Longish (for me anyway) Solo Ride

[glstine]

Went on my first somewhat longish solo ride over the weekend. I've always been paranoid of getting to far from the house alone since I rebuilt the bike, I figure it can't be to reliable. But I had the time and the weather was outstanding so I decided to go for it. I started out with a plan but no set route.

I have to travel about 30 miles to get to any good roads with little to no traffic. I headed north to Sam Houston National Forest and once you get north of Montgomery the traffic disappears and the roads and scenery improve dramatically.



At the north end of SHNF I came around a corner and there was a gixxer in the ditch. Emergency vehicles were just leaving. Didn't look like the rider was hurt but the plastics on the bike were pretty busted up. Reminder to be careful.

Took a break in Richards, TX to rehydrate. There was a gas station near where I stopped and a lady rode up to it on her lawn tractor and was chatting with some people at the station. She then proceeded on past me and gave me a wave. You gotta love small towns.



The scenery had changed from forest to prairie between Richards and Anderson but it was still nice riding and little to no traffic.



Saw the courthouse up on a hill so had to get a pic

[glstine]

Between Anderson and Carlos is perhaps the best road I've personally ridden on, FM 3090. I'm not much of a corner carver, but if you were I would think this would be a fun road.



Shortly before Carlos traffic was stopped by emergency crews for a short period.



Not sure what happened when we got to go we passed by a group of 4 or 5 bikes and emergency crews but I didn't see a wrecked bike. Another reminder to be careful.

I was planning on stopping at a biker hangout in Carlos but I wasn't sure where it was. I followed the guys ahead of me assuming that's where they were heading. Apparently it wasn't. Instead I ended up here.



I'm a Sooner not an Aggie but thought that was a pretty cool photo op.

I also found this humorous (didn't eat there though)

[Steve]

Soooo ... , how long was your ride?

I find it interesting to find out what some consider a "long" ride.

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

In the second picture, you could have parked your bike closer to the ANTIQUES sign.
(but it looks good in front of the buggy, too.)
.

[glstine]

From College Station I headed west through Snook and Lyons, had a really strong head wind through this area for some reason.



When I got to Lake Somerville, I took a short break up on the dam.





Talked to the wife and she wanted me heading home, so I jumped on 290 and headed toward Houston. My fears of my bike blowing up on me (after all I rebuilt it) are now gone. Keeping up with traffic on 290 for the 45 or so miles to the FM1488 exit laid those fears to rest. This wasn't the route I had planned on, but had to make some time.

FM 1488 isn't to bad of a road west of Magnolia.

[glstine]

After Magnolia traffic pics up, particularly since RenFest is going on. But I made it back safe and sound.



All in all it was about 215 miles and 6 hours. My rear was a little sore but I could have definitely gone longer. It was a blast and I will definitely be doing more longer rides.

[Steve]

Sounds like a nice little shake-down ride. Hopefully your confidence in your bike is greatly improved.

I was talking to a female worker in a hospital where I used to work. At that time, she was riding behind her hubby on his 1200 Sportster. I asked her what they considered an "all-day ride". Her eyes lit up and she said "We've gone 150 miles before." I did not have the heart to tell her that I have ridden almost that far to meet the guys at the coffee shop to find out where we were going to ride for the day, then come back home. A 4-500 mile day is not uncommon.

.

[glstine]

Thanks for the comments. To give an idea this is the route I took.



I have a friend that has a 1200 sportster I've ridden with him numerous times and we once did about 150 miles one day, and neither of us could hardly walk when we got back. I felt pretty good when I got done with this one though the stock seat started getting pretty uncomfortable after about 5 hours, but I still could have done more pretty easy.

I have the utmost faith in my bike now, I'm really proud of the old girl. Did leak a little oil around the base gasket, I'm going to try to fix that this winter. I want to strip her down to the frame and paint and polish to try to make her a little prettier. Right now her name is Betty de Feo, and I would like to change that.

[pontiacstogo]

Nothing like taking that first long ride on a project bike and coming to the realization that you actually have a useable motorcycle rather than a collection of parts in a frame.

Congrats!

[focus frenzy]

Sounds like a nice little shake-down ride. Hopefully your confidence in your bike is greatly improved.

I was talking to a female worker in a hospital where I used to work. At that time, she was riding behind her hubby on his 1200 Sportster. I asked her what they considered an "all-day ride". Her eyes lit up and she said "We've gone 150 miles before." I did not have the heart to tell her that I have ridden almost that far to meet the guys at the coffee shop to find out where we were going to ride for the day, then come back home. A 4-500 mile day is not uncommon.

.

I get strange looks when I tell people I have done 580 miles round trip just to take a picture, in 100+ heat at that.
(this picture)


now you are comfortable with your work you can start riding to two wheel texan pie runs!!!

[Redman]

glstine,

Nice road pictures and nice roadside pictures with the bike. Do post more on any future adventure.

Yes, that sounds like quite a ride.

I like your mirror shot, I like trying that also.
And your vertical shot of down on side of bike including the bikes front end and view down the road, that is great. I just might be found quilty of copying that sometime soon.

That picture at the closed old antique store with big awning covered sidewalk sure looked the same place I hid out from rain storm in Blanco TX this spring (have GS story posted about that ride).

And thanks for posting the map. I checked that to see if Blanco is where you went. ((Oh, Oh, have just opened myself up for another lecture about us flatlander yankees not understanding how big Texas is.))

.

[Redman]

Pulled over, warning, no ticket. Thanks Brian.

<<< DOAH >>>>
This was suppose to be a seperate posting. Have moved it.

[Steve]

And thanks for posting the map. I checked that to see if Blanco is where you went. ((Oh, Oh, have just opened myself up for another lecture about us flatlander yankees not understanding how big Texas is.))

.

I just looked on another map, he never made it within 100 miles of Blanco.

Yes, Texas is a BIG state. If you are on I-10 headed east, you come in near El Paso.
If you stay on I-10, you go out near Beaumont, it's 'only' 876 miles.
If you take I-20 through Dallas/Ft. Worth, then east toward Shreveport, it's 'only' 822 miles.
If you take I-20 to Dallas/Ft. Worth, then take I-30 to Texarkana, it's 'only' 832 miles.

Now, if you decide to travel north/south, from Brownsville at the southern tip to Texhoma, it's 'only' 893 miles.

As you can see, driving time in Texas is NOT measured in hours, it's measured in DAYS.

.

[glstine]

I get strange looks when I tell people I have done 580 miles round trip just to take a picture, in 100+ heat at that.
(this picture)


now you are comfortable with your work you can start riding to two wheel texan pie runs!!!

Sugarland I am guessing. I've been trying to make a pie run, in fact had every intention on going to the one up in Fairfield, but we had a death in the family that week. One of these days I will make one though.

[glstine]

glstine,

Nice road pictures and nice roadside pictures with the bike. Do post more on any future adventure.

Yes, that sounds like quite a ride.

I like your mirror shot, I like trying that also.
And your vertical shot of down on side of bike including the bikes front end and view down the road, that is great. I just might be found quilty of copying that sometime soon.

That picture at the closed old antique store with big awning covered sidewalk sure looked the same place I hid out from rain storm in Blanco TX this spring (have GS story posted about that ride).

And thanks for posting the map. I checked that to see if Blanco is where you went. ((Oh, Oh, have just opened myself up for another lecture about us flatlander yankees not understanding how big Texas is.))

.

I stole the picture ideas from advrider ride reports (spend to much time reading those things, but, I will one of these days ride down to tierra del fuego). Didn't get near Blanco, but there is a future plan to do a couple nights over in the hill country, not sure when that will happen though. My wife is not thrilled about my new obsession.

[earlfor]

Sounds like a nice little shake-down ride. Hopefully your confidence in your bike is greatly improved.

I was talking to a female worker in a hospital where I used to work. At that time, she was riding behind her hubby on his 1200 Sportster. I asked her what they considered an "all-day ride". Her eyes lit up and she said "We've gone 150 miles before." I did not have the heart to tell her that I have ridden almost that far to meet the guys at the coffee shop to find out where we were going to ride for the day, then come back home. A 4-500 mile day is not uncommon.

.

Heh heh, Dave Platt and I used to meet for a days ride. We lived 230 miles apart, so each of us had a 100+ mile run to get to the meeting point. I had the GS1150 then and Dave was on a GS750.

Earl