Had another one of those days today!
30% chance of rain - a tad warm
but most sweet day for putting Traveler into the wind. The safe passage would now end 1,337 miles after it began in Apple Valley, Minnesota of the deer summer sausage. TP and Nancy brought down a home made deer (shot by TP) Summer Sausage for JP (Hard6) and I down to Ranger's BBQ. There was one for each of us. That was from Minnesota (you betcha) to East Texas. I carried them down from the Q to my casa in Louisiana. I posted yesterday about how I got within 10 miles of JP yesterday but I didn't have the sausage with me, so today was (drum roll please) -
THE DELIVERY OF THE MINNESOTA SUMMER SAUSAGE RIDE! (and fellowship with my friend - hey, wait, there is wrenching too!) That sausage, from what I could gather through Streets and Trips, traveled 1,337 miles to be delivered into my little cajun riding buddy's oil stained hands!
Red had told me to try and get home by dark - but then again, I didn't have to pick up dinner - she was frying shrimp tonight - so she told me, "Don't eat shrimp for lunch you!"
So, I shot off around 10 this morning and it was one of those, "Man, I just don't feel like a superslab" kinda days - yep, another one of those days. Like Van Morrison sang, "Mamma said that there would be days like this."
So, I took 90 until about 3 miles from Lake Charles and then got up on the slab and shot over to JP's right at lunchtime. He was waiting for me outside and after a hug and a hearty handshake, the sausage was delivered to my FRIEND. He wanted to show TP and Nancy that ALL of it was delivered and to show in a picture his gratitude. He ran inside and showed it to Ms. Mary and put it in the frig. We later discussed how each of us was going to go about enjoying this Minnesota delicasy. You gotta love the people here!!!!!!
Then it was to the back porch for some MAJOR lie telling. We have not seen each other since the Magical History Tour Ride and man, there were a bunch of lies pent up that needed to come out!
Jp asked if I was hungry and I thought, "Now that is a silly question." He threw his boots and vest on and off we went! He had asked what I was hungry for and I told him that I was just following his tail lights. So, when I say that off we went....if you are going to chase JP through Lake Charles (or any city or any slab or any road), you bettter come with your game face on!!!! Let me tell ya! GAME FACE!!!!!
Anyway, we wound up at this BBQ place (I will have to get the name from JP).
What were the sandwiches and Q like you might ask? Well, this was the Bubba-licious that I had. It had pulled pork, chopped brisket and sausage in it. I stood my lighter up so you could get an idea of the size. Heck, JP, the riding tapeworm, even got sides!!!!!
We then rode over to Walmart so we could pick up some CD's. When I lost my laptop two years ago or so, I also lost all the movies and pictures that I had on it - just like with voting here in Louisiana, when it comes to backing up - do it early and do it often. Again, if you are going to sling your bike through traffic following JP, come with your game face on!
Then it was back to his house to talk to Ms Mary some more and while I copied JP's pictures of our ride out west, etc., he wrenched on the bike. When I got ready to go to Minnesota, I told JP that I saw something I thought I would never see under Traveler - drops of oil. Now, she got hot when we were stuck in New York traffic and I was afraid that was the reason. He asked me where it was coming from. I told him that I wasn't sure since it had been on the kickstand, but it seemed to be collecting on the left side of the engine and that there was a bit of oil stain on the left side of the motor. He told me not to worry, go to Minnesota, he knew what it was and no biggie. I love that wrenching buddy of mine! I went ahead and rode up north and when I changed oil, not much had been used but everytime I parked, there was a spot or two. I was feeling very two lunger. Well, when I got to JP's, he leaps down, takes a look and says, "Yep, just like I thought. It is the seal around your shifter." So while I am backing up pictures, he runs out and changes the seal around the shifter - like I said, gotta love a wrenching fool like JP!!!!!
He even degreased my motor (that is the wet stuff under the bike) so I would know if it happened again.
Well, we relished on past rides and even planned a goodie for the future. Alas, it was time to leave my friend, so as I was suiting up (SUITING UP? - yeah, putting on my doo rag) TP and Nancy called from the Flood Ride and we talked to them and told them that JP appreciated the 5" sausage they sent!
Well, a hug and hearty handshake for the road and I was off. Went down 27 to Creole and then went over and saw Cameron after the storms. Whew! Then rode back 82 through the marsh to home. Saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen in a long time, saw at least a dozen alligators swimming in the bayou along the road through the reserve, never got wet (just the drizzle felt good), had some great miles and I know a BUNCHA SMILES with a friend of mine and rolled in at 7:30,- so I was home by dark!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
One of THOSE DAYS AND IT WAS A GOOD UN!!!!!!!!
(this was the ferry that runs from Cameron to Holly Beach - which by the way, Holly Beach no longer exists after Rita). The Egrets and Heron were out in mass - A GREAT DAY!!!!! It really was a GREAT DAY and "Mamma said that there would be days like this!" I sure love seeing my friend when I can!!!!!!!!!
You know, we can do banner and mug runs, but this Summer Sausage Run was cool as well. Thanks TP, Nancy and JP - good last run on the Valk before I leave out!
