It seems like yesterday that I was packing up for Daytona? Here we are one year later, same old story different year! Do my normal calls, who is going? Well, “Jetson” a no, not this year. “Speechless”, medical issues. Everyone else either working or not interested. Departure day arrives, Monday March 3rd. Up early and ready to roll at 7 am.
“Whiskey a go go “ is packed and ready. Roll out in drizzle and fog. Not a good departure, but it is what it is! Run I-10 to Boerne over Hwy 46. This road is crazy busy on Monday. I should know to take a different route!
But old habits are hard to break? Stop and go all the way to Seguin.
Connect I-10 at Seguin, time to make up some time! 85 plus all the way to Houston. Just gas up and roll on! Houston seems to have constant
construction! I’ve been through Houston so many times that I know which lanes to merge into.
The wind is relentless, crosswind until
Beaumont. More bumper to bumper traffic! This
wind is getting old!.
Cross into Louisiana, The speed limit drops in this state to 70. Got to be on your toes! Cops are watching everywhere! Make my way to Jennings, the home of Darrell’s sandwich shop. Great sandwiches with homemade bread and jalapeno mayo, great with a Shiner!
Got my fill time to reach my destination for the evening, Hammond. I arrive just after dark. Held up in traffic in Baton Rouge and entire way from
there to Hammond. My normal motel by the truck stop. Convenient to the Waffle House next door. Right at 600 miles for the day, fighting wind and traffic all day wears you down.
After a good nights rest, coffee time. After coffee and biscuits and gravy time to hit the road! On the road at daylight. I-10 here we come, Through Mobile, Alabama. Pensacola, Fla. It’s a pretty boring ride down I-10. It’s the quickest route to Gainesville. My stop for the evening, Hawthorne.
I reach “Leadville Larrys” at about 530. It’s been 2 years since I have seen him. Catch up on old times and relax a bit.
Next morning, Maxine, Larrys old lady says, hey your boat is drifting from the dock! Sure enough, come off the dock and drifted to the dock next door! Larry rushes out to retrieve it. He walks on a cane, kinda hard to get in the boat. He gets in, motor won’t start. Plan B, He gets an oar and tries to paddle back, to no avail. I arrive with a rope. I have to get on the neighbors dock to toss the rope to Larry. I do so, in the meantime the neighbor arrives, “What you doing on my dock” Well retrieving our boat, “You are trespassing” “I am calling the cops” So much for being neighborly!
Long story, shorter! The cops arrive, listen to the story and kinda shake their heads! Crazy people out there! Hard to believe that people won’t help you when you’re in need! Such as the world today!
Later in the day we rode to Gainesville for dinner. After some good Mexican food everything was better. Couple Margaritas helped!
Next day, got to get to Daytona!, Leave around 10 am travel down Hwy 20 to Ormond Beach. Stop at Destination Cycles and call Jimmy. He meets me for refreshments and music at the Saints and Sinners Bar. Met a nice couple from South Carolina, Gracie and Tony, we chatted for some time. Invited them to the “Run for Wheels” in April back at lake Somerville Made our way back to Jimmys place in Port Orange. A fold-out couch, that will work when you’re tired! Coffee in the morning, a game plan? The “Cabbage Patch”, is in order. Breakfast down the street and we are off to the “Patch”. We get there early and get to park right up front, nice! First things first, Bloody Mary time! We have a couple, would you believe, Tony and Gracie, show up, what’s the odds? It’s a small world! Do my shopping for my grandkids and my 3 great grandkids, makes me feel old!! I guess I am? Spend most of the afternoon listening to music and people watching.
Depart and ride to Main Street, Check out Froggy’s, Dirty Harrys, and BootHill. Usually good music at the BootHill, Not so much this year, Headbanging! Not for me!
Next morning time to head back to Texas, Rain delay, waited about 3 hours before leaving. Waiting for that perfect window of opportunity. So much for that, get down the road 5 miles, rain! Wind blowing 40 mph out of the west. Nothing like riding sideways. The wind continued all the way to Ocala. Jimmy split off at Ocala. Going back to Port Orange to get his truck. I forge ahead. The song “Against the Wind” really comes into play here? I miss most of the rain traveling to Tallahassee. It did get much colder. Reached Tallahassee and secured a room. Beat down from a long day of rain and wind.
Next day continue to the west. Stop at Hurricane Harley Dealer in Biloxi. This dealer was recently renamed, had to get a new poker chip, at least they are cheaper then t shirts! I continue on I-10 through Baton Rouge to Jennings. Can’t get enough of those sandwiches, was going to change up and get BBQ Beef, they were sold out, well stick with the original, roast beef, and ham, can’t go wrong. After a sandwich and quick brew it’s more of the same. I reach Beaumont around 6 pm. Motel time, Motel 6 will work, kinda sketchy area!. Hard to get even coffee in the morning. All well what do you expect for the money!
Next day we meet at Piranhas Bar in Ormond Beach, Bret Starr owns the place and his brother Jeff Starr works there. These two boys are Captain Gary Starrs boys, which I have known for many years. Anyway we hang out for a few brews and meet other friends, Dave and Carmine, and Tammy and Jeff Starr from North Carolina. No relation to the other Jeff Starr. How crazy is that? After some good food and fellowship it’s off to downtown once again. Stop at the Fullmoon outdoor venue. Mostly country and western music, Up the street to the BootHill, Indoor band classic rock. Back to Jimmys cabin, Early night, Leaving for Cape Coral in the morning.
Say our goodbyes to Salvador next door and head south down I-95. Travel 95 to Fort Pierce. Angle across to just north of Cape Coral. After a few wrong turns we arrive at Captain Gary Starrs and Janices place. We are welcome with open arms, and German pork chops and sourkraut After a great evening of music and fellowship its’s bedtime for me!
Hit the road, homeward bound! Smooth sailing through Houston, Great until accident west of Sealey, stop and go for 30 plus minutes! Rolling good till about the Shiner exit, Road construction funnels you down to one lane, another 30 minute delay. Couldn’t wait for that Luling exit. City Market BBQ, one of the best in the state. Quick plate of brisket and on the road again.
Going to avoid Hwy 46 this time, I cut up through Canyon Lake, A little bit further but less traffic. Stop at the VFW for a quick one at the lake and continue westward. On through Fredericksburg and Harper bound. Stopped at Headwaters to wet my whistle. 7 miles to the barn. Almost there, 3100 miles this trip, no breaks to me or the bike! That’s a blessing!! Like I always say live life to the hilt you never know when it’s your last trip.
RIDE FREE AND RIDE OFTEN
DAD
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