A Picture is Worth 1000 Words!!!

[hppants]

Got a PM from Loki on Thursday inquiring about a day trip on Saturday.  He might as well asked me if I'd like a free case of my favorite beer - no brainer.  I invited several others, including some other NHF members, but the timing was not right, so we ventured out on our own.  Weather was perfect - about 40 degrees at daybreak, warming to about 60 mid-day, and hardly a cloud in the sky.  We planned about 200 miles, and it worked out that way.  Not many pictures, but Loki did take some video, so I'm hopeful we got something different for ya'll to see.

As many of you will attest, if you are going to ride 200 miles with Loki, you better have your stuff ready, 'cause he knows how to rip it.  So I did my pre-trip bike inspection on Friday evening - all systems go!  Got up early on Saturday and was geared up and grabbing gears by 7 am.  Rode about 25 miles to Loki's parents' house in New Iberia, LA.  Warmed up with a nice cup of coffee and some conversation with Loki and his Dad.  Then we hit the road.

I "followed" Loki the back way to Morgan City, LA.  I use that term loosely, cause I hardly kept him in sight - that black NH was certainly hitting on all cylinders.  This was new road for me and I was being a little cautious as the sun was directly in my eyes..  We stopped in Morgan City for a snack.  Loki's bike looks prepared for anything.



I then took the lead along the swamps, adjacent to lakes, enjoying the relatively traffic free backroads.  We stopped at my favorite drag strip and I asked a worker if we could run the NH's down the track.  Long story short, that's going to cost way more than it's worth, so I'll have to figure something else out.

So we hit the curvy back roads to Plaquimine, LA, and stop to visit the Plaquimine Lock State Historic Site. 

http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iplaqlock.aspx

Loki's wearing his adventurer's hat.



I have no idea who Ronnie is .... idiots.



Here's a shot of the lock itself.  It used to allow navigation from the Atchafalaya Basin to the Mississippi River, but now there are easier ways to get there if you are a boat captain.

[hppants]

The pump intakes are pretty big.  The Mississippi is kind of low this time of year waiting on the snow melt from above.



Then we hit a twisty road to the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete.  The big girl is pacing her cage this afternoon.



Decided to eat at the restaurant.  Loki got the shrimp poboy and I chose a BLT.  Pretty good.



From there, we slabbed it a little to shorten the ride, then took the back way to St. Martinville, LA, where we parted ways.  Some great riding among friends.  When I got home, I was wiping Ole Yella down and saw something that tells 1000 words.  Check out the new wear lines on my back tire.



As I said, not much pictures this time, but what a blast!!   

[fishball]

Excellent.  Those sandwiches are making me hungry.

[ariwhiteboy]

Great report Pants...I'm jonesing to ride with you and Loki again.

[drdubb]

Great report Pants...I'm jonesing to ride with you and Loki again.

Makes me think we need quarterly rallies. Louisiana, Georgia and of course NC x2.

[ariwhiteboy]

I did my part....   Some people couldn't make it. 

[drdubb]

No offense dude, I chose the Cannonball Run for that month's trip. BRP in October. Three overnighters was a lot for SOQS to swallow.

Just drove back from FLA, its a long way to Savannah!!. ( I would like to see that 8th Air Force Museum.)

[luckylindy]

That rear tire looks like it was leaned over a bit in the curves.   Ole Yella is on the way to many miles in 2011.   

[R7000]

Nice ride.  Yesterday was nice (but a bit cold).

Tom

[skramer360]

Nice ride pants. Its good to keep the tire worn evenly 

[ariwhiteboy]

You know I'm just messin with you doc...   I look forward to riding with you again, whenever that might be.  I would be happy to take you to the Mighty 8th museum, I've lived here a few years and have never been there myself.

[hppants]

Nice ride.  Yesterday was nice (but a bit cold).

Missed a nice one, Tom.  We'll get together some other time.

Makes me think we need quarterly rallies. Louisiana, Georgia and of course NC x2

Loki and I were discussing this over lunch Saturday.  Here, it would have to be a Winter or Spring thing, 'cause our Summers can be brutal.  Maybe next Spring - we'll see.  I've got plenty of nice routes for sure!!

Its good to keep the tire worn evenly

Yep - I love twisty riding on the NH.  Loki's mud grips were having no trouble either.

I cut our ride Saturday kind of short because SOQS's friend invited her and I to their house for the Saints game.  I've only met the friend once or twice, and one never knows how these things are going to turn out. 

As luck would have it, her friend's HOQS is a biker!    Rides a 2008 Goldwing he bought new - 27K on it now, he rides it - gorgeous black bike.  And guess what his previous bike is?  Yep - a '97 NH750!!  He bought it new and get this - it has 100,500 miles!!!!  He's my hero!  Been all over the country on that bike.  We talked incessively, hardly watched the game.  Since he bought the wing, the NH's carbs have gotten gummed up, but I think I inspired him to get her going again.  He's not a computer guy, so no new NHF member, but I found a new biking buddy.   

[ariwhiteboy]

See, everything happens for a reason Pantsman! 

[Laminar]

Now I reeeeally want some bacon.

[Hangster]

Hey Hppants .....What's that memorial  looking thing there on the kittens fence !?  Kitteh didn't eat somebody by chance 

[hppants]

Didn't notice those flowers on the fence that day.   

[LOKi]

I had a great time. Tom, it was a little chilly at first but Pants and I had to remove layers after the locks. You missed out on a great ride. It took us 6 hours to make the 200 mile loop. And it's not like we where sitting in the saddle for 6 hours straight. We ride a little more spirited than 33mph. For that 6 hour trip we hung out off the bike for about 1/2 the time. When we did get on the bikes it was twisty fun roads.

[LOKi]

I'll try to edit those videos after my bicycle ride after work.

Pants. The ride home yesterday SUCKED DONKEY BUTT! Not only did it rain the entire way but I had a wicked cross wind. I had to tilt my head into the wind so I could maintain a crack at the bottom of the face shield to eliminate fogging without getting water blown in from the sides. When it gets really bad like that I keep wanting to slow down. But when I slowed down I would get more wet. Maintained 78mph slabbing it all the way home just able to keep it in my lane as gusts of wind tried to push me off the road. Every time I wanted to slow down my brain would remind me that the slower I go the longer it will take and the colder and wetter I will get. Took the truck today because all my gear is still soaked.

[LOKi]

A couple more pictures from the ride. Still haven't got the video edited.

[hppants]

Still haven't got the video edited.

 

[LOKi]

I'm unwilling to pay $700 for the video editing software. I need to find a cheep alternative.

[Laminar]

iMovie or Windows Movie Maker won't work?

[LOKi]

iMovie or Windows Movie Maker won't work?

I don't use a mac. so no i...ANYTHING. I'll check to see if I have Movie Maker.

[hppants]

If you are running Vista or 7, the windows movie maker is pretty handy.

[Money]

Movie Maker built-in to XP as well, but if for some reason you can't track it down it's still available.  It's old and there is little doubt in my mind there are better free alternatives but I'm not familiar with any others.