Girls & Boys... and Some Toys...

[DDT (12)]

 
Man, what a time I'm having! It all started when I was forced to face the plain, unvarnished truth... I had, indeed, come down with yet another full-blown case of cabin fever, combined with deep longing for the open road, and... the only real solution guaranteed to work for this rider-wannabe is... you know... a mega dose of Wind Therapy!

Coincidentally, the stars had aligned just so, and the weather predictions were... well, they weren't totally ruling anything out. My land lady was in good spirits and seemingly doing OK... Well, things were about as favorable as I could hope for, so... I dropped the bomb. OK, she actually started it all.

She knows me so well... She asked when I thought I'd be heading out again... Man, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I can at least recognize an opening that huge and take advantage of it! God bless her wonderful soul and incredible ways!!! I loaded ALI that evening, and... Speaking of which, our girl was mighty relieved with this development, and she just sighed that delightful sigh of pure satisfaction!

I also made a couple of calls and even hinted about all of this on the board... Well, Rams, now in Hattiesburg, MS, gave me a strong indication I might as well drop by there... Then I heard from Farside in Milton, FL, and he mentioned I should stop by there, too... OK.

Keith and I met up in Milton for brunch and a really nice, albeit brief, visit... It was a really nice stop, though, and I very much did enjoy our time together... In addition to his Valk, he has recently picked up an F6B... I call it the 'Banana B'...

Arrival of Farside...
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The 'Banana B'...


There is a 'pair' to draw to!


Following that all too brief encounter, our girl and her rider headed towards Hattiesburg and the next phase of this adventure... We arrived in plenty of time for the dinner get-together Ron had arranged with another cast of characters... Mac (Crazyhorse) & Elna along with Ron rode their Valks to Strick's BBQ, while this delicate flower piled into the car with Danny & Charlie McMillin... That particular car had heated 'bun warmers' too, and my tush thought it was in heaven!!!

The crew...


I found a cause I could enthusiastically support! "Make ___ ___ Again"...


Everybody said their meal was great... I actually ordered fried catfish instead of BBQ, though... because... well... I just had a hankering, and you know how that goes... It was downright delectable, too, and I have no regrets at all! We had a fun time jawing, carrying-on with the waitress... you know, all the usual stuff.

After dining, we said farewell on the parking lot and folks scattered like a covey of quail... almost. I rode with Danny & Charlie back to their house for coffee and a bit more chatter... Little did I know... Turns out I was in-store for... not a shucky-darn sort of thing... more like a golly-gee experience with a major 'WOW' factor!!!

The first thing I noticed was a Farmall tractor in their carport... Then, more toys were seen on our way through the garage into the house for that coffee. Later, Danny gave me a tour of his 'garage' out back, and I was totally blown away!

I was so surprised and flabbergasted by all he was showing me, that it never occurred to me that I should be taking pictures! Man... I did get a chance to return the morning I left Hattiesburg, though, just so I could take pics... That way it really did happen...

Anybody else have one of these in their carport? I don't either...

WHAT?! Do I-Phones ever run out of film? I distinctly remember taking a couple of shots of that red antique farm implement, but now I can't find it in my album!!! Hey, trust me... no, really, there is one... honest...

In the two-car garage leading to the den of the house... I know you're having doubts here, but I ain't trying to fool anybody at all! There is a novelty car with a skeleton in the driver's seat, and just behind that is a 'round boat'. I wouldn't believe it either, I guess, but...

After coffee... Danny took me out to the five-bay garage he has behind his house... Holy Cow! That place is not only full-up with toys, he even has two cars stacked on top of two others! He calls it his over 'n under...

A '48 Desoto and a '48 Dodge on top...


On bottom are two more cars... one a vintage Mopar GTX...

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That GTX was featured on an official MOPAR event 'tee'...


He also has an interest in vintage watercraft, too...


And tons of old bikes! I have no idea how many, but easily more than forty! His 'investment' 0 miles 'Old No. 7' Indian...


The 'barrel head' plaque...


More Indians...


Other various marques...


Danny collects other stuff, too... (His three slot machines were covered up)


Space being a challenge for Danny, he has been forced to add a large shed, too... to hold yet more vintage bikes!
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Dang! No wonder I ran out of film!!! Danny took me back to the Red Lion so I could prepare for our ride the following day... What a day that had been!!!

DDT

[..]

 

[f6john]

Danny is truly a contender for, he who dies with the most toys wins!!!

[Valkorado]

Glad you got to spend some time at the museum!  What a collection.

[Reb]

Hellfire!

I have admirations to reach the "Danny" level of collector memorabilia. Great story, thanks for sharing Bruce

[Alpha Dog]

I could just sit in Danny's shop ( so to speak ) and drool all day, but there may not be room to sit.  This is a man cave.  Hard to believe he does not ride that Jack Daniels Springfield, as they are awesome bikes.

[henry 008]

Agree with Paul     

[The emperor has no clothes]

Nice hat ! (Some pretty nice bikes and cars too) 

[JimC]

Danny wins !
No question about it.

Jim

[Bigwolf]

Wow!  I am a bit green with envy here!

Seriously though, I am happy for you and for Danny.  Both of you getting to do what you love to do.  Sure wish I would have been along for that gathering of friends.  Danny might have had to push me out of those storage areas because I was overstaying my drooling time.  That Old No7 sure looked sweet!

Thanks Bruce, for posting this episode.

[Thunderbolt]

Keep up the good work Bruce.  You are doing a fine job out there.  You do find the most interesting things once you get out and about.  Danny's collection is one of the nicest I have seen indeed.  I am a Mopar guy from way back.
Your travels are sort of like the Thor's hammer rides we had many years ago.  They bring a lot of nice folks together.

[DDT (12)]

Glad you got to spend some time at the museum!  What a collection.

Seth,

I had that same thought... about it being like a museum... when I first realized what I'd stumbled across!!! Danny is a really, really, nice guy, and his wife is just as nice! The 'museum' however was totally unexpected when I agreed to drop by their place for coffee and chit-chat... I mentioned to him that we could do a fundraiser at the upcoming Madness Ride... Sell tickets for a guided tour! No fooling, it was the most impressive private collection of bikes, cars, and other memorabilia I've ever seen!!!

DDT

Hellfire!

I have admirations to reach the "Danny" level of collector memorabilia. Great story, thanks for sharing Bruce

Preston,

Well, one should aim high in life... One could also fall well short of his accomplishments and still be considered a smashing success!!! Go for it!!!

DDT

Wow!  I am a bit green with envy here!

Seriously though, I am happy for you and for Danny.  Both of you getting to do what you love to do.  Sure wish I would have been along for that gathering of friends.  Danny might have had to push me out of those storage areas because I was overstaying my drooling time.  That Old No7 sure looked sweet!

Thanks Bruce, for posting this episode.

Jerry,

Thanks, my friend! I was thinking about that very thing today... about Danny and I both having hit our stride, so to speak (I didn't give any thought at all to the drooling, though!). No two of us are exactly alike, and none of us have the same ambitions, desires, or opportunities in life... The real measure is in the joy we find... and he, like yours truly, has found a bunch!!! Thanks for the observations...

DDT

Keep up the good work Bruce.  You are doing a fine job out there.  You do find the most interesting things once you get out and about.  Danny's collection is one of the nicest I have seen indeed.  I am a Mopar guy from way back.
Your travels are sort of like the Thor's hammer rides we had many years ago.  They bring a lot of nice folks together.

Terry,

Interesting comparison! I have indeed been blessed with countless encounters with interesting folks throughout our continent... and I've also been blessed by the many, many relationships I've had with so many wonderful folks who happen to ride Valks... In fact, a perfect example of that is this couple I know in Worthington Springs, FL...

DDT

[Farside]

  Nice post Bruce and it was great seeing you for an early lunch. Worked out good this time for you and I to meet up even if it was for a choke and puke at McD's.  You looked excited to be out on the open road and thanks for the invite to follow but I wouldn't be in good standing with the wife if I'd of even considered. I look forward to seeing you and all the other Valkyrie brothers at the Hattiesburg gathering in April. Hmmm, Banana B , she is excited to see me too.

[DDT (12)]

Keith,

Yeah, I was excited for sure! That was the beginning of my fourth, I think, attempt to launch a winter campaign this season. Weather mostly, but other factors, too, had forced me to turn back on each of the previous outings, but I never lost hope or my enthusiasm! I think it may be paying off finally!!!

You do have a couple of very nice looking rides! I enjoyed meeting your Banana B, and I especially enjoyed hearing the story of it and its predecessor... and how that all came to be! I'm glad that whole story is a happy one, and that things worked out the way they did!

I had another thought, too... about how randomly things can unexpectedly pop-up, upfold, evolve, and take on a life of their own... SmokinJoe had called one of his usual after Christmas rides, and he had picked Prattville, AL, for a meet location for the first time... Sweet Cheeks, who hadn't been given that handle by Punisher yet, was the desk clerk at our motel that evening when we arrived, and...

Well, she was riding a 650 Suzuki at the time, and she was really taken by our bikes and especially by all the stories she was hearing! Well, she decided after that to upgrade her ride, so she found a VTX on the internet... I gallantly offered to give her a ride on ALI down to Milton, FL, to complete the purchase and ride her 'new' scoot home...

The person selling that VTX was you! You were selling it because you'd recently bought a Valk... We met in your driveway, as Janice 'test rode'  her new 'BOB'... and familiarized herself with such a larger bike. From that... well... so much has happened, and... It is rather amazing, though, isn't it...!!!

So, there you and I were... saying farewell on that McD's parking lot, and happy to have been there for a short time! Such an unlikely thing, but so 'typical' in a way...

DDT

[LTD]

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