SPRING FEVER 2011 - DAY 8 AND 9

SATURDAY - APRIL 30, 2011
The morning started with breakfast at the IHOP located across the street from the motel.  I don't know if anyone was really looking forward to today's ride.  The forecast is for high winds and high temperatures.  I can say right now they were correct.


We headed out of town by going east on US Highway 380.  Nothing really scenic, but it was at least the temperature was cool when we started.  Our plan was to ride to Post, TX and then turn south on US 84 take it to I-20 and then head into Abilene.  The highlight for the day would be dinner at Lytles, my favorite Steakhouse. We made pretty good time, and we stopped for a couple of breaks, but other than that we just scooted along.

We arrived in Abilene around 2:00 PM and checked into the Whitten Inn.  We basically hung out until around 5, when we decided to head to the Steakhouse.  Dinner was great, but what made it even better is Chuck picked up the meal, and Bill bought the drinks.  Heck maybe I need to start doing this for a living.

Tomorrow plans are just to make it home.

SUNDAY - MAY 1, 2011

The final day on the road.  I wish I can say it all went well, but of course I would be telling a fib.

We started loading the bikes around 6 waiting for the sun to come up.  Chuck and Dick who live about 80 north of Houston was going to break away and take the Interstate home.  Bill and I were just going to trug down Highway 36 to home.  I guess our first mistake of the day was watching the Weather Channel.  Now mind you it does not rain in Abilene, TX but a couple times of year.  It just so happens that I go through Abilene a couple of times a year.  Guess when it rains?  Your right, the forecast was for rain, and not just a shower or two, but thunder boomers and the whole nine yards.

It looked like we would be out of it if we could be about 50 to 75 miles south of Abilene.  We tried to get out of town, but only made it to the corner service station where we had to take cover.  Rain, Hail, high winds, you name it, it was happening.  We basically just sat it out for about 45 minutes until the worst passed, and then we headed out.  Chuck and Dick did revise their route because the storms were following the Interstate they planned on taking.

We were not out of the threat of rain until we reached Gatesville.  Bill had decided at this point he was not interested in breakfast, so we told us at an earlier stop he was heading home in hope of not getting wet.  Chuck, Dick and myself decided to stop and get some breakfast biscuits, afterwards Chuck and Dick spit off on their on and headed home.

The rest of my day was just fighting the wind while trying to get home.  The temperature increased as well as the humidity.  When I pulled into my garage it was 96 degrees with 90 percent humidity.  I was glad to be home.

Now for the rest of the story.  If you read about my last trip, I came down with food poisoning.  Well guess what, it happened again.  Everything was fine until about 11:00 PM Sunday night when I suddenly became ill.  It was not as bad as last time, but I sure hope this does not become a trend.  The one good thing about it is at least I was home.