Looking for a ride Buddy!

[exquized1]

I am planning on going to TX for the meeting of the minds. I am starting out in NW IL. I have several options of travel and could make changes if needed. I will be leaving Friday March 16 around 7am ish
1) IL 80 to Iowa and strait down interstate 35 which is the fastest at 14 hours.

2) Bunch of hyway road through IL to interstate 55 to interstate 44 throuh missouri and oklahoma then hyway 69 down to TX.
this route should take 16 hours but cut off 100 miles.

Also if I will be passing close to any of you and you are not going I would like to meet you on the way by.

[HobbyMan]

Glad to see that you are going to come from such a long distance.

[HobbyMan]

I have done all of these routs this past summer. Drove down from Chicago on 80 and 35 to pick up a bike. There was some road construction that sucked though. I have also made several trips this summer to and from Fort Learnodwood (Springfield MO) using 44 all the way to 35. The tollway is really nice. It just got a little hot on 44. When my sister graduated from AIT, on our last trip we took 69 and I could not stop hearing the words to a song "I'me and Okie from Muskogee"

[oldbiker648]

Hobbyman,
Your sister in the MP's, Engineers or Chemical? I was at Fort Lost in the Woods last January (2006) for a ceremony. Drove straight through from Richmond, VA in 17 hours. Most of the road would have ben a boring ride.

[kimrpaige]

Ride Buddy

Hey,
I'd love to ride down with you, but I don't think I will be here in March. I am from Maine and am staying here in Norman, OK for the past 5 weeks. I am originally from St. Louis, so I have indeed made the trip from both St. Louis and from Maine to OKC. Anyway i am bringing back a 1980 Std. back from the dead, sittin 12 years. Should have her going this week, so a trip to TX in March would be the perfect test. I am not due to be back here for school until May, but who knows maybe I might be back for March. If I am here I'll let you know and would love to ride down with you, Kim

[HobbyMan]

Corps of Engineers. I had a lot of fun driving my 86' suburban with ratty looking paint around base. All of those people looking at a read head bearded kid with no shirt on. (IT WAS REALLY HOT) And no kidding about "lost in the woods" I have a civilian version of why it is called that. Aparently some of those roads you aren't supposed to drive on will, in effect, get you lost in the woods. I wanted to take my bike up there because the scenery is cool, but there was a torrential downpour on 44 the night I was planning to drive up. I am glad I did not get cought on that on a bike. When I got there, my sister's weekend pass had been canceled an hour before I got there. You can't imagine how pissed I was. To drive all that way from Texas only to turn around. Eventually I had a talk with her DI explaining how much of a waist it was and that my sister's pass was supposed to be garunteed. He gave in eventually and I managed to talk him into letting her friends go to. We did have some good times though hangin out with a coupla Marines. On the way home, I cruised with the pedal almost to the floor for a good portion of the toll road. I was even keeping up with the police and they didn't seem to care. I did have my police scanner/ radar set up. If anyone is going to be on 35 at the TEX/ OKLA border, watch out for HP. I don't normally see them on the Texas side, but a few miles in on the OKLA side, you better watch your speed.

[exquized1]

kimrpaige

thanks for the reply! I am looking forward to this trip and would be honored if you could make some of the ride with me. Just keep me posted as time draws closer. I am leaving on friday march 16th really early and should be in hurst 7 or so friday night. Yep this will be a non stop stomp. ( ok gas, food, and strech breaks)

[exquized1]

Still looking for someone to ride to Texas with. March 16th is comming quick. Nice weather just around the corner.

[trbig]

I didn't want to say anything earlier, because I really am not sure yet, but I may be able to ride with you part way. I will be in Arizona the week before this and don't have a time schedule too much on that. Just hate to say yeah I'll do something, then have to back out and can't make it.

There's even a possibility of my wife riding down with me.. she has never riddden anywhere with me. Kinda scared of Wildkat corrupting her poor innocent mind though..

Whichever way you choose to go.. either I-35, or HWY 69, I'm kind of in the middle of both of them. I think I-35 may be a bit quicker if the traffic is moving, but it kind of bottlenecks up in places in Texas. Both are pretty long boring stretches...and there's really not alot of diffference in time wise I think.

Anyway.. I'll let you know as time gets closer.

Tod

[Wildkat]

Pay no attention to the Tod behind the curtain

She married YOU and you're worried about ME corrupting her? Sweet... innocent... me?
(okay... maybe not SO innocent... but STILL )

Keep us posted on your plans, exquized1... maybe we can work out a meeting place so at least the last few miles you can have some company...

[trbig]

EX...

What Kat means is that even if I go... let them know so they can meet you and you'll have some DECENT company at least for a few miles! lol.

When/if you meet my wife, you'll think she's the sweetest most innocent person you've ever met. Don't let her fool you though.. .the kids have been gone for this 3-day weekend... SHE is the one that deserves the name Wildkat! lol.

I've been to John and Kat's a couple times... so we can just show up un-announced. That way they can't lock the doors on us in time... Hopefully see you next month.

Tod

[exquized1]

Sounds Great! Working on How I am going to pack my nakid bike! My Father in Law is going to let me use his saddle bag and a friend is going to let me use his tank bag. Wow this is going to be an awsome trip! Taking my bike into my friends chopper shop to give it a good tune up. Should be ready to rock n roll!

[exquized1]

12 days!

just stopping by to check if anyone is going to the meeting of the minds in Hurst Tx. I will be leaving in 12 days. will be taking 55 to 40 and down "I think!"