Blitz to Branson 9

It was still dark with an air temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

• What the heck am I doing?
• Who am I going to meet?
• What am I going to do when we get there?
• Do I really want to spend the next few hours riding with people I don’t know?

Despite these questions of doubt, I decided to open the garage door anyway at 5:45AM on Thursday, April 8, 2004 and head out for the Blitz to Branson. First stop, Cracker Barrel in Joliet, IL to meet people I had been corresponding with on the BMWMOA forum, Tracy and Rebecca. I wonder what they must have been thinking. The maps and experience said it should take about 1:45 to get there. I didn’t want to be late, so I left 30 minutes early.

Well that didn’t work out, a traffic jam on Interstate 80/94 ate up 60 minutes. Great, so first time I actually talk to them I will be calling someone I have never talked to before to tell them I will be late. Yup, this weekend seems to be off to a perfect stop. So I pull off the road at the Hazel Crest Toll Plaza take off the gear and make a call. First call, no answer on Rebecca’s phone. Okay, call Tracy. Got her and told her where I was. No pressure it seemed like.

So I kept riding and made it to Cracker Barrel at 8:30. 30 minutes late. I met Tracy in the parking lot as she was getting stuff out of her tank bag just as I was pulling in. Did a quick hello and stuff. Then inside… where I met them both formally

Always time for Art Courtesy of BoxerGrrlie (Rebecca)		Brad, Rebecca, Tracy (left to right)

So after some talking and food, it was time to get on the road. A quick stop for gas and we were off at 9:30. I am in the lead as I have the GPS and know the route. Hmm, how fast to go? How aggressive? Passing distances? All sorts of stuff. Figure best to just ride safe and see how we do. I am going to ride the way I feel comfortable and check to make sure that they are behind me.

Cool they are in stagger formation behind me. Ahhh no big panic. Realize I should have asked more questions before we started. Well next rest stop, I know that Rebecca said before 200 miles we need to stop. Heading south on Interstate 55, only 500 miles to go. Miles and time are zooming by. A pretty good day to ride, but really windy. Rest stop ahead. I really need to go. I wonder if we should keep plugging or just stop. I knew I should have asked more questions. Ah push on.

Tracy is coming up beside and taking the lead as we pull off at the next exit for a pit stop. We talk about the stops, speeds, and riding style and it seems like we are all in alignment. When we need to stop we stop. Goal is to get through St. Louis before the lunch stop.

St. Louis is not as bad as I expected, but as the route was looking good a detour sign. So take the best guess and hope the GPS can figure it out.

Hmm now time to eat. Ah a Subway. Good eats on the way is the key. I want McDonalds but I know fast food is not the way to go, need to eat healthy. So off to Subway we go. Not a bad choice at all.

So far all seems good, the ride is good the company is good, the food is good. Rebecca is taking some cool shots of the bikes in the parking lot. The weather seems to have cleared up, might as well try out the RAM Mount for the camera.

Pretty much just lots of riding, but as soon as we get off of Interstate 44 and onto US65, the riding just keeps getting better and better. There are hills and it is getting warmer. Ah here comes the promised land. About thirty minutes late, but still early enough for Thai Bunny.

Thai Bunny was a comedy of errors. I thought we were leaving at 7:30 and then Tracy came to get me at 7:20 saying they were leaving. Quick put on the gear (All the Gear ALL the Time) and head out. All are gone. Ask at the desk and they give me directions. Hey even the little connector roads have more curves and hills than the entire state of Indiana.

Ben "The Veg", Tracy, Rebecca and I get a table together and enjoy a dinner of various items. Tracy and I do not get what we ordered and Ben vegged out as his food took about an hour. Ah, no biggie we both liked our little surprises and we still had great conversations.

There were about twenty of us from all over taking over the restaurant.

After that we decide to head back to the hotel; it has been a long day for most of us. The best way to cap it off, why Brad’s Infamous Appletini’s of course. So out came the tools of the trade and the mixing began. We all had a few and put quite a dent in the supply.

So then we called it a night and each went their own way to meet again at 8:00 AM for breakfast before we go riding.

Day 2