This specific experience started off at the home of my step-son who lived in a suburb of Ft. Worth, Texas. It just so happened that I was wrapping up a 10 day meeting in Houston, so I headed the rental car north and added some miles to the car's odometer. Turns out I should have checked on the drop-off policy since the "unlimited mileage" suddenly became a $0.20/mile charge when I dropped the car off at the DFW airport. They always have ways to get you, don't they?

So, make sure that I can strap my T-bag on the back of the VTX (I thought ahead and used it as my luggage for the trip), and then hit the road. Well, after a good nights rest, LOL.

New experience? You bet! 6 months previously I'd never ridden anything but my two Goldwings (except for the dirt bikes at the original rider training in '82). Then, I'd added the Silverwing and ridden that a fair bit. But this was different. If you have a good imagination, imagine this Wing rider sitting on a lowered VTX, with no windshield, and riding in Dallas/Ft. Worth freeway traffic. From the other side of the DFW airport, all the way through downtown Dallas and out I-30 on the east side. Did I mention freeway traffic? There was freeway traffic! Heavy freeway traffic. With construction. And cars and pickup trucks that paid little or no attention to the old guy on the orange VTX. Oh, and did I mention no windshield? Yeah. No windshield. New experience!

After a couple of almost-oopses .... in one instance my lane disappeared due to construction and I had to try and squeeze left ... and I missed a doggone shift and looked like an idiot ... I finally got out of traffic and headed east for a short visit to my other step-son in Texas. So, off heading in a south-easterly direction getting used to the VTX. It cruised comfortably at highway speeds but the lack of a windshield sure made it hard to stay cool. I was unable to open the vents on my jacket as it would immediately balloon up and try to lift my head off. It was at least 100 in the shade, and there was no shade, and I was wearing my usual black cordura jacket. In case you didn't know - black absorbs heat. I stopped twice in the space of 25 miles to try and get the t-bag adjusted on the back seat - the t-bag sits fine on that huge barcalounger of a seat on the wing, but apparently the VTX isn't really suited for passengers, considering that teeny patch back there. I finally got it set to my satisfaction where I could block most of the wind on it and it didn't try so hard to look around. Heh.

New experience? Those who've ridden any distances with me know that I'm kind of a "how far can I stretch this tank" guy. The Wing has a 6.6 gallon tank. The VTX doesn't. Not even close. I think it either hold a shot glass full or maybe double that. The fuel light came on at 120 miles. Almost on the dot. So the fuel light is on, and I'm looking for a gas station. I've been passing them every 13 or 14 feet up to this point and all of a sudden I appear to be in the Bermuda Gas Triangle ... the odometer is climbing, but the gas stations aren't appearing out of the suns glare. None. Nada. No gas. 130 miles. No gas. 140 miles. No gas. 145 miles. Sign says crossroad coming up in 2 miles and there might be gas. 157 miles. Yay! There is a gas station. And I have enough left in the fumes in the tank to make it to the pump. Well, there may have been a splash in there with the fumes, but it wouldn't have been much of a splash. I believe the gas tank is about 4.5 gallons and I'm pretty sure I put in 4.5 gallons. Whew.

It was hot. Did I mention that? And I was wearing black. And, when it's 200 in the shade, and you're tooling down the highway at 75mph on a VTX with no windshield, you've got a 75 mph HOT wind hitting you. I'm glad it was fall and not summer, it might have been a pretty warm ride.

So, get to Nacogdoches and visit overnight, and for awhile the next morning, and then jump on the bike about 1PM and start heading north and east. Heading north out of Nacogdoches on 259 gets you headed towards Oklahoma, which is what I wanted. Quite a few years ago I had the experience of towing an overloaded 16 foot flatbed trailer through the mountains in southeast Oklahoma and I had always wanted to ride the Wing on that road. The VTX was not the Wing, but I was headed that direction, so what the heck. Once I got out of the populated areas north of Longview, the road got to be emptier and it was another beautiful day, so I just sat back and piled on the miles. Well, I did try a couple of times to open up the VTX, but at 85-90 mph, the wind was almost unbearable. I felt like any second I'd be like one of the cartoons where the rider is holding onto the bars with his body flopping straight back in the wind ...

I reached the mountains in the early evening and enjoyed the twisty roads. Not as much as on the Wing, of course, because I'd get this grinding sorta noise whenever the VTX thought I was leaning a bit too much. It probably would've been a little better if I was a little earlier, since the sun was at the angle where it'd be glaring in my face and almost washing out the road, but eventually - just as I got off that nice twisty road - it slipped below the horizon. I was just about in Poteau as it started to get dark, but that was no problem since I knew Poteau pretty well, with all the trips there to visit Carolyn's mother in the past. Well, I hadn't been in Poteau for some years since we'd moved Carolyn's mother up to Midland, and they'd decided to make some highway changes. I found that out after stopped for dinner and to give Carolyn a call to let her know I was still up in the saddle and not down in some ditch. Us wingers are known for our restaurant visits, but for the life of me, I can't remember where the heck I stopped. That late in the evening, likely some burger bar. But, anyway, back on the road. I'm headed east, and after I pass Wal-mart, I'll take a right turn to take the shortcut to Ft. Smith. Hmm. I'd LIKE to take a right turn, but there's no road. What the heck did I do wrong? U-turn. Nope. No shortcut. In the years we hadn't been back to Poteau, they'd build a by-pass around Poteau - around the back - and it seems like they didn't thing people on the east side of Poteau might like to stay east of Poteau. Finally, I took the by-pass in the wrong direction, until I could find a cross-over and turn around. It probably would have been no big deal in the daylight, but it was pitch-black with no street lights of any kind. Oh well, eastward to Ft. Smith and a bed and soft pillow, I hoped.

OK, Ft Smith, and watching for motel signs on the freeway, and watching, and watching, and I'm almost on the other side of Ft. Smith. Finally, the exit sign showing the roof and bed icon, so I took that exit. You know how us guys never ask for directions? Yeah, I'm one of them. Turn right towards all the lights. A couple of high end expensive hotels, then a strip mall sort of area then ... hmm ... I'm kind of out if the country again. OK ... u-turns are something I know how to do (I'm a guy!). U-turn. Head back to the freeway. Nope, I didn't miss anything. Oh well, back on the freeway and we'll try the next exit. On ramp, merge onto freeway, what's that on the OTHER side of the highway? It's that doggone Motel 6 I was looking for. Dang. 5 miles to the next exit, Left under the freeway. Left onto the on ramp. 5 miles back. Hey, I'm getting some saddle time! Checked in. Carried the t-bag into the room. Walked across the lot and across the street to a Golden Corral ... guess that's why I couldn't remember a restaurant in Poteau - I didn't stop at one. LOL.. Late supper. Back to the motel. LONG shower, called Carolyn and crashed ... well, ok, slept like a log. Crash is not a good term for a guy on a motorcycle!

Across the street from the Golden Corral was a Denny's so I fueled myself before I headed back on the road. North towards Walmartville (I think the locals call it Bentonville), and then east to ride some back roads towards Eureka Springs. But before getting out on the highway, a quick stop at a Wallyworld in Wallyworldcity. I can sit on the Wing's saddle for 18 hours without getting too stiff and sore, but this is a VTX. I'm stiff and sore. They must have something with some padding or gel or .... ok, so I ended up in sporting goods and there's a wedge seat for a blind, and it's gel filled and might do the trick. So, NOW we can get back on the road. Gas up. Hit the road. Back roads into Eureka Springs, and (of course) miss the turn I was looking for. No problem, I'm the u-turn king! No, really! U-turn. Some day I'm going to actually trust the GPS and it's going to give me enough warning. Sure. Turn again, heading into downtown Eureka Springs. On a Saturday morning. You wanna talk crowds. There were crowds. Lots and lots and lots of people. So getting out the other side took a little longer than I'd anticipated, but soon I was on my way again. Back roads. Headed generally east and north. Nice scenery. Nice roads. But I seem to be going west as often as I'm heading east. Where the heck am I anyway? Eventually I reached a US highway heading east and discovered I was just south of Springfield. I wasn't ready to hit the superslab just yet, so I kept heading east. It was still windy. It was still very hot. And I was in weekend "let's go to town and do some shopping, pappy" traffic, so, at the next opportunity, I said "the heck with this" and hit the superslab (I-44). Well, after I'd stopped at a Sonic and had a cool ice cream type of drink.

I-44 heading east. Wind's blowing about 200 mph in my face. And it's a hot wind. And that helmet that's comfortable on the Wing for 18 hours is getting awfully heavy, My necks getting stiff. This is fun, right? First thing that'll get ordered when I get home is a windshield. Guaranteed! Oh well, suck it up boy! Tough it out! Rolla. Cuba. There's 6 Flags. St. Louis. The bridge over the Mississippi. Oh joy, good ole Illinois with it's incredibly slow speed limits. I-70. Highland. I'm getting tired. Effingham. Hmm. Who named that and were they thinking what I'm thinking. Martinsville. Marshall. Where the heck should I stop tonight? Well, at least I have to make Indiana! OK, Terre Haute it is. Oh joy, and we get another of those come-ons (low rate on the sign) with "sorry, the only rooms I have left are ...". I'm going to have to start a log of those places!

Back on the road Sunday morning. I'm getting used to the wind. I'm getting used to the gel pack for my butt. I'm even getting used to the more frequent gas stops. And it's sort of funny. The Wing and it's pearl orange paint job gets lots of remarks from women. They like the color, apparently. Old and young alike. The VTX and it's almost the same paint get lots of remarks from the guys. They like the fact that the color sets it off but most are more interested in the cool factor. LOL.

Other than the wide-open thing ... the interstate is the interstate. Miles and miles of miles, and the odometer is just clicking away. Indianapolis. Ft. Wayne. Michigan. Marshall. Lansing. Flint. I-75. Almost home. Saginaw. Bay City. Beaver Road. Time to get off the slab and onto some quiet roads. Heck, I can still hold my head up. I can still sit without squirming. And home. Whew. Now how the heck am I going to squeeze THREE bikes into this corner? Ah, well, safely home. Happy to be home. That was an experience. One I'll likely never repeat 'cause I won't be doing any long trips without a windshield! But, hey, 1800+ miles on a cruiser. Not bad for the first ride on a cruiser.

I never really appreciated how comfortable that stock saddle on the Wing is. Or how nice it is to have a stereo. And a clock. And I can mount the GPS so it talks to me. And it has cup holders. And, most important of all, it has a cruise control. I never thought I could miss a single feature so much. Cruise control rules! \