Oopsie

It was a beautiful day and I'd already sat on my duff and read a bunch of pretty much useless info on the interweb while hoping something would come up with something to do. Nothing happened so I jumped on the bike and off I went. No particular destination in mind, just knew I had to be in Alvarado by 1900. No worries it was 1600 as I fired up the Viffer.
Weather was a perfect slightly over cast, but still plenty bright day. Viffer was running great and the new tires were feeling great. Tunes rolling the helmet couldn't have matched the mood of the ride any better. Smooth and rolling along nicely. Really just one of those perfect rides. Great for clearing the head even when your not actively thinking about anything while riding.
Having no destination in mind, I was turning at random on any road that looked decent. Ran down a road (don't recall the number) and the neighborhood bull was just standing there watching me. Naturally I stopped and took a pic.


Knowing FM51 has been a haven for crashing sport bikers, I turned off on FM205 and wound my way past Dinosaur Valley State Park and wound up turning down CR1005 (I'm pretty sure that's the number) and paused at a low water crossing to walk across it and take a few pics.




After my walk across the water, I decided it was ok, and thought I'd ride across and continue my random explorations. Well, the path I walked and the path I rode were apparently different as I found a slick spot with the bike. Back end decided to take a different path then the front and down she went. No worries I was going a like 2mph at the time. I'll just pick it up and ride on.
DOH! The last 3" of the clutch lever decided to snap off. well, I can still ride it home no worries.
The kind lady standing there watching me do all this informed me that those low water crossings were slick. Where is Bill Engval when you need him?
So I get it out of the one-lane water crossing and look the bike over closer to see what damage was done.

=


Only to discover that its quite nearly pouring oil out of the top of the oil cooler. Seems the drop moved the headlight enough to puncture the oil cooler. Double check the oil and thought I'd ride it back to at least Glenrose.
About the time I got to DVSP it was clear that the bike had other plans. Too much oil was blowing out for me to continue riding. I parked across FM205 from DVSP and called HRCA.
The lady on the phone was having trouble with her computer (aren't they always? :scratch: ) and I wound up spending nearly 15min trying to get a tow setup. In the end they dispatched Don's Towing from Granbury saying it would be 2hrs before they could make it out.
As I'm sitting there on the side of the road staring at the sky, The game warden pulls out of DVSP and comes over to check on me. I explain it, he oogles the bike and drives away. A little while later, a car pulls up to ask if I'm ok. I inform them that I've already got a tow setup and am just waiting for them to arrive. They turn around and then stop and ask me if I have what I think was drugs. I had the camera in hand, I shoulda snapped a pic of their plate

As time goes on, there's no less then 6 cars pull out of DVSP full of folks that I know. Most all of them stopped to check or at the very least wave.

Laying there staring at the sky I had this random inspiration hit and snapped this shot:

I don't know, maybe the bugs were getting at my brain

Low and behold I hear a bike riding down the road and what should I see appear but a red VStrom blur piloted by a man in a Tecknic jacket. I say to myself "self, is that Bill?" soon enough I find out as he's back and it was indeed our very own Bill (Graubert) out testing his new Laminar lip. Bill proceeded to wait with me till the tow truck shows up. I am here to tell you that talking to another person is much more fun then talking to yourself!

As Bill and I were standing there, there was a gaggle of sport bikes that went by. The last of which was a familiar looking black bike piloted by a pink-helmeted rider. Bill and I both asked if that was Melanie (Vitto) Turns out we were right!

The tow truck shows up and the first thing out of his mouth is "I'm going to have to get you to sign a waver as I ain't equipped to haul bikes." :doh: well, I guess I don't really have any other options. Sign the waver and load the bike up. Took a bit, but got his straps around the lower fork clamps and get it strapped down. I'm not super happy with it, but it beats pushing the thing all the way home.

Its really a sad sight

Got her home and into the garage. I'll tear it apart and figure out exactly what I need to get it going again.

A big thanks to Bill for hanging with me while the tow truck took forever to show up.

Needless to say, I missed my Alvarado meet at 1900. Oh well, sometimes things happen.