Again...

[DDT (12)]

Again…

We rode to Montgomery... again... leaving the latest Airbnb vacation rental behind. The forecast had been calling for rain that day for most of the time we were holed-up, so contingency plan making had been forced upon us... The day before actual KSU, though, things had improved, and by AOS time all that moist stuff had cleared away, so off we rode... shivering but dry... again! No visit to the eastern Carolinas at this stage of the venture, though... again...

A word about heated grips... I've mentioned before the heated grips given and installed on our girl by Big Wolf & MitchO. Well, those newest additions have daily been keeping my hands as warm as my heart had been warmed at the time of the surprise gift! I haven't needed to dig around in my bags in an attempt to find my Gerbings heated gloves so far, because those grips plus the wind deflectors (also gifts from Big Wolf) combined have done the job nicely! Yep, a for real 12! kind of thing going on here!!!

I've been asked countless times why I keep returning to Montgomery to see doctors... "Don't they have any good doctors in central Florida," is a frequent interrogatory? Of course they do, but...Montgomery is actually a more convenient location to the rest of North America, and given the wanderlust factor almost always in play, it seems to work out just fine... If I were actually in Florida most of the time, things would be different. There are many other reasons for this arrangement too, but... There is one even more powerful reason than the others...

The Montgomery chapter in my life began aboard our girl, and things have grown from there. Some of the very best friends I've ever had in my entire life are there, and going there frequently is never a hardship... In fact, it is one of the highlights of every year since that first accidental meeting with Sam at a traffic light in Selma, AL, back in '99. He'd been the last guy in a group of Valk riders from Montgomery on a lunch RTE that day, when our girl and her rider pulled alongside unannounced and joined that group. Things have just progressed from there.

The doctors’ visits this time were expected to be quite routine, so thoughts about afterward popped into my thinker muscle. I was seriously contemplating a longcut ride to Texas and perhaps beyond before zeroing in at long last on the eastern Carolinas... The weather forecasts kept going downhill with each checking, however, so that idea was put on hold. OK, we'll just head east then. Fate, apparently, had decided the time had come... or not.

The dentist's visit went really well. The cleaning was followed by the usual exam, and everything was pronounced 'good to go'. The dermatologist's visit went almost as well. Several skin things were frozen off, but that is quite normal for this pale tail. There were two areas that piqued her interest, though, and scrapings/cuttings were taken for biopsy. Other than that, we were told they'd call if anything developed, but otherwise we were again 'good to go'.

By then it had become quite clear that a ride through 'The Republic' would be better attempted another time, so... back to the original plan following the FCR. Following one more night of partying at Jan's, we loaded up and headed east... Danged cold, too! Probably had warmed up into the low thirties by then, but... It didn't help that we missed another turn and thereby extended the day's ride. Oh well, no real hurry, so we took lazy in Perry, GA, and got a room early. Hmmm...

I'd received a voicemail during the ride that first day back out on the road from my dermatologist's office... One of the 'cuttings' had flunked the biopsy, so another appointment was scheduled. Dang... We returned to Montgomery the following day... It was even a tad colder! I'd chosen not to switch to my leather jacket just yet, because it had been so mild when we'd departed Ocala a couple of weeks ago... Lots of second thoughts about that decision these days, though!!!

So, Texas will have to wait... So will the eastern Carolinas... Our world seems to be rapidly shrinking!

DDT (12)


For those who insist on photos…

[..]

 

[f6john]

I left a small portion of my left ear with the dermatologist a few years back and every annual visit includes a session with the liquid nitrogen bottle! The chances of me sliding into home plate unscathed at the end of my final ride are zero. Oh well, I never was pretty! Hope your return visit to the doctor isn’t too painful!

I got to experience the joys of heated grips for the first time on last years Spring Fling though not while in Hattiesburg. Both the morning of the initial KSU and the final few hours of the return trip were quite nippley. With warm hands and a heated seat to boot, I managed to tell myself ie really wasn’t “that cold”.

Hope to see you in Hattiesburg in the not to distant future.

[RNFWP]

Tough being hemmed in by winter and Dr stuff...
Bet it won't keep ya from giving it your version of the ole, one two. Yours is better than a jab and hook.
I look forward to hearing how warm grips and dreams of eastern Cackalacky put that "good to go" smile on your face.

[Avanti]

The southern states most be moving north.

[DDT (12)]

Paul,

Because of your credibility of a seasoned serious rider, an emoticon is all that is necessary to convey a complimentary message... Thank you! The inherent trials and imperfections of riding are part of the 'achievement' experience, and I know that you know about all of that... Again, thanks for the 'comments'!

DDT (12)



John,

Yep, little nips here, clips there... all part of that white privilege thing, huh? Folks have been slowly whittling away chunks, pieces, and bits of this tender carcass for many decades now... It's a wonder I can keep up my body weight! Naw, no proportionality there... just kidding. Anyway, I find it to be a small price to pay to continue exploring our world around us, so as long as my credit remains good... and my knees hold out... you know...

I hope to see you in Hattiesburg too! No idea this early how things might work out, but it is definitely my plan at the moment to be there. I have made arrangements, so... I'll see ya there if I'm there!

Oh, heated grips have been another surprise that have exceeded my expectations by a wide margin! I've never ridden on a scooter with a heated seat, but I have on one in a car. WOW! On a really cold day, I'd consider those to be a modern miracle for sure! Thanks for joining the conversation...

DDT (12)



Ross,

Yeah, not much else to do but roll with the flow and play the hand we're dealt. Still, the 'tethers' do continue to appear at an increasing rate, and they even seem to shorten as the years draw on, so... I have no idea, of course, what the future might hold, but so far it's been one Hellava journey, so I ain't worried just yet!

DDT (12)



Avanti,

Might just be 'climate envy'... Over the years I've often thought of how nice it can be up north in the summer... and of course, I'm quite familiar with how nice it can be in the south during winter... No place is perfect as we all know, but... The best I can come up with is to just not live anywhere... to live every where instead! Mobility is the key... if it don't suit me here, then I'll head there... a perennial, continual snowbird! Course adjustments to accompany any climate movement one way or the other, naturally.

DDT (12)

[..]

Paul,

Because of your credibility of a seasoned serious rider, an emoticon is all that is necessary to convey a complimentary message... Thank you! The inherent trials and imperfections of riding are part of the 'achievement' experience, and I know that you know about all of that... Again, thanks for the 'comments'!

DDT (12)

 

[Avanti]

I like riding against the flow. If the weather is not looking favorable where I am at, go elsewhere. If out running or flanking bad weather does not look feasible I have been known to drive directly into a rain storm because behind the storm is the calm.

Go out and meet it.
Gene

[Valkorado]

Good to hear you're out and about, some. 

Yup, seems as we age we acquire more barnacles and clingons.  I've got a couple "spots" on the face and ears I need to have checked out.  Too much fun in the sun when I was a young whippersnapper.

Get 'er done and, carry on!   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I imagine a shrinking world must feel confining for a Vision Questor. This shall pass, I’m sure. I’m glad you are taking the wise precautions of taking care of the cursed ‘flunkee’.  I will admit some sadness that you are not heading west though. The Coronas will just be held in reserve a little longer.

Take care my friend 

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
I have been wondering where you were turning the wheels or if you were just holed up somewhere.  Thanks for “reporting in”.  Sounds a lot like life! ……… some good, some not so good, and all depending on the perspective of the recipient.

I have sure enjoy the heated grips that were on my bike when I bought it!  It is good to know that yours are working out for you.


Bigwolf

[Rams]

Our world seems to be rapidly shrinking!

DDT (12)

Only if we allow it.   I'm guilty of letting it happen.  You, not nearly as much.   Enjoy and do what feels right.

Rams

[DDT (12)]

Paul,

Thanks again! You do have a way with 'words...'

DDT (12)



Gene,

Yep, adapt, adjust, and/or overcome... We all do some variation of that... Appears you have a good bit of experience under your own belt there... Oh well, in my view a life well lived includes a rather hefty amount of riding... And much riding at all will of course include some dealing with adversity. All part of our shared experience!

DDT (12)



Seth,

For this gypsy rider, this winter has been rather unusual! I've spent more time hunkered down someplace than normal, and I do confess it has some advantages but overall it surely ain't my preference! I'm eager to wander off to some distant locale, and I'm leaning hard in that direction as I write this. The unusual weather is the major hurdle, but in the past week I've managed to pick up some kind of annoying bug... At the moment that may compel me to wander back to Florida for some R&R...

Yeah, body maintenance is right up there with bike maintenance, and the problems we face today are more often than not the very ones we created ourselves in times past... Oh well, it sure has been fun getting to this point in life, hasn't it!!!

DDT (12)



Rob,

Confining is a huge understatement! I truly have had many thoughts on returning to your area... The thought of breaking my recent personal record best with Coronas while enjoying conversation with a good friend is a most compelling mental picture! Gotta be patient and pick my time to avoid riding myself into a weather cul-de-sac, though, and I do have this 'cold' thing to shake, but other than that, I am indeed pondering the desert change of pace scenery and my growing need for some of that!!! Looking forward to it!!!

DDT (12)



Jerry,

Those wheels are turning, but nothing like we'd like for them to be! I'm hoping that glimmer I can just barely make out in front of me is actually light at the end of that long tunnel, though, and I do hope to be headed west in a few days or so... One thing is for sure, those heated grips and wind deflectors you and MitchO hooked me up with have earned their keep! I haven't been able to use them on the highest setting yet, however, and the next to highest setting has had to be turned down most times of use... They can get downright hot!!! No complaints, of course, just saying how effective they have proven to be!

DDT (12)



Ron,

A lot to what you've said there, my friend... Perhaps its more like my wherewithal and capabilities are actually what's shrinking... Whatever it is, though, I'm thinking I'll be testing limits and pushing out boundaries very soon... I just hate this feeling of 'spiritual claustrophobia'... don't you?

DDT (12)

[..]

Paul,

Thanks again! You do have a way with 'words...'

DDT (12)

  (verbose)

[DDT (12)]

Paul,

You do carry on sometimes!!!    Love it!!!

DDT (12)

[Heathen]

Made me fill better somehow reading this.  I'm trying to make a trip to the tail of the dragon in May but I've got to get hernia surgery scheduled and done and be mostly healed by then.  I've been thinking to myself that this getting older stuff sucks about as much as I thought it would...    LOL!

I'm not just a dam Heathen anymore,  I'm a dam old Heathen!

[DDT (12)]

Heathen,

Thanks for your comments! Yes, everything in life has a cost associated with it, and aging is certainly included in that number! Good luck with your hernia thingy... We'll look forward to hearing of your ride to the Dragon in May... or whenever...

DDT (12)