105, con't
So I got out on the freeway headed north after topping off the tank. I think I had about 150 pounds strapped on behind me and I was somewhat nervous about whether it would stay in place or not.
There was a blue bandana tied around my neck with the cowboy-type flap covering the nape. I had figured that it would be better than getting a sunburn. It blew off just as I was bringing my hand up to check on it twenty minutes into the ride! Last I saw it was in the rear view mirror, settling into the middle lane of US75 in Allen.
As I was going through McKinney, a Harley-Davidson Street Bob passed me. I was still warming to the ride and he was running about 80 mph. I couldn't help but wonder if we shared a destination as he was wearing a sleek backpack that well stuffed. He had barely gained a quarter mile on me when another H-D passed by, this one being ridden by someone flying the colors of his motorcycle club and also sporting luggage strapped down behind him. I fell him behind him and we became a group of three. It was a good time to ride with them up past the Oklahoma border, when the second man decided he was ready to pull off and it became the two of us.
Shortly after this, Rowdy indicated his desire for a drink stop. When we pulled into the gas station in Atoka, OK we introduced ourselves. It turned out he was headed for the 105 as well but needed to make a stop in Tulsa. His court appearance the next morning was going to result in the end of his probation and he would become "a free man" again (his words). It all stemmed from "an incident with the law" that I didn't attempt to investigate. We pumped our gas, then went inside to get the drinks. He came out with a 24 oz Bud Light to "take the edge off." I had my water. It was 11:00 A.M. I still had way too far to go to lose any edge I might have. He stopped around back to drink it down and was laughing when he came back.
"What's up?"
He directed my eyes around the opposite side of the building from which he had just come. There, parked against the curb looking right at us was a police car. He told me he had been standing behind a delivery vehicle that was wheeling product in the back door of the store, drinking his beer. When the truck drove off, he was staring at the cop.
We got back on the Harleys and rode off, amused at his near miss. It would have sucked for him to blow the probation so close to the hearing!
He decided to continue up the road to Waggoner, OK instead of getting on the turnpike to Tulsa and I was glad for his company for the extra hour or so. When we parted at another fuel stop, we bid each other good times and with the open chance that wemight run into each other again. I also learned that the red and white decals with wings attached to a circle around the number 81 branded his bike as belonging to a patched member of the Hell's Angels. He explained there aren't any Angels in North Texas, so he doesn't wear the colors, but his bike does. His is a legacy membership, going back to his grandfather. He and his dad are just carrying on the tradition.
Anyway, after we split I turned my attention back to the rest of a long day. I had planned to stop in Miami, Ok to visit an old customer of mine after dining at Clanton's Cafe.
Clanton's was featured on the Food Network TV show called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Located on the old Route 66, I knew the town. It was close to Miami and would be a very welcome respite.
I enjoyed a great chicken fried steak with green beans, mashed potatoes and a tossed salad. Plus the eavedropping on the old men in the next booth solving all the problems of the world. Mostly those around town though.
After lunch, I headed over to Miami. I saw my old friend, who gave me a heads up on directions to Kansas. I made the Kansas stateline about 5, then got onto IH-44 just into Missouri at about 5:30. I rode past the George Washington Carver National Monument on my way to Granby, MO. Having grown up in Granby, CT, I had hoped to get my picture taken in front of a police car with Granby markings. I figured it would be perfect for my sister Heidi - "Here's the picture you always expected..." - but alas, THE police car was pulling out from the light when I arrived in town. There may be a second car, but the chief likely takes it home at night. Here's what the town hall/police station looks like though -
The Volunteer Fire Dept is housed right next door in the white building seen at the right edge of this photo. This is looking from the top of the hill back towards the stoplight.
By this time, my helmet was hurting my head and the googles were irritating me as well. Imagine how pleased I was to pull into Ballard's Campground and find this was the campsite available for my first night -
It had been a long 400 miles. It hurt so good! :-)
There was a blue bandana tied around my neck with the cowboy-type flap covering the nape. I had figured that it would be better than getting a sunburn. It blew off just as I was bringing my hand up to check on it twenty minutes into the ride! Last I saw it was in the rear view mirror, settling into the middle lane of US75 in Allen.
As I was going through McKinney, a Harley-Davidson Street Bob passed me. I was still warming to the ride and he was running about 80 mph. I couldn't help but wonder if we shared a destination as he was wearing a sleek backpack that well stuffed. He had barely gained a quarter mile on me when another H-D passed by, this one being ridden by someone flying the colors of his motorcycle club and also sporting luggage strapped down behind him. I fell him behind him and we became a group of three. It was a good time to ride with them up past the Oklahoma border, when the second man decided he was ready to pull off and it became the two of us.
Shortly after this, Rowdy indicated his desire for a drink stop. When we pulled into the gas station in Atoka, OK we introduced ourselves. It turned out he was headed for the 105 as well but needed to make a stop in Tulsa. His court appearance the next morning was going to result in the end of his probation and he would become "a free man" again (his words). It all stemmed from "an incident with the law" that I didn't attempt to investigate. We pumped our gas, then went inside to get the drinks. He came out with a 24 oz Bud Light to "take the edge off." I had my water. It was 11:00 A.M. I still had way too far to go to lose any edge I might have. He stopped around back to drink it down and was laughing when he came back.
"What's up?"
He directed my eyes around the opposite side of the building from which he had just come. There, parked against the curb looking right at us was a police car. He told me he had been standing behind a delivery vehicle that was wheeling product in the back door of the store, drinking his beer. When the truck drove off, he was staring at the cop.
We got back on the Harleys and rode off, amused at his near miss. It would have sucked for him to blow the probation so close to the hearing!
He decided to continue up the road to Waggoner, OK instead of getting on the turnpike to Tulsa and I was glad for his company for the extra hour or so. When we parted at another fuel stop, we bid each other good times and with the open chance that wemight run into each other again. I also learned that the red and white decals with wings attached to a circle around the number 81 branded his bike as belonging to a patched member of the Hell's Angels. He explained there aren't any Angels in North Texas, so he doesn't wear the colors, but his bike does. His is a legacy membership, going back to his grandfather. He and his dad are just carrying on the tradition.
Anyway, after we split I turned my attention back to the rest of a long day. I had planned to stop in Miami, Ok to visit an old customer of mine after dining at Clanton's Cafe.
Clanton's was featured on the Food Network TV show called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Located on the old Route 66, I knew the town. It was close to Miami and would be a very welcome respite.
I enjoyed a great chicken fried steak with green beans, mashed potatoes and a tossed salad. Plus the eavedropping on the old men in the next booth solving all the problems of the world. Mostly those around town though.
After lunch, I headed over to Miami. I saw my old friend, who gave me a heads up on directions to Kansas. I made the Kansas stateline about 5, then got onto IH-44 just into Missouri at about 5:30. I rode past the George Washington Carver National Monument on my way to Granby, MO. Having grown up in Granby, CT, I had hoped to get my picture taken in front of a police car with Granby markings. I figured it would be perfect for my sister Heidi - "Here's the picture you always expected..." - but alas, THE police car was pulling out from the light when I arrived in town. There may be a second car, but the chief likely takes it home at night. Here's what the town hall/police station looks like though -
The Volunteer Fire Dept is housed right next door in the white building seen at the right edge of this photo. This is looking from the top of the hill back towards the stoplight.
By this time, my helmet was hurting my head and the googles were irritating me as well. Imagine how pleased I was to pull into Ballard's Campground and find this was the campsite available for my first night -
It had been a long 400 miles. It hurt so good! :-)
posted by Kurt at 3:09 PM
2 Comments:
Ah, enjoying life...how awesome is that? Good for you!
Sounds like a great adventure.
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