Today’s ride was a straight shot west on I-20. We covered the 375 miles in about 7-1/2 hours. From noon on the temperature stayed in the 99-103 degree range. It was a dry heat, so we donned our wet vests, which kept us cool for quite awhile.

Mid-morning we stopped for coffee at a McDonald’s.

Next to us was was a table of about 8 old guys having their daily social hour. One of them came over to talk to us about our bikes. He said he’d had a Triumph when he was a young man. (He later told us he was 81.) He entertained us with stories of working in Hollywood. He bought a cleaning machine and cleaned the coffee pots and break areas at the studios. He expanded that business and had several clients. Then he bought a truck, became a truck driver, and drove for 31 years. He was quite a character.

We stopped for our picnic lunch at the first rest area in Texas. We found a shady spot to park the bikes and a picnic table under cover.

At the rest area we soaked our wet vests and finished the day’s ride in relative comfort despite the temperatures in the low 100s.

Tonight we are staying with friends at their log house. This is the same place I stayed at in April when I rode to West Texas. The dogs and horses greeted us. The horses were mostly interested in treats and the dogs were most interested in receiving attention.

We went to dinner at a very good local restaurant and enjoyed the rest of the evening on the patio.

Tomorrow we are meeting friends for breakfast then heading north to Oklahoma City.