Summer Trip VII

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Notice the sign on the wall over the sinks in the men's bathroom  in Gunther Toody's Diner.

     Today is the day I am supposed to start to head back. I do have a small problem: I need to get new tires on the bike before I head out. Haden in service promised to get me right in if I showed up when they opened at 9 AM. I went to Gunther Toody's Diner for breakfast, and arrived at Apex Sports by 8:15. The took my bike in promptly at 9 AM, and while I waited I got in to a conversation with Zeke, a young man who had his Ducati 1250 in for service. We talked for quite a while, and I told him if he ever comes east to contact me for place to stay.

Zeke standing outside of Apex Sports in Colorado Springs CO. A very bright, intelligent, interesting guy.

     My bike was finished and I was on the road by 10 AM.  I rode east out of Colorado City on CO 94 until it intercepted CO 71, which I took south. With a small detour just before I got on US 50 east I rode to La Junta where I had lunch. Then I continued east on US 50 to Lamar CO where went south on US 287/385. US 385 would take me through the Oklahoma Panhandle directly to Dalhart Texas where I would spend the night.

Kirk's Kitchen in Springfield CO.

     It had become quite hot, and I really was looking for a place to take a break. I did a search and found a restaurant called Kirk's Kitchen in Springfield CO. Seemed like a good place to gas up and take a break. From Springfield I continued to head south. As I did so I noticed dark clouds on the southern horizon. My route seemed to be taking me directly towards them, right into the middle of them!

At the Texas border with clear skies ahead.

     I crossed into Oklahoma about 20 miles north of Boise City OK still heading straight towards what I was sure were storms on the horizon. As I rode I began to notice wet spots on the road. Apparently the storms were just ahead of me. I slowed down. At Boise City I continued south on US 385, and there was more and more water on the road. Now sure I was catching up to bad weather I slowed down more, looking for places to pull safely off of the road if I caught up to the rain. Then the road took a right turn and I crossed the Texas border. The storms were off to the east and I was able to ride to Dalhart with no further threat of rain.

Afternoon break at Kirk's Kitchen. Don't let my daughters see this picture! 

      Once in Dalhart I checked into my motel and found that it had clothes washers for guests, which many motels do. I took the opportunity to do my laundry, and while it was washing and drying I watched the first Spiderman movie. Later, with clothes strewn about the room to finish drying, I turned in for the night.