A ride to somewhere (lawton blog on the road)

Yesterday started off badly.

I was supposed to meet friends at 7:00 am here in Lawton to ride the bikes about 40 miles over to Duncan, Oklahoma to begin a motorcycle poker run. The temp at 7 am was only 40 and I searched and searched and could not find my long johns (thermals). So I resorted to my flannel jammies on under the blue jeans and headed out to get the day started as the sun was just starting to peek out. Leather jacket on and boots laced up.

Halfway down the block and back to the house again. Ears were already cold. Why? Well the day before I had Beckie, my friend, who is a wonderful hair stylist cut my hair for the Locks for Love program. (they make wigs for cancer victims). It's quite the process and the cut it special and send it off for processing before they turn it into a wig.

So with both the beard and all the hair gone then I found a nice warm beanie and put on my foam face mask. Ah...Much better and back on the road yet again.

The ride over was uneventful other than the fact that a stretch was 30 miles of 70mph plus and I wasn't sure I still had fingers when I reached for the clutch or brake when we got into Duncan, Ok. Brrrrr....

So the run was sponsored by the Biker Church group. Wonderful place for worship and biking. No pews inside, only tables like in a restaurant. Service is casual and the preacher is in chaps and leathers. If you need to go smoke you just get up and go outside anytime you wish. Or go and pour you a cup of coffee and get a donut while things are going on. They don't pass the plate but there are saddlebags mounted on the wall in the back where you can put in donations.

Here is the front of the building as the bikes start to show up.

We got registered without problems and everyone was friendly and excited about the days ride. I was looking forward to it because all our stops were at churches. I'm not a religious guy but am tired of the runs that only stop at bars or casinos.

They expected about 300 bikes but Duncan also had a bike show and other things going on so I think they only got a little over 200. Most runs give you a map with the stops but this one gave us printed directions. ??? How are you supposed to read them at 70mph on the bike? So the three of us hooked up with one of the members of the church that had designed the course. I think a lot felt the same way since our little group took off with about 50 bikes total in a pack.

Our leader had a Honda Gold Wing. 1800 cc's or such and is a real cruiser. And he was a serious rider. No messing around but just ride. I liked that.

Cracking the throttles we pull out of Duncan to the amazement of all those gathering downtown for the town festival. 50 bikes in a group is a cool site and sound.

Here is one of the stops to draw cards. Every stop had open churches for restrooms, food and drinks. Extremely well run day.

That was a friend Alan from Lawton in the picture and my little sporty is in the center. My sporty is always an attention getter at these because it looks so small compared to all the cruisers. I heard two guys talking about it and they said 'it looked like a purist bike' because it had no bling. (it also has no comfy seats like theirs though). My rear end will attest to that this morning.

A stop for petrol in Elmore city where they had a festival ongoing also. They said they were the home town of Foot Loose (the movie). Not sure since a biker friend for the Harley shop designed some of the sets and he was in Utah at the time. Maybe Loyal knows.

So we trekked onward. Another stop to pull a card and stretch out the legs. At this point I don't think my speedo dropped below 80mph on the trip. Got to talk to the rider running my wing (the one directly behind you and in your mirrors). He thanked me for a couple of kick outs on the last leg. Kick outs are when you put your leg out to the side of some obstruction. Usually road kill in the road or such. Sometimes riding is like surveying. You need a mentor that will help you with some of the finer points.

And another stop for draws on the cards. Little sporty is still in the center of the picture.

Weather started warming up to the predicted mid 70's and our pace quickened. That guy on the gold wing liked to really roll. Tasking the heck out of my little 883. We ran some long stretches at speeds that I cannot say on an open forum but my arms and shoulders were starting to get sore from the sustained pressure.

Usually these rides are under 100 miles but this one broke 240 for the day. Tired this morning and still cleaning bugs out of my teeth but a good day for sure.

Deral (reporting in Lawton Oklahoma)

Oops. Forgot to add this picture. BossHoss bike. V8 with 8.5 gallon tanks. He had to stop as much as I did for gas yesterday. He has three of these with one being a three wheeler. His wife rides the other two wheeled version. Just a monster bike.