Here goes!, what a trip!
I do my normal calling! Who wants to to go to Bike Week? Always excuses, work, wife wont let me go!, or just because! Long story short, nobody wants to ride. All well, doesnt deture me. I decided to leave on a thursday this year, several days ahead of last years departure. I wanted to connect with Jimmy from South Carolina on Saturday. I depart on Thursday morning at 7 am. I travel Hwy 290 through Fredericksburg to Johnson City and south to the Canyon Lake cut-off. I run by the lake to Hwy 46. I ride to Seguin and connect with I-10.
Traveling is pretty good to Houston. You have to be on your game when you travel through Houston. The traffic is amazing! Got to be in the right lane or you will end up in Galveston! The weather is decent, some spotty rain. Kinda par for the course. Pretty smooth sailing through Beaumont, and Lake Charles. I make it to Jennings, La., My normal stop for a good sandwich at Darrells. Guess what, they are no longer in business! What a shocker and disappointment! I had to settle for Popeyes Chicken!
I continue on I-10 to Baton Rouge. God, what a nightmare! Traffic is stop and go for probably 5 miles. The traffic bottlenecks just over the Mississippi River Bridge. It takes patience! I have to work through it!, What else can you do? I reach the I-10 and I-12 split, more of the same. I make it to my normal staying spot in Hammond. The motel next to the truck stop. It is convenient to the Waffle House.
After a good nights rest and 600 miles on the road, ready for the new day. I hit the Waffle House for coffee before I hit the road. At daylight I depart, Eastward bound. The weather channel,said a small chance of rain! It started raining about Mobile, Al. Solid rain to Gainesville, Florida. I’m about sick of rain! I make it to Leadville Larry’s house just before dark. It was good to get out of those wet clothes. After a good bowl of stew, it is bedtime.
After a good visit, it is time to meet Jimmy in Ormond Beach. After about a 2 hour drive I meet up with Jimmy and Jeff at the local tavern. After a good burger, we are off to downtown. The Boot Hill and Dirty Harrys are all on the menu after, a day of looking and riding, it is time to go to Port Orange for the evening.
The next day it’s time to travel north to Destination Daytona. We stop at the Saints and Sinners Bar for a Bloody Mary to get the day started! We hang for awhile and listen to music. We check out the local vendors, there is a lot to see and buy.
It’s time to change scenery! Next stop The Iron Horse, It’s right down the road. There is an elevated wood deck for observation. The band is good and we meet people from Minnesota. It’s always good to meet new people. It’s time for downtown again! Froggys and the Boot Hill Saloon again.
The next day, off to the Broken Spoke, This is a great venue with large oak trees and plenty of chairs for relaxing. Free peanuts also! We met a couple from the Tampa Bay area with a parrot named Spyke. What a guy, she is 33 years old, she rides with her owner on the bike. She hangs on at 75 or 80 mph. She digs those claws in. She operates on commands. She sat on my head for quite some time..Spyke rode on Jimmy’s shoulder around the parking lot. That bird was something else!
Then next it is off to the Cabbage Patch. We arrive early and get a parking spot up close to the road. The shopping was much less of a problem. After much of the day it is back with a stop at the First Turn. This was Salvadore’s old hang out. We lost Sal, last year, RIP. We travel back to the house to get the truck. We travel south to Black Beards Restaurant. Prime Rib is on the menu. Guess what? They are sold out. Our luck! Well, shrimp is not a bad second choice! After a full belly time to rest up!
After 5 days of fun it’s time to travel back west. We meet for breakfast at Heffers Rest, Great food and good service. Located in Ormond Beach. We say our good bys, Jimmy goes north and I travel west. I travel through Ocala and catch I-75. Up I-75 to Lake City. More rain! Sick of it! I-10 west to Milton. I pull into Wal Mart. Need to check my exhaust, sounds kinda funny. The bolts are loose connecting to the head. After closer examination. The pipe is broken all the way. I call a Harley shop in Pennacola. They can’t weld it! Suggest another shop. Sure thing in the morning! The next day call them, No, the welder is broken! Anyway, I keep traveling west. It kinda sounds bad but it’s running!
I travel to Mobile and head north for a side trip. I had planned on trying to find an old plantation that my Great, Great Grandfather owned back in 1850. It was located near Jackson, Mississippi. Yazoo City and Camden was two of the towns mentioned in my diary. I travel to Yazoo City, not much here today. Camden, just a wide place in the road. I go back to Canton. They have a historical society building on the square. They were supposed to be open at 8am the next day. I returned in the morning, they don’t open till 1pm? The weather is looking like heavy rain. Decided maybe another time.
I travel to the Jackson Harley Shop. Maybe I can get this pipe welded. No, we don’t weld! Do you know of anyone that can? There is a guy about 40 miles north that might! You know it’s Saturday. Probably not! Forget about it, I will travel on and maybe get ahead of the storm that is coming. Off I go, travel south down through Alexandria, La., what a rough road, this is not helping my pipe problem! I continue down through Leeville and De Ridder, I continue to Jasper and plan on staying in Huntsville, Texas for the evening. As I pull into Huntsville I shift down. Guess what, more bad news, the splines have stripped out, no gears! I coast into a parking lot with the rain pouring down. I walk to a canopy, I call Bud, Houston, we have a problem!
He said, I’ll be there in about 2 to 3 hours. There is a Mexican restaurant nearby. A good place to hang till Bud arrives. Bud arrives around 8:30pm. We get loaded and head to his place in Lake Somerville. We arrive at his place around 11pm. It’s bedtime!
Next morning we assess the damage. He flips the spline around on the shifter, bingo it works! On the road again, 52 degrees and rain! I get to Bastrop, the exhaust suddenly sounds louder! I pull over, the front exhaust breaks off of the front head. Hey Bud, I need your services again! He is on his way again! What a friend! We load up one more time and head to my place 125 miles up the road! We get to my place about dark, unload and he makes a quick turn around back home, 200 miles back.
Boy what a trip!, about 3000 miles total, It is always good to see old friends. But next time I think I will travel with someone. Kenny Wayne Shepperd does a song, “Everything is Broken,” I can relate! Like I always say, Live life to the Hilt you never know when it’s your last trip.
RIDE FREE AND RIDE OFTEN
“DAD TO THE BONE”
https://HDDadsTravels.com
