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Day 8 (10-15-07)
I woke up feeling GREAT!!! Man what a difference sleeping in a warm bed makes after a long day. I peeked outside and it looked pretty soaked so I guess I made the right move by ducking into a motel for the night. I packed up, got dressed, and of on the road. Time to make it to Houston for some coffee. Man it’s a long way to go for a cup of coffee, this better be good!
Just so you know, today will forever be known as the “Why do you hate me, Mother Nature” day. You see why in a little bit.
Off on the road on a very dreary, and grey morning. All the roads were soaked, there was a fairly brisk wind, the spray from the semi’s was fairly healthy, and it was starting to get a little chilly. After about 100 miles of that the road started to clear up and I decided to pick up my speed just a bit and make up some time. So I turned on my GPS to keep a reading on my “actual” speed and stuck to around 87-88 mph. Now remember, this is in West Texas so the limits are set at 80. I’m not really going that fast over the limit!!!
Hmmmmmm, I guess Mr. County Sheriff didn’t agree with that last statement.
He was very professional and courteous, but still even after my story of hurrying to get to the hospital to volunteer to deliver the influx of illegal immigrant babies, he still gave me a ticket. Darn it, 88 in an 80. Now I’m not mad at him. No, I’m not mad at the system. I broke the law, and I finally got caught and paid the price. It happens. So I did what any other self respecting motorcyclist would do. I waited till he turned around and then ramped it up to around 95 to make up for lost time!!!!! HAHAHAHA
I gassed up in Kerrville, and then made my way to Luling for some City Market BBQ. Finally I make it there and they are actually open!!!!! Hooray. You need to know that this is the third time I’ve gone to eat there and the past two times they’ve been closed. So I was happy.
Why no pictures you might ask. Well, to me the Q at City Market just wasn’t that good. Yes, I know, it’s supposed to be some of the best in Texas. I just don’t think it’s all that great. I’d much rather head North by 20 miles and get some real Q at Blacks. Fine, I’ll shut up, enough about BBQ talk.
I finished up eating my weight in beef and then once I got back out to the bike I noticed that my chain was loose enough to be resting on the exhaust. For those that don’t own Stroms, that isn’t really that good. That is quite a bit more stretching that I was hoping for. I re-tightened it and off for Houston I went.
Here are the last pictures I personally shot on the trip. From this point on it was pouring rain, and extremely cold and windy for the next 125 miles. And then other event conspired against me, and kept me from worrying about photos all that much.
After those pictures were taken it was a constant battle of keeping the bike on the road, keeping my hands warm, keeping my vision clear, and avoid that whole death thing. There were many times where the rain was to the point where all traffic was going below 20 MPH due to poor visibility and then it would lighten up for a bit, but start again in a few miles. This was not a fun ride. I kept telling myself, “If only another cop would pull me over and I could have an excuse to sit in his nice warm car for a bit. That would be awesome!!!” But alas, it didn’t happen.
I did see a big Yamaha sign ahead of me on the road so I figured that I’d sneak in there and check out some scoots while I warmed up a bit. Nope, it was just a watersports store and besides, it was Monday and they were closed up tighter than a Pit Bull’s mouth wrapped around a 10 year old kid…. Sorry, bad joke. But funny to me at the time, in the rain and the cold.
Alright, lets make this already long story shorter….. I made it to my Aunts house, we watched a slide show of all the pictures that I took, she dried my riding gear in the dryer, and then I needed to get going so I could make it to Monday night coffee.
I headed off and shortly there after, made it to Doubleshots. Yes, it was still raining out. I had a grand time with Bryan, Tom, Moose, and Becca. I was hoping for a better turnout but what can you expect for a cold, wet, Monday night?
Yes, I don’t have any pics of the get together. I know Becca has some and I think Bryan has some as well, so hopefully they can post them up here in a bit. After coffee, Becca, Tom and I headed over to that place where they watch football. Pizza was eaten, drinks were drunk, and it was a grand time. Then off to Becca’s place where I was glad to have a roof over my head, and not being rained on.
Yay… only one more day to go, then I’m home to see my puppy dogs!!!!!
I woke up feeling GREAT!!! Man what a difference sleeping in a warm bed makes after a long day. I peeked outside and it looked pretty soaked so I guess I made the right move by ducking into a motel for the night. I packed up, got dressed, and of on the road. Time to make it to Houston for some coffee. Man it’s a long way to go for a cup of coffee, this better be good!
Just so you know, today will forever be known as the “Why do you hate me, Mother Nature” day. You see why in a little bit.
Off on the road on a very dreary, and grey morning. All the roads were soaked, there was a fairly brisk wind, the spray from the semi’s was fairly healthy, and it was starting to get a little chilly. After about 100 miles of that the road started to clear up and I decided to pick up my speed just a bit and make up some time. So I turned on my GPS to keep a reading on my “actual” speed and stuck to around 87-88 mph. Now remember, this is in West Texas so the limits are set at 80. I’m not really going that fast over the limit!!!
Hmmmmmm, I guess Mr. County Sheriff didn’t agree with that last statement.
He was very professional and courteous, but still even after my story of hurrying to get to the hospital to volunteer to deliver the influx of illegal immigrant babies, he still gave me a ticket. Darn it, 88 in an 80. Now I’m not mad at him. No, I’m not mad at the system. I broke the law, and I finally got caught and paid the price. It happens. So I did what any other self respecting motorcyclist would do. I waited till he turned around and then ramped it up to around 95 to make up for lost time!!!!! HAHAHAHA I gassed up in Kerrville, and then made my way to Luling for some City Market BBQ. Finally I make it there and they are actually open!!!!! Hooray. You need to know that this is the third time I’ve gone to eat there and the past two times they’ve been closed. So I was happy.
Why no pictures you might ask. Well, to me the Q at City Market just wasn’t that good. Yes, I know, it’s supposed to be some of the best in Texas. I just don’t think it’s all that great. I’d much rather head North by 20 miles and get some real Q at Blacks. Fine, I’ll shut up, enough about BBQ talk.
I finished up eating my weight in beef and then once I got back out to the bike I noticed that my chain was loose enough to be resting on the exhaust. For those that don’t own Stroms, that isn’t really that good. That is quite a bit more stretching that I was hoping for. I re-tightened it and off for Houston I went.
Here are the last pictures I personally shot on the trip. From this point on it was pouring rain, and extremely cold and windy for the next 125 miles. And then other event conspired against me, and kept me from worrying about photos all that much.
After those pictures were taken it was a constant battle of keeping the bike on the road, keeping my hands warm, keeping my vision clear, and avoid that whole death thing. There were many times where the rain was to the point where all traffic was going below 20 MPH due to poor visibility and then it would lighten up for a bit, but start again in a few miles. This was not a fun ride. I kept telling myself, “If only another cop would pull me over and I could have an excuse to sit in his nice warm car for a bit. That would be awesome!!!” But alas, it didn’t happen.
I did see a big Yamaha sign ahead of me on the road so I figured that I’d sneak in there and check out some scoots while I warmed up a bit. Nope, it was just a watersports store and besides, it was Monday and they were closed up tighter than a Pit Bull’s mouth wrapped around a 10 year old kid…. Sorry, bad joke. But funny to me at the time, in the rain and the cold.
Alright, lets make this already long story shorter….. I made it to my Aunts house, we watched a slide show of all the pictures that I took, she dried my riding gear in the dryer, and then I needed to get going so I could make it to Monday night coffee.
I headed off and shortly there after, made it to Doubleshots. Yes, it was still raining out. I had a grand time with Bryan, Tom, Moose, and Becca. I was hoping for a better turnout but what can you expect for a cold, wet, Monday night?
Yes, I don’t have any pics of the get together. I know Becca has some and I think Bryan has some as well, so hopefully they can post them up here in a bit. After coffee, Becca, Tom and I headed over to that place where they watch football. Pizza was eaten, drinks were drunk, and it was a grand time. Then off to Becca’s place where I was glad to have a roof over my head, and not being rained on.
Yay… only one more day to go, then I’m home to see my puppy dogs!!!!!
I hope you don't have to do that!
Hmmmmm Maybe....
I am a bit the same way. However, as you mentioned in another thread about perceiving the changing seasons here in Texas if you pay attention, I have found that even the unremarkable places can be really special. I think the key is just paying attention and being aware. Places like Utah, Chile, Colorado, etc,... make it easier to notice stuff because so much of it is in your face in terms of its clashing with the daily reality for most of us. Don't get me wrong though, if I get another chance to head out to Utah, or any other place with dramatic scenery and roads, I am gone! 