Hello everyone and welcome to 2024! Don and I are both doing well and looking forward to a new year of riding. I did buy myself a retirement/Christmas gift late December. I upgraded my old Tiger 800 to a 2024 Tiger 900 GT Aragon Edition with all the bells and whistles. I haven’t had a chance to put many miles on it yet, but the next 11 days should remedy that (which I’ll get to in a minute). Hope many of you had the chance to see the eclipse this week. Don, Dianne, Shelly, and I spent the day in French Lick Indiana at my mother’s for the event. It was spectacular. The difference between 99.9 percent coverage and totality was shocking. Try to make one if you get the chance.
Today, we are on our way to the big state of Texas for a few firsts for us. First up is the MotoGP race at the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin. Don and I have long talked about attending since it started in 2013. MotoGP is the Formula 1 equivalent of the motorcycle world. The pinnacle of two-wheeled racing. This is the only round of MotoGP series held in the U.S. Next stop will be the Texas Hill Country, famous for wildflowers and curvy roads. Then on to Big Bend National Park along the border in southwest Texas. This is supposed to be a spectacular area and we have dreamed about seeing it for many years. We hope to catch the Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma and on through the Arkansas Ozarks on the way home. Midwest weather can be especially sketchy this time of year but we’re hoping for the best.
We left home in steady rain but ran out of it in about an hour. Temperatures dipped a bit but we eventually hit sunny skies and a lot of wind. The cross wind was the biggest challenge today. We are no strangers to wind as those of you who have followed this blog for a few years know. But between the higher speed limits and open country, Arkansas was rough. Covered about 600 miles today and holed up in Malvern Arkansas for the night.
Arkansas is the only U.S. state that produces diamonds. In addition to hot springs, the state has over 600,000 acres of lakes.
I know we’re off to a slow start, but Big Bend should be spectacular so please stay tuned.
TigerTracks 
Good to hear the wet weather was not for most of the morning, and you did hit sunny skies. Looking forward to pictures from the trip and tell Don HI!
Safe travels..Sue Willingham
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Be sure to hit Saltlick Barbecue when you’re in the COTA area. Everything’s bigger in Texas, and Saltlick defines the expression. Go early and be prepared to wait to be seated. It’s totally worth the time. Ran in to you boys up in Nova Scotia at Meat Cove. Have a good ride.
Dennis
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