KRATZMC

May 20th, 2010 (Georgetown Tx to Hot Springs, Ar) 492 miles

Being a new “Good Old Boy” and to help support my Chapter of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, I elected to detour my ride route to Hyder, Alaska, by attending the Rio Grande Conference in Hot Springs Arkansas. This meant adding 600 miles or so and 3 days to my already long ride. I planned to take my BMW GS but after fully servicing my ST-1300 and finally getting my Uni-go trailer road worthy, I decided to save time and take the ST with the Uni-go. I could now pack more liberally and get some use out of that $3,000 dollar trailer. My only dilemma now was the Canadian Insurance card Geico sent me for passage into Canada, was made out for my GS. I am hoping the Canadians will overlook the fine print, or allow me passage with my insurance documents which list all my machines.

Shove off time with the Pres. of my Chapter, Doug Wagonner and V.P. Glen French was set for 0700 hrs, at the Shell Station on Hwy 79 and I-35 in Round Rock, Tx. A preparatory e-mail from Doug boasted he would be there at 0645 hrs for a Cup of Joe, so he could relax before Kick Stands Up (KSU) at 0715. I pulled into the Shell station at exactly 0700 hrs after riding from Georgetown, to find Glen waiting but no Dougie. I already had a full tank so I grabbed a Cup of Joe and Glen and I kicked out tires until Doug rolled in at 0712 hrs. Apparently Doug had some FUBARS and if you know Doug and read this and following posts, you will get to know him too! Glen is riding is HD Ultra Glide and Doug is on his HD Road King. As with any ride with Harley’s tagging along, there is usually some drama….as you will soon see!

Detective Doug Wagoneer, President of Blue Knights Chapter 30, Aka: Wag Daddy, Dougie

Weather forecasts were for rain through out N/E Texas, with rain storms moving in from S/E Oklahoma right over our route. I was already in my Aerostich suit. Doug and Glen had on jeans, pullon cotton shirts and their leather vests with colors. After leaving Round Rock, we were already 10 minutes behind schedule but as we headed out it didn’t matter. Plan “A” was to ride to Rockdale, about an hour down the Hwy and then grab breakfast. I was in the lead and 15 minutes down the road it began to rain. I immediately found and abandoned business with over hang and Glen announced that I was his new Hero, as he donned his rain gear. Doug in the meantime remained static and when Glen asked him about his rain gear, Doug said “I don’t have any”.

I got my camera out to take some pictures and of course my camera batteries were dead. Glen complained that a recent injury to his knee was irritating him with friction from his rain pants on his jeans. So I guess we needed to go shopping for batteries, band aids and rain gear at the Walmart in Rockdale. After our brief shopping trip, Dougie broke out his Coleman rain gear. As Doug put on the rain pants, Glen and I were amazed at how big they were. Dougie said he underestimated the double X size and they looked like they had a size 70 waist. If push came to shove, I guess we could use them for a tent. Glen got his band aid and I got my batteries, so now it was time to find a place for breakfast. Dougie said he new of a diner down the road which had great food. I told him to take the lead as I had visions of eggs and hash browns dancing in my head. Well, we ran out of town and I pulled along side of Dougie and he said “Oops!, that diner is in Tyler, Tx”. With me back in the lead, we headed down the road and as the rain pelted my helmet, I scanned for some where to grab breakfast. And if you know me, it can’t be a chain restaurant!

Under the over hang, we learned Dougie ain’t got no rain gear.

Are we shopping or riding? Glen French puts on his Harley Davidson as Dougie comes out with his new rain suit.

We passed a series of small towns with nothing in sight except gas stations until we reached Milano, Tx, where I spied a diner attached to a backwoods tire shop. Most folks probably would have passed it by but there were several cars in the parking lot and a sense of the unknown. It was good to get out of the rain and the small place was actually empty but the food was like a home cooked meal. I neglected to take a photo or archive the name of the place but I think I can easily remember it the next time I pass by. With bellies full and satisfied, we hit the road once again. Now with all the blood headed to my stomach, the hypnotic blur of the scenery passing by, it was time to fight off the nods. I started think of how far I could get before I needed to stop for a Red Bull.

All along the route, I was having trouble with my Uni-go trailer going into a wobble. Glen and Dougie were getting unnerved and mentioned it every time I stopped. Since it was only my second trip towing a trailer, I didn’t know if this was standard with this one wheel trailer. I learned to easily control the wobble but inspected the trailer coupling. I noticed that the manufacturer supplied two bolts which were too long on the top end of the hitch receiver plate. This meant the top portion of the plate could move. Under load and stress, this allowed the receiver plate to move and loosened the bottom two bolts, contributing to the wobble. By continually stopping and tightening the bolts at each fuel stop and stiffening my suspension, I was able to reduce the wobble. I called Bill at Uni-go trailer, who said he would have his son Fed Ex me replacement bolts to my hotel in Hot Springs. My only other option, is to find a place I can cut, or grind down the top two bolts which fit into a countersunk channel. Being too long, the bolts don’t sit flush, allowing the plate to move. I do need to resolve this issue, otherwise my long grueling ride will be a long gruelling ride.

This is my 4th trip to Arkansas and each time I have gone a different route, always avoiding the interstate. We continued on until our second fuel stop in Henderson, Tx where we would get off of Hwy 79 and take Hwy 43. After topping our tanks, we made the turn off for Hwy 43 and pressed on with our next way point I-20, which we would cross on our way to Texarkana. A few minutes down the road, I noticed I had not seen a Hwy 43 sign and the signs indicated we were on Hwy 79 again. I couldn’t figure out where we lost Hwy 43 but I at least knew if we continued on Hwy 79, we would hit Shreveport, La and could go north from there to Texarkana. No biggie but I was wondering if I had passed into the Twilight Zone. Dougie and Glen were non the wiser until we crossed into Louisiana. As we pulled into the Derrick Truck Stop/Casino in Greenwood La for lunch, Dougie and Glen accused me of being lost. I was not lost as I had stopped there for gas on my way back from Hot Springs just three weeks earlier. I just told them I wasn’t lost, we were just not on the road I wanted to be.

Anyway, we grabbed out lunch in the Casino Restaurant and then all hell broke loose. As we prepared to get back on the bikes, a squall moved in. I check the Doppler radar on my IPhone, and there was a red Doppler signature right over us. Visibility was about 50 ft so we went back inside and got a cup of coffee and wait out the downpour. The waitress felt sorry for us and gave us complimentary coffee. Dougie then got a phone call from Wifey. Apparently both of their credit cards had been shut down, as one of them had been compromised. One of these cards was used for his Hotel reservations and travel expenses. SNAFU!

Hecka rain in Louisiana

After an hour delay, the rain stopped as soon as it appeared and we were back on the road again. Dougie said he had half a tank of fuel, so that meant he should be able to go about 70 miles at least. I figured we could get fuel north of Shreveport in about 30 miles and away from the traffic. I know when I am at 1/3 of a tank, Dougie should need gas. So there seemed to be no problems.

We skirted downtown Shreveport by taking a business route and hit highway 71 north to Texarkana, our next way point. As we left Shreveport, Dougie said he needed fuel. I said “What? You said you had half a tank!” Doug said his fuel light was now on. We had only come about 25 miles and I was perplexed. Okay, so now we needed to look for gas. Dougie has a 4.5 gallon tank, Glen and I had 6 plus gallons. As my ST can outrange any Harley or Gold Wing, I try to be conscious of my fellow travelers need for fuel. We continued north on Hwy 71. I could tell Dougie was getting tense, as his motorcycle seat was slowly disappearing as his butt cheeks continually began to tighten. After 20 minutes of suspense, we saw some fuel pumps in front of a Mom and Pop auto parts/hardware/feed store/tire shop in Gilliam La.

Great folks and a good place to get gas about 30 miles north of Shreveport on Hwy 71.

The pumps had fuel, so we stopped to top off our tanks and Glen and Dougie doffed their rain gear as the sky began to clear. I kept my Aerostich on, drained my bladder and got a soda. We got some info from a local about a new constructive loop around Texarkana, which would allow us to avoid the commute traffic. It was great advice and back on the road, we quickly skirted Texarkana and hit the only Interstate leg of our trip, I-30. We did one last stop at a rest stop on I-30 south of Malvern, Ar, 60 miles from Hot Springs and the weather had changed to beautiful.

We reached Hot Springs by 2030 hrs, as the sky began to darken and got checked into the hotel. People gathered around my bike to look at my one wheeled trailer, unaware of the issues I had experienced on my trip up. A Blue Knight member from Canada and fellow ST rider immediately cornered me and we talked about our machines. I was greeted by a bunch of great folks, whose names I have already forgotten but hope to reinforce before the weekend is over.

Austin Hotel in Hot Springs, La.

Dougie was able to pay for his first nights stay with cash, as the hotel was sensitive to his credit card situation. Tired and weary, Glen went right to bed. Dougie and I went to a nearby Grill and I bought him a steak dinner and a beer, before we ourselves retired. Tomorrow would be filled with a variety of pre-planned local rides to do, kick tires and swap lies with the other Blue Knights members. I was confident I would resolve my trailer problem and I thought about the next 29 days of riding as I drifted off to sleep.

Actual route, 492 miles

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