KRATZMC

Weds Sept 29th, 2010:

Well I am off again, this time to ride in the LOE (Land of Enchantment) 1000 for my third time. 24 hours and 1,000 miles of adventure and fun, along with seeing some familiar faces once again. It’s a 697 mile ride to Los Lunas where the Rally is being held and kicks off the same weekend as the Hot Air Balloon Fest in Albuquerque. I have to check in on Friday the 1st for the Tech Inspection, Speedometer check ride and Rider Briefing. Saturday we launch and Sunday it ends.

Time not being a factor and with two leisurely days to get to Los Lunas, I packed up my 2000 BMW GS and headed out my gate at noon. It was time to get rid of the cobwebs on the GS and the big PIAA lights will earn their keep while riding through the wilds of New Mexico, during the wee hours of the Rally. The Rally Master always likes to put some of the best bonuses in places with no gas stations and lots of four legged creatures. I am opting not to use a GPS during the Rally and will old school it with a paper map and some help from Microsoft Streets and Trips and my laptop. My only plan on my ride to NM is to avoid Abilene and Lubbock, so I will stay on the back roads to avoid traffic. With the 70 MPH daytime speed limits in Texas on these back roads, making good time is no problem.

Das Machine. Fully loaded and ready to roll. 2000 BMW 1150GS with ABS, 60k miles on the odometer. Fuel range averages 200 miles per tank.

During the last week, the weather in Texas turned from summer temps to warm days and cool nights with temperatures in the 70’s and low 80’s. Today was no exception and I couldn’t have asked for better weather.

I left the ranch with a quarter tank of fuel and I figured I would fuel my machine and my belly in Goldthwaite, Tx, 70 miles down the road. Traffic was non-existent and I quickly found my way to Goldthwaite. After topping off my tank at the Quick Check Convenience Store, I saw they had some Fried Chicken. Besides Burgers, the ultimate Fried Chicken is something I constantly search for, so when ever I get to try somewhere new its a “No Brainer”.

Downtown Goldthwaite, Texas.

While eating my Chicken in the parking lot, I noted some Bakery Container Flats that had the name “Bimbo Bakeries” printed on them. I thought I was well traveled and knowledgeable when it came to the Culinary World but I had never heard of them. I can only bet their buns are tasty and their muffins must be very yeasty. To learn more, click on the Logo.

Ahh, the vistas of Western Texas. N/B Hwy 84 about 30 miles south of Post.

Back on road after my buck a piece Chicken…which was pretty darn good by the way, I continued on. I was using my SPOT Satellite Tracker but I needed to reset it but forgot how. I normally use it manually by pressing the “OK” button, so I’m not leaving continuous bread crumbs along my route. In the continuous mode, the SPOT resets after a 24 hour period. In the manual mode, it will track my route for days.

I text my friend and fellow Blue Knight Glenn Copeland, who is chair bound after some shoulder surgery. Glenn is off of work recovering, so I thought I would give him a break from chaffing himself while sitting in front of the TV by tasking him. Glenn is chomping at the bit to get fully recovered and ride, so I knew he would be available to get online.  I sent Glenn a text to see if my SPOT was transmitting and it was not. With Glenn acting as the Command Post, he finally was able to send me the reset instructions and by the time I hit Sweetwater, Tx, I was in the Continuous transmission mode. Thanks Glenn.

Texas Bug Goo on my Sidi brand boots. Getting hit with a Texas Bug is like getting shot with a BB gun.

I fueled up again in Sweetwater and after having to get on I-20 for five miles, got back onto State Highway 84 on my way to Post. Post would be my next way point, where I would transition due west towards Roswell. If you used a mapping program or GPS, it would route you to Lubbock and I-40 into traffic and around the Mountains as the quickest way. As usual, I always opt for the most scenic way, even if it means an hour of two more ride time. That’s just how I roll “Peeps”!

Welcome to Post Texas. If the name Post sounds familiar, this town was founded by the Cereal Giant of Post Cereals.

With no further a do, I reached Post, Tx and received confirmation from Command Central that my SPOT was working as advertised. 6 hours of travel time for 314 miles, which included two fuel stops, a meal and two hydration breaks. I did a once through town, even though I have been through Post about 8 times, I was always passing through. Here in Post, I will transition onto Hwy 380 westbound to Roswell. It was the perfect time not to ride, as the setting sun was directly ahead and I didn’t feel like starring at the Sun for the next two hours. Besides, it leaves me with almost miles to cover tomorrow making for an easy ride day with time to stop and look at shiny stuff laying alongside the road.

Downtown Post with the original brick lined streets. Population about 3,000. Post is typical of many West Texas towns, embedded in Oil Country. If you want to get a flavor of what it is like to be in Post, Tx or Lubbock, go to your driveway and lay in the oil spot. The smell of crude permeates the air. I guess these folks must get use to it but I will be glad to leave the olfactory treat behind.

The intersection of Hwy 84 and Hwy 380 and the location of George’s. Its a great place to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. I have eaten there twice but tonight I decided to stop at Holly’s Burgers. Holly’s is an old fashioned Drive In I’ve passed many times. Now it was time to give it a try and cross off another Burger place off my Bucket List..

Holly’s opened in 1974. The Burgers there are good and it stands in defiance of McDonalds, Subway and the other chain restaurants. When you have such a choice, I just don’t understand why anyone would want to have a plastic corporate meal when you can get real food. It’s worth the wait to have your food cooked to order.

The standard Burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions and mustard. If you want, they have a wide variety of Burgers to suit every taste. I think their French Fries stood out more than the Burger. They had the skin still on them, tasting fresh and slightly larger than normal fast food fries. The Burger patties looked like they are pressed fresh every day and are not frozen.

This flag is a sorry sight to see. Normally in Texas, there is great pride in their Flag and independence. This one at the Best Western in Post was being flown and half mast and its condition would lead one to think it actually flew over the Alamo. Sam Houston would roll over in his grave!

With my tummy full of Grade A, I retired to my Motel Room to write this Blog and relax with no worries. Tomorrow I will get up at “What ever O’clock” and make my way to Soccorro NM for a 380 mile ride and my second night of lodging and travel.

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