'stolemypig'...

[DDT (12)]

Time for some more reflection about recent events. I’m in Pikeville, KY, at the 'Hatfield & McCoy Lodge' now. I rode up here yesterday with SmokinJoe and the Tennessee contingent plus a few others from other states. A spirited ride on a fabulous day, and everything was about as good as it gets! 

We started by meeting-up at the usual place in Clinton, TN. (12 bikes in all for the ride up)

No idea why hubcapsc chose to park his 1800 Valk (Chewy) away from the rest, but…


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We stopped along the way to take a gander at Stone-face Rock…

We had dinner last evening here in Pikeville at a very good BBQ place… ‘The Pig In A Poke’. We sat outside on the deck that overlooks the Big Sandy River, dined on some fine swine, and we began the serious ‘big doggin’ it’ in earnest!


WOW! We even partied some last night… you know, to sort of commemorate the occasion and celebrate the arrival of brothers/sisters from various other states (I’d guesstimate another dozen or so). We had, thanks to Gig, a shot of Tequila in honor of Kathleen McCain.  Being gracious and socially responsible does carry with it certain niceties to be observed for sure… I did my part…

I sometimes catch myself standing apart from the crowd studying the various characters and observing the dynamics of brother/sisterhood being expressed and shared… What a great bunch of folks! What a group of such fine people who care very much for each other, all trying to express their feelings, tell of their own experiences… share their reactions to simply being a part of all of this. Even the most cynical person could not possibly remain so if he/she hung around with this group for very long!!!

The ‘kids’ are all out playing today… riding around the hills and, I’m sure, having a blast! I chose to remain-in this gorgeous day. I didn’t get a nap yesterday, and I’ve been up socializing two nights in a row… Besides, I just felt like doing this today instead… and, of course, making up for the missed nap on the ride up. I have indulged in that necessary item, so I should be good-to-go this evening.

By the way, Pikeville, KY, is a terrific venue for getting together for an event like this! Great riding in any direction, very friendly natives, and a nice scenic town ‘on the move’. My kind of place, actually… Heck, the password for the motel wifi is ‘stolemypig’… gotta love a place like that!

DDT

[msb]

Looks and sounds like it was a lot of fun... thx for posting Bruce. The  comraderie at gatherings such as this is special for sure, and you do a great job of expressing that fact here.
Unfortunately I will miss Inzane this year, but I am so looking forward to hanging with old friends and new at our "local" Valhalla rally later in June.

[Jess from VA]

I can't believe all you good souls couldn't chip in to by Reb a pair of pants. 

[Farside]

  Sounds like a great time had by all. Maybe one of these days I'll have the opportunity to make that gathering; not too far out from the pan-handle. Thanks for posting and sharing as you are so good at doing and such a positive spin. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Excellent report  glad you are back in action after the wheel bearing.

[Rams]

Living Large and gett'n  a Nap, who could ask for more!   

Rams. 

[cookiedough]

I can't believe all you good souls couldn't chip in to by Reb a pair of pants. 

nowadays kids spend 100 bucks or more for holes in pants, never understood that when I can easily do that for free for them...

[DDT (12)]

Mike,

Sorry to hear you won't be making IZ this time... It'll be a serious struggle but, we'll try to party-on without you. No kidding, you do add to any gathering, so you will, therefore, be missed! Yeah, this get-together in the hills was another good 'un... I'm sure that's part of the reason lots of folks always turn-out for these... I think the biggest draw, though, is getting to hang-out with the cast of characters who show-up! You couldn't call 'central casting' and have an ensemble put together like this!!! Beware, however, don't come if you don't like to belly-laugh!!!

DDT





Jess,

Yeah, I did notice that, and I also felt mighty sorry for him... I figured he didn't want any newer jeans, however, as his pride wouldn't tolerate even a nice gesture like us helping him out... Well, that and something about being incredibly cool and fashionable! Apparently gals dig that sort of look nowadays... Hmmm, I may have to give that a try, myself...

DDT





Farside,

It always is a good gathering! A curious collection of amazing characters... and stuff... Stuff you couldn't make up or script, but the fun is always well worth the ride up. Hard for me to imagine NOT coming to one of these!!! You need to join us... I suspect you'd find it very much to your liking, and you'd become an instant regular... just like this lover of fun, friendship, fellowship and frolicking!

DDT





Rob,

Me too! Yeah, I'm glad to be back out here riding around again, too. It may be short lived, unfortunately... I still find myself making as many U-turns as always, so... we'll probably be needing another wheel bearing soon enough.

Are the cactus blooming down there now? One of our members is a frequent traveler to the west, and he has ridden all over out yonder... I've never seen any blooming out there myself, and he says I should... any advice?

DDT





Ron,

Yep! It seems the older I get, the more important those things become... Go figure. You are so right! Who indeed could ask for more? I assure you, I wouldn't know!!!

DDT





Cookiedough,

Yeah, I agree with ya, dude! None of us of the male persuasion can possibly ever understand the workings of the female mind, but apparently that sort of 'look' illogically and inexplicably appeals to many of them. Since we are 'driven' the way we are, I suppose we'll continue to do seemingly weird stuff in an effort to improve our chances and get us a little closer to the 'prize'! I'm considering such things myself as I write this!

DDT

[The emperor has no clothes]

Rob,

Me too! Yeah, I'm glad to be back out here riding around again, too. It may be short lived, unfortunately... I still find myself making as many U-turns as always, so... we'll probably be needing another wheel bearing soon enough.

Are the cactus blooming down there now? One of our members is a frequent traveler to the west, and he has ridden all over the out yonder... I've never seen any blooming out there, and he says I should... any advice?

DDT

I haven't seen any sign of cactus blooming yet. It's usually about this time of year that they start though. It seems to me very sporadic though. Some years they are dramatic, and some years just a dud. Probably has something to do with rainfall, which is pretty sparse around these parts. Are you headed west to go east again ?

[Reb]

To make a long story short, I crashed in those Jeans almost a decade ago on my 600rr showing off like a fool riding a wheelie and flipping it backwards at 60mph with no helmet.

I walked away with 3 stitches above my right eyebrow and busted ego. After that they became truly "Holy Jeans" and i typically wear them on group departures for good luck.

A song was written for keep sakes like that... "Very Superstitious"

[Jess from VA]

Oh I figured it was something like that. 

If I still had the pair of jeans I was wearing the first time I got lucky, I might still wear them...... but they'd have to let out about 8 inches.   

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
Good write up and good photos too.

Quote: What a great bunch of folks! What a group of such fine people who care very much for each other, all trying to express their feelings, tell of their own experiences… share their reactions to simply being a part of all of this. Even the most cynical person could not possibly remain so if he/she hung around with this group for very long!!!

That is so true!  And you my friend, even when standing apart from the crowd studying the various characters and observing, are one of that bunch of great folks.  Thank you for doing what you do and for sharing some of the details with the rest of us.


Bigwolf

[DDT (12)]

Rob,

Sort of like the leaf changes in the east... Temps too, and timing of freezes late or early in Spring or Fall impact those things, as well. Anyway, I've never been out there around that time, so I've managed to always miss it. Probably not this year after all, either...

Actually, I don't have a plan, per se. I'm just scrapping off the few remaining miles on my front tire right now... I doubt I'll venture much past eastern Texas before I have to get the replacement installed. I could go ahead and get it replaced now, but... I'm a bit thrifty by nature, being of Scots decent and all... OK, and habit too! I had to 'do-without' most of my life, and that shaped me a certain way, I reckon.

After that I'll be heading west for a turn around some place... really depends on the weather, though. I'm wanting to attend the real (as opposed to the scout) Hillbilly Highway Ride the end of May, so I probably won't do a grand loop that would take me too far from eastern Kentucky... more of a time thing than a distance to travel thing.

Once that trip has been made, I'll then be pacing myself for the two or so weeks until IZ... another eastern venue thing. All that said, it doesn't appear I'll be going to AZ... I've never seen cactus in bloom, mostly because I don't 'dip below the rim' after early Spring or before mid-Fall simply because I'm what I call a 'heat refugee'. Oh well... just a thought...

DDT




Reb,

I had no idea there was a sentimental aspect to those 'customized' jeans... I'd assumed it most likely was something to do with being stylish and chasing babes... Oh well! Possibly part of the reason that didn't occur to me is that, like Jess, any sentimental garments of mine would require significant alterations before I could even get them on!!!

FWI, you put on one Hell of an event this weekend! I know... you don't need to be modest and play down any actual 'effort' you made. We both know that the synergistic effects of the diverse group of characters that always show-up is the real 'draw' for such an outing, and that some of the more incredible personalities did indeed make it this time! I had a ball, though!!! Looking forward to the 'real deal' in a few weeks...

DDT




Jess,

I hear ya! I caught myself not too long ago regretting not having bought a leisure suit back in the seventies and kept it all this time, so I could wear it now and cause some serious head-scratching amongst younger folks!!! Wouldn't matter, though, as I could not fit into anything nowadays that I could have worn back then!!! Time, and waistlines, marches on!!!

DDT





Jerry,

Thank you very much for saying all of that. I am humbled, awed, elated, and mighty happy that fortune has smiled so favorably upon this fellow and brought him here... My life's direction changed completely once ALI and I united, and my enjoyment of life took a quantum leap forward when I stumbled into this social circle... Good folks, like you and Mural for example, are the reason for much of what I do these days, and I wouldn't want it any other way! Again, thanks...

DDT

[RDAbull]

Thanks for the report Bruce.  I was hoping to get down for the run but a work got in the way.  I have to help with an audit tomorrow.  Preparation time and all that crap.

My Brother and I rode up out of Phoenix for a few days a few years ago.  Riding through the Tonto National Forest going up to Payson was beautiful.  The cactus were in full bloom and the scent was marvelous.  I believe it was the last week of May.  We did the whole loop up to Flag and then back down 89A.  Got to do that again.   Soon!

See you in Pikeville Memorial Day weekend I hope.

[DDT (12)]

Roger,

Thanks for your remarks! Yeah, that ride from the Valley of the Sun up the Rim and northward is a good one, indeed. Lots of vegetation and scenery changes, too, and some pretty zesty riding through the curves!

Late May, huh... My record of having missed that spectacle may remain in tact, then... Yes, it is a dry heat, but so is an oven! Hard for this delicate 'biscuit' to 'warm-up' to that idea...   

I do understand about your not being there this past weekend... I did keep an eye out just in case, but I also was well aware of the 'hazards' in your line of work, and that you could easily be otherwise tied up. Looking forward to the end of May... 

DDT

[old2soon]

      I am still surprised at the photos of the usual suspects and scooter trash I actually have met and ridden with over the years.  AND I still consider myself the same-a usual suspect and Definitely scooter trash!  Wouldn't have it no other way.  Bruce my friend-thanx fer takin us all along! I should have gotten down there while still able and ridin with the kewl kids.  Damne Bruce-every time I read bout another of yer adventures the ol green eyed monster thingy stirs!  Stay in the wind long as you can my Gypsy friend. RIDE SAFE.

[GiG]

I can't believe all you good souls couldn't chip in to by Reb a pair of pants.  

We may, as a club, want to think about chipping in to buy Reb a new set of Lincoln Logs.
He was telling us that his cabin was invaded by peckerwoods.  

[DDT (12)]

Dennis,

Yeah, it is a shame you weren't able make it over for any of the rides hereabouts. I've been hanging with these folks for many years, and I've never tired of it! Fact is, I look forward to all of these gatherings precisely because of the characters that keep showing up!!! You'd have loved it... and you'd have fit right in with the 'characters' too!

Even though these outings may be a bit much for you now, I'm happy for you that you're still able to throw a leg over your saddle and scoot about in the Ozarks... Not too shabby, actually, and there are many who'd love to be able to do what you routinely do... The glass really is half full, ya know!!!

DDT

[DDT (12)]

Gig,

New Lincoln Logs, huh... Probably need to get Lucky 13 to run by there and do some peckerwood eradication, too... Ever see Gordon at work with a pellet gun or throwing objects at critters? I have, and he is awesome with both!!!

That helmet is... unusual... You being the creative sort of guy I know you to be, I'm wondering if the big-haired chick might show up wearing a pair of jeans that follow that same theme...? Perhaps a blouse, too... Whatever you do, however, don't make any for yourself!!!

DDT

[GiG]

Gig,

New Lincoln Logs, huh... Probably need to get Lucky 13 to run by there and do some peckerwood eradication, too... Ever see Gordon at work with a pellet gun or throwing objects at critters? I have, and he is awesome with both!!!

That helmet is... unusual... You being the creative sort of guy I know you to be, I'm wondering if the big-haired chick might show up wearing a pair of jeans that follow that same theme...? Perhaps a blouse, too... Whatever you do, however, don't make any for yourself!!!

DDT

I sprayed her with ink and she put on a white blouse and pants.
She promises to wear the outfit, inside out, just for you!

 

[DDT (12)]

Gig,

Oooooooo!! That sounds oh so zesty!!! You do have some amazing notions sometimes... I'll never forget the night in Morgantown when you and she came down to rescue me from a 'psychotic episode'... An act of true friendship!!!

DDT