MotoGP trip Days 4-5 from Toronto, ON, CAN, to Austin, TX, USA April 2013

[PaulG]

Finally I was able to figure a way to have the videos conform better to Youtube's convoluted copyright policy.  I still have some of the later ones to check.


Day 4 Wednesday, April 17 2013
Russellville, AR to Texarkana AR/TX, 337 km (210 mi)
AR 7 South – AR 298 West – AR 27 West – US 59/71 South

Finally started getting into the meat of the trip.  Got on AR7 south from Russellville to head into the Ozark National Forest.  Hills, twisties, elevation changes, mid 80's temperatures, and bugs.  After a few hours of memorable cruising, we stopped in Murfreesboro AR, where my brother noticed the cord starting to show through his front tire.  Apparently he heard or read these Yamaha/Deeres tend to chew up their front tires in less than 10,000 km (6,000 mi).  Despite both of us buying new rear tires before the trip, he thought the front would last "at least" until Austin where he would buy another one and get it installed, (where he would find the time once we got there... ). So for the next few hours we cruised into Texarkana in what was an otherwise uneventful and thoroughly enjoyable day... finally.  Arkansas proved to be a hidden gem in the heart of the U.S.A.  If you ever get the chance to drive through it, or plan a trip specifically for it, you won't be disappointed.   







DAY 4 Video Part 1

http://youtu.be/MQ_sgZLpNOg


I normally don't have a data package with my phone, so I bought a one month package from Bell Canada for the trip in case of emergencies.  So the day I need it, when we are trying to find a Yamaha dealer (or any dealer) in the middle of rural Arkansas, it doesn't work.     After several phone calls over the next few days I found out the moron who sold it to me, didn't unblock my data function.  Bell has been continuously rated as the most hated corporation in Canada, for reasons they just can't seem to fathom or care about.  I wonder how the rest of the world gets treated by their telecoms ...?   

Now that pesky front tire for the Sratoliner.  We finally made it into Texarkana in the late afternoon and found a Yamaha dealer H&W Powersports. http://www.hwpowersports.net/Default.asp   They had the tire in stock and were able to change it immediately just before closing, for an extremely reasonable price considering (about $200 or so).  The bikes had covered 2,328 km (about 1455 mi.) and my FJ had drank 1 L of oil. I met with the service manager David Brooks, and the first thing I said was "Howdy", ("Did I actually say that?", I said to myself!  ) I decided to have the oil and filter changed, since I had no break in period for the new clutch. That was scheduled for Thursday morning before our run down to Austin.




VIDEO Day 4 Part 2

http://youtu.be/ki2aIOSJShA



Day 5 April 18, 2013
Texarkana, TX/AR to Austin, TX, 602 km (374 mi)
I 30 West – I 635/I 20 South – I 35 South

Arrived at H&W for my oil change, and then the rain came.  A large cold front stretching from Texas to Oklahoma to Kansas was moving from west to east directly along I30.  Tornadoes in Oklahoma and torrential rain here.  We waited until 10 a.m. and decided to go, realizing there was no waiting or going around.  We thanked the guys at H&W for their first rate service on a moments notice, and headed out.

Of course we have never ridden through a Texas cold front in April.  The rain had let up somewhat, fooling us into believing we wouldn't need the rainsuits (idiots!  ).  After about 30 minutes the temperature dropped by about 30 degF, with a hard driving rain and a very strong northerly crosswind.  It felt like Toronto again, and we pulled off to put on all the cold weather gear we had stowed away.  Texans, like people in Arkansas like their speed.  The posted limit on the interstate was 75 m.p.h.  I think the truckers were doing 90, judging how they blew by us and nearly off the road at the same time.

Eventually it cleared up after about three hours, and by the time we got to Dallas it was sunny and warming up.  The run from Dallas to Austin was uneventful and boring, except for my first encounter with Fried Pies (which I did not partake). A unique culinary peculiarity particular to the south.  We passed by West, TX where the fertilizer plant blew up the day before.

We arrived in Austin just in time for the evening rush hour.  Five days on the road and it ends with sweating in bumper to bumper gridlock.  Oh the irony...






VIDEO Day 5

http://youtu.be/DmdGggZ80jI


Yes, soon there will be more narrative to read, and pictures and video for you to see.... bwahahahahaha ....