Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

World traveler, Hash House Harrier, and Harley enthusiast...not necessarily in that order. Lue lisää🇺🇸Cincinnati popl.co/card/qD4Qce0c/1/txt

Seuraa Viesti Tilastot

Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally Day 3
29. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Twisted Sisters rock!!! Last rally day. Great riding despite the third day in a row of rain. I actually wore my rain gear today 😭, but once I got out of San Antonio, the weather cleared and the Sisters were in pretty good shape.

Yesterday, we stopped at a couple of historic places, the Landmark Inn being one. It's a B&B now,run by the Texas Historical Commission. Really neat place!

BTW, the couple I was riding with didn't come with me today because of the weather, but they were going to see the Alamo and some other Texas stuff, so I forgive them 😉. But seriously, Pete & Mary are awesome, and it was a pleasure riding with them the last two days. I hope I have the chance to visit them in Maine some day soon.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 40 mileage: 274.0 (total 8072.0)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 3)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 79)
MCGTTX Stops: 1 (total 21)

P.S.: Cheapest 91-93 octane gas today so far at $2.94 a gallon in West San Antonio.

P.P.S.: I saw a large animal definitely not native to Texas behind a very tall fence, but I only got a picture as it was turning away. After some serious Googling, I believe it was a Scimitar oryx because of its horns and markings. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scimitar_oryxLue lisää
Katso käännös
Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar Scimitar oryx, I believe
2.5.2021Vastaa
2 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally Day 2
28. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
Day 2 of the rally. Wet,but not enough for me to put on my rain gear.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 39 mileage: 266.0 (total 7798.0)
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally
27. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
New gloves for a new day. I'm looking forward to my new tan lines 🤣.

Today is day 1 of the road rally. Had a great dinner last night with 250 of my new friends. Today I'm leading a couple from Maine who shipped their new Road Glide down. Just the pair of us and we're having a great time despite the weather.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 38 mileage: 93.6 (total 7532.0)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Washing the bike
26. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Washing the bike before I check in for the Texas HOG Rally 😁.

No riding yesterday.
Katso käännös
0 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Dueling Pianos
24. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
After the aquarium, I had lunch at El Arroyo, the place with the famous sign. The food was good, but not any better than other Mexican fare places.

I also rode around the Capitol building to get a few quick pics. The main drag, Congress Avenue, was closed off all the way from the river. Not sure why. But it was easy to stop on the bike where cars couldn't.

After a nap at the hotel, I spent the event on 6th Street, the hub of Austin's music scene and nightlife. Pete's Dueling Pianos just opened last weekend, and although I didn't have a reservation, I was able to get a great table. I had a great time, but had enough when the second set of players started in tunes I didn't even recognize, so I called it a night around 23:00.

I haven't done anything yet today, which has been nice 😁.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the MUSIC! ✌️

Day 36 mileage: 54.0 (total still 7438.4)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Austin Aquarium
24. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
Nothing but Netflix and GPS yesterday 😁. I'm at the Aquarium this morning. It's in an old grocery store strip mall 🤣. Lots of hands on though. It's cool.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 35 mileage: 0 (total still 7384.4)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Thunderstorms in Austin
23. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Well, it has been raining since yesterday, all the way from San Antonio to Austin. That little misty rain that just gets you damp and cold. So, once I got to the hotel here in Austin, I was in for the night.

Now, a thunderstorm has rolled in, so I'm spending today in the hotel with Netflix.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 34 mileage: 91.3 (total 7384.4)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 78)
MCGTTX Stops: 1 (total 20)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
0 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Remembering the Alamo
22. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
After a little more sightseeing in foot this morning, I'm headed to Austin for a few days before the HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally begins.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 33 mileage: 0 (total still 7293.1)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Hotel Day
21. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
After yesterday's ride, which was finally in warm and sunny weather, I walked around the Riverwalk again. I overheard little pieces of conversations along the way.

A kid screaming to get on the boat while the parents and three siblings trudged along, giving me a resigned look as if their fate was sealed 😔.

A man in a Hawaiian shirt pointing out to his buddy that "that suit guy" has been looking for something for a while, as a guy in a suit walked past us all 🍍.

A guy smoking a cigar bragging to another cigar smoker how he had been a Squadron then Wing commander...I guess he forgot about Group 🤔.

Four 20-ish folks acting like street thugs while drinking frozen daiquiris in tall skinny plastic rainbow cups with crazy straws and giving themselves brain freeze on purpose 🤦.

But the best were the boat tour guides. "When do ducks wake up in the morning? At the quack of dawn." "These are called Summer Ducks. Do you know why? Some are here, some are there." 🤣

Last night, I hung out in the hot tub again 😁, then did DoorDash for dinner. This morning, I'm working on the GPS routes and waiting to see what time the window cleaner platform will make it to my floor.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 32 mileage: 183.8 (total 7293.1)

P.S.: The window cleaner made it at 13:00, but not on a platform! 😮Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Luckenbach, Texas
20. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
So, Laredo was quite large and had only a small historic area--nothing like Streets of Laredo song of course--and despite wanting to spend a little time there, the two museums in the historic houses were closed. So, I had lunch at a small chain restaurant, Danny's, and continued on to San Antonio.

Ugh. I have now ridden the start of I-35 in the US. Never again. I love motorcycle slalom, but not with semis at high speed. Prediction: self-drive cars will get their own roads, and those of us who love to drive/ride will still have to contend with the trucks. The trucks have always needed their own roads.

Anyway, after 150 miles of I-35, I made it to my hotel on the Riverwalk. I didn't opt for the Riverwalk view, but my aircon wasn't working, so they upgraded me for free. Yay!!

I hung out on the Riverwalk last evening, but the I-35 ride wiped me out, so I was early to bed.

I got up this morning and decided to ride to a few stops on the Texas Tour and knock out Texas's 10 Rides for 2021 photo. The cops were really cool and let me take a quick selfie in a no stopping zone.

Now I'm at a place I've always wanted to visit: Luckenbach, Texas. No Waylon, Willie, or The Boys at the moment, but what a chill little place. I'd love to be there on a weekend with the bands. Man, how cool that would be.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 31 mileage: 374.9 (total 7109.3)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 76)
10 Rides for 2021: 1 (total 2)
MCGTTX Stops: 4 (total 19)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
Southernmost Point
19. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Yesterday I continued my way around the Gulf Coast to Brownsville and then to the southernmost road I could find, in South Point, TX, aptly named Southmost Road. Then it was a quick pic at the HD and into the hotel. A 15-minute walk to Chipotle sorted me for dinner and breakfast. Very nice to stretch my legs.

After a night of noisy neighbors with screaming kids, I was rolling by 09:00. My first stop was the HD in McAllen. A service tech came out to take my picture. People are always surprised at the mods I've done to my Street Bob and that I'm taking such a long trip on it. And that I'm a woman traveling solo. He took a pic of me on his own phone so he could show his friends 🤣.

I followed the Rio Grande from McAllen towards Laredo. It was a very dusty ride surrounded by prickly pear cactus in full bloom. Beautiful! But I had to keep the speed down to five over the limit. I think every State Trooper was on that road. I saw at least 30 Staties, Police, and Sheriff vehicles just between McAllen and Zapata (less than 100 miles). In addition to the officers, I also saw five or six aerostats overhead. We used these in Iraq and Afghanistan as well. (More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerostat)

I'm stopped now just outside Laredo, which is going to be much larger than I imagined. I just realized this is where Interstate 35 begins, the North American trade corridor. Which means semis on every road north ☹️.

I have a preconception of Laredo from the song The Streets of Laredo that I learned as a kid from my father, but I doubt it will be anything like I imagine, and probably never was.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the BLOOMING CACTUS! ✌️

Day 30 mileage: 407.8 (total 6734.4)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 74)

P.S.: I googled the song's origins. Here's how the guy originally died 😳🤢🤣: https://texashillcountry.com/50330-2/Lue lisää
Katso käännös
Matkaaja great photo! ☮️
2.5.2021Vastaa
3 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Crude, Corn, Cattle...& Camels?
18. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
After San Jacinto, I continued south then west to two more Tour stops (anchor and boat). I stopped for the night at a hotel with a bath tub because today has been the third (fourth? fifth? 😩) day in a row of cloudy, sprinkly, and chilly weather. I'm cold, damp, and tired.

A hot soak was just what I needed. Although today is the same weather, at least I feel warmer. I've continued to hug the Gulf Coast, stopping in Indianola to see the LaSalle monument Tour stop, where I stumbled across another odd piece of Texas history concerning camels 🐪. What?!

Ever since leaving Houston, all the landscape I've seen has been either crude, corn, or cate. The oil refineries are so massive that they look like small cities poking up above the horizon. The corn is rarely above two feet tall and doesn't appear to have taken any damage from the February freeze. The cows are surrounded by calves, from days or even hours old to almost weaned. The land is very flat except where bridges rise over the bayous and bays to allow boats to pass beneath, but it is quite beautiful nonetheless. At one point, I felt as if I was underwater. The clouds were constant and gently striated, as if I were looking up at the surface of the ocean just after waves broke overhead.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the 🐫! ✌️

Day 29 mileage: 280.8 (total 6326.6)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 72)
MCGTTX Stops: 3 (total 15)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
0 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Come and Take It!
17. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
After leaving Fort Sam Houston, I squiggled eastward to see the Gonzales County Jail, site of the first battle for Texas's independence and where our use of "Come and Take It!" originated.

More info:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_take_it

Then it was on to Houston. I found a nice hotel next door to Republic HD, so I called it an early day. I decided to eat at Papadeauxs Restaurant. Holy redfish! I won't do that again. It was a great meal, but paying more for dinner than a hotel room is out of my budget.

I left this morning with the goal of hitting the rest of the HDs around Houston. Thankfully it's Saturday, so no really heavy traffic.

That accomplished, I went to the next stop on the Texas Tour, the Battle of San Jacinto monument. There was a paid event going on, but the parking guys let me take my selfie without having to pay the entry fee. Nice.

More info: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_J…

I'm now stopped at the USS Texas battleship docked just across the way from the plinth. Pretty cool.

More info: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Texas_(BB-35)

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 28 mileage: 223.7 (total 6045.8)
HD Dealership Challenge: 6 (total 71)
MCGTTX Stops: 2 (total 12)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Battle Buddies & Texas Caves
16. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
After lunch, I had some time to kill, so I went to Natural Bridge Caverns and toured both caverns. Very beautiful...and good exercise 😁.

Just as I finished, my buddy from Afghanistan called and I went to his house on Fort Sam Houston, where I finally met his wife. Again, it is so wonderful to catch up with friends. We stayed up until around 02:00 just talking. How awesome.

He's on night shifts right now, so we all slept in this morning. I didn't roll until just before noon, so I'll make this footprint's location his house.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 27 mileage: 66.8 (total 5822.1)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
2 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
A 6.5-Hour Loop
15. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
So, my check engine light. After coffee and pie, I hit one more Texas Tour stop as I made my way to the closest HD, The Ranch, about 40 miles away in College Station, home of Texas A&M Aggies. They pulled the diagnostic codes off the bike and looked them up. Loss of communication with the right control module. Sounds like a NASA problem 🤣. But the code made sense because a few times I've tried to start the bike and nothing happened when I hit the button. I honestly thought it was me.

Anyway, the only HD with the part on hand was Cowboy Alamo City in northeast San Antonio. So, off I went, back to Round Rock and then south. The larger than life COVERT sign was funny at 09:40, but not so much when I drove by it again at 16:20 with 100 miles of road left. I made it to SA before dark, and, luckily, there was a Super 8 right next door to the dealership.

I was at the service department at 08:50 and, because they were expecting me, they pulled me straight in. I went upstairs for coffee and talked to several guys, including Miles Jones who also retired from the Air Force. We were at many of the same bases, just at different times. Super small world.

Service couldn't duplicate the problem, so they cleared the codes, which turned off the check engine light. They didn't even charge me for their time. Although I was still nervous that there was a real problem, I took off with the understanding that if the error happened again, I'd call them. 🤞

In the meantime, I was able to connect with a buddy I served with in both Japan and Germany. We've just had lunch at a really cool place called Wraptitude. It's so very good to see him again.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 26 mileage: 350.1 (total 5755.3)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 65)
MCGTTX Stops: 1 (total 10)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
Matkaaja what a great photo 🙂
19.4.2021Vastaa
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
There is always room for pie
14. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
Yesterday, Central Texas HD was able to fix the kickstand while I waited. After that, I made it to the Motel 6, which was next door to a restaurant. I had Taco Tuesday at Torchy's! Yummy! Blackened salmon on one, grilled shrimp on another, and a side of street corn. Heaven. Plus a breakfast taco with chorizo, egg, and cheese for this morning.

Speaking of heaven, that's where I've stopped for lunch, Must Be Heaven Sandwich Shop in Brenham. It's been a very slow day. I just couldn't get into the groove. In just 3 hours, I stopped for gas, stopped to adjust my helmet, stopped to put on the rain jacket, stopped to make my GPS miss the wet dirt roads [only partially successful], stopped to adjust my luggage rain covers, and stopped to take off the rain jacket. Ugh.

To top it off, my check engine light came on just before noon. Uh oh. 😳

Hopefully this afternoon will be better, but right now it's pretty good. Peach Praline pie and coffee. I'm expecting Twin Peaks' Dale Cooper to say, "Damn fine cup of coffee." 🤣

So long [for now], and thanks for all the PIE! ✌️

Day 25 mileage: 237.3 (total 5405.2)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 63)
MCGTTX Stops: 2 (total 9)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
2 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Secession, Dynamite & Longhorns
13. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
On my way southeast towards Houston, I trusted my TomTom NOT to take me on unpaved roads. It let me down. 😱😭🤣

The most interesting thing I saw on my way was a big billboard with a picture of an old-timey soldier brandishing a sword while standing next to a cannon with the huge word SECEDE underneath. Well, at least they spelled it correctly.

Here's another piece of Texas history for you: Texas has the unique ability to split into five separate and equal states. Chew on that for a minute.
More info: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/more-150…

I spent the night in Lufkin intending to call Central Texas HD in Round Rock (north Austin) about repairing my kickstand today. Then I did a facepalm and rerouted the GPS to just take me there. So, this morning I'm riding through Davey Crockett National Forest on part of the Texas Forest Trail route. I'm stopping at the many state historical markers along the route, most about towns. The one pictured had me laughing. "It was dynamited several times"? Texas doesn't seem to do well with boundaries 😅😂🤣.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 24 mileage: 229.7 (total 5167.9)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 61)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Heading South
12. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
I left mom's this morning heading east to Tyler to see my uncle in the hospital and stopping at the last DFW dealership.

Now, I've turned south, hoping to miss the storm coming up from Del Rio.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 23 mileage: 4.7 (total 4938.2)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 60)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Last Day at Mom's
11. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
I hit one more HD yesterday, then did some shopping for mom. She's had her first COVID shot, but my brother and I keep her home as much as possible.

When I got back to the house after shopping, I again noticed the kickstand went too far forward and wasn't springing back up as well as it used to, so I headed 1.6 miles away to Texas HD. ~~~ I grew up seeing the bar & shield highway sign and always wanted a bike. But I'm a girl. Motorcycling wasn't something girls were supposed to do. ~~~ The dealership is in a fairly new building, and the city built a road just for it, Texas Way, but the original building is still there as a used bike shop. Anyway, Service said the kickstand stop is worn, but they have to replace the entire assembly and didn't have the parts. In fact, only one HD in Texas has the part in stock...in Round Rock near Austin. So, I didn't get it fixed. I'll just be careful until I get to Austin. 🤞🤞🤞

This morning I ran for a few groceries and got my cheapest premium gas so far (except when I was forced to use low-grade a few times): $2.96 a gallon for 93 octane. AND I got 3 cents off of that for using my Kroger membership. Wow! The highest I've paid was $3.99 in the Everglades at the only gas station, but all of Florida was more than what I've seen in Texas.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 22 mileage: something's wrong with my daily math, but the running total is correct (total 4938.2)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 59)

[No selfie today.]Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
DFW Dealerships & BBQ
10. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Since I was so close, when I left my uncle's house I headed into the middle of the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex to see my mom. On the way, I hit three HDs in the north Dallas area. I actually went inside Black Gold because the pin on my front brake lever was coming out and the kickstand seems to be going too far forward. They didn't see anything wrong with the kickstand, but fixed the pin pretty quickly and didn't charge me anything. Nice.

The next morning I decided to hit the rest of the HDs in the area. There are only 8 🤣. My mouth started watering when I pulled into the third one, Stampede in Burleson, so I had to get me some grub at Hard Eight BBQ. Actually I've ordered a 8-ounce ribeye, baked potato, and blackberry cobbler. Heaven.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 21 mileage: 197.3 (total 4935.5)
HD Dealership Challenge: 6 (total 58)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Back in Emory
9. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F
I made it to Sulphur Springs yesterday and, because I had to use the restroom when I arrived, I enjoyed a moment in the Glass Bathrooms in the town center. I've had to pee in public before, but, you know, you find a tree or car door to hide behind. No hiding necessary here. The park also has chess tables, war memorials, and large chess and checkers boards. Pretty cool place. The courthouse is a Texas historical landmark (more info: https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and…).

After my morning appointment, I went back to The Barn in Emory to adjust my pack a bit, like offload my big camera that I haven't been using and scoop up my swimsuit that I forgot.

Right now, I'm at my uncle's house across the pasture waiting for the rain to pass before heading out again. The adorable tiny Yorkshire Terrier is Dixie Rose "Rosy," who must be about 4 or 5 months old now.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 20 mileage: 47.0 (total 4638.2)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Mostly Nothing
8. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
I had a wonderful day of doing mostly nothing yesterday 😁. It's good to take a break and sleep in a comfy bed.

Now I'm packing up the bike to head only a little further south while picking up some shopping, like toothpaste, etc.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 19 mileage: 0 (total still 4591.2)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
2 tykkäystä
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Laundry Day
7. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Yesterday I had lunch in Gladewater at Booshay's Central Station Cafe, which had a better shrimp po-boy than that "famous" place in New Orleans. Then I made my way up to Paris to hit two more Texas Tour stops and the HD. The Cowboy hat topped Eifel Tower was very odd.

I spent the night in Paris and since I'm staying tonight as well, right now I'm doing laundry.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 18 mileage: 156.4 (total 4591.2)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 52)
MCGTTX Stops: 2 (total 7)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
1
Back to the [former] Republic of Texas
6. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Did you know Texas was its own country? As such, it had borders with the Continental United States. One of these markers still stands. I LOVE BACK ROADS!!!
France: 1684–1689
Spain: 1690–1821
Mexico: 1821–1836
**Republic of Texas: 1836–1845**
USA: 1845–1860
Confederate States of America: 1861–1865
USA again: 1865-present
[Six flags have flown over Texas, hence the theme park name Six Flags Over Texas 😁.]

After stumbling across this amazing historical marker, I made my way to Marshall where I stayed the night. I called it an early day because the skies were looking like rain.

I left a little after 10:00 this morning and squiggled my way northwest to the HD in Longview. On the way I had a run in with a big white dog. Man, was he fast! He tore down the fence line like a blur, but he was behind the fence, so I just kept putting along at about 30 mph. What he knew, and I didn't, was that the fence just stopped. Out he came on my left flank, full speed, tail straight out, teeth bared, and I hit the gas to stay in front of him. Close one.

After Longview, I took more little farm roads to Gladewater. Now, I've stopped at three locations on the Texas Tour: the Elvis mural, the old derrick, and the museum. This is a pretty cool little town with a decent old downtown. If you're into antiques, this is apparently the place to shop.

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 17 mileage: 202.2 (total 4434.8)
HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 51)
MCGTTX Stops: 3 (total 5)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar Thinking of you, Dano 😉
6.4.2021Vastaa
Matkaajawish I were watching your six... thanks for the cool history lesson regarding 6 flags
7.4.2021Vastaa
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Kisatchie National Forest (Wow!)
5. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
After the ferry crossing, I came back into Texas at Port Arthur, wiggled up to Beaumont to hit Cowboy HD, then went back to Louisiana for two more dealerships before stopping for the night in Alexandria.

The entire gulf coast of LA is just oil. I could see 8 off-shore rigs at one point. Port Arthur, Texas, is just one huge refinery. And in Lake Charles, more evidence of devastating storm damage.

The drive to Alexandria was nice and uneventful except for one thing. At one point a hawk flew over me, low enough that if I had been in a cage [aka car] I wouldn't have been able to see him. He was fighting to stay airborne, loaded down with a black bird clutched in his talons. Beautiful.

I left the hotel--another dive of a Motel 6 but cheap--around 10:15 this morning. I've taken nothing but back roads, letting my GPS decide how to get me back to Texas. I'm so glad I did because I've just ridden through the Kisatchie National Forest along the Longleaf Trail Byway. Just amazing...and massive! The forest is 600,000 acres! It smelled intensive, the oily pine seeping into my nostrils. But I didn't leave my helmet up because the dragonflies were more like dragons! So huge I could see them coming and either dodged or ducked under the windscreen. What a beautiful road!

(More info: https://www.louisianatravel.com/)

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 16 mileage: 357.5 (total 4232.6)
HD Dealership Challenge: 3 (total 50)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys
Summer on the Harley Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Waiting for the Ferry
4. huhtikuuta 2021, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
The remainder of yesterday was warming weather then scattered rain, so I stopped before I got completely wet and before the temperature could begin to drop.

I've gone south this morning to pick up the Creole Nature Trail, which is Louisiana's portion of the 50 Rides 1 Nation challenge.

This part of Louisiana seems to have a significant role in the crawfish economy as there are hundreds of ponds in the area. Also, there is significant damage to man-made structures, mainly homes, from what I assume was a recent hurricane. Perhaps it was Sally, the storm that hit Pensacola.

Now, I'm about to board the ferry. It's warm enough today that two long-sleeve shirts and my fingerless gloves are plenty. Yay!

So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

Day 15 mileage: 297.0 (total 3875.1)
HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 47)
50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 2)Lue lisää
Katso käännös
1 tykkäys

Hanki oma matkailuprofiilisi

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