DDT (12)
Member
Posts: 4120
Sometimes ya just gotta go...
Winter Springs, FL - Occasionally...
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« on: January 28, 2015, 10:51:17 AM » |
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“STUBBORN?” Naaah...
Resolute, maybe... and even tenacious, perhaps, but not stubborn... not me. Maybe that comes from a life lived under the watchful and disdainful eyes of stern and demanding over-seers... never satisfied, always wanting more and better. A survival skill more than anything, I reckon...
Whatever it is, though, it has left me with a driving need to do things right and to finish what I start... The lasting effect of that must be at work here, as I contemplate next week and the task before me... I still ain't made it to southwestern Texas and the remainder of the road trip begun in early December.
Some of you may recall, ALI had her pinion cup and drive shaft give out in New Mexico, and the swing down through the Big Bend area and points southeastward had to be left off that journey accordingly... I had to haul her in a rental truck to Troudude's place in Louisiana for repairs, etc.
By the time all that was complete, I'd nearly run out of my brand of smokes, and they can be difficult to find sometimes... We did make a couple of stops around town to locate some, though, so I departed with the idea we could finish the ride after all. Not to be, however... The speedometer cable broke, so I returned to Troutdude's for that repair, as well... Fearing Karma was not on our side this time... I reluctantly gave up and returned home...
Two weeks ago, that glaring failure was eating my insides slap up, and I knew what had to be done. I packed ALI, pointed her front wheel southwestward, and twisted the throttle. “No sir, we ain't giving up: We're gonna git 'er done, and that's that...” I was steadfast in my determination, as I uttered that solemn oath. It felt mighty good, too! It always does when we embark upon a 'cahonnie-driven' venture, that must succeed... but might not... It's up to us to see it through... and we're committed to making things right.
On the second day the four of us... ALI, me, myself, and I... made it to Winnie, Texas (about half way between Beaumont and Houston) and stopped for the night. 'Al-T's' restaurant and bar is just across the road from the motel I've stayed in many times over the years... and Al-T's is certainly familiar to me, as well... I retraced the well-worn path to a rather decent watering hole and relatively safe place to let loose... and this old bug killer then commenced to letting loose...
It was on a Saturday evening... Well, I'd actually gone over there late Saturday afternoon thinking I'd have a steak and 'a couple' on a short stop and then turn in early. Plans have a way of changing, however, and that can surely be the case in my case... See, I met some locals, and... well... Texas folks, I've found, are downright friendly and always willing to party whenever I seem to be... similar bio-rhythms or something, possibly.
Now, I've also found that locals anywhere and everywhere all have local 'specialty' drinks... wild and weird combinations of way too much alcohol achieved by combining various different hi-octane beverages into something truly dangerous, then giving it a cutesy name that makes it 'unique'... and memorable... for awhile.
The 'frequent flier' patrons there apparently have several of those local concoctions, and, as is also the case with all Texans generally, they're rather proud of them... all of them. Being a sociable guy, myself, and no stranger to 'experimentation', I happily sampled each in its turn... in between servings of my usual fare.
I even had some Shiner Bock, a Texas brew that also happens to be a favorite of one of my all-time best riding buds. Whenever I'm out that way and think of it, I'll hoist one or more of those adult delights while facing towards Tallahassee, FL, and drink a toast to him... This was done... a couple of times, actually. I even called him and told him so...
Al-T's had a band playing that evening, and they turned out to be really good... I think. Given the condition I wound up in, it is entirely probable even a 'Barber Shop Quartet' would have sounded great to yours truly... Oh, I think there may have been a couple of 'shots' consumed but not fired along the way, too... no dinner, though...
I'm told I danced rather well... I'm suspicious of that, however, because I've seen me do that before... and... well... No injuries were reported or at least none brought to my attention, so at least that's a positive... Yep, singing along with the band, dancing, saluting old friends, making merry with some sure-fire characters... A good time was had by all... at the time. The next morning was an entirely different story...
I awoke with the scary realization I had perhaps a couple of seconds at most to make it to the closest intake portal into the sanitary sewer system... if I hurried. I took the precaution of taking little steps (I've been down this path before), but I still made a hasty dash nonetheless... Ahhh, made it... Barely! 'Close' can make a huge difference in the outcome of more than just horseshoe and hand grenade tossing, I've found.
I put the coffee on and began preparations for departure... only half committed, though. I soon found myself wearing a path to the 'portal' again and again... Every orifice in my body was being drained of some really foul, viscus fluids, and it was starting to become doubtful if I could remain hydrated enough to ride. Ever had a 'peek-a-booty'? A colon exam, that is...? These episodes reminded me a great deal of the preparation for mine...
My eyes were even tearing, and my nose was acting more like a facet... and 'down below' things were so unsettled I actually experienced genuine anxiety whenever I had to venture more than a few feet from... you know... Of course, I also had the displeasure of re-tasting those 'specialty' drinks previously sampled only a short time before...
One can always tell how much fun they've had by the inverse 'feedback' the day after... I'd no doubt had a blast!!! Another tell-tale sign is the 'swearing off' of demon alcohol... and I took that pledge, again, on one of the several visits to the privy...
Once things appeared to be settling down, I pondered my options... Stay over another day, head west, or head back home... Staying over had the disadvantage of being a 'sitting target' for the consequences of any misdeeds I may have committed.
Heading west had the distinct disadvantage of being further from home if I were actually 'coming down with something' or otherwise becoming ill. I've languished in motel rooms for a few days at a time while recovering before, and I didn't relish the prospect of having to do that... I decided I was going to ride, and I leaned towards pressing on with the mission... close call either way, though...
As I was repacking ALI, another urgent distress signal from 'down below' was received... and it was definitely not a drill!!! Those danged ol' close calls can sometimes go against us, unfortunately, and this turned out to be one of those... I undressed, took another shower, and changed clothes (this was quite necessary!).
How long would this go on, I wondered... If I continue westward, and 'it' continues, I could find myself spending a lot of time in laundry mats, since my supply of 'clean' clothes was limited... a condition in which all bikers are very familiar.
That uncertainty is what ultimately tipped the scales towards giving up... again... I'm starting to develop a complex here, and that simply won't do... I decided to return home, but not to abandon the quest entirely. Nope, I'd regroup and make a new plan... I did...
In an effort to learn important lessons from recent events, I pondered various options... Maybe I need adult supervision...? Perhaps I might even need a body guard, since I can't be sure what all I may have gotten into... or might on the next attempt... Hmmmmm...
A wonderful development has unfolded over the last few days!!! Tom (TNWingman) and Terry (T-man403) have signed up to escort me this time... and to keep an eye on me while engaging in activities of the festive sort... Surely I can complete my sacred mission now...? We'll see...
The current plan is for them to arrive here this coming Saturday, and for us to depart Sunday morning... The weather forecast is now calling for rain here and along our route Sunday, however, so it might be Monday before we actually get underway. That would not be all bad, in that it would put us in Winnie, and at Al-T's, on Tuesday evening, so the likelihood of outrageous activities getting out of control is greatly reduced... it being an early week night and all...
My confidence is bolstered with the knowledge I'll have adult oversight present (Tom is a little older than I), and there will be a body guard along also (Terry is a hockey player, a for real goalie who still plays!). Of course, I'm also happy to report my bowls are normal again... As for that pledge I took... ummm... may have to postpone the implementation of that... I mean... I will be in Texas, after all... and, you know...
DDT
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