considered a single event. You may attend as many available ThumperCafes as is your pleasure. These events are what we call "Dutch Treat", in other words, we do separate checks at lunch so bring adequate funds to purchase your own meal and to attend to your own needs. Also, these events are fun(d)raisers for our club so we invite members to donate financially to the club as they are able and motivated...
Attendees are responsible for their own travel, lodging, personal needs, and general welfare. Participants at a ThumperCafe may wish to arrive a bit early to have an opportunity to get acquainted with other FSSNOC members before our group lunch. Upon arrival, please sign-in with FSSNOC staff.
ThumperCafes are static events ... we don't do group excursions or rides. We discovered years ago that spending quality time with other members makes the most out of the limited time available at an event.
Please note that you may arrive by whatever source of transport that you like. In the interest of safety, attendees are asked to abstain from the use of alcohol before and during our event. Also, again in the interest of safety, be advised that traveling the roads and highways in this area as part of a group may add additional travel risk due to the hilly terrain and winding roads.
Should you have questions, please contact us as above. And, it is a good idea to stay current with this website as, and if, changes or additional information surfaces, we will be advising you of that here... Jack, #000
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IF YOU ARE NOT A CURRENT MEMBER OF OUR CLUB, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN. Click on "Membership Application" found under the "More" tab on this website masthead...
( We do have club membership applications at our events should someone wish to join onsite at an event...)
More information or questions? Call our club phone at 620-663-1869 or drop us a note at: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks. 67504-1809 or E-mail us at: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
"Come Thump with Us!".
Thank You, FSSNOC #000, Jack Robinson - FSSNOC Director
FSSNOC - THUMPIN' WITH YOU SINCE 1986!
...this concludes our event page. Please visit our other pages...