So since I'm trying not to look like too much of a dip in front of everyone, the first thing I do - before we even got to leave the parking lot - is drop my bike. And, another new first for me, I managed to take out the bike next to me - M38A1's GS.
I'm very happy to say, there are no pics.
I almost went home right then...but I'm glad I didn't.
Hey - no big deal. The world is still spinning on it's axis so life is good. Now the pig is 'balanced'. One drop on each side to date.
I left Oak Hill/SW Austin and headed North to meet up in Thrall with a group. About Round Rock, I see IronWombat (Garreth) headed the other way. He had mentioned going on in to Round Rock to meet up with Woodbutcher (Rusty) and Kurt as himself. I pulled into a gas station to turn around, and he had done the same so now headed my direction. We ran to the WalMart and waited for Rusty and Kurt to come by until about 8:35 then left for Thrall.
About two miles from the WalMart, Garreth wasn't accelerating through the gears. Turns out his shift linkage on the WeeStrom broke. I believe that's his second one now. Sad that he couldn't make the pie run, but the silver lining was he still had first gear and was only five or so miles from home. He made the turn for home and I headed to Thrall.
In Thrall, Rhodyne (Carl) and Innomate (Mark) were already there. We had expected CaroleAnn to show but she didn't. About 9:15, Rusty and Kurt show up. Fuel taken on-board and as we were gearing up, a patron of the SpeedyStop pointed to a bungee cord hanging from Carl's bike. He looked back and about that time the bike started to tip. Well, he went over and I was next to him so I went over just like a game of dominoes. No biggie. The Hepco-Becker bars did what I expected them to do. Once the bikes were uprighted and checked, Rusty led us out.
We had some great roads with little traffic for a Saturday. About Groesbeck we stopped for fuel for the 'little tank' bikes. I glanced to what I thought was a big block with a tall building in it and inquired "Is that a courthouse"? Like a flash, I was off for another courthouse pic. The group caught up to me one block away.
With our few delays now compounding our late arrival, we pulled into Sams about 11:45 to a sea of bikes. Gearing down we made our way inside to see everyone inside the 'room'. The door guy asked for our name and Kurt told him our party was already there. He said "there's no tables available. Name please". We waited about 10 minutes and the hostess was taking us to the big room. We told her our party was in the back and she just motioned for us to go there. So much for the name on the list thing.
Food selection was great and not bad for a buffet. The five of us sat at a table while the majority of everyone else had finished, paid and were outside. So we finished and made our way out as well.
I asked Pie Run Chair V2.0 if there was a courthouse in Fairfield and sure enough there is. With a wave of a hand and a pointing of a finger by Chuck, I was off for yet another picture and fuel. I came back and the big group was considerably smaller. After our goodbyes, our little band of five fueled up and made the trek back to the Austin area backtracking our way up.
Right at 400 miles for me. Great company, great weather, great friends. What more could one ask for?
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