Thursday 04-10-08 A Beginning
It was a dark and stormy night…….well it was!!! It was nasty the night before the morning departure….rain, high winds, rain, lightning, thunder and an 80lb monster of a dog turned quivering pansy was trying to violate the laws of physics by occupying the same space in my bed that I had already claimed all combined to make for no sleep.
So being the intrepid hero that I am I called Sharkey and said “Hey….let’s wait a couple of hours and let the streets dry up and then head out”. Sharkey, being Sharkey said “Sure”. Blessed Morpheus take me!!!!
Two hours later we hit the road…..me bound for glory and fame at the TWT Spring Rally, courageously conceived and meticulously planned by STRider (more on that later) and Sharkey to Austin for some continuing education (involving guns, knives, and explosives….and that was just in the hospitality suite!!!).
Sharkey gassing up his testosterone challenged ride….aka “scooter”…aka “Sharkey’s 5th bike in two years”:
Arriving at Inks Lake SP I was able to beat back the hostile natives and claim this camping site:
The view was great!!!!
The fishing not so much….these weeds are about all I caught on this trip. A lot of fishing went on but no catching:
Friday 04-11-08 Reinforcements Arrive
After what would be my last early night I awake refreshed and do some sightseeing.
Lost Caverns SP:
Matt (STRider), the man who planned this shindig arrives:
A photo of a rarely captured natural phenomena….two motorcycles sniffing tailpipes to get acquainted:
Beer??? There is no beer here sir....why would you think we had beer? We would never violate park rules!! Never!!!
So….we’re sitting around the campfire, not drunk from the beer we never had, when Brad’s ears perk up and says “I think that there is a Triumph Speed Triple coming” (we soon figured out that Brad is the “rainman” of motorcycle engine noise and lore) and sure enough here arrives Gary (Tracker) on his Triumph Speed Triple. Of course since it was kinda late and he had been riding for a long time he missed the signal fire that Brad (who is also a latent pyro) had built, drove around our campsite and back to the entrance of the camp. This forced us to stumble….did I say stumble? I meant walk with great purpose to the front of the campground...no mean feat when one has been drinking (or so I am told) and yell “Hey!!! You here for the rally!!” and that is how Gary and his son Lane (TEHTANK) arrived at our humble campsite.
Thus kinda endeth Friday.
Saturday 04-12-08 We Ride!!! And Girls Arrive!!!
Saturday morning we wake fresh and rested, ready to face the route Matt has planned.
Gary getting ready to unload Lane’s new to him Honda Magna V30:
We are joined by Roger (RSquared) on his FZ1
The pre ride gathering:
The post gas “where the heck are we and where are going meeting”:
The closest I ever came to Roger:
A brief interlude:
Roger:
Matt:
Lane:
Gary:
Brad:
On the road again:
We meet the fast group:
All in all it was a great ride. Matt set a good pace, everyone had fun and no one crashed.
When we arrived in camp we found GIRLS!!!! And not just any girls but the infamous Squeaky and her trusty sidekick Deb.
We spend the rest of the evening NOT drinking around a huge campfire and we solve the world’s problems.
Sunday 04-12-08 I Do My Own Thing and Everyone Else Does a Co-Ed Ride
Sunday morning I awake and document everyone’s campsite.
Gary and Lane:
Rebecca and Deb:
Brad (you can seen his tent hiding in the woods):
Squeaky and Deb join us for breakfast
…where Squeaky eats reconstituted egg like stuff and brings back some not so good memories for the veterans in the group (Matt and I…all the rest of the group were dope smoking long haired draft dodgers!!!
).
Roger rejoins our group and they all head out for a ride.
I, on the other hand, had signed up for the Vanishing Texas River Cruise out of Lake Buchanan. If any of you are ever down there….go do this!! It is worth the twenty bucks!!! The cruise takes you through Lake Buchanan and up a portion of the Colorado river.
Pictures from the cruise:
After the cruise I do some riding around and find that cows like the ST1300:
I also find a 1949 Super Packard:
Monday 04-14-08 The Winding Road Home
Matt and I pack up our campsites and say a tearful goodbye….well, I wasn’t crying but that Matt sure is an emotional guy.
Leave no trace:
What the well packed bike is wearing this year:
Lampasa…..I stop at the “Yum Factory for lunch:
A hard boiled, breaded, deep fried egg…when I saw this on the menu I just had to try it…..not bad!!!:
“Did you see the size of that chicken?”:
Name the movie and I’ll mail you Matt’s map book that he left behind.
Quotes from the weekend:
"Sunshine on your backside and cup of coffee"
"Here's a beer...thanks for watching my sausage"
"The TW200 is the Chuck Norris of motorcycles....it doesn't drive on the dirt, the dirt parts to let it by"
"Gravity chunks....they're everywhere!!!"
Matt.....thanks for a great weekend!!!
Hopefully more folks will jump on the fun next time.