THE OKLAHOMA RUN PART II 1-29-2011

Welcome to Part II of the Oklahoma Run of 1-29-2011. Scroll down and join us for the conclusion of the ride and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.


As we head back down Mount Scott, Louis waves behind me and Mike is behind him on the white Harley



As we head back down Mount Scott. That's Honda & Austin on the white Harley in front of me, Dennis & Moe are in front of them and Robert is up front as our leader



Louis and the others as they head back down Mount Scott. Shortly after taking this picture, I was getting ready to take a shot over my right shoulder and the camera slipped out of my hand, hit the gas tank and onto the roadway. As I was trying to get stopped on the downhill slope, the camera kept bouncing on the road and fianlly stopped behind me. I waved the guys on by and Louis retrieved the camera for me. Other than a few scrapes and cracked battery compartment cover, it's working fine...Lucked out on that one.

Still heading down from the summit of Mount Scott to the base of Mount Scott. Honda & Austin in front of me, then Dennis & Moe and Robert is our leader up front.

Behind me are Louis, Mike, Jim, and Randall at the rear. I don't know who was riding behind Jim and Randall on the way down.

Heading down Mount Scott are Honda & Austin and in front of them are Dennis & Moe.

We catch up with some cars that were creeping ever so slowly down the mountain.. That's Honda & Austin, then Dennis & Moe and Robert is up front

Here is Louis behind me waving. Louis is a fellow PGR member. PGR stands for "PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS". To learn more about the PGR and what we do, and to join (it's free!), just go to this link: http://www.patriotguard.org/ We are members of the North Texas PGR.

Here are Louis, Randall and Dennis as we wait outside of the "RIVERSIDE CAFE" for a table. We are in Medicine Park after taking a short ride from the base of Mount Scott. For more on Mount Scott and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, go to this link: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki./mount_scott_(Oklahoma)

Here are Mike, Randall & Randy in the outside eating/waiting area at the Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park Oklahoma

Mike had to head back to Texas but before he left, he modeled this snappy looking hat for us..

Here are Doug & Louis. Doug & Louis are Brother in laws and both are North Texas PGR members.

Here is Randall outside the Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park Oklahoma

One of our two tables inside the Riverside Cafe. Folks at the table going down each side are: Louis, Doug, Robert, and Janis. The other side is: Moe taking a picture of me, Dennis and Mike on the end. For more info on the Riverside Cafe, see this link: www.medicinepark.com/foodshopping/php

Our table at the Riverside Cafe: Matt & Randall, and on the other side is Honda & Austin - (in the Red sweatshirt)

This Bridgette, our 1st waitress at the Riverside Cafe. Found out she was just helping out her sister, who was our waitress

This is Brittany our waitress. Never got to ask but I think she and Bridgette are twins. Both about the same size and only their hair was a different color

Here is Matt sitting on his bike after we ate. We were getting ready to walk up the hill to Chaps My Ass. There were several hundred bikes in the area so we just left our bikes down by the restaurant. Parking is very limited up there at Chaps My Ass.

Jim at the Chaps My Ass sign. Chaps My Ass, for those of you who are new viewers to the North Texas Bikers series, is a Motorcycle Accessories and Apparel Shop that is very popular with the bikers of North Texas & Southern Oklahoma and is located in Medicine Park.. Medicine Park is a very picturesque city snuggled in the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma. Check this link out:

http://www.medicine-park.com/

One of the bikes at Chaps My Ass

This is Annette. She was outside Chaps My Ass waiting for her husband to come out. I waited for him (to take his & Annette's picture by the bike) but we left a while later and he was still inside...

Some of the bikes out front in the parking area of Chaps My Ass. I did not get a chance to go inside Chaps to get pictures because it was packed with bikers, almost elbow to elbow, so I got this link for ya'll to check Chaps My Ass out at: www.chapsmyass.com/store.html

I met Roberto and some of his friends while outside looking at the bikes parked in front of Chaps My Ass. Here is the back of Roberto's vest and yes, he is from Puerto Rico.

Here are, left to right: Richard, Roberto and Don. The first Harley belongs to Richard and I quote from Don, the second bike is his and Don says" the better looking of the two" end quote.
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This is Richard, Roberto and Don at Roberto's bike. It was great meeting you guys.. Ride Safe

This is Tammy & Doug at Chaps My Ass. The dentist that Doug goes to is where he met Tammy. She is a dental assistant there..

Here are Robert & Janis and Dennis waiting outside Chaps My Ass, for the others inside.



Outside Chaps My Ass are, left to right: Honda (reading the mag), Austin (Honda's wife), Jim and Dennis is at the table behind them.

Left to right: Robert is sitting down, Doug is by the Chaps My Ass sign and Matt.

We walk down to the bikes and get ready to go. Here are Honda & Austin on their Harley ready to go.

Janis is getting a little help from Robert and Dennis, backing up the incline that is all rocks.

Jim is ready to go.

Moe waits as Dennis backs their bike up out of the gravel and onto the street

The others are lined up and almost ready to head out. Moe is getting the commo checks with Dennis.

We leave Chaps My Ass and head out for OK49 which will take us to I-44

Leaving the Medicine Park city limits. First two bikes behind me are Jim and Louis.

We get on OK49 and head for I-44 and some gas just prior to the on ramp. There is a big grass fire up ahead and on the East side of I-44.

We top our tanks off at the Love's. That's Louis getting on his bike in front of the store and the other white Harley is Honda & Austin's bike. They are still inside paying for their gas.

I moved the zoom up a notch or two and then took a picture over my shoulder before the camera could focus. The effect came out as I hoped it would. It may be blurred but I really like the picture. I've seen similar ones in magazines and now I know how they did it. Well, maybe not exactly how I did it (One hand over my shoulder, not looking at the camera but the road at 70 mph), but the effect is the same.

Here is Randall, Louis and the rest of the guys as we head East on US70
towards I-44 again. We had taken a detour aroud the I-44 toll gate.


Back on I-44 heading South, we cross over the Red River Bridge and enter our homeland, Texas!!

Dennis & Moe heading home, South on I-44.

Last picture from today's ride and concluding this post, is of Randall, Louis, Honda & Austin and Doug heading South on I-44 nearing their cut-offs.

I thoroughly enjoyed today's ride with some great people. I say it over and over but it doesn't get any better than riding in good weather, with great friends heading to a nice destination and stopping for some good food! I look forward to our next ride, whenever and wherever it takes us.

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the OLDER POSTS link at the bottom of EACH page or directly under the last post on the page, for more of the same.

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops, both in and out of Harms Way. especially for Che Whitaker and Chris Drage, both of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and for Fred Hughes who will be rejoining his unit in Afghanistan next month (Feb). This will be Fred's second tour in the region as he just returned from Iraq in 2009..

Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel and most importantly of ..........RIDE SAFE!!.................JOHN

THE CLIFF'S RESORT RIDE 1-28-2011

Today, Friday, 1-28-2011, Flip had put a ride together from Wichita Falls Texas, down to Possum Kingdom Lake with lunch at The Cliff's Resort. On today's ride were: Flip & Sandra, Kenny, Gerald, Del, Christina, Steve, Bud, Polar Bear and me (John). Scroll down and join us on this ride and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.


We staged at the Wal-Mart on SW PKWY at around 9:30 a.m. It was a little chilly (44 degrees) but it was forecasted to be 75 degrees on our way home this afternoon. Left to right: Sandra, Bud, Gerald, Del, Flip and Bear.

Left to right: Bud, Gerald, Del and Flip standing around while we wait for our departure time of 10:00 a.m.

Here is Bud, Sandra and Flip. Sandra is Flip's wife and the first time we got to meet her. She's a lot of fun and Flip, ya did good.

Bud and Sandra. They know each other but I forgot to ask how they knew each other

Jim arrives and is seated on his bike with Del behind him, Gerald and Bear.

Lance and Pattie arrive. They were enroute to Hico Texas to eat at the Coffee Cup Cafe. The Coffee Cup Cafe is noted for it's desserts

Christina arrives and joins us as we wait to head out.

Time arrives to leave and we head out Southbound on Bus US281. Behind me are: Kenny, Steve, Christina and Bear is bringing up the rear

We get established on US281 Southbound. Here is Gerald on his bike

Here are Flip & Sandra on their bike

Here is Bud on his bike

Here is Del on his bike

Here is Kenny on his bike

Here is Steve on his bike

Here is Christina on her bike

Here is Bear on his bike

We were rolling along at a good 75 mph down US 281. We would stay on US281 until we turned onto TX16 which would take us into Graham Texas and Possum Kingdom Lake

We stop at the Wal-Mart in Graham Texas so Christina can top off her gas tank. Here are: Flip & Sandra, Bud on the red bike, Del standing behind Bud and Kenny standing behind Flip & Sandra

Steve is off his bike as we wait on Christina.

Bear is off his bike taking a break. We had ridden about 65 miles to this point, with about another 25 miles or so to go before we reached The Cliff's Resort

We pull back out onto TX16 South and continue onto The Cliff's. Bud is right in front of me, Gerald is in front of Bud and Flip & Sandra are our leaders up front

As we get into the scenic area by the Lake, this is the view behind me: Del right behind me, Steve behind Del, Kenny behind Steve, Christina behind Kenny and Bear still bringing up the rear. All together we had nine bikes and 10 riders on this ride.

Flip & Sandra and Gerald are way out front with Bud in front of me and the rest behind us as we proceed down TX 16

We make it to the Cliff's Resort and we ride thru the property heading to the Chaparral Grille where we would eat lunch

We park the bikes and here are: me, Sandra and Flip in the parking lot.

Our bikes in the parking lot of the Chaparral Grille

We milled around and talked until everyone got their gear put up.

Groups picture #1: left to right: Steve, Del, Bud, Flip, Sandra, Christina, Gerald, Kenny and Bear..

Group picture 2: Left to right: Steve, Del, Bud, Flip, Sandra, Christina, Gerald, me and Bear

The outside dining area on the back patio of the Chaparral Grille with a view of Possum Kingdom Lake.

Here is Bear checking in with the boss.

Bud at the outside dining area

Christina checking in with Joe, her boss... :)

Our table. Steve is closest to me on the end, Flip & Sandra are on my left and Del, Kenny and Bud are on the right

Sandra at our table

Del at our table

Kenny at our table and Bud checking out the menu

Gerald and Bear at the table

Our table at The Chaparral Grille. see this link for more: www.cliffsresort.com/dining.aspx

Our table with the view of the Lake

Most of us got the Famous Chaparral Burger, Fries and tea. It was very good and not priced too bad. ($9.50 after taxes)

Christina, Steve, Flip & Sandra getting ready to eat..

Digging in.. The ride was well worth the good times spent with good friends, good food, great weather at a great location!

Looking out at Possum Kingdom Lake from an observation deck at the cliff's edge

Another view of Possum Kingdom Lake

Bear up on the observation deck with Possum Kingdom Lake behind and below him.

A final view of Possum Kingdom Lake from the cliff.

We went back to the bikes and Christina got to talking with a guest at the resort who was also a member of C.M.A. (Christian Motorcyclists Association) from the, and I hope I got this right, Lindsay Texas area, and her name was Betsy. She wanted to pray for us and afterwards she took this group photo of us: left to right: Bud, Flip, Sandra, Christina Gerald, Kenny, me (kneeling), Del and Bear

I gave Betsy one of our North Texas Bikers cards and then I took her picture with our group. Left to right: Bud, Flip, Sandra, Christina, Gerald, Betsy, Kenny Steve, Del and Bear. Thanks again Betsy!! We appreciate it!

We then shed a lot of our gear due to the warmer temperature, saddle up and head back out of the Cliff's Resort enroute back to the Wichita Falls Texas area. for more on Cliffs Resort, see: http://www.cliffsresort.com/

You'll probably have to click this to enlarge the picture to see the entrance area to the Cliff's Resort off of TX 16

We are now heading North on TX 16. I know that Bear is behind me and then Steve is in front of me and then it's Christina and then Kenny. After that I'm not sure of the order other than Flip and Sandra are still our leaders.

and here is Bear coming on strong after we made a turn

The bikes in front of me as we ride thru some dips and turns in a scenic area. This was not bad for a January ride. This is precisely why I love Texas. Year round bike riding!

The view over my windshield.. Pretty kewl eh?

We stop back at the Wal-Mart in Graham Texas to top off our gas tanks. Left to right are: Kenny, Steve, Del (waving), Flip & Sandra, Gerald and Christina.

Here's Bud as we wait for the others to gas up.

Everyone finishes gassing up and we pull back onto TX16 North and continue home. Up front is Flip and Sandra, then Steve, then Kenny and then me.

Last picture of today's ride is of: Christina behind me, Del behind Christina, Gerald behind Del, Bud behind Gerald and Bear at the rear. This will conclude this post.

I had a great time today riding with some great friends to a great destination in perfect weather. I hope tomorrow morning's ride up into Oklahoma is as good.

Scroll down for more rides, events and runs and be sure to click on the OLDER POSTS link at the bottom of EACH page or directly under the last post on the page for more of the same.

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops both in and out of Harms Way, especially for Che Whitaker and Chris Drage, both of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and for Fred Hughes who will be joining his unit in Afghanistan next month (Feb).

Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel and most importantly of all................RIDE SAFE......................JOHN