Them Gypsy Feet

                  I like to say that I took myself on some wonderful self date to a really neat place where I took all these cool pictures, but the truth be told I didn't. I stayed at home this weekend and had a very special guest at my house. Mr. Parker has had more addresses than most people I know. He's traveled a great deal of the west and now is starting on the East Coast. He like I has itchy feet and feels better when we are moving on and covering some ground, he's not the in door type guy, but watch out cause he is a giant flirt. Today I took him to the beach in the beach buggy and set up the tent, I don't know if it was the ocean waves crashing, the feel of the early morning warm sun, or just the calming effect the ocean has on all souls but Mr. Parker was perfectly content. He sat and watched the world go by until he just feel asleep. After a couple of hours of napping on the beach he was ready to roll. Like most men when he wanted to go he wanted to go and didn't want to wait to put anything away. So this is where it begins huh all the way at the begining. I took Parker downtown area and we strolled the streets, stopped at O'Kanes and had a beer then went down to the sweet shop and got a very small vanilla Ice cream dish, then off to the marina to see all the ships and the trains coming and going from our tiny port. We were just getting our groove on when the afternoon thunderstorms came rolling in. We made a mad dash for the car and then here to the beach house. In a few years I can't wait to have Parker join me, he already does kick starts, and have the throttle twist down, so shortly he will be joining me I know for rides around the town. OH, by the way Parker is just 3 1/2 months old and charms all the ladies so I hate to see what happens when he gets a little older. I'd spend another day like this any day if I can't ride then I'd enjoy hanging with Parker way too much fun. Have a great one "T"

Naw just sight seeing, or too fast for ya?

           Here I am again on the road riding with 2 other folks my question is to me can I consider this a self date or not? If if is a self date are we all self dating ourselves together? Well there we are the 3 companions what a strange group we make. If ya wanted to play the game which one doesn't fit I guess well none of us do 3 riders 2 men, 1 chick, 3 bikes 2 Harley's, 1 import, 2 US citizens, 1non US citizen, 3 experienced riders 1 old rider, 1 well trained rider, 1 good rider all trucking down the road together.  Heading out of North Georgia into the hills of Tennessee. The idea is to do the Cherahala Skyway head into Robbinsville, NC stay the night do the Dragon then head much further north. However on the road I thought of something flat out and told it to the GPS man. Who raised his eyebrows and said your right. What did I say? Well Robbinsville is located in a dry town. What I learned about my traveling companions is this though this may not bother me, it sure won't sit well with them. They like to have a beer or two after the journey and I can say I enjoy them too. So a new plan was derived and that was to grab gas and 12 pack at Telco Plains and do Cherahala Skyway then go on to Robbinswille. Well, One said why not just stay here. So, we went to look for cabins and found them they were clean and neat and I'd stay there again in a heart beat. The shower was awesome it had a little bench thing in it so ya could sit and shower perfect man.
         We was checking in and I was happy I was l plagued with the same exhaustion I suffered from the whole time I was in Georgia. It's not that I didn't want to do anything, I was happy I didn't have too. I thought the heat and humidity was draining me dry, but there was some thing much more on tap for me, so with the constant battle of the heat I went in a took and nice cool shower, yes I sat on the bench. The boys were off babbling with the neighbors. It was a husband and wife team of BMW riders first time in my life BMW riders wanted to talk with me, maybe I looked harmless as my one companion was riding an import so they figured we couldn't be that bad? Me, if ya know I'm not a brand snob I might joke a round and all but I'm not. Anyway once I was done the shower I went out on our deck and joined in the babble, oh and it was flowing trust me. I was handed a beer and did more listening than taking, for some reason I just wasn't into babbling like normally. I love to talk about travel and places folks have been and possible someplace I might have been too. I really enjoy it they might have been some place that I've got to see, I am one of them folks ya know not happy unless I see it all and some times the all is seeing miles of nothing. LOL!
           They talked and talked and talked, I drank 2 beers and just called it a night I couldn't go on any more it was too much I needed to sleep. I was dog ass tired, and I didn't even really push myself.  Well in the am I was the first up so I got up pottied and went back to bed, why not and I actually went back to sleep. When I got up I found myself alone and they were up, so I walked down to get coffee,  it wasn't that far of a walk but you would have thought I walked 20 miles up hill in 10 minutes go get that coffee the way I was puffin'. We sat on the deck drank coffee the guys had their stuff on the bike so I figured well I better get mine on too. One thing from years of travel and riding with guys is don't be the gal that makes the guys wait, in the early years they wouldn't wait, now they just get annoyed and bitchy.  Just as I finished strapping it all on they were like ready to go, one we now can call "Suzie" cause he pulled Susan's key for the cabin. We pulled away from the cabins and why I ended up leading I have no idea and dam it if I didn't go the wrong dam way. Shit! oh well, I was happy to be sitting and not walking or expected to talk or act social for some reason I just felt tired and ready to go back to sleep. Maybe we fiddled around too much or was it cause once I was I up I went back to sleep?
         Well, anyway "Suzie" got us going in the right direction and normal this would upset me abit that I was going the wrong way but for some reason I just didn't give a shit. We three reached the Cherahala "Suzie" first, and me in dead last. I was in no rush I've done this road dozens of times and I just wanted to sight see I guess I had my feet up cruise set at 50 as we went rolling through the bottom of the pass. I guess I got to far behind and the traveling Aussie's worried about me cause he turned around to see and I said, "dude , don't worry I'm just sight seeing" the higher we got the chillier it got so when I saw the boys at a pull over BSing with other riders I pulled in and got me hoodie out. I know the secrets of some of these passes and they can get down right cold fast. As far as we could see the sky was clear blue and the sun was shining I guess we were on the back half of the pass still, because at the top rain clouds were fight to get over the crest of the Cherahala. They took some photos and off we went. I decided that was not going to behind that Kawi in Deal's Gap or the Foothills all I could smell was raw fuel and it was kind of sicking to me.
           Feet back up in second this time as we climbed to the higher elevations. We never stopped to take photos was no point because well we were wrapped in the gray misty clouds heavy with rain struggling to get over the pass. I've been through here when it was pouring and in continuations like this to take a picture is like looking at a white out. I had taken my feet off the highway pegs and disengaged my cruise control as vision was poor and I didn't want to waste that one second to disengage or shift positions if I had too. It was no problems we made it to the bottom of the Cherahala and were well on our way to Robbinsville. I asked "Suzie" if there was any reason we had to go to Robbinsville, he said,"no" so I said I know a short cut that connects Cherahala and Deal's Gap but I know know the road name or call numbers I just know it by sight. So, I was up front cruising along still not feeling fully awake. I figured I should have after all dam that upper pass was chilly and wake anyone up in the am. However, in the lower vallies it was warm as the sun was still shining. Ah, there it is! No, signal no nothing I just turned and pulled and slowed to the side I said dudes I'm sorry it just came up fast when ya looking with your eyes on a curvy road.
        Yeah they were impressed with that I'm 100% sure but screw it how many times have they done that to me right? Along this winding road there are a few homes the river that run Thur Deal's gap. Folks I could easily live in this area not because of the great motorcycling, but I can see myself as a hillbilly chick. I like the beach and all but I'm a nature's type child I love to stroll along the wooded areas listen to the birds hike to the top of a rocky craggy and just sit and spend the day watching out and over all things. Its the smell of pine trees, the rushing of the streams, even the cold chilly mornings don't bother me. I for one don't hate the snow or cold really. I can think of a dozen things to do in the colder weather. Anyway it was a short distance to the Deal's Gap stop there I don't know what its called but the place everyone gets their photos taken. We stopped and grapped a bite to eat and just kind of watched the parade of folks come and go. Some of them bikes had more money dumped into them then miles that's one thing for sure. Earlier I made a comment that most American Single Men are into the Barbie's of the world so gals like me get passed over all the time. I was able to point out 4 different Barbie's to the Aussie Traveler whom had a hard time figuring out why I was single and had be so for such a long time. He said ah and got it right away.
          I called first here, cause once your on the Dragon ya got no place to go so when we got ready to go after photos of the tree of shame. I pulled out first followed by "Suzie" and the import. Here on this road I would not use cruise control or put my feet on the highway pegs this road is relatively easy with any one who's spent time in the saddle of the bike they are riding. But me I like to put a challenge as I ride. This was mid week and one thing about mid week was less people, no officers patrolling. The posted signs I think are 35 and really I don't ever remember going through there at 35, on the sportsters we rip thought there somewhere around 55 with Joanna, but know on the King I keep it about 45-50, yeah age might have something to do with it too. After all we do feel different about things at 29 then we do at 46. I had pretty much clear sailing except for one car which made a quick pull off as soon as they could. It was a nice smooth dance over the pass and I pulled off by the lake there and asked the gents if that was too slow for them. "No, I wouldn't go any faster" ah, I internally smiled. To me that comment meant dam gal, otherwise they be impressed with me riding skills through there. Now there was some floor board scraping and trust me I could have given them more if they liked but well I was just happy sitting here on my rock at the moment listening to the comments of the traveling Aussie on the subject. We mounted up and continued on to Foot Hills Parkway.
           The Foot Hills Parkway is another favorite of mine its just filled with nice wide sweepers nothing radical just wide sweepers. This is where I put my feet up on the highway pegs and just set the cruise control and just keep to the sway of the road. When I ride like that I feel like I'm just flying and when the two of them take off its just me sight seeing enjoying the what was created here for me to enjoy. The greens of the trees, feel of the breezes, glimpse of little fuzzies and birds doing there thing and the black ribbon of road before me. After we completed the Foot Hill Parkway it was Jam time no more pussyfooting around up went speedos and off we took to points north. When we stopped for the night I was so grate full though I would have kept going. I was struggling again and all I wanted to do was sleep. but I had to walk across the parking lot for food and what a pathetic site I was.
                 The whole two weeks I struggled, I struggled on the way home. I was just tired and slightly worried that maybe its time for me to slow down I mean way down. I'm now a special needs kid so to speak and my immune system is taxed to the limit every day, and a road trip just pushes it harder so I hoped it was just a combination of exhaustion and current health issues. I struggled so much coming home I was going the wrong way at one point but I as I wrote in an earlier blog I was able to still act in an emergency manor when I had too. When I got home I went to bed for like 3 days, really never got go up. I didn't want to eat I didn't want to do anything. The time I was awake I was very worried cause I feel like I had a cold but I couldn't even walk like 5 feet without sitting down and gasping for air. My chest hurt and I was scared. Really scared. I was fearing that my tumors had doubled in size in my chest over the last month and time was running out for me. However, after a few days rest I felt a little I mean little better so I made a phone call and went to lay on an ex ray table, gee a complete white out. What that means is that the chest is full of fluid. A few days of antibiotics and a recheck has shown that the pneumonia is well on its way leaving this person's body. In the future I have to remember that I am special needs kid and can't go running around 100 mile per hour with my hair on fire. Since I plan on being her a little longer than my given time stamp in 02, 05 then again in 09, then I'm going to have to slow and take extra care of myself while I travel the US. This I think I can do. There is so much here I want to see and do and I will not let myself be the death of me. So this is my lesson for the month. I'm still home resting and recovering from pneumonia, but I got me some plans for the future don't y'all worry. have a great one "T"
                 

oh Man It's The Big House

                     Man, sometimes ya start off and everything is just perfect I mean perfect. Clear skies, favoring winds, good company, destination in mind and it doesn't even matter if ya are starting later then intended or not. All that matter is ya know in a few minutes you will pulling your beast from the garage and going for a cruise. The days now here in the south are humid, I mean humid. Sometimes its just plain hard to breathe, and can make ya frustrated in a second, I don't think there are any of us that are slimy on such days. If your one of them non slimy people can ya share the secret how ya do it? Hot, covered in sunscreen and slimy what a great way to feel when your heading down to The Big House on Vineville Ave in Macon.
The three of us stared our journey a little late but I have to say Jonsey was the first at the street ready to leave. NeeCee getting a slow start due to a busy night and me just doing what I do and that is going with the flow. I never see the point of getting my self all upset. Oh I, sorry who is NeeCee? Why she is our host for a few days here in Griffin Georgia as we make our way North to Morgantown West Virginia.
               I really do believe that our game plan was to leave at about 9am but we didn't pull out until 11:30am. I know men hate that shit so NeeCee and I were left with a cranky Aussie. Oh well them is the breaks. First thing to remember is NeeCee is really a new rider. She's got great skills just needs folks around her that can help her push her envelope a little bit. We headed out of Griffin and I looked around. Griffin flourished and was doing well in different decades ya can see by the stores and building located there, all over there are abandoned Mills. It used to be a Mill town, and when the President signed one bill and made it a law, well this little town's mills closed one by one leaving most with jobs or hopes of every getting a job. Thanks for thinking of us the little people. My mind wonder back again as we made our way down 19/41 south heading for making. There were small  towns stretches of nothing along the route then, we were "rolling down highway 41."  I will say NeeCee was doing a wonderful job of leading. She did like to keep to the speed limits but I guess I did that too as a new rider, I wish I could remember. We got cold drinks hide from the sun some and listened to some mumbling babble from the Aussie, I would shake my head and agree. I could understand him, but there are times I don't he wanted to be understood. I know he wasn't happy about the speed limit thing however he really needed to cut Nee some slack man. Not far from our gas station stop was the first destination. Nee couldn't a decision what was the best way to get out of that three way intersection so I just went.........everyone followed. Sometimes ya just can't dick around ya know. We cruised with ease through the streets of Macon past where 41 turns into Vineville Ave and headed to the parking area. To enter the house you go through the backyard round to the front of the building.
 There is wonderful Stained Glass that greets you around the front door and entrance way.
       When ya enter your given a walk through guide, I suggest taking a moment and reading some of it first so you can get an idea of the flow of the place I know I wish I did but in stead I stuffed it in my pocket. The Big House was were the original members of the Allman Brothers Band and their extended family lived and used as their home base of operations from early 1970 to very early 1973. They divided the rent and between them. There is a check written by Duane to Berry for 225 dollars. Since I didn't read the walking tour thing it seemed overwhelming with displays. The room that walk into and greet the host of the day is the parlor. Dick Betts slept there on a pull out couch, it had a little fire place and the walls were covered with the bands posters is ya took a close look they were in chronological order. However there is just so much more here in the room. Paintings of the band, T-shirts musical instruments to tour guides and you name it. Above the fireplace in this room is a flat screen TV with interviews playing, concerts playing all in a loop. Yes, you can sit and watch if you want, there's no rush so take your time.
     Room after room was filled with instruments, posters, oil paintings, hand written song lyrics, and record company paraphernalia and I was still just on the first floor. What I hadn't figured out is that as you flow through the rooms each room was dedicated to a specific album and period of time. There were also personal photographs located throughout the Big House. Greg Allman and Cher gave their billiard table over to The Big House and it is filled with memorabilia as well. I would have love to spend more time strolling through the place but NeeCee and I were kind of feeling rushed a we bit but not really.




                                                                                                                                
       I headed up stairs and left NeeCee behind. There were other visitors there that day and they were in little chatting quietly over different instruments, hand written songs, or photographs. Up stairs is where the bed room and music room was located and these were as packed with memorabilia as the down stairs. The music room/ "Casbah" lounge was designed to be a chill out room for the household, it features a 7 headed shower. Often Berry and Linda used this room. In this room there are records, hand written music, and other small hand held instruments. A small short table acts as a coffee table to the floor pillow wall. I sat and spent some time here.



          

                                                                                                                              (dam you weren't supposed to catch me smoking catipillers dude)

Down stairs and out the back as we left the Allman Brothers Big House and headed for Rose Hill Cemetery. Who would have guessed that was a challenge in itself.

     Rose Hill Cemetery is a really neat little graveyard if your ever in the area and wonder what to do this place could be entertaining for sure. It's hillie, twisties and contains paved, gravel, broken, and dirt roads. The Three of us were on bikes and came out the back exit of the Big House. NeeCee was looking for College Road and said we needed to turn onto it, so we continued to search the back roads of the area. We came to an intersection and though all of us this isn't right, Nee not knowing what direction to was in contemplation. I looked around at the situation at hand and and my mind said yeah I really don't want to be so let's go this way and took off now in the lead. Jonsey was in the back and I could hear him semi bitching I don't blame him I was inside saying this ain't good.  No one wants to be in the wrong part of town at any time of the day or night, each intersection we'd come to I could see the porch boys and corner guys make their signs just a slide of head and hand motion. I lived in the ghetto of Jacksonville for few years I got when ya being spotted out for something, what it could be anything from robbery to rape. We had two things of interest to these boys. They knew we were lost but I wasn't sitting at any corner long enough nor did I signal I just went and NeeCee right there just keep moving thru. Some how we popped out at a T intersection looking straight up a hill at us was a Cemetery. NeeCee said she had no clue where she was and she was sad she couldn't find it. I pointed across the street and to her darling them gates look like Cemetery Gates to me. Jonsey well he just thanked us for the Fucked Up Tour through Tan Town. He said he felt like biker pimp daddy riding thru with his two bitches showing Tan Town what he was selling. LOL!

 The Light of a million hours finally changed and we crossed over the street to the chained gate up a side goat path to a very small gravel road. WE got NeeCee in front of us since she was the only smart one with a map of the place. On this little gravel goat path of a road the cemetery looked awesome. If the weather was cooler I could spend hours in there. I love the old grave stones they are so beautiful and creative. The Aussie being himself mumbled worlds he knew we didn't understand and took off. I think it was the heat.  The gravel goat path lead to a small and I mean small concrete path just wide enough for a car, we followed the path. NeeCee wasn't too sure about any of this but followed along, in some spot well I wasn't that tickled either, she did it with flying colors. We made several passes of the place each grabbing the map and and saying this way, it was a mess however we passed soldier's square filled with confederate soldiers, Elizabeth Reed Napier's site, through Eglantine square, over Forest Hill, and around Cabanss Ridge several times in search of Carnation Ridge. Yes this is a very large hillie Cemetery. At one point we all got off and walked around just looking, finally NeeCee Yelled and she had found it the grave site of  Duane and Berry.

The graves used of offer open access to them so that everyone could pay their respects as those so wish. However over the years during the anniversaries of the deaths of these gentle men less respect was given to them and their families and a large iron fence has been place around them to keep them protected. So that future generations of music lovers, and family members have a place to come and honor those that left well before their time as so many of the talented to. Rest in Peace, I know where to go when I turn to spirit for some jamming chill out tuns. Thank you Gents, and to all of you have a great one! "T"

Skill or Reaction?

 I was heading home alone from a road trip I went on with friends.  It was well into the afternoon somewhere about 2pm. I had been on the road since 8am and was doing gas, potty and go thing. I was on highway 83 feet up, cruise set at 75 just jamming along enjoying the ride. I was in the left hand lane oh did I mention I was going completely the wrong way. Any way I went North instead of south but had not realized it yet. I guess my head may not have fully been in the game so that could have been the reason for the mistake. I was thinking about the road trip and the week before and was having a hard time dealing with my feelings. I did however drag my ass from West of Morgantown to South Carolina during the morning hours. If I want to beat feet I beat feet. When I stopped for fuel for some reason I went the wrong direction.
         I was feeling pretty good at the moment I had cold water the weather was sunny and traffic was picking up but still moving along. I had got my head back on the game once on the highway again, as an upcoming exit made me look for cars and trucks entering the  highway. I saw this white car come across the right land and headed right for me! At the same second my mind said SHIT! I was off the throttle, applying both brakes in panic mode, and down shifting all at one time. I was feathering the rear brake as I could feel the tire grab and slide, so I was trying to avoid a lowend slide. I was also moving to the left off onto the shoulder of the road. Its tough to hit the "wake grooves" while feathering the back brake, If I reached out with my left hand the concrete barrier I would be able to touch. All of this action happened in less than a minutes time, then the car was well ahead of me. All the other cars around me all pointed and had hit their skids as well. Each of them gave me room to move back on to the highway.
        I think the hardest thing to deal with isn't the panic stops, the actions I had to take or the fear, but the adrenalin rush afterwards. The "fight or flight" mode. I began to shake and felt short of breath. I was shaking my head, them each arm and hand as well as legs. I was in the left hand land with a tiny shoulder so I couldn't just stop. Once the shakes were over I was pissed, I wanted to run down that bastard and show him what I thought of him. As I was running up the left hand lane looking for the dick, I spotted his car. Son of a Gun if he wasn't looking for me! He rolled down his window and shouted, " oh my gosh I am so sorry, I wasn't paying attention so I ran you off the road, and I could have killed you! I yelled a him, "ya got two use them"  Man, He totally ruined my good string of cruse words and tell offs. He admitted his mistake so there was no reason to continue on. I eased my way to the right lane to get off at the next good looking exit to completely be sure I shook it off and in doing so I saw I was going the wrong damn way. I wondered if it was skill, reactions or just my angel stepping in to wake me up and get my head back into the game. After a few minutes at the rest stop I got going in the right direction, with my head in the the game. Thank You my Guardian Spirit I still got things to do here. Have a great day! "T"

Tour Guide Anyone??????????

  Ok, so now I am about to write a blog about small ride I took but I didn't take it alone so this one I can't classify as a self date. It seems that I have house guests, the kind from out of country so I wanted to do my best to show the area off. I also wanted to show them some cool ass things as well. My first thought was The Might Eighty Eight. Its in Pooler, Georgia and its a WWII air musuem. They have several diffent planes out side an ya can see it right from 95. Machines and things of war are always a big hit with the dudes so that was my plan. The head south down 17 on the way home passing through out type Georgia, stopping at a fish camp and going over that bridge in Brunswick Georgia, then the lovely little blue bridge and the most hidious welcome to Florida sign ever mad. I shared my thoughts and it seemed to be ok. My first misstake was not to ask what do you like, and what are your riding habits. I never thought of this, Here in the south everything is spread out and the heat and high humidity in the summer months can be a factor. I know it can make folks who live here some troubles cause at times it kicks my ass for sure. Anyway We got ourselves together got the rides out of the garage and headed up state road 200/A1A over the small intercoastal area and off to 17 north to pick up 95 north.
      The other lesson I learned is this, dah ask about gas milage cause it does matter how far someone's tank can take them. I guess all the self dataing I had done over the last so many years I have forgotten some of the basic questions to ask before I took off. At lighting speed we left the enternce ramp on 95 and mergered into traffic. Geeze I found myself alone, remind self not all bikes have the same pick up power, so I slowed down in the right hand land and waited for my tour group to catch up. Once we were all together we had to take the boring and I mean boring journey to Pooler, but before we arrived we needed to stop for fuel. We got off at the Pooler exit went to the museum. I think its a neat old place and I'm sure some of you war historians, ex military and gear heads would find the place super cool. e
         We strolled around the museum and then left and head down 95 a little ways, to hit 17 south but first hit the gas station. Got something to drink and filled the tanks and back on the road again on to 17 and what as later decribed to me as the most boring fucking road on earth, I knew they were right after all half the time riding here in Florida I want to tear my eyes out from bordom as well. Let's face it our roads all are straight flat and endless traffic or endless pine forest or palm lined. It's hot and the sun just beats on ya even with the pop and go rain showers it doesn't cool the area off it just makes it even more humid. I asked to please bear with me for a few more moments and we would be of a place of interest, or not just depends on what a person finds interesting. On 17 there is a silly or stupid thing to see and that is America's Smallest Church. After a few moments of strolling on the grounds and admiring the spanish moss draping of the graceful old oaks it was time to head on down the road. Another 40 minutes or so we came upon MudCat Charlie's. Its a fishing camp, so I thought this might be a great place to stop for lunch. As we dined we looked over the river the tide was incoming tide and the waters were rather mirky. Most the fishing boats were back in from the day however the privates were still arriving from their day of fun on the seas. My guests wanted to take some photos of the area so off they went do to do and were beyond excited to see in the river water several Gators. OH, man when they showed me I was pretty shocked. This gator had to be of 10-12 foot varity. He sure could but a hurting on if he wanted to. It seems as the guys clean fish the gators come up and wait for the discarded parts, and easy meal with no efforts on their part.
          I knew my friends were bord to death with 17, but they were also bord with 95 too, I completely understand however we were less than 20 minutes from the Brunswick Bridge and I knew they'd love to go over it. It's a real pretty bridge very much like the Dam's point in Jacksonville but not nearly as high. We approached the bridge and got a few photos and then went over it. I love just over looking the river and marshes as flew over the top of it. There is a windsheer due to the river and changing tides something that my tour group found a little shocking. After crossing the bridge we jumped on 95 and bolted home for dinner.Before dinner we stopped at a place right on South Flectcher called Hammerheads. Here my guests had a great time bullshiting with the locals. This is more like what they had in mind as they wanted to discover different areas of America and the people that live there. This I understand cause ya know I'm kind of the same way.  I don't know if the day was enjoyed or not. But what I did learn is remember to always ask what folks riding habits are like, and what they want to do. It helps a great deal. I like folks to be happy and content with their journies cause I do realize not everyone can ride like I do, will endure the most boring road cause its better than cruising in the 4 runner. Now that I have learned a little about what these folks are looking for I can without a shadow of a doubt give it to them. have a great day!
     

Pssssst...................ah shit

I find myself once looking at the canlendar and it's Tuesday. Tuesday's I head down to Jacksonville to be a DD for one of my friends. The day was very warm, sunny with big white puffy clouds. At 4:30 pm I head down Heckshure Drive towards Jacksonville. There were a few slow folks but the ride that I ride weekely is or can be interesting as it windes along coastal water ways, Jax's port and the major shipping lanes in Jacksonville. I admired the scenery, the birds the bridges, and folks fishing. as I was over the last bridge and heading towards Jaxs Port, I feltt a slight little sway. I had books and clothing loaded on broard so maybe cargo shifted a bit??? My hopeful thinking. as I got off the throttle the little sway stopped, it was an odd sensation to say the least. The first thing my mind said is shit! Then to test my minds theory  I gave more throttle to get up to speed, yep just as I thought the sway was back. Dam it, I knew what it ment instantly. Of course as I was getting closer to Jacksonville the summer T storms or pop up shows stared. Awesome, I crossed over the train tracks there, when the rain began, I merged on to Heckshure towards 9A no problem. The sway a bit stronger so I got into the left lane, hit the hazards and pushed my King to the gate station. King's are pretty heavy bikes and to push them with this problem just makes matters worse. I pushed to the gate gas station at 9A and Heckshure and stopped in front of the air compressor thing, I knew what was wrong. I was hopping since the dealer was only about 10-15 minutes away I could fill the tire and it would be enough to keep me going to Atlantic and the Regency Dealership

    Nope no such luck, So being that the king was all dressed up I had to lay on the ground in the rain with mud and oil everywhere now to fill the tire, as I filled the tire a high pitched squeel occured and as fast as the air went in it came back out again. At this point I'm standing there with my phone to my ear and air hose in my hand as I was rolling the hose back up to its hook and a dude comes over and says, "I think you've got a flat back tire" I looked at him and said, "really?" so he said,  "ya need to put air in the tire", I said, "I already tried as fast as it goes in it comes back out. I've already called for a tow. Thank you" He said, " darling do you know what tire valve is, did ya try filling it up?" I just looked at him, he grabbed the hose and began filling me tire, then proclaimed the airs coming out as fast as I put it in your going to need a tow, and ya know ya need a flat bed." I said." ah thank you. I got it covered" do you know after he left 3 more guys came over to tell me the same thing, none of them believed I tried to put air in the tire and the third one was shocked when the flatbed pulled up. So now I wait and wait. They won't get to my tire cause I'm local, don't the dealerships realize that to some folks their bike is their only relable transportation. Now I got to go and put a flame up someone's butt, I know there's noting in the tire, I know the little rubber strip caused the tube to rupture, cause the air made a high pitched squeel, and with the rain air bubble formed around the valve stem and spokes, as I rolled the bike too I looked for puntures or debrie stuck in the tire.............................so I am stuck in Jacksonville and frustrated! well have a great day! "T"

Taxi Darling?

                 Over the years I have ridden passagners all over the place, from short to long rides. I  can't say that I'm the best at giving folks a lift but they all see comfortable and are willing to get back on the bike again at a later date, time or to leave where ever we are. My usual passagners are gals, friend that want to go with me somewhere for the day. I'm going anyway so what the hell they might as well join to discover this area of North Florida and South Georgia. Some of my passagers has sucked ass as the moved and squirmed all over the place folks those passangers suck and well I tell them they do and that they can't do that as it throws the bike off balance as it sways down the road. However I do have to say over the last few years I have found myself given more and more men rides. Hell half of them prefere I pick them up by bike.
             Gents, I want to take this moment to Thank you for you efforst to continusly change your thought process. Not to long ago a man would never ever consider getting on to the back of a gals bike unless it was  for a joke or an emergency, but now less seem so uptight about and figure I've been riding as long as I have that well I got to have some clue as to what I'm doing. LOL! I met my friend Craig on Heckshure Drive at the Kangroo gas station there at 9A. He's a truck driver that I have known for atleast 8 years. He was one of my first friends in Jacksonville. He didn't have the magic kiss but the kiss of a brother so we knew deep down inside that it would go any where but buddies. He is a good buddy.
             So I went and got him at the tiny truck stop there in North Jacksonville. He had 10 hours of down time before he was allowed to drive anywhere so he said I'm here so I'd like to hang with you for the day. Well I rode him home from the truck, left him there to map on the bed as I went to go and get a battery for my truck. A few weeks ago I pulled the turck into the garage and the battery died, I knew it was the battery cause the truck was fine when it when in there then click click click when I went to start it. Well as I was on my way home from getting the battery Craig had kindly taken out the old one for me, now If is was dating him the chances of that happening are slim to none ya know what I mean ladies. So when I got back all I had to do is drop it in the pan, well damit if it wasn't the wrong size battrery, so I plopped it in the trunck an off I went to get the other battery. Who know there were two different battrey styles for the same dam truck???? I got the right battery came home and put in in. turn the key problem solved.yeah team Tumbles.
              I woke Craig up see what he wanted to do I also wanted to get him back to his truck so he could leave for Chareslton on time. He was more than willing to sit on the back and take a sighting tour of the island by bike. He just kept complaining about being jammed in like a sardine. It took me a moment or two to think about it but what I did is took off my back rest and he was more comfortalbe. I hate when passangers aren't comfy man they wiggle around and aeverything. He sat back there and road about a total of 100 and some miles and said I hate to admit it but it was real nice being a passanger, I don't think I'd like my gal ride me around because she lacks the confidence that you have about riding but I could get used to being a passanger its better than sitting in a truck. Well on the way back down Heckshure Drive the coming home from work crowd was coming home and ya know we really did get some odd stairs for sure. The surprised looks on most the dudes faces was well worth it. Me I got some really good guy friends that are willing to put their faith in me and for me that says alot about the kind of rider I am. Thanks Guys its always a great laugh and all the rest of you out there keep up the good work.......make it count have a great one "T"