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Friday, January 31, 2014

The Top 100 Routes to Ride on a Motorcycle

Leaving Madrid NM
A friend that rides with us posted an interesting article on Facebook last week, and it got me thinking about something.  Just how many roads on this list of  "The Top 100 Routes", have we actually ridden?

Thanks Lynn for sharing the article.  I sent this email to my husband, with just that question.  I knew of several of the roads, but hey, I sit on the back, and sometimes, I don't pay that much attention to the name or number of the road.  Someone has to take the pictures, right!

The website that I am referring to is The Best Routes.  According to the article, they have ranked the best Routes using their
unique popularity algorithm.  I am happy to say that we have participated in 29 of the 100 routes they have listed.  Now to be honest, I will also say there are 3 of the routes, we have only partially ridden.

Looks like we have to get busy and see if we can knock off a few of the ones we haven't been on.  Sounds like we need to plan to mark some off the list this year.  If I know my husband, he is already searching the Internet to make sure we hit a few in 2014.

I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband that can navigate our little group of riders to some of the best areas we will ever see in the USA.  I don't know if you guys plan rides or not, but I have to say, Chuck is a planner.  He spends a lot of time making sure we see and ride some of the best roads on our trips.  That being said, I think that is why I can sit on the back of the bike and take all the pictures that I love to take and share of our trips.  At least it makes for some interesting material for me to blog about.  :)

By the way, here is the list of our roads we have ridden on the top 100.  Which ones have you been on and better than that, which ones do you plan to ride (very soon)!!!!


(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 19, 22, portion of 24, 26, 28, portion of 30, 31, 33, 38, 55, 59, 64, 72, 75, 81, 86, 87, 89, portion of 95, & 99)



Saturday, January 25, 2014

Taking advantage of Fickled Weather in January 2014

What do you do when the weather is supposed to be "perfect"?  You get on the bike and ride.  Our friend Tom suggested we ride on Sunday as the weather was supposed to be the best, so that is just what we did.

Diana & Chris joined us at our usual meeting spot and we headed to Edmond, OK. to meet up with Tom and whoever else was going.  We get there at 11:30am, and the sun was shining so bright.  What a wonderful day.  I don't think I can say that enough!  Looks like it is just going to be the 3 bikes today, so we head out for lunch.













Tom lead us to Muhall where we ate at Lucille's.  As we pulled up, there were a lot of other bikers that had the same idea.  Amazing how a little place can become a destination for people that ride.  Muhall is a very small town, and Lucille's is the main attraction.  The old building that we used to eat at burned a few years back, and they moved across the street, and built a very nice restaurant with a lot of seating.

















We parked and walked right in and was seated.  No waiting.  Guess we were in between the "rush".  Everyone picked their favorite food to eat, and we enjoyed a great lunch.  It was nice to get to catch up with Tom.  We see him all the time, but never seem to have that one on one time.  It was a great visit.

As we sat there waiting on food, our friends Patty and Stan walked in.  Seems they had the same idea as we did.  The last time we were here we saw Brent and Sherri.  Guess this is the place to be.

The guys have discussed riding to Pop's in Arcadia, so we head back South, and ride the "river" road.  It is about the only curvy road in this area.  Sadly it only has about 3 curves and then you are done.  LOL...

As we make our way to Guthrie, we head east on Highway 33 and ride to Highway 177.  From there we get on Rt. 66, and we are at Pops in no time.  As usual there is a lot of bikes there.  Seems like we have hit all the hot spots to ride on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Oklahoma City area.




So glad we were able to get out and enjoy this day.  The weather is taking a swan dive and we are supposed to have very high winds and very cold air move in this evening about 9:30pm.  It amazes me how quickly we can forget the cold weather that has been in our area for way too long.













This is what happened on Sunday!  I said we had a weather curve ahead...Wow what a winter.  This is the reason I was so excited to actually get out and ride even if it was just a few hours.




Saturday, January 18, 2014

The Case of the Missing Glove

After long last we are seeing some warmer weather.  Now that isn't saying it is perfect by any means. If we are to get warm weather in Oklahoma, it has to be blown here, and blow-in it has been doing!  We are having a fairly mild day today.  Winds are only 20 gusting to 35.  :)

The day has folded out to be one that gives us a chance to get on the bike for a little spin.  We need to make a trip to Norman, and drop something by the kids house, so what better way to do it!  Chuck ask me what bike we should ride today.  I opted for Ginger the Harley!  She hadn't been out in a while, so we might as well charge her battery up.






Amazing when you get ready to ride all the things you have to remember.  One thing for sure is even though it is in the 60's, it doesn't feel like it, so layers go on.

As we get the bike out and ready to go, I am having an issue with my movable peg.  It won't release.  So of course Chuck has to get off the bike, and he can't get it to budge either.  He heads back into the shop to get something to persuade it, and I finally get the button to release.  Back on the bike, we are ready to head out.

Since the bike has been sitting, we need to make a stop and get some gas for it.  We pull into our usual station, and I get off.  I am amazed at what I see on the tour pack luggage rack.  There is a black Harley glove sitting on it.  My reaction is "what the heck", and Chuck's reaction is not exactly those words...LOL....Looks like we have taken off on our little trip and there was a set of (not cheap) Harley Davidson gloves on the luggage rack.

I am so surprised that the glove is on there, and as I reach to take it off, it seems the Velcro has wedged itself between the chrome and that is why it has tagged along with us these 5 or 6 miles.  So to say the least, we get our gas, and head back to where we started.  As we ride,  we both have our eyes peeled for a black lonely Harley glove.  The wind is so bad, who knows where it might be, or if we will find it.  I feel sure we will find it very close to the house.  Surely!

Lonely Glove Looking for its Mate
We make our way down Main Street Yukon...nothing.
We head north on Highway 4...checking on both sides of the road...nothing.
We then turn west on Wilshire.....and about 200 feet from the Hwy 4 turn, we see it....The lone glove...Just sitting there in the grass....waiting!

We turn the bike around, and I get off and pick up this rogue glove.  So glad to see you back with us.  Too darn expensive to loose you!  I put it in the tour pack with the other one.  Now we are ready to ride!  Good gosh, is that what getting old is all out  :))







Our ride to Norman was without incident...LOL...and it was very nice as we had that crazy wind pushing us all the way.  We had a great visit with the kids and decided we better start back towards the house, as it was going to get quite cool after the sun sets.





One thing I really enjoy are our wonderfully colored sunsets.  Tonight was no exception.  The color this evening was pink.  It was really spectacular.  I was trying to take pics on the back of the bike, and it proved to be a bit tricky.  Everything I wanted to take a picture of was almost to the back of me.











Our largest building in Oklahoma City was alive with all the colors in the sky.  We didn't drive that close to it, but I was able to get a picture of it anyway.










The sky to the east had a lot more clouds, so they were drenched with the beautiful evening colors.  I took a picture looking into the rear view mirrors on the bike, but again, didn't capture what my eyes saw.













As we get into Yukon, the sky is calming down, but I was still able to get a pretty neat picture.  So we end this ride with a really nice sunset, and we are home before the sun sets.  Great little bike ride even though we had to play hide and seek with a glove.  Guess that's what makes a day an experience.












Friday, January 17, 2014

Mid January Randomness 2014

I am so excited to have finished my blog post for 2013 and send it off to Blog To Print to have it made into my 3rd yearbook.  Amazed that it was actually about 20 pages larger than 2012.  Looks like we rode quite a bit, or I decided to blog about a lot of things last year.  I am not sure if anyone else gets as excited as I do for the New Year to start so that I can get my blog sent to be published.  It is just a total accomplishment for me that I actually blogged the whole year and have something to show for it.  I only wish I had started writing the blog a few years earlier.  I wouldn't have the books that I have handwritten since 2000 tucked away. The blogging just makes it so much easier to keep everything in a nice neat order.  :)

The weather has been very "wintery" around Oklahoma, and has messed with a few plans we have had.  We were supposed to get together with our regular Friday Night Dinner Ride group just before Christmas and we had an ice storm decide to cancel that get together.  I think the first chance we have all been able to get together was last week at Johnny's Hamburgers (it's a favorite place for us) and Jennifer brought us all a little Christmas gift.  It was a cute candle, and some much needed chocolate....LOL....like we need it....but I have to share with you this chocolate that she gave us.  It's Lindt brand.  Chili Dark Chocolate.  OMG....it is wonderful.  She said it tasted to her like the chocolate cake we had in Madrid New Mexico, and she wasn't kidding.
It is "now" my favorite thing!!!  Thanks Jennifer  :)







We had lunch with the kids on Saturday and I wanted to take Cash to Atwood's to see if they had some boots for the boy.  I think all almost 3 yr. old boys need some Cowboy boots, don't you.  Found a pair of the cutest size 6 boots and he seemed to like them.  I got a picture the next morning as they were getting ready for church and he was wearing his new boots.  So glad he likes them  :)











We have been having some beautiful sunsets, and as we headed out to dinner one evening, I was able to catch a few pics of one.  I know the pics don't do it justice, but the sky looked like it was on fire.  Very beautiful!
























 You know I am hooked on "What does the fox say?"...and I was really wanting a t-shirt that says just that.  Well, I was in our local Walmart, and low and behold, they actually had one.  Yep, they did, and guess what....now I do too!!!!   Call me crazy, but I just really am hooked.  Ringtone and now a t-shirt=Happy Happy Happy!













My last obsession I have is those silly little solar animals that move and wobble around when the sun is shining.  :)  I know, I am crazy, but I think they are just too cute.  Dollar Tree has had some really great ones, and I was given a snowman from my friend Jennifer Story.  I didn't have a Christmas one, but it started me looking.  I was in Big Lots, and oh my, found the cutest Christmas ones, so of course I had to purchase some.  After Christmas I was in Big Lots again and what do you think I found...Yep, more cute things.  Got me the cutest owl!!!  His little head turns side to side.  Too darn cute....











Our sweet granddaughter Cooper had an exciting week.  She had a date with the Tooth Fairy.  She really wanted to lose her tooth at school.  You see, if they lose it there, they get this big white tooth necklace to wear.  It's really a big deal to a 5 yr. old.  So to say the least, the very loose and wobbly tooth made it till Monday and she headed to school.  Her mom was worried if it didn't come out pretty soon, the corn dog she was eating for lunch just might make it come out and she might swallow it.  But just as Miss Cooper wanted, her tooth was out of her mouth before lunch!!!  Way to go.
The Tooth Fairy made her visit Monday night while she was tucked in bed, and her first tooth loss brought her a $5 bill.  :)  She is growing up so fast, and a wonderful delight to be with.  Love this girl so much.




That's about all the randomness I can come up with at this time.  Stay turned, because I know the weather is going to break and we are going to be able to get on the bike really soon and take a spin.  Crossing my fingers!








Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Years Day Annual Ride 2014

The invites have been sent out....The responses have come in, and we are going to ride on New Years Day...Oh Yes We Are!!!

And that we do!  We meet downtown Oklahoma City at noon to make our annual ride a reality.  Lynn & Keith are coming from Duncan to join us.  Doreen, Allen, and the boys are the first ones to get to the meeting spot.  Glad to see they were able to get the kids to come with them.  I have had this song "What did the fox say" in my brain.  You know how it is...it's a "Song worm" or "Ear worm"....So of course I have to download it as a ring tone.  Joey & Brandon didn't help the matter as they kept singing it with me...LOL...(love those boys)









The weather really couldn't have been much better.  Cold, but not too cold!  The sun is shining, and the skies are blue and clear.  After we all gather, we get back on the bikes and head towards the Capital building.

Lynn & Keith
Diana & Chris

Tom and "Bob" his bike

Doreen & Joey


Allen & Brandon

Chuck & Myself :) 




Call me crazy, but I think this pictures is probably my favorite of all the pictures we take throughout the year.  What a wonderful way to start the New Year off right.

We pull into the capital parking area, and we make our way up to the center area.  The ugly yellow barriers are an eye sore, but they have been there for years, so you just have to overlook them.  Our Capital is needing quite a bit of work, and those barriers are there to keep the crumbling exterior from falling on someone.  LOL...for real!!!!
The "Darling" Family 

One by one, we take snap shots of each bike.  Got a nice group shop of the Darling Family!!!  I think it is suitable for framing.  But of course I think all of them are..











As we are busily taking pictures, the guys notice that there is a couple of highway patrol cars pull up and park.  We continue taking our pictures.  There sure seems to be more people stirring around here today than usual.  I find out later, why!!!

Our group shot is taken, and we pack the tripod back up, and head back to Bricktown to eat some Mexican Food at Abuelo's.  We get front row parking.  Before you know it we are being seated, and time to get some food in these tummy's.

The service and food was as good as it ever is.  You see, Abuelo's has become the place to eat after we take the annual pictures.  



































As we walk back to the bikes, and nice lady ask is we would like her to take a group picture.  This group knows I am all about the picture, so of course we tell her yes.  What a nice thing for her to do!








We give our final hugs and say our goodbyes, and just as we joined in one place, we now leave!  The skies that had been so blue, are now starting to cloud up.  The wind has switched and is blowing hard from the north.  There is a cold front on the way, and I think we are going to get home just in time.

By the time we make it home, the sun is totally gone, and the temperature has dropped from the nice 50 degrees to 46.  The wind made it feel a whole lot cooler than that.  I get messages from all the riders that they made it home safely.  The end to a very good day, with a little riding involved.

By the way, you know the highway patrol that were at the Capital....we would have loved to thought that the big bad bikers were being watched, but in reality, according to a article that Diana sent me later, they were there to keep the peace for the protesters that were there to protest the new law that just passed against e-cigarette's being banned from the Capital grounds.  Well, darn, it wasn't about us at all...LOL

Happy New Year!!!!  Thanks to all who participated.  :)  and you know who you are
And one more thing..... :)  What did the fox say  :)