[billsmith]

Plan A ride route 66 from Chicago to L.A
Plan B diverge from route to see other places.
Plan C what I eventually ended up doing.

I did a partial of route 66 Chicago to St. Louis, Springfield, Joplin, southeast corner of Kansas (14 miles) Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Then south on I-35 for Texas. Call it travel or use the word touring the sights were amazing. Yes Oklahoma and Texas are hot this time of year or is it just this year. I have to go again or continue from where I left off. Texas is huge and my only problem was my camera freezing up and missing some shots.
OK here is a sample.
ride safe :bmw:

 

[Chipper]

Plan A ride route 66 from Chicago to L.A
Plan B diverge from route to see other places.
Plan C what I eventually ended up doing.

I did a partial of route 66 Chicago to St. Louis, Springfield, Joplin, southeast corner of Kansas (14 miles) Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Then south on I-35 for Texas. Call it travel or use the word touring the sights were amazing. Yes Oklahoma and Texas are hot this time of year or is it just this year. I have to go again or continue from where I left off. Texas is huge and my only problem was my camera freezing up and missing some shots.
OK here is a sample.
ride safe :bmw:

Nice pics and bet you had a great time. My biggest question is, I want to know the secret of how you missed all those bugs with the front of your bike????:bmw:

 

[Dick]

Good job, Bill. Thanks for sharing the pics. Gotta Sis living in Galena, and you were in my home town of Baxter Springs when you visited the arch bridge. Wish I'da known you were going thru - great food (and a nice B & B upstairs) at the Little Brick Inn on Main Street. Those folks made Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the food channel.

In Tejas, where are you picking up the start for your finishing ride?

 

[billsmith]

Nice pics and bet you had a great time. My biggest question is, I want to know the secret of how you missed all those bugs with the front of your bike????:bmw:

This trip has been in the planing stage since early spring. My first and biggest concern was weather and which family members were open for a visit. Meanwhile I would tweak my plans with advice on this forum. I always carried towels to clean windshield, mirrors and lights this time though I added a spray bottle and tap water. At station stops if necessary and every evening at the end of the ride my mr. clean chores were done.
It was a great ride, a great learning experience and since I rode alone there was no one to steer where I did not want to go. E N J O Y A B L E
ride safe :bmw:

 

[theoldone]

Small world Dick, my mother in law is from Baxter Springs

 

[billsmith]

Good job, Bill. Thanks for sharing the pics. Gotta Sis living in Galena, and you were in my home town of Baxter Springs when you visited the arch bridge. Wish I'da known you were going thru - great food (and a nice B & B upstairs) at the Little Brick Inn on Main Street. Those folks made Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the food channel.

In Tejas, where are you picking up the start for your finishing ride?

Now I can say been there done that. But the fun did not end there even though my camera quit on me at rainbow bridge. So many of the sites between there and OK city I lost. I wanted the old gas station like Sinclair and Shamrock which we no longer have in the mid west and in Arcadia the huge pop bottle outside that gas station. Yes I did work at one. Further on down the road is a little state they call TEXAS :histerica seriously I should have taken a whole month's supplies just for there. Well Dick you know what I am talking about.
Here is what you state had to offer.
ride safe :bmw:

 

[RocketRon]

Our pastor and 3 buddies shipped their bikes to CA this spring and rode back on 66. They got to Joplin, MO, checked into the hotel then the tornado came through. They were VERY lucky! (Sorry Pastor Jack.....the were protected!)

 

[billsmith]

Our pastor and 3 buddies shipped their bikes to CA this spring and rode back on 66. They got to Joplin, MO, checked into the hotel then the tornado came through. They were VERY lucky! (Sorry Pastor Jack.....the were protected!)

Again that is what pushed me to this late in the summer. I tend to investigate the weather before every trip. I had on my rain pants leaving McKinney only because it was raining at 6 Saturday morning and did not need it after that. I-35E to Waco the pavement was still wet. Same thing getting to Oklahoma City I got there after the rain. So I too was blessed with a great trip.
ride safe :bmw:

 

[Dick]

Now I can say been there done that. But the fun did not end there even though my camera quit on me at rainbow bridge. So many of the sites between there and OK city I lost. I wanted the old gas station like Sinclair and Shamrock which we no longer have in the mid west and in Arcadia the huge pop bottle outside that gas station. Yes I did work at one. Further on down the road is a little state they call TEXAS :histerica seriously I should have taken a whole month's supplies just for there. Well Dick you know what I am talking about.
Here is what you state had to offer.
ride safe :bmw:

Doggone, Bill - while in San Antonio, you were 25 minutes from us folks here in Boerne!! Next time - scream; we'll escort ya around the area!!

Glad you'e banking a bunch of memories, Bill. Keep it up; there's a bunch more awaitin'!!

 

[Dick]

Small world Dick, my mother in law is from Baxter Springs

It sure is - I'm amazed at how often events like this pop up. Don't wanna hi-jack Bill's trip thread, so catch your PMs.

 

[billsmith]

OK since this is a riders forum lets talk about the ride.
We know Texas is hot, a nephew of mine north of Dallas had to put nitrogen in his tires since they were going flat all the time. The LT was awesome, it handled the heat well. The engine temp raised a little above the half line twice while sitting in traffic. At times I could clearly hear my tires biting into the pavement. I think the road surfaces are coarser that what I am used to. The ramps northeast of Dallas and in Austin are eerily high so at speeds they seem like mountain twisties. My ride through San Marcos and New Braunfels to San Antonio was after dinner the heat did not let up much but again the bike performed beautifully. Many times to stretch my legs I would sit on the pillion seat and got a higher view of things. Yes my butt was crying out but I would adjust my seating position. Cd's were great listening and local stations whenever I got them. I am a mere 185 lbs. so out on the super-slab with semi doing 70-75 mph the big girl holds her own in their draft or in stiff cross winds. Going I took 4 days to Austin. St. Louis 1, OKC 2, Mckinney 3 and then to Austin. Return trip left at 4am and road all day and evening to St. Louis and for Chicago the next morning again at 4am. So 900 miles was the most for me in one day.
ride safe :bmw:

 

[billsmith]

Dick it was almost midnight in San Antonio they were steaming the sidewalks on commerce street round the corner from the Alamo. And my camera was acting up then too. I don't know if the heat was a factor or if I need a new rig. I was mad but still managed to get a few. I don't recall seeing any signs to Boerne. Heck I will be back. I want to have my 12K maintenance schedule performed at home and see what other adjustments I need to make the seat for 1 and new rubber and always more money. Your gas has Chicago beat by 45-50 cents but a trip like that could still tear the lining out of pockets :histerica not to mention food, lodging and souvenirs.
ride safe :bmw: