The staging point for today's run was the Shell Station at US 287/Windthorst in Wichita Falls, Texas. I gassed up there as did several others. Here is Kyle putting gas into his wife's, Amy, Harley.
Steve, Scott & Holly have a quick talk prior to KSU at 0800 hrs. In the background are Greg, Linda & Bobby (in Hat).. Steve is one of the Chapters Road Captains/Director.
The line of bikes & folks milling around prior to the safety meeting by Russ, the Road Captain for the ride. He also put the ride together and did good as always.. Russ is in the colors with his back to the camera. Russ is one of the Chapter's Road Captain/director. Greg is our tail gunner on most rides and is the Chapters Secretary/Treasurer. I am the President...
Linda (Russ's wife) and Amy, Kyle's wife.
Greg, Linda, Bobby & Kyle as we wait for the safety briefing from Russ.
Amy, Kyle & Rodney pose for a quick picture while still in Wichita Falls Texas, prior to our departure to Dallas Texas or as Dallas is known, "The Big D".
Jeremy is ready to go...It was a little on the cool side this morning (around 58 degrees) and we all had long sleeve shirts or leathers on..Coming back it was in the upper 80's and almost all of us came back in T-shirts...
The safety briefing begins and Scott & Holly and Greg & Linda listen in..
Amy, Bobby & Kyle listening as formation, hand signals and directions are given out.
Rodney & Jeremy listening in to the briefing..I am trying to talk Jeremy to riding out to Tucson Arizona with me in April 09.. Rodney was going to go, but has changed his mind and is not going..He does not like the desert...
The folks are listening to the safety briefing, just prior to KSU, That's Vicki, Linda B, Becky off to the left, Scott, Steve, Greg and Linda M..
As we head South on US 287, I get a picture of the bikes behind. Being President of the Chapter is a lot of work and a lot of fun..However, as such, I have to ride in either the number 2 or 3 position in the formation and it limits my picture taken of the other riders in the formation.. I know that is Steve & Becky right behind me and I THINK that is Scott & Holly behind them....If it's not them, then you can bet I will get a call or e-mail from the rider and I will do some amending to the post..Which isn't any problem..
Same line-up, different picture as we head south on Us 287..
I took this picture of Russ & Linda leading us into the sun....
As we continue south, we see this smoke up ahead in the distance...Wonder what's burning?
Another picture of the bikes behind us..Still on US 287 between Bowie Texas & Decatur Texas.
We get nearer to the column of smoke.\
As we pass a rest stop, we see that it is a tractor burning..A tractor as in tractor-trailer or in layman's terms, the front part of an 18 wheeler..Hope who ever was driving it or sleeping in the sleeper got out ok or else, they're a crispy critter now
Another view of the fire..Tell you what, timing is everything and I always seem to have a darn tree in the way. But it still came out okay considering I take pictures on the bike all the time at 70+ mph, and usually don't see the trees or even know there was a tree in the area until I review the pictures prior to uploading them onto the post..Then, it's too late...
We get to Decatur Texas and stop at a Texaco Station for a brief rest and watering down...Gots to stay hydrated ya know.... This is Russ surveying the area
Here are Holly & Scott in Decatur at our first stop..This is their first ride with us and I really enjoyed their company. I hope to see them on more rides with us. You that view this blog on a regular basis will get to know them better, also, as they ride with us. Their motorcycle is the same color as Ms Clone (my bike), Blue & Gray or Blue & Silver.
Here are Greg, Bobby Kyle & Amy talking in the parking lot of the Texaco Station in Decatur Texas...
Amy & Linda M in Decatur on the rest stop..
Jeremy is totally relaxed at this point..He tells me when he rides cross country, this is where & how he sleeps when he gets tired and pulls over.. I would roll over and bust my butt if I tried sleeping like that!
This is Linda B's bike, a Harley Low-Rider. That is Linda M & Amy talking near it as the other guys get ready to leave Decatur and head south to Tx 114, which will take us to Dallas Texas.
This is Linda B by her Harley. Her dad was our training officer at the police department, back in 1977..
We start to put our gear on (helmets, gloves, chaps etc) as we prepare to mount up and depart the area outbound...
Back on US 287 again, still southbound heading to Tx 114 & Dallas..
A view of Russ & Linda, our leader's for this ride as we head East on Tx 114.
This is the Texas Motor Speedway off to our left (North). For those of you not familiar with it, the speedway is where the NASCAR races are held when in Texas as well as other sanctioned events. For more info on the Texas Motor Speedway, Click on the following link: http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/
The view behind as we cruise along Tx 114. Steve & Becky are right behind me, then it looks like Linda B and Vicki (white fairing)
Same folks, different picture as we continue East on Tx 114
A view from the left mirror to the rear
A view to the rear from the right mirror.
Linda & Russ as we approach the President George Bush Turnpike near Dallas Texas
A view ahead as Linda & Russ lead us into the Dallas Metroplex area..
Another eastbound view as we continue down Tx 114
Some of the buildings on the outskirts of downtown Dallas
A short time later, we turned onto Harry Hines Blvd, in Dallas texas and arrived at our destination, Strokers..For more on this unique business, check out the following link: http://www.strokersdallas.com/
Here is Jeremy out in front of the band stand..We got to Strokers shortly after they opened and they were still putting up the booths and stuff. The band didn't arrive until right before we left
The bike parking area was out back under covered parking. There was to be a car/bike show at 6 pm and Texas Iron magazine was to be there all day..I never saw any magazine people, but that doesn't mean they weren't there somewhere. Strokers is seveal businesses rolled into one large area and I did not go into all of the businesses.
Here is the Strokers Ice House area..They had artwork everywhere..If you are ever in the Dallas area, put Strokers down as one of the places to definitely go to. It is way too cool..
Some of the bikes back at the Custom M/C shop out in the back area
Another bike at the Custom m/c area
More bikes on display at the rear of Strokers-Dallas..
The Ice House and the artwork they have on every building, inside & out...
Vicki & Linda B go over the patches booth. He sold patches for your vests and sewed them on right there..He also sells patches on line. Their site is: http://www.allaboutbikers.com/ and the owners are Rodney & Georgina
I HAD to take a picture of this bus. Something right out of the 60's
The bike parking area as viewed from the exit..
The front of Strokers as seen from Harry Hines Blvd..
The other part of Strokers as seen from Harry Hines Blvd
Closer to the bikes in front of Strokers-Dallas
The inside of the restaurant where we all ate lunch. I thought it was pretty good...
The souvenir case in the restaurant. I saw several things I would've like to have purchased but I opted to spent my meager allowance on a hamburger & coke. Being on a fixed income and 100% disabled sucks like a Hoover vacuum cleaner..Couldn't wait to retire so I didn't have to work, then I became disabled and not allowed to work. Now I would give 1 body part to be able to work again...Oh well, life goes on.....
Here is Bobby in Strokers, in Dallas Texas
Here is Steve & his wife, Becky, in Strokers...
Here is Scott & Holly in Strokers..Holly, make sure to let Jennifer know what she missed, and why....(grin)
Jeremy in Strokers, waiting for the food to be served.
The dining room tables..Pretty cool, eh?
Russ & Linda in Strokers. Another great ride you put together Russ..You da man!!
Here is Mike at Strokers..He and his wife Paula, arrived a short time after we did. We had several that did not ride down with us due to having to take care of business at home first. But they still came down..That is dedication and one of the great things about these folks. They make things happen and enjoy bikes and rides and even if they are running a little late, they still try to make the event and most do.
Steve, Mike & me inside Strokers in Dallas Texas
Jeremy & Terri, the waitress/bartender. We all ordered at the same time, on different tickets, and she handled all the orders,without losing her smile..Very nice person..
Another of Jeremy & Terri...
The tables in the restaurant of Strokers and our group. We also have a table to the right, behind Kyle, that Scott, Holley & I sat at and ate lunch..
Another view of our group eating lunch at Strokers. That is Scott off to the right at our table..
Jeremy ate at the bar and talked to Terri and told her whose food orders were whose. When we ordered & paid for the food, they just asked for first names and when the orders were ready, they called your name..Jeremy was identifying us to Terri.
Here's a nice bike..Only $20,000 or so
This Dallas Cowboy bike is being given away in a drawing..Tickets were $10 apiece..
The bikes in the showroom of Strokers
The "Strokers Dallas" bike
Another view of the Stoker-Dallas bike
This was there..The paint scheme and little goodies thrown on it are definitely a throw back to the 60's..
More custom bikes inside Strokers
More bikes on the showroom floor at Strokers-Dallas
See this bike, it is on sale & $7,000 off the price. Wanna guess how much this baby costs? check the next picture & see.....
How about $36,500 AFTER deducting the 7 grand. That then makes this bike not on sale, sell for $42,500
Another view of that Dallas Cowboy bike that is going to be raffled off for $10 a ticket
Here is Rodney, Vicki & Pattie in the biker apparel part of Strokers..They have some great stuff for sale, but when you go there, take alot of money or a credit card because the stuff is not cheap..
Painting on the wall of Strokers as you go thru the entrance to the parking in the rear area.
Greg, resting at Strokers. It was starting to warm up and being under that cover was the place to be.
The parking area from where Greg was sitting. That first bike is Greg's Harley
Bobby in the back outside part of Strokers
Russ, Linda M and Rodney walk toward us with the news that we would be departing shortly
Here comes Vicki to join the group at the table
Kyle & Amy start in our general direction...
Here is one of the T-shirt booths..
Some of the folks left early. This is Scott & Holly getting ready to leave. They left with the group of Mike & Paula, Bobby, and Steve & Becky..They were heading home. Pattie, Jim & Lance left to go to Sam Moon's down on Harry Hines. We passed them about an hour or so later going East thru Bowie Texas as we were heading west
Here are Steve & Becky as they get ready to head out..
Here is Mike & Paula as they get ready to leave..
Linda B bought Vicki a patch...Can't wait to see who wears it, Vicki or Rodney..My money's riding on Vicki...
Lance & Pattie as they get ready to leave shortly for Sam Moon's
Jim & Pattie, his wife..She just bought a 2009 Ultra Classic.
Jeremy was having fun, even though he was having to shell out $3.25 for a bottle of beer, which he was not happy about,..
Some of the bikes in the parking area
Rodney as we get ready to leave..
Rodney, as he gets ready to gear up and depart
More bikes in the parking area. As we were leaving, the band was setting up and bikers were coming in at a steady pace.
As we left Strokers, we stopped at a Shell Station and gassed up. As we gassed up, this Dallas officer was writing a ticket out to someone he had stopped. As he was leaving, I took this picture of his car so those viewers outside the U.S. could see what the Dallas PD cars look like..
Greg at the pumps. He had a headache and as we all know, when you get one of those buttkicking headaches, the last thing you want, is to be 130 miles from home on a motorcycle
The ever smiling Jeremy as he waits for us to leave and head North on I-35E
A picture of the group behind me as we roll North on I-35E
Another view of the Northbound bikers...
A forward view of Linda & Russ on I-35E
A view of Russ & Linda on I-35E, taken thru my bug splattered windshield
Another view of Russ & Linda as we leave Dallas..
Traffic was moderate and we really had to watch the cars & trucks because a lot of them were DWHUA...
The view behind as we head North to the American Eagle Harley Davidson Dealership in Denton
We arrived at the Harley dealership and park..Here is Jeremy parking..
The Harley sign and American flag
Here is Greg putting gear up prior to going in and looking at the bikes..
The front of the dealership
The used Harley's for sale, lined up in front of the dealership
The front of the American Eagle Harley-Davidson Dealership in Denton, Texas
The parking lot of the AEHD Dealership.
Used bikes there were priced right & it really surprised me the price difference in used bikes here as opposed to up near the Wichita Falls area and the new bikes here were more expensive that that of the Red River Harley-Davidson dealership in Wichita Falls,
Here is Linda B inside the American Eagle Harley Davidson Dealership in Denton, Texas
Greg inside the dealership. Greg works at the RRHD in Wichita Falls and runs the Riders Edge program. See this link:
http://redriverharley-davidson.com/Default.asp
The bikes near the Service entrance side of the dealership
Bikes outside the main entrance of the dealership
They also had their share of the custom bikes
A guy was test driving this one and told the salesman he wanted it...
Kyles new bike. I told him that was a Captains bike and he had to stay on his lowly Lieutenant's bike until he got promoted and put on the tracks...
Rodney, Greg & Russ inside the dealership and on the showroom floor
Here we are, decided on where to go next. We went up to the DQ in ValleyView Texas. Rodney & Vicki stayed with us until we got to the Tx 380 exit and then they split from us to go meet Vicki's daughter, Stacy, there at the DQ in Denton.
Some of our bikes at the dealership parking lot
The sign, the Texas flag & "Old Glory", the greatest flag in the world..Like the saying goes," This we will defend".
The two Linda's: Linda B (pink Bandana) and Linda M.
Rodney and Amy getting geared up to go..
Vicki on the phone to make sure the daughter is going to be there at the DQ in Denton
Here is Jeremy getting ready to depart the fix outbound..
And away we go..Here we are Northbound on I-35E
Northbound on I-35E. That is Kyle, Amy, Linda B & Russ & Linda M up front...
The view behind is of Jeremy & Greg as they cruise on down the road..
Jeremy & Greg, northbound on I-35E, with the flags flying in the breeze..
We get to the DQ in Valleyview Texas at the TX 422 exit on the west side of the interstate. We parked the bikes and went in..
The bikes from left to right: Russ & Linda's Harley, Linda B's Harley, Amy's Harley, Kyle's Harley, my non-Harley (Ms Clone), Jeremy's Harley & Greg's Harley...Something is not quite right....Hmmm, wonder what it could be????
Here are Kyle, Linda B, & Greg in line to order.with Russ & Jeremy in the background
Jeremy now joins the line inside the DQ, Valleyview Tx.
Linda & Amy talk prior to sitting down..
The cashiers, cook's and server's at the DQ. From left to right: Rae (blue shirt), Tim, Andrea (black shirt) & Cassie ( red shirt).If you are thirsty or hungry and in the area, stop at the DQ in Valleyview Tx at I-35E/Tx 422. Stop in and tell them hi,,
Here we are getting ready to depart the DQ and take the back roads home.. L to R: Linda B, Amy, Russ & Kyle
Jeremy & Greg are ready to go....
What we didn't know, was that Tx 422 is under construction and we drove the road of rocks, dirt and fresh oil for a couple miles or so..Here is a picture of the folks up front going down the road, putting up the dust clouds..
At the stop sign ahead, the construction stopped & we got on asphalt again...
The paved road was nice and greatly appreciated after that dirt/rock/oil road we just got off of
Westbound Tx 422. Kyle, Amy, Linda B & Russ & Linda M out front
A picture back over my shouder confirms that Jeremy & Greg were still there..Jeremy had to stop at the stop sign to get the grit out of his eyes from that dirt road..
The view forward..
Another view North
The straight roads turned into curved roads and made the ride even better..
A view from the right mirror. Jeremy and Greg...
We stop at the Chevron Station in Bowie Tx for a rest and gas stop for those that needed it..
Ye olde Chevron Sign..Bowie Texas
Linda B, Amy and Linda M at the final stop before returning to Wichita Falls.
Greg, not feeling well, gets sugars from Nurse Amy..He perked up a little bit after that
We are Northbound now on US 287. The view to the rear as the others catch up
I do this as an irritant to Russ. He hates it when I take a picture of the speedometer while rolling..
Here Russ shows the love as he does his thing..
Just in case I missed it the first time around, Russ gives me a repeat and it works...
We get back to Wichita Falls and we stop at El Chico's at Southwest Parkway & Kemp
Russ, Linda & Amy as we wait inside for a table..
Greg & Jerry. I haven;t seen Jerry in years..He works at the D.A's office. He is a great guy
Linda M & Linda B in El Chico's
Chris, Greg's wife, met us at El Chico's. I took this picture and got the evil eye from her. I told Chris I wouldn't put this on the post, but she told me to go ahead, it was ok with her...so...
Jason, the manager of El Chico's..He took care of us while we were there..We had a waiter but Jason made sure we got everything we ordered and more....Appreciate it Jason!
While at Strokers, Jeremy got a new patch & got it put on his vest. It's the "In Memory Of Our Fallen Heroes" patch
Greg gives me my goodbye hug as he & Chris leave & head for home..
Chris is all smiles & ready to go home...
This is Roy. He had a large surprise birthday party at El Chico's and he actually let them put this hat on his head...It was funny and he let me take this picture..Told him he was gonna be an internet star...
Last pic of the night is of Amy & Kyle and Jeremy in the parking lot of the El Chico restaurant
This will conclude this post. I had a great time and enjoyed being with the folks that rode with us. As it is nearly 5 a.m. and I am tired, I will dispense with any other comments other than: scroll down for more rides, posts & events and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of each page for more posts back to January 08..Until next ride and post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe and keep the rubber on the road..........................JOHN
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