Columbus is a prosperous town with a 3% unemployment rate. It’s a little too perfect for me, but check it out if you’re looking for an easy commute, reasonable land prices, a strong work ethic, a moral majority and an elaborate water park.
Leaving Columbus, it was disappointing to be on a four-lane stretch of Route 30 that swallows up the Lincoln Highway for 20 miles. Does this section portend the end of our highway? Will our treasured stretches of the first, second and third iterations of the old road disappear? If so, get out and see it ASAP. So far as Bob and I are concerned all of what’s left should be classified as a National Scenic Byway — as is the case in Illinois.
Continue reading ‘Day 17 Road Report: Columbus, NE to Underwood, IA’
On our early-AM tour of Kearney, we wondered if the town abandoned its historic center for the north section of 2nd Ave, a sprawl of strip malls, including fast-food restaurants, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and most every chain store you can think of. Included with downtown’s original red brick road & 1890’s buildings are two abandoned movie theaters. Oddly, one old film palace’s marquee advertises that it’s been converted to a dentist’s office. Certainly a strange venue for a root canal. Kearney’s focus seems to be on the new 2nd Avenue strip malls. All this just off of America’s legendary highway. Does prosperity mean leaving the past for a character-free present?
Continue reading ‘Day 16 Road Report: Kearney to Columbus, NE’
Day 15 - North Platte to Kearney, Nebraska
Getting from point A to point B can be rather tedious and predictable in a car. This is seldom the case when traveling on a bike, and even less so when the bike is an MP3. Every day of the tour has revealed unanticipated surprises: places we’ve seen, people we’ve met and roads we’ve traveled. Continue reading ‘Day 15 Road Report: North Platte to Kearney, NE’
"Clutch out at 8 AM", said Bob. Only trouble is the MP3 doesn’t have a clutch. Old habits die hard. Nevertheless, "clutch out" it was (we’re past the age of change) and we were on our way to reconnecting with the original Lincoln Highway. The Coloradoloop of the highway was an afterthought lobbied for by Fort Collins and Denver. I suspect the majority of drivers were not seduced by Colorado PR and stayed north, heading directly from WY to NE.
Continue reading ‘Day 14: Buddy & Bob’s Road Report on Re-Discovering America…via the Lincoln Highway’
Day 13 - Denver/Aurora, CO to Sterling, CO
Our route for the day called for re-engaging with the Lincoln Highway in Bennett, CO and then onto Fort Morgan and our final destination, Sterling, CO. Of the thirteen Lincoln Highway states, Colorado is the most limited on its designations. Our early research provided us with a list of towns to follow, many of which are now connected by newer secondary roads.
Brother-in-law Steven was heading back to Prescott, AZ, but before bidding us farewell I noticed him looking at the MP3s…his head cocked, scratching his hands and stubbled beard, seeming to wonder if all his 1200cc’s were indeed necessary.
Continue reading ‘Day 13: Buddy & Bob’s High Plains Road Report & Gorgeous Picture Gallery (UPDATED)’
Leaving Fort Collins and heading to the Piaggio dealer in a Denver suburb, our first stop was MotoHaus Coffee, a favorite of area motorcyclists. We met the proprietor, Max Mackey, a true bike enthusiast who was excited about our journey and the MP3 500. After teaching Max how to scoop a bagel, we broke away from his hospitality, knowing we had a 12:00 arrival time at Fay Myers, one of the largest scooter and motorcycle dealers in the country.
Continue reading ‘Day 12: Buddy & Bob’s Road Report - Fort Collins to Denver, CO’
Started the day with a 0900hr MT visit to Steve & Roxanne Eddins’ Piaggio dealership in Ft. Collins, CO. Steve & Roxanne, like Chuck & Melanie Barber in Orem, UT are a married couple totally committed to their dealership, motorcycles, scooters and —most of all — their customers. They are another model of a customer focused team. You don’t have to be an organizational psychologist to know here’s a couple who derive enormous satisfaction from building their business. When a reporter asked me to what I attribute my 48 year marriage, my response was shared interests. I predict that Steve & Roxanne have many happy years ahead.
Continue reading ‘Day 11: Buddy & Bob’s Day Report From Fort Collins, CO’
