Subject: Texas trip and pics
Author: John Boettcher
Date: May 26, 2003, 4:48 PM
Post ID: 1713142986
Just a quick report on a quick trip.
I left Thursday morning after a short work day to head
to Texas to visit a high mileage legend of a friend.
I stumbled my way west on on US34 over into Iowa to
US61 on down to MO19 and then US54. US54 is mostly 4
lane now but still nice going through Lake Ozark and
Osage beach. MO73 to US65 and then a short stint of
interstate from Springfield, MO to Joplin.
Friday morning, south on US71 to MO59 which turns into
AR59. A little blip on US412 and then south again on
US59 into Oklahoma. US59 was quite pleasant with good
scenery and sweepers. I then took OK1 (Talimena Scenic
Drive) which was absolutely beautiful especially on a
cool crisp sunny day. Lots of twisties, hills and
sweepers. A lot different than OK's interstates. I
then headed south on US271 for just a few miles and if
you look at a map, you'll see a small unmarked road
heading to a town called Honobia. The road was mostly
gravel but very easy to still do 60mph on the
straights. Lots of little bridges and a couple of side
roads that were cool to check out. From there was
US259 down to Idabel and then OK37 into TX37 which
pretty much took me to Lindale, TX.
Saturday morning we were on the road by 6am
taking an assorted number of farm roads on the long
way to Italy, TX. One town we passed through was full
of oil wells, in residential backyards and even in the
high school parking lot.
A little over 240 miles later we were back at his
place for some t-bone steaks for lunch. (mine was cooked nice and bloody
rare, thankee!)
A full belly and another bunch of farm roads and we were in Sulpher
Springs, home of the JB Weld semi trailer. One of my alias's is "JB
Weld" because my raT-3 has a huge 1" hole plugged with
a conduit box metal cap and JB Welded in. It's held
for well over 100k. Who cares, right?
I split off on my own down I30 to TX 8 which brought me in to AR41 and
up US59/71. Quite nice along with AR28 and AR7 up to Russellville.
Another great set of roads.
Sunday morning was even better up AR9 and to MO19. I
couldn't fully appreciate MO19 because it was
drizzling (my only rain on the trip)It all stopped
when I crossed I44 and kept on MO19 up to MO161. Not
as twisty but pleasantly scenic. US54 over the
Mississippi and to IL107. 107 to US24 into Peoria.
Traffic was light and I rode right through town to
IL29 and on up to IL71. IL71 was great through Starved
Rock. It brought me to IL23,IL176, IL47 and to
Woodstock for a few drinks before home. 780
miles of mostly two lane in 14 1/2 hours. Not a bad
day. 2500 miles for the 4 days.
Some not so hot pics. Most taken while riding.
http://groups.msn.com/JohnBoettcher/shoebox.msnw
JB
Wonder Lake, IL
(still with an extremely original well running 71 Ambo for sale and
asking a paltry $1400)