Winter weather can dampen your riding spirit for quite a length of time depending
on where you live. In North Texas, we are fortunate to have nearly year-round riding.
During the months of January and February, it can be quite cold and rainy which can
keep you off the road. There are times where the weather will surprise you and make
for a very nice day to take off and ride.
on where you live. In North Texas, we are fortunate to have nearly year-round riding.
During the months of January and February, it can be quite cold and rainy which can
keep you off the road. There are times where the weather will surprise you and make
for a very nice day to take off and ride.
Yesterday was one of those days. I knew from the forecast it was going to be in the
low 80’s. At first, I was just going to ride to work. As I cruised along the highway and
neared the office my spirits took a turn for the worse. I almost made the decision to
just ride past my turn and keep going. My sense of responsibility kicked in so
I exited the freeway and went to work. Upon arrival, I powered on my laptop and sat there
looking at the screen. A sinking feeling came upon me which could almost be likened
to a state of depression. I just didn’t want to be at work. There wasn’t a positive feeling
or initiative I could muster up that changed that emotion. After 10 minutes of fighting and
struggling against the negativity, sense of responsibility, duty, whatever you want to call it,
I packed up my laptop, got on my bike, and left for the day. It was a renegade decision and
quite frankly I didn’t give a damn. I needed the time away.
low 80’s. At first, I was just going to ride to work. As I cruised along the highway and
neared the office my spirits took a turn for the worse. I almost made the decision to
just ride past my turn and keep going. My sense of responsibility kicked in so
I exited the freeway and went to work. Upon arrival, I powered on my laptop and sat there
looking at the screen. A sinking feeling came upon me which could almost be likened
to a state of depression. I just didn’t want to be at work. There wasn’t a positive feeling
or initiative I could muster up that changed that emotion. After 10 minutes of fighting and
struggling against the negativity, sense of responsibility, duty, whatever you want to call it,
I packed up my laptop, got on my bike, and left for the day. It was a renegade decision and
quite frankly I didn’t give a damn. I needed the time away.
Keep in mind my day begins at 5 am so it was dark. My first thought of destination
was the Koffee Kup restaurant in Hico, TX. A nice 2 hour ride for breakfast seemed
like a good start. No freeways was the idea and I pretty much managed to hold fast to that
the entire day. From Cedar Hill, TX I went through Venus, Maypearl, Itasca, Covington,
Blum, Morgan, Walnut Springs, Iredell, and finally Hico, TX where I had a fantastic
breakfast. Up until Iredell all was not shiny fluttering butterflies though. There was a very
thick fog during this part of the day and the ride. That caused a heavy mist and made those
farm and market roads slick and dirty. My shins were soaked and my bike became
unbelievably dirty. The cool morning air felt good though and the air was fresh. It was
very quiet on those back roads that early in the morning and the thickness of the fog
muffled perimeter sounds. The Harley was running great and cast its lonely rumble along
the empty stretches of back road. This was one of those rides where you know something
special is happening, the feel of the road and bike is right, and the joy of life reaches a
momentous height.
was the Koffee Kup restaurant in Hico, TX. A nice 2 hour ride for breakfast seemed
like a good start. No freeways was the idea and I pretty much managed to hold fast to that
the entire day. From Cedar Hill, TX I went through Venus, Maypearl, Itasca, Covington,
Blum, Morgan, Walnut Springs, Iredell, and finally Hico, TX where I had a fantastic
breakfast. Up until Iredell all was not shiny fluttering butterflies though. There was a very
thick fog during this part of the day and the ride. That caused a heavy mist and made those
farm and market roads slick and dirty. My shins were soaked and my bike became
unbelievably dirty. The cool morning air felt good though and the air was fresh. It was
very quiet on those back roads that early in the morning and the thickness of the fog
muffled perimeter sounds. The Harley was running great and cast its lonely rumble along
the empty stretches of back road. This was one of those rides where you know something
special is happening, the feel of the road and bike is right, and the joy of life reaches a
momentous height.
While eating a superb breakfast at the Koffee Kup I read some news and sent an email
to work that I would be out for the day. My next stop of the day was going to be Waco.
There is some good country riding you can take to get there from Hico and I wanted to
make the best of the day seeing as I took off to ride. The skies had cleared completely
by now and it was as sunny as any summer day. The next stretch of roads took me from
Hico, TX to Fairy, Cranfills Gap, Clifton, Valley Mills, and finally Waco. I went to Waco
Harley Davidson to hang out for awhile and look at the new line up of bikes they had.
It was surprising how many people had stopped at the dealership and were out riding.
By now it was noon, sunny and 75.
to work that I would be out for the day. My next stop of the day was going to be Waco.
There is some good country riding you can take to get there from Hico and I wanted to
make the best of the day seeing as I took off to ride. The skies had cleared completely
by now and it was as sunny as any summer day. The next stretch of roads took me from
Hico, TX to Fairy, Cranfills Gap, Clifton, Valley Mills, and finally Waco. I went to Waco
Harley Davidson to hang out for awhile and look at the new line up of bikes they had.
It was surprising how many people had stopped at the dealership and were out riding.
By now it was noon, sunny and 75.
While in Waco I stopped by the Texas DPS driver license office to get my renewal
since it was almost due. The Waco branch isn’t nearly as long a wait as the branches in
DFW so it seemed like a good time to take care of that. While waiting I plotted my journey
home. I could have just taken an interstate from Waco and been back in less than 2 hours
but it was just too beautiful out to do that. So again to keep the ride alive, it was back roads to get home.
since it was almost due. The Waco branch isn’t nearly as long a wait as the branches in
DFW so it seemed like a good time to take care of that. While waiting I plotted my journey
home. I could have just taken an interstate from Waco and been back in less than 2 hours
but it was just too beautiful out to do that. So again to keep the ride alive, it was back roads to get home.
From Waco my ride went through Elm Mott, Gholson, Aquilla, and Whitney. In Whitney
I took a route across the Lake Whitney Damn into Laguna Park. From there I headed north
to Kopperl, Brazos Point, past Cleburne State Park, Bono, Godley, and finally back into
Fort Worth. From Waco, TX the day remained sunny with a slight wind at my back,
and touched 82 degrees to make for a phenomenally perfect day of riding.
I took a route across the Lake Whitney Damn into Laguna Park. From there I headed north
to Kopperl, Brazos Point, past Cleburne State Park, Bono, Godley, and finally back into
Fort Worth. From Waco, TX the day remained sunny with a slight wind at my back,
and touched 82 degrees to make for a phenomenally perfect day of riding.
Today I am back at work writing this post. Today I am depressed again, wanting to be
on the road instead of at work.
on the road instead of at work.
