Before Donuts Ride with the Man

June 30, 2018
Saturday
Texas

It was just a ride early and beat-the-heat before donuts ride. We got lucky and had a few clouds. We rolled out with Dad about 7:30 and took a long circuitous route that took us along familiar farm roads to Red River Harley-Davidson where we enjoyed the company of friends, coffee and donuts. It was hot and windy when we left the dealership so we rolled on home.

Mom's lovely patriotic porch

Rolling out with Dad (Mom in the background)

Dad in our hip pocket

The Shadow Riders finally make an appearance

Dad in the rearview...

Today's ride = 94.1 s'miles

Road Trip Rumination

June 27, 2018
Wednesday
Texas

On lazy, hazy summer afternoons or evenings usually after a ride or chores and equipped with an adult beverage and salty snack we break out the road atlas and start thinking about where Tim's annual July birthday ride will take us.

Our plans are rarely set in stone as we are prone to going off-plan once we start rolling. We usually pick a general direction and think on what the contingency plan is likely to be if the original destination doesn't work out. It's July in Texas so we know we are going to ride HOT and likely in triple digit heat. Monsoons often plague Texas at this time of year too. We will ride wet but not intentionally. When the moisture starts streaming up from the Gulf it can get nasty wet in these parts and due east.

So we have a tentative plan A (ride east) and a tentative plan B (ride south) and a tentative plan C (ride north). I told Tim after last year's west Texas canyon ride in July that we don't ride west again unless the destination is high and cool in New Mexico or Colorado! Ha!

Stay cool! Stay tuned.

Budget Breakfast Run

June 26, 2018
Tuesday
Texas

Sure, there's a plumbing job that needs doing today. And, the darn grass needs mowing. And, it is supposed to get steenkin' HOT this afternoon but none of that is as important as the fact this is the last morning to ride together before Friday. So, a quick breakfast run seemed like a good idea. And, so it was.

59.6 s'miles for biscuits and gravy

It's going to get HOT today but right now it's downright tolerable out here.

The Shadow Riders

Braum's sells more than burgers and ice cream

Biscuits and gravy and crispy tater tot has rounds

Old Police Car at Pawn Shop

Normally we would take the long way home - straight ahead, but today we decide we better get on home and get that plumbing job done and the grass mowed - three day weekend coming up so we're clearing the chore list!

Almost there...

Ten years ago today

June 25, 2018
Monday
Texas

Ten years ago today... June 25, 2008 we bought a brand new H-D Heritage Softail. Believe it or not - this motorcycle is the first "new" vehicle we have ever owned. By July 2008 the Harley was in house. And, we have celebrated every day since I think.

By August 2008 Tim was licensed and we were good to go and go and go. The riding season is short in northern Colorado but we still managed 4643 miles now known as s'miles before the end of the year. There's a reason the word smiles incorporates the word miles so neatly. We were newbies. Neither of us (other than Tim's brief teenage experience on a dirt bike) had ever ridden a motorcycle. But, we were hooked!

We logged 14709 s'miles in 2009. By the time we somewhat reluctantly traded the Heritage off April 28, 2010 for the H-D Ultra we had logged 21168.

We could not get off of the darn thing. All of a sudden it was screw the housework, mowing grass and raking leaves was overrated and aside from work, if it didn't mean putting on boots and helmets we simply did not do it. Ha! Nothing but fun I tell you. Then and now.

Just US Four Corners USA 2009

After Supper Ice Cream Run

June 19, 2018
Tuesday
Texas

We took an after supper run for ice cream at Braums in Burkburnett. Once again we say it's more fun to ride to Braums in Burkburnett than it is to visit the Braums about a mile from the house. Ha!

We rode out Hwy 79 to Dean, on to Thornberry and to Burk. We came back by SAFB. It is rare for us to ride at night in the city but the temps were perfect for a change (other than gusty winds) and just getting out and about with no agenda is nice. The pilots were flying short loops overhead. We see the planes often when we ride under the flying pattern at the base but it's fun to see them at night with all the lights. Kool!

A couple of sundaes

Maybe a little tired after a 12 hour day in the heat but always up for a ride and ice cream.

49.3 s'miles

A few more pics:

Shadow Riders (lower right)

Sun bathed cityscape

Sunset fast approaching

Twilight

Old House and Barn

Old bridge over Wichita River

How about some ice cream? Why not!

A nod to my guys on Dad's Day in the USA

June 17, 2018
Sunday
Texas

There are many facets of womanhood... and titles we assume as we go through life: girlfriend, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother but my favorite is "daughter"... I love being a daughter and that's likely because I have such a great DAD!

Here and there on Saturday

June 16, 2018
Saturday
Texas

A Saturday off! And we're taking it off. Ha!

We started the day as we do most Saturdays if we're in town - with donuts at RRHD but we took the long way around to the dealership, rolling out about 8 am, getting gas and riding west on country roads to Electra and back to the dealership on busy Hwy 287. The winds were already howling! It is hard to get a good shot in high winds. Dad took the same ride (more or less) leaving about half an hour ahead of us. He and Bobby were already at the dealership when we rolled in. We sat, we cussed and discussed and munched on donuts.

Part of our ride was through open range...

These were our skies - we call this cloud formation mare's tails - an indicator of high winds

This interesting ride was parking next to our ride when we walked out of the dealership. I spoke with the man briefly and wished him safe travels. He said he was headed into the dealership for oil. I snapped a couple shots with his permission and walked to the back of the bike to see where he was from. Answer: Louisiana. Destination: Alaska. Now that's a summer adventure!

We rolled out of the dealership with friend Bobby for a quick ride before the heat. Later in the day we met Bobby and Tina at RRHD for a supper run. It was still hot and windy so we chose The Feedlot in Burkburnett, TX as our destination. Burkburnett is about 12 miles north of Wichita Falls near the Red River (border between Texas and Oklahoma). We enjoyed this restaurant. The food (catfish and fixins x4) was good, the service excellent, prices were reasonable, and the establishment was cozy, clean and cool. The Feedlot - Burkburnett

So... This is friend Tina who when she saw the camera pop out decided to "snatch Bobby bald-headed" to cover helmet head... she's a quick thinker that girl. Ha!

After supper we retraced some of the s'miles we rode earlier with Bobby, taking a slow, leisurely ride home on country roads.

Before donuts = 59 s'miles. After donuts = 42.3 s'smiles. Supper run = 66.2 s'miles. Total s'miles today - 167.5.

Here's a slide show of fun on the supper run (about 22 pics) with music.

Monday Morning Breakfast Ride with the Man!

June 11, 2018
Monday
Texas

It is Monday. Tim is off. So we rode out with the Man (aka Dad) early (just before 7 am) this morning. We decided on breakfast in Waurika OK at JW's Travel Stop. JW's is quickly becoming a favorite breakfast ride. First of all, the food is simply darn good, Second, the service (usually from the resident sassy waitress) is fun and good and Third, there are several roads in and out of there that keep the ride interesting. JW's is at the intersection of Oklahoma US 81 and US 70.

The ride to JW's took us east on Hwy 287 through Henrietta TX and a bit further east on US 82 to the community of Ringgold TX where we took a quick bypass (#19) to US 81 which heads north through small communities like Ryan OK and Terral OK. We were lucky to have clouds until just before we turned north on US 81 so the sun was not in our eyes.

The ride from JW's took us on a zig-zag course heading north/northwest. We call these Dad's stomping grounds. We rode through the small communities of Hastings OK and Temple OK on Hwy 5 and a bit further on where we headed south of 5B (I think) and finally west on US 70 again through the small community of Randlett OK to Hwy 44 where we rolled south and home. These roads in Oklahoma are low traffic, fairly well maintained and scenic if you know what to look for like the river winding lazy in the hazy distance, interesting architecture in the tiny towns, ol' glory waving in the stout breeze, combines working the wheat harvest, the corn crop looking fine and tall, and assorted wildlife like cranes on a tank, longhorns, a couple of turtles on the road and a snake or two, even a chicken on the porch of a farmhouse and so on). The crepe myrtles are in bloom as well as the prickly pear cactus. Roadsides are dotted with purple thistle, milkweed and the sunflowers are beginning their show. And, if all else fails there's always Dad's pretty red ride in front or in the rearview.

The day was heating up quickly as we crossed the Red River. We parted ways with Dad at the street he lives on and a few miles later rode up in our drive. Today we logged 138.8 s'miles.

Here's a slide show (46 photos plus a few video clips) of today's ride with music.

Breakfast on a budget ride

June 7, 2018
Thursday
Texas

Just rolling out for a short breakfast ride so we mosey about 12 miles north to the McDonalds in Burkburnett because you know riding to the McDonalds at the end of our street (about 3 blocks away) is just no fun at all. Ha!

Country roads

A little shade

Old truck

Burkburnett

A sausage biscuit is going to do the trick today.

53 s'miles

Wichita Mountain Ride with Friends

June 3, 2018

Sunday

Texas/Oklahoma

A minor cold front has put us in the mood to ride. Any day you get low 90s in the summer in Texas without rain - you better get out there and log a few miles. Sure, we ride in the heat but a nice day now and then sure is welcome.

Today, we rolled northeast to the small town of Waurika Oklahoma with the intent of having breakfast at JW's Travel Stop. Intersection of Hwy 70 and 81 in Oklahoma. We have visited JW's many times with Dad. It is a favorite breakfast/pie and coffee spot. They make a great breakfast and the dinner plate pancakes are delicious.

We lingered over breakfast and coffee hoping our friends from Bowie could meet us for the ride today after some business they conducted this morning.

Sure 'nuff, they rolled in ready to make a day of it.

So we rolled through windy rural Oklahoma along state highways and country roads through tiny Okie communities until we reached the wildlife refuge where longhorn cattle and buffalo roam. One of many attractions in the area is Mount Scott. It's what Oklahoma has to offer in the way of a mountain. No, it ain't the Rockies but it is still a fun ride. The view from the top is crystal clear on most days and reveals many lakes most do not realize are in the area.

A Harley, an Indian and a Spyder went up the mountain... sounds like the opening line to a bad joke - ha!

Afterwards, Ann led us down the mountain to what was once a gold camp called Meers where there is a restaurant and store of the same name. The famous Meers Burger is longhorn of course. We stopped for a burger this day but passed on the peach cobbler which is excellent. You can also get a steak at Meers.

The day was heating up fast but it was still great riding weather but we headed back in the general direction of home.

Ann and Larry - Let's do it again soon!

Slide show of today's ride (80+ photos - with music).

We logged 262.4 s'miles today.