TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 23 (Final Texas Blog)

Ride report: None as it was a planned travel day from Wichita, KS to Downs, KS...

So, this is pretty much the end of the line for the Texas Test Flight series.  I’ll post additional blogs, but likely as The Thin Blue Ride approaches.  That was kinda the plan all along, post when I actually have something to say.  For me that’s more frequent than not, but we’ve got plenty to do in the run-up for The Thin Blue Ride.  Hope this doesn’t disappoint (Actually - that’s a lie.  It would stoke my ego if it did disappoint.) But regardless, the reader will notice from this point until around May 22nd that the number of posts drop off.  Let the reader be warned.

This doesn’t, of course, mean that I don’t have anything to post today.  But most of what I have is linked directly to pics.  So, let us get to the point at hand...

So, last night Susan is browsing the interweb (the whole thing apparently) and stumbles across this.  Not sure what sort of Google search one asks for to find this, but here it is none-the-less.  For the record, I saw only one snake on the entire trip.  Though I didn't mention it in the blog for the day, I saw about an 18 inch snake in the low water crossing the day I took an unplanned bath.  It caused me no alarm and swam off laughing.  As events transpired, I didn't believe it merited attention.

As we're pulling out of the RV Park this morning to head for Downs, I noticed this.  Its not every day that one runs across a golf cart with a roof rack.  Hey - this was a high class place.

Speaking of high class place, we were passed by this on the road between Wichita and Salina.

It turned into this...

Holy crap!  This thing took 5 minutes to get past us.  I'm not sure what's in that trailer, but its as long as the motorhome, which probably was in the neighborhood of 45 feet.  Since most people with a motorhome this large also tow a vehicle for every day use, I was left to conclude that these people are NHRA types who keep their top fuel dragster in it.  Make for a quick trip to the grocery store, me thinks.

Kansas wildflowers.  They haven't apparently had time to spray em yet.  We also call em weeds in these parts.

Some may have wondered why we're going to Downs rather than Manhattan - our home base. Turns out, its for no less auspicious an occasion than the 88th birthday of Susan’s Dad - Howard.  See pic below...

Kinda a big deal, tons of relatives coming in, lotsa food, you know the drill.

Oh - I almost forgot.  My sister Deanna was the winner of the birthday cake quiz.  It was a spirited competition with three readers having the correct response.  Hers was first.  I'm disappointed that the other 6 of you couldn't figure it out. The answer is that the M&Ms were my age.  Blue ones for decades and all the others for years - 59.

As promised, she wins 100 internet bonus points.  I've made special arrangements with Amazon and all that's necessary to redeem them during her next Amazon purchase is to enter the appropriate promotional code.  I also talked Amazon into using my initials - BS.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 22

Ride report: None.  Travel day from Lawton, OK to Wichita, KS.

Well, the wind finally calmed down.  Waves on the lake this morning were what you might see on a typical pond - maybe 6 inches.  A far cry from what we had been seeing lately.  Two dudes with surf boards showed up this morning and were disappointed.  After I ran them off, we were wheels up at 0830 and made it to USI RV Park in Wichita at about 1330.  No - I’ve no idea what USI stands for.  The park itself is filled with many full-timers and most all of the units are in good shape.  Not much in the way of grass, since the entire park is one giant rock parking lot.  But that’s fine with us as we’re only here overnight anyway.  Added bonus - they sell propane right at the front gate, so we topped off the tank when we arrived.  It wasn’t terribly low, but we did go thru a little keeping warm in Texas.  Whodathunk?  Good to have it done so we don’t have to worry about it before leaving on The Thin Blue Ride.

BTW, not to toot my own horn, but today is my birthday.  59, if you must be so rude as to ask.  To celebrate the event Susan is taking me to dinner at the restaurant of my choice tonight.  The pickings should be good in Wichita.  I’m thinking...Italian.  We’ll see.  Then maybe to some place fancy like the local Dillons grocery store to see if they sell chocolate cake by the (gigantic) slice.  Dare I hope?

Oh - a first for the blog today.  One of my loyal readers (OK - she at least read one post.  Sigh - OK its my sister Deanna) sent me a couple of pics suitable for publication.  You’ll have to check em out below.  All I’ll say here is that Delta has cause for concern.  Reminder to self: Don’t have Susan read me the message and show me the pic while driving.

So, on with today’s pics...

There were an incredible number of tractor trailers (Susan says that's what the Teamsters call em) on the road today.  May God strike me with lightening if what I'm about to say isn't true, but there seemed to be more of them on the stretch that Susan drove. They were driving by waving and smiling.  I finally made Susan roll up the window so they couldn't talk shop while rolling down the Interstate.  It was unseemly. 

Today the rig hit me up for a selfie!!!  Good Lord, between her and the two bikes I've about had my fill.  When she asked for the phone a second time I told her "No" and to pay attention to her driving.  She sulked for half an hour.  Blessed silence...

It didn't help her mood any when I took this just a few minutes later.  Note how Teamsters concentrate when they drive...

Dinner tonight at Carrabas in Wichita,  They tried to force me to order (or carry out) a free dessert, but I said no.  We had plans to find chocolate cake at Dillons.  Unfortunately, there were none.  So - Wally World to the rescue.  It's sitting there on the counter right now just daring me to eat it.  I may succumb.

See. I told ya so...

Bonus internet points to the first reader who figures out what the M&Ms on top signify.  Susan put em there.  Those of you from my former employer (RCPD) know how much I love Peanut M&Ms.  I married the right woman.

Now the reader pics.  They came with this message:

"Mercury wanted me to send you these pictures in the Kansas bluebonnets.  Delta is his new idol.  He now aspires to follow in his pedal strokes."

My god.  I'll never hear the end of this.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 21

Ride report: 17.1 miles,  755.5 total miles,  12.5 mph avg, 1,489 calories, 1,558 ft. climbing.

What a day.  But first a report on last night...

Turns out that the Lawton area was in a wind advisory.  Now the lake we’re at isn’t that big but the wind was howling last night, rocking the RV all night long.  There was little sleep to be had between the RV rocking and the wind noise.  And the wind had the full run of the lake before getting to the East shore, where we’re located - prolly 50 ft. from the shore.  Spray from the breaking waves was on our windows as I ate breakfast.  Animals were lining up two by two  trying to get in the door of the rig.  At least the zebras were polite.  They're the only ones who knocked.  Oh - and I'm pretty sure that the baby geese I mentioned yesterday are in Eastern Tennessee tonight.

So - back to today...

Great fun this morning.  Turns out that Frank (from dinner last night) is the Directorate of Museums at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  Cool, but not especially surprising.  He was a cannon-cocker from way back and retired after 27 years, with his last tour at Fort Sill.  Anyway - he gave us a tour of the artillery museum on post.  I have tons of cool pics of both modern and antique artillery pieces.  It was pretty much a walking tour of the entire history of artillery, and not just the US stuff.  Apparently after each war, hardware from the vanquished armies is brought back to the states for study with artillery pieces tending to come to Fort Sill since its the artillery training post for the Army.  I think the legal term for this is, "To the victor goes the spoils."  Lots of pics...  That was the morning.

As for the afternoon, when I showed the reader pics of the "mountain" across the lake from us last night, I also Googled it.  Turns out that its called Mount Scott and is apparently considered an "iconic" ride - at least for this portion of the country.  This according to the one guy I found on-line who had blogged his trip up and then back down.  Well then.  Since I'm becoming a bit of "icon" myself (my eternal gratitude to the nine of you who regularly read my stuff) what would be more appropriate than an icon climbing an icon?  Nothing - that's what.  The wind had abated just a bit but was still running at 19 with gusts to 30.  Hmmm...better go for it.  Seems the wise thing to do.  Besides, I'll prolly only be here with a bike once; and it is an iconic ride after all.  So, off I went.  The wind made the trip up interesting.  This because as one works one’s way up the mountain the road basically corkscrews around the mountain twice in order to get to the top.  So, half the trip up was wind assisted and half was into the wind.  The hill itself is 2.7 miles of between 6.5% grade on the low end and 9.5% on the upper end.  

The ride stats sort of hint at what was going on.  Pretty much the opposite of yesterday’s ride which was above my usual mph average.  Seldom does a ride of mine this short end with a 12.5 mph average. The culprit: climbing.  Apparently my power plant is a diesel more appropriate for use plowing fields than for use in an F1 race car.  But the views were absolutely stunning.  From this I concluded that cyclists are like everyone else.  We love the view from up there.  But the effort it takes to get there?  Not so much.

On to today’s pics...

These are the Medicine Creek bluffs.  Considered sacred by Native Americans - located on Fort Sill.

Geronimo's grave.  Yes - that Geronimo.  And no, he never jumped off the previously depicted bluffs shouting "Geronimo" as myth holds.

Some big guns in the museum.

More big guns on the grounds outside the museum.

THE big gun - Atomic Annie. The only artillery piece to have ever fired an atomic projectile.  It went 6.2 miles and exploded 500ish feet above ground.  No reports on the welfare of the guy who pulled the trigger.  Some might question the wisdom of this venture.  But not the US Army, by golly.

And all that just in the morning.  My daughter, Kelsy, was grateful we were doing this after retiring rather than as a family vacation when we had kids. I believe her exact words were, "Oh look! Another big gun!"

Now on to the afternoon's adventure.  Where THESE big guns came out to play...

It went like this...

As we rode around the lake to get to Mount Scott, the Sequoia noticed that it was beginning to loom, but he was still eager to have a go.

When we got to Medicine Park, this was our path across the creek.

This is the creek.

We're sure that they are, and we plan to.

OK - we're committed now.

It appears that the mountain is equally as committed.

Half way up now.  Why am I still smiling???  Wait for it...  Because I'm NOT AT WORK!

We started out down there.

OK - this was just gorgeous.  Not that I needed a break or anything.

From here the lake is looking smaller all the time.  And since someone will ask, No - its not.  My nose is just closer to the camera, that's all.

Just to give the reader some perspective on the slope - for 2.7 miles.  Did I mention this?

My turn for a "we started down there" pic.

The summit, at which the Sequoia hogged the space at the rail.  Clearly he's been hanging out with Delta too much.  Prima Donna...

There are actually two lakes visible from the top of Mount Scott.  This is the one we're not camped at.  Note the burned out area.  This was done intentionally by the Fort.  No, I'm not guessing.  There was a big orange sign.  Despite what the obstinate highway guy said, I CAN read em.

I called Susan on the phone when I made it to the top.  She took this pic of me waiving at her from there.  Seriously.

I took this pic of Susan at the same time.  The observant reader will see two white dots to the  right quarter of the shore line.  The eagle eyed, observant reader will note that Susan is in front of the one on the left.

On the way back to the rig.  So there, Mount Scott.  You don't look so big from here.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 19

Ride report: None as this was a planned travel day.  200 miles in the RV tho.

 We had considered dumping me out about 20-30 miles from Breckenridge (who knew Texas had one too?) and letting me catch Susan when she stopped for the day.  Turns out that doing so would have been a terrible decision as most of the last 10-15 miles of US 183 was under serious construction.  It looks like maybe they were widening the shoulders to 8 ft. or so from the standard 18 inches.  Anyway, it made a mess and would have forced me into traffic as there was no where else to ride.

We were up and around (relatively) early to dump tanks, unplug and pull out of the Fredericksburg RV Park.  I know we were up early because all of the long term residents (most of whom are considerably older than Susan and I) were already out walking their dogs, themselves or their spouses.  You can tell the difference, BTW.  I'm relatively certain that after having had my own knee replaced I can tell the difference between a bad hip limp and a bad knee limp.  I even saw one lady walking her grey muzzled, limping dog - but I digress...

Anyway, we were delayed a bit because two separate gentlemen came up and asked me about the swivel-wheel trailer we use to transport the scooter and two of the bikes.  So, there went 20 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.  I have, however, developed a standardized response to queries concerning the trailer.  (I always leave out the part about the death by fiery crash that my less than optimistic brother-in-law is convinced will result from its use.)  I'll have to contact swivel-wheel about working on commission if this keeps up.  The reader may recall that the “trailer” was discussed in detail in one of my pre Texas Test Flight blogs.  Apparently its all the rage in the RV parks.  Hey - ya do what ya gotta do to be popular...  It was either talk about the trailer or start walking with a limp.

The drive from Fredericksburg was pretty.  We were still in Hill Country for prolly the first 1/2 or 2/3 of the trip, but the terrain was definitely flattening out.  By the time we made it to Breckenridge, we were unquestionably NOT in Hill Country any longer.  For their part, the flowers are still present and put in a good effort, but thinned considerably as we moved further North.  I happened to be driving during the early portion of the trip so Susan took some pics which she later sent to me and they represent most of the pics from today’s trip.  So, on with Susan’s pics...

Though they are a bit distant from the road these white flowers are White Prickly Poppies.  They're not as abundant as some of the other wild flowers, but we saw the largest bunches of them on today's trip.

More Bluebonnets - yawn.

Not the major road construction I mentioned earlier, but I'm pretty sure this is a highway worker.  Either that or he's out to rob motorists.  "Honest Officer, the guy was wearing a neon yellow mask."

Bluebonnets, Indian Paint Brushes and white Prickly Poppies.  One of the few locations where all three were present.

This is just kinda a neat granite outcropping.  Interesting country around here.  One can move from limestone (sedimentary) rock to granite (igneous) rock in the space of just a few miles.  And do so repeatedly.  It'd probably be more interesting were I geologist and able to go into detail concerning the rock strata of central Texas, don't you think?  Count your blessings I'm not a geologist.

Another big bunch of Prickly Poppies.  They stand much taller than the other wild flowers.

We were all set to boondock (if you can call it that) in the Wal-Mart parking lot here in Breckenridge - where the temperature is a balmy 90 degrees as I type this missive.  But that would have meant using our generator to power the AC tonight.  I'm OK with that, but when we called the Buffalo RV park and they only wanted $20 for the night with full hookups - SOLD!  When I inquired about paying I got this answer, "Just stop by the laundry room, fill out a card and leave it with $20 in the box.  We'll get it later.  And if you need anything just call me back."  Good thing I'm the one who called, she clearly recognized that I'm trustworthy.  We even got a spot by the water.  (OK, its just a retention pond, but it looks like water to me.)

Author's note:  Compliments/complaints concerning today's pics should be posted to Susan on the blog.  Be nice tho, she's under the weather today with congestion, a runny nose, etc.  I feel bad since I think I gave it to her.  Here's hoping it only last for the three days mine lasted.  She's on day two now.

Till next time.

TEXAS TEST FLIGHT - DAY 18

Ride report: 37.3 miles, 703.7 total miles,  15.4 mph avg, 2,914 calories, 1,683 ft. climbing.

Before I get into today's activities, a brief advisory to the reader.  Susan told me that when she received her e-mail notification yesterday, none of the pics came thru.  I suspect this is because there was a video embedded in yesterday's update.  So, if you read the blog in your e-mail you may have to actually go to the site to read DAY 17.  On with today's report...

Well, “Accu”weather got it right today.  Hey - if they’ve got anything going for em it’s the blind pig and the acorn thing.  But it worked out for the day, so I’m not complaining - much.

Anyway, we headed to Medina on the scooter first thing this morning - if you can call 1000 “first thing”.  On the way, Susan took some pics from the back seat of the scooter.  I was not optimistic.  Even Susan will tell you that she and photography have a hate/hate relationship.  But she came thru today.

Somewhere on Texas 16 between Kerrville and Medina.  It was a gorgeous drive.

Copyright Susan Schoen photography, 2019

We got there in time for an early lunch as planned at The Apple Store.  Medina is a VERY small town and has little in the way of homes, businesses, etc.  But they do have The Apple Store.  We heard of it from Bill and Sue Billyard, who we met in the RV Park in Boerne.  Interesting folks.  They're from Canada and have been doing the "Snowbird" thing for a number of years now.  BTW - Sue was right, no way the RV would have made it thru some of the curves on 16 between Kerrville and Medina.  Thanks for the warning.  Pics (of The Apple Store) below...

Me outside The Apple Store.

Me thanking the good Lord that we found The Apple Store.  Yeah, yeah - I ate lunch first, but who cares when ya got a pic like this.

And because somebody is gonna ask, no - we don't have pics of the curvy section of 16.  Susan did shoot a video of us slaloming thru them on the Burgman, but it was almost 4 minutes long.  If yesterday's brief video screwed up the e-mail thing, just imagine what a 4 minute video would do.  So the reader will just have to imagine us on the scooter, hugging the curves, throwing one knee out for balance and scraping the muffler on the pavement as we roared thru.  I told Susan we should slow down but she was having none of it.

(Note: portions of this blog are fiction and are not based on actual events.)

On the way back from The Apple Store Susan saw a western wear store in Kerrville.  This is significant because she knew I wanted to find a new wallet while down here.  Something decidedly Texan to remind me of the trip.  Brilliant - I married the right eagle eyed woman.  So, I pulled over and in we went.  I found this...

Can it get more Texan than the Ranger Belt Company?  I don't think so.

Exactly what I was looking for.  Though I don't show it, the back is full basket weave.

Found this when we got back to the rig.  How do you say "Yee-Haw" in Chinese?  Wait, wait...I think its "Yee-Haa".

We got back and I was able to get out the door by about 1415 to do the Luckenbach Loop, as the ACA map calls it.  It wasn’t too hilly as the ride report bears out, but it was interesting.

Now I’d heard of Luckenbach, I know the song by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, etc.  It was nothing like I imagined.  My first clue was when I was passed by a goodly number of bikes heading out of town as I was riding in.  When I got there it was obvious that there was either some sort of rally going on or that its just a regular hangout for the biker crowd.  And lest the reader be confused, by “bike” I mean motorcycle.  When I got off my ride it was readily apparent that anyone in spandex was in the minority.  I now know how a gazelle feels when he wanders into a pride of lions.

Fortunately as I worked my way thru the crowd I noticed another guy wearing funny shoes.  (No, not cowboy boots.)  Funny shoes like mine - that also said “Specialized” on em.  When I inquired he told me he was part of an organized ACA Hill Country tour and I was welcome to park my bike with theirs around the corner.  I did so and proceeded to wander about feeling like a gazelle.

I eventually ran into my newfound friend again and asked if there was anyplace I could get some water.  He surveyed the crowd and calmly assured me that he didn’t believe they sold anything like water in Luckenbach unless by chance it came in a brown bottle.  I doubted that.  But as it turns out, the bar did sell bottled water.  So for the measly sum of $3, I got my water bottle filled.  It was very interesting and I got some cool pics of some rare antique motorcycles...

This was the scene when I pulled in to Luckenbach.  Its funny - they wave at me when on the road (its that whole two wheel thing) but didn't really want to talk to me in person.  Unusual...

Proof that I've been to Luckenbach, Tx.  No, I didn't drink the beer.  They were sitting there. The guy who took the pic (another bi-cyclist) told me they were prolly there as props.  Sure...  The beer aficionado will note that I'm holding empty Lone Star and Shiner bottles.  Apparently a big deal in Texas - or at least in Luckenbach.

These were across the street from the first herd.  If you're interested in this sort of thing, many were antiques.  Mostly Harleys, a lot from the 30s and 40s, but a few classic BMWs were mixed in as well.

The two old guys between the trees were singing "Rocky Top Tennessee" when I came around the corner.  They asked for requests and threatened Disco music if they received none.  This prompted many requests and more than one contribution to the tip jar.

When we left, the Sequoia wanted equal billing.  I told him to shut-up and we left forthwith.

Post Luckenbach.  I've noted that Texans, like many rural folk, value old machinery as yard art.  As you can tell from the pic, they also value their privacy.  Note the ubiquitous fence.

Just a whole lotta country side visible from here...

I love river shots.

Enough to take more than one.

Till next time.