Harvey goes to Texas … with friends | Bruce and Pam's Coast 2 Coast Adventure

Day 1 the drive to Lake Buchanan

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11-12

Bruce woke up around 4 AM and we headed out to Harvey at 4:45. I immediately crawled into bed in the back and tried to go back to sleep. My brain just wouldn’t turn off. I’m sure I slept a little, but not really. There were alot of road noises. Around 6:15 I noticed a different sound that sounded to me like something was dragging. I don’t know why I thought that or even why I noticed it over the other road noises, because it wasn’t that loud. But I jumped up and looked out the back window. I began screaming for Bruce to pullover. The motorcycle had fallen off the platform and was dragging. Sparks were flying everywhere. It was really scary! I was afraid the gas tank would break open and explode from the sparks. Bruce pulled over and we jumped out and ran to check the damage. We don’t know why the straps came undone, but the only thing holding it on was this metal bar thing that was actually a theft deterrent. Bruce had stuck it on at the last minute since we might be leaving the motorcycle on the platform to go exploring with our friends. It could have been SO SO much worse! We were so “lucky” that no cars were around. We were reminded again how God takes care of us even through trials. This was a deja vu on steroids. (from the time Little Joe’s straps broke when Harvey went 4-wheeling in Arizona) We were able to take off the anti-theft device and pull the bike upright. It was in surprisingly good condition. We think I must have heard it very soon after if fell so it didn’t drag that long. Bruce was able to turn it on and could almost drive it except the shifter handle was broken. We got it back on and reattached the straps. Only one was broken. We were still pretty nervous so Bruce stopped at a truck stop in Perry, OK and bought more straps to add on.

The light still works even though the front of it was smashed to smithereens. That thing by the front wheel is what kept the bike attached to the platform.

20 minutes later it was back on and ready to go.

Secure now with additional orange straps.

Then at McDonald’s, they gave me a McGriddle instead of my biscuit sandwich. Is it going to be one of those kind of days?

We passed through Wichita Falls where Bruce had ridden in a 100 mile race called, “Hotter ‘N Hell” last summer. Seeing Windhorst and Jacksboro also on our path, we realized that this was probably part of the route we took back in 2020 because we went through all three of those towns. We stopped at one place that was a gas station according to GasBuddy, but not in reality – so we didn’t end up getting gas in Wichita Falls. This was a mistake. The next few towns we went through didn’t even have gas stations. Must we go through this every trip? We finally found a little place in Scotland that had 2 pumps. I was convinced it was closed, but Bruce pulled up anyway and we were in luck.

Bruce at the place that wasn’t a gas station, getting directions to an actual gas station that he decided not to go to.

Thank you Lord, for this gas station in disguise.

I had been looking forward to getting a burger at the City Drugstore in Jacksboro. When we passed through before in 2020, they had just closed their grill so we could only get milkshakes. But sadly this time when we called ahead, the guy told us that the grill was closed indefinitely and the girls that made the milkshakes were on lunch for another hour. What a disappointment! We ended up stopping at a place called Herd’s Burgers where Bruce had the best hamburger he’s ever eaten and I had another disappointment. I mean seriously, who sells hamburgers without FRIES?!? And a bottle of coke without ice? I need to remember to ask FIRST if it’s a fountain drink or not. Because if it’s “or not” I’d just as soon pass.

Bruce got a call and ended up having a working lunch.

We went through lots of cute small towns today. Did I mention that we drove I35 to I44 to 281 just for that reason? Mineral Wells was super cute. I didn’t get many pictures of the little shops because the driver didn’t want to stop. He begrudgingly agreed to stop at the big rocking chair (where we had stopped and taken pictures on a previous trip when the kids were little) to take pictures only. They wouldn’t let you actually sit in the chair any more for liability reasons. It was surrounded by cute shops, all calling out to me, but since we now were in a hurry, I took pictures only. After lunch our journey had turned into a race to get to the Antique Motorcycle Museum (10 miles from our campsite) before they closed at 5 PM. Bruce had seen something about this museum when we were looking for fun things to do near Lake Buchanan. After our motorcycle incident, he called them to see if they sold parts for antique motorcycles and sure enough they did. And they possibly had just the part we needed to fix the shifter thing.

My view most of the day. Bruce drove all but the last 50 miles.

The court house in Hamilton, another cute little Texas town.

Our first glimpse of Blue Bonnets along the road. So much prettier in real life.

We drove by the church where we stayed in Windhorst that had the Grotto.

We arrived at our campsite around 5:30 after a quick stop at the Antique Motorcycle Museum (who stayed open for us) to get the thing for the motorcycle shifter. The owner was super nice. She told Bruce to take it and see if it worked and then either bring it back or pay when he comes back. He must look honest. We actually are looking forward to going back to the museum. And by “we” I mean Bruce. Anyway we got all set up and hung out with our friends a bit, making plans for tomorrow. Sadly the awning was broken and we could not set it up. I’m still figuring out a way to hang my twinkle lights. Since Rod & Kimberly had gotten there earlier, they were kind enough to grill steaks for us all. Yum! Looking forward to tomorrow!