Glyndon and I ballanced our carbs, checked air in the tires, Oil level good! Packed the saddle bags, and posed for an in the drive way pic! Kissed the wife, She said have fun and be careful. It's 9:30am Tuesday, The day is starting to heat up so we better go! The house fades away and I'm excited! I love riding with Glyndon he can read my mind on a bike! Been riding by my side or following close behind on dirt roads and trails since he was 5 yrs. old!Still I'm a Dad and worry that he's going to do alright, after all this is the longest stretch we have done together in one day, I watch the mirror close and he's always in view. Miller Grove to Miniola I give a thumbs up in question and get a thumbs up so I know he's up to a few more miles, I'm getting hot and thirsty but lets make it to Tyler! I'm thinking he's got to be ready to pull over for a breather and cool off! So into a gas station I go for gatorade and top off the tank. What we stopping for Dad? Wow wish I was young again! We have to pace ourselves in this heat 94 degrees and 74% Hum. You can cut the air with a knife! Off we go.... At 70 to 75 miles an hour brents little oil temp gauge climbs a little above 210 degrees, Pretty country here between Tyler and Lufkin.... Looks like they are working on the road a little ways up... a couple of Harleys in front of us so we work our way up and stagger in formation... I get a wave from the lead bike... Yep road work for sure! tar and lose rocks we all slow down to about 50mph and a freakin semi comes by in the opposing lane and hammers every one of us with rocks! I'm hurting all over and way concerned about Glyn I look back and he is holding one side of his shield on by his free hand (a rock knocked his shield loose!) but looks like he made it I feel like I was shot! ( Got skin missing thru my shirt and a couple of quarter size bruises)Glyn, I and the (Harley guys) pull over into a gas station a few miles from the assault and check body parts and tell each other how bad that was! Wish each other well and part ways... I think to myself these Triumphs are awesome... been riding like the wind for almost 5 hours, I know we are getting close to the coast with crabbing fields on both sides of the roadway, ( we are west of Beaumont with Winnie in our rear views) That sure is a funny looking critter ran over up there! while passing it I realized I've never seen an alligator ran over on the roadway! opposums, squirls and skunks I got you covered on those but never an alligator! A big tall bridge ahead must be Bolivar! at the peak you can see the Gulf of Mexico! I'm realing feeling tired and a thumbs up check with Glyn says I'm good let's go!... Finally fm 3005 heading west along the coast! right next to the beach for miles and miles.... I've got to stop! Dad needs water gatorade anything cold and wet! might as well gas up Galveston about 20 miles out.... Off we go again felling a little refreshed we make it to Port Bolivar for the ferry ride to Galveston Island... The ferry was cool for Glyn as he's never been on one and the huge ships in the chanel fasinated him... I'm to tired to get excited now, I check the Odo and we have 330 miles behind us it's about 7:30pm... I call the wife on the ferry and asked her to scope us out a budget inn on the seawall, BTW (seawall & budget inn is an oxymoron) I said I'll call when were on the island to see what she found. Traffic was stop and go at times on the island so we stopped and called home, she found the cheapest place with a gulf view Ramada inn @ $96.00 clams
I said thanks baby I heading that way because Pop is tired! We had supper and hit the hay! The next morning we headed out west riding all the way to the end of fm 3005 on to the bluewater hiway on the way to Freeport, Lots of beautiful beach homes west of Galveston especially around Jamaica beach and resort, A $2.00 per vehicle toll bridge takes you over to Brazoria county and on to Surfside Beach, dang I don't remmember bikini's having that much lack of fabric when I was young! I guess I better watch the road! Ok Glyn this is the end it's turn around time let's grab a snack and Gas up and head back. We make it off the Island and stop again in Bolivar for gas and water to cool off but I'm growing a little concerned at the growing thunder clouds, Told Glyn I bet we get wet a way's up, Thats cool dad I'm up for it he says! It's to hot for the frogg toggs right now thats packed away! so off we go... about 20 miles down a few sprinkles here and there actually felt good and then all of a sudden the heavens opened up and dumped a deluge on us... pull over and get the frogg togg jackets out but way to late we were soaked... so we continued on thinking it would stop any time but it did not! Glyn and I rode thru 135 miles of rain!!!! heavy to light rain at times it was hard to see... At one gas stop Glyn said "U know I just thought I have rode in the rain" Man that was some bad to the bone rain! well son we are going to try and make it to Lake Livingston, Are you good for it? Let's go Pop! Thats my son! off we go Rain, Rain, Rain. Gas up and ride thru about 40 more miles of rain and finaly Livingston! A super 8 inn right on the hiway, A warm shower sounds good and call in a pizza and stay in the room! A plan well executed! the next morning 8:00am we head for home and ride the rest of the way in beautiful weather! a really nice ride thru the Davy Crocket Forest area. We pull up in the driveway at home and I feel like it was to short, I was tired but wishing I was still out riding! I told Glyn he done good! He rode like the wind and I was proud! you know what son? that was 749.5 miles round trip! Did you have fun? It was awesome Dad! Now I go and plan our next trip... where to now?
Smile for Mom please!
I hate Stopping for gas Dad!
Almost There!!!!!
Finally There! Hey sir can you take a pic of us?
Maybe we can just stay here! and have Mom bring us food and clothes!
