Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Evergreen, AL

Today was riding through Louisiana, Mississippi and now in Alabama. I took all secondary roads staying off the Interstate. I took no pictures. I'm meeting Fred tomorrow for lunch in St. Marks, FL and then ride home.  No real surprises today other than the temperature got up to 86. 

Saturday, February 27, 2021 - Alexandria, LA

I decided to forego the Defective Gene Pool BBQ lunch today and instead get an earlier start.  I experienced my fair share of them last night and didn't feel a need to have more - good guys, just not my cup of tea.

The weather this morning was very foggy with light rain and temperatures in the 50s.  Perfect GS weather. I stayed off the Interstate highways and had a very enjoyable ride.  Very little traffic and nice roads overall.  The scenery was not much to speak of so I didn't take any road photos.  The pics below are of the Red River within walking distance of my hotel tonight in Alexandria, LA. 

Friday, February 26, 2021 - Allen, TX

I just got back to my room here in Allen, TX after attending the Defective Gene Pool pizza dinner and presentation by Paul Pelland, aka LongHaulPaul. It was mostly a bunch of old white guys drinking beer and having fun. This group reminds me of another esteemed group I am familiar with in the sense that when I look around the room I wonder, what would these guys be doing if they weren't doing this?  And you really would not want to know the answer.  They are all serious long distance motorcycle riders and active members of the Iron Butt Association regularly riding 1,000 miles in 24 hours or 1,500 miles in 36 hours. This is their hobby and these are their people.  When I mentioned to someone that I am not an IBA member and have never ridden over 700 miles in one day they looked at me funny and asked how did I find out about this event.  It is an obscure group.  I enjoyed meeting them, they are nice people.

DGP trial of Longhaulpaul

On my ride from Fredricksburg to Allen I stopped for lunch at The Little Czech Bakery.  Susie and I had seen it on one of the food shows we watch and it was right on the way so I stopped in.  Neat place.

The morning started out in the 40s, overcast and a little misty.  I cranked up the heated vest, seat and grips and did fine.  Traffic in Dallas was not fun. 

Some of the DGP bikes in the parking lot. They have auxiliary gas tanks and lots of other long distance add ons (farkles).

Thursday, February 25, 2021 - Fredricksburg, TX

I went to the Museum of Western Art near Kerrsville, TX. It has a nice collection of saddles, a couple of old wagons, sculptures and lots of paintings.  Other than that I rode around in circles for awhile and ate some more Mexican food.  

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - Fredricksburg, TX, Hotel Kitsmiller

Started the day having coffee and an apple bread at a local place. The owner said it got down to -2 degrees here last week and today it was over 80!  Bizarre. They were hit with the rolling blackouts but kept water service.  They had to close the shop for a few days because delivery trucks couldn't drive due to icy roads.

I rode about 200 miles in a roundtrip through the hill country. It was nice. Gentle rolling hills with what looked like stunted oak trees and juniper.  There were lots and lots of downed branches due to the ice storm.  Lots of cattle, goats and horses.  Plus a lot of vineyards and wineries which I was not expecting to see.  I also saw some buffalo in a pasture.  I was surprised to see a speed limit of 75 mph in rural 2-laned roads. I'm not used to that but I did meet the limit. Even with the hills there are massive expanses of open space. 

I had a mediocre Mexican lunch but made up for it with dinner. The place I stopped for lunch filled up with working men from the ranches in big pickup trucks. 

Some sections of the roads had a lot of gravel leftover from the winter storm. Because of that I took it easy around corners.  The water manager in me also noticed flood gauges on almost ever stream and river crossing.  It must really come down at times.

Cemetary in Fredericksburg with mostly German surnames

Secret photo of Texas good old boys eating Mexican lunch

Gravel warning sign

Hill Country Trail sign

Stream crossing with storm gauge

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 - Fredricksburg TX

 It has been a well travelled 2 days.  I have ridden over 1,100 miles since leaving Gainesville yesterday morning at 7am.  I stayed last night in Lafayette, LA.  The roads have been a real mixed bag. Going around New Orleans was a mess.  Roads under construction, trucks, barriers, 2-lanes and lots of traffic.  I was in ride mode and did fine.  I averaged 80 mph on the speedometer which is around 77 real speed.  Weather was fine just a light rain for maybe an hour Monday the rest of the time cool and dry.  This morning's start was 39 degrees. I had my heated vest, grips and seat and I was very comfortable.  There was a lot of pretty strong wind both days.  In fact, the wind really reduced my mpg which caught me off guard the firat time I saw the low fuel warning. 

Some random observations:

I saw some indications of the recent winter storms like electrical repair trucks but not much else.  People I spoke with either knew someone who lost power and water or lost it themselves.  All the businesses were open.

Lots and lots of Trumps signs and flags at half-mast in recognition of Rush Limbaugh's passing. And soon after I saw several massive new wind turbine blades on trucks and almost everyone wearing masks.

I saw an Austin policeman riding a BMW RT 1200 motorcycle, good taste.

I took the bypass around Houston taking me close to the port.  The number of oil storage tanks was amazing as well as what I think was a massive and intricate refinery. I've never seen anything like it.  I saw one other refinery plant today.  The complex mix of piping over huge areas is mind blowing.

The Cajun accent is wonderful - rolling, soft and foreign-sounding, yet welcoming and familiar.

Time to wrap it up and see if I remember how to import photos.

 

Dinner at a German restaurant in Fredericksburg, TX

My motel room in Fredericksburg

I visited LBJs ranch

I-10 under construction in Louisiana

Sunday, February 21, 2021 - Home, Gainesville, FL

 I am leaving for Texas tomorrow. I'll be staying in Fredricksburg, TX and riding around the Texas hill country for a few days and then attend a Defective Gene Pool speaker/dinner Friday, Feb 26 and a ride to eat (RTE) BBQ the next afternoon all in Allen, TX.  I'll start heading back to Gainesville that afternoon and be home Monday, March 1, 2021. 

It has been well over a year since blogging so I had to relearn it all over again.  What fun.

If you are interested in the DGP click HERE