Vicki was going , so I stopped by & met her at her house. Her husband, Rodney, usually rides with us but was busy with their daughter, Rianne, who is going to the State finals in Band and Rodney had to take her to practice today. I promised I would keep Vicki safe on today's ride..Here is Vicki at the house ready to go.
We all met at Windthorst & US 287 at the Shell Station at 12:30 PM. Here are some of the folks as we waited on the others. From left to right: Russell, Myra, Kenny, David, Vicki, Ted, Jim & Ronnie
Here are David (Blue Harley) & Ted (Red Harley) saddled up & ready to head out.
Vicki ready to head out, gives me a sign..She is a riot...
We pull out Southbound on US 287 and head out.
Southbound on US 287
Ronnie to my immediate right as we head South
Ronnie, Southbound at 70 mph on US 287
Jim, Southbound at 70 mph on US 287
Ted, Southbound on US 287. I get extra pics of Ted for his daughter, Vickie, in Ft. Collins Colorado, who checks out the blog on a regular basis. Vickie & her husband, Tim, ride their Harley all over Colarado and have come down to Texas and ridden with us. They are great people.
Russell, rolling South on US 287
Myra, Southbound on US 287
David on US 287, rolling South.
Vickie, heading South on US 287
Gary & Jeanann rolling South on US 287.
Kenny, Southbound on US 287.
Our leaders at this point in the ride: Johnny & Leeann as they take us South on US 287..
We took US 287 down to Henrietta Texas and then headed East on US 82 to Saint Jo Texas
The group as we head East on US 82
That is Myra, directly in front of me
I moved up a few slots due to taking pics. Here is a shot of the bikes behind me. That is Russell, Jim & Ronnie. Kenny's hat blew off and he & Ted turned around to get it.
A short time later, we arrived in Saint Jo and at The Biker Roadhouse. This business is biker owned and operated. Owners are Toxie & Vanese, also real great people. For more info, check this link: http://www.bikerroadhouse.com/. In addition to biker accessories & apparel, they now sell used Harley's, three of which are pictured out in front of the store.
This is Whitney, one of the hard working employees at The Biker Roadhouse. That is Henry, on the wall. Toxie owned Henry and now Henry helps keep an eye on the store. Check out Toxie's story on Henry at: http://jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/2008/04/biker-roadhouse-stjo-texas-revisited.html
This is Toxie & Vanese, owners of the Biker Roadhouse. They were just getting ready to eat lunch when we got there. They were nice, as always, and let me get another picture.
Everyone was milling around in the parking lot waiting for the others to finish shopping. I bought my "VET" patch today and will have Sheila sew it on next week. Check Sheila out at: http://jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/2008/07/best-business-to-get-patches-sewn-on.html
We left The Biker Roadhouse and set out for Oklahoma on Northbound Tx 677. The folks behind us..
Vicki, to my left and Johnny & Leeann up front as we head into one of the many curves on this great ride.
Our group coming out of one the curves. We are still in Texas at this point.
Vicki and Johnny & Leeann lead us North.
A view behind of the group and the road from whence we came.
Another view to the rear, of the road we were on..
Another view forward. I had to pull over and fasten my right saddle bag, so when I caught back up with everyone, I was now tail gunner. That is Ted to my right
The view as we start across the Red River Bridge putting Oklahoma in sight thru our windshields and Texas in our rear view mirrors..
The Red River as seen looking to the East at 70 mph
Click on the pic and the sign will tell ya where we are...
We slow down as we get ready to turn East on Okla Hwy 32. (I think)
Established Eastbound on Okla Hwy 32 or whatever road we turned on to..I do have C.R.S., so cut me some slack, will ya.. It gets worse as you will see shortly.. Memory wise, that is...
Since I stash my camera in my drink holder, I got to looking for a place to put my water. This bottle fit perfectly between the bars and the windshield. Wedged in there so it wouldn't bounce loose, yet easy enough to get out & drink from.
Ted as we head East...
We arrived at The McGehee Catfish Restaurant in Marietta Oklahoma. After parking the bikes, I asked Jeanann to take this pic of Vicki and me to prove to Rodney that she got there safely, as I promised..
In case Rodney was tired, we got two pictures taken in case he missed the first one. I have known and worked with Rodney since 1977.. He, Vicki, Janice & I are good friends...
This is a picture of the McGehee Catfish Restaurant.. Why, what could that be parked by the sign?
I do believe, as much as Gary & Jeanann love their Harley, that Gary secretly wants to live life in the fast lane on one of these bikes.... I don't think Jeanann would like riding on the handle bars though...
The sign and hours...The only info I could find on this restaurant is the following link. The Restaurnat is co-located with a private airport called, you guessed it: McGehee Catfish Restaurant Airport. I am serious..Check the second link...http://local.yahoo.com/info-18492593-mc-gehee-catfish-restaurant-marietta..... Link 2: http://www.airnav.com/airport/T40
Ted, Gary & Jeanann out front of the Restaurant
Another pic of Ted, Gary & Jeanann out front of the McGehee Catfish Restaurant..
Yet another sign
Gary & Jeanann at the table. My other C.R.S. thing was that I forgot to change settings on the camera to the inside mode..Most of the pics inside did not come out. Pretty pitiful when I can take better pics at 70 mph, one handed on a motorcycle, than I can sitting still inside a restaurant.. This pic did come out ...
Me & Ted inside the Restaurant. Johnny took this one.
Left side: Vicki, Ted, Russell, Myra & David. Right Side: Jeanann, Gary, Johnny, Leeann's tan cap, Ronnie & Jim. Kenny's wife got sick back in Wichita Falls and called and he had to leave and head home...Hope she is ok...
Leeann & Johnny inside and the last one to semi come out while inside...
The first group photo. Prior to leaving the Restaurant parking lot: Left to Right: Ronnie, Jim, Ted, Johnny, Leeann, David, Myra, Russell, Vicki, Gary & Jeanann.
Gary took this photo, Group picture 2: Left to Right: Ronnie, Jim, Ted, Johnny, Leeann, David, Myra, Russell, Vicki, me & Jeanann.
Getting ready to depart: Vicki on her Harley, Myra, part of Gary behind Myra, Jeanann (back to camera), Ted in the striped Harley jacket & helmet
Russell saddled up and ready to go
Jim & Ronnie are ready & waiting
Myra is ready and Jeanann is on behind Gary and Ted is next to them. And we're off..
To the gas station at I-35W, southbound..Had to gas up for the return trip home. About a 120 mile ride back..
We gassed up and then pulled off to the side to wait so the others could gas their bikes up..
At the pumps..It was decided here that we would go South on I-35W back to Texas and then get on US 82 at Gainesville for the trip back to Wichita Falls.
Just about all gassed up..
Everyone filled up and we headed South on I-35W
Southbound on the Interstate
I finally found an I-35W sign to get a pic of. Also, I apparently got some roadkill on the shoulder too...
This is the WinStar Casino off I-35W, in Oklahoma, a couple of miles from the Texas border
The WinStar Casino sign
Somewhere between the Casino and US 82, we lost Ted. We pulled off on the shoulder of US 82(Westbound), and waited as Gary & Jeanann went back to look for him..
A while later, Ted showed up. He missed the US 82 turnoff and slowed and rode down the embankment to the service road. He then got turned around and delayed by an accident that happened in front of him. We were all relieved that he was ok...
We waited on the shoulder for Gary & Jeanann to return. Johnny had called Gary and told them Ted had rejoined us
Everyone back in place, we continue West on US 82
I picked up the tail gunner slot and this is Ted to the right and Gary & Jeanann in front of Ted
We pull into Nocona and our last stop on the way home..
Johnny & Leeann as Russell looks on...In the parking lot of the Shell station, Nocona Texas
Ted, Jim, David & Ronnie enjoying the brief stop..
We leave Nocona as the sun goes down...
Darkness closes in on the rear of the group...
Dark chases us and we chase the sun on the west side of Nocona.. We got home a little over an hour later. This will conclude this post. Thanks again for the invite Gary. I had a great time today, riding with those I already knew and those I just met. They are an awesome bunch of people and I am proud to call all of them friends. I look forward to the next ride, whenever it occurs and to where ever it takes us.Scroll down for more rides, events & posts and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of EACH page for more rides and posts. Check out North Texas Bikers (1) at http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from January 08-November 08. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops................JOHN
