Waited for JB to hear back from the airlines about a start date this morning. We got good news he is with us for at least another week. This delayed our start time until a little after ten. Leaving Covington we again headed east happy to be on the road under clouds, temps in the 70's and a light breeze. Crossing into Mississippi we stopped to get a quick picture at the Welcome sign and back on the bikes. We stopped again after the short ride across Mississippi to get a picture at the Welcome to Alabama sign.
The day was going great right up until the sky opened up and poured on us. We stopped briefly to let it pass only to drive right back into it, we managed to do this several times. At one point we were driving over a steep high bridge in pouring rain with lightning, thunder, and very high cross winds. Shortly after this we decided to stop for the night in Panama City FL, as everyone was completely soaked. The good news is that our rain gear stayed nice and dry in the saddle bags.
During dinner the deli had the TV on to the tornado/hurricane warning station and they where showing a radar loop of the days severe weather, more good news it was green with a red center and by careful driving we managed to stay in the red center for several hours.
One last item for the day...Bruce and I decided to go to a bar next door to the motel to see if we could watch the Suns game. The waitress said it was a friendly place, Joe's Corner Pub, or according to the sign out front "Jo "s Cor Pub". We noticed right away that this was not what we thought. Bruce looked far to clean cut to be in the place at all. I fit in no hair cut since December, Harley shirt, haven't shaved in a week, just had far to many teeth. A quick beer and we decided to watch the game from the room.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
DAY 4
Didn't get as early a start today waiting until about 8:15 to see what the weather would do. With tornado warnings behind us and flood warnings ahead we left Lake Charles and headed east once more. We almost immediately came to a grinding halt do to the interstate being closed with a Haz-Mat incident. Two hours later we started to make some time eventually stopping for lunch in Baton Rouge after a long drive through the Bayou on a raised portion of the interstate. During one of our discussions earlier in the trip about choice of eating places and types of food Jan had mentioned that he liked Chinese food but didn't care for Chinese buffets, same as my wife. Well...when we got into Baton Rouge we happened upon a buffet that looked normal from the outside but very Chinese from the inside, Jan found enough to eat.
We then continued the ninety or so miles into New Orleans for a little sight seeing. JB had expressed (70 or 80 times) a passing desire to visit the D-Day Museum and after driving around some areas where I was wondering about how quick I could get my gun out we found the museum. This was thanks to a USPS letter carrier who also gave us the info on how his great great grandfather fought for the south in the civil war.
The museum was well worth the effort to find it but our time there was limited since they closed a five. After that a quick drive around town to see a little of the lingering devastation was followed by photo ops on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, no signs of Katrina on Bourbon street just the usual night club hawkers, hookers and tourists from Ohio.
We decided to stay north of New Orleans in the town of Covington. This meant that we drove the bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. The bride is about 24 miles long and when your in the middle you don't see land in any direction. We only drove about 260 miles today with all the traffic and delays but spent as many hours in the saddle. I'm posting this after a few beers and a trip to Appleby's for dinner before calling it a night. Tomorrow should find us on more two lane roads along the gulf coast
We then continued the ninety or so miles into New Orleans for a little sight seeing. JB had expressed (70 or 80 times) a passing desire to visit the D-Day Museum and after driving around some areas where I was wondering about how quick I could get my gun out we found the museum. This was thanks to a USPS letter carrier who also gave us the info on how his great great grandfather fought for the south in the civil war.
The museum was well worth the effort to find it but our time there was limited since they closed a five. After that a quick drive around town to see a little of the lingering devastation was followed by photo ops on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, no signs of Katrina on Bourbon street just the usual night club hawkers, hookers and tourists from Ohio.
We decided to stay north of New Orleans in the town of Covington. This meant that we drove the bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. The bride is about 24 miles long and when your in the middle you don't see land in any direction. We only drove about 260 miles today with all the traffic and delays but spent as many hours in the saddle. I'm posting this after a few beers and a trip to Appleby's for dinner before calling it a night. Tomorrow should find us on more two lane roads along the gulf coast
DAY 3
We left Junction at a fairly decent time and once again headed east on I-10. The first 100 miles was in a light rain. We never even put on rain gear. Stopped for gas outside of San Antonio and decided to drive north of the city on two lane roads. This lead us to some very pretty area with lots of trees and farms, horses and very upscale neighborhoods. The turned into perfect riding weather with a light breeze cloud cover and about 70 degrees.
About lunch time Al saw a Subway sign and we pulled over to a combination Subway/Texas Burger where we could have lunch a gas up afterward. We were sitting in the Subway when approached by a gentleman wearing a gun and a nameplate which identified him as Bill Livingston Chief of Police of Weimar, Texas. Bill started the conversation by asking if he needed to get a drug dog to check the bikes out. We told him if the dog was trained on blood pressure meds and cholesterol reducing meds he should definitely get him to work on the bikes. I great conversation with the chief followed and Al gave him a Phoenix PD patch for their patch board while we talked about our trip. Bill introduced us to Henry and Brenda the owners of the Subway and we were soon in the parking lot taking pictures and acting like old friends. What a lucky stop and we were made to feel very welcome.
Then it was on down the road with another stop for gas at Cove TX a very small town on Galveston Bay. The last stop in Texas was at Cowboy Harley Davidson to replace my gloves. It appears that the got scared riding on the back seat by themselves and jumped from the bike at 80 MPH.
We managed to get in 460 miles getting us all the way across Texas in two days, the second day was very scenic very green, nice and cool,good roads. We final stopped for the night in Lake Charles Louisiana. A good meal at a local restaurant "Pats of Henderson" a little of the Suns game and the day was over.
About lunch time Al saw a Subway sign and we pulled over to a combination Subway/Texas Burger where we could have lunch a gas up afterward. We were sitting in the Subway when approached by a gentleman wearing a gun and a nameplate which identified him as Bill Livingston Chief of Police of Weimar, Texas. Bill started the conversation by asking if he needed to get a drug dog to check the bikes out. We told him if the dog was trained on blood pressure meds and cholesterol reducing meds he should definitely get him to work on the bikes. I great conversation with the chief followed and Al gave him a Phoenix PD patch for their patch board while we talked about our trip. Bill introduced us to Henry and Brenda the owners of the Subway and we were soon in the parking lot taking pictures and acting like old friends. What a lucky stop and we were made to feel very welcome.
Then it was on down the road with another stop for gas at Cove TX a very small town on Galveston Bay. The last stop in Texas was at Cowboy Harley Davidson to replace my gloves. It appears that the got scared riding on the back seat by themselves and jumped from the bike at 80 MPH.
We managed to get in 460 miles getting us all the way across Texas in two days, the second day was very scenic very green, nice and cool,good roads. We final stopped for the night in Lake Charles Louisiana. A good meal at a local restaurant "Pats of Henderson" a little of the Suns game and the day was over.
Monday, April 23, 2007
DAY 1 AND 2
After a late start Sunday morning we managed to make it all the way to El Paso, 440 miles. The late start was due to a long breakfast when over twenty family and friends showed up at Denny's to see us off. After visiting, several "photo ops," picking up Bruce's bike and hugs we were on our way. Lunch in Wilcox and then dinner in El Paso at the Stateline Restaurant, a decent steak house. A good meal was necessary to celebrate the first day on the road. By the time we got back to the motel I was way too tired to update this.
Day 2 we got a much earlier start after a light breakfast at the motel we were on the road by 7:30. The scenery slowly changed from desert to greenery with oil wells, and wind turbines, somewhat more interesting scenery. Day 2 was all on Interstate 10 with an 80 MPH speed limit. Lunch was a Subway in some little town of 2000 I think it was called Fort Stockton, JB had to visit the Free Clinic but that's a completely different story. We managed to keep driving with a strong head wind and made it to Junction Texas, about 120 miles west of San Antonio. This gave us about 445 miles for day 2. This is farther than I thought we would go in the first two days but Jan has a goal of get the hell out of Texas as fast as possible.
Day 2 we got a much earlier start after a light breakfast at the motel we were on the road by 7:30. The scenery slowly changed from desert to greenery with oil wells, and wind turbines, somewhat more interesting scenery. Day 2 was all on Interstate 10 with an 80 MPH speed limit. Lunch was a Subway in some little town of 2000 I think it was called Fort Stockton, JB had to visit the Free Clinic but that's a completely different story. We managed to keep driving with a strong head wind and made it to Junction Texas, about 120 miles west of San Antonio. This gave us about 445 miles for day 2. This is farther than I thought we would go in the first two days but Jan has a goal of get the hell out of Texas as fast as possible.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
TIME TO GO
"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." -- Lao Tzu
Sunday morning and it is time to leave. Should be back in 4 or 5 weeks if all goes well. Time to go meet everyone and get this started.
PS Lao Tzu is considered the father of modern Taoism, your on the internet look it up.
Sunday morning and it is time to leave. Should be back in 4 or 5 weeks if all goes well. Time to go meet everyone and get this started.
PS Lao Tzu is considered the father of modern Taoism, your on the internet look it up.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
FOUR DAYS TO GO!
Almost time to leave. Everyone is antsy to hit the road and get the first few days out of the way. We are also joined by three riders not listed on the web site, they will be on after I get some pics to display. These riders are planning to make the entire trip they are Bill, his friend Phil, and Tim. They are planning on camping as much as possible with occasional motel stays dependent on weather. In the next day or so I should make a list of what I'm taking and start packing.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Meeting
This morning we had a breakfast meeting with eight of the people planning on making the trip. After two hours we decided that we are still going around the US heading to Florida first. Also that everyone is taking "stuff" and that it should be a lot of fun. A very productive meeting for a ride that is proud of the fact that it includes almost no actual planning.
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