. ....Timbr n Chili.s..most excellent adventure.....or..

[~ Timbrwolf]

. . ...if it,s Friday. ...it must be Tennessee..

....well..its been almost a week now, since Chili and I had THE best Road Trip we,ve ever had. ...an adventure to be sure..

...ya see...every year we see the pics of HotGlues and Flamingo Babes ...Gathering of the Fools...BBQ....and every year I hang my head and cry into my key board...cuz we missed it.. again...


...but this year was different...this year every thing just seemed to align...perfectly...we had a mild winter..(understatement)...Hot Glue was oblidged to push the Q back two weeks due to Easter being around the first of April this year....and most of all...I was sitting in the livingroom one night and Chili came home from work and said....Hey...I gotta Idea...Lets got to The Gathering of the Fools !!!

.....Yeahhhhh....A Hell Of An Idea !!!!!


...and so we began to plan and scheme and look at maps....and plan a route...and while planning this route we said...hmmm....lets see...what else is there to see while were on this here...Road Trip ?. ...


....lessee...theres...Memphis...and...New Orleans...and..and...Deals Gap.....Holy Crap....can we really do this ?!?!?. ....shur Chili sezzz...I,ll just take two weeks off ...and we,ll make it a....Two Week Friggin Road Trip !!!


...sooooo....thats what we did...and oh man....no...what I really mean is....OH FRIGGIN MANNNNN !!!!!!


....are ya ready ?


....cool.....cuzzzz....here we go !!!


...we left on a Monday morning almost three weeks ago now....Trailer packed to the gills...bike ready...we let out on a Monday morning at 10:30 am...the Bank Temp read 50 degrees when we left town...and and we had our Gerbings cranked up to high and leather jackets on....it was cool all through Michigan...even down state....but soon we crossed the state line into Illinois...got down to the south end of Chicago...and I dont mind tellin ya....those folks drive like nuts !. ...

...but soon we were out in wide open spaces....just zooming along...you know that *feeling* ...ya get when yer just startn a road trip ?. ...well...we had it BADDDDDD !!!





....like I said...we soon left the crazies behind...and slowly made our way out into the country side....the Interstate was almost all ours, with cars and trucks occassionaly going by...we were out in Gods country...farm land abound...it was around 3 in the afternoon...the sun was a big ol lazy orange fire ball hanging low in the late afternoon sky...every half mile or so another tiny farmhouse dotted the horizon off in the distance....it was about 75 degrees out and sun was slowly coaxing me into a coma...I had long ago shed my Gerbings and leather ..and replaced it with a nice t shirt....man I was feeling soooooo good....it was the very first day of a 14 day road trip...and the weather report was awesome....time seemed to just stand still as we rode along...just loving life..





. ...our destination...that night...was Champaigne Illinois...about 430 miles or so...we rolled into town around 7:30 that night...got out hotel room and spiffed up a bit...it was dinner time...the first of many...and unbenownest to us...they were only to get better...and better...we strolled outside and the sun was just setting into dusk...it was so warm and radiant...I was loving it..I had forgotten just how awesome an east coast spring could be....Champaigne is a hip lil ..college town...with lots going on...and LOTS of upscale restaurants..we had our choice of 3 upscale place to choose from within walking distance...Italian...Mexican...or an Asian Bistro..we went for the Asian...very nice lil place...inside was done up in expensive decor...and the food was great...they also had a tradition of giving out...free flavored sake ...to all the customers...well...okay...if you insist..





...Chili is adventurous...and went for the sushi...me...I like my Asian cusisine ..cooked...I did ask for some of the Chefs ..Hot Oil...on the side though...the food was excellent..




....we ate well...then retired to our room for a Capn or two...or...well...you get the picture...in the morning we rose around 8 am...showered and had the continental breakfast...then hit the road around 10:30....Chili and I are notorious for our late starts in the morning...ask anyone one whos traveled with us...were never ready on time...lol....it was another excellent day...warmer then the day before....and we were both very excited about what mysteries that lay ahead...so we hit the road..





....cruising down the Interstate...it was a magnificent day...our destination was Memphis Tennessee...ya see we had a rendezvous with some...Memphis Ribs...and nothin was gonna stop us...well...almost nothin....Memphis was around 450 miles away...and at 80-85 mph all day...I figgered wed be rollin in....right aorund rib time..I mean...dinner time..






....like I said...it was a glorious day...God..I felt so good right at that moment...stirpped our helmets off and just cruised along....basking in the sun...





....when we first started planning this trip...we said...okay...lets do this thing...on the "cheep"...you know...pack some bologna...bread...mayo...some left over smoked pork tenderloin...we stopped at a gas station along the Interstate and had a little...impromptu pic a nic..on their grass....lol...

...it was a great Idea...but wasnt last long...lol







....after lunch it was back to the wind...along the way Chili was in charge of our ...On Road Photo Journalism...and I was quite surprised..and happy...when she started using her imagination...and getting some shots of us in...passing semi wheels...the truckers seemed to dig it too...and gave us the ol...thumbs up...everytime she took a new shot..




are great...but there is something about being on the road with ...just the woman you love...what was the word my friend Tonyz used ?....oh yeh....romantic..

....I was lovin the day..





....the day went so nicely...it was only the second day out...the weather was awesome...we were making great time and only 48 miles south of Memphis...I had visions of little barbecued ribs dancing through my head...I mean...what could go wrong ?


...yeh...what indeed my friends..


....suddenly ...the trailer started sashaying just ever so slighty...I checked the side view mirror...was it my imagination?...there it was again...ever so slightly....something was definitely...up....so I told Chili...we need to make a quick ..stop by the side of the road....what gives she asked ?...I dunno I said....somethin...so we quickly pulled the big ol rig over to the shoulder and hopped off...and as semis and cars wizzzzed by at 80 + mph...we did a quick impromptu inspection of the trailer...we had new tires put on and put new bearings in ourself before the trip...just to ensure that we wouldnt have these kind of...issues...with the trailer...we didnt "see" anything...so we quick whipped out the T wrench...tightend up the lugs...just to be sure...and hit the road...got up to our normal cruising speed....85 mph and now the trailer was definitely shimming and swaying....slowed down to 60...she went smoothe as glass....sped upto 65....shimmy shimmy....coco BHAAAAAA !!!!


....I took the next exit....which just happened to be....Osceola Arkansas ....we pulled into this Shell Station only cuz it was the first service station I went by...bad mistake...cuz it also doubled for an overnight Semi parking Area....so as we lay on the ground kicking and shaking the wheels on the trailer and...cursing...what could it be ?!?!....BIG ol noisy Semis roared by us....doing what ever it is...BIG ol noisy Semis do....well...after about 19 minutes of messing with the trailer and shaking our heads...I happned to glance up at the rear of the bike...and thats when I saw it...and I said somethign profound like....hey baby....look at the rear tire...its flat !


......FU@@@@@#####KKKKKKK !!!


...yepper...I thought back and instantly remembered going over this road kill on the two lane with a car long side me...the road kill had been cut clean in half...but...I distinctly remember something ..*shiny*...in the middle of the road...it happened in the blink of an eye....well..we rolled around in that noisy dusty parkinglot for about half an hour...trying to get some cheesey tire plug kit I had bought ...to actually work...with no avail....so I called Progressive Road Side Assistance...and talked it over....yep...its flat...yep...were in the middle of friggin no where in God Forsaken...Osceloa Arkansas.....yep...its 5:30 and ALL the friggin Honda Shops are closed for the day....while I was on the phone with them...Chili had whipped out her cell...and was at that very moment on the phone with none other then Hot Glue...telling him the sad news...he in turn...calls ANOTHER VRCC member and close friend...Speedy...who just so happens to live in Memphis and just so happens is also go to...TGOTF....Speedy calls Chili and informs her of THE best Honda shop in Memphis for shop work....so I tell Progressive...hey...look...we decided were gonna spend the night in good ol..Osceloa ...and deal with this in the morning...sooooo....I GLOM as much of the cheesey repair glue and crappy plugs in this nice lil 1/4 inch gash ...we then fill the rear tire to ohhhhhhhh 25 lbs over the recommended pressure and make a bee line for the hotel 1/4 mile down the road...and guess what ??....we make it !!!...yep...I park the bike right up front so its easy to spot in the morning...and in we go to get us a nice lil room for the night...now...Osceola Arkansas is ..shall we say...a unique place of sorts....the only king bed they had was...get this...in The Presedential Suite...and no...there is no bar...nor is there a restaurant...but ..the girls tells me....we can get "beer"...down at the gas station...and yes...there are a couple of .."pizza joints"...that deliver....okay....we,ll wing it tonight...I mean...its just what we motorcycle types call a....momentary setback....right ?


.....so we order a pizza and Chili takes a stroll down to the service station to peruse their probably...limited selection of suds...me...I hit the shower to try and get some of the grease and sweat and all that dust the endless parade of semis showered us with while we were crawling around in that dirty parkinglot.....

....well...the "pizza" fiinally came...an hour and a half later....18 friggin dollars and 90 minutes...Im thinking...this must be some damn good pizza....I was wrong..





....Three Things...I learned in this incident....Buy a REAL Tire Repair Gun Kit....dont ever get the "Presedential Suite" again.....and what ever you do....NEVER..order a pizza...in Osceola Arkansas..





...okay...its 8 am...were already up...showered..and Im dialing Progressive Road Side Service...we called the Honda Shop recommened by Speedy...by way of Hot Glue...and they said...sure...we got a Dunlop E III in stock...(Ive sworn off Avons forever..but thats another story)...and they say...get that bike here...and we,ll get it right in !


....well...guess what...that flat bed tow truck was here at 10 am SHARP...guy takes one look at my bike and sez...okay...hook that trailer back up to her...Im gonna "coax" the whole rig up onto the back of my truck...and dont worry...I been doing this for 20 years...I AINT gonna hurt yer bike....now..something in this guys voice..demeanor...gives me a warm feeling...and sure enough he,s true to his word...he pulls her right up on the flatbed...me riding her the whole way...then he spends the next 30 minutes making sure shes tied down nice and tight...and aint gonna budge...we then all pile into the rig...its time to hit the road for Memphis..






.....so there we sat....the three of us...bouncing along...feeling every bumo that highway had to offer...were gonna make it to Memphis afterall....just a day late and not exactly the way I had planned...but hey...dont get me wrong..Im not complaining...way I figure it...it could have gone...ALOT worse...then seeing the Mississippi though a bug splatered windshield of a bumpy ol flatbed..





....well...we made it to the Honda Shop...and lemme claify this...it was...Bobs Honda and Yamaha Shop...I feel the need to do this because these guys were friggin awesome...I mean...we pull up...service manager beelines right to the truck...we get her off the back..and he has a mechanic there in the blink of an eye...hobbling my bike right in and onto a lift...we go sit down and by 2:30 in the afternoon...were pulling out of the parkinglot and riding in down town Memphis Tennesse...looke at some high dollar homes along the Mighty Mississippi....Chili sez...ya wanna just skeedaddle and try and make s couple hours ?

...I think on this for a moment as we pass by all these fine homes...





...I think on it for a minute before replyin...yanno what ?...we got two whole friggin weeks to explore...we may never get to Memphis again....we both had our lil hearts set on layin a lip on some of those ...Bodacious Memphis Style Ribzzzz....lets just hang out...so what if we lose a day...we got time...plenty of time...besides...I hear them ribzzz....callin my name..

....and so we did...we cruised right down town...got us a room at the Holiday Inn.....the room wasnt all that and they gouged us 5 bucks for parking...but yanno what...I didnt care !...I queried that front desk person....dude...when yer off duty...and yer dying for some...Bodaciousssss ribzzzz...where do YOU go ?!?!?...and so he told us...The Blue City Cafe....right on World famous Beal Street....sooooo...thats where we went !





.....this here is ...The Blues City Cafe...





...and these here are ...The Ribzzzzz...and they were Awesomeeeeeee !!!






.....very cool lil place indeed...and the beginning of our...Taste of Memphis Blues....and a change of luck...cuz from here on out...Im here to tell ya...it just got better and better and.. . . .





....soooo....after stuffing ourselves with those bodacious ribs...it was time to take a stroll around...and explore...World Famous Beal Street...





....now....remember how I tole ya our luck had changed ?...well...dig this ...not only did we get to eat some scrumptious Q...and ...exlore all tthese cool lil shops and places on Beal Street...but...it also just happened to be wednesday night....and yanno what that means on Beal Street ?...thats right....Bike Night !...yup...they closed off both ends of this cool lil touristy street and let...Bikes only....come in and park...and boy did they ever..





....the place was very cool...and ofcourse I first made a bee line for...Tater Reds..Lucky Mojos..





....yeahhhh...this place was cool...so cool infact...that Chili and I started spending cash like mad...lol...we were having a ..how does Hot Glue say it....a VERY large Time !!





...and the bikes....they just kept a commin and a commin...and the air filled with live Blues bands...playing from bars and side streets...it was totally awesome...





....heck...I think even Elvis...hizzz bad self...was even there that night..





.....soooo...we just wandered round ..taking it all in...and trying not to spend...too much loot..





....every where we looked...folks were just havin a very large time...drinkin in outside bars...or just in the streets...it was just one big ol party..





....checked out BB Kings joint...in name anyway..





. ....some very cool architechture to be sure..





 ....LOT of walking....man...I could go for a nice cold Capn ...right about now...





....they even had street performers...jumping and bounding down the street..





.....we wandered round for bout 2 1/2 hours....then it was back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.....these were the horse drawn carriages across the street from our hotel..






. ....me and this guy are on a...first name basis..





 ..and I,ll tell ya what....after a long night of wandering the streets of debauchery...NOTHIN hits the spot when ya get back to the ol hotel room ...like a good ol..

.. .......Moon Pie and Corona !! ..





. ...and remember folks....


.....What happenes in Vegassssss..





bike ready to hit the road...and tried to hit...Gus,s World Famous Fried Chitin....plan was to get a WHOLE chitin...and put the lil devil in the cooler...trouble was ...took at Least 15 mins just to place yer order....then another 30 minutes till it was ready......so...with a heavy heart we mounted up and hit the road....remember that part where I told about...late starts ?


.....on the Interstate.....12:30 PM....SHARP !!  ..





....yep...inspite of our late start...or maybe...because of it...we rolled into North Texas that night...7:30 PM.....if I remember correctly....Marshal Texas...Quality Inn....now its commin back....had a bodacious .."jacuzzi room"...and after unhitching the trailer..shot down the street and grabbed "another" bottle of Capn frpm hot lil Vietnamese chick in one of them lil Texas liquor stores...before shooting back to the room and putting that jacuzzi on Highhhhhhh..





...lol...oh yeh....the shot above was from the....morning after...ya can always tell yer in..rural Texas...when theres some dude selling...weed wackers and refurbished chain saws...on the side of the road..



....anyway...we rode most of the day and made GREAT time...and before yanno it..we were up on the Gulf of Mexico on Galveston Island...can you say...the "long way" ?...its cool though...Chili had never seen the Gulf...or Texas for that matter...and I hadnt been to either in over 30 years...





....so we cruised the Island...checked out all the tornado damage ...then hopped the ferry for the main land....we were mere miles from our ...first destination...Hot Glues...and we were both getting psyched..






....yeah....it was nice man...riding the Ferry...but then...aint Ferry rides always nice...I mean unless ofcourse yer in like some kinda...tornado kinda thingy...

[~ Timbrwolf]

....so we cruised the Island...checked out all the tornado damage ...then hopped the ferry for the main land....we were mere miles from our ...first destination...Hot Glues...and we were both getting psyched..







...once off...it was back on the highway...and man..I,ll tell ya what...Texas got some friggin highways !!....yup...just like I remember.....run for for yer friggin life !

.....but before we knew it...we were at the Howard Johnsons Motor Lodge...all checked in..and callin the man hizzz bad self...HG....thats...Mr Hot Glue....

...he gave us directions and we shot over to his hacienda ..which I gotta tell ya...if ya ever seen "the piczzz"...its even nice...cooler...use any word ya want...its a nice lil pad Mark and Charlene got there...and once we got ther we said...Mark !...Charlene !!...so great to finally be here....were friggin starvin...(Very Strong Hint)...not to worry sez he...c mere...see this BIG ol pot of Gumbo....see this rice....dig in !!....and man ooh man....did we ever...and yanno what ??....that stuff was awesome !!...and it wasnt even..."The Stuff"....we were all gonna lay a lip on....tomorrow night !!

.....but man...was it good...and so we hung out for a spell...apparently Mark starts this shindig like...daze and daze ahead of time...so folks gain alllll kinda weight..and waddle away happy and so damn full ..


....ya mon....dis be da Gumbo....berry berry goot..see dat BIG ol sausage ??....oh man....makin hungary all over again !!





. ...and then the day finally came...The Gathering of the Fools...finally after years...and I mean years...here I was ...standing right in the middle of what has to be...The Coolest....Man Cave....Woman Garden...and...Mens Room Du Jour....in South Texas !!





......The sign sez it all..





 ..and all morning...and all afternoon....hell....all friggin day....the bikes just kept commin and commin and.....





....shot of the garden....dunno how old that oak tree is ...but its pretty friggin old !....whole place is laid out real nice...comfortable....just wade on in....yanno ?






...and this is where the genius comes in...not sure if it was thought up this way...or just worked out this way...or a lil of both...but is ooooohhhhh sooooooo sweet....ya just gotta see it to believe it my friend....a Master piece to be sure...





...take another...look see...at that previous pic....yeh...thats their back door off to the left...and yeh...thats the ultimate ...Party Cafe...built in structual steel...off the back of their hacienda..


...another view.,..of the recently added....extension du jour..






..thought I knew how to throw a Q.....ha..


...now....this is a bike his father rode...back in the day...

...you know...the ultimate "memory"...hangn high off the cieling





. ..and there were folks milling every where....this is JP...very laid back individual that I finally got to meet at the gathering...


....watch it JP...looks like yer up to yer neck in..quick mud..





....and this heres....Lazer Pat...nother laid back guy...and I gotta say...I do admire his ...taste in doo ragzzz..






. ..and ofcourse....what other Q would  a Valker come all the way from..Norway...to attend ??..

....this is Dag...and man can he eat !! ..





. . ...and this guy....what can I say.... X Michigan boy...already got that...down home Texas boy thing goin on..


....hey Wizard....helluva a paintjob ya got on that Valk....





.....really dug talkin to this dude too...Chris...from upstate NY.....now livin in Texas...





.....and Serk....so many cool people Ive seen posting on the National for years...and now I finally get to put ....faces to their handles...beautiful family ya got there Serk..





....me and JP hanging out...now I know why Strider digs this guy so much....just  got that Louisiana way about him..





...and Speedy...just good people man...definite good ol boy from the great State of Tennesse....and what a story teller...gotta get this boy in the parkinglot party sometime...the tales he tells..





....hung out with Carl and Lori for a spell too....Kansas folks...and good people...





...and dont forget Tom Cat now...old TC....another of the National folks...





....some more great folks...Moon Shine...Sugar Bee...and Lyn del and Wizzard....so many good people ...just hangn out havin a good time..






....okie...now this here ....just aint right....nope...this here is just just.....pure trouble if ya ask me..





puttin in that big ol fancy hand made smoker of yourin....or is that puppy just...for show...


....he just dead panned me...and uttered two words..


...look here..

[~ Timbrwolf]

...then he picked up ...what best I could tell was some sort of...flame thrower..and commenced to laying flame to that mighty flame painted smoker of his....and folks just sort of....stood back and stared in awe...






. ...then he started loading that puppy with meat...and more meat....brisket upon brisket...then chickens...whole chickens...lotzzzz of them.....then sausages.....it was maddening I tell ya....maddening !!!









 ....next day....he swung that mighty door open....and Ooohhhhh what a site...





.....yeah....I do have lots to learn from the Master....lots..


....Barbecue...anyone ?. ..





.....ohhhh man....allllllll that Q....I just had to...reachhhh out...and just mebbe....okay Mark...okay...I gotcha....patience...I hear ya bro...

....actually...he did cut off a nice lil ..hunk...and hand it over to me...and ohh man...all I gotta say is...


...Memphis aint got NOTHIN....on this boy..





.....and before ya knew it...it was time to eat...thing that really impressed me about his whole operation...I mean...the scale....it was a smaller turn out then the year before..."only" 130 people this year....all that food...prizes...raffles.....and every time I turned to look at Mark...or Charlene for that matter...they were both just laughing and joking and having a good ol time....and it all still came off...with out a hitch...

...but enough of me jibber jabbing.....time to eat !!!






. ....and hey....dont forget them sides !





....that Chili gurl....got herself a BIG ol plate....and was fixin to chow down !





.. ....and this ol Wolf didnt do too bad either....I know..I know...sacreledge with the sauce and all...but hell...Im STILL licken it off my fingers





. ....and when I say that line was a streachin clear across the entire backyard...and that boy has a BIG ol yard !!





...and the best part is....yanno what...Mark and Charlene do do this for the enjoyment of their friends...but...they also do it for...the kids...yep...Lions Kids...does the raffle....50/50....you know the drill..and what do yanno....winner laid claim to over...800 Bucks...but wait a minute...cuz yanno what...cant remember his name...sorry...mebbe someone will jump in here and help me...but he won over 800 bucks...and gave it ALL back...to help the Lions Kids....yeh....class..





...then...the silent auction started...





. ...oh....Sugarbee....what are you buyin there ?!?

....oh wait...I aint gonna tell..





.....man O man...that stuff wuz just a flyin off that table....and some very cool stuff it was...

....but yanno what was really cool ?


....you guessed it...it was all sill for the Lions Kids...


....all in all...Mark and Charlene raised over...3,000 dollars...I cant remember the exact amount...but no matter how ya count it....it was alot of kindness !!





....seems Frisco Dave had some....U joint issues...but as usual...lotsa folks stepped right in to help....JP lost no time diving right under that bike and getting it done....right..





 ...uhh.....Okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy


.....I was hopin this wouldnt come up ....but...


...we had some...wimmin folk...


....wait...is that Chili ?!?!?


....okayyyy...anywayyyy....seems we had some...cusious wimmin...just wanted to...check out...Marks...Unique...Impromptu...Ahem...Menzzz Room..





. ...are those...cameras...in their sneaky lil. ..





 ....thats right...you were both caught....Red Handed..

[~ Timbrwolf]

....what was so interesting in there...anyway ?





.....question is...are you two....heeding any of these words ??





 ....I shur hope not ..





. ...lol.....anyway....when all was said and done....Mark and Charlene asked us to come up front...seems they had a lil..somethin...they wanted to give us.....yanno...when I say some people are just....genuine...ya gotta know I mean...folks like Mark and Charlene...these two invited us into their home....and with all these other folks around..and like I said before...around 130 of them...we STILL felt like we were family....not only was it that...warm Texas thing...but two people who not only welcome you into their home...but their Hearts as well...


...so they presented us with this...Bottle of Wine...to commemorate our trip and adventure as it were to our first..and hopefully not last....Gathering of the Fools...






. ..and what better label could there be ...then one to honor our flat tire in...Osceola Arkansas ....

......Desolation Flats..





. ...well...the party definitely went by ...too damn fast....but Chili and I want you two to know how what a great time we had and thank you for not only welcoming us into your home..amd your hearts...but also to one of the best damn Gatherings ...we,ve been to in a long time..


....from both our hearts....Thanks Mark and Charlene..





...well...to say it was a great party...just dosent seem to do it justice...so all I can say is...you just gotta experience it first hand...and as they say....put some south in your mouth !


...now...the journey continues

....onwards my friends...ya see...we got LOTSA time left...daze and dazeeeeee...

....but first lemme get nother Capn....be right back..


....okie...where was I ?


. ....ohhhhh yeahhhhhh


.....Loozzziannaaaaaaaaaaaa


....well...it all started....like this...


...the very next day ...I think Chili had to literally...roll me outta bed...ya see our advenutre wasnt over...infact...it had barely begun...so we showered up and got the trailer loaded...Carl and Lori tried real hard to be the last ones to leave the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge...but hey...they were messin with professionals here...so we bid the fair thee well...and procastinated bit more...


.....finally...we left out...only to encounter the ...first rain of the journey...but fret not...it was a lite refreshing drizzle...and besided the bike needed washin any ways..


. ...so ...after a couple of hours of sprinkle...we drove out of the rain...and Texas...and right into Louisana....





....the rain was slowly going away...and so was our full tank of gas...so we stopped to refuel...and while at the service station, we ran into this older couple on a Gold Wing Trike....so we chatted it up a bit and the guy must have come across my type before...because out of the blue he goes...and if you,re looking for a good place for dinner....take exit 115 off of I 10 ..comming out of Texas...and there will be alot of ...Loozianna style restaurants....to satisify yer cravin....its about...ohhhhhhh.....130 miles down the road...


....alrighty then...we gassed up....mounted up....and hit the Interstate...the entire time...me countin the miles until....exit 115.....well...it finally came up and we took  it only to find...a dumpy lil back woods town that kind of reminded me of...home....wtf is going on here ??....so we drove one way only to make our way into...no wheres...so we turn around and head the other way...all the time me goin...wtf...wuz that old geezer messin with our heads or what ??...so we stop to get gas and Chili wanders in and goes...hey...wheres a good place to eat round these parts ??....so the owner goes...okay...make a left outta here...and follow it all the way down to where it dead ends at the Bayou...and there will be....Pat,s....best damn cajun food ya ever laid a lip on.....okay...Im hungry...its late...Im game...so we take this here road...and we ride...and we see...one...two...three resturants....out of business...and I say again to Chili Pepper....wtf is going on here ??!?....then...finally...we see this...place...Pats...and it has this look to it...a good look...so we park the rig and wander inside...






.....yanno....once in a while...once in a great while...ya stumble onto a place like....Pats...and JP or any one else will testify...this place without a doubt...Rocks...and the crazy part is...if you werent a "local"...or if some guy in a gas station didnt...tell you how to find it......trust me on this one....you never would.....and yet...the place was packed...





.....sooooo....we moseyed on in and the hostess seated us...inside..so I look...and they got outside seating...right on the bayou...so I sez...can we sit out...there ?

....so...thats where they sit us...and we get this waitress named...Shasta....and shes one those...really cool kinda waitresses..who knows how to wait on their customers and give them...the experience...then she finds out were some freeks from a far away place like...Northern Michigan....so she tells us how great the "mudbugs" are this season...and she insist we try them...so what are we gonna say...no ?....so she sets us up...and then she just starts bringing all this food...and guess what...she wants us to have...the Cajun Experience...so alot of it is...on the house..






....so...there we are...eattin all this bodacious cajun food...and its spicy...and messy...and its...friggin awesomeeeeeee !!!





....soooo....ya see all those...spicy craw fish...gumbo soup...lil bowl of I dont what...fried crawfish doo dadzzzz....all kinda spicy sauces to dip em in....


...I got one word for that kinda stuff...appetizers


....then she brings the main dishes...


...I got the...lump crab meat wrapped in red fish...incredible...






....Chili gets the....Crawfish Etouffee....again....best seafood...or any food  in a restaurant...in over 20 years...






......oh yeah......see that beer Chili is sippin ?



......La 31....local micro brew...and I mean local...cant get it ANYWHERE....and its really good beer too...

...so good ...we enquire about getting a...six to go....you know...to go with the moon pies ..


...so Shasta sez...wait..i dunno...lemme go ask...

...so she comes back and sez..bad news...its new stuff...really new...just got it in...4 bucks a bottle....wanna six pack ?.....24 buckzzzz


....so we say.....uhhhhhhh....okay ! ...make sure its cold though !!


....I mean...were on an adventure here...right ?..


....so we get one......to go


....oh...by the by....this is our waitress...Shasta...





....sooooo....were stuffed....I mean...were stuffed !! ...again...so we make our way out to the rig...load her up...Im takin real good care of them beers...I mean..a 24 dollar six pack.....them babies should be insured through Lords of London....and we hit the road....were riding...in the dark...and we come upon this really long bridge...I think its the 24 mile bridge...at least thats what this young newly wed couple at the next table was tellin us about...so we get to the hotel...some hotel...I dunno...its been daze now...its all startn to all blend together...in a good way....but we get there...and unpack...unwind...oh yeah...now I remember....one of them...white collar hotels or something...big ol eteche for workin...and a really fine ..big ol flat screen Tv....they all gottem now...smokin....

....sooooo...what to do for the rest of the evening ?


...wait...I know...

.......Pssscchhhhhhtttttt !!! ..





....next mornin...were ridin..

....what time ya say ?


....I dunno....but ya can bet yer sweet ass ...one thing..


......its late in the morning..


...anyway...we got lost a little I think...but not to fret...we got back on track...where ever that was....and before we knew it...we were in good ol...New Orleans...

...now I gotta tell ya...it aint exactly how I envisioned it...I mean....quaint and all..and besides...on the road...we were "warned"...3 times....be careful !!....murder...mayhem....all that kinda good stuff...invest in a good  ...Kelvar riding jacket.....And for Gods Sake...Stay in The Light !!!


...okay....so here we are...and its not all that quaint...matter of fact...it friggin big !....and with all these over and under passes...kinda reminds me of Texas...not that theres anything wrong with that..


....so were on this big ol Interstate....cars wizzing all around us...and were riding and riding...and I turn to Chili and I said...hmmm...mebbe we should get off...before we ride right on out of good ol...New Orleans....so we take an exit..I dunno...we were apparently looking for ..some street...Decatur I beleive....but we take this exit and I see this sign.... The Welcome Center ...and I get this Idea...hmmm...mebbe these people know something...at least more then we do...so I pull in....now...remember that....luck changing thing ?....yeh well...we pull in...

.....so we go in and start chatting it up with this old lady...and shes real nice...and she goes...well...come over to this computer and ya can pick out a hotel and maybe save some money...and Im smilin ...but all the time Im thinkn...yeh right...save some cash....but yanno what ....were scrollin though this thing and its tellin us that all the hotels not only charge big bucks...but they also charge up to 25 bucks a day...in parking !.....thats right...seems parking in the Big Easy....aint all that easy...but guess what...this thing also tells us...book though it and you save like 40 bucks a night off the hotel stay !! ....and ya also get...Free Parking !!...and yanno what else ?...they got this ...cool lil Red Bat Phone...right next to the puter...so what ever hotel page yer on...pick up the phone...and BAMMM !!!...that hotel picks up....gives ya the discounted rate....and tells ya how to get there !!


...so here we are....in the....Big Easy !!





. . ....thats right baby...were in Nawlinzzzz...and it just keeps getting better !!





. ....and...where pray tell is our room ?

.....you got it...right smack dab in the...French Quarter !

...and...instead of paying..130 bucks a night...were paying...89 bucks a night...and the 22 dollar a day ...parking fee the hotel normally charges ?.....forget it....cuz its free !!


....I cant wait to go exploring !





....soooo....we cruise round town...till we find this place...and oh man...what a place it is...3rd generation owned....right in the French Quarter....two pools....entire place done in...Early French Provencial...

.....need I say more ? ..





....soooooo....we park the bike in there walled in coutyard of a parking place...and mosey on up to our room...


....one word...

.....unbelievable..





....oh yeah

....this is the...Private Entrance Way....


....leading up to our room..





.....sooooo....after dumpin our.."stuff'....time to gp check out....The Big easy....

....and thats what we did...the French Quarter is a very cool place...





.....Steeped in ..History...Flavor...and Tradition....as well as....alot of Voo Doo..





. . .....course we had to hit ol...Bourbon Street





.....LOTTA walkin....but alot of cool things to see....Chili and I both agreed that we would love to have one of these 2nd floor homes along the Avenue...





....and...Voo Doo...abounds..





. .....Ohhhhh yeahhhhhh





. ...okay...so first day there I did the ol rookie mistake...French Quarter is big...damn big...and I wore sandals...

...by the end of the day my feet were killing me....then we decided to walk out to dinner....problem is....place is packed..
...lotta tourist....we hit two or three places...and either prices were sky high...or like Paul Prudhomes.....hour and forty five
minute wait...yeh right....so we decided to take the ...easy way out....Bubba Gumps....only place I think I was actually
disappointed in....I mean....frozen shrimp on the Gulf Coast ?......c monnnnnn..but it had great atmosphere...and we were right out on the balcony on the Boulevard..






....walk back to our room was nice...this is probably where we shoulda ate..





....walking back from dinner.....right across the street from our hotel..






chicks eyes....were following me....I told chili...I think this
chick is diggin on me...she just laughed and told me to make her a drink....wimmin...





.....sooooo...were out on our private patio...having a Capn..
..when all of a sudden...fireworks start going off over our head...seems down by the river there having some kind of fireworks....so we kick back...sip our drinks...and enjoy..






...so this goes on for like 15 minutes...beautiful...






....then the finale starts up....were pretty trashed by now and were like...man...this is just too much !! ...we gotta book another night...hang out and explore some more...so we call down and get another night..






...so...the next morning were just hanging out..enjoying the free breakfast with the best damn coffee Ive had in a long time...in one of the many court yards at the hotel





....this is the fountain in the courtyard






....then it was....back out exploring some more...wore boots this time around....much better..






.....think this was along Decatur Street ...cool horse and buggy tours...cept they wanted 30 bucks per couple ...for a half hour..






 ....walking Decatur...looken in one of the bars along the avenue...

[~ Timbrwolf]

. ....one of the many..street performers on the street...I mean...the Saints DID win the Super Bowl...right ?





.....cool dude..





....nother one of my...equestrian friends....horses eat nanners ?...who knew ?





. ...I really dug this chick...very creative as a street performer..





....heyyyy......whos that ???





. .....think I found a new profession..





. ...and ofcourse...everyone kept telling us...

..you just have to go to...Cafe Du Monde...and have a binet !!


...no stay in the French Quarter is complete wihtout it !






...and yanno what ?


.....them binets and cafe...were outta friggin site !!!






.....ohhhh yeahhhhh





. .....Wait !

. ...this is how its done





....sooooo....after spending...alotta dough..from food to endless trinkets...we decided to split a...Muffletta...imported salami..ham..cheese..SLATHERED with this home made olive/pepper/olive oil mixture....on a killer home made Italian loaf...for dinner..

.....awesome !






...so we washed it all down with some of those La 31 Beerzzzz we had in the cooler...where else...but our own private court yard...this hotel rocks..






...that night...Chili discovers this cool lil...hidden pool...off in this hidden court yard...so ofcourse she wants to go swimming in it...






. ...she wants me to come in too...but I politely decline..after shes in I go...so hows the water ?...to which she goes...COLD !!. ...no kiddin ?...who woulda thought that....in April ?? ..





....this was the...main pool..they had rooms right off it on the sides...250 a night...nice..but I still dug ours...especially for only 89 bucks





......well...we had a REALLY good time...we will definitely be back...believe me..you need at least a week to explore this place...and even then you still wouldnt discover all the cool lil places tucked away in dark corners...so we packed our bags and got ready to continue on with our journey...but before we split I got me some....Voo Doo Spices...to add to my collection ...I first saw ...Slap Ya Mama...Cajun Spice in a post Strider made some time back on the National Board...I actually tried it today on a big ol pork butt I smoked for 6 1/2 hours....came out really nice....

[~ Timbrwolf]

 ...and so it was time to say goodbye to Louisana...we had an awesome time...all the plans that we had made back home were going off with almost out a hitch...except mebbe the.."tire incident"...but even that went so smoothely..it seemd almost like a momentary diversion....we had one last destination now before we turned our wheels home.....Tennesse/ Georgia.. and Deals Gap..

...this is another place that I had heard so much about over the years...and yet another piece of wind...that was about to come true...

....but we had to get there first...so we hit the road again...seeking new..strange winds...we hit Alabama by night fall...and decided to call it a day....by now...the states...day of the week...time zones...hotels....what day it was....was all slowly...nicely....blending together....we got our room and queried the desk clerk about the ....Austin Steak House..that was right down the road...she said guest had seemed to like it...but there were rally good restaurants...a little farther distance...no...the Steak House would do...we were kinda tired ya see...and just wanted some..close..good grub...and mebbe a bottle of Capn...

....well...the steak joint was a wise choice...they had those HUGE mugs filled with to the top with Ice and fresh made Ice tea, to wash down the road dust...and we ordered up something Ive seen on Tv....and always wanted to ry....deep fried dill pickles....and those lil devils were tasty..






....I was ravished...so I ordered up the 14 oz...cajun spiced rib eye...and added 6 deep fried "fresh"..Gulf Shrimp...pre-oil spill thank goodness....it came with steak fries AND..this awesome sweet tater souffle...that was out standing !

...every thing was going great until we asked our waitress ..where was the closest liquor store ?

...thats when she goes...well..the "State Store...is a couple miles down the road...but they close at 9pm...ohhhhh ....what time is it now ?....ohhhhhh....8:55

....hoo yeahhhhh.....dinner was great darlin...nooooo...we,ll skip desert.....c yaaaaaaaaa !

...we hit the parking lot at lighting speed..jumped on the state and tried to find this state store...without getting a speeding ticket...it was sposed to be down this road..make a left...right after the railroad tracks...well..wouldnt yanno know it..we were makin great time when all of a sudden....ding..ding..ding..ding...down come the gates....traffic stops...all eyes peer down the tracks...finally...here comes a locomotive towing...two cars....he finally goes by...gates open...were looking..looking..see some guy in the parkinglot of a super market and pull over....Yo man...wheres this here state store ?!?!?


....why...its right across the street he says...that "dark building" on the corner...but its closed...


...we turn to see this building on the corner..all lights out...locked up tight...I look at my cell phone...9:01 pm...Sharp

...heavy sigh....so we retire to our room and relax....liquorless....





....next morning we are in the wind again...barreling down the Interstate ..trailer in tow...our "average speed" on the highways overall was about...80 - 85 mph...but the thing I found out fast is...Alabama is crawling with cops !!!


....we passed TWO speed traps ..complete with chase cars...within 5 miles...and thats not counting many other ...low profile...fully visable Troopers....cruising up and down the highway....we slowed down and did the speed limit...in a hurry...


...but it didnt matter...it was another suuny ..warm day in the wind...and life was good..


....we finally got out of good ol Bama...and none too soon for me...we hit the Tennesse state line and began seeing signs for...Look Out Mountain...hmmmm....we been flat landing for over a week now...why not head up into the mountains...so we took the next exit and looked for the Welcome Center..that the sign said was just around the corner...they helped us immensely in Louisana...so why not give em a try again ?

...well...we never did find it..but..Chili saw this sign that was pointing up a lonely tree lined road...heading right up into the hills...so she goes...heck with it...lets roll the dice...so we did...we turned in and immediately began to climb...upwards...we would not be disappointed..





...upwards we climbed...and after a few minutes Chili goes...I wonder where this goes...to which I replied...I have no Idea...and we both grinned...big ol contented smiles...I mean..isnt that the best ride of all ? ..


....soon we spied a State Park..and decided that we would stop  in and try and get some kind of bearing as to where we were headed...

...so we stopped at the little both and Chili started to ask the nice park ranger lady some questions...like where is Look Out Mountain ?...to which she replies..you,re on it...Look Out Mountain is like 130 miles long..in two states...and speaking of"states"...I ask her ....mind if I ask you a really dumb question ?...to which she replied..give it a shot..so I say...what state..ARE we in ?? ...to which she grins and goes..why Georgia ofcourse...and laughs...we laugh too and explain that we thought we were in Tennesse..until I looked down at her little booth while Chili was asking questions...she explained that we had been...momentraily..but we were now in Goergia...she goes on to tell us about a sweet little spot to take a...photo op...just go up to the blinking light and make a left she says...you cant miss it...its where those idiots jump off the mountain !


....well alright we said...and off we rode...we soon found out what she was talking about...a hang gliding business right off the side of the mountain...






....we passed the hang gliding place and opted to stop 30 feet up the road where a bunch of Harleys were parked..we dismounted and said hey to the Harley boys who were really nice folks....then we proceeded to take some shots..






.....we asked one of the Harley boys if he would take our picture..and he was only too happy to oblidge..






...it was a beautiful day...and an awesome view...that only added a new dimension to our adventure....God...this was so cool...I havent felt this free...alive...just a grinning inside...in soooo long...






. ..and my baby was diggin it too...my lil Chili Gurl...the light in my soul...and here we were ..together...on this most awesome adventure





. ....across the wide farmland of Illinois...along the salty coast of The Gulf of Mexico in Galveston Texas...to the sweet mountains in Georgia....it just keeps getting better and better..






...after a while Chili slowly began to make her way back down to the Hang Gliding place...this guy, who just happened to be from Maine was getting ready to do a jump....we got our cameras trained on him...






...it took him a few minutes to suit up and get ready....but soon he was off...and it was a really great photo op for us...and yet another dimension








...yep...he was off...and so were we...we still had miles to go before we reached our next adventure...Deals Gap..





....we decided to set up our last head quarters of this great trip in ..Athens Georgia..some 30 miles from Deals Gap...and a nice rise through the Cherohala to get there...so we got what would be our last really fine jacuzzi room...and man we lucked out again...got a Days Inn that was only 8 months old and everything was new..and our room was smokin...especially the jacuzzi.....we got situated and the next day...got up late again..had a fine breakfast at Cracker Barrel...and off we went in search of our next adventure...riding into Tennesse we were both immediately in love with this fine state and all it has to offer..yeah Memphis was fantastic..but these back roads...lil farms and quaint home steads....and the roads...long winding sweepers, with nice lil sharp switch backs every couple of miles or so...intermingled with a sunny horizon and the sweet smell of the black dirt being farmed by the local farmers...it was indeed sensory over load...I immediately got what Smokin joe meant when he told about how lucky he was to call this place home...lucky indeed...

...soon we were navigating the fine sweepers and tight curves of the Cherohala...stopping alonf the way for some fine photo ops...






....it was yet ...another beautiful day...both weather wise as well as location...we were in yet another..zone...just riding along..and I could tell that my sleek State was happy to finally be free of having that trailer hitched to her...holding her back....the three of us just cruised along...exploring the new strange...sweet wind...that we were now in..






. . ..and the roads...sure I could describe them to you..but Im affraid my words would not come close to doing them justice...lets just say they were...magnificent..









. ...after a couple hours we finally made it to Deals Gap...The Tail of The Dragon....we were finally here...we were supposed to meet another VRCC member...Normandog....but we had dallied mightily along the way..trying to take it all in....in one day....Norman left a message on Chilis cell that he had waited as long as he could...and perhaps we would meet up another time....so Chili and I stopped for...ofcourse .."The" Photo Op....


..I asked some young guy who was limping around and in obvious pain if he could take our pic..but he said that he was leaving soon..to pick up what ..was left..of his bike...I asked if he was okay and he grinned and said yeh...no biggie...he,d live...I smiled back but I didnt really enjoy these youngsters up here on their screaming crotch rockets...5 of em had already passed us along the way...at high speed...and we came back up on two of them down the road...both went too hot in corners and lost it...ones bike was in pieces along the roadside....but miracuously neither seemed too hurt...matter of fact their buddies came back for them ...then passed us again...on a curve in my lane....nope..I dont like em..





....we mounted up and began our last adventure...The Dragons Tail...now I hafta admit...I wasnt that overly impressed...infact I enjoyed the ride up on the Cherohala..MUCH more...I mean...to me it was like riding a roller coaster ...the curves so tight...so close together...people kept telling us along the way...watch out for the cops..do the speed limit...35 mph....they are ticket happy...well hell..how could ya possibly get ...above 35 mph ??....I mean..I spent most of my time...braking..clutching..and down shifting....saw two troopers along the way but we were going so slow that I just smiled and nodded at em...






. ....okay...I admit...a few of them super tight..crazy angled sweepers...were fun !





....so we were just cruising along...35 mph...Chili snapping away and me..just happy to finally be able to say...yep...been there...rode it...got the t shirt..






. ...one of my favorite picz from the whole trip...that Chili Gurl is getting better and better with that camera of hers..






....then....comming round yet another tight curve...what do we see ...but another State comming in the opposite direction...but this werent no regular Valk rider...nope...seems we managed to cross paths with ol Normandog afterall.....very cool...



....soooo...he did a tight lil turn around...and followed us up to where the turn around is at the land slide..






...so...we stopped and chatted it up for a spell...turns out hes a pretty cool dude...laid back North Carolina guy...soft spoken and real friendly...Chili and I liked him immediately...


...we talked for a spell then he said how he had to get going...he had a three hour ride infront of him and rode all this way just to meet us...like I said...great guy...so we said our goodbyes and parted ways....

[~ Timbrwolf]

....so Chili and I mounted up...and slowly made our way back down...enjoying the "scenery" along the way..





....back down we went...tight curve after werid angle....





....leaving Deals Gap and The Dragons Tail behind...we made our way back past the damn ...off towards the Cherohala and our hotel room...






...back and up into the Cherohala we went...we were both diggin it alot more now...the road was almost devoid of any traffic..especially those crotch rockets...guess they dont care for it much when the sun starts to go down and the shadows grow long..






...it was a peaceful ride now...quiet...every curve was ours...every straight away empty and alone...but it was also a solemn ride..with just a tinge of sadness in the air...Chili and I were both on the quiet side, as I think we both knew this fine adventure of ours..these two weeks in the wind...alone..with what seemed like endless days of new roads and places ahead of us..was now slowly drawing to a close...so we just rode along this lonely mountain road...making this one last advenure of ours...last as long as we could..







....riding out of the mountains and back into civilization...it suddenly occured to us that we were indeed famished...and thats when we both spied this tiny lil Mexican place..so we hung a quick U turn and pulled on in...the parking lot was full so we figured either there werent many places to eat around here..or this place had good food..luckily for us it was the latter...food was fine and man did they give ya...BIG PORTIONS !


....Hey...ya didnt really think I was gonna letcha go with out...one last food shot....did ja ?!?!? ..



...yep...those two big ol plates were mine alone...and Chili kept asking me I couldnt just...sleep in the bathroom that night..I dunno why ? ..






. ...and so it was...what seemingly seemed to be ...the end of our adventure...little did we know though..just what fate had in store for us on our way back home....

...but for the moment we were still...in the wind..we stoped at a gas station and grabbed one last six pack of Yuenglings...and slowly made our way back to our room....filling our jacuzzi up with nice steaming hot water...turned the big ol flat screen towards the bath...*popped* the caps on two nice...Ice Cold Yuenglings...and eased on in that steaming bubbling mass....


...this was it...the official end to...New Fun Places....our itinerary was now complte...memories saved forever....


.....Hey Chili....can ya pass me my beer baby ? ..





....reality...was beginning to slowly set in around us....and our thoughts were reluctantly beginning to turn towrds time schedules...the weather.....and the small town in Northern Michigan where it had all begun almost two weeks prior...


...sitting on the bed that night Chili got a call on her Cell....it was the notorious TNT girl herself....Vicki from Tennessee.....they chatted it up for a bit, before agreeing that we would all meet at the Cracker Barrel right across the street from our hotel the next morning for breakfast at...10:30 sharp.....after she hung up I pointed to the big ol flat screen which had the Weather Channel on...and said...they say that the weather is not so fine..and getting worse...with a few tornados in the genreral area....heading our way.......then I pointed to where ...not only that....they were calling for ..Heavy Rains...in the Michigan area and below....but Chili just chuckled and replies...ohhhhh honey...dont worry...everything will be fine !


....I grinned and before grabbing my Yuengling and sliding into the steaming hot tub.....Okayyyyyyyyy


......and so the next morning we rose ...fairly early...for us at least...and went through our...get ready to get in the wind routine.....one last time....we had most everything packed up...and did a once around in the room one more time...I have to tell ya...we bought more "trinkets" ...doo dads....and souveigners ..on this trip then any other adventure we,d been on....


...so we threw a leg over the State and cruisd on over to the Cracker Barrel...got us a table and a nice cup of steaming hot coffee...and waited....and before long they appeared...now I have ..known of..Vicki...for almost ten years...and came close to meeting her a few times...but it just wasnt to be...but here she was ...walking around the corner and up to our table...wearing a bug ol smile...I gave her a big hug and told her....Finally ! . ....she had with her..her S.O. ....Maury...a cool guy...with a laid back way about him...me and him hit it off right away....so we chatted it up over breakfast...talking about a myriad of subjects....the time went by way to fast...but we all agreed that this had to be done again...and soon....


...we said our good byes...and Vicki and Maury dissapeared down the road in the pickup truck.....and Chili and I...well..we hit the room one last time..making sure that we had everything...then we said our goodbyes to the owners of that fine hotel and went out the State....the trailer was hooked up...everything was packed...


...Destination.....Northern Michigan...and home..





...well...things started off "well" ...but I just couldnt quite shake...this feeling....we had gotten off to another really late start...after noon.....and the sky was already clouding over and turning gray.....we made it all the way to Kentucky...under threatening skies...and then it slowly began...we rode right into lite rain..which steadily got harder and harder...but for the first time on this trip...we were actually trying to make...time.....it turned into a medium to hard steady rain...and we were cruising along doing about 75 - 80 mph.....I came up on yet another semi and carefully began to pass it...the usual began to take place...turbulance half way past..heavy wet swirling around us....I had just gotten past him and went under an over pass....I looked over at my right side view mirror to make sure the trailer was clearing him...I gazed at that big ol Kenworth stainless grille 20 feet behind us...put my signal on and began to come over....and thats when it happened....we hit the wet white passing stripe painted on the road..and alongside it was a nice lil patch of that liquid tar they put down to seal cracks....now I had been towing that trailer for 12 days and except for the flat tire incident and the slow starts from a full stop...I hardly even thought about it being behind us...the bike was like a steel train on tracks...and that trailer was just comming along for the ride...but not this time..Im looking in the side view mirror...hit that line..and in the blink of an eye...the bike lost traction..I felt the rear end comming around...and the handle bars started to wobble as bad as I can ever remember them doing that...I immediately looked forward at the now violently vibrating handlebars...held them as tight as I could...and as fast as she had apparenlty lost it...the rear wheel caught....and she was back....we zoomed out from under that overpass...that semi right on our tail about 50 feet behind us....the rain beating down hard on us...then...off to my right..out of the sky...a white light suddenly flashed down and hit a telephone pole about 30 feet away from us...it didnt make a sound...totally silent...it just flashed down...hit that pole...and stayed....and thats when it all went into slow motion....I looked over in disbelief...my eyes trained on that bolt of lighting and that telephone pole...as an intense humming noise filled my ears...first the transformer on the right burst into flames...and two wires slowly fell away from it...flames flickering off of them..then the second transformer burst into flames and two more wires slowly fell away from it..flames also flickering from them...at the same time I felt some kind of ...lite * tingling * ...shoot up my right arm and.....whaaaaaaaa....everything suddenly went back to full speed and we roared by the pole... the semi still hot on our ass.....I was momentraily stunned....as what had transpired slowly sank in...I pictured us rolling ..parts and bodies flying everywhere...and that semi catching up with us and then plowing right through us....I leaned back and said in a shaky voice....I cant believe it !! ...I think I just got hit by lighting !!!

...as we rode along in that heavy down pour it all was slowly sinking in...the whole episode was playing and over in my head as I felt my right arm..shoulder...slowly spasm muscles slowly tightening up...I leaned back again and said...we gotta get off this Interstate...I need to collect my thoughts......


...now..Im not the kind that gets easily rattled...but I gotta tell ya...what had just played out minutes before was friggin incredible....we took the next exit and pulled into a service station with a nice over hang and took shelter...we both dismounted and stared at each other.....then tried to figure out...exactly what just happened...I told my version and then Chili told hers...she had been looking away when the bolt hit...but had quickly looked back to see both transformers explode into flames and the she told how she saw...something...a flash...around the bike....and I huaghtingly laughed and said ...yeh....thats when I got zappped !!!


...now Ive heard stories...and Ive seen Tv shows...man hit by lighting..lives...golfer hit by lighting lives to tell story....but I never..in my wildest dreams thought it would happen to me..expecially just mere seconds after almost being mangled by a big ol semi.....now...I think anybody who has ridden for years and years...things slowly become..automatic...you dont even think about it anymore...your "spidey senses" are always on alert and the alarm rings off when ever you find yourslef in a situation where you sense..danger....and I guess for the most part you begin to rely on this "skill" without ever giving it a second thought....you get to the point where if your spidey senses arent tingling...then you just assume...there is no danger..and Im thinking thats where I was at that moment...Id been keeping a steady speed of 80 -85 mph for most of the trip...rain or shine....towing a trailer...and Ive been on that bike...solo...no trialer...80 mph in the rain...and she was always...always..a steel train in the rain...never did she give me a moment to doubt her ..traction....but looking back now..I think..no I know...this was my fault..and my fault alone...my over confidence had almost cost us both our lives...this was the closest Ive ever come to...almost dying...without actually hitting anything......and believe me.....lesson definitely learned..


...so we both hung out in the gas station store for a while..calming each other down before agreeing that we still need to...make some time...so out we went...gassed up the State...and rode back onto the Interstate ...and the pouring rain...I kept her at 65 - 70 mph now...and paid close attention everytime we did a...lane change...it occurred to me also...somewhere along the line when we first started out...we had over inflated BOTH tires..to deal with the Xtra weight load and towing a nicely loaded trailer...that had worked like a charm on nice dry roads..not so much on wet slippey ones...and we both felt the rig slip just a bit..everytime we did a lane change..but unlike before..I was ready...and kept her tight and on course....we made it another 80 miles that day...but what miles they were...it was heavy rain...wind was whipping nicely..and soon we began to see cars either pulled onto the shoulder..emergency lights blinking...or just spun out into the grass....then I saw something I didnt quite believe...a late model Jaguar car...driving the wrong way up the shoulder of the Interstate..the right fender and headlight smashed and mangled...apparently he had just lost it and hit...something...we rode on...the rain never did let up...cars sprayed us good everytime they passed...my cowboy boots were soaked..I could feel a wetness slowly making its way inside my rain jacket and saturating my t shirt..I started to worry about the Gerbing I was wearing...and weather if it shorted..would I get zapped ! The rain started comming down harder..and visability began to come and go...and thats when I saw something that made me make the decision that we had definitely had enough for that day...a car had spun out to our right off into the grass....and rolled over onto its roof...cops and emergency had just arrived...and I told Chili....thats it..were done for the day...time to seek shelter for the night...and so I rode down a few more miles, before I saw an exit sign indicating a few hotels and such...we took the exit..and rode up into....woods...I stopped at the stop sign...rain was pouring down...no signs indicating anything..I decided to turn left...we rode for a mile or two into the woods...a few homes went by..and then some bar...I decided to get back on the Interstate and seek a different exit...so we rode on further...another exit finally came up...there was a sign with a passle of hotels on it...we took the exit...in the pouring rain we peered around...Chili said...theres a Days Inn over there !...I replied..Sold...we rode up and into the parkinglot in the driving rain but something just wasnt right...there were no cars in the parkinglot...the place was dark...looked shuttered...and then I saw where the corner of the roof had exposed plywood where the elements had blown the shingles and tar paper clean off...Damn !...what the hell ??. ..we turned around and Chili said..look the hotel across the street is out of business too !! ...well..we were in ..rural Kentucy...but this was rediculous...and so we hit the Interstate...again...by this time I was both physically and emotionally drained..I just wanted a warm..dry hotel room ..a nice hot shower...and nice dry bed..and maybe if the Gods took pity on me...have it be in a county that wasnt...Dry !!...I needed a Captain Baddddddd !!!!

...okay...were back on the Interstate...its still raining..Hard..the winds still blowing..Hard...the Ohio state line has to be just up ahead...somewhere..and Chili sez...lets try and make it to Ohio..I got a feeling we,ll have better luck...Screw That I say ! ....were getting a hotel room soon !!...and then we saw yet another couple of signs...and this time..there were a BUNCH of hotels listed..I told her..this HAS to be it !..and so we rode up...into a town...traffic was heavy and there were hotels everywhere...Finally !. ..I saw a Quality Inn...with a nice overhang out front...we pulled in..dismounted...and wandered into the lobby..walking up to the front desk I could here my cowboys..*squish*...everytime I took a step...by my estimation..I figured I had about a half inch of water in each boot..at least it felt that way...so I let Chili do the talking..I always let Chili do the talking..shes always so pleasent...smiling and joking..folks are just disarmmed by her charm..me, not so much...especially in situations like this...so Chili goes...excuse me mam..would you have a room available ?...yes....Great !...with a kingbed ?...yes..Great !...how bout a...jacuzzi room ?...Yes...Awesome !...now...one last question....would there happen to be a...liquor store close by ??. ...right across the street....Hallelujah !!!!!!. ....you are...Our Savoir !!


...and so we sloshed back out to the bike..grabbed our overnight bags and proceeded to make our way to our room...on the way I couldnt help but notice...the decor...by my estimate I had it around...mid 1970,s ....but thats okay..were dry right ?..a kingbed..right ?...no smoking...right ? ...a "jacuzzi room"...right ? ....but as we made our way down that long dark..weird hallway I somehow started expecting those two little scary twins from Jack Nicholson movie...The Shining...to appear............we finally got to our room...opened the door...the first thing to hit us in the face was....the intense smell of stale ciggarettes....okay...so it aint a non smoking room...I looked around....the first thing I spied was the...pink jacuzzi....it too was from the mid 70,s...and had a big piece of ..plywood...screwed to the front....painted pink....okayyyyy...my eyes then moved to the ..little refridgerator next to the jacuzzi...dont ask me what it was...but I just had..."a feeling"...I opened it..there..sitting on the shelf was a half container of milk and a bottle of apple juice..I immediately told Chili...what ever you do...DONT open that milk !!


...soooo...we started draping all our soaking wet...dripping...clothes and gear..allllllll over the room...like I said ...my poor cowboys were...soaked...my pants were wet almost all the way up my legs...my t shirt...soaked....I was...soakedddddd....but I didnt seem to care..we were in a dry ...but ciggy stinking room....I looked into the hot tub...it was dirty...there was a nice faint ring of dirt around the top...for some reason at that moment...thoughts of Osceloa Arkansas began to creep slowly into my mind...but at least the...Presidential Suite...had been clean !. ..I announced to Chili...Okay...aint NO Friggin Way...Im goin in that...so called hot tub !. ...so we showered...changed clothes...and decided that it was time to...go back in the rain...we walked back outside and to our delight...the hard rain we rode in on, had now switched to a lite mist...we mounted up and decided to learn from the mistake we had made earlier in the trip with the...State Store...we went in search of Booze first..we found this little liquir store and bought a nice virgin bottle of Captain...then had dinner at this bar that actually had decent food...then it was back to the room where we got the drinking glasses out of the trailer ...put HBO on the...1980,s television...sat back on the really uncomfortable ..tiny couch...poured a couple of..STRONG ones...and toasted the fact that were...still alive..albeit in...bumfu*k Kentucky....I also whipped out my cellphone and called a good friend of ours...Tonyz....I related what had happend and what the situation was...he told me he had been on line checking weather patterns..and thought there might be a..small window...tomorrow morning in which we could ...flee to his place in...down state Michigan....Okay says I...I,ll talk to ya in the morning...I hung up and proceeded to pour myself a few more "doubles" as I thought about the day we had just survived.....next morning I was laying in bed...in a liquor induced coma...when my cell rang...I opened my bloodshot eyes and peered at the phone on the night stand..ringing away...then I peered at the alarm clock...it was....early...real early...I,ll not go into details except to say that someone else..used to hold the record for calling us early on a Sunday morning...but Tony now clearly had soild rights to it ..


...but I kid...Tony is a good friend of ours...and he already had his trailer hooked up to his truck...ready to come rescue us if we started floating away...which we damn near did...so I thanked him for calling so early...to let us know we needed to get our asses going...and we did...sort of..got showered..had a yummy bagel in the...Continental Kentucky Breakfast Room...and while Chili finished loading up...I wandered over to the front desk and returned the clerks ..goodmorning...then I asked...might the manager be in ?...noooo...the manager dosent work..weekends...that took me by..total surprise..
......okayyyyy...well..what I need is for this here bill to be...adjusted...why she queried...was something wrong ?...so I began to explain our..experience..in her hotel...well she said...I cant adjust it...here...but...not to be denied....I continued about the jacuzzi...the fridge full of "goodies"...and finished it off with..and my wife told me she saw a...pubic hair on the bathroom floor....now..I would have been happy with sayyyyyy 50 % off...but I think the..pubic hair comment..struck a cord with her because she says...yanno what...apparently I CAN do a an adjustment here...so Im not going to charge you..anything..and I do appologizre...you see..we are having...issues...with house keeping...well I just looked at her and gave a slight smile and said...that,ll work...thank you...


...I wandered out to where Chili was just getting done packing the bike and said ...okay...I took care of the bill...lets go...to which she replied...how much did it turn out to be ?...to which I replied...nothing...room was free....lets make some time....and so we did...

....now..thanks to my friend Tonyz...we had actually got a good early start and by noon had already made a couple hundred of miles...in dry weather..but by the time we hit Toledo Ohio....the rain had begun again...and as soon as we crossed the state line into my home state Michigan...it was pouring again...so we percivered...again...only this time I kept our speed at a steady...70 mph...but it was steadily raining...harder and harder...until visability was once again...almost zero...it got so bad that I got to the point of trying to gauge myself by the white lines on both sides of the road...and catching an ..occassional glimpse...of what I took to be tail lights up ahead...and hoping that the car in front of us didnt make any..sudden stops..for any reason....well....cars...semis..wizzing by us..splashing all over...again...it wasnt long before my boots and most of the rest of me were...soaked all over again....thats when it got the point where I told Chili...this is crazy...we need to seek shelter...again...to which she replied..okay..how bout this overpass comming up ?...well...fact was it was so bad..I didnt see no over pass...until it was right over top of us..so I quickly pulled the rig over and...stoppped..we dismounted and got behind the concrete barrier incase some cager lost it and took out our bike...cuz No One was slowing down a bit...Chili called Tonys and related where we were ...what it was doing..and what we thought...he was ready...he asked..did we want him to come and get us with the trailer ?...I peered up into the sky...we had been there about 20 minutes already...when we first pulled over, it was lighting pretty good....(another reason I wanted to get off the bike...No More Lighting Stikes !!! )....I climbed up the embankment and looked around...and off in the distance I spotted what I took to be...a slight clearing...comming our way...and the lighting was gone..a sign that the heart of the storm had passed us and hopefully the end was near....noooooooo I said....tell him were gonna..wait a bit...see what happens...we were about 45 minutes from his house...but with the rain we had just been through...it might just well have been 45 hours....but I still said...were gonna hang our for a bit...if we need help...we,ll give ya a call....ya know...friends like Tony are priceless....they are that life saver....thats just wating to throw themsleves to you...should you start going under....


...the rain was alot lighter now and at that moment what did we see but...two Harley boys...riding by and waving...c mon I told Chili...were going...and so we did....we mounted up and had at it again...we rode in a steady light rain...I had my Gerbing on full blast but still had a slight chill going...and for the first time on the trip...the engine began to sputter...thats when I looked down and realized that we were out of gas...you see I was so involved with the elements around me...keeping us safe and alive...that I hadnt notiiced our gas gauge going..down and down...but not to worry...I reached down and flipped it over to reserve....and we hit the next exit and hit the first gas station we saw...while gassing up we spied a Harley boy a few pumps over and we started talking we told him about our..journey..and just like everyone we told along the way ..he was intrigued...and came over to inspect our rig...we asked where he was headed and he replied..Memphis...and we said..good luck...we just rode out of that mess...and it was wicked !

...well..we gassed up and hit the road..one more time..the rain was all but done...but we were still soaked...we finally saw the exit for Tonys town and I suddenly felt..relieved...we had made it..finally...we cruised some residential and finally turned up his street..I watched as his house came into view and turned up his driveway....we had made it...finally....


...Tony and his wife Lara came out to greet us...we told them about the adventure we had just experienced and they said to come in and get into some dry clothes...I showerd up and changed into some nice...warm clothes..while I was in the shower a delightful aroma filled my nostirls...ya see among his many talents...Tony is also an ex chef...owned his own restaurant at one time...and his specialty ?...with a name like Tonyz ?....Italian ofcourse...yep...his son Nino and his buddy where there...so we all sat down to a most excllent feast of ....linguine and meatballs....I have to tell you..after so many days on the road..all the excitement...bad weather...getting hit by lighting...to be sitting at that table with Tony and his wife and family...and to have my baby Chili by my side....it was not lost on me..just how much I had to be thankful for.....and we feasted..





...the next morning we rose early and said our goodbyes..it had been one helluva a road trip...with daze and daze spent on the road...waiting for the next adventure to unfold before us...but now we were yearning to get..home..yep...itd been two weeks exactly....and we were tired...and we just wanted to sit in our living room...look at each other...and give that sigh that one can only experience after being on a trip like the one we had just experienced....

...so we hit the Interstate...one last time...the storm had passed in the night..but it was still April..and we were afterall...back in Michigan...so we finished the way we started....Gerbings on high...covered by black leather jackets...after a few hours we pulled up into our driveway ...and dismounted..we stood back and looked at our...now trashed out Bike and Trailer..and just smiled at each other....it was over...it was tinged with sadness...but also a sense of fulfillment...excitment..we still had that buzz going..


...Chili unlocked the front door and we moseyed in as she called out to the cat...


. ....Hello Angel.....were homeeeeeeeeeeee !!!


 ~ Epilogue


...In two weeks...we traveled a total of 3, 452 miles...we stayed in ...Champaigne illinois...Partied in Memphis Tennesse on Beale Street...experienced the...Gathering of the Fools at Hot Glue and Flamingo Babes in Galveston Texas....Partied in New Orleans...Athens Georgia ...and dont forget ..Osceola Arkansas....we explored ..The French Quarter...Rode the Dragon and Cherohala at Deals Gap...we rode through 14 States ...in 14 days...

. . ....and it was ...Friggin Magnificent !


~ The End

[X Ring]

Too bad you didn't call me.  I live a couple of hours away.  Could have showed you a large time.

Marty

[hubcapsc]

Cheer up, man!



-Mike 

[Strider]

Brother and Sister - that is like the ULTIMATE RIDE REPORT! 

WHOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!  Awesome story (I know, I read it 4 times) and the pictures - well, if anyone ever asks, "Why do we ride?"

AWESOME!!!!! THANKS, THANKS and THANKS for sharing bro!

Man, I was soooooooooo bummed at missing you two when you were through.  One of the reasons I was so bummed at missing the GOTF.  Oh, I was bummed at missing the GOTF, but was extra bummed at not getting to see ya'll there.

Ummmmm, at least we know what happened....

"HEY, let's get a picture - somebody just walked in. Wait as minute - he is pulling something out...."



"Oh, it was just 'little' ol JP!!!!!!!!! "



Yeah, Pat's is where we have gone for lunch at the two Romp in the Swamps (thanks again for naming our event).

Like I said bro, that is the ULTIMATE RIDE REPORT MAN!  I am glad ya'll got some awesome wind!

[Michael K (Az.)]

You two ought to get out more.

[Chili Pepper]

Too bad you didn't call me.  I live a couple of hours away.  Could have showed you a large time.

Marty

Awww...darn it! I KNEW I forgot something!  I'm so sorry, Marty. We did not intentionally dis you. With all the excitement I just plumb forgot who all had offered to meet up with us. Your offer was so generous and now I regret that we didn't get the chance to meet up with you. Please forgive us for being so thoughtless. 

[X Ring]

With that apology, I have no choice but to give you a rain check.   I would've also ridden with you up I-59 to Meridian.  I live a couple hours south of there 

Marty

[Whistler]

The title says it all!  Glad you made it home safe and sound.  Great ride report and pictures, can't wait to do this myself sometime.  JDW

[motomama]

Sounds like you two had an awesome time!  By the way, those are some great pics, although I believe that a couple of them may be photoshopped.    We all know that a real lady, such as myself (and Chili too), would never even DREAM of entering a men's restroom, let alone do it! 

[X Ring]

Sounds like you two had an awesome time!  By the way, those are some great pics, although I believe that a couple of them may be photoshopped.    We all know that a real lady, such as myself (and Chili too), would never even DREAM of entering a men's restroom, let alone do it! 

Me thinkth you doth protest too much.

Marty

[6jugzz]

One of the best pic post i have seen  n  a  long time.......thanks! Now, bout dat O-so-la,Ark. I grew up in Blytheville, Ark. (just up the road-north on I-55). U   R  right bout that town. I got into more fights and stuff as a kid than I care to think about. Some of us boys would load up...drink a few beers...and look for some girls to fool with just to piss off the boyfriends.........then it was on!!
I sure was stupid back then,we could of been huggin and kissin on them girls instead of drinkin and fightin them boys.

[Tundra]

Wow..That's one helluva ride report, I know that took some time, thanks it was awesome

[FLAVALK]

Great report and a fantastic trip! Next time I hope ya'll are able to find something decent to eat  

[Chili Pepper]

Yanno, Hubcapsc, yer right. He does look kinda glum there doesn't he? Maybe he was thinking about how he wished he could bring the bike down to Beale Street....but he had a beer with The Ribzzz and that's one of his cardinal rules. He will NOT drink and drive, especially on the bike. He won't even take a swig of my beer. 98% of the time he was a happy tourist, though,I swear it!

ummm...MichaelK...which two?  ???  

Strider, you crack me up! Poor Hard6 is gonna have a hard time finding a good come-back. Too funny!  Bless your heart, we really were very disappointed you couldn't make TGOTF and were bummed we couldn't see you, too.

MM, I believe you are correct. I'd like to know where he got those pics!  I don't remember any ole' stinky pile o cedar chips, do you? 

Ha ha, 6jugzz..that's a great little story all on its own. O-so-la...is that how it's pronounced? Gotta get it right for the verbal re-tellin'

Tundra, thanks for recognizing that. He literally spent hours sorting through over 1300 pics, uploading them to photobucket, then getting the story together. I think the length may be historic  but worth it. I think he surely does tell a good story...not that I'm biased or anything. 

[Gear Jammer]

And I bitch about having to resize one pic to put in photostash     I appreciate the time and effort you put into this post.  Made for a good read   

[HayHauler]

Man, what a ride report!!!  It took my puter 10 minutes to load all of those pictures.... and 45 minutes for me to read and digest that awesome report.

It was sooo good to meet you guys at the GOTF and more than glad you both made it home safely.

We will see yall at IZ10!!

Hay 
Jimmyt

[DavRed]

Both Rachel and I loved every minute of this ride report. We got our sights set on one of those trips soon. (Thanks to you 2) Life is short. We must live while we can... Thank you so much for this post... David and Rachel...

[houstone]

Wow!  Great to meet y'all!
Glad you made it back safe, and had the energy for the report.  FANTASTIC!
Thanks,
Jeff

[Dag]

Hey... who is that????



 

Timbr & Chili; This is one of the best ride report I have ever read 
There's a lot of good work behind this report!

[Black Dog]

Hey Bro...  Told ya to post it here 

As usual, worthy of a segment on the Travel Channel 

Best 'ride report' yet...  That's what this board is for, and you my friend, are the master 

Black Dog

[6jugzz]

Well it is called O-C-O-LA, but the good ole boys........called it osola. It can be a hip little town at the right time..........Osceola is located at 35°42′8″N 89°58′33″W / 35.70222°N 89.97583°W /
35.70222; -89.97583 (35.702276, -89.975807)[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²), all of it land.

Osceola was the original county seat of Mississippi County and remains one of two county seats, after Blytheville was named a dual county seat in 1901. Osceola features a beautiful 1912 Neo-Classical courthouse with a copper roofed dome. The courthouse is bordered by the Hale Avenue Historic District and other structures on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. Visitors will also find the Mississippi County Historical Center located in a 1904 building that once housed a dry goods store.

Osceola is famous for its role in the development of blues music, and many famous blues musicians either came from Osceola or performed there. To celebrate this heritage, Main Street Osceola has been hosting the Osceola Heritage Festival since 1998.

The "Dixie Pig" will have the best BBQ you can buy (ole h.s. buddy of mine) during this festival.

[Chili Pepper]

Hayhauler and houstone...it was great to meet you folks too. That's half the fun of a trip like this...just meeting new folks and re-meeting old friends 

DavRed...do it! But don't forget to make sure your cell phone has a national calling plan first    No other regrets here! 

We missed ya, Dog. But we understand why you had to stay close to home and we're glad you could be there for your mom.

Dag!! That's it!  I knew he looked familiar! 

Thanks for the little history lesson and the BBQ tip, 6jugzz. Guess I shouldn't be so quick to slam O-so-la. I still wouldn't buy a pizza there again, though. 

[Normandog]

Cool ride report David. I'm on dial up so I didn't get to see all the pics. Maybe tomorrow I'll open it up again and go for a long walk while they download.
Thanks for the kind words. It was a pleasure meeting you and Faith and I hope we meet again.

[KW]

Timber; that was a GREAT posting. I really enjoyed reading it and checking out the pictures. I've always wanted to do that type of ride. . . .  Thank you for sharing

[sugerbear]

great post
been to some of those places myself.
and to share with your own personal "wonder woman" makes all the better.

to everyone who hasn't made a voyage like this, just do it. memories for a lifetime

really enjoyed the pics.
thanks

P.S. when we went through the U.P. we felt like you did in Tenn, Georgia, Texas etc
beautiful country amazing sites and great people/food.

[~ Timbrwolf]

....Thanks everybody for your kind words about our adventure. Like I said in the beginning, this Road Trip started out to make a dream of both Chili and mine come true....finally making to one of HG and FB,s ...Gathering of the Fools...but after we realized the other stops we could make along the way, we became really excited. Those first few days on the road were truly surreal, and everyday after that just getting better and better. And like someone said...the memories ..(and picz)...are forever. And the only thing almost as great as a trip like this, is to be able to share it with all of you. I had my doubts as to whether Id be able to "pull off" a post of this magnitude on this board, and I did have a few problems with it.. (double post)....which Im not sure if they were my mistake or a malfunction on this site...but in the end I was satisfied with the end result and decided just to leave it the way it was. I figured out that the easiest way to post it was to "copy and paste it" from our own board, so that what I did.


...Again....thanks for all the positive feedback...and the people in this Club that made it all possible..  


....X Ring...sorry we missed ya bro...Im sure you could have shown us a few "gems" only you locals are privy too....maybe next time  

...Hubcapsc .....believe me man...I was having a blast...I think that by the time Chili took that shot...the whole towing of the bike ...coupled with the beer at dinner and and all that walking around that I was not used to was catching up with me...but trust me...I was having the time of my life..  


...Strider...what can I say bro...beforre we even left our driveway we were like...whats up with Strider ?...is he in the States ?...will we be able to hook up with him in the Big Easy ??. ...sorry we missed ya man....but you were in our thoughts early on and through all of Louisiana...  


....MichaelK...I couldnt agree more...which is why we have ...another Road Trip..already in the works...heading for Americade with some good friends...to hook up with some more friends...and journey on from there to Maine..and eat "cheap lobster"..until we drop...then maybe swing around and hit Laconia in good ol New Hampshire on the way home..  


...Engemt....dont wait...do it....aint no feeling like being on the open road...for weeks..  


...Motomama...aint no .."Photo Shopping"..on them piczzz...and ya know it darlin....and after having the pleasure of meeting both you and Carl...my "suspicions"..that you hide them ..lil devil horns on yer head....well...would be backed up 100 % by good ol Carl..  


....6jugzz....thanks...like I said...I always enjoy sharing our lifes adventures with folks on this board.. and as far as..Osceloa....im thinkn I prolly wont be back there...too soon..  


...Tundra...thanks...we had a blast..  


....Flavalk...im sure you,ve seen some of my...food piczzz...posted to the board before..me and Chili do like our...cuisine...and believe it or not, I was surprised to find when I weighed myself when we got home...that I didnt really put on any weight..  


.....Gear Jammer...ya..it was an under taking to be sure...especially after I already did it once on our Board...and then had to turn around and do it again...over here..but like I said..I did ALOT of copy and pasting...plus PhotoBucket makes it ALOT easier by reducing the size of pics automatically...and eliminating the need to first upload them to Photo Stash..and then to this Board..  


...HayHauler...was great meeting you also !. ...we had a VERY Large time at TGOTF and hope to be able to attend again..  


...DavRed....glad we inspired you to start planning your first big Road Trip...one word of advice...make a list of.."what if,s"...and have a GOOD Road Side Service ..in place...that was the first time we,ve ever had to use one..and believe me...it would have been ALOT worse without it.. ..if you guys need any help or advice planning your trip...please feel free to contact us..  


...Houstone....was great meeting you also man...hope you can make it to Inzane this year..  


....Dag...first off...was great meeting you at Hot Glues...Chili and I both dug hanging out with ya   . ...as far as being compared to one of my hero,s since my youth..Charlie Bronson...that has to be ...the ultimate compliment...to which I can only say....I wish !!. ..lol.....yanno...Im jst loving life...and enjoying exploring the wind...same way as I did...32 years ago in Galveston..  









....Blackdog...what can I say ?. ...I truly consider you my brother and my friend...and Chili  and I were sorry you couldnt make this adventure...but maybe next time...and yanno what ?...I finally figured out why you and I  *clicked* so fast as friends...were both friggin...Taurus,s !!!

.....oh yeahhhhh....its all makin sense now....Happy Birthday Bro !!!! ..  



...6Jugzz...no offense my friend....Im sure Osceola is alot like the tiny town I live in right off the Interstate...when ya first take the exit..all ya see here is...fast food joints...ya gotta drive down and bit until ya see the tiny town of Grayling and that it actually has a residential area....not to mention the fact that id be a..tad touchy too...if guys from the next town over kept commin over and..stealin all our wimmin folk..  


...and Ron...Chili and I had a GREAT time meetin ya...and were really happy that we didnt miss each other !.. ...you are definiely our kinda people..laid back and cool...stop in any ol time yer up in the woods this way..  


....KW...glad ya dug the story...we had a blast...you definitely need to do one these soon...hope we get to finally meet at Inzane this year also....and by the way...dig that truck ya got man..awesome ! ..  

....Sugarbee...was great meeting you and Moonshine and Magoo and the entire group...you folks were awesome ! ..


...and to those that offered to ..hook up with us...on our way back home..Fudgie..Solo1...sorry it didnt happen ...but the weather was killing us and we just wanted to get our...wet..soggy azzes home...maybe next time !  


...I also want to say a...Special Thanks..to our good friend John Horton..who offered to have a new tire UPSed to us over night when he heard of our dilemma...Thanks John...we both look forward to seeing you and Denise in Americade in June !!  


....Hope to see you all at Inzane in July...up here in good ol Northern Michigan !!!  


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