hppants
Well-known member
I had a great ride yesterday with an old friend. Byron and I went to school together, but weren’t close back then. Over the years, we would see each other from time to time here and there. Around 15 years ago, we worked out at the same gym for a while and kept in regular touch during that time. At one point way back when, we were both into trail riding with dirt bikes and would sometimes cross paths. Then a few years ago, I ran into him again at an ice cream shop.
(Pants) “I got back into street bikes lately.
(Byron) “So did I, whatcha riding now?”
(Pants) “I went through a couple of old Hondas and just recently bought a nice used Yamaha.”
(Byron) “So did I – which Yamaha did you buy?”
(Pants) “I bought an FJR1300 – have you ever seen one of those?”
(Byron) “Are you shitting me? That’s what I ride! Which year is yours?”
(Pants) “Mine’s a 2005 – she’s a pretty blue.”
(Byron) “I know it well – mine is an ’05 as well.”
Small world, indeed.
Over the past few years, we’ve ridden together once or twice but typically, we seem to have trouble getting on the same page. Can’t really put a finger on it - just stupid timing and scheduling I suppose.
As luck would have it – yesterday the stars aligned and we got a chance to spend the day with the bikes. The weather was gorgeous – upper 40s in the early morning, warming up to around 73 by mid-afternoon under blue bird skies. All told it was about 225 miles and we stopped often to look around and shoot the bull.
I led Byron on some rural roads and sights that he had previously not seen. We basically rode a large loop around the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. It was a very relaxing mental health day. Hope you enjoy the pics.
The Route
https://goo.gl/maps/m6Cq4
I got up early and took my time getting the bike and myself ready to go. I drank an extra cup of coffee with the newspaper and the dog. With a 9:00 am meeting, I had plenty of time to pack. This time of year, I tend to bring all of the clothes and layer up or down during the day. My top box was packed fairly tight for a day trip.
I rode 15 miles very leisurely to Byron’s house, where I find him finishing up on his own packing. Byron’s 2005 has 22K on the clock, less than half of my bikes’ 57K. But both bikes are in great shape.
Byron leads us from his driveway directly onto Hwy 83 where we are off on our adventure. We head generally south and east toward the coast. It’s going to be a great day – I can feel it.
This crawfish farmer has set his traps and will soon be harvesting the critters for holiday feasts all around this great land.
There is still a little bit of green left in the coastal marsh.
It is flat as a board down here on the coast. That “hump” ahead to our right is Weeks Island, a huge salt dome that is mined today by the Morton Salt Company.
Warehouse Bayou looks very peaceful this morning. In the Spring I set some jug lines from my boat and catch some beautiful (and delicious) Blue Channel Catfish.
We roll past Weeks Island continuing on our ride at a very easy pace. The weather is fantastic and I have the perfect amount of clothes on. I’ve got my windscreen set low and the sweet morning breeze is nice.
That sweet breeze is deliberate. This is sugar cane cutting season and the harvesters are hard at it today.
Otherwise, we’ve got the road all to ourselves except for the occasional road kill.
Here is what the sugar cane harvest operation looks like. The harvester separates the cane stalk (where the sugar is) from the leaves. The leaves are discarded in the field where they will be burned. The stalks are delivered onto the wagons.
The product is transferred from the wagon to these trucks where it is brought to the mill. Sugar cane trucks are notoriously overloaded and the drivers are known to push their fatigue limits, so riders know to give them plenty of room. Furthermore as shown, they tend to sprinkle debris on the roads so the riding this time of year has to be a little less aggressive.
We stopped near Baldwin, Louisiana. Byron was a little chilly so I loaned him a layer. The twins are looking sharp in the sun.
We ride through the town of Franklin – a typical agricultural community in south Louisiana.
Many of the antebellum homes here have been renovated and are very nice.
Main Street is lined with huge live oak trees.
Byron is enjoying his ride and quite frankly, I do not blame him one bit.
Franklin is a nice place to ride though.
Peace to you, brother.
(Pants) “I got back into street bikes lately.
(Byron) “So did I, whatcha riding now?”
(Pants) “I went through a couple of old Hondas and just recently bought a nice used Yamaha.”
(Byron) “So did I – which Yamaha did you buy?”
(Pants) “I bought an FJR1300 – have you ever seen one of those?”
(Byron) “Are you shitting me? That’s what I ride! Which year is yours?”
(Pants) “Mine’s a 2005 – she’s a pretty blue.”
(Byron) “I know it well – mine is an ’05 as well.”
Small world, indeed.
Over the past few years, we’ve ridden together once or twice but typically, we seem to have trouble getting on the same page. Can’t really put a finger on it - just stupid timing and scheduling I suppose.
As luck would have it – yesterday the stars aligned and we got a chance to spend the day with the bikes. The weather was gorgeous – upper 40s in the early morning, warming up to around 73 by mid-afternoon under blue bird skies. All told it was about 225 miles and we stopped often to look around and shoot the bull.
I led Byron on some rural roads and sights that he had previously not seen. We basically rode a large loop around the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. It was a very relaxing mental health day. Hope you enjoy the pics.
The Route
https://goo.gl/maps/m6Cq4
I got up early and took my time getting the bike and myself ready to go. I drank an extra cup of coffee with the newspaper and the dog. With a 9:00 am meeting, I had plenty of time to pack. This time of year, I tend to bring all of the clothes and layer up or down during the day. My top box was packed fairly tight for a day trip.
I rode 15 miles very leisurely to Byron’s house, where I find him finishing up on his own packing. Byron’s 2005 has 22K on the clock, less than half of my bikes’ 57K. But both bikes are in great shape.
Byron leads us from his driveway directly onto Hwy 83 where we are off on our adventure. We head generally south and east toward the coast. It’s going to be a great day – I can feel it.
This crawfish farmer has set his traps and will soon be harvesting the critters for holiday feasts all around this great land.
There is still a little bit of green left in the coastal marsh.
It is flat as a board down here on the coast. That “hump” ahead to our right is Weeks Island, a huge salt dome that is mined today by the Morton Salt Company.
Warehouse Bayou looks very peaceful this morning. In the Spring I set some jug lines from my boat and catch some beautiful (and delicious) Blue Channel Catfish.
We roll past Weeks Island continuing on our ride at a very easy pace. The weather is fantastic and I have the perfect amount of clothes on. I’ve got my windscreen set low and the sweet morning breeze is nice.
That sweet breeze is deliberate. This is sugar cane cutting season and the harvesters are hard at it today.
Otherwise, we’ve got the road all to ourselves except for the occasional road kill.
Here is what the sugar cane harvest operation looks like. The harvester separates the cane stalk (where the sugar is) from the leaves. The leaves are discarded in the field where they will be burned. The stalks are delivered onto the wagons.
The product is transferred from the wagon to these trucks where it is brought to the mill. Sugar cane trucks are notoriously overloaded and the drivers are known to push their fatigue limits, so riders know to give them plenty of room. Furthermore as shown, they tend to sprinkle debris on the roads so the riding this time of year has to be a little less aggressive.
We stopped near Baldwin, Louisiana. Byron was a little chilly so I loaned him a layer. The twins are looking sharp in the sun.
We ride through the town of Franklin – a typical agricultural community in south Louisiana.
Many of the antebellum homes here have been renovated and are very nice.
Main Street is lined with huge live oak trees.
Byron is enjoying his ride and quite frankly, I do not blame him one bit.
Franklin is a nice place to ride though.
Peace to you, brother.
