My day started with the roads wet and the forecast for DFW being "light rain" until 1 PM.
I didn't know about any rain in the forecast! Nothing was coming down, so I put the liner in the mesh jacket and contemplated using the rain gear. I decided to start the trip without.
I had about a half tank of gas, so, after buzzing by the Minyard to see if anyone was there (and looking to see if my winter gloves were still in the top case), I took off down US287, figuring to gas up in Corsicana.
I had taken my Wii's broken hand guards off yesterday but couldn't quite get the new ones to fit like I wanted them, so I left them off. It didn't take long to figure out how used to them I had gotten in 2.5 years. The air was cold and it didn't take long to feel a bit of a chill. I got a few drops around Waxahachie but I could see clearer sky to the south, so I just gritted my teeth and went on.
I stopped in Corsicana and got gas, got a photo of the old Post Office (cool!) for the everywhere Texas thread and the Navarro County courthouse (haven't processed those photos yet).
I put the rain jacket on and figured the time to be about right to just hightail it down I45 to Huntsville. I stopped at a rest stop and put away the rain jacket. The temperature was more better now.
The GPS routed me on SH30 through Huntsville & right by the Walker County courthouse! Cool, except for all the assigned parking places. OK, found a spot for a picture. Now the GPS lead me down to 13th street where the Farmhouse icon was. Oops - no Farmhouse but I remembered that the address was on 14th, so I toodled south and spotted a line of motorcycles. I buzzed the line to make sure that Kurt (txmedic) was there so I could unload my cargo (garage sale item).
Quite a few bikes with more rolling in. I also spotted some familiar faces:
that's Beth (Blue Bomber), Sarah, and Daniel (dad Tourmeister is in Arizona)
But, I have to admit, these two were the ones I really wanted to see: Bill (pub610) and Jessica (ninjette)
It was really great to see them out riding after their horrible truck accident in November. Plus, Jessica was back into it with a vengence and a new bike - a Kawasaki Z750S to replace her EX-250
She just got it last week but Bill had gotten a new bike, too. He has had his FJR a couple of months.
Of course we were all here for food (and pie) and some of us didn't eat much breakfast so we could be well prepared
(this place is kinda hidden along with a strip shopping center)
I got to hold Daniel Friday while mom Beth took Sarah to the potty. I think she knew Daniel was full and the overflow valve was open.
No matter - I got him cleaned up and then we stood and looked at all the folks gathered at the three tables until Mom returned.
Some table pictures (no apologies for the facial expressions)
The next 2 photos are of the overflow table where they put all the misfits and malcontents.
Well, actually, it was the ones that stayed in the parking lot a bit too long. Looks like a total of 40 or more!
Daniel had his own table
Got to meet a bunch of folks from the Houston area. This included a BMW riding family of Bryan (sparkyphotog), Mollie (BMWbabe), and their kiddos, Aaron and Sarah. Here are Mollie and Sarah ready to follow Beth to the Friday mansion to look at T-shirts
Rats, they were just NOT having any fun...
Got to meet and talk with Ana (anaconda)
As a side note, on Friday and Saturday, I got to see all three of the hens that went on the recent Hen House ride...
Ana in action:
Also got to meet and sit next to Dennis (humblerider)
Both Ana and Dennis are V-Strom riders!
They only had one small piece of apple pie and ice cream and Dennis and I were trying to figure out a way to race for it... But I decided that I was full enough from the Chicken Fried Steak that I opted just to have some ice cream (Elzi will be so proud). All of the pies looked good though...
I got one final shot of an FJR rider leaving but who it is escapes me...
I decided to take SH75 north and pick up some more courthouse pictures (3) on the way home. I also vectored over to Red Oak via some fun FN roads (FM 813 west of Palmer and FM1387 east of Midlothian). I actually like riding by myself so that I don't irritate any riding partners with all my stops.
All in all, a very pleasant day. I was worn out but had a great time!
Bigger versions (4X) of these pictures are available by clicking on them...