Post VDR...

[DDT (12)]

With a new controller on order, and a loaner controller hooked-up and working well, the 'cool kids' escorted Allan (Punisher) and me back to Clinton, TN. The Veterans Day Ride was over and the next chapter in this ongoing story of gypsy wandering was about to begin. 
 
The closet thing I had to a plan was to hang around with Gordon (Lucky 13) for that just ordered controller to arrive... I had given his address for a shipping destination, so... That would be five days at least, maybe more with a weekend coming up... Without the heated gear, however, I was stranded, as the temps were more than a bit towards the cool end of the thermometer.

Allan had traveled with us, but he had a week of vacation to use, and it was fairly certain he wasn't going to spend it hanging around with us! Who could blame him? He is a free spirit, too, and he is an accomplished solo rider... He'll no doubt find plenty of adventure once he puts his kickstand up and heads for parts unknown!
 
We went out for breakfast the following morning, and we decided upon Shoney's... Now, those who know that place are well aware they have a killer breakfast buffet! I don't go there very often myself, however, even though I do like the grub... especially the scrumptious endless biscuits and gravy plus the inexhaustible mounds of irresistible bacon!!! I usually hurt myself when I go there, and I really tempted fate on this visit, too... as I typically do...
 

 
 
We all have our little idiosyncrasies, of course. For example, I usually drink sweat tea when I have breakfast out. That's because I drink all the coffee I care to early in the morning, so by the time I get around to eating, tea just works better for me. Gordon, on the other hand, has a different little thing that distinguishes him from the rest of us... He really, really likes grape jelly... a lot... a whole lot!
 

 
Yes, boys and girls, that is indeed grape jelly on his biscuits and gravy, grits, eggs... and, not surprisingly at all, he even puts it on his toast of whatever. I've never seen him eat Raisin Bran or Cornflakes, but if he were to grab a bowl of one of those... well, my money would be on the jelly finding its way on there, as well, even before he added sugar and milk! There is more...
 
Gordon raises grapes himself, and he actually makes grape jelly! Large quantities, too! He gave me a jar once upon a time... I had no idea at the time that he was making far more than a little gesture of hospitality... No sir, that, I now realize, was more likely a serious sacrifice (he was reducing his own on-hand stock!), and he was in fact making a sincere, generous statement of friendship... I look back on that nowadays, and I'm humbled to realize I do have such a dear friend in this world...

Gordon on the left


 

Truly a renaissance man, this amazing example of 'Mr. Everything' not only makes jelly, but he also studied music in college... he even has a baby grand piano in his living room right now! On top of all that, he is one of the best 'wrenches' I know!

Yep, he can go from the piano bench to the work bench in his shop, then jump over to the stove top with equal aplomb and dexterity, and all without ever breaking stride. And, after doing all of that, he can jump on his Interstate and do wheelies up and down the road!
 
There is so much more to this amazing gentleman, but I'm not sure how much I should say about him publicly... His face is probably red already, so I'll leave it for later, or better yet, for you to discover yourself! Suffice it to say, he is a most interesting and good man with great, albeit deceptive, depth. So much more there than meets the eye, but peeling back even a few layers of that onion reveals one of the more worthwhile individuals it has been my pleasure to come to know...

Hanging out with good folks is truly one of the major benefits of living the life I do. Allan is such a good person, as well. Maybe a bio on him would be a good subject sometime... hmmmm... Well, for now let me just say that he is a kindred spirit, and he is prone to up and head out on the spur of the moment... and he did just that the next morning... but first...

After leaving Shoney's, where we'd extravagantly, even sinfully, grazed at the grease bar, we stopped by a bike shop in Clinton, and guess what? They carried in stock the very controller I needed! I bought one, including the wireless gizmo that simplifies hooking up and using those Gerbings, and...

You know I couldn't figure any of that out myself, of course, but good ol' geek Allan easily explained it so even I could get it... Allan has a set-up like that for himself, so the combination of his endorsement, the simplicity of application, and the quality of instruction convinced me to go that way, too.

Allan (Punisher) & Jackie (Butter Britches)


Now I have a loaner controller, one to be shipped to Gordon's house, and a 'new good one' in-hand of my own... feast or famine, I suppose... Anyway, not having to wait for the one being shipped completely changed my circumstance, and I could then focus my thoughts on other important matters... like where to go next... and when. Being able to leave immediately changed everything for this reclusive wanderer, and I was able to answer the call of the open road sooner than I was expecting... which I did... The morning after Allan hit the road, I decided to go, too...

 "Time's a wastin'," it's been said... "and I have places to go and things to do." True, I don't have any idea where or what those might be at the moment, but... you know... It'll all sort itself out in time.

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Allan, looks like you slipped her a lemon the way she's puckered up.    Hope to cross paths once again....someday, maybe next InZane.

As for grape jelly on grits and all.....now I don't feel so bad. I like to add shredded cheese and oatmeal to my scrambled cackle berries, then smear some Grey Poupon on the finished product. As for the grits, if they aren't up to snuff, I've been known to dress them up a bit with some honey.

OK, now I'm hungry..... 

[Oss]

Haven't seen Allan and Jackie since Spearfish,  or was it Morgantown ?

Those two have mastered the airbnb thing to a science.   Maybe you could take a lesson from them as some of the places they have stayed at are pretty special indeed

Anyways glad to hear that y'all had a very large time !

Yes there is an abundance of fine people like Lucky13 in this club as you pointed out.

Carry on Bruce    

[The emperor has no clothes]

You sure are living the good life my friend.  Great story. I've never known anybody that grew grapes to make jelly. 

[Misfit]

That's fine company that you have been rubbing elbows with. Good on ya. 

[DDT (12)]

Allan, looks like you slipped her a lemon the way she's puckered up.    Hope to cross paths once again....someday, maybe next InZane.

As for grape jelly on grits and all.....now I don't feel so bad. I like to add shredded cheese and oatmeal to my scrambled cackle berries, then smear some Grey Poupon on the finished product. As for the grits, if they aren't up to snuff, I've been known to dress them up a bit with some honey.

OK, now I'm hungry.....  

John,

Another idiosyncrasy revealed! We all have them, of course, but yours... well, that one is... shall we say... ummmm... unique! The Grey Poupon is over the top, especially on berries of any sort! At least, it does seem so to this not-so-adventurous diner... I suppose one should not judge that for which one has no knowledge in the least, so... You just roll on being yourself... heck, it's worked out pretty well for ya so far!

DDT

P.S. That pic of Allan & Jackie was taken at D.I.'s, a Cajun restaurant way out in the middle of some rice fields near Jennings, LA... Great food, and a great time! They had a Cajun band and dancing there, also. A local woman even agreed to dance with this awkward rider, and the whole thing combined to make that a most memorable outing!!! Troutdude and Waterbug took Napper, Punisher and Butter Britches, plus some gypsy dude to that place... one few but locals could ever find...

Haven't seen Allan and Jackie since Spearfish,  or was it Morgantown ?

Those two have mastered the airbnb thing to a science.   Maybe you could take a lesson from them as some of the places they have stayed at are pretty special indeed

Anyways glad to hear that y'all had a very large time !

Yes there is an abundance of fine people like Lucky13 in this club as you pointed out.

Carry on Bruce    

Oss,

You are so right!!! Fine folks, wonderful memories, funny anecdotes, great stories... Experiences to treasure forever, and the best way I know to restore faith in mankind... just hang out with our family... I appreciate ya, man...

DDT

P.S. I, too, have used airbnb to find some interesting places to hole-up for a few days at a time...

You sure are living the good life my friend.   Great story. I've never known anybody that grew grapes to make jelly.  

Rob,

Thanks, amigo! Yeah, I know it sounds immodest to keep carrying-on about what all I do and where all I go, but I truly don't mean to come off that way... On the other hand, it has been such an amazing experience, I just want to shout out to the heavens sometimes... actually I do that now and then! Anyway, I do enjoy sharing this with my friends... Hope I'm not going overboard...

DDT

That's fine company that you have been rubbing elbows with. Good on ya.  

Damon,

I couldn't agree more! Thing is, no matter where I go, whenever I'm with members of the VRCC, I'm automatically rubbing elbows with fine company!!! Hope all is well on the eastern edge of the front range... See ya down the road...

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Hmmm....Butter Britches?  Dare I ask..... 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Bruce, it comes off as neither immodest or overboard. It comes off as plain AWESOME ! I think I can easily speak for 99.9% of us that reading your stories is a highlight of the day. Keep them coming my friend.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hmmm....Butter Britches?  Dare I ask..... 

I think she's Sweet Cheeks cousin. 

[RDAbull]

Bruce, If I could write like you I wouldn't have to steal other's words to post but every time I read one of your musings I can't help but to think of Robert Frost.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- ROBERT FROST

[Misfit]

Bruce, it comes off as neither immodest or overboard. It comes off as plain AWESOME ! I think I can easily speak for 99.9% of us that reading your stories is a highlight of the day. Keep them coming my friend.