67 Back to Texas?

 May 2013

      As it turned out it was a strange spring.  The weather was not conducive to riding or even being outside much.  We had several snow storms after we returned home . 

     Our winter trip had convinced us to try and replace our motorcycle camper.  The stop at the Roll-a-home factory had confirmed our decision to sell our camper and replace it with a RAH.  I listed our camper on the internet and within a few days it sold.  On May 1st we drove to Hurley Wisconsin to deliver the camper.  As we headed to Northern Wisconsin the temperature kept getting milder and we wished we had rode the trike.  By the time we met the new owners it was 82 degrees, not normal.   As we headed for home the temperature started to drop and when we awoke the next morning we found one of the worst snow storms of the year had passed thru depositing 12 inches at our place and over 17 at daughter Katy's in Byron. 
     With our current trike projects completed and now snowed in we went on the internet looking for a camper replacement, with our requirements the choices were few and far between.  We finally found a used one in our price range, a deal was struck, guess where?  Austin Texas, can you believe it.  Part of the negotiations was where it was located and how were we going to get it home.  I mean really, we just got back from Texas. 


All Gave Some, Some Gave All!

.    One of the factors that helped us make our decision was that we could combine picking up the camper with a visit to our daughter Michelle (aka;  Bandanas byMichelle  on Facebook)  She is a story in herself, starting a business selling hand crafted Bandanas traveling to motorcycle rally's on "Big John" (her Harley) pulling a motorcycle trailer which contained all of her goods.  She left our home in April and plans on traveling until November.
     We left in May planning on meeting Michelle in Longview Texas for a Memorial day rally.  This was not a pleasure trip we planned on being there in two days,  We stayed with a motorcycle club member just outside of Kansas City, they went above club guidelines and asked us to join them for dinner. 
     As soon as we crossed the Texas line I finally got my elusive picture of Braham cattle. (see Post #40 Border Patrol) I love their ears, remind me of baby Moose.
      Michelle had temped us with a motel complete with a swimming pool, as you know our winter trip had not been warm enough for luxuries like that.  So much for well made reservations, not only was the pool closed, during our stay they brought in a backhoe and filled it with dirt.
      It was great to see her again.  This visit gave us a real insight into the life she lives on the rally road.   It makes us appreciate all vendors and participants in events like this, sometimes you take things for granted without thinking about what makes them possible.  A little insight:  This is what we learned after assisting her with this rally.  Think of all of the expense of living on the road then the promoter of the rally charges a fee (based on expected attendance.) for you to attend which can be from a few hundred to thousands of dollars for the big rally's.  Yes, the organizer has cost also, the arena or fairgrounds, advertising, bathrooms and facilities for a large crowd, security and clean up.  (in the case of a Gold Wing rally, additional security at the local Dairy Queen.)   You arrive and the promoter has stuck your booth in the corner across from the sheep tent or in a building away from the main traffic area. 

   Now the convening authority (thanks Al.) levees a tax before you have sold a single item.  Then it rains for three days or in the case in Texas, rival gangs had boycotted the event and the city had initiated a regulation that discourages attendance.  She knew it wasn't going to be good when the promoter asked for a deposit for her pass that wouldn't be returned until 3pm on Sunday.  Evidently vendors had pulled out early the year before.    And yes attendance was very poor,  I believe because of the quality of product and her display (quite the promoter this one!)  An attractive booth, large display, lots of lights to show off the crystals, a little fan so they shimmer and oh yes, a heated candle with a baking sugar cookie aroma.  (I almost bought one.) she did Okay, sometimes you just hope not to loose money.   The food vendors at this rally lost money, local health laws made them buy all there supplies locally or delivered by a recognized provider to their site.  No food could be prepared ahead of time.  One vendor didn't read the memo and they made him destroy his food products by pouring bleach over them.  Painful!    
   The Straw that broke the camels back.  If any of these participants get greedy it will ruin the rally,  We had a wonderful family oriented rally South of us in Iowa.

     Perfect balance,  it was supported by the town to the extent that many of the residents turned their homes into B&Bs for the weekend housing riders and sharing in the fun.  The boy scouts handled camping at the city park.  There was a cycle parade the riders held to show their gratitude to the city.   A breakfast by the seniors at the community center.  Lots of vendors, riders and enjoyment for all.  We looked forward to going.   Then one year the organizers decided to raise the fee for the vendors, the next year at least half of the vendors didn’t come.   The next year a lot of the riders didn’t go.  We haven’t returned in years now”. 

     Time to rest? No! Time for some electrical trailer repair, load 400 pounds of tent crystals, bandanas, fans, lights, chairs, table, a forty pound heat press, a file cabinet, all personal items, and clothing ( casual, warm, rain and riding ) into a 300 pound capacity trailer.  Now off to the next rally.  Ruthie and I needed a rest after helping her for a few days.  Bless her heart. 
   To save us some time the seller had  met us at the rally with our camper.  With that in tow we were going to ride as far as we could with Michelle. 

  Since it wasn't far out of our way we headed to Sulphur Springs Texas to see a public glass bathroom that daughter Tammy had heard about.  Yup, natural beauty or oddities, count us in!  Interesting,  I have taken pictures inside bathrooms before (don't ask) but never of the outside from inside.  Ruthie and Michelle, wonder if they can see me?   The site of the bathroom was in the city square , children were playing in the water tube sprayer,  there was a life size chess set and others were wandering among the many  tribute areas honoring the veterans and freedom.  Very inspirational.  A very touching memorial to all who serve.   I think the unique bathroom was a great way to attract visitors,  However the rest of the square is what you will think about for a long time.
     We rode with Michelle North to the Texas border, always tough to part with loved ones.  You may see a grown woman swinging her Harley Davidson into the street with her trailer in tow. But I still see our two year old toddler clinging to her mommies hand, it's tough to let go.  (I sent her a copy of this post to proof read since she was in it.  I received this note back.  "

*** a side note to your story. After we said goodbye at the chicken restaurant I cried like a baby for about an hour as I drove down the road. I actually had to pull over so I could gain my composure so I could drive again. Once a little girl...always a little girl. Goodnight.") Thru tears I thanked her.  .I guess we are a sensitive bunch. 

   She was heading to NE Oklahoma for a rally and we were going to swing by the camper factory in Hobart Oklahoma to have some modifications done. (doesn't anyone realize it's tornado season in Oklahoma?).

      Due to the number of miles we put on with the camper in tow we thought it would be a good idea to have an axel installed at the factory that had electric brakes.  We fought a pretty stiff wind from the South as we headed West across Oklahoma,  Arriving in Hobart we spent the night at a bed and breakfast that used to be a funeral home.   Nice place, slept with one eye open. 
    
    The next morning this was the weather map Severe storms moving across all the way from Texas to Minnesota, looks like we are in for some weather.   We had dropped the camper off the night before and knowing tornadoes were in the area.  ( not to be rats deserting a sinking ship) we asked Billy to just install the axel and new wheels and we would wire it ourselves when we reached home.  Kind of anxious to be on the road. 




  

Billy finished our modification and we were on our way the storm threats were serious enough that we weren't wasting anytime.   There had been damaging tornadoes the week before and we headed North out of Hobart as fast as we could.  The wind was at our back until we  reached interstate 40 heading East now we felt the full effects of the Strom we were told that the wind was a steady 60 miles per hour with some stronger gusts.  It kept us on our toes as it tried to help us change lanes.  The sky was changing scenes dramatically every few minutes.  Beautiful to  watch and take pictures with an every watchful eye out for funnel clouds.    We took 35 North out of Oklahoma City and again had the wind to our back,  (We found out later that Oklahoma City suffered severe Tornado damage that evening, just as benefit concerts were being held there to aid the last storm victims.   As a precaution we stayed in a brick motel with our little rig parked on the North side.
       
     One more stop at Paul and Mary's in Holton Kansas,  who knew we would be back this soon?  Another pleasant evening with them and we were on the last leg home.   A quick interesting trip, now back to work.