Triumphrat

dogtired · 03-05-2012, 12:14 AM

I have sort of intended this thread to be a roads and rides place for me to post in. Sort of the where and when and what road I took thing, but please don't let that stop anyone from posting in here, go right ahead and post any questions or comments you want, I am enjoying the feedback and questions.

If for some bizarre reason you would like to follow the social impact North America has on me, and my impressions of such, plus a whole load of seriously funny observations of myself and the trip by other people, there are two threads in the BHO section of this forum. Both full of untruths and outright lies and slander.

This thread was started by me initially when I needed some advice on various matters when the trip planning was in its infancy.

And this thread was started by the people I am visiting just to keep me honest, it has the most lies in it.

It is late Sunday night, and just had a lazy 524 mile weekend around the pine forests of eastern Texas to get the bike past it's first oil change, I am tired and need sleep, and will put together a post on the ride when I am more awake. Hopefully in the next couple of days.

Life is hectic. Life is good.

dogtired · 03-06-2012, 10:46 PM

I finally have time to write up East Texas.

Hap and I ventured up to the pine forests of East Texas for a quick run around, a lazy 522 miles all up for Saturday and Sunday.

We took off out of South Houston and headed for Woodville in East Texas. Here is the Google Maps link. I have no idea what roads we took to get there, I was too busy gawking at the scenery and holding Hap up by being slow, although we both gave the bikes a squirt at times. I got my 'Ton Up!' on the Bonneville just for curiosity sake, it did it in a canter and still had more, The bike continues to impress me as a riding platform, it is not fast for a modern bike, but it is rediculously easy to ride and very forgiving. I am comparing it to my 41 year old Bonneville though...

We rode a lot of roads through the area and saw very few bikes, this area has to be Texas best kept secret. The trick is to get onto the Farm to Market roads, they all have excellent tarmac and very little traffic. You just pull out the map, and point and say, this one looks good, and you have a 20 mile squirt to the next town or crossroads, select another road that looks good, rinse and repeat.

An entire weekend of this is just too much fun.
Here are the trusty steeds parked at the motel for the night.

I am sorry I don't have photos of the scenery, but we were just having too much fun riding. it was good to finally get some miles under the belt.

I must mention the ride back into South Houston, from the time we hit freeway, to Haps house, it was 36 miles of the most intense sensory overload I have had for a long time. 80 mph in mad freeway traffic at night, 4 lanes full going both ways, the lights, the sounds, the smells, it was just awesome, and something I haven't had at home. I am just a country lad...

and simply don't see this sort of traffic, it made me feel so alive. I was still buzzing and thinking about it hours later, it was awesome in the true sense of the word.

But there is better to come, I must put todays ride together and post it.

The weekend: 522 miles.
Total: 704 miles.

Crazy old Triumph guys: 0

dogtired · 03-06-2012, 11:45 PM

Eventually got away from Hap, it is hard, he and SWMBO are excellent company and amazing hosts.

I have actually started my adventure for real, the bike has had the first oil change, bags were finally sorted, excess gear stored at Hap's house awaiting my return. And I was off.

Here is the Google Maps link.

Took off and headed for Galveston on the freeway, nothing exciting there. Fuelled up at Galveston, and wouldn't you know it, out of the mechanics area of the garage out pops a crazy old Triumph guy. 26 miles into the trip and my first one.

Wandered through the back streets of Galveston to have a look around at the architecture of the place, there are some stunning old houses there, there also seems to be a lot of deserted bond stores and warehouses down the east end towards the ferry, proud reminders of a glorious past.

Rode onto the Ferry that takes you to Port Bolivar and along the Bolivar Peninsula, and the car in front of me has a HD sticker in the back window, anyways i can see the woman is trying to get a look at me, or maybe the bike, possibly the bike, but I was hoping it was me.

So i wander up for a chat, and she gives me some local knowledge of what is ahead, and offers to take my photo for me as I had the camera out.

Now for those of you, and I think it is nearly all, who havent seen my mug, here it is.

Good looking bastard aren't I?

Followed 87 untill the road ran out, apparenty it was washed away in a hurricane, and won't be replaced. I must make mention of the entire beachfront section of the journey, every house is built on stilts some 10 feet or more off the ground, and I lost count of the number of stilts I saw that have had the houses blown off them. The entire place has been devastated by Hurricanes, it was frightening to think of the forces involved.

So off North I head on a loop around the non existant road on 124 up through Winnie, then on to 72 headed for port Arthur where i was confronted by this bridge.

Now I must also mention I wrestled the bike for the entire trip today into head and side winds, it was fairly blowing, and I am not good with heights. And it was really blowing on top of the bridge, gusting me a couple of feet sideways a few times, I was pretty happy to get off that bridge.

Followed 82 along the beachfront and I had stopped for a smoke when a beat up old Goldwing pulls up, on it was a rotund happy fella, I am guessing 300+, with his girl on the back. They were awesome people, he pulled a ice cold root beer out of the back of the Goldwing, offered it to me and we shot the breeze for half an hour. Gotta love Goldwings!

Great people.

Then around to a dot on the map called Cameron where two women tried to kidnap me, I was lucky to get out of there with my honour intact! I pulled out my trusty toy koala bears, threw a couple and escaped in the ensuing frenzy to get the bears. The old fella where I got petrol there was very funny and dry, a natural comedian. it is little moments like this that stick in your mind, he had a very heavy local Creole [?] accent, but I could actually understand him, and he seemed to understand me, a first!

Then it was just a lazy cruise of around an hour up to lake Charles and grab some accomodation for the night.

The bike was awesome, a near new motor, and belting into a headwind at 70 to 80 and I got to 123 miles before the fuel light came on for the first couple of flickers before it stayed on constant, stunning. It really surprised me. Oh, and getting a nice blue on the zorsts now, it is looking good.

Zorsts - say it out loud, hear it?
Zorst pipes... sorry it is late I'm tired and I think I have road fever.

Time for bed, a big day tomorrow, and I need to plan another days ride.

Life is busy, life is good.

Today: 218 miles.
Total: 922 miles.

Crazy old Triumph guys: 1

Just a final observation, a gay pirate got on the second ferry with me, his bike had all the farkles and he was wearing chaps and a doo-rag etc etc, didn't even bother trying, and I dont think he was interested either, saw the bike 3 miles down the road parked at an Ice House as I passed by.
Each to their own, he was happy doing what he was doing, and so was I. isn't that what it is all about? Doing what makes you happy.

dogtired · 03-07-2012, 10:07 PM

Pounded the interstate today, had a weather front chasing me.
I belted up Interstate 10, then bypassed New Orleans on Interstate 12, then back on 10. Mostly 70 to 80 mph cruising into that fekkin headwind again, will be glad to be rid of it.

A couple of things of interest. Saw a HD on the side of the road, so pulled up to check on him, he was only having a smoke, was early for work, d'oh! He was very grateful that i actually stopped to check though.

While I was fuelling up, two road kings pulled up beside me, had a chat, they were off to Daytona, from Seattle! We stood around and had a communal piss and moan session about the wind, apparently the big bikes suffer too, glad I am not the only one.
Respect.

Lake Charles LA. to Mobile Al.

No crazy old Triumph guys today either.

Life is busy, life is good.

Today: 328 miles.
Total: 1250 miles.

Crazy old Triumph guys: 1

mistermellow001 · 03-08-2012, 05:40 AM

Love those headwinds. I've never ridden in the South, so I'm living vicariously.

Billbikes · 03-08-2012, 06:47 PM

A headwind is better than a crosswind! Probably the windiest I have experienced was western Oklahoma a couple of years ago. Gusts of 60+, steady winds of 45. I'm glad I wasn't riding, but in a VERY lightly loaded Tractor trailer with a box trl. I'm sure I felt the right wheels come off the ground! After I parked it.

mistermellow001 · 03-08-2012, 07:30 PM

Being blown into another lane (which could be the oncoming lane) is a butt-puckering experience all right. I'd rather not ride in conditions like that, but sometimes you have no choice, especially in the Great Plains. When it's raining sideways on top of that, it only increases the fun.

dogtired · 03-08-2012, 10:33 PM

Finally shook the headwind.

I left you in Mobile Alabama, and after talking to a fella at a gas station the day before, (who woulda guessed) I took his advice and went and looked at the USS Alabama in Mobile.

Seriously, if you havent been there, just do it.

I was greeted at the gate by a F4 phantom on a stick some 20 feet up. Possibly the best looking jet, ever!
Rode in, paid my 2 dollars to park, and was gobsmacked by the gear they had just sitting around.

Like this little beastie. Possibly the best looking jet, ever!

It just oozes nasty.

And here are 5 more, all of them the best looking jet, ever!

Or if piston engines are your thing.

Can someone tell me if this is one of Doolittle's planes?

Some amazing gear they have there.

Anyways, it was on to the main show, the USS Alabama.
You have to get up close to it to realise just how bag and bristling with guns it is. It is like someone walked around and said here is room to swing a cat, lets stick a gun here. I got way back against the fence, and still couldn't fit it all in. Awe inspiring in the true sense of the word.

Was expecting Cher to be up there singing wearing a ribbon on her but. Very dissapointed.

Sadly I had commitments to be a few hundred miles away, two hours there was too long, but a day there would not be long enough.

After spending too long at the USS Alabama I had to haul ass up Interstate 10, and haul ass I did, got passed three times by two blokes on Goldwings, we were leapfrogging each other fuelling up and eating, the last time I was doing 85 and they just cruised past me at 100+, the front bloke was reading the paper and cooking lunch in his microwave, and I think the second bloke was watching TV and doing his washing, they have everything on a Goldwing!
Serious touring bikes!

The Bonnie continues to run well, I am going to cut this a bit short tonight, it is late, and I lost a couple of hours with time zones, and am tired.

Here is the Google Maps link for todays ride.

No crazy old Triumph guys today either.

Life is busy, life is good.

Today: 428 miles.
Total: 1629 miles.

Crazy old Triumph guys: 1

HAP · 03-09-2012, 06:11 AM

Dog. 428 miles in one day? Be very careful or you will be competing in Iron Butt contests before long.

dwr302 · 03-09-2012, 06:50 AM

Dog, you are right, that twin engine job is a B25 similar to the ones used in the Doolittle raid. The one you saw is done up as a strafer from the 345th Bomb group known as the Air Apaches. They were based at Port Morsby, New Guinea during the War. The earliest of this type were
retrofit with all the 50 cal. guns in the nose at Townsville in Oz!