Danny’s Ride

Miles: 70 Total

Total Trip Miles to Date: 1,221.52
Flat Tires: 16
Drew: 12
Danny: 4

The day started out well with good weather conditions.  Danny and I got started right after sunrise in hopes of getting many miles done in the morning and having an easier afternoon.  We enjoyed the extremely wide shoulder so much that the two of us rode side by side and talked.  We shared some good laughs and stories.  After eight miles, Danny told me to go ahead and he wanted to stretch his knee which was stiff. 

I went ahead and picked up the speed.  Our plan was to meet at Exit 230 where Ken was parked and we could see the giant electricity producing windmills up close.  After five miles or so from where I passed Danny, I felt something drop from my bike and heard it bounce several times on the ground before coming to a stop.  I looked down and saw my iPod headphones dangling in the wind.  I immeditely brought my bike to a stop and knew my phone was gone.

The problem was the grass by the side of the interstate was covered by large flowers, weeds and tall grass.  I immediately started looking for my phone using a stick I found to sort through the tall brush.  It was no use.  I tried walking along the interstate searching through the brush.  Finally, when I had gone way passed where I dropped it, I went on the grass and searched from a different angle.  No success.

After a half hour, Danny arrived.  He had stopped several times to stretch his knee.  I explained to him what had happened.  He immediately got off his bike and started looking.  He stood on the interstate searching with his hands and I followed him from the grass, searching as well.  Together, we were going to find it.  We searched up and down the grass but couldn’t find it.  Now, an hour had passed since Danny arrived and we still had not found it.

“Let’s go,” I said frustrated.  “It’s gone.  We need to get some miles in today.  Maybe we can come back later.”  I had reached my breaking point.  I had to of searched everywhere except where my phone was.  “You can go on.  I’m going to keep looking.  We are going to find it,” Danny replied.

I was not nearly as confident.  As far as I was concerned, it was gone.  So I kept looking.  Five minutes later, I walked down way passed where I dropped it (or thought I dropped it) and spotted my battered case sitting empty in the grass.  I picked it up and yelled to Danny.  Then I looked back and found the phone sitting a couple feet from where the case had been.  I picked it up.  “Surely it won’t work after a drop like that,” I thought.  I hit a button and the screen came to life.  I can’t tell you a better feeling!  Danny and I were so excited we hugged.

We hopped back on our bikes and met Ken a mile down the road.  He drove us two miles to the electric wind mills were and we went right up to it to get our picture taken.  I tried to hug it but couldn’t manage to get my arms around it.  We then got back on the bike and travelled 6 miles to the next town for lunch.  Less than a mile from the exit, I felt my back tire do the familiar “I’m flat” dance.  I told Danny to go on and I would catch up to him.  I changed the tire and met him and Ken at the restaurant.

By the time we finished, it was noon and we had only come 20 miles in 5 hours.  Not the morning we had hoped for!  So, we were determined.  We hit the road and covered the next 50 miles in just under seven hours including our stops.  We pulled up to La Quinta Inn.  Danny caught the manager, Kevin Holt, in his car as he was leaving.  Danny explained our trip and he got right out of his car to help us.

Kevin came back inside and donated two rooms for our trip!  We had such a great time talking to him as we checked in.  Our conversation ranged from Seinfeld to the Showtime Series Dexter to everything in between.  We had such a great time talking to him, we didn’t even want to go up to our room!  He even offered to use his connections to help us out as we approached the Dallas and Ft. Worth area!  Thank you so much Kevin!!!

We enjoyed a terrific meal at a local restaurant recommended by the hotel and went to bed.  We were exhausted from a long day in the sun.