Day 1From: Columbia to: Russelville, AR
Started the "adventure" on a cold morning (about 45 degrees not counting the wind chill on a moto). I had not realized that Highway 7 into Arkansas would be so so amazingly winding and slow going with many curves indicated to be 20 mph. As beautiful as the scenery was, I was very glad to finally make it to Russellville. A good hot bath was welcomed.
Day 2
From: Russellville to: Ruston, LA
More cold. More highway 7. Wow! By afternoon warmth came and I was able to enjoy the amazing scenic highway with its numerous "25 mph" curves. Very exhilarating drive. Arkansas is very beautiful. Lots of new highway construction into Louisiana. I should have a short ride to Lake Charles where I will greatly enjoy visiting with my very good friend Steve Wieschhaus. I will probably see some sad reminders of Katrina.
Day 3
From Ruston to: Lake Charles, LA
Rainy, nasty day also cold. Arrived at Lake Charles and had a little difficulty finding Steve (picture on the left). My maps got me close
and and usual, I had to ask directions. I've known Steve since he was a kid growing up in Hermann, Missouri about 40 years ago. I had a great visit with Steve and his wife Connie and their daughter. Their warm hospitality was wonderful. Sadly I had to get up early for a long (350 mile) ride the next day. The forecast was for lots of rain. Day 4
From: Lake Charles to: Beeville, TX
Rain. No, RAIN!!! Incredible, scary, major downpours. Many downpours. And wind. Gusting and frightening. Well this is an adventure. The amazing traffic on the Houston beltway was great fun on the back of my Kawasaki with visibility of about one car length. My adrenaline was ready to be bottled. It was one of the worst riding situations you can imagine. I pulled off the interstate shortly after passing a "rear-ended" car. I waited under an overpass along with several other cars that couldn't see in the deluge. After seeing three wreckers assist with damaged vehicles, I began again as the rain slowed. I arrived in Beeville at 6:00 with "rain wear" that was proved not to work and "rain-proof" boots that I poured water out of. Of course wife Brenda said I was crazy. Maybe she was right. Harold Brooks was waiting at the motel in Beeville. Tomorrow we head for the border.
Day 5
From: Beeville to: San Fernando, MX
Harold and I made it thru Customs at the McAllen/Mexican border in about an hour and one-half. Borders are notoriously trying. This one went pretty smoothly although finding the customs building wasn't easy. Then we promptly got lost in an amazing labyrinth of Reynoso back streets. We even found ourselves on a one way street riding the wrong way of course. It was a day of very strong wind. For some reason Harold's Suzuki didn't seem affected but as he rode behind me he thought there were times that my KLR and I were going to be blown over. If you've never ridden a bike in the wind, you will not understand the sensation of being pushed abruptly with your machine and you forced to "lean" against your will. This adventure stuff is pretty trying and its our first day in Mexico. Our day eventually ended on a good note.
The motel we found in the smallish town of San Fernando was wonderful. They offered us parking space for the bikes right outside our door inside the courtyard. We walked three or four blocks to the business area and found a place to eat and our first cervezas. It was good to relax.
