Trailering from Iowa to Missouri

  Brad is driving the Rock Star Bus and pulling our motorcycles. Once upon a time, we observed what was referred to as “trailer queens.” Motorcycles being pulled on a trailer instead of being ridden. In those younger days, I looked at the motorcycles on trailers, mumbling to myself that the bikes are built to be ridden. I failed to consider why the older guys chose to trailer their bikes.  I am sure they had their reasons.  Fast forward two decades later, Brad and I are discussing plans for the upcoming year.  We have a revelation. Hey, those old guys trailering their bikes were onto something.  It is much more comfortable to be able to place the motorcycle on a trailer and travel safely inside a cage out of the weather.  An extra bonus is that we have space for our comfort gear.  Besides, after all the miles we’ve ridden together, we have nothing to prove.  We do what makes sense to us. 

  First stop is near the Lake of the Ozarks.  Travel is much easier when Brad plans ahead for where we are going to park the Rock Star Bus.  Not sure of the length of the bus, but there are two bathrooms and bedrooms onboard.  A full kitchen, washer and dryer, liquor cabinet, and food pantry.  Brad calls the bus a diesel pusher.  I just know it is pulling a trailer loaded with our motorcycles.  We ended up at a new to us place called The Great American Campground and Dive Bar in Gravois Mills, Missouri.  I think Brad was sold on the name alone!

Redneck Revival Conesville, Iowa

 

  In May of 2023, Brad and I met at the Redneck Revival.  Conesville, Iowa provides a spot we can easily find each other. Brad travels from Utah, and I’ve been traveling from Virginia lately. In our early years on the motorcycles, we used to select a town that is halfway on a major highway.  The final meeting selection is usually made the morning of arrival.  We’d declare that the first person to the midpoint town will find a place that is easily recognized.  Usually, it will be a restaurant where the first person can relax with an iced tea while waiting for the other person. Exit numbers and cross streets near a maw and paw restaurant allowed us to give each other solid directions.  Consider that we were riding motorcycles with paper maps.  We do have cell phones.  Calling and reading text messages are limited to fuel stops or quick stops to peek at the map.  We discovered a stretch of I-80 in New York where the east and west exit numbers did not match! Brad was waiting for me at a fuel station off a specific exit number. I was heading in the opposite direction and took the exit number that Brad identified. I checked three gas stations and found no Brad.  After several missed calls, we made contact on the phone. After a confusing “do you see the …” - “nope, do you see the … I am parked beside it” conversation, we decided to displace a few miles west of town at a rest area that we saw on the map. While Brad is waiting for me at the rest area, he spoke to a truck driver who told him the westbound and eastbound exit numbers were not labeled the same in this area. We did find each other at the rest area.  People are often amazed at how we can ride hundreds of miles and find each other in a strange town. Sure, at Conesville, we have to ride through the camping areas looking around, but it doesn’t take long to find each other. 

  This year the Redneck Revival seems like a blur to me.  There were a few good live bands, loud music, dancing, campfires, and Daryl’s Buffalo Trace. Daryl had to give me a ride in his golf cart to my hammock.  Not sure how the minibike I was riding early in the night made it home.  Good to have good friends who look out for each other and keep us safe.

  After the Redneck Revival, we loaded our motorcycles on a trailer and drove the Rock Star Bus to the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri!