Ramble.. Ramble

Two full days on the road.. alone and lots of country to look at.
All the way back from Casa Grande, Arizona to Irving, I had
a lot of time to look, think and determine the solutions to all the
world problems.. Damn.. we sure do live in a beautiful and great
country.. Although Texas, New Mexico and Arizona is just a small
part of this great land.. we can find a little piece here and there
that represents the finest of our America..

This newsgroup is a little slow right now, so I thought I'd just take
the opportunity to share some of the thoughts that occurred to me
on that solitary ride home..

While I faced that bright morning sun.. east on IH-10 out of Tucson,
there wasn't much to obstruct the panorama around me.. The sun
hadn't developed the heat for the day and it was reasonably pleas-
ant.. To my right and south of me, there was the range of mountains
which border the U.S. and Mexico.. just clear as a bell and without
the customary haze which we normally see around the metropolitan
areas.. Having riden through those mountains, I'd imagine the small
towns.. Sonoita.. Bisbee and Tomstone.. small gems of civilization
dotted in there, to make Man's impression on the land.. This is the
land where the likes of Wyatt Earp and his brothers contributed to
bringing some order to the infant country.. The Clanton's were there
with their companions and they also contributed to that development..
Patagonia is truly a diamond in the rough.. Now, it is only a token of
it's former glory days.. Serving as a getaway for the well to do..

As I rode through Texas Canyon.. the rock formations are awesome..
The thought going through my mind was that God sure had one hell-
uva project when he did this job.. The colors of those huge rock
formations are brilliant and that late morning sun, lit them with flash-
ing contrasts of gold, brown and burnt orange..

Trees bearing pecans and walnuts break the monotony of the desert..
Dark green with irrigation moisture applying a cooling texture to the
dry desert air, refreshes you as you pilot that motorcycle down that
interstate..

A late lunch and tank topper in Lordsburg, New Mexico and then back
on the road.. Again.. that distant mountain range to the south is com-
pelling.. I'd passed signs that would direct me to the indian strongholds
of Cochise and Geronimo.. They also inhabited this hostile land, along
with the Earps, Clantons and Doc Holliday.. They made their own con-
tributions to this great land, even though much of their lives were spent
in fierce opposition to the encroachment of our civilized progress..

From Las Cruces to El Paso.. I ran close along the border and much of
the time, I could clearly see Mexico.. For some reason, men like Pancho
Villa came to mind and I could visualize the Mexican banditos that would
cross back and forth to take advantage of that border..

At Las Cruces .. I saw the sign that would direct me to Mesilla.. been there
done that.. Men like Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett spent a lot of time in
that
area.. The Lincoln County cattle wars raged and they were caught up in it
to become famous .. One can easily fathom how men in that time, even
the not so famous.. would leave giant footprints to follow..

For miles on end.. the feedlots south of the interstate emit the smells of
cattle being fattened for our markets and the ones who supply much of
the milk that we drink.. Not really pleasant, but it is also a part of this
great
land in that area..

El Paso del Norte.. sister city of Juarez, Mexico.. separated by a river
they
call Rio Grande.. You can see many of the Maquiladores along the border..
That's the small assembly factories that American manufacturers use for
final assembly of many of the products that find their way into our homes..
They've contributed to the economy in that area.. good or bad.. and have
forced the leaders of Juarez to come to grips with public housing, etc.
El Paso has also been faced with similar problems caused by the rapid
influx of the workers who came north to get a small part of that
prosperity..

On past El Paso.. there isn't much scenery to hold your attention and the
heat of the day was beginning to bear down on me.. Still, the panoramic
beauty of such a vast land is breathtaking..

Then suddenly, you begin to climb.. the engine of the Green Vulcan was
working hard to maintain speed .. Winds began to pick up and the hills
begin to take on a slightly different appearance.. There is scrub trees and
some greenery, but not much.. After going through the INS inspection
station.. suddenly I've reached the crest of the mountain and there is
Sierra Blanca.. a small town that surprises you when it suddenly is just
there.. Time changes and you've gained an hour as you enter the Central
Mountain time zone.. Then.. there is Van Horn.. couple of truck stops, a
few motels and restaurants.. good place to spend the night for a well
deserved rest, after a hard days ride..

The long grade up from the El Paso side of that mountain is reversed the
next morning when you've left Van Horn.. Mostly downhill .. all the way to
Pecos.. Again.. the scenery is breathtaking.. Vast, wild and miles of not
much.. Monahans, Odessa and Midlands .. where the oilfields once boom-
ed.. The remnants of those oil boom days, still sit alongside the highway..
The abandoned buildings where the oil companies that developed those
fields and the equipment needed to run them, are stark reminders that
the area once claimed the wealthiest amongst us..

Then we come to Big Springs.. mostly agricultural production and the
largest employer would be the Federal prison that sits alongside the road
to remind us that too many of us have abused our laws and are paying the
price, with the loss of their freedom.. Freedom to ride that motorcycle on
that fantastic highway.. think about it..

Sweetwater and Abilene.. mostly farmland and the huge fields in production
goes on for miles and miles.. From Abilene.. the land is changing again and
it becomes rolling hills.. greener and more colorful.. Cisco, Eastland,
Ranger
and Weatherford.. all of it making up a small part of what our America is
all
about.. We ride these highways and sometimes we are filled with boredom..
Sometimes we see things that the ordinary traveller never sees.. That's part
of the attraction for travelling on a motorcycle.. As we ride through it, we
be-
come part of the land .. We become part of all things around us.. The senses
are filled with the touch, feel, smells and yeah.. sometimes you can even
taste
this land as you pass through..

It sure was good to get back to La Casa.. the Mexican was happy to see me
back, safe and sound.. It's home.. The marvels and the mysteries that I ex-
perience on these trips are difficult to articulate.. Each and every run is
unique.
Each and every run brings new excitement and adventure.. I'm anxious to make
the next one..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Well said. Reminds me that ALL motorcyclists have things in common
with one another.

 

Yes.. we do, Tim.. Sometimes, I think that we should constantly remind
ourselves about what a great and wonderful land that we've been blessed
to live in..

 

Very interesting, well composed.

Bill, when did you and Houston Jerry part company? I thought he'd rode
with you to atleast Van Horn?


Thanks again, for your, not only interesting, but quite informative.

Tim was right, if most that come on these types of forums, truly do
''Ride'',then we indeed have atleast one main thing in common, afterall
is said and done, yep,''Riding a motorcycle''. awrighty.
;-)) B.J. Kana

 

Never part of the "plan".. Jerry's intent was to ride on from Casa Grande
to California.. Unfortunately, his Valkyrie developed a mechanical prob-
lem and he felt it was necessary to return to Houston.. to make the nec-
essary repairs, himself.. It was pre-ordained that I'd more than likely ride
back to Texas alone..

Missed the point of the post.. again.. did'ja ? You can ride a motorcycle
in
your back yard.. or around the block..

 

Bill Walker says to bjay:

(bjay said this earlier)

Bill,
''Tim was right, if most that come on these types of forums, truly do
''Ride'',then we indeed have atleast one main thing in common, afterall
is said and done, yep,''Riding a motorcycle'' ;-))   Bjay)

Bjay,
Missed the point of the post.. again.. did'ja ? You can ride a
motorcycle
in your back yard.. or around the block..
BillWalker)




Bill: ''I'' thought Tim was saying about what I said above?

So, I missed the point of your post, did I?
hmmmmmmmmmm? didnt mean to.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

BillWalker tells bjay:
''Bjay: ''Never part of the "plan".. Jerry's intent was to ride on from
Casa Grande to California.. Unfortunately, his Valkyrie developed a
mechanical prob- lem and he felt it was necessary to return to Houston..
to make the nec- essary repairs, himself.. It was pre-ordained that I'd
more than likely ride back to Texas alone.. BillWalker)




I honestly knew of Jerrys original plans to ride to S.F.

But when he decided to turn around on account of the Valks' Forks
problem that he noticed in Casa Grande, I assumed you and he rode
together back as far a Van Horn, then split.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

Bill Walker says to bjay:

(bjay said this earlier)

Bill,
''Tim was right, if most that come on these types of forums, truly do
''Ride'',then we indeed have atleast one main thing in common, afterall
is said and done, yep,''Riding a motorcycle'' ;-)) Bjay)

Bjay,
Missed the point of the post.. again.. did'ja ? You can ride a
motorcycle
in your back yard.. or around the block..
BillWalker)




Bill: ''I'' thought Tim was saying about what I said above?

So, I missed the point of your post, did I?
hmmmmmmmmmm? didnt mean to.

I'm not sure that Tim Morrow caught the drift, either.. Bjay..
No foul and no harm done.. Read it again..

Bill Walker

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

Nah.. I offerred to ride back with him.. That ole hard head made some
kind of comment, like.. "You can't keep up" or something like that..

I stayed behind and got caught up with my visiting with my old pard and
his little wife.. then Louie and his bride showed up and we made a damn
good ride up into the mountains the next day.. Saw some of the stuff I'd
seen before and some of the new stuff that has been developed, since..

I suspect that Jerry was real concerned about the safety of his motor-
cycle and the long delay in getting parts for it.. I suspect he was also
thinking of consideration for the quality of my visit with my old friend..
Can't put too much credibility in that "Can't keep up" comment, because
everyone knows better than all that.. LMAO

Anyway.. both Jerry and me.. made the ride back to Texas, solo.. hmmm
Louie, of course had the Sheriff.. as two up with him.. Now, that's a match-
ed set.. she's a good trip recorder too, with that camera of hers..

Bill Walker

 

What I got from the posting was that we can all share the feelings of
freedom, and openness, and beauty of the country that you described
when we ride our motorcycles. I got the feeling that it didn't matter
what brand or style of bike you were riding, whether you were a
"biker" or a "rider" or a "motorcyclist," or whether you were a Texan
or a Virginian, or Californian, or New Yorker; that there is beauty to
be found, and peace and joy to be discovered whoever you are and where
ever you ride on a motorcycle here in this wonderful country of ours.

If that's wrong, I truly did miss the point!

 

You got it.. perzactly.. We're on the same page..

 

Can't put too much credibility in that "Can't keep up" comment,
because
everyone knows better than all that.. LMAO


WTF..Was the Green One running bad or something? What would give Jerry
that idea? Did you race him to the state line and show him HE couldnt
keep up?? damn.......LMAOOOOO.

Redshad

 

Bill Walker says to bjay:

(bjay said this earlier)

Bill,
''Tim was right, if most that come on these types of forums, truly do
''Ride'',then we indeed have atleast one main thing in common, afterall
is said and done, yep,''Riding a motorcycle'' ;-)) Bjay)

Bjay,
Missed the point of the post.. again.. did'ja ? You can ride a
motorcycle
in your back yard.. or around the block..
BillWalker)




Bill: ''I'' thought Tim was saying about what I said above?

So, I missed the point of your post, did I?
hmmmmmmmmmm? didnt mean to.

Nope rather I'd say someone else missed the point yet again. <shrugs> oh well
like the man done said...you can lead a horse to water but you can't beat a lick
of sense into it.

 

<grin> You know I don't race anyone with my Green Vulcan.. Being the
gentleman
that we know he is, I'm thinking that Jerry was concerned about me cutting
my visit
short with that old friend of mine.. He just didn't want me to do that on
his behalf..

I'll have to admit that the Green One is running just a little bit rich,
since that carbur-
etor rebuild, though.. Runs great, but is a little hard to start after it
sits for a while..

Bill Walker

 

BillWallker esplains: Bjay--Anyway.. both Jerry and me.. made the ride
back to Texas, solo.. hmmm Louie, of course had the Sheriff.. as two up
with him.. Now, that's a match- ed set.. she's a good trip recorder too,
with that camera of hers..
Bill Walker





I got it.

Yeah, I can vouch to your riding skills.

Anybody have any doubt, just ask me or the rest of the bunch on here.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

Tim Morrow answers:
Bill--''What I got from the posting was that we can all share the
feelings of freedom, and openness, and beauty of the country that you
described when we ride our motorcycles. I got the feeling that it didn't
matter what brand or style of bike you were riding, whether you were a
"biker" or a "rider" or a "motorcyclist," or whether you were a Texan or
a Virginian, or Californian, or New Yorker; that there is beauty to be
found, and peace and joy to be discovered whoever you are and where ever
you ride on a motorcycle here in this wonderful country of ours.
If that's wrong, I truly did miss the point!




TIM,you got it.. perzactly.. We're on the same page.. BillWalker.



So, that makes three of us , that got it, right.

Mine was a readers digest version, I believe. -chuckle--



B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

hmmm.. Well.. okay..

 

HUH ? How'd my riding skills get into this ?