May 8, 2008

DAY 6

We had a good nights sleep and had a light breakfast. We sat around until the morning rush was about over when we packed up our Motors and prepared to leave. We said our goodbyes to Susie and Aaron. We left at 9:08 AM with J.B. leading us out of the city. We rode about 1 mile and stopped for gas at a QT. After gassing up, we made a pit stop. We all got ready to leave but I wasn't going anywhere. There was a problem with my Motor and its battery. We jump started it with J.B.'s Motor. J.B. knew of a Honda Dealership close by and we went there so that they could check the problem. When we arrived at 9:45 AM, 5 miles away, they took my Motor right away. We waited inside, looking at the Motorcycles, ATVs, Rhinos and stuff. They checked the battery and the tests showed that it was OK. We were ready to go. We left at 10:46 AM.

J.B. led us to the entrance of I-35. As he left us, we waved to him. He motioned to Chuck to call him and Chuck blew him a kiss. There was a man in a vehicle that saw Chucks action and he almost ran off the road in front of J.B.

I was leading and 95 miles later, we stopped at 12:09 PM in Beto Jct., KS. for lunch. We stopped at Subway. We didn't take very long there. We ordered, ate and left by 12:30 PM.

We entered the Turnpike of I-35 and stopped after 61 miles in Cassody, KS. at 1:30 PM. It was time for a pit stop, coffee to reload our bladders and to gas up. We left at 1:56 PM.

It was a cloudy day and very nice to be riding the Motors. Chuck was leading now and we rode for 111 miles and stopped at a road side rest area in Blackwell, OK. at 3:23 PM. It was time for a pit stop. Remember I told you that at the last stop we reloaded our bladders? We left at3:32 PM.

Chuck continued to lead and stopped after another 40 miles in Perry, OK. at 4:04 PM for gas. We didn't stay long as we left at 4:12 PM.

I was leading this time and we rode for 146 miles. We stopped in Clinton, OK. at 6:10 PM. We needed a pit stop an while we were there, we gassed up our Motors. We left at 6:38 PM.

Chuck took over the lead. We crossed the Texas boarder at 7:30 PM and stopped after 140 miles in Groom, TX. at 8:24 PM. It was still daylight and we made a pit stop. We spoke with the clerk in the store who told us that it had rained hard all day yesterday in Groom. She told us that the rain was covering the entire panhandle of Texas. The rain went through the panhandle and circled around and hit it again. We were so glad to hear that, knowing that we had decided to stay at J.B.'s house because of the rain that hit Gladstone. This rain in the Texas panhandle would have been miserable riding! We gassed up and left at 8:37 PM.

I was my turn to lead. It was starting to get dark and I told Chuck that when it got dark, to ride even with me and our headlights could light up the entire roadway so that we could watch for "critters" crossing our path. We didn't have much more to travel to get to Amarillo, TX. after a short time, Chuck rode up next to me and we lit up the roadway. It wasn't that dark yet and we could see the shoulders of the roadway very well. By the time it got dark, we were close to Amarillo and there were plenty of street lights, businesses, street sign and stuff like that that lit up the roadway. Chuck back away an we continued westbound. We arrived in Amarillo, TX. and the Best Western at 9:18 PM. We checked in, unloaded our Motors and walked behind the motel to a restaurant. We we walked inside of the restaurant, we were told that the kitchen was closed and they couldn't serve us. We went back to our motel room, got our jackets and helmets and rode about 3 miles to an I.H.O.P. We had dinner and then returned to the motel to secure for the night. We tucked our Motors in for the night and went to our room.

Even though we started late, we still managed to ride 651 miles. This is going to be better for us for tomorrow. We will be riding less miles. We plan to get to Flagstaff tomorrow. We will be able to wake up later and leave later and still get to Flagstaff early enough to make it an early night. More tomorrow...