So I made it home, and I don't hate motorcycles.
Very easy day today, Alice to Katy, with just one stop (well, 2 stops, once for fuel/bathroom break and one for the tag, both in the same area) In Cuero.
Only ~240 miles. (
Google Map)
Left @ 7:45 and pulled into the garage @ 11:50.
Only stop was in Cuero for the MSG Roy Benavidez Memorial (
info on him:
Thanks for all the tips and support.
The advice in my other thread helped a lot, and extending it out to 6 days was very helpful. Did not feel rushed, and could do long days if I wanted to, but did not have to.
I learned a lot about my riding endurance (more than I thought) and how I need to prepare better.
I need better gear (at least a good rain suit, but hard to find a good set for a fat man like me), and need to plan routes a little better. I used google maps for basic planning, but relied completely on Garmin for routing, and while it got me to where I was going, it sometimes did it in a weird way, or bypassed something I would have wanted to go to/go see. Part of that was my last moment decision (missing out on RR 334/FM55 heading to Leakey), but some was just me knowing it would get me there. Going to South Padre it routed me weird, and even though it says it was fastest time, it was a way longer distance, and I think longer time.
I also learned I need new gloves. The ones I have are decent and should serve me well if I have an accident, but well:
I am getting a very weird tan spot on both hands, and this is with me applying sunscreen every fuel stop. this was basically the only skin I have exposed when riding. I even remembered to wear my neck gaiter to protect my neck, so need to find some LD gloves with no exposed skin on the dorsal side.
I need to do something about my seat. Previous owner had it shaved to lower it for him, but that took away padding I need for comfort. I have some beads on it that do help some, but that pillow I was using (was a last second decision, it was in the garage to be thrown away, but I grabbed it to try it) really helped a lot. I was sad I lost it on day 4. Day 5 to South Padre I could tell my rear was a little more uncomfortable and had to readjust more.
I will say while I really enjoyed the time to myself, I was ready to come home. I missed my wife, and miss my bed. All the places I stayed were decent, but home is so much better to sleep at.
I could also tell I was starting to get fatigued, and a little dehydrated, even with me drinking at least 4 liters of water a day from my camel back plus whatever other water I drank. I only had 3 diet Dr. Peppers the entire trip, and drank 3 Poweraid Zeros.
Total mileage for this trip ended up being 2,636 miles from when I left Monday morning till I got back today.
If I add in the trip I took Thursday/Friday last week, I am at 3,440 miles in 10 days, with 2 of those being off days.
I remember when I started riding again in 2017 on a Honda Shadow 1100 that I thought putting on 2,500 miles in a year was good. Silly me.
I only have 11 stops left for the Tour of Texas ride, with one being The Lone Star Rider. Not sure if I can get him before the October meet in Kerrville. I keep watching his page, but have not seen him around me when I am off work.
For the remainder of the stops, I had initially planned on a 4 day trip to the hill country to get them in October, but now may just do a day trip to get the Shovel in Creedmore, the Motorcycle Museum in Johnson City and Alamo BMW in San Antonio.
I could do the rest in a 3 day trip and still have a whole day to ride around Kerrville.
Well I am just starting to ramble now, I think I am going to take a nap.
I have a few other pics off the camera to look at and and may post here later, and may have a few more thoughts to put down.
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so it can not be that hard.
