Original publication: BikerTrash.com
Original byline: Not confirmed
What I Did On My Summer Vacation: Part 1 The Ride
Amy Edgerly
Photos
This past summer, the summer of 2001, was a landmark summer for my husband and I. We tried to do something we had never done before (and never will again) – travel around the Northern part of the United States for the whole – entire summer.
An extended working vacation, if you will. And while this endeavor did not turn out in all ways as we had planned and hoped, one thing about it was certainly true: we did a LOT of riding!!
NEBRASKA TRIP
Our first destination of the summer was Omaha, Nebraska for my sister’s June wedding. The wedding was scheduled for the 9th. We arrived June 2nd, a week early to help with preparations. We also wanted to have some time to spend with the family and friends before the newlyweds left on their honeymoon.
It was a fabulous week. Early June in Nebraska is a beautiful time. The days are warm, the nights are slightly cool, and everything is green and lush and fresh with new growth. Everybody is ready for summer and ready to ride. So, when we weren’t making Jell-o shots for the wedding reception, setting up tables and chairs under the tent in Judy & Gary’s back yard, shopping for table cloths, or making a million of those last minute decisions about those pesky little details; we were out in the beauty of Nebraska riding and enjoying the weather and the landscape and the people.
The Saturday before the wedding is one particularly great day we spent riding that I will share with you. The event is documented in photographs. It was the day we were able to assemble the whole group: the bride and groom, Jeff (Tink) and Heidi; Jeff (Dos) and Dana (my best friend from way back); Chris & Mike (Norm); Steve & Lesa (aka Breck Girl who rides her own 1200 Sportster); Bill & Sue (The DOTs); Bill (Bull); my husband, Joey and of course, yours truly!
We started out from my sister’s home in South Omaha, directly across the interstate from the Henry Doorly Zoo and Rosenblatt Stadium, where the College World Series was getting underway that very week. (I mention this because it is a VERY big deal around there. And this year, my new hero and favorite guy in the world, President George W. Bush, of the Great State of Texas (!) was even in attendance at the Series.)
Anyway, we took off from there and headed to West Omaha, almost Millard practically, to a little bar by the name of Choo Choo’s for our first stop of the day. I think it was here that the DOTs and Breck Girl actually joined us. We were caught up in the Nebraska game on TV but after watching some of it, we rode out. The next destination was the Sportsmen’s Lounge, which is well out of Omaha to the West, near the Elkhorn and Platte Rivers. This leg of the ride was especially beautiful.
Tink took us down some country roads I’d never traveled before even though I grew up in that part of the world. These were curvy, winding, hilly roads, lined with shade trees and decorated with picturesque country homes dotting the acres of trim green grass stretching like carpet around each curve to the next quaint little house. Absolutely lovely! The kind of riding weather and scenery that makes you know why you ride a motorcycle and smile the secret smile of knowledge.
We enjoyed a nice respite at the Sportsman’s — everybody ate burgers, fries, and a few brews. Some played pool, some played the jukebox (Joey, the musician of course), and then we got back on our rides and headed off again.
The next stop was Ponderosa’s in Elk City then on to Bernie’s in Elkhorn, NE. I have pictures of all of us there having a great time. AND I remember riding over the spot on the railroad tracks where my then future brother-in-law had at one time in the distance past had to leave his custom soft tail on the tracks. Don’t ask why it was on the tracks, but as a train approached poor Jeff, all alone, did not have the time or strength to move his baby out of harm’s way before the train rolled over it and it was no more. May it rest in peace?
So from there we went back into the city and hit one of my favorite spots, the Anchor Inn, which is technically in Carter Lake, Iowa, and therefore requires no helmet to ride up. It is an impressive spread, a restaurant, and bar inside, an enormous deck structure outside overlooking the Missouri River, which flows right by. There is also a marina for passing boats to stop and “Anchor Inn”, and a huge stage where bands play outside in front of the river. We got there at sunset, celebrated yet another “great day to be alive” with our loved ones, sharing our time, our company, and our passion for riding — all rolled up into one. And I ask you, “What could possibly be better than that?”
Photos from Amy Edgerly’s summer ride
Archive notice: This article is preserved from the original BikerTrash.com archive. It reflects information available at the time of publication. Please verify dates, locations, prices, links, and other details before relying on them.