Trip to the beach.

The Brazos state park was so busy! Elected to carry on to the beach!

https://goo.gl/photos/ivDwqV1zFJ8jaods9

Nice pics farmerboy, thanks for sharing. How was the dead sheep? No pics of 'gators?

Terry

No 'gators I am afraid..... I was told it was too cold today and the park was very very busy.... Freeport beach was calling.... and the dead sheep worked a treat. Much better on the old backside - special thanks to David the Tankbuster (A10) pilot.

I now understand why American car manufacturers do not bother with fancy suspension... there is no need!

It's been a real pleasurse to have someone from the motherland come spend some time with us. I think u r headed back tomorrow please return real soon and keep the Union Jack flying high. Safe travels and passage for your trip home. Let us know when u r next here

It's been a real pleasurse to have someone from the motherland come spend some time with us. I think u r headed back tomorrow please return real soon and keep the Union Jack flying high. Safe travels and passage for your trip home. Let us know when u r next here

Cheers David, yes the flight home is at 8.00 tonight .....

I am pleased to confirm that you have all passed inspection and it is pleasing to note that our most precious overseas colony has developed beyond our wildest expectations!

Her Majesty sends her warmest regards and heartfelt thanks for taking care of one of her subjects and making his visit so memorable.

Texan generosity and hospitality is second to none. Such a shame nobody bothered to put a bend in any roads though....

I shall return on the 4th July to check out the warm weather! Looking forward to it already!

Regards

John

Her Majesty has just called.... bad news I am afraid!

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

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1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

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2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

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3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

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4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

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5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

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6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

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7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

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8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

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9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

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10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

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11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

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12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

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13.. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

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14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

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15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

PS: Only share this with friends who have a good sense of humour (NOT humor)!

Farmerboy, ok but be forewarned this won't end well...

Farmerboy, ok but be forewarned this won't end well...

It sure didn't end well in the 1700's for the crown.

Safe trip across the pond.

Seriously guys... Great forum, fabulous people, epic country....don't change a thing!

See "yawl" again soon.

...and if anyone ever gets to the UK, look me up!

The Texas heat in July is probably going to get old in a hurry. (If Alaska is not in your plans) A days ride east will elevate you to some of the best riding the USA has to offer.

Craig's UNRally route suggestions.

Have a safe trip home!

Pat

See "yawl" again soon.

Y'all

I thought we worked on that. Maybe the heat has gotten to you. I can only imagine what July will will do.....

Pat's list is a great one...regarding heat I've encountered some pretty high temps working in Europe in the past so know you're use to some of it but whatever you do don't underestimate it's effects. Hydration is the key, continually wetting a microfiber shirt worn underneath your riding jacket (don't go without it), avoiding alcohol and diuretic drinks (coffee, tea, etc) as well as large meals are all good tips. In July you can't escape the heat until you get to the Oregon coastline (taking in a ballgame at Candlestick Park may offer a brief respite). If you have doubts trailer your bikes further north, once you get into trouble with heat related symptoms you're going to be more susceptible to it going forward.

Have a safe trip home, we'll keep the light on for you...possibly two lights if by sea.

mickeym...all good advice except that trip to candlestick...it's gone...

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/TIMELAPSE-VIDEO-Eight-Month-Demolition-of-Candlestick-Park-Complete-367824071.html

My bad, thought the new park was called Candlestick as well. One of Mark Twain's famous quotes paraphrased (and are there a ton of great ones or what?) goes " I spent the coldest winter of my life one summer in San Francisco".

Cheers!

Thanks for all great the advice. Safe back in the UK. Wall to wall sunshine and my daughter has a horse in the back garden!

There you go with bad translation again.....vegetable are in a garden....horses are in pastures This is kind of fun.

There you go with bad translation again.....vegetable are in a garden....horses are in pastures This is kind of fun.

Over here at my shop he kept wanting tea and biscuits. Poured him some sweet tea over ice. Gave it to him and he made an awful face. Told him the Cathead biscuits were going to take a bit to make and roll out, cut and put in the oven. Made another face. So, I just took him to a good local Mexican ( and I don't mean TexMex.....) restaurant. He made another face....at the refried beans. Until I explained what they were. Then it was ALL smiles during and after lunch!

Time got away from us, but if he could have tried one of my Cathead biscuits with butter and honey....he might have converted to the SAE system and stayed.

Food in Texas is brill! I had brisket and ribs at "The Pit" in Houston just before I returned to UK and loved it....but roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and proper English tea are hard to beat!

No idea what catheads are?

 

No idea what catheads are?

It is southern comfort food!

 

No idea what catheads are?

 

 

It is southern comfort food!

 

I didn't know that either. Guess being from Miami isn't being from the south!

I'll vouch for the photo. Look like perfect Cathead biscuits to me. The name, well story has it that came from the biscuits being as big as a Cat's head. Certainly from Appalachia at any rate. In fact I cannot seem to make them properly here, something to do with being 58 ft above sea level I think. Done much better in the mountains. Lard, flour ( self rising is fine ), buttermilk are all you need. Except for the butter ( not margarine ) you brush on the top. A slice of country ham, a fried egg, butter, sorry I just cannot finish this. Tears and drooling.....

Marty,

Miami is so far north of South.

Growing up there I can attest to the fact.

It is however way south of The South...and, the northernmost part of South America.

Tim, you are so right!

 

No idea what catheads are?

Cathead biscuit....

Born in Virginia and reared in the south (reared vs. raised reflects my English minor rather than my natural inclination) and I have NEVER encountered anyone who thought Miami was in the South. I've been known to dabble a little sausage gravy on my Catheads....farmer boy has no earthly idea what he missed out on but we still have time to work on him upon his return.

FarmerBoy, I'm riding in the Moab area the first two weeks of May; be glad to give you some more southern exposure.

 

No idea what catheads are?

 

Cathead biscuit....

 

Hey now, be nice to Mark.

I just ate and you're making me drool...

 

FarmerBoy, I'm riding in the Moab area the first two weeks of May; be glad to give you some more southern exposure.

Just looking up where Moab is... but unfortunately I shall be in the UK in May! Once this Alaskan odyssey is done and dusted I am hoping to spend some time riding in the delightful USA to escape the terrible British winters... The right hand side looks nice (Kentuckyshire and Alabamashire) with lots of bendy roads.