Another New Year's Day Ride...

[DDT (12)]

Another New Year's Day Ride…
 
On New Year’s Day we rode to Enterprise, AL, to begin our brief stay at an apartment there. This time our prolonged layover of yet to be determined length would be to find shelter from the impending unusually cold temps predicted by the weather guessers. It would also be in no small measure to indulge my natural desire and concerted effort to become a highly skilled person of leisure…
 
I’ve actively gone after that last item throughout my entire life, and while I have progressed impressively, I don’t think I’ve quite mastered it yet. I feel an overpowering need to continue to practice, practice, practice! Worthwhile goals must be relentlessly pursued, you know, and the ‘giving up on this’ gene just does not appear to be in my DNA makeup, at least where this particular item is concerned anyway, so… I press on…
 
It was modestly brisk that cloudless morning when we pointed our noses in a westerly direction at first before later turning northward towards our ultimate target. An interim destination had been a Hardees Restaurant due west of our starting point, so that was why we made the curious route choices we did…
 
It would be a relatively short day in the saddle, and the overall weather was actually quite nice. It had been cool enough to wear the Gerbings liner for a layer, but not quite cool enough to warrant hooking it up. Likewise, the heated grips were never employed, although the temptation to use them had been rather strong at first.
 
Light, varying puffs of air only as the nearby US flag fluttered lazily in the gentle breeze promising fair conditions for now. The traffic also proved to be surprisingly light, so conditions were nearly ideal overall. Following breakfast, we rode back roads for the remainder of the delightful trek that fine day.
 
Our prospective apartment was in south central Alabama not far from the state line separating LA from Florida. Enterprise among other things is famous for its unusual statue in the center of town. A recognition of the curious and ironic role a pesky, damnable insect the bowevil had played in the survival story of that hamlet more than a century before.
 
That entire area had become almost entirely dependent upon growing that single vital and richly rewarding crop… king cotton. Growing conditions are nearly perfect thereabouts for that product, the world market continued to expand each year, and the cost/benefit ratio of cotton dwarfed almost anything else that could be produced locally. This glaring reality quite simply led all area farmers inexorably towards that white fibrous plant exclusively. It had been most economically beneficial indeed for that then-thriving town, and prosperity was no stranger to locals.
 
Then, that horrible year came along when the dreaded bowevil arrived and wiped out virtually the entire crop in that area! Farmers were devastated and many were driven into financial ruin. The town itself appeared on the brink of disappearing as residents were being forced to find new work to pay the bills and put food on the table or to migrate elsewhere. The town did manage to survive, but just barely…
 
Perhaps the most important lesson learned from this modern tragedy was ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’! Yep, thereafter farmers diversified and rotated their planting of crops and never again did cotton dominate as it had before. And never again did that town suffer an economic downturn anywhere near as severe.
 
In fact, the town soon began to prosper again, and town growth followed. The citizens gave due credit for the lesson learned and subsequent turnaround, and the statue was erected to commemorate that odd episode in its unique history… An almost unbowevible story but actually true!

Big Wolf on a previous visit…


 
The accommodation itself was ready and waiting when we arrived a bit early. That was good, as I’d hoped to squeeze in a bit of grocery shopping after unloading and settling in. We did accomplish all we needed to that afternoon, so we were then able to get a jump on practicing leisure activities, as well. The heater for the unit worked well, and the thermostat was easy enough to navigate for even this techno-midget to handle! Things were… adequate.
 
I do aspire to become good at being a person of leisure. I do not necessarily need to become one of those who also is extravagant. Diligently striving to ensure my means can indefinitely support my complete independence, I therefore tend to eschew lavish (expensive) rentals and instead seek modest but adequate digs… I can’t know how long I may be able to remain free as a bird, so I also tend to er on the side of ‘value’ choices… This place falls well within my parameters. OK, time now for a nap…
 
DDT (12)

P.S. A good friend, gone but not forgotten…

[f6john]

I recall having seen that ladies picture before but her name escapes me?

[robin]

her name was Jackie and a very nice person!!

[carolinarider09]

 

[Oss]

indeed she was a lovely person inside and out.  She was Punishers gal for a spell.

Does the new accomodation have a LAZYBOY?

I have been seeing ads for chair aerobics online.  No idea why.  Perhaps it is
something geezers can do to escape geezerhood?

I get into the chair just fine, it is getting up that is amusing.  Yet I can walk all day.

Go figure eh?

[old2soon]

    Me I'll personally be mucho happier when it is warm enough to RIDE Again. Fer as that leisure thingy goes I'd raher be leisurely on my new to me geezer gide!  But I have found the actual Need a time or three to slow down some. Anywho I'm of a belief that You have got this handled! RIDE SAFE.

[Farside]

  Glad you beat the cold Bruce and I know Enterprise pretty well. You’ve probably had you a Cutts local lunch a time or two there.  Sorry you lost your friend Stay warm bud!

[DDT (12)]

Yes, her name was Jackie, and regrettably she was taken from us way too soon. Oss is correct in that she was indeed a lovely person inside and out. She rode with Punisher to many Valk events during the several years they were together, and all who met her soon became her good friends who couldn't help caring for each other. She passed several years ago, but I stumbled across that photo while searching for the other one of Big Wolf I also posted.

Oh yeah, I'd much rather be riding in mild weather than being stuck shivering in this apartment, but... Since it's just too danged cold out for serious riding enjoyment, I'm going to take this opportunity to practice that leisure living thing I mentioned! I'm not doing the leisure thing instead of riding... I doing it because I can't do the riding thing!

No, no Lazy Boy here... other than the current apartment renter, that is... I've never given any thought to LB exercises, so... I dunno, seems like another gimmick to me...

I've never heard of Cutt's Restaurant before until I read your reply, Keith. I did look it up on the net, though, and I must say it looks like just the sort of place I need to visit! You've steered me to other great eateries before, so I'm really looking forward to trying this place out!

Hmmm, looks like a few days before it'll warm enough for an enjoyable ride there, so I'm gonna play around with the idea of DoorDash delivery... Delivery is never as good as dining there, but it's always better than anything I could prepare myself! Thanks for the heads up... again!

DDT (12)

[DDT (12)]

Update...

Keith,

I followed your advice regarding Cutt's Restaurant for lunch yesterday. I had good intentions, of course, and my thoughts would have matched my strong preference, as well. Alas, ... Hmmm, what to blame? Aging? Leisure-itis? Cold temperatures or more precisely my reluctance to brave those bone-chilling readings on the thermometer? Perhaps some other, any other, plausible excuse...? Oh heck, why don't you just pick one for me...

The bottom line is that I did indeed sample some of Cutt's food offerings, and I found what I had to be just as good as I'd hoped! Thanks, ol' bud, again you've steered me to some fine grub... However, I didn't ride our girl the short distance to Cutt's...

Door Dash promptly brought the BBQ pork, baked beans, coleslaw, bread (dinner roll), plus a slice of coconut pie right to my door and placed the goodies smack into my eager outstretched hands! I immediately devoured my selections... As everything had happened so quickly, there was no need to warm the meal in the nuculator! Again, thanks for the recommendation... You're proving to be a downright handy guy to know in these parts!!!

I also read your RTE post on the Florida board... I winced as I contemplated the cold (especially as I read Jeff's reply!), but I also wondered if during my stay here, an opportunity might arise for me to make another of y'all's breakfast gatherings. The one I made before was really nice!!!

DDT (12)

[f6john]

Update...

Keith,

I followed your advice regarding Cutt's Restaurant for lunch yesterday. I had good intentions, of course, and my thoughts would have matched my strong preference, as well. Alas, ... Hmmm, what to blame? Aging? Leisure-itis? Cold temperatures or more precisely my reluctance to brave those bone-chilling readings on the thermometer? Perhaps some other, any other, plausible excuse...? Oh heck, why don't you just pick one for me...

The bottom line is that I did indeed sample some of Cutt's food offerings, and I found what I had to be just as good as I'd hoped! Thanks, ol' bud, again you've steered me to some fine grub... However, I didn't ride our girl the short distance to Cutt's...

Door Dash promptly brought the BBQ pork, baked beans, coleslaw, bread (dinner roll), plus a slice of coconut pie right to my door and placed the goodies smack into my eager outstretched hands! I immediately devoured my selections... As everything had happened so quickly, there was no need to warm the meal in the nuculator! Again, thanks for the recommendation... You're proving to be a downright handy guy to know in these parts!!!

I also read your RTE post on the Florida board... I winced as I contemplated the cold (especially as I read Jeff's reply!), but I also wondered if during my stay here, an opportunity might arise for me to make another of y'all's breakfast gatherings. The one I made before was really nice!!!

DDT (12)

I have never used a food delivery service but I can see the value in your situation. A thought crossed my mind given that I have enjoyed my share of Cue and sides which I many times picked up in one of my favorite spots in bulk! I would order a couple of pounds of Pork along with a full rack of ribs, a large container, about a quart or so of burgoo and a bottle of their in house hot sauce. That and a loaf of bread could feed me for a while and never have to leave home for a few days. I might suggest that you could see if Cutt’s offers such an option and the you could have BBQ on demand, at least for a while!

I did have to eat most all the ribs first as I find them best right off the grill/smoker.

[DDT (12)]

John,

Great minds do so often think alike! Yes, they do offer their Que by the pound, and I do think about using that option... sometimes more seriously than others, though. I may haul off and do that this time, however, since I'll be here for a couple more weeks, and since their Swine specialty is so very fine! I do enjoy ribs, too, but I usually shy away from delivery of more exotic stuff, leaving the enjoyment of their specialized preparations for restaurant dining.

Thanks for the suggestion! I do appreciate your input, as our quisine tastes often seem to parallel each other. I'm left with a puzzlement by your reply, though... What is burgoo? I wondered if you might be referringg to Brunswick Stew, but I also figured I'd ask, because I don't recognize that term. It just could be you're about to learn me sumthin' 'portant about the pig Que experience to which I've never been exposed... TIA!

DDT (12)

[3fan4life]

So, you wussed out and let a little cold weather stop you from riding a short distance.




Well, a Very Wise Man once said:





I can't blame you, riding in the cold sucks!


Stay safe and stay warm, right now it's cold, slick, wet or on fire everywhere.

Seems like hunkering down is the smart thing to do.  

[DDT (12)]

Mark,

Yeah, I definitely thought so too! I've never known all of my limitations, and I may never know them all either... The list appears to be growing all the time as the date of my birth continues to fade ever further into the distant past...

Life is so much better these days, though, than it was even a short time ago, and things continue to improve all the time! Heck, Humphry Bogart and John Wayne never had Door Dash or even delivery pizza! Clint of course has, but he's truly an exception to the rules of aging...

Anyway, it's just a thing, and this too shall pass... For now, I ain't complainin' none one little bit, as the modern conveniences available today will be utilized by this leisure pursuer whenever it suits him!!! Traveling on two wheels is also evolving, and this life is becoming ever more enjoyable!!! All that's missing is my friends... This board is one of the workarounds for that, though, and soon enough...

DDT (12)

[f6john]

Burgoo is a mostly western Kentucky delicacy that most places sell as a side dish to Que. it is a mixture of pork and cooking juices with a mixture of vegetables thrown in to include peas, carrots, corn and other things I don’t always recognize! ALL burgoo is not created equal!!! Some are too thick and some are to thin for my tastes, some are so close to vegetable stew that they don’t deserve to be called burgoo. Sadly since moving to the the eastern side of the state I found they are as clueless about burgoo as an Eskimo.

I hope to make my way back to the Western end of Kentucky to see if burgoo is still a thing after my 7 year absence.

[DDT (12)]

John,

Sounds like definite road trip material to this pig parts lover! I've made a mental note to seek that stuff out one of these days! Any recommendations as to a good place to target for my exploration of new to me dietary delights? Wanna show me... not right away, of course?!

DDT (12)

[f6john]

John,

Sounds like definite road trip material to this pig parts lover! I've made a mental note to seek that stuff out one of these days! Any recommendations as to a good place to target for my exploration of new to me dietary delights? Wanna show me... not right away, of course?!

DDT (12)

The last best I had in Hopkinsville was at the Pioneers. Biggest drawback to the Pioneers is they are a Civic Group and only cooks on weekends during the summer months. They do chicken, mutton and pork along with burgoo and beans and so forth. I still have a contact in the area and I’ll have to have him give me the latest update. Darn, now I’m getting hungry!

[Jess from VA]

right now it's cold, slick, wet or on fire everywhere.  Seems like hunkering down is the smart thing to do.

That was my plan, but the roads finally looked clean and clear (from my house), so I ran up to my local Walmart for supplies (not far).  The truck didn't even get crummy either.

So I had something to ship and decided to run the other way to the local UPS store (not far either).

The 20 inches of icy snow on my giant 8.5 foot tall van roof (which I completely forgot about) had now thawed out enough to all come sliding and crashing down my big windshield when I hit the brakes.  Scared the crap out of me (no damage though, lucky).  That was a new one for me (big white van with a big pile of white snow on top)   

Screw winter... and the snowmobile it rode in on!!! 

[DDT (12)]

John,

Thanks for the info regarding burgoo. I'm now thinking I have a mission to undertake when circumstances improve... Heck, like you I'm even starting to feel the pangs of hungriness as our discussion progresses! I'm also thinking I may do some poking around on the internet to seek out a suitable target... Trying to hit one civic club event on weekends only in one location... Well, let's just say it would be mighty risky to place a bet of all the funds on my marksmanship!!! Still, I do look forward to what very easily could turn out to be a certifiable adventure...

DDT (12)



Jess,

That's some mental picture you've painted for us! Actually, most of us, even this primarily but not entirely Florida resident, have marveled at and experienced a banjo-string-tight sphincter moment similar to yours, so that picture was rather easy to visualize...

Smart of you to tackle only short runs to nearby places to get some needed chores out of the way while you could. Ummm, maybe a bit more preflight caution could have been exercised, but... You obviously handled the overall situation quite well. Don't you just love Monday morning quarterbacks opining with benefit of their 20/20 hindsight...? Thanks for chiming in!

DDT (12)

[Jess from VA]

Ummm, maybe a bit more preflight caution could have been exercised

Exactly Bruce, but that big pile had been up there long enough to melt some, and it wouldn't blow off with my blower (from my 8 foot step ladder sitting on ice), and the paint is perfect and I wasn't going to shovel it off (and probably fall off doing it).  So it finally came off while underway.    

I knew it would eventually.  But it was still a big surprise.  

And after it let go, I was afraid I'd burn up my wipers trying to move it off the shield.  So I sped up and braked hard a few more times so I could see again.  

[DDT (12)]

Jess,

Even Monday morning quarterbacks miss a call now and then! Solid reasoning, my friend, so you obviously did handle things rather well... I should be so thoughtful, but... As Popeye the Sailor used to say, "I yam what I yam..." Again, thanks for all your participation on this forum... You do add some 'color' and sparkle to our ongoing conversations... Thought-provoking insights, also.

DDT (12)

[Jess from VA]

I try Bruce. 

The County plow just came through and covered my drive again (not as bad as before).

I had just come in for some breakfast after shoveling it off again after last nights 2d snowfall (also not as bad as the big one).

That's three times. 

I really hate that guy. 

The people that leave their cars/trucks on the street don't/can't get that treatment, but those of us with driveways are screwed (and multiple times).   

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
The objective that most appeals to me, is to enjoy whatever I am doing at any given time.  Riding when it is enjoyable and finding solitude a good companion when riding would not be so comfortable,....well that is just a logical part of it!  Hey!  I remember trying to get that posed photo by that statue!  The traffic there at that time did not make the photo opp easy! Whatta great year that was though!  Man!
 Those are great memories for me!

Burgoo is a mostly western Kentucky delicacy that most places sell as a side dish to Que.

I hope to make my way back to the Western end of Kentucky to see if burgoo is still a thing after my 7 year absence.

John, There is a town (wide spot on a back road) in WV that goes by the name "Bergoo".  There were no eateries there when I last passed thru.  I just might have to do another recon up that way in a warmer part of this year!

[DDT (12)]

Jess,

You lucky guy! 'The third time' is not only a charm, but getting screwed that many times in one day... well... I envy the 'action'!

DDT (12)



Jerry,

Your 'objective' is a good one indeed! I've never been able to quite reconcile myself to liking some activities though, even with conscious effort, like yard work or honey do's, for example... For the sake of my own mental health, I had to put both of those activities and associated lifestyles in our girl's rearview mirrors.

I've now been 'homeless' most of the years since becoming happily unmarried more than twenty years ago... Yes, I did backslide for a few years during my singleness, but even then, I remained unmarried, and I did hire a lawncare service! Maybe you need to coach me a bit more...

DDT (12)

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
I don't know about coaching!  Who would coach who?  It seems to me that both of us are where we are by choice, not by chance.  However, you do know quite well my interest in your lifestyle.  I just don't think that I could pull it off as you do.  For one thing, I would have to divest myself of a lot of tools,....I like my tools and would feel lost without them.  Also, my WBCB destroyed my finances.  I have recovered enough to be comfortable, but not enough to be "secure".

"I've never been able to quite reconcile myself to liking some activities though, even with conscious effort"
And that is why it is more logical for you to put that conscious effort into avoiding those activities!

Bigwolf