It wasn't the ride I'd planned to make, but it was a ride...

[Serk]

I got a wild hair yesterday, and was making arrangements to get up early today and do the Talimena run. Most people don't know it, but it's possible to leave the D/FW Metromess early in the morning and be in the mountains, on an excellent twisty road, by lunch, and make it home in time for a late dinner. About 500 miles round trip, it's been way too long since I've done this ride, so was looking forward to it. The elder spawn was very excited and wanted to come with me.

Went to bed with visions of twisty mountain roads on the new to me Interstate, woke up..... to rain...

In Dallas... In August.

That was unexpected.

Checked the radar, most of the ride would be in the rain, so I called it off. I'll ride in the rain if I need to get somewhere, but for a ride that I'm making just for the fun of the ride, I'll pass.

Few hours passed, the weather started clearing out, I made arrangements for Kali and I to meet my parents for lunch (And yes, I do recognize how blessed I am to still be able to write that sentence, and I know those days won't last forever.)

We rode about 15 miles away to a little diner, excellent food and amazing prices (As in chicken fried steak with 2 sides, toast, etc was $6.99!) Had a lovely lunch with my parents and the elder spawn, but decided we needed more riding (Mommy was in a mood, we were in no hurry to go back home!)

There's a bit of a landmark near me that I've been taking pics of my bikes next to for almost 20 years, and realized I hadn't gotten a pic of the Interstate in front of it, so we had a general direction to head in.





(Time and idiots have not been kind to the place, here's my original Valk in front of in in early 2001)



From there we headed out randomly on back roads, went across some nice Texas lakes (But didn't stop for pictures, was too into the groove.) We made a grand loop around Lake Tawakoni, stopped at a Hysterical Marker at the dam that made the lake. Turns out this was the site of one of the first CSA training camps at the beginning of The War of Yankee Aggression:



We ambled on some more, randomly turning down roads that looked interesting (The power of the GPS, it gives you the freedom to get lost and not worry) Got drizzled on a bit, even rained on some, the Interstate takes care of that very well though.

Eventually made it back home, Mommy was in a much better mood, so I started doing some more tinkering on the Interstate (Once it cooled off flushed the radiator, and my peg lowering kit finally came in from Poland, so those were installed and adjusted.) Also took Kali to the high school parking lot to let her practice riding some more (This time on the Helix, since that will be "her" bike)

Somewhere in there it started raining in earnest, so the triplets did their duty by running around in the rain jumping in puddles and all those other fun things kids are 'sposed to do.



So... It wasn't the ride I'd planned on making. But it was a ride. A good ride. And a great day.

Hope ya'll have had great days as well! I'll hafta make that Talimena run soon though.

[Bigwolf]

Good report Brian,
Thank for sharing your day with the rest of us.

Bigwolf

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like a great day ! $6.99 ?     (I love chicken fried steak)

[John Schmidt]

Sounds like a great day ! $6.99 ?     (I love chicken fried steak)

Our chickens aren't that talented back home in Iowa, we had to fry the steaks ourselves.    When traveling I always try to hit the truck stops, usually good food with prices to match....or small town diners which are in the same category. Having your daughter learning to ride reminds me of the guy that owns the golf course where we live. Some years back he taught his fiance to ride on one of his collector bikes....a 1st. yr. original HD knucklehead. Someone called the cops because a guy and girl were riding a motorcycle down the middle of the #3 fairway. Turned out it was the course owner, told the cops he wanted her to learn on soft grass in case she dumped it. Everyone had a good chuckle and moved on, his girl never dropped it while learning. When they went on a trip and took it and a couple other bikes along, it was he who dropped it on a mountain road somewhere in Colorado.

[Hook#3287]

Great report Serk  

That transplanted Interstate looks very comfortable in the Lone Star State.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like a great day ! $6.99 ?     (I love chicken fried steak)

Our chickens aren't that talented back home in Iowa, we had to fry the steaks ourselves.   

something tells me, you've used that joke before   

[rocketray]

Try 80 east..south to College Mound road..great sweepers.to 243 east to Canton....keep going straight for some 10 miles and turn right to go into Ben Wheeler...great food joint on right in town--has a bar with great Burl wood...continue on into Odom and then head south on  314 which hooks up with 315..which is the Texas Forest Trail...all the way in Palestine..you can backtrack entirely or you do cross  Hi-way 175 for a faster return trip to the Metro-mess....in my opinion the best close ride we have..the Mena trip is a long day with a lot of "dog miles" but the most popular day trip from Dallas

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks for taking the time to share the ride 

[DDT (12)]

Serk,

Congrats! Fate has dealt you a rather complicated hand, but you seem to be playing it masterfully!!! I admire the way you strike a balance between all of the competing facets and obtuse angles, yet seem to have found happiness for yourself and facilitated that for those sharing your orbit. Well done!

I also appreciate the sharing of your rides with us. Very interesting insights about the rides, but even more about life and the seeking of the things that really matter. Again, congrats... you're doing an impressive job!

DDT

[henry 008]