Honey, I'm Home...

[DDT (12)]

Honey, I’m Home…

Holy cow! I’d known it was going to be good, but… I’d seriously underestimated the sheer joy that lay just ahead! The ride to the Mississippi Madness affair had been really nice. It’d been the first overnighter for us in several months, and we’d been chomping at the bit to get back out there… It helped that we had a really good traveling partner along for the celebration of a return to trekking, and Bert certainly proved to be just that. It turned out to be only a taste of things to come, though… An ‘appetizer’ with the actual ‘main course’ still hidden from full view…

This whole venture has been unusual… OK, they all are, of course. However, unlike most this one had some fairly set dimensions to it… at first… Like with nearly all of my rides, though, this one became something entirely different than originally contemplated almost from the very beginning. The entire nature of the original ride underwent several widely varying iterations in rapid succession, and wound up being something not at all anticipated…

Our girl and her partner had scooted up to Montgomery a couple of days early for the doctors’ appointments that had led us there… Rain in the forecast had made it quite clear that visit would have to be another quick cage roundtrip… unless… we left much earlier than needed… which we did. And that boys and girls, is how everything began to change… right from the git-go and continuing right up to the present…

Being in Montgomery a few extra days is no hardship, by any means. I have many friends there, so something is always going on… Besides, they do have a good assortment of eateries in that area including some fine swine choices in every direction. Getting around, it turns out, is no problem either, even when it rains.

See, my dear friend Sam and his wife have three cars plus a motorcycle (I don’t know if they also have bicycles or roller skates, although I’ve never noticed either while at their house). Anyway, Sam has practically insisted I use one of his cars my last couple of trips… This time I drove his VW Beetle (the modern variety, not one of those we all admired back in the ‘60s, although it bears a strong resemblance).

We met several times at Jan’s Beach House Bar & Grill, once even with a special guest, Sweet Cheeks, in attendance. Good food always, good beverages typically, and good times unfailingly! My two doctors’ appointments went very well with no unseemly surprises and good prospects being offered all around. All that plus Ron (Rams) and I decided to do a ride together to Kansas following my last appointment… made possible by being aboard our girl and not in a cage. I informed my landlady I would not be returning home right away… Somehow, she already knew…

By the time the moment of departure from Montgomery had arrived, Ron had already had a change in his plans, as he needed to do some work for the next several days… OK, we’d just scoot about here and there dodging raindrops and killing some time while scraping a few miles off… Not exactly a harsh sentence or painful delay for us…

We’d just head west and a bit south to avoid some moisture seemingly bearing down on us and make the most of the opportunity. We didn’t want to stray too far, however, as we were planning to hook-up with Rams in a few days… Maybe a ride out to Junction, TX, then hook back east and follow, at a safe distance of course, the rain back towards Hattiesburg, MS. Yeah, we had a plan, alright… Plans never work out, ya know… Weather forecasts also often don’t work out either…

The departure window for Ron slammed shut in a forceful way, and his plans got screwed up in short order when the forecast went downhill… which meant ours did as well. Based upon the forecast, I headed for Mount Pleasant, TX, where we’d hunker down for a couple of days to allow rain to overtake then pass over us… All of that nastiness, naturally, was headed straight for Ron.

Along the way to Texas, we’d had an interim target of Leesville, LA, for a night. We’d stopped near Brookhaven, MS, to take a break, and… Inside the store after topping off the tank, I spotted a deli/snack/to-go meal facility, and lunch preparations were being concluded. I looked it over and made the off-handed remark that some bacon would have sure made this rider a mighty happy dude. Next thing I knew, ‘Starra’, one of the cooks in the kitchen said she’d have a look… She came out with a box of what she described as one of her favorites… and she began to prepare a double order for this holder of a special fondness for that particular pig part…
 
A single slice…

 
A double order…


I’d never seen any that looked quite like that, but it was rather good… especially considering the circumstances through which I’d come by it! Not as good as what Mural & Jerry serve when I’m at their place, but still rather tasty… I smiled a lot while I ate it all…

We didn’t feel any inspiration in Leesville, so we rode on to DeRidder, LA, and stayed there for one night… plus a great meal at the Double D Steakhouse! More rain was on the way, however, so I looked for the least impacted place within range for us to head towards to hunker down… that turned out to be Mount Pleasant, TX. Three nights there, then… off to find dryer digs and riding… The southern route had just been closed to us as the forecast had shown the rain mostly down there now, but less so north of us…

Meanwhile, Ron finally called while we were in Mount Pleasant, and he sadly shared with me the news he was giving up on his big plan… OK, our girl and her passenger will just head up into Oklahoma then turn west and do some scooterizing without any hook-up plans to force compromises and not-so-great choices upon us… I have no idea when or even if Ron might ride to Kansas… What I do know is that our girl and her fortunate rider will not be headed that way in the foreseeable future… or until nightfall, whichever comes first…

In the meantime, we’ll be getting further and further away from Ocala, FL, for some time to come; but truth be told… we’re actually already back ‘home’ at long last!

DDT

[..]

 

[Jess from VA]

Honey, I'm home.

That's the punch line to an old joke..... What's the last thing you want to hear when you're having wild sex in the kitchen.   

[RNFWP]

Home indeed  ... that's great to hear.

[scooperhsd]

Bruce - if you ever make it up to the KC area - please contact Willow / Motomama and myself as I would love a get together. Carl is a 1st class Dude, and Motomama is great company too.

[Valkorado]

"In the meantime, we’ll be getting further and further away from Ocala, FL, for some time to come; but truth be told… we’re actually already back ‘home’ at long last!"


Congrats, Baconator.  .  Carry on!

[Rams]

Bruce - if you ever make it up to the KC area - please contact Willow / Motomama and myself as I would love a get together. Carl is a 1st class Dude, and Motomama is great company too.

Had my "plan" worked out, that was one of two spots Bruce and I had discussed.
Eventually, it'll happen.   The best laid plans of mice and men..........................
Some times life and Mother Nature get in the way.

Rams

[DDT (12)]

Paul,

Yep! Proud to be here... back here!!!

DDT

Honey, I'm home.

That's the punch line to an old joke..... What's the last thing you want to hear when you're having wild sex in the kitchen.   

Jess,

Talk about a buzz-kill... or something like that... No such going on here, though, just dodging raindrops and seeking new roads... Enjoying the heck out of doing what we do!!!

DDT

Bruce - if you ever make it up to the KC area - please contact Willow / Motomama and myself as I would love a get together. Carl is a 1st class Dude, and Motomama is great company too.

Scoop,

Yep, I'd like that. I agree with you on Carl & Lori, BTW... known them for years! Ordinarily I give cities a wide berth, but Ron and I had figured to venture in to see y'all... another time perhaps...

DDT

Home indeed  ... that's great to hear.

Ross,

Great indeed! I'm unable to find the words to more accurately describe the feeling, but... no need... You and many others on here already know exactly what I'm unable to express... It truly is wonderful to just glide along taking it all in, allowing my mind to wonder at will contemplating anything that pops in, viewing the wonders of our beautiful land, and meeting strangers at every stop... Oh the life of a gypsy rider... Yep, I have found my place in life!

DDT

"In the meantime, we’ll be getting further and further away from Ocala, FL, for some time to come; but truth be told… we’re actually already back ‘home’ at long last!"


Congrats, Baconator.  .  Carry on!

Seth,

Yep, I'm right where I've always wanted, and needed, to be... It's just that I've spent much of my life not knowing that! I'm here now, however, and it is absolutely better late than never!!! Oh, and the bacon sampling around the continent is and will definitely continue...

OK, back to carrying on now... The rain has stopped, and I have a weather window open if I head northwest soon... Time to get ready to get back out there. Don't bother looking for us in Gunnison anytime soon, my friend... We will make it back, no doubt, but not with the threat of snow still looming out there!

DDT

Bruce - if you ever make it up to the KC area - please contact Willow / Motomama and myself as I would love a get together. Carl is a 1st class Dude, and Motomama is great company too.

Had my "plan" worked out, that was one of two spots Bruce and I had discussed.
Eventually, it'll happen.   The best laid plans of mice and men..........................
Some times life and Mother Nature get in the way.

Rams

Ron,

Like I've so often said, we did indeed have a plan... a good one, too. However, all that planning and studying, fretting and stewing, resulted in... nothing! A rather frustrating exercise, to be sure, but regrettably necessary when time, funds, or other resources are limited. I'm looking forward to sharing a road trip with ya one of these days... maybe we can make some more plans... NAH! Just do it!!!

DDT

[Rams]

Ron,

Like I've so often said, we did indeed have a plan... a good one, too. However, all that planning and studying, fretting and stewing, resulted in... nothing! A rather frustrating exercise, to be sure, but regrettably necessary when time, funds, or other resources are limited. I'm looking forward to sharing a road trip with ya one of these days... maybe we can make some more plans... NAH! Just do it!!!

DDT

Yeppers,  
Planning is one of my strong suits.  
Execution, not so much.   

Working on an alternative plan.   Will let you know when I get it worked out.  

Rams

[f6gal]

Planning is one of my strong suits.  
Execution, not so much.   

Pretty much the exact opposite of Bruce.

[f6gal]

Bruce, I'm happy you're back out killin' bugs.  You da' man! 

[Rams]

Planning is one of my strong suits.  
Execution, not so much.   

Pretty much the exact opposite of Bruce.

   With all due respect......

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Planning is one of my strong suits.
 
Execution, not so much.

I've been planning not to get executed my whole life.

It seems to be working. 

We just had the hardest 2day blow I think we've ever had in my 30 years here.  Non stop roaring wind.

No (whole) trees down, and no loss of power was a near miracle.

Now if I don't execute myself with a heart attack (or fall off the roof) doing the cleanup,  Ima be good.   

[scooperhsd]

Come out to Kansas sometime.    We regularly see 2 - 3 days stretches with the wind roaring at 20, 30, even 40 MPH (with higher gusts). There's a good reason why Kansas was from the Native Indian word Kansa - "People of the south wind". Don't see hurricane force winds very often, but we more than make up for it. And there's not very many trees to break it up either. The rest of the Great plains can also boast of this.

[DDT (12)]

Bruce, I'm happy you're back out killin' bugs.  You da' man!  

Connie,

Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy... yeah, what Josh said... It is unbelievably good to be back! I was talking with my landlady on the phone the other day, and I offered to come home if she needed me... "No," she'd said, "there's no need..." I was relieved more than I could afford to let on with her response!!!

I did admit to each ride seeming to be even better than the last... and this road trip felt like the best ever! As for killing bugs... yes, I am doing all I can to help folks out in various localities... I'm still killing them as before... but they don't seem to taste any better... I reckon that must be an acquired taste and I just ain't there yet... Anyway, it is way beyond merely good to be out here again... wish I knew how to explain it!

DDT


Jess,

Yep, it can blow out here too! Good luck with your clean-up and 'execution avoidance'... Hmmm, now there's yet another thing we have in common... I'm just happy to be free of the burdens of home ownership... of course, I also miss out on all of the advantages, too... Oh well, life is a series of compromises, it seems... I'm still keeping an eye out for you to show up out here one of these days...

DDT


Scoop,

Yep, you are certainly right about the wind out on the prairie! I will be in the KC area one of these days... likely with Ron. Otherwise, I likely won't... Been through there many times over the years, and... well, lots of busy roads as far as the eye can see! Now, if we were to contemplate a meet out in say Dodge City or Liberal, I would view that possibility in an entirely different light!!! If I do venture there, though, I'll send up a flare or two plus post on here so we can arrange a meet... maybe do din-din or something... heck, possibly even share a ride!

DDT

[Valker]

So sorry I missed you.

[DDT (12)]

So sorry I missed you.

Eric,

Yeah, me too, my friend! Oh well, now that I know the way there, perhaps there just could be another time... Maybe I could work on my timing a bit too... certainly on announcing my intentions a bit sooner! My problem with that is, of course, I usually don't know myself when or where I might be going more than a day or two in advance... and that is always subject to change! Oh well, we can still try...

DDT

[Jess from VA]

Jess,

Yep, it can blow out here too! Good luck with your clean-up and 'execution avoidance'... Hmmm, now there's yet another thing we have in common... I'm just happy to be free of the burdens of home ownership... of course, I also miss out on all of the advantages, too... Oh well, live is a series of compromises, it seems... I'm still keeping an eye out for you to show up out here one of these days...

DDT

Yes sir.  Home ownership is right up there with marriage.  (kept the former, fired the later)  
It really is a love hate thing, but after right at 30 years, I got my home where it's pretty comfortable.  And every time I sit down in one of my cheap motels I think, man my home is sure nicer than this dump (and what's that shiny stuff on the bedspread?).

Bruce, I follow most of your posting, but you move around so much, and talk about visiting a landlady from time to time, and really I have no idea where you are most of the time.     Where is out here?

[DDT (12)]

Jess,

I do have rather rigid boundaries, so I'm pretty much always within them... The Polar Icecap, the US - Mexico border, and the two oceans that gird our continent's flanks... Somewhere in North America is about as close as I can narrow it down... Don't feel at a loss, though... I seldom know where I am or where I might be going either... This evening I'm in the panhandle of Texas, but tomorrow I'll most likely be in New Mexico... specifics yet to be determined...

As long as our girl and I are mechanically and physically able, we figure to keep things just that way, too... Come give it a try! No, motels will never compare favorably with home in terms of comfort, but... home will never compare with the variety of views or adventures out yonder either... Life is a series of trade-offs... We do what our spirits move us to do... We're just following our spiritual scripts...

DDT

[3fan4life]

The saying; "All who wander are not lost", comes to mind.

I truly envy your ability to just "wander".

Ride safe and enjoy the wind therapy, it's long overdue my friend.

[DDT (12)]

Mark,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts... I know you understand from having chatted with you over the years and by having read your own stories... It is a very special thing, for sure... however, it isn't for everybody. For those that it does suit, though, there just isn't anything else to compare! I'm so happy to be back out here, and YES!, it is long overdue as far as I'm concerned!!!

During those long, dismal days of 'spiritual claustrophobia', I experienced some lows that were not at all pleasant... Still, the memories of all that had preceded that coupled with the thought of all that might follow carried me through... Yup, to just say I'm happy to be out here again almost misses the point... Only a kindred spirit would grasp the real significance... someone like you... Thanks again!

DDT