• Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
Mar – Oct 2021

Summer on the Harley

A 198-day adventure by Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar Read more
  • There is always room for pie

    April 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • A 6.5-Hour Loop

    April 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • Battle Buddies & Texas Caves

    April 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • Come and Take It!

    April 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • Crude, Corn, Cattle...& Camels?

    April 18, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 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)
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  • Southernmost Point

    April 19, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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/
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  • Luckenbach, Texas

    April 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 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)
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  • Hotel Day

    April 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 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! 😮
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  • Remembering the Alamo

    April 22, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • Thunderstorms in Austin

    April 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)
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  • Austin Aquarium

    April 24, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 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)
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  • Dueling Pianos

    April 24, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 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)
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  • HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally

    April 27, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 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)
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  • HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally Day 2

    April 28, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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)

  • HOG Texas Hill Country Road Rally Day 3

    April 29, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 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_oryx
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  • Rain Gear Again

    April 30, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Willie had his 25,000-mile service this morning, and I gave him a black derby cover. I love that HD will wash your bike after service. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture after the wash, but the attached photo is what it looked like 5 minutes before it was washed...and 5 minutes after it was washed. I just don't understand washing bikes and making beds. What's the point?

    After a great road rally and meeting several folks whom I hope to connect with again, I'm off to Little Rock for the next rally. It's raining buckets right now, so I've stopped to have lunch and to put on my rain gear 😭. Rain gear two days in a row?!

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

    Day 41 mileage: 321.2 (total 8393.2)
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  • Rain Gear Yet Again

    May 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    One of the guys I met at the Texas rally is also heading to Little Rock, so I connected with him this morning in Palestine to ride the rest of the way together.

    I was able to hit four stops on the Texas Tour yesterday and two more this morning. Half way!

    Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get out of the rain, so yet another day of yuck, from pouring to misting. My third day in a row with rain gear 😭.

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

    Day 42 mileage: 206.0 (total 8599.2)
    MCGTTX Stops: 6 (total 27)
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  • Day 4 of Rain Gear

    May 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    When will the rain stop 😭? What would have been great riding through northeast Texas and into Oklahoma has been disgusting. The Red River at the border crossing yesterday was raging.

    But, we made it to Oklahoma, stopping in Broken Bow for the night. Now, we're at Oklahoma's 50 Rides 1 Nation photo stop. I can't help but smile despite (to spite) the weather.

    So long [for now], and NO thanks for all the RAIN! ✌️

    Day 43 mileage: 420.6 (total 9019.8)
    HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 80)
    50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 4)
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  • At Least It's Not Raining

    May 3, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    After a long, very wet day yesterday, the sun is sort of out and it's not raining right now. However, the skies are dark with a coming storm. Oh well, everything is still wet anyway. 😭

    Now I've just had my rear tire replaced and signed in for the Ozarks rally 😁.

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

    Day 44 mileage: 285.9 (total 9305.7)
    HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 81)
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  • It's Raining. Again

    May 4, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌨 55 °F

    Yesterday, all I did was go from the hotel to the Rock City HD dealership twice. Cloudy but dry skies and a good temperature.

    Last night, a storm rolled through, but was gone by this morning. Unfortunately, we just caught it heading north to Springfield, MO. Buckets of it. And the temperature dropped 15 degrees F, so I'm both soaked and freezing. 😭😭😭

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

    Day 45 mileage: 32.8 (total 9338.5)
    HD Dealership Challenge: 3 (total 84)
    50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 5)
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  • It's Not Raining!!!

    May 5, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Yesterday was terrible despite collecting the Missouri 50 Rides and three dealerships. By the time I got to the hotel in Springfield, I was so wet and cold that I had to wear a bedsheet toga so I could put all of my clothes in the dryer. Luckily, they were done before the dinner at the dealership. But no way was I riding anymore, so I Ubered. Over 400 miles in that terrible weather. Why do I do this to myself? 🤣

    But today!! Very cold at 39°F but a beautiful sunny sky! Long johns on top and bottom, my hoodie AND my sweatshirt over my coat, and two pairs of gloves kept me from freezing. (Bill loaned me a pair of gloves because my thick, heated gloves are still wet from yesterday 😭.)

    I'm riding with Pete and Bill again today, but we're off the recommended route so we can ride the Arkansas 50 Rides a day early. It's called the Pig Trail and it's a twisty turny rollercoaster of a road! Woohoo!!

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

    Day 46 mileage: 433.8 (total 9772.3)
    HD Dealership Challenge: 1 (total 85)
    50 Rides, 1 Nation: 1 (total 6)
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  • Stupid Kickstand

    May 6, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    So, remember when I had that kickstand issue in the middle of April? Well, the same problem started again yesterday afternoon. This morning, I rode to Old Fort HD to take my picture and was getting off the bike to call Round Rock HD when the stand collapsed. The bike fell on my left ankle, and my stomach turned when I heard a very loud pop. The guys around HD picked up both me and the bike and called an ambulance. Now I'm waiting on the x-ray results to see if anything is broken. It's definitely sprained and very swollen. Fingers crossed I can slap a wrap and a boot on it and call it good for the next 6 weeks.

    The dealership was awesome and rolled the bike inside the shop with all my stuff. The manager gave me his card because he has 24/7 access to the building so I can get it out whenever I need. I love Harley!!

    Other than this mess, the morning ride down 59 was twisty and quick and smooth. I stopped at a natural dam and had to do a 3-point turn in loose dirt and gravel. Of course I did 🤣.

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

    Day 47 mileage: 342.5 (total 10114.8)
    HD Dealership Challenge: 2 (total 87)

    Update: The ankle is sprained and very swollen, but the cuboid bone in my foot is broken. I wrapped it, got my boot on, and just rode 100 miles to the end of the rally 🤣.
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  • Back to Dallas

    May 7, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    The Ride the Ozarks HOG Touring Rally was definitely worth the wet weather. The Pig Trail Scenic Route was as good as they said it would be, twists and hills galore. Best of all, I met several amazing people, a couple of which I'll see again at the next rally.

    When I got to the hotel room after the fin dinner and took off my boot, the bruising was starting to show. The swelling is still severe, but I could get my ankle brace and boot on this morning, so it doesn't seem to be worse.

    I left this morning just before 08:00 and have now stopped for lunch at a Chili's in Oklahoma on my way back to the Dallas area. I propped up my foot in a chair, which earned me a couple of foul glances, but I needed to elevate it. I haven't had any significant issues riding. 🤞🤞🤞

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

    Day 48 mileage: 250.9 (total 10365.7)
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  • RICE Day

    May 8, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    I made it to Dallas without issue and am now adjusting my route to the next touring rally event. My foot is killing me, but no riding today should help.

    R rest
    I ice
    C compression
    E elevation

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

    Day 49 mileage: 377.3 (total 10743.0)
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