Tourmeister
03-08-2004, 04:18 PM
Howdy,
Here are the pics:
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/
:tab Sunday morning rolls around and I feel like I have been run over by a Mack Truck! :-| Whassup? I had two beers last night in the space of four hours... Am I really that pathetic? It has to be the fact that I am up at the unnatural hour of 8:30am :shock: Paul is already up and gone, apparently to get breakfast. Maybe a hot shower will make me feel better?
:tab Not long after 9:00am, the first few people start to show up out front. I've got the bikes out in the driveway so they can see them. While I'm standing there popping my morning shot of ibuprofen, Chris, Chris, Rebecca and Ron pull up. Then Erin, Will and Buddy. Looks like everyone has made it pretty close to the 9:30am meet time. I make the rounds to meet everyone and get the bike shots ;-)
Chris "mrr1150gs" Blasche (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01379.JPG) (Chris-GS from now on)
Ron "TexasFly" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01380.JPG)
Chris "homermcleod" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01381.JPG) (I won't even attempt to spell his last name. It was bad enough that I tortured it when trying say it ;-) Chris-SV from now on ).
Erin Head (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01382.JPG)
Vittorio "919 S Rider" Bachetta Bonomi (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01383.JPG) (Did I get that right Vittorio?)
Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01384.JPG)
:tab There are others but I do not get their pictures before we leave. We head inside so I can print out a map for Chris and Chris, and Vittorio finally shows up at 10:15am... :roll: I'm gonna have to start telling him 9:00am meet time. Everyone has gas and we are ready to head out. Rebecca is going to be riding pillion with me today. Chris-SV has only been riding since late last year and is not wild about the idea of carrying a passenger on unfamiliar twisty roads. I have done tons of riding two up so I don't mind at all.
:tab We head out of town on FM 980 towards Riverside. Already it is in the low 70's. There is a very thin high overcast covering about half of the sky. There is lots of sunlight. This is gonna be a great day for riding! Rebecca seems comfortable on the back of the VFR and soon I hardly even notice she is back there, except for the squeezing force of her legs on my hips :shock: Seems she is a horse rider and is used to using her legs to hang on, hehe. But it's no biggie as it does not interfere with my riding.
:tab We run FM 980 out to Waterwood Parkway. This is the first road where I will crank up the pace to see how everyone responds. There aren't any corners with surprises so it's unlikely anyone will get in over their head. However, it will give me a good indication of how fast the various people in the group are comfortable running. From lead to end, there is hardly 30-45 seconds when I reach the end of the road. Not bad.
:tab We head East on US 190 and run over Lake Livingston. The air around the lake smells incredibly fresh and clean today. No foul rotting fish smells or anything else, just pure clean country air. The breeze coming off the water is cool and refreshing. We pass through Onalaska and pick up FM 3152 North. There are a few trees with white clumps of flowers that are blooming already. Most of the other stuff has big fat buds waiting to explode at any time now. In a few weeks this place will be oozing Springtime everywhere!
:tab We make a short run down FM 350 to the start of FM 942. FM 942 is one of my favorite roads. The corners are all well marked and there is plenty of good pavement. I seldom see another vehicle from one end to the other. The countryside is woods and ranches, small lakes, river bottoms and creeks. I keep an eye peeled for the deer. They like standing in the tall grass on the shoulders in a few places. We regroup in Leggett on US 59 before heading South a few hundred yards to the continuation of FM 942 East into the woods.
:tab Normally when I am riding like this, I am thinking to myself about what I'd like to include in a trip report. Have I seen something noteable, wasn't that last corner really incredible, etc,... For some reason, today I am just in cruise mode, not really thinking about anything, just absorbing the experience. I focus on being smooth going into the corners, hitting my marks, and then romping on the gas coming out. As I come out of the corners, I let up and drop down to around 65-70mph to let everyone else catch up to us. So far the group seems to be doing well and we are not getting all strung out among the woods.
:tab We turn off onto FM 1735 in the one house town of Barnes. I cannot believe this place is shown on the maps. There is nothing here! FM 1735 is a little narrower than most of the FM's out here but it is still lots of fun. We run it into Chester on US 287. I would normally stop here at the Exxon station but I am trying to keep the stops to every 100 miles. With such a large group, it is easy to lose a LOT of time stopping. So we head down US 287 a few blocks and pick up 1735 again. Just on the edge of town, there is a sweeping right hander at the end of a long straight. It is tempting to wick it up entering this corner, but I know there is a decreasing radius just around behind the bushes waiting for the unsuspecting rider. I give a few flashes on the brakes to warn everyone, setup wide, shoot for the apex, lay it over and rollll on the gas!! Zooming out of the corners is just too much fun :twisted:
:tab There are places on FM 1735 where we have to be careful. There is one set of curves with a few driveways on each side and the attendant dose of gravel on the road. This is followed by a down hill lunge into a bumpy right hander as we are crossing a small bridge. The combination of so many factors makes what looks to be a no brainer corner into a fairly technical corner. I keep it cool so no one tries to blast through here to catch up to me. Being familiar with the road is good, but I tend to run faster than someone that does not know the road. I have to continually remind myself to check up and keep an eye on the folks behind me.
:tab FM 1735 dumps into FM 256 just outside the sprawling metropolis of Colmesneil. We hit US 69 and stop for gas at the local Exxon, just a hair over 100 miles. Since this is our first stop, I like to walk around and check with everybody to see how they are doing, are they comfortable with the pace, are they scaring the bejezus out of themselves, are they getting hungry yet? My experience has been that very few people will admit if the pace is uncomfortable. I have learned to get other people to inform on them :lol: "How are you doing?... Okay? Good, what about the guy in front of you or behind you?" This will usually give me a pretty good indication of how things are going and I can adjust the pace accordingly.
:tab At this stop, when I ask Chris-SV how things are going, he actually tells me that he has scared himself pretty good. I am impressed. Earlier he had heard us talking about a rider that dropped his bike in a gravel parking lot because he hit the front brake. Everyone nodded in a knowing manner. Chris-SV though did not know about the use of the front brake and instead of acting like he knew what was going on, he asked what was wrong with using the front brake on gravel. Now here is a teachable person!! How often do you encounter people not afraid to admit they don't know something? My respect for him just went up a few notches :bow: He decides to drop back in the pack and take it easy for the rest of the day. I give him a few pointers on cornering in the hopes that having a few things to work on during the day will improve his confidence and comfort level.
:tab We get back on the road after a break and keep running FM 256 East. There is gravel along the shoulders from the county maintenance crews. Occasionally, some of it is out in the corners, likely kicked up by the cagers that live out here. Otherwise it is a nice ride. The pavement quality could be a little better. In places it is a little coarse and it makes judging front end traction a little dicey. FM 256 dumps out onto US 190 just West of B.S. Steinhagen Lake. We cruise on 190 over the lake and look for FM 777.
:tab FM 777 is a narrow winding country road. It is about a ten minute diversion off the South side of US 190 before you'd reach Jasper. It is totally worth the extra few minutes. The road winds down into some pretty thick woods. There are houses scattered about. There are LOTS of tight 30mph corners. But there is occasionally sand in places so I have to stay sharp and keep a good safety margin in the corners. We reach 190 and wait for the group to catch up with us. Rebecca really seems to be enjoying the riding.
:tab Once we get into town, we stop at Elijah's Cafe for lunch. Think cotton Patch Cafe, Black Eye Pea, and you will get the right idea. The after church lunch crowd is still in the restaurant but most are finishing up and we'll only have a short wait for a table. Meanwhile...
Buddy, Erin and Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01385.JPG)
Rebecca, Chris-SV, and Debbie (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01386.JPG)
:tab After a short wait, we get a table and settle in for munchies. I get my standard grilled cheese of course ;-) Waitresses always look at me funny when I order off the kid's menu :lol: I just can't eat a big heavy greasy burger when I am out riding. Some of the other guys don't seem to have that problem though :shock: We finish up, pay and get back out into the parking lot around 2:30pm. We are doing fairly well schedule wise. However, we are only 150 miles into a 400 mile ride. We're gonna be getting back pretty late :roll: We're hardly averaging 50mph. I guess when it starts getting warmer, I'll have to start these rides a little earlier, maybe 9:00am. Ughh...!
Will Howard on his purty new 2004 R1 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01387.JPG) :dude:
"It's getting hot sitting here waiting for you to take pictures!" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01388.JPG) :oops:
:tab Back on the road, stomachs packed, we head East out of town on Hwy 63 towards Burkeville. Our destination is the short but sweet ride on FM 1012. This is one of those little narrow roads but packed with lots of fun twisties. The only real danger on this road is kids that don't seem to think they need to vacate your lane as you come around the corner at them!! :shock: I have to lean hard into the corner to get into the oncoming lane to get around them. They just stand there and watch us go by!? I just hope they move before everyone else comes cruising around the corner. The rest of the run is uneventful and we reach US 190 a few minutes later.
:tab It is just a short hop down US 190 to Hwy 87 in Newton where we turn North. It is getting quite warm. I am glad I thought to remove my jacket liner earlier or I would be uncomfortably toasty right now :roll: We're heading for another of my favorite roads in the area, FM 1414. This little side road runs out East of Hwy 87 and looks out over the Sabine River valley. There are lots of elevation changes and tight corners. When we turn off of 87, I pull the group over and have them kill their engines. I warn them about three curves on this road that they really need to watch for. If you're not expecting them, they sneak up on you real fast. After my little warning speech, I look at everyone's eyes peering out of their helmets and see some anxious faces, hehe. I wasn't trying to scare them!
:tab We set off into the woods. Typically when I come through here I get stuck behind this little old lady in a huge late 70's Buick battlewagon that weaves back and forth down the road. There are not a lot of passing places on this road. She is one of those people that brakes randomly, even when exiting a corner :mad: Today, she must be at home napping!! We don't see a single car and the run is incredible. I do some arm flapping to warn everyone when we get to the nasty corners and everyone makes it through fine. I do stop a few times to let the group reform before we get to spread out. When we finally reach Burkeville on Hwy 63, we stop at the Shell Station and everyone is excitedly talking about all the cool corners on the last road. Seeing their excitement is what it is all about for me! Very satisfying.
Clogging up the parking lot with our bikes (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01389.JPG)
Revisiting those last few miles (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01390.JPG)
:tab So now it is 3:30pm and we are at just about the half way point for the day, hehe. These poor souls have no idea what they have signed up for. We head North on Hwy 87 for Hemphill. This stretch is an all time favorite for anyone that rides in the area. All the corners are awesome, the pavement is great, the views are great, and there are enough passing areas that if you do happen upon some traffic, getting around them is no biggie. It's time to have some fun :twisted: We stop to regroup a few times along the way because it is a good distance to Hemphill. When we cross part of the Toledo Bend Reservoir, we pull over for some pictures.
The whole crowd on Hwy 87 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01391.JPG)
Debbie backing it in (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01392.JPG)
Partial group shot - close up (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01393.JPG)
Chris-SV, Paul and Debbie (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01394.JPG)
[doh! I actually have to do some work now :roll: ]
[eh? So where was I...? Ah yes...]
:tab After everyone gets their cameras tucked away we continue running North on Hwy 87 to Hemphill. Here we pick up Hwy 184 West out of town. Hemphill is one of many little East Texas towns that have little or no economy. They are trying to encourage tourism, but they are out in the middle of nowhere and there's not much to bring the average tourist out here. They town square is a classic small town square with the cool looking courhouse/city hall and old time jail. The square is ringed with little shops and a cool old time drugstore with a grill, fountain drinks and ice cream floats. We putt on through trying not to make too much noise :angel:
:tab A few miles out of town we cut North on FM 1592 and head back out into the woods again. I say woods, but this area is mostly made up of "managed forests" owned by LP Lumber. All the trees are the same height and closely packed so they will grow tall and straight. We hit a few nice curves before reaching the turn for FM 2784. This is the road where I like to get pictures of the riders on their bikes. It seems that I need to work on the action shots with my current camera. It seems that no matter what I try, I cannot get the exposure fast enough to freeze the action. So all the shots come out blurry :mad:
Coming...
Chris-GS (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01395.JPG) / Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01396.JPG) / Will (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01397.JPG) / Erin (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01398.JPG) / Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01399.JPG) / Paul (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01400.JPG) Chris-SV (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01401.JPG)
Going...
Chris-GS (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01402.JPG) / Will (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01403.JPG) / Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01404.JPG) / Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01405.JPG) / Most of Paul (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01406.JPG) / Erin (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01407.JPG) / Chris-SV (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01408.JPG)
The first half of the esse (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01409.JPG) and the second half of the esse (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01410.JPG).
:tab It was so easy to do shots like this with my old Nikon N-70 35mm SLR. I'm sure I am doing something wrong with the camera. I looked over the settings for each picture and the slowest shutter speed is 1/160, with most being around 1/250. I would have thought that sufficient to freeze anything shy of a speeding bullet. These guys looked good going by but well... they certainly weren't faster than a speeding bullet :-P I guess this just means everyone will have to do this ride with me again so I can get better pictures :lol:
:tab I rejoin the group and we continue North on FM 2784 until we reach Hwy 103. From there it is just a short shot East to Hwy 21 where we cut back to the West and head for San Augustine. It is around 4:30pm and 77 F. It has been an incredible day so far and the evening is looking to be just as pretty. There should be just enough clouds in the sky for a nice sunset picture later.
:tab A mile or so after we get on Hwy 21, there is a nice tight right hander going down hill into a little valley. After the right, the road dips down across the valley, up the other side and into a tight banked left hander. As I start down the hill into the right hander, I can see all the way through to the exit of the left hander. Let'er rip!! I don't feel Rebecca fighting me, but I am quite certain her heart is pumping pretty good to keep oxygen flowing to the thigh muscles that are about to pop me in two :lol:
:tab The rest of the ride into San Augustine is really nice. This stretch of Hwy 21 has some beautiful scenery. There are lots of elevations changes, some fast sweepers, some really tight 25mph corners, and places where we are riding through a tunnel of trees. I would normally run us up FM 330 to Hwy 87 and then back down FM 353 into San Augustine. However, FM 330 is still closed for construction because they are redoing a bridge. Those two roads are like roller coasters and are great fun. We pull into a gas station on the outskirts of town to wait for the rest of the group to arrive; Paul, Debbie and Chris-SV, or the Three Amigos as Rebecca and I have started calling them ;-)
:tab We cruise through town checking out the mid 1800's architecture. There are some really nice restored historic homes here. There was a time when San Augustine was prominent on the stage of Texas history. Now, it is a lot like Hemphill, striving to fend off economic collpase by seeking to create a tourist draw. There is a really nice B&B on the South side of town called "The Columns". I stopped in a few years ago and got the grand tour from the little old ladies that run the place. The rooms are luxurious, beautiful and only about $75 a night!! Yet, I never seem to be able to get it worked into my schedule to go back and spend a weekend. :shrug: It would be ideal for a weekend of riding.
:tab We head out of town on FM 1277 which runs basically South toward Hwy 103. This road is in the top five list for this route. The pavement is excellent, there is great visibility for most of the corners, no surprises, several nice homes along the way, and like so many other roads out here it is almost completely devoid of traffic... except today. We come up behind two trucks. I spotted the trailing truck as we were leaving town. He was in a bit of a hurry and now is trapped behind the first truck. We come around a corner and there is a short passing zone. He starts to pull out as if to pass and then decides not to and pulls back in line. So I pass both of them :mrgreen: No biggie. I am back in my lane before the end of the passing zone.
:tab I take off and get back in to my rythm. Soon I spot some headlights coming up fast in my mirrors and think that everyone else has started passing the trucks and are catching up to us. Guess who it is?! The guy in the second truck comes barrelling up behind me, bouncing all over the road. Apparently, he did not like me passing him :-| Now this nutcase is riding my tail around some pretty serious corners. Tapping the brakes only makes him get closer. So I crank it up a little to put some distance between us. We are now running at a pace that for a truck is borderline crazy even if he knows the road. He's tossing gravel off the edges of the road. I get so focused on him that I almost forget we are going to be turning soon. Right as I remember, we come around the corner and there's the turn. I haul it down and get out of his way. Thankfully he keeps going, stomping on the gas as he goes by us. Moron. As soon as the Three Amigos come into view we take off up FM 1196.
:tab FM 1196 doesn't really go anywhere, but that is fine by me. It just means there is less chance of traffic on this fine undulating strip of asphalt :twisted: It is about six or seven miles from end to end and every bit of it is great fun. There are fast elevations changes mixed with back to back esses. There are very few driveways and only one side road. The only thing that really gets my attention is the chickens running off the road as we come railing down the hill at them. Little feathers are flying all around them as they scurry and hop to get off the road and into the weeds. We reach the end of the road and turn around to run it back to FM 1277. I could run this road back and forth until the locals come out and shoot me off the bike :-P
:tab The last few miles of FM 1277 down to Hwy 103 are tame with just a few fun corners. When we reach Hwy 103, Buddy is complaining that his land yacht 1800 is feeling unusually squirmy. He pulls across the highway into the parking lot of a church and we all follow him over. As soon as he pulls out in front of me I can see his rear tire is completely flat :roll: Here it is, 6:00pm, light fading and we are still several hours out from Huntsville.
:tab Buddy gets his Goldwing up on the centerstand and we find the problem immediately. There is a HUGE nail in his rear tire. Paul gets out his tire repair kit and tools and goes to work.
Paul plugging the tire (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01412.JPG)
Buddy is worshipping Paul's tire plugging skills (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01413.JPG) :-P
I have never seen a group of clean freaks like this one! Every stop and out came the polish! (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01414.JPG) :lol:
A pair of beauties posing for me! (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01415.JPG)
The offending bit of metal (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01416.JPG)
While we are plugging the tire and putting CO2 into it, the locals are showing up for church. They are quite insistent about us coming in a singing some songs with them! I gotta give them credit, they are an open and friendly bunch of people. even if they are a bit clueless about us needing to get the tire fixed so we can get home before the wee hours of the night! Eight CO2 cannisters later and we are ready to get back on the road. Everyone has made their phone calls to let their SO's know we are running late. As the sun gets lower on the horizon, we head West on Hwy 103.
:tab There is something about the feel of a day as it slips into the past, held only in our memories. There is a purity and brilliance in the soft hues in the sky. There is a sublime complexity behind all the laws of physics that results in a moment that affects me all the way down in my innermost recesses. What artist can create such an intense experience with the brush stroke? Sunsets have held the imaginations of people captive for generations. What is it about them? Here are a few shots as we stop on one of the bridges over the Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Sunset 1 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01417.JPG) / Sunset 2 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01418.JPG) / Sunset 3 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01419.JPG)
:tab Erin has just gone on reserve on his 954. I cannot remember exactly how far it is to the next town, hopefully he can make it. We are heading down into the woods on FM 1669 and it will be dark real soon. I have a siphon hose just in case, but it would be hard for us to take pictures of the fiasco in the dark ;-) Before long we reach the edge of town, I think this is Huntington. We stop and gas up the bikes. It is getting late and talk turns to who will be splitting off with who and where? I'm telling the Houston folks that they need to split off at Livingston and run US 59 home. When Vittorio is finally ready, we all get back on the road and head South on US 69 to FM 844.
:tab FM 844 is a fun short run down to FM 1818. It has some nice curves but as we slip through the encroaching darkness, I back it down to watch for deer and to allow for me missing something in the road. We reach FM 1818, part of the Texas Forest Trail and head West for Diboll. It is now totally dark. I had just put my clear visor in at the last stop a few miles back and already it is caked in bugs! I strain all the harder to make sure I can see where I am going. As we zing down a section where the woods come right up to the road, I spot four or five good sized deer off on the right side. No time to stop, I flash the brake lights warn the others and revv the engine hoping to scare them back into the woods. Seems to have worked as I don't see any headlights dissappear behind me.
:tab The last few miles of 1818 just before we get to Diboll are actually quite fun, even in the dark. Although I am getting a little worried about Rebecca. All day long she has had a death grip on me with her legs and now she seems a little too relaxed :-? There are times when I feel her helmet up against my shoulders. This had happened throughout the day and I had thought nothing of it as she was just moving around. But now the helmet is staying put and pressing kind of heavy!? Good grief! She has gone asleep!! I cannot believe she is that relaxed, riding through the deer infested woods at night. A few minutes later when we stop in Diboll I check her and she's back with the living again.
:tab We turn South on US 59. I can no longer see if the whole group is with me because all the headlights in my mirrors blind me. We take off down 59 and head for Livingston. As far as I know everyone is right behind me. However, when we get a mile or two North of Livingston, I wave Erin by and he takes off for home, I wave the next guy by and it is Chris-SV?? Hmmm... I wave him over behind me and expect there to be others coming up to pass me: Chris-GS, Will, Buddy, Ron and Vittorio. They are nowhere to be seen? Our exit comes up and we pull off and stop at a gas station for a break. Debbie tells me we lost the others a long time ago, oh great. I hope they did not go North to Texarkana!! It would make for a long ride home :lol:
:tab After a nice relaxing stop for stretching and an icecream sandwhich, we get on US 190 and head for Huntsville. It is 8:00pm and we have about thirty minutes to go before getting home. Then Chris-SV and Rebecca still have to ride all the way back to Houston! Long day in the saddle for those guys, hehe. The rest of the run home is quiet and uneventful. I can't help but wonder what time the other guys will be getting home. They have maps so they should not be lost. We get in just after 8:30pm and Beth has a huge roast sitting in the crock pot and fresh made rolls for us. :dude: My wife rocks! I call Erin's wife to let her know he is still alive and on his way home. After a while, Chris-SV and Rebecca steel themselves for the remaining miles back to Houston. Can't say that I envy them :-P
:tab Over dinner, we sit and rehash the day and share what the ride was like from each of our perspectives. Sometimes after a long day of riding, I will hear phantom bike exhaust notes in my head. While we are eating I keep hearing the approaching sound of a beating V-twin and then it fades. This happens several times before I realize that Paul and Debbie are hearing it also! Chris and Rebecca must be going around in circles trying to figure out how to get out of the neighborhood and back to the freeway :lol: The funny thing is that they are not the first ones to do this and we are only a few blocks from the freeway. I go outside just in time to see them pull up out front. A slightly sheepish Chris informs me that they got lost. Right, left, right. Got it! With a wave they are off again and we never hear the bike after that so I assume they found their way.
:tab My mileage at the end of the day is 400.6 in ten hours. That is a pathetic average. I normally get home around 6:00ish when I run this route with smaller groups. The larger groups just take more time to get moving after a stop. It certainly was not because we were waiting on slow riders. Everyone really seemed to be having a blast and enjoying such a perfect riding day. I know I certainly did!! Can't wait to do it again :chug:
Adios,
Here are the pics:
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/
:tab Sunday morning rolls around and I feel like I have been run over by a Mack Truck! :-| Whassup? I had two beers last night in the space of four hours... Am I really that pathetic? It has to be the fact that I am up at the unnatural hour of 8:30am :shock: Paul is already up and gone, apparently to get breakfast. Maybe a hot shower will make me feel better?
:tab Not long after 9:00am, the first few people start to show up out front. I've got the bikes out in the driveway so they can see them. While I'm standing there popping my morning shot of ibuprofen, Chris, Chris, Rebecca and Ron pull up. Then Erin, Will and Buddy. Looks like everyone has made it pretty close to the 9:30am meet time. I make the rounds to meet everyone and get the bike shots ;-)
Chris "mrr1150gs" Blasche (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01379.JPG) (Chris-GS from now on)
Ron "TexasFly" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01380.JPG)
Chris "homermcleod" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01381.JPG) (I won't even attempt to spell his last name. It was bad enough that I tortured it when trying say it ;-) Chris-SV from now on ).
Erin Head (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01382.JPG)
Vittorio "919 S Rider" Bachetta Bonomi (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01383.JPG) (Did I get that right Vittorio?)
Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01384.JPG)
:tab There are others but I do not get their pictures before we leave. We head inside so I can print out a map for Chris and Chris, and Vittorio finally shows up at 10:15am... :roll: I'm gonna have to start telling him 9:00am meet time. Everyone has gas and we are ready to head out. Rebecca is going to be riding pillion with me today. Chris-SV has only been riding since late last year and is not wild about the idea of carrying a passenger on unfamiliar twisty roads. I have done tons of riding two up so I don't mind at all.
:tab We head out of town on FM 980 towards Riverside. Already it is in the low 70's. There is a very thin high overcast covering about half of the sky. There is lots of sunlight. This is gonna be a great day for riding! Rebecca seems comfortable on the back of the VFR and soon I hardly even notice she is back there, except for the squeezing force of her legs on my hips :shock: Seems she is a horse rider and is used to using her legs to hang on, hehe. But it's no biggie as it does not interfere with my riding.
:tab We run FM 980 out to Waterwood Parkway. This is the first road where I will crank up the pace to see how everyone responds. There aren't any corners with surprises so it's unlikely anyone will get in over their head. However, it will give me a good indication of how fast the various people in the group are comfortable running. From lead to end, there is hardly 30-45 seconds when I reach the end of the road. Not bad.
:tab We head East on US 190 and run over Lake Livingston. The air around the lake smells incredibly fresh and clean today. No foul rotting fish smells or anything else, just pure clean country air. The breeze coming off the water is cool and refreshing. We pass through Onalaska and pick up FM 3152 North. There are a few trees with white clumps of flowers that are blooming already. Most of the other stuff has big fat buds waiting to explode at any time now. In a few weeks this place will be oozing Springtime everywhere!
:tab We make a short run down FM 350 to the start of FM 942. FM 942 is one of my favorite roads. The corners are all well marked and there is plenty of good pavement. I seldom see another vehicle from one end to the other. The countryside is woods and ranches, small lakes, river bottoms and creeks. I keep an eye peeled for the deer. They like standing in the tall grass on the shoulders in a few places. We regroup in Leggett on US 59 before heading South a few hundred yards to the continuation of FM 942 East into the woods.
:tab Normally when I am riding like this, I am thinking to myself about what I'd like to include in a trip report. Have I seen something noteable, wasn't that last corner really incredible, etc,... For some reason, today I am just in cruise mode, not really thinking about anything, just absorbing the experience. I focus on being smooth going into the corners, hitting my marks, and then romping on the gas coming out. As I come out of the corners, I let up and drop down to around 65-70mph to let everyone else catch up to us. So far the group seems to be doing well and we are not getting all strung out among the woods.
:tab We turn off onto FM 1735 in the one house town of Barnes. I cannot believe this place is shown on the maps. There is nothing here! FM 1735 is a little narrower than most of the FM's out here but it is still lots of fun. We run it into Chester on US 287. I would normally stop here at the Exxon station but I am trying to keep the stops to every 100 miles. With such a large group, it is easy to lose a LOT of time stopping. So we head down US 287 a few blocks and pick up 1735 again. Just on the edge of town, there is a sweeping right hander at the end of a long straight. It is tempting to wick it up entering this corner, but I know there is a decreasing radius just around behind the bushes waiting for the unsuspecting rider. I give a few flashes on the brakes to warn everyone, setup wide, shoot for the apex, lay it over and rollll on the gas!! Zooming out of the corners is just too much fun :twisted:
:tab There are places on FM 1735 where we have to be careful. There is one set of curves with a few driveways on each side and the attendant dose of gravel on the road. This is followed by a down hill lunge into a bumpy right hander as we are crossing a small bridge. The combination of so many factors makes what looks to be a no brainer corner into a fairly technical corner. I keep it cool so no one tries to blast through here to catch up to me. Being familiar with the road is good, but I tend to run faster than someone that does not know the road. I have to continually remind myself to check up and keep an eye on the folks behind me.
:tab FM 1735 dumps into FM 256 just outside the sprawling metropolis of Colmesneil. We hit US 69 and stop for gas at the local Exxon, just a hair over 100 miles. Since this is our first stop, I like to walk around and check with everybody to see how they are doing, are they comfortable with the pace, are they scaring the bejezus out of themselves, are they getting hungry yet? My experience has been that very few people will admit if the pace is uncomfortable. I have learned to get other people to inform on them :lol: "How are you doing?... Okay? Good, what about the guy in front of you or behind you?" This will usually give me a pretty good indication of how things are going and I can adjust the pace accordingly.
:tab At this stop, when I ask Chris-SV how things are going, he actually tells me that he has scared himself pretty good. I am impressed. Earlier he had heard us talking about a rider that dropped his bike in a gravel parking lot because he hit the front brake. Everyone nodded in a knowing manner. Chris-SV though did not know about the use of the front brake and instead of acting like he knew what was going on, he asked what was wrong with using the front brake on gravel. Now here is a teachable person!! How often do you encounter people not afraid to admit they don't know something? My respect for him just went up a few notches :bow: He decides to drop back in the pack and take it easy for the rest of the day. I give him a few pointers on cornering in the hopes that having a few things to work on during the day will improve his confidence and comfort level.
:tab We get back on the road after a break and keep running FM 256 East. There is gravel along the shoulders from the county maintenance crews. Occasionally, some of it is out in the corners, likely kicked up by the cagers that live out here. Otherwise it is a nice ride. The pavement quality could be a little better. In places it is a little coarse and it makes judging front end traction a little dicey. FM 256 dumps out onto US 190 just West of B.S. Steinhagen Lake. We cruise on 190 over the lake and look for FM 777.
:tab FM 777 is a narrow winding country road. It is about a ten minute diversion off the South side of US 190 before you'd reach Jasper. It is totally worth the extra few minutes. The road winds down into some pretty thick woods. There are houses scattered about. There are LOTS of tight 30mph corners. But there is occasionally sand in places so I have to stay sharp and keep a good safety margin in the corners. We reach 190 and wait for the group to catch up with us. Rebecca really seems to be enjoying the riding.
:tab Once we get into town, we stop at Elijah's Cafe for lunch. Think cotton Patch Cafe, Black Eye Pea, and you will get the right idea. The after church lunch crowd is still in the restaurant but most are finishing up and we'll only have a short wait for a table. Meanwhile...
Buddy, Erin and Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01385.JPG)
Rebecca, Chris-SV, and Debbie (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01386.JPG)
:tab After a short wait, we get a table and settle in for munchies. I get my standard grilled cheese of course ;-) Waitresses always look at me funny when I order off the kid's menu :lol: I just can't eat a big heavy greasy burger when I am out riding. Some of the other guys don't seem to have that problem though :shock: We finish up, pay and get back out into the parking lot around 2:30pm. We are doing fairly well schedule wise. However, we are only 150 miles into a 400 mile ride. We're gonna be getting back pretty late :roll: We're hardly averaging 50mph. I guess when it starts getting warmer, I'll have to start these rides a little earlier, maybe 9:00am. Ughh...!
Will Howard on his purty new 2004 R1 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01387.JPG) :dude:
"It's getting hot sitting here waiting for you to take pictures!" (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01388.JPG) :oops:
:tab Back on the road, stomachs packed, we head East out of town on Hwy 63 towards Burkeville. Our destination is the short but sweet ride on FM 1012. This is one of those little narrow roads but packed with lots of fun twisties. The only real danger on this road is kids that don't seem to think they need to vacate your lane as you come around the corner at them!! :shock: I have to lean hard into the corner to get into the oncoming lane to get around them. They just stand there and watch us go by!? I just hope they move before everyone else comes cruising around the corner. The rest of the run is uneventful and we reach US 190 a few minutes later.
:tab It is just a short hop down US 190 to Hwy 87 in Newton where we turn North. It is getting quite warm. I am glad I thought to remove my jacket liner earlier or I would be uncomfortably toasty right now :roll: We're heading for another of my favorite roads in the area, FM 1414. This little side road runs out East of Hwy 87 and looks out over the Sabine River valley. There are lots of elevation changes and tight corners. When we turn off of 87, I pull the group over and have them kill their engines. I warn them about three curves on this road that they really need to watch for. If you're not expecting them, they sneak up on you real fast. After my little warning speech, I look at everyone's eyes peering out of their helmets and see some anxious faces, hehe. I wasn't trying to scare them!
:tab We set off into the woods. Typically when I come through here I get stuck behind this little old lady in a huge late 70's Buick battlewagon that weaves back and forth down the road. There are not a lot of passing places on this road. She is one of those people that brakes randomly, even when exiting a corner :mad: Today, she must be at home napping!! We don't see a single car and the run is incredible. I do some arm flapping to warn everyone when we get to the nasty corners and everyone makes it through fine. I do stop a few times to let the group reform before we get to spread out. When we finally reach Burkeville on Hwy 63, we stop at the Shell Station and everyone is excitedly talking about all the cool corners on the last road. Seeing their excitement is what it is all about for me! Very satisfying.
Clogging up the parking lot with our bikes (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01389.JPG)
Revisiting those last few miles (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01390.JPG)
:tab So now it is 3:30pm and we are at just about the half way point for the day, hehe. These poor souls have no idea what they have signed up for. We head North on Hwy 87 for Hemphill. This stretch is an all time favorite for anyone that rides in the area. All the corners are awesome, the pavement is great, the views are great, and there are enough passing areas that if you do happen upon some traffic, getting around them is no biggie. It's time to have some fun :twisted: We stop to regroup a few times along the way because it is a good distance to Hemphill. When we cross part of the Toledo Bend Reservoir, we pull over for some pictures.
The whole crowd on Hwy 87 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01391.JPG)
Debbie backing it in (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01392.JPG)
Partial group shot - close up (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01393.JPG)
Chris-SV, Paul and Debbie (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01394.JPG)
[doh! I actually have to do some work now :roll: ]
[eh? So where was I...? Ah yes...]
:tab After everyone gets their cameras tucked away we continue running North on Hwy 87 to Hemphill. Here we pick up Hwy 184 West out of town. Hemphill is one of many little East Texas towns that have little or no economy. They are trying to encourage tourism, but they are out in the middle of nowhere and there's not much to bring the average tourist out here. They town square is a classic small town square with the cool looking courhouse/city hall and old time jail. The square is ringed with little shops and a cool old time drugstore with a grill, fountain drinks and ice cream floats. We putt on through trying not to make too much noise :angel:
:tab A few miles out of town we cut North on FM 1592 and head back out into the woods again. I say woods, but this area is mostly made up of "managed forests" owned by LP Lumber. All the trees are the same height and closely packed so they will grow tall and straight. We hit a few nice curves before reaching the turn for FM 2784. This is the road where I like to get pictures of the riders on their bikes. It seems that I need to work on the action shots with my current camera. It seems that no matter what I try, I cannot get the exposure fast enough to freeze the action. So all the shots come out blurry :mad:
Coming...
Chris-GS (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01395.JPG) / Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01396.JPG) / Will (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01397.JPG) / Erin (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01398.JPG) / Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01399.JPG) / Paul (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01400.JPG) Chris-SV (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01401.JPG)
Going...
Chris-GS (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01402.JPG) / Will (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01403.JPG) / Ron (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01404.JPG) / Buddy (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01405.JPG) / Most of Paul (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01406.JPG) / Erin (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01407.JPG) / Chris-SV (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01408.JPG)
The first half of the esse (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01409.JPG) and the second half of the esse (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01410.JPG).
:tab It was so easy to do shots like this with my old Nikon N-70 35mm SLR. I'm sure I am doing something wrong with the camera. I looked over the settings for each picture and the slowest shutter speed is 1/160, with most being around 1/250. I would have thought that sufficient to freeze anything shy of a speeding bullet. These guys looked good going by but well... they certainly weren't faster than a speeding bullet :-P I guess this just means everyone will have to do this ride with me again so I can get better pictures :lol:
:tab I rejoin the group and we continue North on FM 2784 until we reach Hwy 103. From there it is just a short shot East to Hwy 21 where we cut back to the West and head for San Augustine. It is around 4:30pm and 77 F. It has been an incredible day so far and the evening is looking to be just as pretty. There should be just enough clouds in the sky for a nice sunset picture later.
:tab A mile or so after we get on Hwy 21, there is a nice tight right hander going down hill into a little valley. After the right, the road dips down across the valley, up the other side and into a tight banked left hander. As I start down the hill into the right hander, I can see all the way through to the exit of the left hander. Let'er rip!! I don't feel Rebecca fighting me, but I am quite certain her heart is pumping pretty good to keep oxygen flowing to the thigh muscles that are about to pop me in two :lol:
:tab The rest of the ride into San Augustine is really nice. This stretch of Hwy 21 has some beautiful scenery. There are lots of elevations changes, some fast sweepers, some really tight 25mph corners, and places where we are riding through a tunnel of trees. I would normally run us up FM 330 to Hwy 87 and then back down FM 353 into San Augustine. However, FM 330 is still closed for construction because they are redoing a bridge. Those two roads are like roller coasters and are great fun. We pull into a gas station on the outskirts of town to wait for the rest of the group to arrive; Paul, Debbie and Chris-SV, or the Three Amigos as Rebecca and I have started calling them ;-)
:tab We cruise through town checking out the mid 1800's architecture. There are some really nice restored historic homes here. There was a time when San Augustine was prominent on the stage of Texas history. Now, it is a lot like Hemphill, striving to fend off economic collpase by seeking to create a tourist draw. There is a really nice B&B on the South side of town called "The Columns". I stopped in a few years ago and got the grand tour from the little old ladies that run the place. The rooms are luxurious, beautiful and only about $75 a night!! Yet, I never seem to be able to get it worked into my schedule to go back and spend a weekend. :shrug: It would be ideal for a weekend of riding.
:tab We head out of town on FM 1277 which runs basically South toward Hwy 103. This road is in the top five list for this route. The pavement is excellent, there is great visibility for most of the corners, no surprises, several nice homes along the way, and like so many other roads out here it is almost completely devoid of traffic... except today. We come up behind two trucks. I spotted the trailing truck as we were leaving town. He was in a bit of a hurry and now is trapped behind the first truck. We come around a corner and there is a short passing zone. He starts to pull out as if to pass and then decides not to and pulls back in line. So I pass both of them :mrgreen: No biggie. I am back in my lane before the end of the passing zone.
:tab I take off and get back in to my rythm. Soon I spot some headlights coming up fast in my mirrors and think that everyone else has started passing the trucks and are catching up to us. Guess who it is?! The guy in the second truck comes barrelling up behind me, bouncing all over the road. Apparently, he did not like me passing him :-| Now this nutcase is riding my tail around some pretty serious corners. Tapping the brakes only makes him get closer. So I crank it up a little to put some distance between us. We are now running at a pace that for a truck is borderline crazy even if he knows the road. He's tossing gravel off the edges of the road. I get so focused on him that I almost forget we are going to be turning soon. Right as I remember, we come around the corner and there's the turn. I haul it down and get out of his way. Thankfully he keeps going, stomping on the gas as he goes by us. Moron. As soon as the Three Amigos come into view we take off up FM 1196.
:tab FM 1196 doesn't really go anywhere, but that is fine by me. It just means there is less chance of traffic on this fine undulating strip of asphalt :twisted: It is about six or seven miles from end to end and every bit of it is great fun. There are fast elevations changes mixed with back to back esses. There are very few driveways and only one side road. The only thing that really gets my attention is the chickens running off the road as we come railing down the hill at them. Little feathers are flying all around them as they scurry and hop to get off the road and into the weeds. We reach the end of the road and turn around to run it back to FM 1277. I could run this road back and forth until the locals come out and shoot me off the bike :-P
:tab The last few miles of FM 1277 down to Hwy 103 are tame with just a few fun corners. When we reach Hwy 103, Buddy is complaining that his land yacht 1800 is feeling unusually squirmy. He pulls across the highway into the parking lot of a church and we all follow him over. As soon as he pulls out in front of me I can see his rear tire is completely flat :roll: Here it is, 6:00pm, light fading and we are still several hours out from Huntsville.
:tab Buddy gets his Goldwing up on the centerstand and we find the problem immediately. There is a HUGE nail in his rear tire. Paul gets out his tire repair kit and tools and goes to work.
Paul plugging the tire (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01412.JPG)
Buddy is worshipping Paul's tire plugging skills (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01413.JPG) :-P
I have never seen a group of clean freaks like this one! Every stop and out came the polish! (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01414.JPG) :lol:
A pair of beauties posing for me! (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01415.JPG)
The offending bit of metal (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01416.JPG)
While we are plugging the tire and putting CO2 into it, the locals are showing up for church. They are quite insistent about us coming in a singing some songs with them! I gotta give them credit, they are an open and friendly bunch of people. even if they are a bit clueless about us needing to get the tire fixed so we can get home before the wee hours of the night! Eight CO2 cannisters later and we are ready to get back on the road. Everyone has made their phone calls to let their SO's know we are running late. As the sun gets lower on the horizon, we head West on Hwy 103.
:tab There is something about the feel of a day as it slips into the past, held only in our memories. There is a purity and brilliance in the soft hues in the sky. There is a sublime complexity behind all the laws of physics that results in a moment that affects me all the way down in my innermost recesses. What artist can create such an intense experience with the brush stroke? Sunsets have held the imaginations of people captive for generations. What is it about them? Here are a few shots as we stop on one of the bridges over the Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Sunset 1 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01417.JPG) / Sunset 2 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01418.JPG) / Sunset 3 (http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/030704-ETBB/DSC01419.JPG)
:tab Erin has just gone on reserve on his 954. I cannot remember exactly how far it is to the next town, hopefully he can make it. We are heading down into the woods on FM 1669 and it will be dark real soon. I have a siphon hose just in case, but it would be hard for us to take pictures of the fiasco in the dark ;-) Before long we reach the edge of town, I think this is Huntington. We stop and gas up the bikes. It is getting late and talk turns to who will be splitting off with who and where? I'm telling the Houston folks that they need to split off at Livingston and run US 59 home. When Vittorio is finally ready, we all get back on the road and head South on US 69 to FM 844.
:tab FM 844 is a fun short run down to FM 1818. It has some nice curves but as we slip through the encroaching darkness, I back it down to watch for deer and to allow for me missing something in the road. We reach FM 1818, part of the Texas Forest Trail and head West for Diboll. It is now totally dark. I had just put my clear visor in at the last stop a few miles back and already it is caked in bugs! I strain all the harder to make sure I can see where I am going. As we zing down a section where the woods come right up to the road, I spot four or five good sized deer off on the right side. No time to stop, I flash the brake lights warn the others and revv the engine hoping to scare them back into the woods. Seems to have worked as I don't see any headlights dissappear behind me.
:tab The last few miles of 1818 just before we get to Diboll are actually quite fun, even in the dark. Although I am getting a little worried about Rebecca. All day long she has had a death grip on me with her legs and now she seems a little too relaxed :-? There are times when I feel her helmet up against my shoulders. This had happened throughout the day and I had thought nothing of it as she was just moving around. But now the helmet is staying put and pressing kind of heavy!? Good grief! She has gone asleep!! I cannot believe she is that relaxed, riding through the deer infested woods at night. A few minutes later when we stop in Diboll I check her and she's back with the living again.
:tab We turn South on US 59. I can no longer see if the whole group is with me because all the headlights in my mirrors blind me. We take off down 59 and head for Livingston. As far as I know everyone is right behind me. However, when we get a mile or two North of Livingston, I wave Erin by and he takes off for home, I wave the next guy by and it is Chris-SV?? Hmmm... I wave him over behind me and expect there to be others coming up to pass me: Chris-GS, Will, Buddy, Ron and Vittorio. They are nowhere to be seen? Our exit comes up and we pull off and stop at a gas station for a break. Debbie tells me we lost the others a long time ago, oh great. I hope they did not go North to Texarkana!! It would make for a long ride home :lol:
:tab After a nice relaxing stop for stretching and an icecream sandwhich, we get on US 190 and head for Huntsville. It is 8:00pm and we have about thirty minutes to go before getting home. Then Chris-SV and Rebecca still have to ride all the way back to Houston! Long day in the saddle for those guys, hehe. The rest of the run home is quiet and uneventful. I can't help but wonder what time the other guys will be getting home. They have maps so they should not be lost. We get in just after 8:30pm and Beth has a huge roast sitting in the crock pot and fresh made rolls for us. :dude: My wife rocks! I call Erin's wife to let her know he is still alive and on his way home. After a while, Chris-SV and Rebecca steel themselves for the remaining miles back to Houston. Can't say that I envy them :-P
:tab Over dinner, we sit and rehash the day and share what the ride was like from each of our perspectives. Sometimes after a long day of riding, I will hear phantom bike exhaust notes in my head. While we are eating I keep hearing the approaching sound of a beating V-twin and then it fades. This happens several times before I realize that Paul and Debbie are hearing it also! Chris and Rebecca must be going around in circles trying to figure out how to get out of the neighborhood and back to the freeway :lol: The funny thing is that they are not the first ones to do this and we are only a few blocks from the freeway. I go outside just in time to see them pull up out front. A slightly sheepish Chris informs me that they got lost. Right, left, right. Got it! With a wave they are off again and we never hear the bike after that so I assume they found their way.
:tab My mileage at the end of the day is 400.6 in ten hours. That is a pathetic average. I normally get home around 6:00ish when I run this route with smaller groups. The larger groups just take more time to get moving after a stop. It certainly was not because we were waiting on slow riders. Everyone really seemed to be having a blast and enjoying such a perfect riding day. I know I certainly did!! Can't wait to do it again :chug:
Adios,