Chicken Chasin' & Such...

[DDT (12)]

I'm homely... and I've been so since Tuesday afternoon. I was plum tuckered out, though, so this is my first attempt to provide information on the outing... My fault for the most part that I was so drained and not inclined to post... I rode too long between stops, and I didn't stay hydrated, so... you, know...

The ride over had been really nice... a little cooler than I'd anticipated, but... Actually I'd toyed with the idea I'd take a sweatshirt along just in case, but I finally decided it would not be needed as I could tough it out... I was a bit off there... All the way to Laurel, MS, I groaned and moaned about my attempts to rely upon my stoic toughness of yesteryear in today's planning...

Anyway, I made it to Natchez in tact, and thanks to the much warmer ride the second half of this leg, I felt pretty good. It wasn't cold by any means that morning, I simply didn't have the proper gear... one layer short, as it were. Not quite cold enough to warrant donning the rain jacket, but pretty close...

I settled into the room for a relaxing evening, as nobody else was expected to arrive until the following morning... Then my cell phone rang... It turned out to be Crazyhorse, and he was already nearby! I invited him to join me and share my room (two queen beds) and he accepted...

Following the usual preparations, we set off for din-din at a restaurant recommended to us by some construction folks staying at our motel. They must have been correct in their assertion it was a good place to dine... The parking lot was full with spill-over into the adjacent field and the line from inside stretched out the front door and down the sidewalk with many, many folks awaiting their turn to stick their heads in the trough... We changed our plans...

There was only one small group ahead of us at Ruby Tuesdays, but we chose to be seated at the bar, so no waiting after all... I spent three years in the Army once upon a time long, long ago, and two and a half of those were spent standing in a line some place... I don't much care for lines now, your see...

Anyway, we had a rather pleasant evening, and I got to know better a man I've 'known' for more than ten years... Funny about that, you think you know somebody only learn you didn't really know them at all... A most worthwhile person indeed, and I was fortunate the vagaries of fate had led us to share this weekend together... for the most part...

The following morning, Mac very tactfully informed me he thought it best if he moved to another room for Saturday evening... It appears there just might be some validity after all to the rumor that I'm prone to a rather robust adenoidial resonance during slumber... Or, maybe he's just picky, 'cause I didn't hear any of it myself...

Trout Dude and Waterbug arrived after a bit, and they had Valkjerk (Gary) and his bride Mary in tow. The six of us then proceeded up to Lorman and The Old Country Store... Warmer day than the one before, and even a light jacket wasn't necessary for yours truly. Eight other folks were there waiting for us... and the pre-meal tire kicking session got into full swing.

While I didn't hear it myself, somebody must have rung a dinner bell or something, 'cause all of a sudden everybody started moving at a brisk pace towards the front door and on to the buffet line... Well, the chicken lived up to its billing and then some...

Now, my mom has only been gone ten years, so I ain't gonna compare nuthin' to her cookin'... and I probably never will anyway... So any comparisons or rankings of food anywhere else naturally can only aspire to a second place position in my hierarchy... That said, the chow here, especially the chicken, is at least in a second-place tie with any I've ever had any place else! A strong contender for sure... and I'll bet that joint'll be visited by this dude again!!!

The veggies were excellent too, as was the cornbread and sweet tea... The peach cobbler looked so good I ordered a helping, but later canceled it because I was simply too full to eat it, and I didn't want to carry it around in my pocket the rest of the day... The only downside I could find with this eatery was there was no place to take a nap after gorging.

We stood in the shade out on the front porch of this 130 year old structure that once had been a general store, and we commenced to jawing about stuff, as Valkers are prone to do... Mr. Arthur Davis, the owner, joined us and began telling us his secret to fine food, and sharing a bit about his life generally... Another treat, it turned out...

We'd all noticed him inside, as he'd strolled around chatting with guests and even singing some, especially to kids... yep, to us kids, too... After college he'd pursued the American dream, climbed the corporate ladder a rung or two, was achieving what is commonly thought of as success... and he burned out like a candle in a gale.

He'd always loved cooking, so he quit his job and took a giant leap by starting his own business... and the rest is history, as they say. A thread that wove its way through the fabric of his story stuck with me, though...

Success for him wasn't about reaching goals set by others, it was about finding meaning and purpose within himself... of spending the precious moments between birth and death doing something he could be proud of, happy about, and satisfied with... He's easily one of the most 'successful' folks I've ever run across...

A tour of the Windsor Ruins followed our feast of fried fowl, then the remaining six of us made the thirty or so miles back to the motel at a leisurely, relaxing pace... A wonderful day! At the motel, we decided to have a social libation before getting ready to go 'Under the Hill'...

Well, being Valkers and all, one led to two... which then led to ten... The coconut shine made an appearance at some point, and delivery pizza had to be ordered. We never made it to 'Under The Hill' or anywhere else that evening, so I reckon we'll just have to go back...

Sunday morning I awoke to discover Mac had already departed... he'd decided to spend a second night in the room with me. I talked to him later on the phone, and he assured me that I hadn't run him off... but I have my doubts... Anyway he claims he simply woke up wide awake at 3:50am, and that he didn't want to wait around for the rest of us to revive... Oh well...

Ol' Reb has a saying I like and easily relate to... "Don't threaten me with a good time!" One should never make a 'courtesy invitaion' to this bug slayer, because I'm a serious threat to accept! Just ask Troutdude... He invited me to accompany them to Mandeville, LA, instead of returning home... so I did.

Monday he and I rode to Delacroix Isle to his fish camp... nice ride, but a long day that got pretty hot... It did, however, help me come to the conclusion the OEM seat on CALI ain't near as good as any of the after market ones available! My bun-cheeks were squallin' all afternoon!!!

Five days on the road, and it sure did this ol' dude good to be out 'n about... I probably needed some practice partyin' & such to get ready for InZane, but I'm starting to think I may have to embrace a word I've thus far kept at arm's length... moderation. I'm not at all sure how much more my liver can take of this Valkerizing stuff... Oh well, what a way to go!

DDT

[Super Santa]

DDT, your verbal meanderings are a priceless pearl I never get tired of reading.  Thanks again for sharing your mental images by way of the written word.

[Valkjerk]

Thanks Bruce. Your report was enlightening and enjoyable. Moderation does seem to erode to excess as one sips from the alter of the coconut shine shrine. I would not have it any other way. It was time for repose and reflection and we were focused on our job and we performed to perfection. All I can say is we need to do more of this so that we can maintain this level of perfection. Hehehe

[Oss]

Thanks for the report Bruce

You do have a way with words that is a real gift

[Goo-Goo Magoo]

DDT, Really enjoyed having lunch with you as always. Your one great friend to ride with and talk with. As everyone knows, you do have away with words on the computer. But I think you may have meet your match tring to talk with Mr. D at the Country Store.  Just hit me, should have gotten you and Mr. D to sing a duet together.
Glad you made it home safe. I want tell Moonshine that you were in Mandeville monday.

[R J]

Good read Bruce.

Glad to see and hear you are having fun on CALI.

I'm also surprised that you have rode that EOM seat this far.

That has always been the 1st thing to go on my bikes.

Take care and be safe.

[Crazyhorse]

Enjoyed the outing Bruce. Good food and most of all good friends. Look forward to the next time.

[trout dude]

Bruce we had a blast and as always it's great to spend time with good friends just like Mac said We will see you at Inzane. We enjoyed having you stay those few extra days.

  Dennis and Shelia

[paulmull ( Wimp )]

Bruce  that sho was some ride report you put together. I don't even know that many words.But I liked it.

[Thunderbolt]

Good job on the recollectin Bruce.  Sure made me feel like I was there with you.  I don't think I have ever met anyone that told me that you were a hard fella to talk with.