Following our most recent Hillbilly Highways Ride, I wandered off, as is my custom. I'd pretty much had my route for the next few days dictated to me by Mother Nature! Yep, rain alternating with heat was unmistakably in the forecast, so no need at all to even consider venturing south, because that's where the bulk of it would be found!
The Hillbilly Ride is very much like others, in that the main attraction is the meeting-up with so many good folks we don't often see. It is unique, however, in that the setting is unlike that found at any other venue. Anyway, I had another large time showing up and hanging with all the great folks... I did notice a couple of peculiar things, though...
Sweetcheeks and the giant flask
Dave Weaver and the giant flask
Rick Flanders, 'Flask', from Florida is renowned for always having an assortment of flasks with him, and all contain various chemical concoctions sure to lubricate the imbibers! One of those 'special containers' is the largest of that type I've ever seen, and it always gets passed around... Nope, I didn't get a selfie, but I surely took a turn!
As I travel around the continent, I see many unusual things, including many vehicles that always stimulate thought...
1960 Ford station wagon
1960 Ford station wagon – hood-up
Ahhhhh, the good ol' days! I remember those older cars we drove during those young-adult, less than affluent days... We'd pull into a gas station (back before we were allowed to pump our own), and we'd tell the attendant to 'fill 'er up with oil and check the gas'!
Like yours truly, this guy doesn't know if he's coming or going either, but you have to give him credit for being prepared!
Caddy with two front ends
uploading imagesI stopped for gas not long ago, and five ladies pulled in while I was sipping a cold beverage... We had a delightful conversation, just bikers comparing notes and enjoying the moment... The picture I took of them didn't come out for some reason, but I did manage to capture a couple of their bikes at the pumps. It's always fun to chat with fellow road warriors!
Biker babes
In an effort to find and then stay in some sort of 'sweet spot' weather-wise, we found ourselves riding through Iowa... We found that weather sweet spot too!
It had been unbearably hot for several days, then one evening a violent thunderstorm passed over us, and everything turned wonderful afterward! Clear skies, cool temps, low traffic, back roads...
The entire universe took on a feel of nirvana, and we were content to just glide along enjoying whatever we found... Even seemingly unremarkable scenes appeared to be spectacular in the context of our elevated mood!
Iowa flat, plowed field
Iowa straight roads
Iowa farmland!
While riding the super slab through Illinois to make up some time lost when we'd stayed over an extra night to rest up (we were trying to stay in that sweet spot), I noticed a sign for an upcoming exit near Kickapoo... 'Jubilee Café'. WOW! That ‘rang a bell’ in my recollector muscle and triggered a great memory...
Troutdude, MitchO, and I had stopped there for breakfast a few years back... and they offered coconut pie! On our stop back then, I'd ordered what turned out to be a huge serving of biscuits and gravy, plus some bacon. Mitch had a traditional breakfast, then Dennis placed his order... A half order of biscuits and gravy and a slice of coconut pie! He'd gone to the restroom before ordering and had noticed the pie display!
I should have changed my order, but I didn't... and he's never let me live it down! I was too full after eating my meal, so I didn’t order a slice for myself. He did share a bite of that pie with me though, and it was mighty good, too! Well, when I saw that exit sign and remembered our previous visit, I pulled off and made things right!
Jubilee Café (not ALI in this pic!)
Entrance to Jubilee Café (Yes, that is ALI in this pic)
Coconut pie… same table that Dennis, Mitch and I sat at
Yeah, the pie was really good!
I stopped for coffee one fine, cool morning in Indiana, and a guy way older than this aging trekker pulled in driving a vintage pick-up truck... He had 'GMC' painted on the Chevy emblem in the front grill, homemade fender mud shields, exterior grab rails high by the doors, a horse hood emblem, and a Rebel Flag tag on the front proclaiming his 'redneckery'... Really nice guy, though, who moved very slowly as he went inside, then departed...
Redneck ‘GMC’ pickup
We took backroads and made our way to Columbus, IN. From previous stops there over the years, I knew right where a Waffle House was located, and I smiled broadly and salivated profusely, as I brought ALI to a halt in a parking place near the entrance.
Yep, we made our now traditional stop there on our way back south for an always long overdue serving of grits! An oasis in the wilderness where my deficiency can be addressed and my recovery from withdrawals begun!!
Columbus, IN, and grits!
how to print screen on pcYeah, I did have sausage… only for a change of pace, though, my normal preference, of course, is bacon!
Another stop in Liberty, KY, this time for two nights. Yeah, I was tired, and I was also in no particular hurry any longer. We'd made it close enough to InZane that we could easily make it to GZ regardless of the weather, so… I took advantage of this lay over to change ALI’s oil and filter…
Oil & filter change, Liberty, KY
post imagesAnother view of oil change (notice the blue chair)
Yep, when I’d gone onto the local IGA grocery store to pick up a baking/basting pan to catch the old oil, I spotted ‘bag chairs’ and other camping items on sale there… I’d been debating lately about picking up a chair like that… I used to always carry one on road trips, but for some reason I’d stopped… Well, it occurred to me that I could use such a chair while changing the oil shortly, so I hauled off and got one!
While in Liberty, I read a reply to my most recent post. Well, one thing led to another, and I wound up changing my ‘plan’ again… Nothing new, of course, I often change direction just for the sake of making an unplanned turn someplace! My way, I suppose, of making up for all the times I was forced to stick to a rigid plan in years past…
Anyway, I was thinking I’d hook-up with the cool kids in Sparta, NC, Saturday evening. Well, I’m now in Clinton, TN, so I’ll be riding to Sparta with them Saturday after all… Dang! I just love to alter any plan I might have in play, and that never fails to bring a broad grin to my face… Yep, I’m grinning right now as I write this, too!
A long ride filled with unexpected events, twists and turns, rides through states I hadn’t envisioned, stops in unplanned locations… We’ll have traveled about 7,000 miles by the time we arrive in Roanoke just getting there…
I’d originally thought it might be closer to 12,000 total miles, but an unexpected, not graceful at all dismount altered that plan considerably. Oh well, the summer heat is taking more of a toll on me than it ever has, so I probably wouldn’t have been able to make the entire loop through Washington state anyway. Still, a worthwhile outing to be sure, and… I’m mighty proud to be here!!!
DDT
