April 30, 2013 Can't believe it's been this long since my last post. Will have to get in the habit of updating this Blog.

July 29, 2013  Probably the shortest trip I took or the longest it took me to about 1600 miles.




May 27, 2013 >  Jngs, La.   7:09 Top off the tank on Bandit leaving town.  66848 miles on the ometer.
                           Winnie, Tx.    9:06A  2.1 g  7.22 USD  66959 M .   Wind out to  the south getting stronger. Mild traffic. Cuppachino and chocolate pie snack. Once out of the busy areas, speed limit on 1-10 is 75 MPH.

                           Columbus, Tx.  11:08A 3.5G 12.31USD  67084 M.   Wind increasing from south. Through Houston not bad. Had not been through in many years. What a change. Glad on it being a holiday and traffic down. Subway in Columbus did the noon meal. Alt 90 to the south next.

Coming at you Houston, Tx. 

                         San Antonio, Tx.  2:06P  2.9 G  10.03 USD 67200 M.  Still hard south winds and staying around 90 to 92°F. Cloudy with some sunshine showing though the clouds. Gas and Orange juice at East San Antonio limits and off Alt 90 back on The 10.

May 28, 2013  Uvalde, Tx. 2.4 G 8.15 USD 67294 with Motly overcast and 74°F starts the day on US 90 West is the route.
                    10:11A  Judge Roy Bean  2.6G 11.75 USD 67424 M  Toured the Bean place.  Gas at the little Restaurant and OJ. Enjoyed talking to the lady that is 4  days older than I. Loving this part of old 90.
                    12:05P  Marathon, Tx.  2.6G 10.01 USD 67533.  Not a lot happening cept scenery , Saw a bicycle bunch before Marathon. Still high Clouds and wind but getting more sun and warming into the 80's.

Stopped at Judge Roy Beans place for a look around. Neat history and Cactus Garden.

 Then decided to go to McDonald Observatory. Very informative programs. Enjoyed.

Decided to continue North on 117. About 1/2 way , deer encounter where as I missed the deer, but, when the front tire touched the loose gravel, the curve was not to be made with the speed I was still carrying. About 24 mph in a 30 mph curve. After the dust settled, and finding out I could still move and nothing felt broken, I started working on getting the bike back on two sheels. Got the top box off along with the tank bag. Started moving rocks so I cold get the bike up. Finally after about 3 tries, success.  Now, fired it up and got it pointed in the right direction. Checked all out. Engine guard did it's thing on saving the left case engine cover. Right Givi PLX bag scrached but good. Windshield snapped off and the mounts. Oh well! I left it where it laid. Mounted up top box, put gear back on  and took off. No cell phone coverage so I had to get out. Not hurting bad in the left shoulder are at the time. Reached The 10 and Fort Stockton closet so East bound and down int a heck of a head wind with no shield so speed kept down to 55-60 in an 80 zone. 95 miles to Super 8 motel. Checked in and really beginning to hurt at the shoulderand swelling.  After a shower, even worst.
Talked to the desk and the manager gave me a ride to ER. Many X Rays and 3 hrs later. A shoulder separation and bruises.
By now, I'm wondering how I'm going to get back to the motel. The lady that check me in was getting off and had already called ER to see about  getting me back. She picked me up , stopped to get gas at a Subway annex so I could get something to eat. Just can't beat that. Even told me to have someone call her early if I need to have the pain med subscript filled.

29th May 2013 >   Better this morning than I though I would be after the pain shot from last night had worn down. Advil and an old doctor friend of mine reminded me about ice and heat to help the healing.

                                                        End of Notes from the Road.

I didn't do any more writing after the last entry.  But , a summery of events from memory goes like this.
Was able to talk to the Manager about the situation and found out it was his wife that had brought me to ER. Really great people to help me out.  Was informed of a Uhaul place in town so called to get a truck or van to haul the bike back in. Said one due back in Thursday afternoon so I booked it. A van type with a 10 foot box for cargo. Great and 540 USD.

Call came in that the van was in late Thursday and they even sent a driver to get me for the paperwork and pick up the van. Great!  Next morning, saw the Maintenance guy and we asked the manager about me driving him to his home to get a ramp to load the bike. All set.  He loaded and tied the bike down for me with rope I had bought at the rental place. So off I went about mid morning Friday the 31st of May, head East bound on The 10. A stop for the night somewhere's between San Antonio and Houston and the next day about mid morning arrived back home in Jennings, La.

Since then, the Bandit back on the road with gas tank and windshield and one signal light replace.
Doc visits to my doc and an Orthopedic surgeon , x-rays, mri revealed phase one separation at the top and rotary cup damage.   3 weeks therapy , still exercising it.  Another visit to the Orthopedic Doc ended in keep exercising it without hurting it and see you in another month.

And , that's where we are at today. on the 29th of July 2013.


April 30, 2013  WoW!  Been a long time. Need to get back to doing this Blog.

July 15, 2012

Jennings, La. Starting mileage reading on Bandit Speedo 56,835. Running speedo healer at -06.0 %. Over 2 mph off from old sprockets and tires.

Left town at 06:20 on LA 26 North. Nice riding with morning clouds hiding sun and light mist about the land.

 Light traffic on this Sunday morning. Turn off East bound on US 190.

The light mist keeping things cool. Plus the clouds blocking the sun help big time also. 

 Towns go by. Basile, Eunice, Lawtel, Opolusas. Coffee and rest stop at Lavonia , then head North to Marksville and over the new bridge

Then my attempt to get a perfect under the bridge shot off my moving motorcycle.  Getting closer. 

and into St. Francisville. And took a trip down to the old ferry crossing that was used before the bridge was built. 

Really neat that I got to watch a push boat with barges coming by at the same time. 

 Following the Mississippi River to the North now.

09:54 Woodville, MS. Should of taken the Prison Road instead of staying on US 61. Went the old downtown road at Woodville and gassed up. 3.2 gal 10.04 and 140.5 on the tripper. Pretty interesting roads out here.

10:30 Natches, MS. Natches Indian Museum only open from 1:30P to 5P on Sunday so missed it. Had a good walk about taking pictures of all the field exibits and mounds. Probably learn more about these indians on the internet.

14:47 Rolling Fork, MS Rain, Gas 4.0 gals 12.41 and 177 miles

16:00 Greenville, MS. I'm like a drowned rat. Wet and tired. Americas Best Value Inn is my friend for the night. 384.5 miles for the day and 7:17 hrs/mins moving time. Hug all stuff out to dry and turned the AC to low. Sorted through 88 pictures and kept 50.

July 16, 2012 06:15

Packing Bike, Drinking Coffee. Reset Speedo Healer to -06.2 from -06.0. LOL almost no help at all. Not thinking here. But, was amazed that all the clothing was dry in the morning to pack normal. Had turned Radar Dector back on when putting cover on bike last night but all started good so no big drain on the battery.

08:44 Lula, MS

Gas 3.4 Gals 10.77 and 143.8 miles 94.8 since leaving this morning on miles run today. US 1 very boreing. Can't see the river and nothing but trees and fields. Fixing to go up US 61.

12:16 Beech Grove, TN.

Gas 3.0 gals 9.44 and 136 miles also 85 F degrees. Partly Cloudy. Had to miss part of River Road due to gas concerns. I could see a person running out of gas easy along the river. And Subway took care of Dinner. ;-)

13:43 Near Tiptonville, TN. Found a little park on the river. First time I've really seen the river since St Francisville, La. Took some pictures of a pushboat shoving bardges up the river and layed out on a bench for a nap. Good breeze. Good 45 min rest.

15:25 Bardinell, KY

Gas 2.3 gals 7.48 and 108.1 miles and 94 degrees. Nice ride on little back roads. No traffic and no people. Love it. Now 51 North.

17:30 Cape Girardeau, Mo. For motel. First one stopped at had one smoking room left but called to their pardner and they had a room so off I go across the street to them. Great room, evening snack, free voucher for cocktail ( which I didn't do ) and even breakfast in the morning. 90 bucks well spent. Washed some clothing and hung to dry in room. Internet and TV.

/Todays stats were 406.0 miles in 7:49 moving time with total miles at 790.5 off the GPS.

17 July 2012 06:23

Leaving Cape Girgadeau, Mo and going back to the Illinos side of the river. Breakfast of scrambled eggs , toast with white gravy and Ojuice. Good to go.

08:08 Cheseter, Ill.

Gas 2.9 gals 9.30 and 125.8 miles Good ride on levee with river to the left. Lots of truck traffic around here. Cuppochina and Break at the 68.7 miles done so far with cloudy skies and 89F for temps.

Spent about 45 mins at the Lewis/Clark Museum in St. Louis this morning having pasted the Great Ark already. Got to walk about all the exhibits and watch a short movie on their trip. Pretty neat.

12:26 Gafton, Ill and Gas stop 2.7 gals 9.78 money with 117.7 miles traveled since last fill up. A big 98F for temp. Was really glad to get clear of St. Louis and all the traffic and people. Back along the river with the roads mostly to myself.

15,35 Warsaw, Ill 100 F degrees Gas was 2.8 gals at 9.88 and 126,3 miles. Temps been high 90's to low 100's since Gafton but handling it well with an occasional Red Bull and lots of water. Time to start hunting a motel as it nears 16:00 hours and almost in Iowa.

16:32 Finds me in Fort Madison, Iowa for the motel and it's 102F. Stats for the day are 356.4 miles with 7:19 travel time and a total of 1146 miles on the trip.

18 July 2012 Fort Madison, Iowa.

Set speedo healer to -08.0 Packed and ready before 06:00. Salad saved from last night for breakfast. ;-) On the move North for Ceder Rapids.

Speedometer on Bandit only off about 4 tenths now. Will do small adjust ment in morning before packing. Have to take off the left Givi bag and seat to get to controller so only do it in the mornings before packing.

07:43 Iowa City, Iowa and 85 degrees. Been running mostly in 75 to 78 degree weather till here and downtown for something different rather than use the bypass roads. The new roads are going around all the small interesting places. Gas was 2.6 gallons at 9.22 and 113,2 since last fill up. Bandit is good for near 200 miles per tank but I usually start looking for gas at 100 miles.

08:30 Cedar Rapids, Iowa. June and Glen Chesley and got to see Joyce. She was really fun to visit and meet for the 1^st time. Talking and visiting was over about 11:45 so headed North with Joyce pointing me down the right road out of the city. Thanks gal.

12:27 independence, Iowa, Break for Red Bull and refresh water supply in tank bag bladder. 96 degrees and PC Skies.

14:00 New Hampton, Iowa Chief Salad with bad Tea. Looks like they left soap in tea container. So didn't drink or pay for it. Left there and got Gas 2.7 gals at 9.54 and 127.3 miles traveled. Mostly Cloudy with 100 degree temps. Doing good and flying along.

14:30 Storms building all around and attempting to change directions to avoid the worst. Not gonna happen to batten down the hatched and plowed though heavy rain, hard winds til lgot a break to the North and haul it. Caught I-90 and into Stevenville , Mn for the night. Not as wet as got in Mississippi but was enuff. Unpack bike and covered. Pizza delivered for the night as it was still raining.

299.2 miles traveled today in 5 hrs 37 mins rolling time and a total of 1446 miles into this trip so far. 

19 July 2012 Stevenville, Mn.  Up at 5A and packing. Had left over pizza and coffee for breakfast and was on the road before 6A.  Headed North then West then Northwest. ;-) 

07:13 Owatonia, Mn. 73 degrees and been really foggy so far.  Gas was 2.8 gallons at 9.89 and 117.8 since last fill up. Biquet , cheese, egg and sausage for breakfast snack then meds. 

09:31 Hector, Mn.   75 degrees and still foggy but getting betta. Gas was 2.5 gals at 8.66 and 105.1 miles traveled.  Seeing people headed for Sturgis.  Wish them fun.  V-8 juice break for me. 

11:36  Dawson, Mn.  Subway and Sun starting to come out. Switched to Vented jacket. Nothing really exciting since this morning,  Just corn fields, soy beans, wheat and a few sunflower fields also. 

12:40  Clinton, Mn    Gas 2.6 gals at 9.01 and 118.1 miles traveled. Gud breeze from the East. First gas pump that I had to go inside to pay.  

15:18  Oakes, NC  94 degrees   Gas was 2.7 gals at 9.89 bucks and 120 miles traveled.  Yea South and North  Dakota with their 65 mph speed limits on the back roads .  And finally found some leather work gloves to replace the ones that have been wet a few times and I really don't like the way they fit after drying. Very flat land so far in the Dakotas. And, a lot of low lieing water for bird, animals , etc. 

16:30 Valley , ND. Beat out a bit of rain getting here and into the motel.  Stats for the day was 479.8 miles traveled with 8 hrs and 22 mins in the saddle with a total mileage for 1925.9 .  Had a Ceaser's salad and tea at the cafe next door. Washed a load of clothing and worked out on the thread mill for 20 mins. It's harder to walk a threadmill than walk the streets.   More later.