Freedom Ride Report (Long)

Joe and I eft out Friday morning and rode to Old Glory, Texas, for the
Freedom Ride Rally. It started out pretty warm but by the time we got to
Sagerton (on hwy 6, just south of Old Glory), it clouded up and sprinkled on
us. After passing the place of the rally up on CR 139, we turned around and
went back. They were supposed to have a banner up at the gate but it was
early, so we missed it but found it on the way back, because 2 guys were
parking a 3-wheel at the entrance.

County Road (CR)139, like all the other county roads in Stonewall(?) County,
are dirt/gravel roads. I found out that it's easier for my V-Star to handle
a road like that, running 50 mph, rather than 30 mph. A lot less wiggling.
Nearly everywhere we went there, it was on gravel roads. I also did a bit
of off roading while I was there and yes, that little cruiser handled it
all, with ease... or maybe it's the driver? Who knows?

After we arrived, members of our club that was already there, wanted to go
get something to eat in town, so we rode into Old Glory and stopped at the
one and only convenience store/restaurant. Their burgers are very good,
made with homemade, sweet sourdough buns. Before we headed back, we had a
little downpour and it cooled things off nicely, for the ride back to the
rally site.

Later, Joe decided to "go for a ride", while I stayed and visited. Because
of that, I missed all the action. There was a really nice swimming hole at
the rally site, a large tank fed from a well, where the water is a cold 62
degrees. Joe decided he wanted some swim trunks, so he went to Stamford.
On the way back, and on that gravel road just before he got to the rally
site, his front wheel locked up and down he went. He picked the bike up,
saw that he had lost 2 bolts holding the front fender on and hoped he could
limp the rest of the way back. He got another 15 feet and down again,
opposite side! Sore elbows, but other than that, he's fine. So is the
bike, aside from some pretty scuffed up crash bars and a few scapes on his
Vance & Hines.

A friend was behind him and she came and told me he was having trouble, so I
rode out there to see what I could do and if he was ok. By the time I got
there, he had swapped a bolt from one side to the other and though a bit
unstable, at least the fender wasn't falling down on the tire! Later he
took a bolt out of mine and that was enough for us to finish up and ride
home this evening.

Friday evening was the flag ceremony and the TMRA reps decided our club was
best suited to handle it. We were honored to do so and later, everyone said
how nice it was. We retired and ceemoniously burned over 100 tattered and
torn U.S. flags. Each flag honored a fallen hero, an active duty
serviceman, or just to remember those who fought for our freedoms. There
wasn't a dry eye in the whole place. A few of us gave speeches, myself
included. I was very honored and proud to be of service, to such a worthy
cause.

Joe and I had planned to go to stay with relatives in Haskell, Friday night,
so we didn't pack a tent. Well, as it got dark, we decided to stay in camp.
Joe slept a bit, on his bike and I tried to sleep in a camp chair. I think
I finally fell asleep about 3:30 a.m. Joe woke up and stirred around at
6:00 a.m, Saturday morning. I managed to drag myself out of the chair at
6:30 and Joe wanted to ride to town for breakfast. Afterwards, we did the
poker run deal and rode in the parade at 12:30 p.m., in 100 degree heat.
Again TMRA2 placed us in a position of honor, our veterans leading all the
bikes. After the parade, some stayed for the bike games but Joe and I were
hot and tired, so we rode back to the campsite and had a dip in the pond, to
cool off, then we spent the rest of the afternoon, relaxing and visiting
with old and new friends. We had a good time.

I got quite a wind/sun burn and we were both tired, so after the rally BBQ
dinner, a friend (Ted) who wanted to leave early also, rode with us back to
Breckenridge. On the way back and as we were leaving Stamford, out from the
right a big German Shepherd dog ran out towards Joe but then saw me coming
and decided I was a better target. I sized up the situation and slowed
down. Then as I neared the dog, I sped up and veered left. He missed my
right leg by less than a foot. Our friend's wife Jean, was driving their
4-runner, while Ted followed on his Harley. She saw what was going on and
later said she nearly freaked, because she just knew the dog was going to
bite my leg. She laid down on the horn, trying to frighten him away. I
came close to kicking him in the head and luckily he ran off the road.

The rest of the trip home was uneventful and we made it back, just before
dark. I'm sorry we didn't stay for the fireworks display and the live band
but I think Joe and I had enough excitement for one weekend and we got home
before it got harder to watch for deer.
Total miles: 278 short but (always) fun miles.

--
Sunny Williams
sunny will at tx vets period org
IRPK, ISRA #7123, Deerslayers
Director/Webmaster for
Texas Veterans Assoc., Chapter 3
http://www.txvets.org/
"... if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat."

~Teddy Roosevelt

 

God Almighty, Sunny. DogGone, you and Joe experienced more in one day,
than I have in 30 odd years, of freaky Riding stuff.
Do ya' reckon, the bolts were jarred loose riding on the gravel? Well, I
realize they probably were not completely done from gravel, but perhaps
causes the last thread to unthread to loose the ''bolt/screws''!
Then that darn 75 lb Dog, going after your leg, shoot, my God.
wheeeeeew.
I really try to avoid ridng over a mile or two, on gravel. I've put
myself in situations,and done it, but learned, that ain't a good idea,
on a big' two-Wheeler.
Sunny, I wanna compliment you on how well you seem to be handling a
motorcycle, good-for-you-Gal.
over,bjay =g=

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

Joe hit a deer with that bike, back in April of '04. It messed the fender
up pretty good but he straightened it up and knocked the dents out of it,
then I repainted it. Joe might have forgot to use Loctite on the threads.
The gravel road wasn't too bad, as there were no potholes or large rocks. It
was mostly what we call "pea gravel", which was quite _slippery_. But then
we've ridden some rough roads lately, so who knows.

Closer to 100 lbs. He was a _big_ dog, about the size of one I once had.
I've never had a dog get that close to my bike before, though. Been chased
before but not "attacked" like that one did.

I'm used to riding on gravel, some that's a lot worse than that was. When
our county decides to grade the county road we live on, they really stir up
some big rocks and it gets really rough to ride on. Our driveway is
graveled but it now has a good base on it and not much different than riding
on pavement, except the edges where the rocks are loose. Joe maintains it
well.

Thanks, BJay. I think it's all the practice I get, every day.

Y'all too.

--
Sunny Williams
sunny will at tx vets period org
IRPK, ISRA #7123, Deerslayers
Director/Webmaster for
Texas Veterans Assoc., Chapter 3
http://www.txvets.org/
"... if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat."

~Teddy Roosevelt

 

Joe said that you really should remove the loose parts and not leave them in
there.

--
Sunny Williams
sunny will at tx vets period org
IRPK, ISRA #7123, Deerslayers
Director/Webmaster for
Texas Veterans Assoc., Chapter 3
http://www.txvets.org/
"... if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat."

~Teddy Roosevelt

 

Sunny, I wanna compliment you on how well you seem to be handling a
motorcycle, good-for-you-Gal.
over,bjay =g=

(RL)
Thanks, BJay. I think it's all the practice I get, every day.
'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--
Y'all too.~~sunny~~~



Sunny, I am practicing ''riding the Valk''.
It is a whole new adventure, riding that
750lb motorcycle.
I am mainly practicing the U-turns using the friction zone clutch
technique, and riding off pavement a bit, like grass and stuff. I ride
around in my yard, of which is fairly level, of which is about 3 acres.
You might laugh, but I am practicing backing into a parking space like
you are suppose to park a Bike, eh. (not real EZ)
And, I am doing this with Honey aboard.
You see, when we ride with KB, on his Harley, we might make some sudden
turns, or venture out on the grass and stuff, and It is quite =different
riding= the mighty Valk.
But practice makes all the difference. I am preparing for a nice trip
coming up, and I wanna know all the characterstics of the FatLady.
heh-heh-)

 

Always a good thing.

She must have a lot of faith in you.

Good deal. Practice does bring you closer to perfection.

Stay safe,

--
Sunny Williams
sunny will at tx vets period org
IRPK, ISRA #7123, Deerslayers
Director/Webmaster for
Texas Veterans Assoc., Chapter 3
http://www.txvets.org/
"... if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat."

~Teddy Roosevelt

 

(Sunny responds at bottom)

Sunny,you might laugh, but I am practicing backing into a parking space
like you are suppose to park a Bike, eh. (not real EZ) And, I am doing
this with Honey aboard.

sunny wrote:
She must have a lot of faith in you.


Sunny, yes she seems to. When we got together 18 years ago, I had a 76
GoldWing. Just bought it for $1300.
Within a coupla months, we planned a trip to Corpus, with the guy and
his wife, that I bought it from.
Well, Honey and I rode around afew hundred miles kinda practicing for
her benefit. She'd never been on a Bike.
We rode 1900 miles in 6 days on the Corpus trip, camped out along the
way.
From then on, she thinks I am hotshit, that I can ride, that I am ''dern
good''.(she does) (heh-heh)