The Ninjette Journal for 2011

 

Monthly Journal Entries

January, 2011 --

Ride Report: January 1, 2011 -- I rode the Ninjette II down local favorite FM 697 to meet with the Yeshua Riders (Sherman Christian Motorcyclist Association chapter) at the Whataburger for a breakfast fellowship and then assist with a bike blessing. The Yeshua Riders were asked to provide bike blessings prior to participating in the Texoma Harley Owners Group Polar Bear Run in Sherman, Texas. We were to meet at Texoma Harley Davidson across US 75 from the Whataburger.

After blessing some motorcycles and praying with the riders we rode put to a Texoma HOG member's land near Tiogo. The member is the owner of a construction company and cleared out the equipment shop to provide enough room for all ride participate. Dickie's Barbeque catered the lunch

Breakfast at Whataburger.

Arriving at Texoma Harley Davidson.

Fellowship outside Texoma Harley Davidson.

Parked at the shop at the end of the Polar Bear Run.

Visiting and warming in the shop before lunch.

Ride Report: January 8, 2011 -- The King's Kruizers Christian Motorcyclist Association chapter was contacted by a regional representative (also the service manager of Louis Powersports) of the Cossacks Motorcycle Club and asked to partner with the Cossacks MC for a social event which included a bike blessing. Louis Powersports provided parking lot space and backed the event with several in-store specials. The Cossacks MC provided some home cooked stew and chili for lunch.

Several groups associated with the membership of the Kaufman and Hunt County Cossacks MC including a group of sportbike riders from Arlington, Texas. Some solid connections and on going relationship were developed. On a personal note I got to reconnect with two former students (Tina Porter and Tyler Matherly) and offer some practical advice to a new Ninjette II owner. The King's Kruizers officers concluded that this was one of the must effective outreaches the chapter had participated in for several years. President, Rick Gentry.  The trip back was nice and I took the extra time to ride through Commerce, Texas to check on my parents.

Motorcycles begin to arrive.

Hot coffee, warm conversation on a cold morning.

More motorcycles arrive.

A group of sport bikers rode in from Arlington.

A rider poses with his Hayabusa after it was blessed.

Visiting after a bike blessing.

Visiting and eating a bowl of chili.

Ride Report: January ‎24, ‎2011 -- In mid January Victoria and Josh gave us some very unexpected news: she was pregnant. This left us with about three weeks to put together a wedding. After week or so of investigation we had two possibilities for locations to hold the wedding. I took the Ninjette II on a trip after school to take pictures of the perspective sanctuaries so Victoria and Josh could chose a location for their wedding. The choice was Salem-Kinser United Methodist Church.

The Ninjette II at Salem-Kinser United Methodist Church.

Salem-Kinser United Methodist Church -- Greenville, Texas.

The Chapel at First Baptist Church -- Greenville, Texas.

February, 2011 -- Near record cold, and a lot of ice and snow combined with with our daughter's wedding kept the Ninjette II in the garage for over a month.

Ride Report: February 21, 2011 -- Victoria left some items at our house when she went back to college after visiting for the weekend so as the weather was finaly warm I rode the Ninjette II to Commerce.

March, 2011 -- The weather in north Texas begins to warm.

Ride Report: March 6, 2011 -- I took some time Sunday and spent a good portion of the afternoon riding my favorite local ride route.

Ride Report: March 12, 2011 -- Long Time friend Daniel Poole and I met at the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Rockwall for a CMA breakfast fundraiser (I was running a bit late due to construction on FM 36 north of Caddo Mills -- no pavement and large gravel caused me to detour through Farmersville). After breakfast we rode around the Cedar Creek Lake area for much of the day. We wrapped up the day with lunch at Ochoas Mexican Cafe in Canton, Texas. It was a very enjoyable day and we look forward to getting together in the future.

Daniel Poole with parked motorcycles at the Applebees in Rockwall, Texas.

Struggling to remove the jacket liner at the Applebees in Rockwall, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Poole)

Daniel Poole resting at a convenience store in Trinidad.

Daniel self portrait at a convenience store in Trinidad. (Photo by Daniel Poole)

Rested enough and ready to ride in Trinidad. (Photo by Daniel Poole)

Not much in Trinidad, Texas. (Photos by Daniel Poole)

Daniel Poole headed toward Payne Springs.

Ochoas Mexican Cafe in Canton, Texas for lunch. (Photo by Daniel Poole)

Ride Report: March 26, 2011 -- Aubrey Irons, a former student of Joleen and mine from our Rains ISD, and I had for sometime been trying to connect and ride. As it turns out RAC Performance and European Cycle Sports had a cooperative show called "Cars and Bikes" that Aubrey was involved with. We decided to meet there, talk motorcycles, and generally catch up.

Previously I had been invited to the Men's Breakfast at Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship in Anna, Texas. I started the morning out by attending the Men's Breakfast and enjoyed a time of fellowship and bible study before traveling down FM 455 and then diving in to the heart of the Metroplex to the Cars and Bikes event in Carrollton.

The trip to Carrollton was not bad as the typical Metroplex traffic was not at full volume that early on Saturday morning. The trip home was a bit more of a challenge on the George Bush Toll Road with bottle-blond power-wives ushering their BMW 5 series sedans into my lane without so much as a signal and Suburbans traveling at 80 MPH while coming up fast from behind. Much of my time on North Texas Toll Roads was spent at 75 to 80 MPH trying to keep ahead of the traffic. I was quite happy get out of the metropolitan area and on more calm and familiar back roads such as FM 2933 or FM 545 between McKinney and Blue Ridge while traveling back home on FM 815.

The Ninjette II outside of Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship Anna Texas

Riding down FM 455 West of Anna, Texas.

The RUF Auto Centre at RAC Performance in Carrollton, Texas.

Aubrey Irons with an MV Augusta.

Aubrey Irons' Honda CBR1000R.

MV Augusta F4

MV Augusta Senna.

1965 Superformance 427SC Cobra

2004 Ferrari 360 Modena

2006 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe

2007 Lamborghini Gallardo

Audi R8

2011 Fiat 500

Classic Detroit Iron

Expensive Porsche

Triumph Daytona 675R

BMW S 100 RR

The Ninjette at Cars and Bikes.

Ride Report: April 9, 2011 -- The King's Kruizers Christian Motorcyclists Association met at the Greenville McDonald's (A sausage bicuit and cup of coffee -- breakfast for $1.61. Not too bad.) to meet and participate in the Spokes for Hope Sulphur Springs CMA Chapter's 5th annual Fun Run, a fund raiser for the Christian Motorcyclists Association Run for The Son ministry effort.   We rode as a group to A.C.M.E. Trading Company in Sulphur Springs.

The only issue that occurred was an older gentleman in another CMA chapter. He ran the his rear tire to the "cords" and it just deflated at about 65 MPH. 800 lbs of cruiser doesn't balance well with a squirrelly rear tire. The natural sequence of event progressed and the rider and bike went down. The amazing thing was that he was angry at his bike saying he was going to sell it and quit riding. So be it. That "accident" was 100% preventable. Tires are the one thing you don't compromise with on a motorcycle. If he can't do any better than that then the roads would be safer without him on a motorcycle.

Lunch consisted of a solid made onsite stew. After relaxing and fellowshipping over lunch I rode home via Commerce, Texas to visit my parents.

Parked behind the McDonalds in Greenville.

Getting ready to leave the McDonalds in Greenville.

Arriving at the A.C.M.E. Trading Company.

Bike Blessing at the A.C.M.E. Trading Company before the run.

Stopping ro pickup a run ticket at the Como, Texas convenience store.

The final stop was S S ATV and Cycle World.

Back to the A.C.M.E. Trading Company for a stew lunch and fellowship.

Ride Report: April 16, 2011 -- Several months earlier an long time friend (Stanley Statsor) contacted me to help/ride with a group from Joleen and my (Joleen's parents' current church) Church on the Rock, Quitman. After serveral emails and a failed attemp to add curves to the route I found myself in Gober, Texas waiting for the group to come along. I rode sweep most of the time and occasionally lead. The ride was enjoyable and uneventful. We had lunch at Rohmer's Restaurant in Muenster, Texas, a well known motorcycle destination.

It was an enjoyable ride. I was able to get to touch base with some old friends from Church on the Rock, Quitman. Met some new folks, visited, prayed, and had some good bratwurst and sauerkraut. The only issue was curve withdrawal.

Gober Texas

Gober Texas Post Office.

Carpenters Bluff Store.

Discussing Carpenters Bluff Bridge.

Carpenters Bluff Bridge Historical Marker

Carpenter's Bluff Bridge.

Stanley Statser, David Jackson, Alex Reyes, *********, and ********** with Carpenters Bluff Bridge in the background.

Rohmer's Restaurant & Catering in Muenster, Texas.

Stanley Statser, David Jackson, *******, Alex Reyes, *******, Jenelle and Gordon Reynolds.

Rohmer's Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and Potato Salad.

Ride Report: April 30, 2011 -- It is interesting to note how God works actively in our individual lives. Back in February at a convention, I and Joleen attended for the school I was given a $5 Chevron gift-card. Five dollars was little then and less now as far as filling a fuel tank goes, except for the obvious exception of a motorcycle. We relegated the card for use on a motorcycle jaunt. It had been in my wallet ever sense as there are no Chevron stations around Trenton.

I finally purposed to find a Chevron and use the silly card as it looked like a full schedule would be curtailing . I went to the the Chevron website, located one in Sherman near FM 697, and headed off the run some light errands (Lowe's, Jo-Ann Fabrics, etc.) in Sherman before the forecast rains hit. As it happened a pitiful young lady, whose name I learned later to be Kelly was filling up across the inland from me. Never saw her before and will likely never see her again. She informed me she had recently been in a car wreck and needed help getting her seat buckled as she had lost enough physical dexterity that she could not move her hand across her body enough to get her should strap. I told her I would be happy to help.

It was only after I helped Kelly and prayed for her that I learned the back-story from the station attendant as I went in to use the Chevron gift card. Tony, who worked with her husband, was killed in a car wreck a couple of nights before and they (Tony and Kelly) and lost their son a month or two ago when their house burned down. Seems God kept that silly Chevron card in my wallet just so I could show someone a little kindness and say a prayer. Always seize every opportunity to show the love of Christ to others no matter how mundane the effort may at first appear.

In early April we purchased a Nikon reconditioned Cool Pix S570. Nikon's smallest digital camera (12 MP 5x optical zoom) to date. The camera takes impressive pictures and has been a a great deal of fun to use the video feature (Videos). Don't expect any Moto GP class action.

May, 2011 --

Ride Report: May 8, 2011 -- Mother's Day 2011 I rode the Ninjette II to Commerce to visit with my parents. Had a nice visit with my parents. Considering their health -- they are doing well. My Dad in particular was in good spirits and quite talkative. They both have enough health issues that doing well enough to regain the vigor they once had is unlikely. They will not be as active and involved in church or community as they once were. It is not easy watching one's parents age because when one was young our parents were ageless.

Had to find a new way home as the Ninjette II doesn't care for road construction. They are the two primary primary back road routes between Trenton and Commerce, FM 1566 and FM 2874, both had 3 to 4 mile stretches that were been reduced to the roadbed. I dropped southwest to Greenville and took FM 1569 to FM 36 north through Merit to arrive back home via FM 815.

June, 2011 -- Busy month.

Ride Report: June 5, 2011 -- After church services I rode the Ninjette II down local favorite FM 697 to the Sherman, Texas to run a couple of errands. I stopped off at the Sherman Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store for a brief respite from the unseasonably warm temperatures,

Ida Road jaunt June 6th 2011 with a rest stop at Sherman Braum's.

July, 2011 -- Another busy month.

Ride Report: July 9, 2011 -- Mike Napurano of the Guardians of Grace (McKinney CMA chapter) issued a Facebook invitation to join the Fellowship Church Riders from the Grapevine campus church to have breakfast at the Old West Cafe in Sanger. The plan was to leave from the Plano campus and meet them at the Old West Cafe. I arrived for the 7:30am KSU (kick stands up) fueled up and ready to ride as instructed. As it turned out it was just Mike and myself. It was an enjoyable ride mostly including FM 455.

While partaking of breakfast I was tracked down via my Facebook post by former student, Jari Fleming and spouse, Steven Fleming who live in Sanger. We had a nice visit and were able to catch up a bit on what each respective family had been up to lately.

Fellowship Church, Plano Campus.

The Oldwest Cafe in Sanger, Texas.

Steven and Jari Fleming and family.

Ride Report: July 16, 2011 -- The King's Kruizers Christian Motorcyclist Association President (Mutt and Peggy Way) and Vice President (your's truly) ate breakfast and participated in the 132nd Annual Leonard Picnic.

Ride Report: July 17, 2011 -- Took the Ninjette II up to the Lowes in Sherman, Texas via FM 697 to purchase some home maintenance supplies.

August, 2011 -- God turns up the heat on North Texas.

Ride Report: August 4, 2011 -- I have ridden in near record breaking cold. So why not ride at the other end of the spectrum: just because it is 111+ degrees and climbing. So it was on to Leonard, Texas to shoot the Ninjette II at some landmarks. It actually wasn't bad, in full mesh, as long as you are moving. It got a little warm when stopping to take pictures in front of the City Hall. I tried to find some of the oldest graves at the cemetery, but after discussing local history with a young lady attending her parents' grave site I discovered the oldest section was on the other side of the gravel roaded cemetery. I didn't bother getting grave shots as Ninjettes and gravel don't get along.

111 degrees in the shade in Leonard, Texas.

Ride Report: August 5, 2011 -- I found myself at the Sherman Cracker Barrel, cup of coffee, apple pancakes, Ninjette II in the parking lot after a ride down mostly trafficless FM 697. Joleen and Nathaniel were in Quitman visiting Grammy and Pee Paw (Joleen's folks) as I had responsibilities at school and needed to dog sit. The general idea was to get out on the Ninjette II and enjoy a ride before the sun turned our north Texas roads into the vehicular equivalent of "fly paper".

A hot August morning at the Cracker Barrel at Sherman, Texas.

September, 2011 -- Still very dry. a record year for heat and wildfires.

Ride Report: September 3-4, 2011 -- I managed to get out and enjoy the cooler weather with "no particular place to go". I rode down FM 697, FM 121, FM 3133, FM 2862, FM 455, Texas 78, FM 898, and others. The temperature was pleasant and the traffic light. The condition of the roads in north Texas was quite another matter. The draught has taken a tremendous toll. Cracks and depressions due to shrinkage and movement of the roadbed was the most common. The Texas Highway Department in many cases made matters worse by throwing "chip-seal" on many sections as if it were a magic elixir that would sure all roadbed deficiencies.

I finished the motorcycle ride with a stop at Luna Azul Cafe, Bonham, Texas to visit with Kristin Pearson, Joleen, and Nathaniel.

Civic Hybrid and Ninjette II parked Across the street from Luna Azul.

Nathaniel, Kristin, and Joleen seated at Luna Azul in Bonham.

Ride Report: September 9, 2011 -- I was invited to participate in the Guardians of Grace (McKinney CMA chapter) dinner run to Roland's in Bonham, Texas. Thomas Osburn kept a spirited pace on the "Fast Lane" ride group. It was an enjoyable romp down several back roads. The food and fellowship at Rolando's was a treat as is usual.

Rolando's Mexican Restaurant in Bonham, Texas

October, 2011 -- Still very dry. Slightly cooler.

Ride Report: October 1, 2011 -- The King's Kruizers Christian Motorcyclist Association chapter had several representatives at the 2011 Shiloh Gathern' Fun Run sponsored in part by Cross Trails Church of Fairlie, Texas. The "First Annual" event raised money and awareness for breast cancer. The morning started with a chuck wagon breakfast and music. The run started near the Shiloh community and went through Pecan Gap, Roxton, East Delta Cooper, and ended in Klondike. The stop at Roxton, Texas had real non-ethanol gasoline. I needed to get back to Trenton and headed on toward Fannin County after the fun run. A stew supper and more live gospel music ended the day.

Shiloh Chuck Wagon Breakfast.

Lining up to start the run.

Roxton, Texas had real non-ethanol gasoline.

John's Creek Lodge near Klondike, Texas.

Ride Report: October 7, 2011 -- A very unusual set of circumstances has cropped up this week. This week was the Fannin County fair and there are so many parents, students, and teachers involved that Trenton ISD was out Friday. Joleen was visiting family Friday and spending some girl time with a niece. Friday was a bit windy but the weather was nice and the north/south route diminished cross winds. Ronnie Witt of Emory, Texas met me at the McDonald's in Commerce, Texas for coffee. We had an enjoyable lunch at the Shed in Edom, Texas.

Ronnie Witt outside The Shed Cafe in Edom, Texas.

Outside The Shed Cafe in Edom, Texas.

Locals seated at the counter in The Shed.

Ronnie Witt seated for lunch at The Shed.

Chicken Fried Steak Lunch Plate at The Shed.

A slice of The Shed's famous coconut pies.

Drought ravaged pavement on FM 981 in Pike, Texas.

Ride Report: October 15-16, 2011 -- Fairfield Bay, Arkansas October 2011 Trip

November, 2011 -- Still very dry.

Ride Report: November 5, 2011 -- The King's Kruizers Christian Motorcyclist Association chapter participated in the first annual Angels on Wheels Toy Run in Greenville, Texas. There were some definite safety issues due to the organizers lack of experience. I ended up visiting my in-laws at their home in Quitman, Texas rather than finishing the ride.

Angels on Wheels Toy Run staged at Crossroads Mall in Greenville, Texas.

December, 2011 -- Still very dry. A very busy month with multiple Blandelles shows and a Family Christmas 2011 Trip to Goose Creek to see the kids.

Ride Report: December 30, 2011 -- I rode the Ninjette II to Sherman to get an inspection at Sherman Power Sports and deliver Christmas gifts to our in-laws, Michael and Michele Armstrong, which we had purchased on our Family Christmas 2011 Trip to Goose Creek. I delivered the Christmas gifts first, but got to Sherman Power Sports a little too late as they had closed the shop early for the New Years holiday.

Delivering Christmas Gifts.

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