The Last Adventure of 2011

[hppants]

I returned home safely yesterday after 2 days of motorcycling nirvana.  It was about 750 miles and I averaged about 42 mpg.  The bike ran flawless as expected.  I left the house with a rear tire about 75% worn, and by the time I got home, it was finished.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, with low 40’s in the early morning, warming up to the mid 60’s under a cloudless sky.  This is not much of a ride report, as I found myself enjoying the riding more than the picture taking.  None the less, I hope you enjoy the report.

I planned to ride a couple of days in East Texas this week.  Although I invited several people to join me, all had other plans, so I decided to go alone.  I woke up Thursday morning at 5:30 am to a text from a friend of mine.

 (Mike) “What time are you leaving this morning?”

(Pants) “Around 7:00 – why”

(Mike) “Can you wait until 7:30?  I’d like to join you”

(Pants)  Hot Damm!  – Meet me at the Chevron on the Duson Exit”

Cool!  Mike rides a 2004 ST1300 with about 90K on it, bought new.  We’ve done day trips before and enjoy a similar riding style and interest in routes (this is a big key to a good road trip).  Mike’s bike is all farkled out with heated grips, HID driving lights, Garmin Zumo GPS, intercom (for SOQS), Givi top box, etc.   The FJR is a little quicker, but the ST rides just like the FJR – they are very similar bikes.  The ST has larger capacity saddle bags, and the mirror/fairing design offer some hand wind protection compared to the FJR.  We get the same fuel mileage, but the ST holds 7.7 gallons, compared to the FJR’s 6.6.



All packed up, soon we are heading Northwest.  One of Mike’s headlight bulbs burnt just out of town, but we quickly replaced that in Lake Charles (thanks to O’Reily autoparts for some assistance).  In a couple of hours, we cross the Texas border and I can feel the real world drifting away.



We continue riding the twisties on the west side of Toledo Bend northward to Hemphill Texas.  These roads are glass smooth with 70 mph speed limits and virtually NO TRAFFIC!!  It was fantastic.  Stopped at a diner there to eat lunch.



Sorry – no food pic – I had a club sandwich $6.00 special including fries and drink.  Then it’s back on the roller coaster for more thrills.  I am having fun as the weather is perfect.  No wind and I have just the right amount of clothes on.  We stopped at Lake Murval to look around.



Then it was onward to Carthage for the night.  Uh Houston, we have a problem.  Carthage is a DRY TOWN.  Pants needs a beer after 400 miles of riding – I mean, it’s kind of like a pre-requisite, no?  So, since we are making a 25 mile beer run to Marshall Texas anyway, we might as well eat there too.

[hppants]

We both opted for Chicken Ceaser Salads.  I almost forgot to take the pic.



Then it’s off to the liquor store, ride back to the hotel, and enjoy a couple of Belgian Ale’s and a bowl game.

The next morning it was about 40 degrees at daybreak, so we walked to the hotel lobby for some biscuits, eggs, and sausage (complimentary with our stay!!).  Afterwards, we wiped down the horses waiting for it to warm up a tad.



Then it’s down the road we go heading West, then South, then East, then North – wherever the map looked inviting.  When I say NO traffic, I mean it…



Still a little bit of color in East Texas



This old shack made a great “call of nature” stop for Pants.

[hppants]

Finding adventure



Nice ranch house in the country



Further along the way, we stop at the Angelina River, which was dammed to form the famous Sam Rayburn Resevoir.



My sediments exactly, Mike.



It’s peaceful here – we walk along the river side for a while.

[hppants]

What a great year this has been.



A little further down the road, we ride into Nacogdoches, Texas.  The downtown area is like a scene from the old Wild West.  Crappy picture from the bike at a red light – but you get the idea.



Then we rip it east down hwy 21 (great road BTW) to the town of Milam.  At a stop sign, I get a smell of something and it makes my mouth water.



Oh yeah baby, fresh fried catfish.  $7.00 including the drink.



After lunch, we head south re-tracing our steps to Hemphill, then into Louisiana and home.  Here’s the route we rode:

[hppants]

And here’s a look at my rear tire upon arrival at home (yikes):



Earlier in the day, I got a text from my neighbor and friend Brody (some of you have heard me write about him) – “come see me when you get back, I got a surprise to show you.

Look what he bought.



It’s a 2001 Standard Soft-tail loaded with all kinds of stuff I can’t even remember.  Holy Crap, is this bike loud!!  He’s riding behind me, no question about it.  Brody’s a stock broker and financial planner.  The local H/D dealer is by far his biggest client.  So, I get that he has to buy a Harley.  But how is he going to ride 300+ miles in a day with this?  Oh well, he's not asking me to ride it.  Let the 2012 adventures begin…

[mattrowe19]

Once again, great report pants! Looks like it was a great ride!

[Burgi]

As I started reading this one of my first thoughts was....hope he posts a picture of his tire.  Oh well, at least I can laugh at my lameness. 
Enjoyed the pictures hp, maybe not Brody's new ride but the rest.  Guess you won't be bringing him along to the Rocky Mountain rally on that?

[hockeyhawk]

Nice looking ride pants. Great pics and that cat fish looks awesome, thanks now i'm hungry.

[Falban]

 
Love the ST and the FJR
Many happy miles in 2012.

[ailkel]

Awesome ride Pants.  You sure know how to ring in a New Year. 

Maybe someone should make a map highlighting the dry counties in lets say in red for instance.  Just sayin... it might be helpful.

[fishball]

What a great ride to finish 2011.  Looking forward to more of your adventures in 2012.

[FearThis SC]

Your FJR looks GREAT!  Great RR, thanks for sharing!

Ride Safe...

[DesignFlaw06]

Good report as always. Can't wait until we get our FJRs together.

[skramer360]

Nice report pantsman. About the only thing I like about the Sportster is the rims, they look kind of cool.

You had at least another 25 miles left on those tires   

[ariwhiteboy]

Great report HP...I enjoyed it right up to the last picture. Maybe one day Brody will learn. 

[hppants]

Thank you for reading my report.

As I started reading this one of my first thoughts was....hope he posts a picture of his tire.  Oh well, at least I can laugh at my lameness. 
Enjoyed the pictures hp, maybe not Brody's new ride but the rest.  Guess you won't be bringing him along to the Rocky Mountain rally on that

Lameness likes company...    if I was reading my report, I'd want to see my tire too.  That's why it was included.  BTW - apparently I don't know how to read.     I've been complaining how the FJR eats rear tires and over the weekend, Mike and I had a chance to compare notes.  He runs the Michelin PR2 exclusively, and boast that he gets about 8K-9K miles out of a rear tire (Chromy, FYI).  Mine was smoked at 5500 miles - big difference.  Turns out, I'm NOT running the PR2.  I bought a Michelin Pilot POWER 2 - this is a sport bike tire.  Others on the FJR forum run this tire for more grip, but only get 3-4K out of it.  So, I guess I can't complain.  I ordered a Michelin PR3 for it and we will see what it yields.  Come to think about it, the bike had way more grip when I put that tire on it.     Will Mr. Spastic ever go away?

As for Brody, who knows.  He may end up riding the wheels off that bike.  Or he may sell it next week.  He's stated many times that he wants a Street Glide, which is heavy for day trips, but a nice touring bike.  I thought the Fat Bob was a good compromise for day tripping and some touring, except for the unbalanced motor.  We are already planning an overnighter in the next 6ish weeks.  I have a feeling that after 300 miles on the Corbin seat (with ALL his weight on the tail bone), this bike is history.

Maybe someone should make a map highlighting the dry counties in lets say in red for instance.  Just sayin... it might be helpful.

I knew that wheel had to be already invented....

http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Dry_county

Amazing that Louisiana has a dry Parish... who knew?  It's not that I'm a raging alcoholic, but there's nothing like a cold brew to wash down 400 miles of road.   

Can't wait until we get our FJRs together.

Me too, Tim.  I'm really hoping to make the Rocky Mountain Rally.  Are you considering an Ozark Rally in the late Spring?

About the only thing I like about the Sportster is the rims, they look kind of cool.

Oh make no mistake, this is a good looking bike.  I like that soft-tail concept - some suspension with the hard tail look.  Brody's not really brand loyal.  But with the H/D dealer providing so much of his income, it would not be a good business decision to buy anything else.  He should think a little before pulling the trigger though, IMO.

[cmyers]

Enjoyed the report Pants; I would love to ride that part of the country some day, thanks for sharing.

[FearThis SC]

Look at all the dry counties in Arkansas!  Must be the Southern Baptist thingy.....dunno, I'm Irish Catholic  




Ride Safe...

[hppants]

Well, I rode Brody's bike 10 miles this afternoon.  The seat is actually not that uncomfortable.  It's got pretty good power - not explosive, but it will definitely get out of it's own way.  And not much vibration - this motor has the counterbalancer in it.  The brakes are OK, not great, but adequate.  The bike does not turn well - this is expected considering the large front wheel and huge rake dimension.  The suspension is not very good - it's hard and the travel is very limited.

Holy Friggin Crap - it this thing ever loud.

Uh... I'll keep my FJR.  

[Burgi]

Same thing I thought on the Harleys I've ridden. If you want to get on a freeway and go in a straight line they are fine. Big, heavy and steady.
When I go on group rides in the canyons I always try to get near the front. I don't want to be stuck at their speed in the back and I sure don't want to get behind the pipes some of them run!

[DesignFlaw06]

Can't wait until we get our FJRs together.

Me too, Tim.  I'm really hoping to make the Rocky Mountain Rally.  Are you considering an Ozark Rally in the late Spring?

I've already got 3 trips planned this year. A 4th would be tough to do. I will keep it in mind, as stranger things have happened. But I'll definitely be at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

[luckylindy]

Another great adventure.  Wish I could have made that one as it was almost in my backyard.  Glad ya'll had a good ride.

[Hawks_Nest]

Very nice ride report again, hppants.  Have a wonderful New Year.

[pw363]

nice work as usual. thanks