Eyes open, it’s still dark outside the hotel room. The clock next to the bed shows 4:40 AM, only a few minutes before your alarm goes off. Your eyes close in hopes of getting just a few more minutes of sleep that feels like hours. Then you hear it. The rumble of a motorcycle engine racing down the street just outside, and that feeling of panic sets in. Eyes wide open, but it’s still dark. Did you oversleep? You quickly look back over at the clock. 4:41 AM stares back at you. Then you realize it’s just the staging crew starting their day and preparations before riders begin to arrive. Now that you’re wide awake from a sudden adrenaline rush, you may as well get up, pack, and get ready to hit the road. It’s a new day with the calling of the road just outside.
Tripp’s Harley Davidson and Amarillo’s HOG Chapter sponsored a breakfast for the pack with pancakes and sausage, coffee, juice, and their meeting room filled to the max with riders, volunteers, police, and supporters of the RFTW. Awards and recognitions were given along with informational reports on the weather, stops for the day, even introductions to the new FNGs that arrived and registered in Amarillo.
Just outside, bikes and trikes were wrapped around the building in platoon lines in preparation of launching the new day.
Col William R Higgins was honored with the Missing Man formation, ridden for and remembered by Birdy, a new Midway family member.
Midway was launched just as the sun was lifting from the Texan horizon. The winds had calmed down, not gone, but noticeably less than the day prior. Even the haze and smoke hung less in the air. 70 degrees added to the perfect weather to begin a new day’s ride.
Our first stop was only 95 miles out in Shamrock, TX, a location where we fueled and then traveled a few blocks to stage. An entire street being shut down to accommodate the entire group to park and stretch before carrying on. But this was no ordinary location, in fact many conversations commented on how much the area looked like the town of Radiator Springs in the Pixar film ‘Cars’. In reality, the Shamrock, TX is an iconic stop on Route 66 with its Conoco Tower & U-Drop Inn, and being the visual inspiration and exact model for Ramones body shop in the movie. Even a rusted tow truck is parked just outside in reference to the character Tow Mater.
SSgt Burt C. Small Jr was honored with the Missing Man formation, ridden for and remembered by Phantom.
Only 100 miles down the road, and with the day starting to get hotter and windier, the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford, OK awaited with a treat of lunch as well as touring the museum. A two and a half hour stop allowed everyone time to eat, tour the museum, and relax in the newly built addition with air conditioning. All of which being a luxury at this point with rising temperatures and increasing wind speeds, both of which we knew we’d have to go back out and ride in eventually, but in the meantime we were going to take full advantage of the opportunity.
As with any event, it was time to say goodbye and continue our trek east.
LCDR Donald E Thompson was honored with the Missing Man formation, ridden for and remembered by an FNG rider.
The final leg of today’s journey would take us from Weatherford and travel through Oklahoma City and straight on into Shawnee, 105 miles. This would not (or better stated as ‘should not’) be a significant ride, relatively short, however Mother Nature seemed to have different plans.
25 mph sustained cross winds that were gusting closer to 30 mph did not make for a simple ride. Similar to day one, wind beaten and road tired, the group was very thankful to get through Oklahoma City and make it into Shawnee safely and all together.
The VFW of Shawnee, OK welcomed us with a well needed meal and a chance to get out of the wind for a while. Awards and plaques handed out along with fried chicken and smoked bologna, a very well appreciated and welcomed meal and chance to chance to meet with old friends.
Although today was another great trip of only 300 miles, the weather from today has definitely sent everyone to get a good night’s rest before heading out again first thing tomorrow.
Until tomorrow night,
Keep the rubber side down,
Shiney side up.
Be safe and Ride safe.
Stitch
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 