This year the Rally is in three formats, a 36 hr, 24 hr and 12 hr. I will be in the 12 hour event, in which we will have to cover a minimum of 1088 miles during that time, while collecting as many bonus points as we can.

Here is a link to my personal SpotWalla page. KratzMc SpotWalla link

If you are prompted for a password, just enter “Kratzmc1088“  I will be #213 and my Buddy Glenn Copeland is number #203.

Here is a link to view all of the participants: 1088

Riders with 300 numbers are in the 36 hr format, Riders with 200 numbers are in the 34 hour event and those with 100 numbers are in the 12 hour event.

We launch tomorrow, June 25th at 0700 hrs and the finish line closed on Sunday the 26th at 0700 hrs.

Wish me luck and I hope I came up with a doable and successful route.

My Rally Gear

I’ll have more after the event, so stay tuned.

I am currently in Granbury Tx attending the Blue Knights Rio Grande Conference. This includes Members/Chapters from Arkasnas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Click on the picture of Lake Granbury to read my take at my Chapters Website.

During my down time I hope to update this site and finish my last two ride reports.

For my SPOT tracker on Spotwalla click HERE

Well I made a 277 mile ride from my home to Corpus Christi, Tx, my starting point for the Heart of Texas Rally. Corpus is an alternate starting spot for the rally and I will garner some additional points for starting from here and working my way to Brady Tx for the finish.

These are the Alternate Start Locations for the Rally. Although you can start anywhere in the State, if you start at one of these six locations, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Lufkin, Paris, Amarillo or Odessa, you can claim extra points.

Click on pics to enlarge.

This is my planned route of 677 miles. I will be shooting for 11 bonuses and what ever other bonuses I can find along the way if time allows. I have 12 hours in order to complete my route.This doesn’t allow anytime to mess around and one SNAFU could lead to a DNF (Did Not Finish). According to the computer, my route should take 10 hrs and 46 minutes which doesn’t include stops.

Most of the Bonus locations I will be visiting are along the Historic Bridge Route. To collect the Bonuses, I must photograph the Bridges with my Rider flag in the picture or some object from the Bridge. I also have a small window of time to make a check point in Brady before 1600 hrs Central Time. 8 additional Bonus locations will be revealed to Riders choosing to do the Check Point Bonus.

You can also pick up additional points, 50 for stopping at a Whataburger and obtaining a purchase receipt. You can visit up to 10 Whataburgers for a maximum of 250 extra points. I will try to get as many of them as I can along the way.

Another surprise bonus is to run into 5 other motorcycle riders whom you don’t know or who are not in the Rally and have your photo taken with them. That Bonus has a high point value and is worthy to pursue.

I am reviewing my route and making “Rally Cards” (4″x6″) which have the bonus information, location and instructions on them. I will keep them on my Tank Bag for easy reference and they will serve as my notes. I used Microsoft Streets & Trips software to plot the locations of the Bonuses using Longitude and Latitude for more precise plotting. It has an optimize routing feature to make the a route the more efficient.

I made my Rally Flag out of my folder which contains my log, bonus sheets, maps, etc. This way I can keep all my paperwork together and organized. If you haven’t figure it out, I am Rider #35 out of 60 registered Riders.  The Rally Flag must appear in any photograph I take to prove I did it.

I am ready except I forgot my plug adapter for my GPS, so I will be riding this rally “Old School” with paper maps and the maps I printed out. I stocked my motorcycle with water, food and snacks, as I do not have time to sit down for a meal, so I will eat while I ride in between collecting my Bonuses.

My friend and fellow competitor Glenn Copeland (#36) opted for a different route and will be starting his ride from Lufkin Tx. So far two other riders, one from Oklahoma and one from Florida will be also be starting from Lufkin with Glenn.

Well time to hit the sack. Up at 0500 hrs and on the road at 0601 hrs. My first stop is a fuel station to get a computerized fuel receipt which will document my start and top off my tank. I am looking forward to the finish and a nice sit down meal. It will be a welcome culmination for the day.

Click HERE to track me via Satellite on SPOTWALLA during the rally.

For information on the HOT Rally you can visit the site: Heart of Texas Rally.

I woke up after a good nights sleep and as usual thought about having a sit down breakfast. The goal for the day was to hit the last my Tour of Honor Sites for Southern Texas, which meant Harlingen just 258 miles down the road. Then I would start working my way home another 335 miles, or ride until I got tired. My normal protocol is usually to hit the road right away and ride about 30 minutes to an hour, since I’m not that hungry right after waking. When leaving Urban areas, this puts me that much farther down the road and through any commute traffic, so I can enjoy a nice relaxing meal.

From the Luther Hotel, I headed due north from downtown Palacios and followed Main St west. I was disappointed that my hopes of getting some good Vietnamese food would be unfulfilled but that’s part of the adventure. Take a chance and see what happens. I could have went through the newer part of town and rejoined Hwy 35 where all the new businesses and chain restaurants are but I knew that Main St would rejoin Hwy 35 just on the outskirts of town. As I was leaving town, I caught a neon “OPEN” sign out of the corner of my eye, a Cafe! I got another quarter mile down the road and then decided to turn around and grab my breakfast now. I parked my machine and walked into the Cafe, where I saw my first Vietnamese Person, Kim, the owner and proprietor.

Kims Kitchen, Palacios Texas

I was greeted by the Hispanic Waitress who gave me a menu and some coffee and I looked over the menu. There I only saw Chinese and American Cuisine. Then on the wall I saw the “Secret Menu”…Viet Food! Pictures even. There was the all delicious Vietnamese Sandwich called “Bánh mì”and Phở, pronounced “Fa” cuz the “o” has a thingy over it. If you have a “Bucket List”, you have to add Phở and B. The bread for Bánh mì is baked fresh daily, which is a toasted French Baguette made with wheat and rice flour. The texture is both crunchy on the outside but smooth and delicate on the inside. The Bánh mì is filled with the meat of your choice, and I prefer pork. Other items on the Bánh mì fresh parsley, julienne carrots and diacon, butter, etc. Bánh mì in French means “Salad Sandwich”. It is low in fat and refreshing and the mix of textures is a delight to the palate. If you are ever in Austin Texas and want to try one, you have to visit Lily’s Sandwich shop on South Lamar.

The Vietnamese Sandwich, Bánh mì

I informed Kim of my quest for a good Vietnamese dish in Matagorda County and although it was breakfast, she agreed to fix me a bowl of Phở. Phở is a delightful soup with a Beef Broth traditionally made from Ox tail. I like Rare Steak, Beef Tripe and Meatballs in mine. Also submerged in the hearty broth are rice noodles, parsley or cilantro, bean sprouts, basil, onions and sliced jalapenos. Kim whipped me up a steaming bowl of Chicken Phở. Happy as a Gulf Clam, I enjoyed my Phở while Kim and her two helpers entertained two of the Women folk from town. They were all having a good time gossiping, which was probably their main entertainment for the day. The all seemed excited and amazed that I was doing a 1,000 mile motorcycle ride by myself. I told them of my plans to take a Motorcycle Tour in Vietnam next year and that I blogged my ride experiences on the internet. They made me feel like a Rock Star, or I had just come from another planet. I think the Waitress was hitting on me. A short, stoutly built Latina Woman in her late 50’s, she was non-stop with the talking once I walked in. She said she was afraid of motorcycles but would ride with me anywhere. Although I wasn’t attracted to her, I am sure she would keep a good man cozy and warm on a cold winters night. With my belly full of authentic Vietnamese food from Palacios, I was convinced that life was good, so I bid the “Ladies of Palacios” adieu and resumed my quest to reach Harlingen.

The Ladies of Palacios

Phở, pronounced “Fa”

My next stop on the way was Port Lavaca for fuel and my first bathroom break. I crossed a bridge going westbound into Port Lavaca which traverses the inlet/bay and to the protected Harbor. There was a stiff north wind with gusts up to 20 mph and I could see the smaller boats fighting to remain anchored and maintain their courses. I pulled into the first fuel station on my right as I exited the bridge.

“I’d rather have a two-hour bladder and three hours of gas than vice versa”. This is a saying on one of my favorite Motorcycle Shirts.

I quickly filled up my fuel tank, parked and went inside to empty the other tank. As usual, I left my helmet and “Silky” helmet liner on the bike. I was getting a little drowsy from my breakfast so I got a Red Bull, did some stretching and caught up on some email. When I went to remount the machine, I noticed my helmet liner was missing. Briefly I looked around for a an obvious thief but realized that nobody would want to steal my sweaty, mineral encrusted rag. If someone was that desperate for such a ratty cloth then more power to em. Obviously swept away by the wind, I wrote it off rather than scouring the adjacent field, since it could be anywhere. If you ride long enough its only a matter of time before you will eventually leave or forget something at a fuel station.

Port Lavaca, Texas

From here to Harlingen, the road Hwy 77 becomes less interesting as you move inland a few miles. I had enjoyed the cool temperatures in the low 70’s along the coastline but it was beginning to warm up quickly. The temperature was climbing and finally reached 86 degrees by the time I reached Harlingen. The only thing I got to see on this leg of the ride was more traffic and later the desolation that West Texas is famous for. There were quite a few Border Patrol Units patrolling on ATV’s along both sides of the highway and there was an increased presence of LEO’s, so be on the alert when you are on this course. These were the first LEO’s I had seen in almost two days of riding, so I became more conscious of my road speed. As I neared Harlingen I noted my fuel level was down to the red line on the fuel meter. I thought I would be able to make it to Harlingen 30 more miles but my fuel light began flashing, which meant I was at the lower end of reserve. I decided to make my next stop in Raymondville around 1500 hrs.

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Video of my Fuel Gauge Flashing on Reserve. Quick time viewer required.

Next to the fuel station was a Golden Chicken Fast Food place, so I ordered 4 chicken legs and began eating them in the parking lot next to my Motorcycle. One of the employees came out to grab a smoke on his break. He said he liked my machine and asked where I was riding. I told him about my ride so far and what was to come and he seemed envious and amazed that I was riding alone. People always seemed to be shocked that someone would ride a long distances alone. I guess I never thought about it since at least for me, that’s part of what Motorcycling is all about. There are people where ever I go so I never feel alone. I’ve done multi-day, solo back pack trips which were more isolating, since you won’t see people for days. So I can understand that people who are insecure may not enjoy such ventures. I feel that when you travel with friends, you are less likely to interact with the natives and remain in a social bubble separating you from indigenous environment. I have many friends who seldom venture out on the road unless others are going but they are  missing part of an experience you can’t describe. There are fewer things to go wrong and your experiences are broader when traveling by yourself. At least on a Motorcycle all you have to do is pull into a gas station, store, or restaurant and inevitably someone will ask you where you are going or where you’ve been.

Chicken Carnage

I had been to Harlingen before, so I knew my way to the Iwo Jima Memorial and it was just 21 miles down the road near the Airport. I was glad since I wouldn’t have to brave much traffic, being able to skirt the downtown areas. I quickly made my way to the Memorial for the Money Shot and saw that the Museum was open for another half an hour. I decided to visit it once again and get a souvenir. The first thing I did when I got in was to drop some cash in the donation box. I usually give at least $10 to every Military Museum as my small part to keep these things open. It is only through such donations that many places are able to preserve our history. Many others before me sacrificed more so it is my way to pay homage.

The Iwo Jima Memorial, Harlingen, Texas

The Iwo Jima Museum in Harlingen

The Museum is the size of a modern 4 bedroom home. As you enter to the immediate right is a Store and the Museum itself begins through a doorway on the left. There you can sign a guest register and proceed through the Museum on your own. I didn’t bother looking at the displays, since I had just been there last year but I did take time to visit with a Korean War Veteran, named Tom King. If you are lucky and you visit, you will get the honor of meeting a Marine Corps Veteran, who is usually seated near the first exhibits and the Guest Register. During my last visit I met a survivor of Guadacanal, Bouganville, Tarawa and Iwo Jima. I first thanked Tom for his service and told him about the Tour of Honor Ride and of my own Museum and quest to preserve Military History on my website. He seemed excited that I would appreciate and understand his wartime experiences and he just started talking about his experiences in Korea.

Me with Tom King, Korean War Veteran, Marine and American Hero

Tom was with the 1st Marine Division and served with the Marine Corps from 1946-1952. When the Korean war broke out, Tom was a Fleet Marine on board the new USS Jeaneau, with the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet. The original USS Jeaneau, is infamous for the Five Sullivan Brothers who were killed on the Jeaneau when it was sunk by the Japanese during WW2. Tom was with the lead element of the first Marine Division when they entered the Chosin Reservoir and said the only reason he was not wiped out initially during the Chinese attack was because the Chinese had hit their flanks. After the inital opening assault, Tom’s unit alone accounted for 500 enemy killed. During the 12 mile retreat it was 42 degrees below and were saved from annihilation by the supporting Air Strikes. Otherwise, they would have surely perished. Tom described the unforgettable site of frozen bodies littering the ground along their whole line of retreat. Later, Tom spent 9 months in a hospital being treated for frostbite to both feet and was discharged with a 100% disability for his injuries and was lucky to keep both of his feet. I was honored to hear Tom’s experiences and asked if he would pose for a picture with me. Tom thanked me for listening to him and my interest seemed to energize his spirit and he looked young again.

As I left Harlingen on this ride, I was thankful that I decided to do the Tour of Honor Ride. My experience with Tom was rewarding and special and if it hadn’t been for the ride, I would have never met him.

I back tracked north to make my way back home and when I reached Raymondville, I cut through town to Hwy 281 and proceeded north on an otherwise tranquil but uneventful ride. I reached New Braunfels by 2230 hrs and with only 90 miles left to go I was hungry and tired. I grabbed a late dinner at Denny’s and spent the rest of the evening at the Best Western just across the highway. I awoke after a good nights rest and finished my ride by stopping in Georgetown at the coffee shop from where I started, before riding the last 12 miles to my ranch.

With four of the seven Tour of Honor sites in Texas checked off my list, I look forward to planning my visits to the remaining three sites in Midland, Amarillo and Tyler.

My route on March 21st, 560 miles.

Total route 1098 miles plus change