Saturday was the 3rd annual Kolache Ride to Wilber Nebraska and their Czech Days. When we went to bed on Friday there was a slight chance of a thundershower around 3 am, only about 30%, but Saturday morning brought 100% chance of rain at 7:30 because why would a weather forecast be accurate.
Despite the liquid sunshine trying to literally rain on our parade, spirits were high for both the two and four legged folks. A determination was made to delay the start of the ride by an hour to allow the lingering rain to hopefully pass by enough so that we were at least not getting soaked from above and below, it was highly likely we were going to get moist from the water on the road regardless but limiting it to one direction was more ideal.
Right around 9 am it was decided that we were either going to have to go or we were going to have to call it off. Thankfully it was determined that going was a better option than not going, a little water never hurt anyone right. Surprisingly the roads weren't all that bad, a little bit of gravel kicked up on you but we have ridden in worse conditions.
Sometimes I make statements like the one I just made and it blows my mind to think how fast gravel has changed what cycling is for me and our group. It wasn't too many years ago that most of my riding was on single track, loops of 5-15 miles at a time and barely anything over 30 in any give month, let alone several times a month. I know the roadies have been hammering out the miles for decades but while I like road OK, it's never really called to me the way that gravel has. Even the bikes have changed, mountain bikes with single or double squishy bits have been replaced by mostly rigid bikes with wider tires... wider than 2" was not something I even had in my mind back then. Oh the times they are a changing.
Back to the ride at hand, our first stop on the Kolache Ride was Kramer, where Kansas Todd risked ear herpes to try to call 1982 Kansas Todd and give him some advice on things to come. As was the case most of the time in '82, nobody answered and Kansas Todd of old did not have an answering machine to leave any sort of message. Probably for the best, we all saw how things turned out for Biff in the end.... huh, Kansas Todd does have a similar almost not there on top hair style as Biff did, coincidence or have we been here before?!?! GREAT SCOTT!
A few more wet miles, yup the 20% chance of rain was wrong again, and we arrived in Wilber, the self proclaimed Czech Capital.
People watching is already one of my favorite things to do in large crowds, some folks are out there man, but the Czech Days usually has a way of bumping even that up a notch. This red pleather cowboy did not disappoint in the way out there department, on a muggy and rainy day like Saturday, I bet that was a fun outfit to wear around.
"Get over here and touch the wiener" is probably not something you should yell all that often, but then again it was Czech Days so some of those rules get bent at times and it did look like everyone involved was having consensual fun. Consent is the key here boys and girls, touching a wiener or making someone touch a wiener when they aren't willing is bad, mmm-kay.
Sokol Hall is the place to go when in Wilber for Czech Days, the food is legit and you can get a whole bag of Czech donuts to go. Just remember to bring cash, Czech's don't take credit and ironically they don't accept checks either.
The key to Czech Days is to get in, eat and get the heck out of there before the parade starts at 2 pm. However with the dark clouds looming and Todd's flat which he had to change out and air up after we got back to the bikes, it was decided that we would head to the Casey's to seek shelter before departing... dude in the convertible would be sorry for leaving that top down in just a few minutes.
Hiding under the gas pump roof was a popular pastime for a few minutes while the most recent round of sprinkles passed by.
As soon as the rain stopped we decided it was time to get out of there before the next round came through but not before we got an eyeful of this sweet Ferrari. They look much more sporty on the tele but it did have some bitchin ground effect lights.
Once we broke Wilber's orbit, things improved greatly weather wise. Most of the rain seemed to be tracking south and west, we were heading north and east so that was good. The one MMR on our route was bone dry like it hadn't even rained at all near Hallam, weird weather anyway.
Todd thought it was a great place for a ditchie and it was a great place indeed, Doug turned his craft beer nose up at the offer but in the end drank it anyway... while Pat investigated a weird spot in the field where it did seem like it rained just ever so briefly... it was wet anyway, whatever the cause.
With the sun popping out it actually started to get a wee bit warm, Hallam was a welcomed site and the Hallam Station was hoppin so we decided to go in there to see what all the excitement was about. Czech Days seemed to have stole all their business but that was OK with us, the hipster nectar was cold and we were able to find seating easily.
With the day slipping away from us and still things to get to later in the evening, we high tailed back to Doug's and parted ways. Something new going in near the old Hallam Nuclear Plant, not sure what it's going to be but it's going to be big whatever it is.
After a quick shower, an even quicker bite to eat it was back on the bike to meet up with the gang for Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss out at the Pinewood Bowl. Alison was amazing, Willie, well lets just say that you're paying for how Willie used to sing more than you are paying for how he rasps out the lyrics now, but shit the dude is 86 years young. Still a great time and a good way to finish out a awesome Saturday.
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