Space Shuttle Mission 2009

May 23, 2009

De-Brief

Well our Space Shuttle Mission was a hit. We had ten bikes and seventeen people come out to brave the nasty weather. Yep, two rides in a row now we have ridden in the rain only this time it was all day long and into the night. But there were no storms, just a soft steady wet rain. We arrived at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur around 11:00AM and the place was a buzzing. We elbowed our way in and were soon enjoying some great Bar-B-Q and Big Bob's is true championship Bar-B-Q. You can't get in the door there's so many trophies in the floor...And a new one was added almost as we stood watching...

When we finally waddled out of Big Bob's, it was pouring down rain so everybody suited up and just as soon as we got ready to ride it quit raining...But before we got to Huntsville it was back and never really quit again the whole day...

Got my Space Shuttle pics but the price of everything was so high only a couple went to any of the attractions. Charlie Gibson found us a rat hole and a couple of us snuck in without paying. Leave it to Charlie to find a corner to cut...

We left The Rocket Center at 3:45 and rode non-stop to Corinth and had the Buffet at Ryan's. It was a welcome break from the road and the rain. A quick stop in Walnut for fuel then home. Hildia and I rolled into the drive at 9:03 PM and it was still raining. This trip as all of MTR's rides was a lot of fun. Until it got dark that is. I'm hear to tell you, riding in the rain after sunset is a bummer and if it wasn't for Hildia being an sharp co-pilot the EMT's would have been fishing us out of a ditch. Scary business riding at night in the rain and we were glad to see the lights of home. You can only have so much fun.

ROLL CALL: Lou and Carla Nathan and their nephew Josh on a Kawa sport rocket, Floyd Nunnelee and Rusty, Jake Abraham on his new Venture, Buck and Donna with their guests Richard and Donna Hightower, Paul Romesburg, David Elston and Brenda Crawford, Charley and Darnell Gibson, Terry Scott, Hildia Max and Yours Truly.

A few menial facts about the ride: Our average driving speed was 52.3 MPH and our overall average was 49.5 . Maximum speed attained was 73.5 and it should be noted here that our projected mileage was 402. Actual was 403. Our projected saddle time was 7:24. Our actual saddle time was 7:42. I think the rain may have played a factor in our overall seat time. What does all this prove? Nothing much, just that a good GPS is stone reliable as long as the operator feeds in the right information.