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.

Saturday Ride for RRHD Donuts and more...

June 2, 2018
Saturday
Texas

Most Saturdays when we are off we ride a few miles northwest of the homeplace to visit with friends over coffee and donuts at Red River Harley-Davidson where some of us are known as the Donut Posse.

Today, we knew was going to be a hot one come afternoon so we rode out early for gas and to log a few miles before the dealership opened. We rolled in just after 9 am, the first of our gang to arrive but it wasn't long before Dad arrived (not riding today due to a gimpy foot), then Tex and Laura and a bit later Bobby.

We visited for a bit, said hello to the RRHD staff, drooled over a new tri-glide before rolling out with Bobby for a short before it gets too damn hot ride. Bobby is looking fine after nearly a year-long recovery from a medical condition. It is a pleasure to ride with him again and before long an anxious Tina (Bobby's other half) will be tagging along too.

We logged 100.8 s'miles before we parted ways and headed for a/c.

Looking good Bobby! See you again soon!

Slide Show - a few more photos... (double click for full screen view - escape to exit)

We are back... kinda...sorta...

May 31, 2018
Texas

After a three year hiatus - we are back - that is to say... we have been riding and working and moving and more... we (mostly me) simply have not taken the time to share all that with the world - stay tuned for a catch-up post and more. In the mean-time blog maintenance on videos, links and out-of-date code is underway - considering we're talking 2007 to date - it is a monster of a chore. In two days I have made it through 2008. That was light years ago when we were just learning to ride. Yikes! Still, we enjoy sharing so stay tuned...


My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society. - James Dean

The Ride rolls over 85K + 1

May 29, 2018
Tuesday
Texas

We were just going to roll out for a short ride, grab breakfast and back... then we noticed the odometer. The Ride was about to roll over 85K so we made this ride about that.

We took the long way around to the Truck Stop at Jolly for breakfast. Then we rode the long way around to home rolling in the drive with 85,001 miles on the odometer.

Don't you just love a shiny black truck... here we are riding for 85K today. Ha!

Combine sighting!

Jolly Truck Stop for breakfast.

Nothing but clear skies and 99.1 s'miles.

Steak n Shake Ride

May 19, 2018
Saturday
Texas

Here we are rolling out again on a Saturday to Red River Harley-Davidson for donuts first and a ride after.

Sure, there's stuff to do but we know for certain it will keep. We are settled in the new house fairly well and whatever needs doing will get done eventually.

So, we roll out of RRHD after donuts and coffee and conversation with friends and family with no particular destination in mind and travel familiar country roads west and north into Oklahoma and then east and south until we get to Henrietta TX and we remember that the new truck stop at the junction of Hwy 287 and Hwy 148 has a Steak n Shake that we have not tried. So, we stop of course and wait our turn to get a delicious double meat burger and a shake. YUM!

After that bit of tasty fun we travel south around Lake Arrowhead and home. The winds were stout and the lake was choppy but there are still plenty of wildflowers blooming and the prickly pear cactus is looking good!

We logged 132 s'miles today.

Slide show (32 pics) with music.

Twilight Mother's Day Ride

May 13, 2018
Mother's Day Sunday
Texas

This is a pic from another day but we look pretty much the same every time we ride out. Today was Mother's Day and I spent the day as one should - with my lovely Mom. Tim had to do the nasty today - that is, work!

We normally do not ride after he pulls a twelve hour shift especially in summer but late in the afternoon the temperature broke and we had cloud cover so it was darn nice when he rode in and found me wondering if he was up for a short ride. He said he was thinking the same thing. Ha! I guess we have each other almost figured out after 46 years. I have never known the man not to be up for a ride so we took a turn around the country roads just outside the city limits and rode in about dark:30.

It's all better now.

In the haste to ride out, the camera got left behind so you're just going to have to imagine how much we loved 71.2 s'miles.

BBQ Ride - it's all Dad's fault

May 5, 2018
Saturday
Texas

As usual this Saturday started out at RRHD for donuts only I was busy elsewhere for the morning so after donuts Tim and Dad logged 103.3 s'miles. I can tell you though as soon as I was free I changed and met Tim at the door with my boots on. We pointed the Ride out of the drive and rolled out and all thoughts of doing anything other than enjoying warm temps and sunshine were set aside.

The ride got a bit longer than we thought and we're blaming it on Dad. Yep, it's all Dad's fault that we rode right on through Graham (our tentative destination) and on to Mineral Wells in search of The Mesquite Pit. Dad had talked about the grill so we went in search of it. Found it! Yep. the food was worth talking about.

The ride through Mineral Wells ride took us by the grand old Baker Hotel (world famous at one time). It once served Hollywood elite and other notorious celebrities who came to take the healing waters in the 1930s. The Baker closed in the 1970s. It is said to be haunted. There is talk of foreign investors resurrecting the Hotel to its former glory and it isn't the first time. It will be a daunting task - one that is yet to be set in stone (no pun intended). The Baker Hotel

The National Vietnam War Museum is in Mineral Wells, not far from the Mesquite Pit. I did not get good pics as we rode by. Dad and friends helped dedicate the helicopter that is on static display at the museum.

After BBQ sandwiches and banana pudding at The Mesquite Grill we reluctantly pointed the ride toward home travelling torugh Weatherford where the historic Parker County Courthouse is undergoing renovation. This courthouse was built in 1886 and is the fourth courthouse for the are. Previous courthouses and a good many records were destroyed in fires.

Aside from assorted historical buildings of interest the ride took us along highways with an abundance of wildflowers blooming by the roadsides, fields greening and trees in full leaf, lakes like glass and best of all the skies were clear and the temps were warm. It's the first lengthy ride of the season and we are happy to get on with it.

Total s'miles = 353.7 (Vickie's s'miles = 250.4)

Slide show of today's ride (about 37 pics)