2025 October Ride: Picnic Kitties
October was scheduled to be a picnic at the lake, but the logistics just didn’t come together. A quick pivot to having photos at Marion Lake, and then eating at The Barn in Burrton was a great solution!
Saturday, October 18th, marked the final ride for the 2025 season. We had a Lake Kitties ride to Marion Lake. Originally this was going to be a picnic. Plans evolved and instead we had a photoshoot of our group with the lake and fall foilage in the background. THEN we would ride on to The Barn in Burrton, KS for lunch.
We met at 8am at the Kwik Shop in Andover at Kellogg/US 54. Kitties gassed up and moved next door to line up in three groups at the Goodwill store.
While kitties were lining up, we spotted a kitty and a bike we didn’t recognize. It turns out it is Deborah “Debbie” Finney. She was met by Stella & Sonja first. Which turned out to be funny. She told Stella that she was told about the kitties by their mutual connection, the lady who cuts both their hair (Lori Laughlin)! Small world! Debbie has already started the application process to be a member of the Krome Kitties. Her work schedule at the railroad allowed her to able to ride with us today! She was instantly impressive riding a Goldwing! She has lots of long trips under her belt, including going to Sturgis this year! She fit right in and we look forward to her becoming a full-flegged Krome Kitty!
Kari, Janice and Christine led the three groups. We promptly started rolling out at 8:30am. Each group had a different set of challenges, but everyone overcame and made it to Marion Lake. Group one had an immediate spill while leaving the parking lot, but no harm was done. All the kitties behind Stella jumped off their bikes to help get her bike upright while she retrieved her mug, then it was back to the ride. GPS wanted to take group one down dirt roads multiple times, but after turning around, a paved route was found through Peabody to US 50. Expecting the detour to make them late, group one was surprised to be the first ones there. This gave Stephanie time to scout out photo locations and grab a wildlife photo.
Group two may have arrived first, but they parked at the reservoir, not the park office building so we aren’t positive. Group one believed they saw group two parked on the opposite side of the lake, but after Stephanie zoomed in with her phone’s camera, it turned out not to be the case. A call was placed to Janice who shared the story of what happened and why they ended up in the wrong place. When Dawn sent her the maps for the route, she had indicated that Marion Reservoir Swimming Area was the destination. That’s what she put in her GPS. She had no idea there was a Marion Lake, that’s really a pond, that was different from the Reservoir, so she didn’t question it when she received the route directions. She is not sure why the other two groups had the correct information, but that was the story. We are happy that it all worked out fine.
Group three, led by Christine, arrived while group two was leaving the reservoir. Before group three had left the Goodwill parking lot, Angie’s bike decided not to start. She had a new battery but needed to be jumped. Jessica snagged a photo of Beth working to get Angie jump started. After it was running again, Angie decided she would ride her bike home and then drive her car to meet us at The Barn. Group three ended up on about three miles of dirt road to get to Marion Lake. Not fun, but they did it!
Once we were all together, it was time to get a couple of photos, then it was off to the Barn.
Angel and Dawn had arrived on their bikes ahead of everyone else to attempt to get seating secured because The Barn didn’t take reservations. Angie arrived in her car and attempted to help hold the seating. There was an employee who wasn’t too pleased or friendly about the rest of us not arriving quickly. This same employee was short with Dawn, who we all know to be the nicest person! Shocking that anyone could behave like that toward Dawn!
When group one arrived, they tried to fan out and help hold tables only to be told to move to one long set of tables. The employee who was so grumpy to everyone else took a shine to Sonja. At least she was nice to one of us! Four of the kitties were holding down a table and were forced to order while everyone else was still arriving. They had their food and were paying their checks before the rest of us were done placing our orders.
Christine got to the restaurant and a lady came running up to her group asking “is Kim here? Is Kim here?” We said no, she couldn’t make it today and the lady says “oh well my friend said the Krome Kitties were here so I thought I would say hi to Kim” Christine mentioned how she thought it was sweet but also that it was sad Kim wasn’t there to see her excited friend. We have to wonder how they knew it was us? 
The food was really good and worth the wait. The desserts were exceptional, reasonably priced with generous portions!
Before the rest of the food came out, it was time to draw winning tickets for the raffles. Debbie had the honors of drawing the winners. First was Susan, who won the 50/50 drawing of $45. Teresa won the bag for the shooting raffle earlier last month and we got a photo of her with her prize. $15 dollars was raised for AA Place for Dogs on that raffle. Sonja won the bag for today’s lake ride. $35 dollars was raised for AA Place for Dogs on that raffle.
Sonja’s buddy opened the register up front and took care of her ticket while the rest of us waited in a long line with our server. That is so funny! After we got our tickets paid we started breaking off in groups headed home in the same direction. It may have sprinkled on a few of us, but it really was a fantastic weather day for our last ride as a club.
Thanks to all the women who have worked so hard to make each ride this season so fun and memorable. Until next year! Meow! (submitted by Stella)