Ride report, south of Dallas

(originally written to a non-motorcycle related journal)

I haven't been able to read (much less post) to this group in a
while - work has been hell lately. Anyway, I hope that maybe some
of you might appreciate a story from a recent (good!) ride...

Anyway.. Here goes...

Last Saturday, 2/21/04, I went riding on my motorcycle with my friend
(and boss), Mikael. It was a totally spur-of-the-moment type thing.
Once I got there, we decided to try this ride. Here is the route...
Bear in mind, it takes us about 60 to 70 miles to get from my boss'
house in Duncanville to Glen Rose, and it took me about 40 miles to get
from Garland to Duncanville:

http://www.ridetexas.com/TexMotoMainRides/RidingTheTexasNorseLands.htm

Starting in Glen Rose, we go south and west towards Lake Whitney. From
there we follow the long scenic FM 219 to Dublin for a refreshing taste
of the original formula Dr Pepper. After a break, we head east and north
towards Glen Rose.

From Glen Rose:

Head West on US 67 towards Stephenville, for about 7 miles. Turn left
onto FM 203, to Walnut Springs, for 12 miles.
Turn left onto FM 927, through Morgan, for 15 miles.
Turn right onto FM 56, for 13 miles.
Turn right onto TX 22, towards Meridian, for about 1 mile.
Turn left onto FM 219, to Dublin, for 66 miles.
Turn left onto TX 6.
Turn left onto US 67 to the Dr Pepper plant.
Head north on US 67, to TX 6.
(ignore the rest, we stayed on 67...)
Turn right onto TX 6, towards Hico, for 18 miles.
Turn left onto US 281, towards Stephenville, for about 1 mile.
Turn right onto FM 1824 for 4 miles.
At Duffau turn left onto FM 2481, for 6 miles.
Turn right onto US 67, to Glen Rose, for 18 miles.

We took 67 all the way back to Duncanville at the end. In Dublin, we got
to taste the original Dr. Pepper, made with Imperial Cane Sugar instead
of high fructose corn syrup. It is SO much more smooth and enjoyable!!
Anyway, as far as ride notes...

Right after getting onto 203 there were some SERIOUS twisties. I think
the road signs said to take them at like 30mph.. I think we accidentally
hit them going around 60. Man, that was a rush! I should have known
there was something serious up ahead because there was a group of sport
bike riders hanging out at the corner of 67 and 203.

Morgan is a scary town. It felt like we were riding through the movie set
of Deliverance. Trailer homes on dirt roads, little children sitting out
in front of said trailers with a dull look in their eyes. We tried to
speed quickly through this town.

56 and 22 were interesting, lots of so-called 40, 45, and 50 mph curves
that we took at around 70 and 80 mph when there wasn't some minivan,
pickup truck or slow-ass Harley couple in front of us.

Anyway, 219 was boring, for the most part. The "interesting" thing was
that the sun started going down. On a motorcycle, you can feel differences
in temperature, even when you hit a 3 second spot of shade. It's quite
startling at first, how much you can feel it. The whole day had been fine -
overcast, but in the high 60's to low 70's. Getting close to Dublin, we
started feeling the night. It started getting cool.. Rolling into Dublin,
we were a bit chilled, but we parked and unfortunately found the Dr. Pepper
plant had closed an hour before. We did find a convenience store, though,
that sold the original formula Dr. Pepper. I've never had anything like it.
Imagine Dr. Pepper, that sweet kinda prune-like taste, but.. Not harsh!
We both gulped down two bottles like it was nothing - water, or Gatorade,
since we were probably both a little bit dehydrated from the ride. It was
ambrosia. Oh, and it was cold. I asked the convenience store lady if they
had any long sleeve t-shirts for sale, or if she knew anyone that was still
open that might have any. She said "young man, the sidewalks roll up here
around 5 o'clock. It's after 6 o'clock. I'm afraid you're out of luck."

You see, it was a nice day, and I had worn just a t-shirt, black BDU's, and
my armoured summer-weight jacket, which happens to be made mostly of mesh -
the only armour I could ever wear in the Texas summer. Mikael had a t-shirt,
jeans, and his leather jacket that I had persuaded him to wear, so he was just
a little bit better-off than me when it became a bit chilly.

So. Mikael and I start heading back to Stephenville, along 67 - we had
decided to skip the rest of the scenic route and just try to get home as
quickly as possible. After several stops to warm up (we had started seeing
things, probably due to the hypothermia, but maybe just because it's so damn
DARK in the boonies), we finally reached Stephenville, where they have a
Wal*Mart. We left Wal*Mart with some very stylish grey XL sweat shirts and
pants, and some white cotton gloves.

Imagine this. Two large men, out in the Wal*Mart parking lot, donning huge
grey sweat pants and shirts over their otherwise chic (heh) attire, putting
on these cottony gloves under our riding gloves, and mounting out motorcycles.
Even being in Stephenville, we couldn't leave fast enough to get back on the
dark, anonymous highway.

We took 67 back to Duncanville, which was quite a long, boring ride. At
several places we hit pockets of much colder air that would bite through
our makeshift winter attire, numbing us, and helping to induce
hypothermia-related hallucinations. At several of our stops along the way
(we had to stop to limber our fingers and legs), we admitted to seeing
imaginary things running beside us, or following close behind. We were
totally unprepared for the cold - a mistake I hope to not repeat.

At one point, and this was not a hallucination, we stopped near some sort of
business / dwelling along 67. I finally had signal on my cell phone, so was
assuring my loved ones that I was alive and heading home. Oddly enough, a
small kitten ran up to us (startling both of us, and making my friend yelp
like a little girl! hehe) and started bumping and loving on our legs and
motorcycles! The cute little critter was purring and seemed well taken
care-of. I paid it almost no mind, but the little guy seemed to take a liking
to Mikael, and, I think, started playing with him. This kitten started
playing a dangerous game! He would get closer and closer to the highway with
semi trucks and other vehicles roaring by at over 60 miles per hour, almost
like he was enticing Mikael to try and follow him. Mikael was too smart for
this and stayed far away from the highway, calling frantincally to him from
the side of the road. The kitten would come back, but kept trying to play his
game. Finally, Mikael took the kitten and carried it far away from the
highway, and dropped it off. Shortly after, we were just about warmed up and
ready to make another 10 to 20 mile run, when we saw the kitten again!
Worried about it trying to go towards the highway, I had the bright idea of
starting my bike up and revving the engine to scare it away. I started my
bike... I revved the engine... .... The cute little kitten stared at me,
non-plussed... So. Mikael starts his Harley. Revs his engine with his
loud-ass straight pipes. Kitten? What kitten? It bolted! I guess my Suzuki
just didn't inspire fear in the cute little guy. He was gone. Heh.

We headed back to Duncanville, and I left my friend at his place and headed
home. Those back-country roads were so much more peaceful than trying to
negotiate I-35 and I-30 back towards Garland. At least the city is warmer,
but... Those Texas country highways are amazing.

I truly can't wait until it gets warmer to go further south and check out
the Hill Country.

- Eric

 

: (originally written to a non-motorcycle related journal)

: I haven't been able to read (much less post) to this group in a
: while - work has been hell lately. Anyway, I hope that maybe some
: of you might appreciate a story from a recent (good!) ride...

: Anyway.. Here goes...

<snip>

Thanks for the take along. Enjoyed it very much.

George Pollard

 

Man....I sure did enjoy your trip.. that's a good ride.. I have rode through
that area and it is one more good day ride.. Damn.. wish I could have been
along.. I am so envious of you and that friend of yours.. There is nothing
to compare with the experience of a fine machine, a good friend and the
miles of highway that only you and he share.. Each little incident, no
matter how insignificant become memorable.. Thanks for sharing ..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker