The Michigan Trip The Ride Home To Texas 6-5-09

I left my parents house at 3:00 a.m. (Texas time) on Friday 6-5-09 for the ride back to Texas. I was riding in between two weather systems and as the result of that, I had to go non-stop back to Texas or get stuck in the storms if I stopped anywhere. So, I had to cancel my plans to stop in St. Louis & Joplin and hammer down in hopes of beating the storms. I got home at 1:07 a.m. Saturday 6-6-09 and as I was passing thru Lawton Oklahoma, (50 miles North of home), I could see lightning off to the West. So, Scroll down for the final few pics of the trip and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURES BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.




Detroit Metro Airport

Detroit Metro Airport

These were built on I-94 to honor the Detroit Lions when they went to the Super Bowl several years ago.

The city of Indianapolis Indiana off to my right

The Indy International Airport off of I-70

The Indy Airport signs

A couple bikes that pulled onto I-70 in front of me...

I cross into Illinois

Illinois is known for its farmland

This giant cross is right off of I-70 in Illinois

I stopped for gas and met Wes, a fellow PGR member. He is also a member of CMA and his home Chapter is the Sons of Thunder of NW Indiana. http://cmancr3.org/IN/SONSOFTHUNDER/default.aspx . He had 3 1/2 hours to go (he was riding to Chicago) and I had 12 1/2 hrs to go.

I had plenty of construction work to deal with on the ride back thru six states

One site I always love to see while on the road is the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. This was taken while still on I-70 in Illinois

Getting a little closer

The Arch & the Mississippi River. I had to put the camera up for awhile because if you've ever been on the bridge across the river and the traffic in St. Louis, you know the hazards of just driving a car, much less a motorcycle thru that mess.

After clearing St. Louis and settling into the ride, I get the camera out again. Here I am going thru the Ozarks

More of the Ozarks

I was cruising along at about 80 mph when this Harley passes me doing close to a hundred. I had seen him approaching in my mirror and was ready with the camera..

This is a mansion in Joplin Missouri that is also a store & restaurant..

About 50 miles from Joplin, after crossing into Oklahoma, you approach the largest McDonald's in the US. It crosses over I-44

and here it is. It sits over I-44, in Oklahoma, between Tulsa Oklahoma & Joplin Missouri

On I-44 in Oklahoma, just hours from Texas

At 12:32 a.m. on June 6, 09, I cross into Texas and stop on I-44 and get this last picture of the trip. The Michigan trip was great and I look forward to seeing my family & friends again next year. However, I will not be going non stop again. I have proved all I have to prove about us old guys be capable of going long distances non stop. With April's 1,000 mile non stop run to Tucson Arizona and six days later, this 1,251 non stop run to and from Michigan , I have done my last non stop cross country ride. I will now join the ranks of the sane and spend nights at hotels & motels on a nice soft bed when travelling on a motorcycle.

So, 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