Blowing In The Wind...

[DDT (12)]

Blowing In The Wind...

Man, it's been even more windy out on the road the last couple of days than it is in either chamber of our congress! No mere filibuster either, that stuff was for real! Strong steady winds gusting to over 40 MPH at times! Naturally, those blasts always seemed to be coming at us from the least advantageous direction, too... just like it always seems to do.

Oh well, that's all part of life on the road, too, so no complaints here... just an observation... OK, and maybe a feeble attempt at an excuse to justify us taking a day off! Yep, Hot Tub Johnny and this inept dancer/ride partner are hunkered down to rest and recover... snooze and be lavishly decadent. Shoot, this 'Door Dash' thing is a goldmine type of discovery for those of us who love to dine on things other than delivery pizza, but who also prefer to not go out for a meal.

A wee bit spendy depending upon one's usual dining habits, but the convenience simply can't be beat! Last evening we had ground sirloin steaks covered in onion rings with garlic/mashed potatoes and rolls delivered from 'O'Charley's'; and I do believe mine was even better than the same meal would have been at the restaurant!

There's just something wonderfully enchanting about sitting on the side of a motel room bed devouring truly tasty grub out of Styrofoam containers with a plastic fork, that adds a truly noteworthy ambience to the experience... Perhaps it's nothing more than the non-verbal reminder of what we're about, why, and where we are, that is entirely consistent with my own perception of ideal, the permanent 'temporariness' of everything that this unique lifestyle brings with it.

HTJ doesn't fully appreciate yet what I'm making reference to here, but he is displaying interest! I didn't understand it either, by the way, when my 'Vision Quest' first began, but then that’s the point of my Vision Quest in the first place… To try new things, to break the chains of routine, to get away from the usual repetitive same old same old, even to color outside the lines, and to discover different perspectives and ways of thinking about everything.

He does ask many quite insightful questions, though, about why I'm not like most folks when it comes to thoughts about home, the future, and deeper relationships like those with intimate partners or spouses. He by contrast enjoys fishing, motorcycles, his home, yard work, and married life... From his list of favorite things, this solitary and very happy gypsy desires only the motorcycle thing combined with unfettered travel...

He also wonders if my thought processes are themselves simply temporary conditions, and if I anticipate returning to a more traditional lifestyle at some point... Hmmm, I'm still figuring those things out as I write this, so I'm actually not sure myself! At the moment I'm thinking I'll just do this until I can't... then I'll do something else... What or where that might be is... well, a complete mystery for now! I do believe selling my home and returning to the road in this latest installment has likely prolonged my life, though. Anyway...

We battled the 'blow' all day, and to add even more zest to the trek, we also encountered colder temps than anything we'd seen so far on this outing. Yep, Tennessee is definitely colder than central Florida this time of year! It had been in the high 20s when we got up... which partially explains our late departure that morning! And it fully explains my glee at having dug-out my Gerbings at a previous stop! (I again whispered under my breath a silent "THANKS!" to SmokinJoe & Lucky13 for turning me on to those marvelous, now essential wardrobe additions!)

Mastery of the art of navigation for this intrepid trekker is still a work in progress... HT wanted to add some air to his tires and... OK, time again for me to check our girl’s as well, so... Off we rolled to find a supposedly nearby Walmart and its car care center. On the upside, we did get a pretty good tour of the town of Columbia, TN... However, wandering around all those streets and sitting at all those stoplights did get rather old in a big hurry... We finally found our quarry and HTJ did get some needed fresh 'product' pumped into his pneumatic ride cushions. Our girl did not require even one modest spurt!

We eventually did find our way to the Natchez Trace. Not a ride enjoyed by everyone, but then what ride ever is? I happen to enjoy gliding along that serene route lost in my thoughts, watching out for wildlife, and stopping occasionally at points of interest. Shortly after the stop at the Meriweather Lewis gravesite, and following another stop always enjoyed by this rider at the pull-off/park/picnic area on the north bank of the Tennessee River, we came to a barrier and 'Detour' sign forcing us to leave the Trace... Now what...?

HT did get the distinct pleasure of discovering Iuka, MS. I say that with my tongue squarely in my cheek! Nothing special that I’ve ever seen, but clearly not a bad place at all… it does boast being next door to Tishomingo State Park. Just another small town in the hinterland, usual in all respects to any other similar-sized hamlet, and easily within the template of what national politics has deemed ‘fly-over country’… too few voters or large donors to warrant any attention. We rode on to Corinth, which is different only in size as far as I can tell… Corinth simply being larger, but quite similar in other respects.

Our original plan had been to ride the Trace to Tupelo, MS, for the night. Well, after finding nothing appealing on our detour, we rode on towards Tupelo after all, only along a somewhat different route… so here we are. Today, HTJ rode to visit the Elvis birthplace site, but he had just enough difficulty actually getting through traffic and to the place itself, that he did exactly what I sometimes do… his only slight interest caused him to give up!

Dang, now my companion is making noise about going out for dinner tonight… Nope, John apparently doesn’t quite yet grasp all of what I’ve described above after all. Oh well, at least the wind has eased considerably. I’m thinking it just may be time for a nap, myself…

DDT

[Thunderbolt]

Bruce if my recollector is correct, the night we stayed in Tupelo on our trip to Natchez was one of interrupted sleep.  Seems some of the patrons got into a rather heated argument and the local constabulary was called to quell the disturbance.  Am I making this one up or have I jogged your memory enough to substantiate this story?

[DDT (12)]

Bruce if my recollector is correct, the night we stayed in Tupelo on our trip to Natchez was one of interrupted sleep.  Seems some of the patrons got into a rather heated argument and the local constabulary was called to quell the disturbance.  Am I making this one up or have I jogged your memory enough to substantiate this story?

Terry,

That was a while ago! I've seen that before at a few locations over the years, but I frankly don't recall it off the top of my head on our ride... That said, it very well could have happened. Relying upon my recollector to validate any long-ago memory is risky business, my friend, so remember it any ol' way you want to! I certainly couldn't honestly disagree with it... BTW, I wasn't one of the 'participants' in that memory, was I? Nah, I'd probably recall that!

DDT

[Rams]

Bruce if my recollector is correct, the night we stayed in Tupelo on our trip to Natchez was one of interrupted sleep.  Seems some of the patrons got into a rather heated argument and the local constabulary was called to quell the disturbance.  Am I making this one up or have I jogged your memory enough to substantiate this story?

Terry,

That was a while ago! I've seen that before at a few locations over the years, but I frankly don't recall it off the top of my head on our ride... That said, it very well could have happened. Relying upon my recollector to validate any long-ago memory is risky business, my friend, so remember it any ol' way you want to! I certainly couldn't honestly disagree with it... BTW, I wasn't one of the 'participants' in that memory, was I? Nah, I'd probably recall that!

DDT

I've heard rumors of a distant traveler that has trouble trailing him.   Never put the two things together........   Probably just my active imagination working overtime.     Guess we'll find out this coming weekend.  

Rams  

[DDT (12)]

Ron,

I don't think that 'distant rider' you mentioned would be this guy. Nope, the statute of limitations should have run on any of my more serious indiscretions, I've been blissfully unmarried for about eighteen years now, I have no girlfriends, kids, parents, exes, dependents, or bill collectors of any sort looking for me, and I do try to walk a pretty fine line regarding general citizenship. I never seek trouble, and I'm unaware of any trouble stalking me at all. There is that one area in which I may be vulnerable, however...

I ain't woke, and I've let that dangerous condition be known to others on occasion. I could be canceled at any time, I fear, and there may even be shamers in search of me as I write this. Fortunately for them, I don't try to hide, and they'll be relieved to learn I don't carry, concealed or otherwise. I suppose I'm completely exposed to the thought police, so there is that possibility that stops me short of definitely claiming it couldn't be this distant rider...

DDT

[Rams]

Ron,

I don't think that 'distant rider' you mentioned would be this guy. Nope, the statute of limitations should have run on any of my more serious indiscretions, I've been blissfully unmarried for about eighteen years now, I have no girlfriends, kids, parents, exes, dependents, or bill collectors of any sort looking for me, and I do try to walk a pretty fine line regarding general citizenship. I never seek trouble, and I'm unaware of any trouble stalking me at all. There is that one area in which I may be vulnerable, however...

I ain't woke, and I've let that dangerous condition be known to others on occasion. I could be canceled at any time, I fear, and there may even be shamers in search of me as I write this. Fortunately for them, I don't try to hide, and they'll be relieved to learn I don't carry, concealed or otherwise. I suppose I'm completely exposed to the thought police, so there is that possibility that stops me short of definitely claiming it couldn't be this distant rider...

DDT

Bruce,

Hey there bud, I was talking about all the bad weather that seems to chase you around the country. 

Rams

[DDT (12)]

Ron,

OK, two areas of vulnerability, then... I certainly have attracted my share of foul weather! I sure hope I don't spoil the festivities you have planned, but I do still figure to be there!!!

DDT

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
This story sure provoked some thoughts and memories for this reclusive, temporarily sidelined, long distance rider!  Two years ago when you and I went separate ways from Rawlins, Wy, I spent the rest of that day plowing through 40mph wind with gusts over 45 coming at me from about 45* off from head on.  That wind was with me all the way to Kansas City!  It was tiring and yet there was a certain satisfaction to meeting that challenge!

I have never used “door dash”, but there are eateries that deliver other than pizza and I have used them.  Sometimes after a hard day in the saddle they are a real blessing!

The temporariness of going from motel to motel and eating out of styrofoam with plastic ware never occurred to me.  I do, however, very much enjoy seeing new places and things and talking with people who have life experiences and thoughts different from mine. 


Thanks for the story!


Bigwolf

[DDT (12)]

Jerry,

Yes indeed, you are for sure a long-distance rider and natural at the coddiewomple! I do recall the day we parted in Rawlings... You braved the wind and rode on, while I wimped out and got a room! It continued for a couple of days out there, too.

DDT

[..]

The Victorian Inn in Iuka used to be a stopping point when heading westward. The first time was when I met Coot for our ride to Sturgis.

The last time I stayed there and met up with Hucabspc will be that last time. Now it's run down.

[DDT (12)]

The Victorian Inn in Iuka used to be a stopping point when heading westward. The first time was when I met Coot for our ride to Sturgis.

The last time I stayed there and met up with Hucabspc will be that last time. Now it's run down.

Paul,

I've ridden through Iuka a few times, but I've never stayed in that town... and I didn't know about the Victorian Inn... apparently a moot point now, though! When I was a wee lad my family lived in Florence, AL, so my first trip through there was towards Memphis for a visit in a cage (to the famous zoo and later the Parthenon replica) ... Dad Drove, as I was way too young, and dad was way too fearful of the future implications of me driving and wanting 'to solo' once we started down that slippery slope!

DDT

[Bigwolf]

Jerry,

Yes indeed, you are for sure a long-distance rider and natural at the coddiewomple! I do recall the day we parted in Rawlings... You braved the wind and rode on, while I wimped out and got a room! It continued for a couple of days out there, too.

DDT

I don’t recall bravery having any bearing on my decision to ride on.  Time constraint due to family function and an impending very large rainstorm about to sweep across the country set the stage for my hasty retreat toward the great state of West Virginia.  The rain did catch me just on the east side of Indianapolis in the dark and in road construction with a few hundred 18 wheelers running 75 to 80 mph.  That entire 70 mile stretch of road was under serious construction with patches rough thrown in everywhere and tall seams that bottomed the suspension and separated my bottom from the saddle.  The rain made it difficult to see much and with no lines on the road, it sure was an exciting ride!

As you often say though, that stuff is just part of the experience.  I would very willingly make that kind of run again if it was the price to be paid for such a very enjoyable coddiewomple as we had experienced leading up to that morning in Rawlings.

Bigwolf