jppe,
If you want to take the southern route, and drive I-30 rather than I-40, I'd love to ride with you in the DFW area. There are always club rides to join, or we could just take off on our own.
Or, if you're in the area on August 25th, you could join me and 10,000 of my closest friends at the
Hotter 'N Hell 100.