I'm going to the Honda shop to get a new front tire on the old Valk today (or should i say 'new' Valk......hey, only 256 miles SHOWING on the odometer now
). I'm getting ready to do a road trip NEXT week! This is the beginning of something unique for me....and for Sherry.....
There are a lot of FIRSTS in this adventure. While the distance...about 1000 miles or a bit more....may not be real far for you "iron butts".....it represents some amazing things to US...and as i said....some 'firsts'.
1.
This will be the FIRST time....in the HISTORY OF Inzane (IZ)....that i have NOT been at an IZ. I've made EVERY one so far....and worked (my butt off) on Staff the last 5. In fact, the last two (at Johnson City, TN), I've spent many hours planning and coordinating events and details months in advance...as well as working countless hours AT the event. This is the first "summer off" from that work for me in 5 years. Honestly, i miss the work...the comraderie.....I miss alot of things about IZ.....but that, would require a whole nother' post to cover it all....and i digress........
2.
This will be the FIRST time...since the year 1982....that SHERRY has taken an out of state/long distance bike trip.....RIDING HER BIKE! We USED to take cross country trips on bikes together (we've been riding bikes together since we met in 1978....and she got her own shortly after that once i taught her how to ride in one of my motorcycle safety classes out in California). But then she fractured her back in three places in a horse accident in the 90s, and her back has never been the same. This marks a HUGE step for her....trying to take a trip on a bike! While we will take it easy and have NO long days....still....for HER...it's an accomplishment! 27 years in the making!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Likewise,
this will be the FIRST time .....Sherry has taken any long trip on her "new" Valk we got for her last May. When we got her a Valk last May....we hoped some big adventure would be in store for her. she likes her Valk...and we've slowly got it all decked out with Bling and funtional items to get it ready for THIS day!
4.
It will be the first time in years.....that i will see a bunch of old timers from THIS board....in one place. We're going first to the Big Bike Riders ridein at Maggie Valley, NC (17-19 July). While there, we'll see Lamont (VRCC number 0001), Vicky/TNT, Mosa, PIBIT.....many of the early "make-it-happen" folks from this board. i don't see all these guys in one place often.......
5. For ME....
it will be the first time since the 1980s.....that i will have taken a bike trip of 1000 miles or more. i've taken some shorter ones...even a few just under 1000 miles in the last 10 years (and some REAL Iron Butts in my early years...like LA to Kansas City in just under 30 hours....do the math)...but typically, we trailer to everywhere we go. For one, i put on or work on a lot of events...and often have to drag TONS of supplies. If Sherry is going, a trailer often is REQUIRED...due to her back...and she likes to bring the "guard dogs" too. but frankly, for me, it's USUALLY about the people, the event, the riding WHILE THERE...and not getting there. FOR ME...anyway..... And doing it on a bike that will be TWELVE YEARS OLD THIS MONTH....and....has OVER 100,000 miles! Cool
6.
Oh, it will be the LAST time......we can do this and have our "house sitter" in place. Susan is leaving the nest, NEXT month...moving to Auburn to begin he 4 year quest to get thru Graduate Veteranarian school! She MAY be able to come "house sit" sometimes...to feed horses and dogs and such....but doubtful we could take a FULL week like this....at least it's not very likely or easily done!
We'll leave next week on Thursday 16 July. Stop in at Reelay's (the DJ in Atlanta) and visit with him and party/celebrate his getting the new job. Then we'll go on to Maggie Valley, NC...hang out with old timers from here (and some not so old timers....like Lady Draco and Highbinder, etc.). Then on to Erwin, TN on Sunday...to scout for the Rune Rally. Ride the Blue Ridge some.....hang with some Rune folks helping us scout...then come back to Bama the 23rd of July. This is our IZ....sort of...and we'll probably have some "flashbacks" of Johnson City IZs of the last two years....as Erwin is 20 miles from "JC". In fact, we'll go visit some of the folks and sites at Johnson City.....during our coordination....stop by Bristol Speedway, etc.
It will be cool taking the Valks....doing a road trip....seeing old friends....and Maggie Valley and Erwin, TN, are two of our favorite riding areas. I'm REALLY looking forward to this. Who knows, maybe this will inspire a FUTURE "ride in" to some other event for Sherry????
(NO, we won't give up the trailer, many times....due to supplies we have to bring as Staff for events, weather, etc....the trailer will still be a MUST for us!)
