Day 3

Well what another fantastic day!  I did a little laundry at the hotel and while it was drying I treated myself to this delicious breakfast. Wouldn't you know it...Biscuits & Gravy!

I took 40 East about 20 some odd miles and then went South on 177 through Shawnee and continued south taking the back roads to Paris, Tx.

I stopped off near Ada, Oklahoma at Golden's Gas & Grill for some stretching, some fuel...and a Dr. Pepper 10. This store is real neat, a true piece of Americana.  You are reminded of this when you walk across the old wooden floor.

 I had already fueled and was taking a moment to enjoy my sofa when a young lady in her mid 30s pulled up to the pumps. Making small talk, I asked her what the local main industry was and she said a lot of people worked at the casino down the road.  I asked her what she did aind she told me a sad story about how she was stuck in an extremely abusive marriage.  She told me she was able to work up the courage to run and she had been stable and safe for several years.  She then told me that she now organizes efforts to create women's shelters around the country to help other women.  She was kind enough to take this picture for me.  

I

I guess I left Midwest City too early because I arrive at my hotel in Paris, TX around noon.  The manager said I was too early and my room wouldn't be ready until about 3:00.  I waited in the lobby for a while and made a few phone calls, letting my family know where I was.  I looked up on a mantle to discover a metal piece of artwork fashioned into a motorcycle and another one into an Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat on top. Around 1:30 the hotel staff let me check in...I guess they wanted me out of the lobby. 

I had steak fajitas at Don Lalo's Restaurant.  They were really great tasting.  I was going to take some leftovers back to the hotel room and I asked for a box to put them in and then I remembered that I had taken all the luggage off my bike and had no place on the bike to carry my "Doggie Box."  So that was my excuse to finish the plate.  Not regrets there.

It was a good day.  I may see more of Paris in the morning before I leave town!

THE PLAN

My name is Jason Curtman.  I am a recruiter for a fortune 500 company and 

a syndicated radio show host.

I just recently purchased a 2007 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 - site unseen.  My brother picked up the bike in southeast Missouri and transported it to his house in the St. Louis area.  This was about 2 months ago.  I am taking August 5 through August 15th off work.  I am flying to St. Louis on Saturday the 5th.  I will be spending a little time with my family and the bike and getting familiar with it.  I am an experienced rider, somewhat.  For the last 5 years I have ridden a 2009 Suzuki Boulevard.  Always around town or even the next town or two over.  Some of that riding has been in the mountains of southern New Mexico (I live in Alamogordo, NM). 

2009 SUZUKI BOULEVARD S40

2007 HONDA SHADOW SPIRIT 1100

That's my son, in the parking lot of Lambert's in Sikeston, MO.

So here is the plan:

Day one I will ride around 250-300 miles from Pacific, Mo down HWY 44 and find a decent hotel to stay in.  Maybe somewhere between Springfield and Joplin.

Day two I will ride to Broken Arrow, OK. and spend a little time with my niece, her husband and my new great nephew.  After an hour or two there I am going to Midwest City and spending the night there.

Total miles so far: apx 505

Day three  will be a very short day.  Just a few hours to Paris, TX for some rest and relaxation.  I want to get a few photos there.  The Eiffel tower is there, you know.  The one with the cowboy hat on top of it.

Day four I will be traveling to Killeen, TX. I will be  some family I grew up with and other family I have not met before.

Day five I will be going to Brownfield, TX.  There is a Dan Blocker memorial on the way and also a replica of the Tomb of Christ I will see on the way out of town the next morning.

Day six I will be going to Albuquerque.  I haven't been there for any length of time since I was a kid.  I'm going to spend the night and go to church the next morning.

Day seven will lead me home.  After church it's back to Alamogordo.

Now, if I were to ride directly from Pacific, MO to Alamogordo I could do it in less than two days and it would be 1,070 miles.  Never being the one to do things easy (do you hear the sarcastic laughter coming from those who know me?),  this trip will take me over 1,924 Miles.

I have been anxiously awaiting this trip!

Special Thanks to Jim Sweet of Sweet Cycles in Valley Park, MO for making sure the bike is road ready and safe!   Jim also installed a USB charging port on the handlebars for me as well. 

Also thanks to my friend Roger for the use of his really cool Nelson Rigg bag for the trip.  I may have to get one of these soon.

I plan on taking two helmets for the trip.  A full face helmet.  I plan to purchase this from Cycle Gear in St. Louis when I fly in.  The other is a very cool patriotic half helmet for a few of the back roads.

I've purchased and acquired a few items for the trip as well.  A 2.5 liter fuel tank, should I run out of fuel it should get me about 26 extra miles.  I also have a very reliable GPS unit.  I did not want to rely on my cell phone, should I be unable to get data service and fail to get my maps loaded.  I purchased   a hydration pack, new boots, cooling shirts, Nike sleeves, and some riding gloves.   I also have some canvas saddle bags and a sports camera I hope to mount to the bike.  Oh, yes,  I also purchased a nice little mp3 player.

I am so ready to go.  I have never done anything like this in my life and I am ready for the adventure.

Also, thanks to Eric of www.indian48.com for some great videos and some personal advice!

I plan on updating this blog along the way!