Summe hols, the next bit

Well sir, the second leg of the summer vacation is done with now, just getting back yesterday in the PM to HOT, HOT, HOT temps of around 105F.

Without all the boring details, we headed out to Lubbock out in west Texas by way of San Angelo and Abilene.

The first night we spent in San Angelo which to knowledge isn't reknown for anything important though at this particular time was hosting a boat drag race competition of some sort. Even though we got in lateish and didn't see much of the place, we weren't to impressed with the place. Sorry people of San Angelo, we just weren't.

However this place, a winery in the local area was really nice and these were nearby:

(Christoval Winery, Christoval, TX)

(1914 Case tractor parked in someones front yard)

(Actual road sign)

Next day saw us stopping the night in Abilene which fans of Westerns will know for cattle drives, lawmen and outlaws and other such western stuff.

Next morning we were on the road headed towards Lubbock. The drive itself took about four hours and the views can be described as flat and level with some hills thrown in, giant windmills used for alternate power dotted the landscape for miles, pumps for oil wells, small towns that had seen better days and the occasional head of cattle.

Lubbock itself was a surprise. There were wide streets, it was spread out, traffic wasn't heavy and maniacal and it was CLEAN. No trash littering the streets, no graffiti or any eyesores whatsoever.

The main reasons for this trip were to indulge in some visits to wineries and for Teri to revisit Lubbock after 30 years to see what it was like.

She had gone to Texas Tech University for a couple of years and graduated to become a teacher. From what Teri said, she hardly recognized the place other than the college itself and a few other places.

We did the tourist thing by going to three of the five wineries that we wanted to go to and then feeling a little "wined" out, went to see a couple of places such as "Prarie Dog Town" and the Buddy Holly statue.

Here's a few inhabitants of Prarie Dog Town:

Prarie Dog Town was created back in the 1930s in one of the local parks as a habitat for prarie dogs, to protect them. Seemed a little strange hearing of this, but Bodger found it pretty cool seeing the little rodents scurrying around.

Buddy Holly needs no introduction does he? He was from Lubbock and is pretty much remembered for hits such as "Peggy Sue" and "That'll be the Day" as well as dying in a plane crash with Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper.

After a couple of days there in Lubbock, it was time to head back to Bodger Country. We took two and a bit days to drive up to Lubbock via San Angelo and Abilene as mentioned as well as some other stops to look at.

Coming back took three days as we made a couple stops along the way, the last one being Fredricksburg.

Here Bodger finally got a chance to drop by the local motorcycle shop. Actually it's a sc**ter shop but they do work on motorcycles and have a few classic rides in there.

On this particular day there were the following; a Honda CA72, a Triumph 350 21, a beautiful Meridan Daytona and I believe a Bonneville. There was also a beautiful example of a B44VS that was going for $3500. In the workshop was a Benelli 350 being restored or at least worked on.

Bodger got to talk to Billy, the owner of the shop and he was very helpful and friendly, offering help as required with the rebuild of "Vicky".

With the exception these bikes, there weren't many seen on the trip and the ones that were out there were mainly of Milwaukee origin or crotch rockets.

Bodger did spy a San Angelo motor cop getting fuel who was riding a SAPD Honda that could've been a Pan America but as Bodger knows next to nothing on these newer contraptions, it's just a guess.

Leaving Fredricksburg on the last leg of the trip home, we hit a few more wineries with some gorgeous views, bought some fresh peaches and then were home.

We both had a good time together being with each other and seeing the sights. But at the end we were both knackered and glad to be home. Even Bandit the beastie was glad to be home from Teri's house.

Wot we did on our summer Holidays............Part Uno

We hit the road and away we went, heading south towards Corpus Christi finally ending up in Ingleside to eat lunch before checking into our motel in Aransas Pass.




After checking in and changing into swim kit, we headed off again this time to Port Aransas or Port A. In order to get to there, we had to take a ferry across a stretch of water as Port A is actually a small island. If you saw the movie "Jaws", you might remember the car ferries in that, well these were the same but smaller.

Anyway, Port A is definitely a tourist trap where the locals make thir living from the hordes of tourist that descend on the area during the summer months. Things are spread out but accessible and there's no pressure to buy or anything so it's fairly relaxed which was good.



So after stopping off at the candy store to buy some, we headed off to Mustang Island so we could hit the beach.

We got to the area which is a State park and after parking, we lugged some folding chairs and some towels out to the beach to sit, relax and take in some sun.



Now being right at the beach in a hot place like south Texas you would think that it would be even more humid than where we live but due to breezes off the Gulf of Mexico, it kept temperatures and humidity down. The only downside to all of this was there were big areas of seaweed in the surf and there were some signs of jellyfish washed up on the beach.

But it was really nice there and considering it was around 5:30pm, that was pretty good.

After heading back and getting cleaned up some, we headed out for dinner back in Corpus.

The next morning we checked out of the motel after eating and drove around a bit doing more of the touristy stuff. Went to Padre Island, got a couple of pics of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington which is now anchored in Corpus Christi Bay, went and bought some trinkets, and a pound of fresh, large shrimp for $10.50 before taking off in the afternoon for Refugio to visit a winery there.







We took the scenic route through Rockport where Bodger managed to get a pic of a restuarant that has to be seen to believed. Actually saww it in Corpus but as we were driving on the freeway and it was a bit off from there, this was one that could not be miss. I think you'll agree that is a great sign and only a pic can prove it exists.



Just in case you couldn't clearly ead the sign, it's "Hu Dat Restuarant" such as someeone knocks at the door and you ask "Who dat?" Sorry, just my warped SOH showing......

Part Two coming next...........

Nearly forgot this...

Saw this at the Texas Folklife Festival (TFF) about a week back. The TFF is held here every June to celebrate the contributions of all the diverse ethnic cultures that helped make the State what it is. The cultures being Scottish, Czech, Irish, English, German, Polish, Mexican, Jewish, and Black along with a load others. Inside the Institute of Texas Cultures are permanent displays that help show who the groups were and some of their history and outside are vendors selling their wares, mainly food along with bands and dancers and such. In the lower level of the Institute were the modern conveniences of which the womens had a line, so while waiting for Teri, Bodger had a meander about checking things out when he came across this: The only details I remember was that some old boy rode this to SA for a TFF back sometime in the 70s and it seems that he played steel drums or the Congas and brought the empty oil drums behind the bike with him to play. Apparently he decided to stay nd the bike was put on permanent display. See if you cah ID this........Bodgers guess is a Honda or possibly Suzuki step through.

It's time again....

.........as the sign says......Bodger and Teri will be gone for a week thereabouts while we go off to unwind and have some fun in the sun. First off, Bandit the roving alarm is left in the caapable(?) care of Teri's daughter The Princess. Not sure who should be caring for who, but there you go. Then we head soutwards towards the coast for two days in sunny, we hope, Corpus Christi where we plan to doss on the beach for a bit, eat some local seafood and just relax in general. Then it's back for a day before we head ouff to west Texaa to the Lubbock area. Teri went to college out there and there's a few wineries that we want to visit as well plus some in the areas that we're travelling through. Hopefully Bodger may see some classic nails being ridden around or at least an old shop and sign like seen in Bryan/College station a few months. Highly doubtful, but then again, didn't expect to see that one either. So be good while we're away. Oh and GBC, feel free to use this one as needed

TT Races Radio Live

It's that time of year again race fans and the annual Isle of Man TT Races is in progress at the moment. You hear it live by going to the link below and then clicking on the link on the site. http://www.manxradiott365.com/ It can also be downloaded as an app for iPhones so it can be heard using one of those. The picture of the island you see here was shmelessly lifted from Mr. Combo's blog. You'll see the course outlined in white and this shows a better perspective IMO of the size of the course versus maps of the Isle with the "track" and vartious places shown. Anyway, listen to the racing when you can, you'll be glad you did. Slaving away in the Postal salt mines hass been more enjoyable while it's Africa hot here.

Recommended reading

In earlier scribblings, Bodger has alluded to reading articles in the monthly fish wraps known as classic bike magazines, as well as the occasional book or three.....and it's true, these have been read and not just the pictures looked at. So I'm gonna make a suggestion and even make a mild endorsement for the following, the improving classic motorcycles set by Graham Blighe. There's three of them and these are worthwhile additions to any shed library. Graham doesn't go into great technical details about stuff, but what he does is to let you know in basic and understandable terms why something does what it does, or in the case of how to refurbish a speedometer, how to do it right as well as how to calibrate it to make sure you've got it right. Here's a linky to his website, though I know by now that you'll have to type it all in up top in order to get anywhere: www.improvingclassicmotorcycles.com Have a look see and order his books. This BTW was an unpaid for and unsolicited plug for these fine literary tomes* *Graham, leave a small paper bag with small notes under the bush by the door and we're good to go.