Just me and 'Ole Yella.

[hppants]

Put about 375 miles of fun on the NH today.  I usually ride with others, but today, I went solo.  Got up early and left the house about 15 minutes after sunrise.  It was 60 degrees and cloudy early this morning, but the sun came out and it was in the mid 70’s by the afternoon.  I rode to the piney woods of the Kistachie National Forest.  Hope you enjoy the pics.

Slabbed it about 100 miles north behind a fierce southwestern wind.  As soon as I get off the interstate, the view starts getting nice.  Here’s Lake Cottie, amist some Louisiana color.



Through the back roads, I turned further North to the Kistachie Scenic Byway



I’ve ridden this road before, and it was just as good the second time.  Smooth, curvy with good views.  The entire time I was in the Kistachie National Forest, I did not see another vehicle or another person.  I had the whole place to myself.



Down the byway, I stopped at the Kistachie Wilderness Area.  Foot trails only.



Not a bad overlook for Louisiana.

[hppants]

I planned to do some hiking, so I changed into my blue jeans and scanned the map.




It’s a nice trail with great views.


Plenty of Sandstone everywhere to climb on.


These red-leaved plants were everywhere – it was real pretty.



The trail was interactive and I enjoyed reading about the local plants.

[hppants]

Deeper in the woods, I had some time to reflect.


This creek is dried up.


Real Surreal


Signature shot – pretty neat.


Back on the Scenic Byway, I’m enjoying the road all to myself.

[hppants]

The Kistachie Bayou was real peaceful today.  I stopped here for a little while.


What a great biking road.


I turned South for some more adventure.  A short time later, I found this cemetery so I stopped and walked around it.  Although the tombstones look fairly new, many of them have been replaced, as some of the deceased were gone for 50 years.


A little further South, I found Anderson’s Pond, a recreational area within the forest.  This place was awesome.  I walked around the entire pond.

[hppants]

Nice shot of the bike.


Not yet on reserve, but getting close, I was looking for fuel.  I hadn’t seen any civilization for at least 25 miles.  Rounded a bend in the road, and came upon this.


Got to love a place that will sell feed for both the livestock and the farmer!  The young lady behind the counter makes a pretty good burger.


Hey, the ‘ole girl turned 30 today.


It’s starting to get late in the day, so I head more South toward my home.  I did stop to watch this field under a controlled burn.  Not sure why it was burning, though.


Bike ran flawless, 46-49 mpg.  I adjusted my spitfire just a little more upright for today’s ride.  It helped in the wind, I think.

I sure do like my Nighhawk.

[isleofmanfan]

It was fun going for a ride with you Mr. Pants, thanks.  Oh ya, you have asked santa for a YELLOW jacket, right?      

[skramer360]

That's quite a mountain for Louisiana pants  Nice pics, that looks like my kind of ride. I generally like to ride solo.

[drdubb]

Good report. I'm jealous.

[fishmeister]

The Lone RangerPants rides again.

That mileage is unbelievable.

[hockeyhawk]

   Well done, great pics pants. 

[ariwhiteboy]

Nice report Pantsman...I'm goint to try to slip away on a 300+ mile "no destination" ride next week.

[fishball]

Great ride, I really like the Kistachie National Forest.  Thanks for posting.

[luckylindy]

Looks like another good adventure. Great weather and roads make a great ride.  I've got to meet the LA guys  there in the near future. 

[Hangster]

Love the Solo riding HPP , nothing like that "go where you please and do what you feel " feeling..... nice RR.

[Burgi]

Nice color in those trees. 

[hppants]

Thanks for reading the report and the replies.

Oh ya, you have asked santa for a YELLOW jacket, right?

I guess when I wear out my current jacket, I'll look for one.  No doubt, I really stand out now - which is a good thing.

That's quite a mountain for Louisiana pants

I saw a sign that the highest point in the park was a nose-bleeding 320 feet!   

That mileage is unbelievable

That's about 7,000 for the yellow bike in about 4 months, about 11,000 for the year on both bikes.  And I've still got one week to go.  Brody, my other neighbor, and I are planning an overnight next week.  Not too shaby for a weekender.  Yesterday, for a minute, I was thinking that I am wearing this bike out too quickly.  Then I said to myself "Heck - I didn't buy it to sit in my garage.  When I wear this one out, I'm gonna buy another one."

I've got to meet the LA guys  there in the near future.

You missed a good one Lindy.  You would have enjoyed the curves on that road with me.  I'll be going back for sure and make sure you get invited then.

that "go where you please and do what you feel " feeling.....

Good point Hangster.  I had no schedule and it was fun to stop at times and think about the meaning of life.

Well, my Dad's pulling in the driveway.  Should be a good day for fishing.  Life is good.

[ariwhiteboy]

Pics of the Catch! 

[LOKi]

Sorry I missed the ride Pants. I'll have to check out those rocks. One more month and I'm back to riding every weekend. Jan 29th I'll be taking my first weekend trip.

[JB1290]

  Great report.

[hppants]

I'll have to check out those rocks. One more month and I'm back to riding every weekend. Jan 29th I'll be taking my first weekend trip.

Loki - you would have enjoyed climbing these rocks.  Not very large, but you would have scaled them I'm sure.  Looking foward to riding with you next year.

Pics of the Catch!

Oops, too late.  Dad and I had a nice time although the tide was so low, I was kicking mud in my prop wash heading into the honey hole.  We caught about 25 nice redfish (keeping our creel of 10 only), released 2 large Black Drum (20ish pounds each on 10# test), 1 smallish flounder, and  3 blue channel catfish that will go nicely into the oil.  There already cleaned up - gave most to my Dad, and a few I'm ready to cook tonight.  Gonna go out and light the grill shortly.  The coastal marsh was hoping today, we must have seen 40-50 different species of birds including a Cooper's Hawk feeding on a freshly caught mullet.  That in itself was worth the trip.

[LOKi]

My buddy's boat is pretty new. Two or three years tops. His prop is already chewed up pretty bad. Already considering taking it in to have it reworked. Mud and shell eats up props surprisingly fast.

You have to be careful boating in South Louisiana. Mud flats can stretch out for miles. A boat on step draws about 2" or 3", if that, so with the engine down you can get up onto some 5" deep mudflats and not even realize it. Then two miles in you come off step to turn around or to do a little fishing and now your screwed. With the bottom of the boat dragging in the mud there is no way the outboard will launch you up on step again. Your only option is to putter out with the outboard tilted way back. If the tied is dropping you could be in real trouble. As the skinny spots become dry spots and your trapped for 12 hours. In the winter that means over night because that is when our tied comes in.

SOooo Pants. This honey hole you speak of. You going to show me this one day? I'll show you a bunch of spots in Dularge in exchange. 

[hppants]

Oh yeah - I gave up fishing secrecy decades ago.  It's still a free country, for Heaven's sake.  No matter where I fish, I've got way more spots than the day is long.  If you come with me, I'll show you whatever I know.

I've gotten caught in low tide, run aground on a reef, motor trouble, sinking boat, electrical fire on board, you name it.  I could start a whole forum on fishing follies.  I've spent a night in the marsh more than once.  It's dark - unbelievablly dark.  it's loud too - the critters moving around play tricks on ya.  The mosquitos are tenacious - the mud trick on exposed skin works, but the mud itself will give your skin an itchy rash.  I always bring at least 2 days water and some emergency food.  SOQS always knows which landing I'm going out of and if she doesn't hear from me by 1/2 hour after dark, she can send the Posse after me, cause I'm in trouble.  Since I bought my current boat, it's not been much of a problem, cause I'm not fishing in open water anymore.

[n5tbu]

Joey,I would have tagged along,if I knew ahead of time.
But Solo is good too,as you know,as you had a good ride.
Your reported MPG's don't jive with what I have seen is your driving style!
I'm sure Ricky could clear it up for us,LOL
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