Hot Tub, Community Coffee, Strange Socks…
Morning came early for Jim and this normally early riser anyway. Coffee first, of course, then thoughts of breakfast. My ‘main reason for being in Mandeville, LA, in the first place’ had chosen to stay just down the road in Slidell the evening before after all, so Jim and I had been on our own. A call to Dennis (Troutdude) was placed and he showed up and pleasantly surprised us by providing some Community Coffee with Chicory… What a marvelous treat! Later he returned to be with us for that all-important ritual of devouring bacon and whatever else… eggs this time for yours truly.
During the usual breakfast banter, the name of t-man403 came up (Terry Nickel). A pic was taken of Dennis and one of his pals to forward to t-man via 'WhatsApp'... however... I was unable to figure out how to do that, so... here it is Terry! BTW, our comments were all positive regarding you...
A deal had been brokered whereby my brother-in-law would acquire a very low-mileage, beautiful, shiny black & chrome ’98 Valkyrie Tourer from Dennis, and John was to pick it up that morning. Soon to be a member of the VRCC, John Smith, my BIL, also happens to be my new landlord… one of them, anyway!
See, he bought my old house from my daughter that had become my ex-wife’s that was then inherited when the elder passed. Five years before her passing, I had returned to that very house and lived occasionally with my former spouse who by then had become referred to as my landlady. I had no interest in retaining a house of any sort anywhere myself, so I declined when offered the house.
Well, Johnny has made it clear I could keep my bedroom and continue as before under his administration… Kind of a big thing for this otherwise homeless gypsy! OK, not entirely homeless... My daughter also has a bedroom reserved for this geriatric juvenile, plus another good friend and spouse have even extended an invitation to live with them... Heck, even my granddaughter and one of my grandsons have offered me shelter! (My other grandson still lives at home.)
My BIL and new landlord, John Smith aka Hot-tub Johnny (I’m told there is a story behind that handle, but I haven’t heard it yet) had been the main reason Jim and I had ridden down to Mandeville, LA… John was there to pick up a new to him ride from Troutdude, and I’d wanted to witness the joyous event!
Anyway, Johnny along with his wife and two dogs (all of their kids are grown) arrived at the motel where Jim and I had stayed and introductions were made, a rental U-Haul trailer was obtained, and the meeting was adjourned and reconvened at Dennis’ house… And the presentation of the ‘new’ Valkyrie was made to the newest joy receiver who really had no idea what all lay just ahead for him!
I almost had to wipe a tear, as I dreamily recalled seeing our girl for the very first time at our initial meeting… then some vignettes of some of all the absolutely incredible events that have followed over the more than two subsequent decades floated past my mind’s eye… Such events are truly a beautiful thing to observe and contemplate!!!
Johnny took a wee test ride on his 'new' steed... When he returned his reaction was as those of us who already know find very predictable and typical, "WOW! That's ten times better than any Harley I've ever ridden!" Yes, the new Valker was quite happy, and it was obvious another saga was beginning... He and his entourage aided by Troutdude then loaded up his new prize on the trailer and headed for Florida.
That deal almost did not happen. Johnny hadn’t ridden in quite some time, he’d just bought a new to him house, therefore he was covered up with personalization projects, plus he was married. Spousal approval is a must, of course, and only a very tepid reaction had been received up until then… It could have even been interpreted as mild reticence. I think what finally turned him completely around was my handing of my phone to him with this pic on it… and my telling him I’d be glad to take him there and show it to him… Glacier NP. Seeing his enthusiasm grow, his spouse also then decided it would be OK.
Jim, Dennis, and I later rode around in a cage for some local rat killing and stuff, then we stopped at Vera’s for lunch… I had catfish again, and it was mighty good too!
Jim was wise to me by then, so there was no hope of keeping him out any longer… I conceded defeat and waved bye to him early that Saturday morning as he rode off towards his home in Tennessee and his own return to regularity. I’m not sure if it was to gain some element of revenge or not, but Jim did get even with me… Dennis washed our clothes for us, then Jim chose MY pair of socks to take with him! My feet are a bit bigger than his are, so I did notice right away…
Dennis would be doing his own thing, too, so that left this wanderer to… move on and wander off… I’d promised to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter and her crew, so a return to Florida would be my next trek… I did plan to stop by ‘home’ at Hot-tub’s on the way to another ‘home’ to see how he was doing, etc.
I made it back ‘home’ to Hot-tub Johnny’s place and promptly slipped into my own special ‘zone’ again…
kai girl name Johnny and I made a couple of day rides to sort of knock off some of his accumulated skill rust, but also for me to show him a few of my favorite BBQ joints. He does have good riding skills, so my worries on that score were eliminated (I’d never seen him ride before), plus he had a chance to familiarize himself more with the feel of a proper motorcycle (he’d only owned Harleys before)! With everything seemingly in order, I then made my way back to another of my ‘homes’, my daughter’s abode, to keep a promise…
DDT
