Hot Tub Goes On A Fling...
My late landlady's baby brother (and my current landlord) recently acquired a 'cherry' ultra-low-mileage '98 Valk Tourer from our celebrity Valk guru Troutdude, and the incredible journey he has no idea about yet began. The one we all have discovered, come to know well and love dearly. HTJ and I did a little local riding together, and he did some solo stuff also, so he could get the feel of his soon to be lustful mistress.
I can only smile as I watch, realizing that HTJ knows nothing at all yet about just how much his life is already starting to change, and that he can't possibly have even a hint of a clue as to the extent of those changes barreling down upon him! I'm also certain his wife Pam doesn't know either, although I'm just as sure she is a bit worried... Somehow wives always seem able to detect any threat to their dominion. Anyway...
Rams has called a Spring Fling thing in Hattiesburg, MS, and Hot Tub Johnny (HTJ) surprised me by saying he'd like to go. What's more, I also had a biggie doctor's appointment in Montgomery almost two weeks before the Fling... HTJ said he was interested in accompanying me there too, then piddling around some and not returning home until after the Fling!
I was as impressed as I was surprised! See, I'd invited him out before on longer rides several times, but something always came up... to the point I was starting to wonder if perhaps he just didn't want to go. As so often happens, though, I was wrong again! I do seem to have a knack for that, ya know!
Well, that fateful morning arrived, and when I walked out to mount our girl and depart and much to my delight, he was there sitting upon his beautiful scoot grinning from ear to ear; loaded and raring to go! KSU and a whole new chapter in his life began. Back roads up the peninsula of Florida towards Thomasville, GA, and our first night out. We got our room, unloaded, and proceeded to seek some BBQ for din-din. But first…
Shortly after lift-off that first morning, we met 'Dagwood' (Tim Bumstead) in Bell, FL, for some breakfast. Tim is a Michigan rider I've met on rides up there, and now he's on his own coddiewomple. He presently has his Toy-Hauler parked in Chiefland, but soon he will be moving it to North Carolina for some Springtime riding in the mountains. It was good to spend time with an old friend, and to introduce him to another old friend but new Valk riding partner!
We'd been informed 'Fallin's' was the best 'Q' around, but being a Sunday they were closed, as local BBQ places often are. Well, good ol' Sonny's (a popular chain BBQ place) was open, so our venture proved entirely fruitful after all. A most pleasant way to conclude a good day's ride and to celebrate the beginning of what would prove to be a great road trip! HT's first coddiewomple or even extended ride of any consequence had been a very nice way to begin his Odyssey...
Don't get me wrong, HT has plenty of riding skill, and he has adapted to his new partner rather well (he's a former Harley rider). His previous experience, however, was mostly limited to day rides and some modest amount of trailering... I've long sensed potential in this guy, though, so I've encouraged him to give this a try. Even though I've been wrong about many things in the past, this would prove to NOT be one of those assessment boo-boos!
Our second day on the road was another of those special days gliding along in near ideal conditions on some of my more enjoyable back road routes to Montgomery. We got separated in the smallish town of Eufaula due to my not properly preparing HT for the dipsy-doodle I'd be making to my frequent stop point for gas and a break. No sweat, though, as cell phones provided an easy remedy. I gave Sam a heads-up then that we'd be arriving that afternoon, and he'd responded that the VW was waiting for us!
Naturally the day was concluded with a visit to Jan's Beach House Grill... and HT was introduced to the posse. Oh my, he was rather impressed with that cast of characters, our dinner was as always great, and the entire event proved to be just as I'd hoped it would be for his first time... The temptation of this life was starting to work on my friend, and I was beginning to feel a wee bit sorry for Pam! Nah, he'll never do like I've done, but this will definitely not be his last coddiewomple, I don't think.
The first morning there, HT and I visited the breakfast area of the motel, our home for four nights... I began chatting with an older couple already seated, and it turns out he had been a professional scuba diver who’d worked on the Atocha recovery down in the Keys with Mel Gibson! Well, lots of interesting banter was exchanged on that and a few other topics. Once again, we just never know what totally unexpected surprises will pop up when least expected in the most unlikely settings...
Motel breakfasts are often not culinary triumphs and this one is fairly typical, so I enjoy riding down the road a mile or so to Chappy's Grill for a meal. HT and I did just that following our most pleasant visit with the couple at the motel. Following our real meal, we went outside and found a guy on his new Harley next to the VW. "Nice looking ride," and then it was game on! We ended up spending several hours talking to that guy there, at his house, and at his rented storage space. Oh yeah, he owns seventeen motorcycles, and we got to see them all! He even owns a Valk 1800, so perhaps we'll see him again at one of our things...
Due to intermittent rain in and around the date for my doc visit, that one or two-night stay turned into four. Oh well, when every night is spent in a motel, which particular motel doesn't make that much difference. Besides, we had lots of activity and things to do to ease the absence of riding for a few days.
Of course, dinner each evening was just where you'd suspect it would be. That Wednesday evening, they had the usual entertainment... and... I even found myself proving yet again that I ain't much of a dancer! I'm just not able, it appears, to completely shake my tendency to want to party hearty anyway... (HT has already picked up on the fact I do love my life!!!)
HT and I stopped for coffee and a biscuit with Cuz on our way to return the VW to Sam that morning of departure. Another on the long list of characters in that city of contrasts, surprises, and many wonderful memories for this rider, I always enjoy visiting with him. HT even saw in him the things I'd been telling him, so a new friendship is beginning there, as well.
Our girl had her alternator go out on the ride a few hours after leaving Montgomery. We did have a good ride all the way to the breakdown spot, though. As really good fortune would have it, we broke down within sight of a motel. Troutdude made a 'house call' the next morning and made everything all better! I can't say enough good things about that guy! He has bailed us out of so many jackpots over the years, and he is prominent among those who have kept our girl and her tired old rider rolling. No kidding, if it weren't for him, our journey together would have ended long ago!!!
While choking back tears of joy, we said our farewells to Dennis, and HT followed a revived ALI and joyous bug killer to Cheaha State Park. Wind would be one of the hallmarks of the ride for the next couple of days. I'd packed my Gerbing's away in Montgomery, but by now I was having serious doubts! The following night I did get it back out, and it immediately made a huge difference!
Following a long day of riding some of the best twisty roads in Alabama, we got a room in Centre, AL, on the shore of Lake Weiss. This wonderful ride so far begged for a suitable celebration, so we dined at Tony's Steakhouse on a couple of large ribeye steaks... Life sure is great most of the time, and sometimes it's just downright sensational!!!
The next morning found us again on twisty back roads, with a stop at the Little River Waterfall. I'd already seen it many times, so I hung out and chatted with the volunteer Park Ranger handing out brochures and dispensing info. HT made the walk down and back up the trail, and he provided this picture...
We then rode a really curious mixture of very twisty back roads, four lane roads made exciting by the buffeting of strong headwinds, and even about twenty thrilling miles of very heavy traffic on an Interstate. A long day with arguably the worst wind so far! Still, we are now well positioned in Columbia, TN, to jump on the Natchez Trace in the morning and head for Tupelo, MS... for, among other things, a well-deserved rest!
DDT
