ANGELO & BILLY 7-26-09

Sunday, 7-26-09, started off as a pretty much, nothing to do day... Around 2:30 pm it was an overcast and, believe it or not, cool 98 degrees. Not one to sit around, I thought I would ride to Vernon Texas and back, see how many bikers were out and get pics of the bikes on the highway. Vernon is 50 miles West of here, so it was a 100 mile round trip. I grabbed the camera and off I went. Come along on this Sunday ride and a great surprise for me later in the afternoon and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.




When I got to the city limits on the West side of town, I stopped at the city limits sign. People are always asking me how big Wichita Falls Texas is..I know it fluctuates between the high 90's and low 100 thousand..So here is the current population. It has 200 police officers and 12 of those are motorcycle traffic officers. So, be careful with the speed because those guys are everywhere. They ride the new Harley police bikes

As I started up US287 (West) I started taking pics of the bikes going East. No bikes passed me going West. If you click on the pic you can see the bikes better. All of them were doing the recognition signal and I had to hold the camera straight out at them, so they didn't think I was snubbing them. Bad thing was that doing it that way, I couldn't get them centered..

Another solo

and another

another solo

This guy was hauling the mail...

and here is a group approaching. I got to Vernon and was going to take a pic of the Vernon Texas sign, so I pulled over and stopped. Went to take the picture and nothing happened. Seems I left the house in a hurry and forgot to change out battery's. I used the camera at the PGR mission in Jacksboro Tx Saturday and didn't put the new ones in like I always do when I got home. So no pictures of any west bound bikes as I rode home. I was pissed..

I got home and sat around. Around 5:30 pm, Janice & I set out for dinner. We were on Southwest Parkway, about a mile from the IHOP. In the early 80's I was in the USAR in the 980th Engineer Battalion and I hung around with Billy & Angelo..We were like the 3 Musketeers. I got transferred to an Armoured Division and we didn't see each other after that. As we were headed to dinner, I got a call from Angelo. He was in town & he and Billy were at the IHOP. We went there and ate with them and then they came back to the house with us. Here are Billy & Angelo..

Billy, Angelo & me. A lot older, a lot grayer but still crazy as ever

Angelo lives in Dallas now and had ridden up here to Wichita Falls and he & Billy went for a ride. Here is Billy and his bike. Oh yeah, Billy lives less than a mile from me straight down the road.

Angelo loading his stuff on his bike. He had to get back to Dallas and I was gonna ride the first 50 miles or so with him. At least down to Bowie Texas

Angelo and his bike. It's an 08 1900cc Raider and faster than heck

We gas up and Angelo checks in with his wife, Lynnette. She is in New York City right now, I think Angelo said, on a case.

While at the pumps, Steve & Lacy pull up to get gas. Here is Steve, Lacy & Angelo. Steve is on his Venture that he traded his Valkyrie in on down at Dream Machines of Texas in Farmers Branch Texas. That ride is on North Texas Bikers II, last month. For more info on Dream Machines, check this link: http://www.dreammachinesoftexas.com/

Lacy & Steve. Lacy is Janice's Niece and both Steve & Lacy are great people. Fun to ride with too.

Angelo fixin' to mount up and head out

Angelo rolling East down US82 (Kell Freeway)

As we come off the on ramp to US287 South, we see the rain ahead but it is moving East and hopefully will be past us before we get to Bowie Texas.

Angelo Southbound on US 287

We were riding staggered and I was just of to the right of Angelo's rear tire

Looking to the SW at the rain clouds. You could smell the rain and the temperature dropped. It really felt good.

It was starting to get dark as we continue South on US287. Angelo rolling South

Another of Angelo South bound. Around this area we were doing about 75-80 mph. Angelo cracked his throttle open and was gone. Then, he slowed down and I caught up with him and he downshifted to 4th and did it again and the boy was gone even faster. His bike, is addition to looking and sounding great, is unbelievably fast.

We make a quick stop in Bellevue Texas to get a drink. Here is Angelo at the Phillips 66 station

We get to Bowie Texas and pull over to say goodbye. Angelo tops his tank off because he still has about an hour or so to go and a lot of that in Dallas traffic.

Just before we went our separate ways. We will be getting together again for a ride down to his neck of the woods and he will show us where his group goes in the Dallas area. I look forward to that.

So, this nothing to do Sunday, came out great. Got a couple hundred miles on the bike and got to see Billy & Angelo again. I look forward to riding with them both.

Scroll down for more rides, events & posts and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of EACH page for more rides and posts. Check out North Texas Bikers (1) at http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from January 08-November 08. and North Texas Bikers II at: http://www.jjskewlstuffii.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from Nov. 08-July 09. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops & Pattie & Manuel................JOHN