After a few miles on I-35 we turned east on route 7. A beautiful ride through the Davy Crockett National Forest, cattle land, thick forests, and small towns. The road followed the lay of the land up and down around the rolling hills with good pavement and 75 mph speeds.
Pulled into Shreveport and found our last member, JB, and soon we were all checked in to a nice Best Western Plus. Hotel had a bonus in that it's taco Tuesday with all you can eat tacos, nachos, and salad, a trifecta!
That's about it for today, started in jackets finished in shirt sleeves. It was just like baby bears porridge, not to hot not to cold.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Monday, April 15, 2019
DAY 3 BIG SPRING TO TEMPLE TX
Day started cool and windy but the wind was consistent not gusty so riding wasn't a big challenge. Started on divided highway but soon transitioned to two lane roads with 75 mph speed limits as is typical around here.
Once we turned east the wind was less of a factor and we entered green rolling hills with a mix of pecan farms, horse property, and cattle ranches. At one point several miles of pecan trees in perfect rows with blue, red and yellow wild flowers blooming beneath the trees. Add in smooth roads with very little traffic, comfortable temps and you have the makings of another great day to be alive and ride.
The desert wind blowing your hair back
Window down, town after town
Where will we be in half a century?
Two down and forty eight to go
David Walsh
Great lunch with a six year old at Subway who made me miss my grandkids.
Before the day ended we were on a highway in traffic glad to find a place to stay with a steak house next door.
Route today was simple 87, 190 to Temple.
Once we turned east the wind was less of a factor and we entered green rolling hills with a mix of pecan farms, horse property, and cattle ranches. At one point several miles of pecan trees in perfect rows with blue, red and yellow wild flowers blooming beneath the trees. Add in smooth roads with very little traffic, comfortable temps and you have the makings of another great day to be alive and ride.
The desert wind blowing your hair back
Window down, town after town
Where will we be in half a century?
Two down and forty eight to go
David Walsh
Great lunch with a six year old at Subway who made me miss my grandkids.
Before the day ended we were on a highway in traffic glad to find a place to stay with a steak house next door.
Route today was simple 87, 190 to Temple.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
DAY 2 BIG SPRING TEXAS
Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
Thomas William Cochrane
"Life is a Highway" from the movie Cars strikes the right cord for today. Great roads, an unexpected climb into the pines to the community of Cloudcroft. Riding into Texas on two lanes with a 75 mph speed limits and a tail wind.
Lost another hour, put on another 400 miles, finished off with dinner outdoors at a deli across the street from the hotel.
Smiled all day this is why we ride.
Today's route I-25, 70, 82, 529, 62/180, 176 to Big Spring.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
DAY 1 APRIL 13TH 2019
The start of another ride always begins with a bit of apprehension. Did I bring everything, followed by the realization that a Walmart is never more than a half day away. Will everyone stay healthy, we are ALL on medicare. This is always followed by, what will be will, be this IS the 13th ride of three or more weeks we have done together.
Then suddenly you are heading down the road under clear cool skies, bike just purring along and all becomes right with the world. Picked the long way to Las Cruces and once out of the valley also found the road less traveled.
Route today was a repeat from the past but still great 60, 70, 191, 78, 180, I-10.
Then suddenly you are heading down the road under clear cool skies, bike just purring along and all becomes right with the world. Picked the long way to Las Cruces and once out of the valley also found the road less traveled.
Route today was a repeat from the past but still great 60, 70, 191, 78, 180, I-10.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Thursday, August 2, 2018
DAY 33 HOME
Left Flagstaff about 7:30 with a stop on the way, home by 10. That's really all there was to today but not really a good recap of the last 33 days.
I could fill pages and pages with things that create lasting memories about this trip, but aren't they all like that?
Everything from the towering mountains, a Moose with her baby, a large black wolf staring from the roadside, glaciers, roads built years ago with a purpose that go from paved to gravel instantly. The list goes on and on and I haven't even started on the people.
People like Sean and Bill who we shared a few meals with on Ducati motorcycles who made it to the arctic circle. Steve on his Triumph Tiger on month 36 of an around the world solo trip, humbling. The lone rider who told us about the railroad tunnel to Whittier, thanks. The photographer who was riding solo up the Cassair Highway on her Harley, and not for the first time, who reminded me of a Neil Young song:
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with
the very air she breathes
The air she breathes.
Would I do it again? That I can't answer because my wife reads this. For now I'm content to just keep it going in my mind.
I could fill pages and pages with things that create lasting memories about this trip, but aren't they all like that?
Everything from the towering mountains, a Moose with her baby, a large black wolf staring from the roadside, glaciers, roads built years ago with a purpose that go from paved to gravel instantly. The list goes on and on and I haven't even started on the people.
People like Sean and Bill who we shared a few meals with on Ducati motorcycles who made it to the arctic circle. Steve on his Triumph Tiger on month 36 of an around the world solo trip, humbling. The lone rider who told us about the railroad tunnel to Whittier, thanks. The photographer who was riding solo up the Cassair Highway on her Harley, and not for the first time, who reminded me of a Neil Young song:
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with
the very air she breathes
The air she breathes.
Would I do it again? That I can't answer because my wife reads this. For now I'm content to just keep it going in my mind.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
DAY 32 KANAB TO FLAGSTAFF
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey
Pat Conroy
Yes we are in Flagstaff, yes we got here early, yes we could just ride home but we aren't.
We need this night to recap, reminisce, raise a glass, and mentally prepare to be home. My wife will tell you the quote above fits. I will be home tomorrow but my mind will take a long time to catch up.
I never wanted to be
A man of mystery
My life's an open book
by James Joyce and Agatha Christie
Sometimes I get confused
Somewhere around page two
I live the perfect crime
And crime pays more than it used to
They're checkin' the evidence
May be come charges pressed
The only one they got me on
is some misdemeanor craziness
If It All Falls Down falls down falls down
If they solve my life if they find me out
Never thought to keep all I have found
I have had my fun If It All Falls Down
A man of mystery
My life's an open book
by James Joyce and Agatha Christie
Sometimes I get confused
Somewhere around page two
I live the perfect crime
And crime pays more than it used to
They're checkin' the evidence
May be come charges pressed
The only one they got me on
is some misdemeanor craziness
If It All Falls Down falls down falls down
If they solve my life if they find me out
Never thought to keep all I have found
I have had my fun If It All Falls Down
Jimmy Buffett
I've definitly had my fun, don't want it to end but if it does I've had my fun.Another couple of hours tomorrow and this gets filed in the memory bank.
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