Beryl the Bastard.......................

 I sit here now and the rain is still falling its been coming down for almost 2&1/2 days. The winds have died down to tree branch sway, which was far better than Saturday night. My Question is why do these storms always come in the night hours? Saturday morning the beaches were filled, folks strolling the beaches, children playing in the shallows, the breeze was light, the surf pounding. The life guards had their tropical storm flag and beach closed flags all flying. Yet, young surfers tempeted by high surf dared to take a spin on their surfboards. Most surffer's returned with in 20 minutes they were exhausted. The sunny morning gave way to grey clouds and increasing sea breezes. By 2pm being at the beach itself was well unenjoyable as the dermalabrastion passed theraputic levels. The bars filled the winds now reaching 30 mph as the first heavy storms arrived. Jacksonville Beach had only begun to experience the winds. Debrie or I should say light debrie began to blow around as the residents began to store away all the light objects. The hotels here on the island started to empty as tourists decided to end their weekend now and not get trapped for the next 2 days. There was a steady stream of visitor crossing the bridge for home, and very few were coming onto the island. Usually the first responders close the bridges down to keep the look lou's and I gotta see this people from coming on to the island. Its seems the winds reached 45 mph and they weren't going to close them at all, they wanted the visitor to get off the island if they wanted to. Though still early 5 pm it was as dark as twilight, the rains heavy and the gusts kind of scary. Sand began to blow over the dunes and whip across Fletcher, trees swayed, twisted, and some snapped. Jacksonville was a couple of hours in and alread power outages and flooding. Us well it was the wind, by 8pm there trees began to grown and snap, there were green flashes in the sky followed by loud booms. The eye of the storm decended on Jacksonville, but we here on the island were getting stronger gusts and heavy wind driven rain, the power flickered, the noise increased, Tree limbs went blowing past, at last comcast gave out, power don't know I went to sleep. The rain never stopped until the next morning and the winds continued well till this am. Its a mess with tree debrie and random home pieces, patio furniture, and what not to clean up. I don't Beryll was nearly as damaging as the Topical Storm that past by us a few years ago though. Our beaches are distroyed and high tide will now be up to the dundes in some areas. My small little group of homes here all pulled together and cleaned it up. I just had to wait for comcast to switch their switch. Why? Well I think comcast flicks a switch and turns the entire island off because we all lose everything at the same time, and we get reconnected at the same time. So Beryl the Bastard is finishing up, and I do hope y'all had a great Memorial Day!  "T"

Her Image.................

      I know I just wrote a blog like this one, however the image has stuck with me and every once in awhile I see it clear as day.  I woke up last night from my sleep and this was the image that came to mind so I've decided to write about it and share it with everyone.  I do believe this event happened back in 2002 as I did have my Dyna then and I think it was one of several getting to know you rides. See I got my Dyna after years and years of riding a sportster and my first thought was dam this thing is a big fat lazy pig! It just didn't have the umps the sportster had with the slightest twist of the throttle. So in many ways I was disappointed with my choice but happy because well nothing would fall off as a rambled downt he road, and it was a little more comfy to ride with the bumps and all.
     It was spring, maybe a nice comfortable day. It was Harley Day at Atco Dragway and the area was crawling with bikes. Now, I was on a mission even if it killed me to get to know this big fat pig of a bike so I bypassed the dragway and went on ahead to the pines so I could ride in peace and solitute to learn about the Dyna. I came back Atison Road and hit Jackson Road I guess some where around 4pm. There were large groups of bikes or what appeared to be large groups of bikes heading out to the pinelands and to point home. This section of Jackson Road at the time was just a couple of horse farms, cranberry bogs and the Speedway then  almost as ya passed the speedway little developmets start poping up. I think the first one is on Seseme Street, yeah I know but its the actual name! Anyway justr as your passing by the Ataco Dragstrip about a 1/4 mile down give or take is a nice sweeper of a curve. Nothing sacary or peg dragging just a nice sweeper.
        It was in the middle of the sweeper that I saw it. there was a bike off to my right in the sugar sand and several dudes wondering around, a chick in the middle of the road and a bike face first into the gardrail standing straight up. There were several bikes stopped but no one seemed to be doing traffic control. I would think that would be the first plan or that lovely lady was going to be hit again, however the guys were all walking around on the side of the road. So, I stopped. Walked over to a lady that was on the side of the road and asked did anyone call for help, she said she didn't know, so I did right then, Dam 5 bikers on the side of the road and not one person called? WTF, then I asked why isn't anyone doing traffic control? She told me they were looking for his wallet. Wallet? Why? his gal is laying in the middle of a curve and risks the chance of getting run over WTF is wrong with you people? I walked to the gal laying in the street. She was moning and sobbing some.
         I kind of stood over her and said, "Hi, I'm Tumbles, what is your name?" The lady standing around asked me what she should do, I told her to get her husbands head out of his ask and help slow the traffic down in both directions to keep another accident from happening. Cars and bikes leaving and going to the event were going around us at regular speed and really they ought to be stoped and let several go through in one direction then the other..........This area of the woods the State Police are large and in charge and it might be awhile before they show up.  I asked Kathy how old she was, about children their names, and where she lived. She asked me, " is it bad" I said, "well kathy its going to hurt for a while but it looks fixable to me. by the way what's your name again?" I was just trying to keep her talking. She said she was cold so I took off my leather jacket and put it over her chest, and aske the other lady for hers so we could cover Kathy more.
            I continued to bable with Kath and I found out she was a "Yellow Mother" along with my niece, and she knew "Mean Mother". See Kathy's foot was twisted around facing the wrong way and her calf was sitting on it , she had a very nasty compound fracture of the ankle and leg not really sure but I kept talking with her. As I did in the back of my mind I wondered why, why me why am I always the one to stumble across these accidents as one of the first few? I didn't know if it was because I've got this desire to always help, or that I'm not affraid to get involved, or is it that I got first aid trainging? I'm not sure which it is but I do seem to be the first on the scene and this time on the secene like 3rd and a bunch of dimwits were looking for a wallet? as if that was the most important thing? Kathy said she and her boyfriend were riding to Atco togehter. They were having a blast just riding side by side,  loving life and enjoying the ride! She's only been riding for 6 months and was 47 years old and believed this was the greatest thing she'd ever done and couldn't wait to get better to get out there again.
           Kathy at that moment didn't realize that it would be a couple of years and some heavy PT before she could walk and even think about riding again. She when on to tell me that they were riding side by side and came into the curve side by side neither one backed off and slammed into to each other and he went left she flopped her and her bike was the bike in the gardrail. "I see". I went back into my own thoughts as I kept her talking. Why do I always come upon these senes? Maybe this accident sceen was a reminder to me and those that pass not to get too cocky when out riding? After all how many times have I ridden side by side with my ex, in this exact same road in the exaxct same spot? How many times have Joanna nd I ridden side by side thur the mountains of North Carolina. Hell sometimes the ex and I rode so close together we were able to go through each others saddle bags while on the move? How many times did I share snacks with Joann or BamBam, Dawg while riding? Was I lucky? was it my experience or skill that kept this from happening to me or was it a warning that  keep it up girl and see what ya can get into.
               I don't know how many times this particular accident scene has flashed in my head since 2002, but its the one that I believe had the most impact on me. I mean sure there was the gal that I held her hand and made her husband thinks she was alive, there was the migrant farm worker whom slamed into the tree no one wanted to help cause he was mexican, then there was the guys that slide off the road into a telephone poll that a big pine tree was hidding. Now that was sicking and silly too. See the branches of the pine tree wraped around the truck so ya couldn't see him however fresh tracks in the snow had a tires going into the tree but not coming out. When I got there, his head was bleeding so badly, his scalp was stuck int the windshield and It was turing my stomack thinking about that I saw an atural scalping. I didn't have anyting else or I didn't know whatelse to do so I reached in my glove box and pulled out a super tampax tampon unwraped it, de tubed it, put it on the kids head and asked him to hold it there. Someone else had called this in, cause while I was talking to him the rescue squad came walking up. The EMT looked at his head and said what the hell are you holding to your head that has a string? then he said oh, well they do aborb alot of blood good thinking. Then there was the gal that bumped into another car and it went air born and hit the tree infront of a bar that I was in, her car landed upside down. I mean the list of first on the sceen goes on but why did this one stick in my head, why Kathy?
        "Mean Mother" told us about Kathy and her progress. It took her about a year and half before she could drive a school buss again. She never road again but never regreted her time she did ride. Me I understand completely she was hurt bad and if she didn't want to ride again that was ok. She was just happy that if only for a short time she did something she always wanted to do. But for me I still she her there in the middle of the road, bike in the gardrail, foot under her calf...........its still haunts me. I never think twice about getting involved, and neither should any of you. If the only thing you can do is call for help then that's what ya do. Do I think I'm great or fantastic..........NO! its just who I am, maybe somewhere inside I hope that someone will stop for me if the rolls were reversed. What I do know is I don't understand why even today, after all the different things I've seen, the time that has passed, Kathy's image still comes to my mind. Its like it haunts me, like the lesson wasn't Kathy's but mine, maybe I'm suposed to share it here with all of you. A reminder that shit happens, don't be cocky, get involved, or its just something that touched a cord. have a great one! "T"

Home ward bound from NC

             Homeward bound from North Carolina will be much different than going to NC. The Skies were greying and the occational thunder clap. Jo wanted me to change my mind before I left but I had to go I couldn't stay another day as I have work on Friday. I said my good bye's and Glad to meet  yas then headed up the gravel drive up the to the hill top and off to points south. I didn't want team CrazyHorse to know that I was greatly worried about the weather. Oh I knew it was going to rain, I seem to always bring the rain, and I always have a good time too. The test of true friendship is who's standing there with ya when the soup gets ugly right. I find my self looking up at the clouds as I follow 200 towards 77. I have to pass through Lancaster again. Here this section of 200 one really has to pay attention as the road has many turns to it and the city streets are a mild San Fransico style up and down up and down. However for some reason I just don't like going through Lancaster. Just outside of Lancaster I fuel up and depate weather the clouds are just grey and threating or are they dumping up ahead?
             Well, I guessed worng! I road about 20 miles and ended up pulling over and putting on my gear, jacket first then gators and pants. In the process a couple on a yamaha when zooming by laughing and pointing at me. OK, I know about the southern rain showers as I've lived here in the south long enough but there was something more threating then just passing showers. I contiued on getting dressed singing to myself as I was the only one there, "just singing in the rain," yeah and I did a complete jump in the puddle. yeah for me! It was a cold rain and I was thankful that I had stoped to put my gear on even while folks was laughing at me. Funny thing was about 30 miles down the road there was that yamaha sitting out side a bike gear place, they were now putting on rain gear............hum, and I was the joke. LOL! I came pu on 77 and took the southbound exit. I  hate highway traffic and was debating if I should go back and take 26 east or just continue down to 321. The rains seemed to be increasing and not having a radio I decided to get off at 321 and take the slow country roads home. There were a few things along the way that I wanted to take pictures of so I could post them here and discuss them but well the rain kind of dampened that Idea.
                  It rain steady and kind of hard all through the state of South Carolina. What joy, it brought me back to the famed statement from 2003 AMAZONS WMC Massion Dixion Run " I ain't riding if it ain't raining" I still keep intouch with many of the ladies however some have went on to be whatr they were to be. Some are Motor Maids, Some created another WMC called Windshifters, just a few stayed AMAZONS, and others still lost the taste for clubs. I'm in that last group I lost the taste for clubs. If ya had anything to with one there is just too much bullshit and interanal struggles of sisters trying to out do each other to get the attention of the big cheifs. Too many wanting to be Big Cheifs equals internal disagreements that can never be repaired so I am happy to say I'm an idependent. Do I miss it hell yeah, do I want to back there again no way man! I continued my journey south on 321 through the state of South Carolina. There are so many dead and dying towns its amazing, the big oaks usually swaying gracfully with the spansih moss floating on the changing air patterns now just hund straight down dripping wet from the continuous rain. Then there are the small town squares, stores empty, windows boarded some barred, just left there to rot with the confedierate solidor just watching the comings and goings of the square.
               The sign for 95 appeared I was planning on taking it granted I could take 17 the coastal highway but man I was wet to the bone and riding in the rain well its not what its cracked up to be. So I took 95 south crossed the boarded and looked for the first truck stop. I like truck stops for some reason. I guess every need I have can be met from hot shower to gas for both tthe bike and my self. I skipped the shower and fueled up. It was still a steady rain and it rained on me through most of Georgia atleast untill south of Midway. When I looked up ahead it was clear and bright so I took off my rain gear and stuffed it undermy cargo netting. That way atleast some of the wind and warm sun would dry it before I folded it up and put it away. I'm hoping not to get that moldy smell. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you I finially retired the old rain suit and won an new from some poker run some where. I corssed the Florida border with the Sunshine state written on it its one of the few times I think I've corssed that border and it was actually sunny. I got off at 17 as dusk was setting in. and was on tired dog. I am thankful that I made it home and was more aware of what was going on in the heavy rains but thought to myself I wonder what a motorcycle trip would be like without the rain?? Geeze I don't think I've really ever had one that I didn't have to put the rain suit on. I know of folks that have them all neatly folded and claim they've never used them................maybe I need to go cruisingt with them and see what happens. I called jo to tell her I made it. I might have even logged on to say I'm alive but I stripped my damp clothing off put on PJ and went right to bed.    I hope you enjoyed with drippy wet tale I believe I rode some 5 to 6 hours in the rain on the way home yeah for me! have a great one "T"

Homestead in the Hills of NC....................

                       I wake up Sunday Morning and shuffle out into the kitchen where I make some coffee and grab a cup. Once the pot stops dripping I pour a cup of joe and head out into the living room, where I recieved my daily orders of what has to be done. Before I even finished the first cup sandpaper was jammed into my hands and off to the shop I marched. David was out in the yard setting up tables for me to sand on as Jo will be in the shop spraying airbrush real flames on a sport bike. My job is to sand down the guide coat and not leave any sandpaper marks. This will be a wet sanding job and was taught how to use all the pieces of equipment. I sat and sanded all morining and well into the afternoon when Jo told me to go get something to eat. We all went into gether and had BBQ from yesterday. I can tell ya right now my arms are tired. Jo meanwhile was laying out the pattern of how the owner wanted the flames to go. He was very specific of what was and where the placement of the flames should be.
                        Lunch was finished and cleaned up so I strolled out to the yard to start sanding the second half of the parts that were in my pile. Jo had David respraying them with guide coat so I'm guessing at this point that my sanding wasn't up to par. Ok, so what did I do wrong and where did it go wrong? David gave me a quick lesson of how to tell when your sanding too hard and leaving scratches behind. "Don't worry its all fixable". Now when your working with the parts like this ya gotta clean your hands and get off all dirt and grease or you will contaminate the final paint and within a few months it will all buble and/or peel. I of course didn't want this to happen. So Upon request I went into the house and washed and scrubbed with Dawn once more. I put my I pod buds in with a paper towel and pushed play. I wanted to jam along and have a good time while I was busting my ass. Jo mean while took the metal she had been working on in to the paint booth. There she will spray a couple of coats of clear and tacty cloth them, then when dry we will be sanding them so they can be buffed and resprayed with clear.
                 The bright sunshine disappeared quickly and soon the sky was filled with heavy grey clouds shooting out lighting and thunder, so everything was brought into the shop. Once set up inside I resumed sanding and sanding and still more sanding. The rain continued well into the evening hours and when it lightened up Jo proclaimed we should all hit the time clock. I came in went right to bed. Dam I was tired. The area was hit with a huge amount of rain and that thick red mud of the mountains covered just about everything and even had a little mud slide at the garage area. The mud was slick and sticky, and I tried to set everything out slipping and sliding the whole way. It would be another day of sanding for me. Part stands were brought out side because Jo wanted natural light to spray blue pearl on a bike she was working on. She believes natural sunshine is the best way to match the colors the owner picked. While she was spraying those parts blue I took the shop dog out for a walk. He is a big scary German Shepard but will I had something he wanted so he tolerated me taking out side his borders. He and I walked to the old fish camp and around the creek over the bridge and back. By then the grey clouds rolled in and the fresh painted parts were rushed in to the shop to keep them from needing major repair work. It continued to rain the rest of the night. Once again I went in about 9:30 pm and passed right out.
            Monday Morning came and well I got sandpaper shoved in my hand even before the morning fog passed. Back to the shed to sand. The area was expecting rain, mixed cloud cover, some winds, not good weather for painting at all. Jo worked on airbrush designs that day and well I freaking sanded away. Dudes I want to tell you when ya gotta have art on every piece of your ultra, give the folks time to get the job done. It takes for ever to properly sand and entire ultra. So far I've been working on them for three days. David came around to see how it was going and gave me a few tips to make the process faster for me. I was sanding as if the parts were delecated flowers ready to break at any moment. He came some ideas about cross hatching and such that sped up my sanding a great deal. See the idea is that the primer sanded looks like liquid glass it just flows like water. If there is one scratch or imperfection of the sheet metal when Jo goes to paint it will stick out like a sore thumb espically if spraying metalics or pearl which this bike will be getting metalics. Just when I thought my arms would fall off the sanding jobs came to an end, and I was asked to jocky parts around. That way jo could go to the paint booth and start spraying clear on another bike, and bring the ones in the booth out for very light sand and buff. This one was awesome. It was orange not my favorite, but orange with shades of brown and tan dragon like creatures as artwork. When the parts were jocked around it was back to sanding til dark.
             The sun rose on a Tuesday morning and I was all prepared to sand, somewhere deep down I think I was sanding in my sleep or may have had a sanding nightmare. LOL, I had only a few parts left then I would be done the ultra. However CrazyHorse realized that she didn't have enough of the clear coat to spray on a blue pearl she was working on and it was too late to get a delivery so I was sent on a mission to go get something called DX 2011. I got the directions and hopped into David's truck a rolling beater of a Jeep. Directions in hand, reading glass at the end of my nose I headed off to Charolette to Keystone Automotive. Keystone was a big place and I was rather surprised at the hussle and bussle of the place. Once in the office I announced that, "I was sent by the penguin, and I'm on a mission from God." Though I could tell they wanted to laugh the counter man said, "who are you picking up for?" "CrazyHorsePaiting" I said. I had to wait a few moments for them to get the order together meanwhile I was babbling with the other folks waiting for stuff. For some reason a few of the dudes in there all agreed that I needed to take my stand up act on the road. "Really?? It's not anything planed its totally spur of the moment stuff." I said, they both shook their heads and agreed that's the reason. Ok, I've been called a funny girl and "one of them funny girls" if ya get my meaning but never been told to take my show on the road before. I checked the order and paided for the product and jumped into the old jeep and headed out Charlotte. It felt like I was gone for hours, 2 to be exact. When I got back, the skies again grey prevented futher work for matching colors, and the drizzle wasn't helping either so I took the guard dog for a stroll to the old fish camp.
              Another night I crashed as soon as the work was done. Wendays morning came and back to sanding the last of the parts, thank goodness for that. The blue pearl was sprayed, and in a couple of hours the green metalic will be getting sprayed, as half the real flame art work was done. When I finished sanding I cleaned the parts set them up on the spray stands and the colors were applied. When they dried we took them up to the spray booth for clear. Again the afternoon rains came which was fine cause I got to go visit with Jimmy and see what he did with my old sportster. Oh man folks what a great bike builder can do with a sportster is amazing! He's know to build and sell, but this bike he wants to keep and I can tell you why its one bad ass ridged bobber. It rides like a dream too real sharp looking bike. Well, evening set in so it was off to see Chase play baseball. Chase is an interesting charatcter and definatley marched to the beat of his own drum. I was so gratteful to get a break from sanding, my arms were feeling like rubber however I learned even more about custom painting. During all the hours of sanding I asked all kinds of stupid questions about spraying paint and air brushing and of course sanding. Jo reminded me though sanding isn't glamorus its the important part of the job. If done badly the paint will look like crap, but when done well the paint looks great so don't think you didn't do anything important. I had a few drinks with David and his brother then went to bed that night. Tomorrow am I will leave. I've got business to attend to.
                 I packed up and did a load of laundry and was given on job to do that was to take "Zoey" to the vets. Jo was concerned about her vaccines and being pregnat. I didn't think "Zoey" was unless they saw her tye with another dog. I thought it was a false pregancy, and in 30 days we would be able to tell, see at day 45 ya can see spine development and 50 there's skull and spinal development, and by then if there are puppies the doc will be able to feel them. I took "Zoey" in any way. The hardest thing is being a Vet tech in another hospital. They don't know me from adam and tend to have an attitude when ya say anything about being a Vet Tech so usually I won't say a word. The Doc came in really very arrogant man gave me latin babble so I gave it back to him. He just looked at me a little bit and I said, " I'm just the driver today, the owner is worried about her girl here, and I'm a CVT", "oh that explains it" said the Doc. His attitude changed and he then spoke with me like he was speaking to an employee. I really don't care much for Doc's that like to talk over there patients and clients heads, so I got to put him in his place a wee bit. I drove "Zoey" back loaded up the bike, opened the garage and found the red mud just everywhere and it attacked my perfectly clean white walls. Do you know what it takes to clean white walls? Really I had to kind of dig her out to get her going. I said my good byes and left for points south and hopefully drier,
           I would post pictures of the work I did and the different paint jobs here in progress but I was asked not to do so because the owners have the right to see the bike first, and show off their paint ideas to the public first. so below is an example of CrazyHorsePainting's work. have a great one! "T"

Bound for North Carolina

       Lately I've been feeling rather frustrated. I just can't seem to get anything go for me, so Joanna's phone call couldn't come at a more perfect time. The reason she called did suck for her for sure. It seems her assisant went skate boarding with his teenaged son and fell, hurting his wrist. He could barely move parts and or sand them and when he did he made the pain much worse. So, Jo gave me a call and asked if I like to come up and lend a hand. I never turn Jo down, because I love hanging out at her foothills home. She's out there in the country though not far from a a good sized City. I told her I couldn't leave until Saturday and would try to stay a week, well I could only stay 5 days, hey I got responsibilities too. She also wanted me to come up for she has won the chance to do a reality show on Lady Bikers and their lifestyles. What better choice than a woman that has been painting for over 30 years, authored a number of How to  Custom Paint your motorcycle, done photo journalism, and her articles have appeared in everything from American Iron to V-Twin Mama. I'm in the show as comedy relief, or the friend that shows up and chaos occurs.

             It's Saturday Morning, Top of the day to ya! I've got the bike packed and she's ready to roll. I've got everything ready so I get rolling about 10:30 am. I for one am so tired of the highway grind. I think as we get older as motorcyclists we don't have the desire, or we lose the desire to cruise 80 miles an hour blasting down the highway with our hair on fire. I think we begin to mellow, and learn to really enjoy the ride, and all that's around us. I had a different route in mind not just the standard 95 to 26 to77 to the inner loop 478 I think to 16 then onto the one of 5 different roads name Kcreek and into her driveway. Instead I think I'll take something different. In South Carolina there's a road 321 that runs right into 77 then I can pick up 200. I haven't done this stretch so I want to be sure to fuel up before I hit 321.
             I head out Saddler road watching the ocean views disappear in the mirror and turn on to 14th street, then on to 200/A1A, up 17 to 95north. I'm not a big fan of 95 but sometimes ya got too, I crossed into Georgia, and I'm telling y'all no matter how many times I pass that peach I can't help but think it looks like a butt. I was north bound and not alone there were several folks heading to Myrtle beach??? Or some other event. It was comfortable with out a jacket and the sun was shining. It seemed all and all the perfect day for motorcycling in the south. I fueled up in Georgia at the first truckstop. I prefer Georgia for fuel cause its like 22 cents cheaper than Florida. I burned that full tank up to the South Carolina Border. I like the flag pole with the nice brick wall that reads South Carolina! Now anyone whom has ever traveled 95 thru SC knows this section of 95 just sucks! It's two lanes of pot hole repairs and when traffic is heavy forget it, its like a parade and the lines will go only as fast as the first persons in line and don't ya know they always are pace cars keeping pace with each other, and totally unaware of the huge traffic jam they are causing. I will not be taking 95 that far so it didn't stress me out at all. I do believe that 321 exit was the second or third exit into South Carolina.
             I stopped at the first gas station and filled my tank as I didn't know what to expect on this road. Some areas of South Carolina can be a bit effie, and I'm hoping this road isn't one of them. The sun seemed to get hazey but still very nice and comfortable. I headed out on 321 and went though a nice little town, which gave way to forest and swamp lands. This was a good choice, there wasn't much traffic however there were several really small towns that along the way would have to reduce speed to travel through them. I continued on this road and came to realize that I had taken this road before, I took it last year on my way to the BMR. Well, no kidding right! If you want to see what little southern towns in South Carolina look like this would be the one to take. I believe I was at about the half way point on 321 when I noticed the high grey clouds moving in very slowly. I could only hope they would hold off until I got to Joanna's. I ride in the rain so much I kind of adopted two sayings one is "I ain't riding, if it ain't raining. If it ain't raining I ain't riding." and "Everything is Better When Wet". LOL, so what wold make me think this journey would be any different? Some of the old towns along this route you can see they are dying, which is a shame some of the structures that I passed by were just amazing!

            The temps were droping slightly and I fueled up just south of 77. With in 30 minutes I was on 77 and heading for Charolette, NC. 200 meets 77 south of Charolette so I took the exit. I went through some more little towns. One that I really don't like going thru for some reason is Lancaster. I have no Idea why but this place bothers me. I know its not the rolling hills its just the vibe of the place. I continued down 200 to Unity Church road. I need to turn on Shilo Church Road, I just have to remember which side of the little gas station convience store Shilo Church is on. I pick the right on and head down the road. There are Trailers and farm fields, pastures filled with dairy cattle and just the average Joe's home. Along the way some old plantation home look like they are just left to rott which I think is a darn shame. I know the plantations are a great source of pain for many, however they are still apart of our history. No matter how samefull it is we as Americans ought not to hide it away. We can look at the issues hidden behind they beautiful estate homes and learn from them, and be thankful of how far we have come in such a short peroid of time.

             The drops started one here or there then closer and closer together, I was just hoping to get to Jo's house before the skies opened up. Ya know what is worse than getting rain on for hours? It's getting rained on just miles before the destination just enough to get totally wet. I passed the North Carolina State line.  Right after about 1/4 of a mile is an old General Store, and old barn and a gas pump which is MIA at this time. I am just minutes from Jo's house I've just got to pick the correct    -----creek road. There are like 5 of them granted they all run into the same location sort of but not really. I wondered what it was like during the days that the General Store was in use. Many of these buldings and little stores and such were last used in the 1970's or 60's.

I turned into Jo's garage and was met by Jo and her assisant David. They were both so relieved to see me and thrilled that I had arrived, at this moment Jo thought about jamming sand paper in my hand, however I announced that I'm tired and need to rest before I go and start anything. So I ended up walking the shop guard dog down to the old fishing camp and hiked the trail that ran around the creek. This dog is a great dog, he kept watching and looking, he turn and look at me as if to say well what ya want me to do. I took him for the walk while Jo and David continued on with their work. David was trying to do everything one handed. LOL! it was going slow and its not like I'd be speedy. I walked the dog back, pulled some pork that had been in the smoker, and we all settled down to catch up in person on the going ons of life..............have a great one, the rest is to follow "T"

Anyone and Anytime.........................

No matter who you are it can happen at any time. No one, I mean no one plans for it to happen but to quote a bumper sticker "Shit Happens". I went out riding with the ex and a friend of his. We went to the Pick-A-Lily on route 206 near Atsion Lake just down the road from Quaker Bridge. Anyway the Pick has some great wings and its really just a neat old place a stable to the "Pineys' of the area. On the way home we took 206 and made a right on to Atsion Road. right there is Atsion Lake. The lake's surface has a mirror like quiality to it, This section of Atsion Rd is straight but the gentle curves were coming. This stretch of road just doesn't seem to belong it looks like a black ribbon dropped on the sugar sand of the New Jersey Pinelands. The three of us cruised along nicely since we had been riding together for sometime now. We were about to dip down and around the wide sweeper in the road when we came upon an upright bike on the side of the road with no rider, then moments later aonther on its side and two riders laying in the grass 40 feet from each other. We stoped to see if help had been called then broke up two guys went in opposite directions to control traffic, I went to speak to the standing rider he said his friend is breathing and responsive but he doesn't knowwhat to say see his wife died after she was ejected from the bike and flew into a tree. He told me that his friend had been riding for 10 years and knew how to ride well, and his wife had been a passanger for atleast 2 years that he knew of. He said his friend went in to the turn a little hot and entered the curve too wide, the rear tire it the sugar sand and them the bike bobled and took off striaght right across the road and the sugar sand and grass on the other side sucked the bike down and up throwing them both off the bike he landed right where he is but she flew thru the air and slammed into the side part of the tree bounced off and hit another tree before falling right where she was.
         I worked ER and had medical traing, but alias I'm a vet tech an keep and carry a current Red Cross Card for just such emergencies. I went over and asked Mr. first his name, age, wife's name her age, where do you live, do you know what happended to you, why are you here. Just the basics to see if there are any serious problems that need a dressing before help arrives. He was a mess and needed help now however I asked his friend to just bable with him as I went to check his on his wife. I know you told me she was fine where she is and you asked her to stay down but I'm going to go sit with her so she's not alone and you are doing a great job. I walked over to the Mrs. yes she was indeed dead. I picked up her hand and was holding it. I yelled over to Mr. and said Oh Donna says she loves you so much and is happy your ok. Well I didn't want him to think she wasn't ok. He had enough to worry about at that moment. He had some major injurys and there wasn't anything that could be done right now for him but to keep him talking. I thought that I would let someone with more experience tell him what has happened to her. I'm affraid if he finds out that he too would become so distraught that he might pass over as well.
          I just sat there petting her hand and talking to her. I kept telling her it would be ok and not to be affraid to continue on her journey. Off in the distance I could hear the seirns they would be here shortly and I could hear the "Life Flight' landing behind the rangers station on 206. Where we were right near Atison Family Campground its the lake and trees there's no place to land so the copter is waiting for the Ambulance to transport him to them so they could go to Cooper in Camden. Ya really don't want to go to the nearest hospital here in this area. They are good for small tramas and patching ya up and sending ya but they aren't a place to be treated. Both paramedics came running one to him and one to her. He knelt down beside me and said what do we have, I said dead, he assesed and agreed. He patted me on the shoulder and said good job your right he doesn't need to know this yet. The paramedic ran off to Mr. they worked on him and drug a back board out to him. They in the process assured that Mrs was fine right where she was and didn't need them as much as he did. Another truck arrived as they sped off to meet the "life Flight", it was the corners wagon. They ran out and started doing what they had to do police were now asking questions to the friend whom was just done. I could tell there he was really unnerved. Then the officers came to us and asked us questions.
                 I asked the ex to call his friend Little Tommy to see if needed he could come and get this guy and take him home. I was affraid that he might try to ride and he was ghost white and in shock. He didn't think he could ride so Little Tommy did come and get him we sat there with him the whole time. It don't matter who you are, what you ride, if you were doing everything right shit happens. I was glad that I could be there to add the little assistance that I could. If nothing helped find a man the way home. I had never come across an accident with motorcycles before and this had hit home. It hit us all as our ride was a slower than ususally and we each were processing what we had seen heard and experenced. Our own emotions, and desire to be good people in the biker community. I know I don't want to sit holding a dead woman's hand ever again but if I had too I knew I could. There are hundreds of thoughts that go thru your head. None had any place being in your head while riding, so we all went home right afterwards. It did effect me for a long time afterwards, I was proud of how my ex his friend and I just did without asking, I hope that I would have this kind of help if it were ever to happen to me. Anytime, Anyplace,Anywhere, Anyone, ya just never know, so before ya judge lend a hand.
                                         have a great one "T"

Just Enough is Too Much II.........................

            We are all checked in to the hotel, the Officers had their meeting and decided what we were going to do with a few of the new prospects, how and who was going to torture the prospects that are coming up for vote. What we want to amend on the By-Laws. This was kind of new territory for us all in a way. Most the ladies knew nothing of MC clubs and what is expected. I knew from my "Property Of" days along with 2 others what Brothers are expected to be, but what do we want women to be in a club. The first is deffinate family. We want to be able to find solice in any members home no matter where it is. Sisters are expected to help each other out, but what else. Were finding it harder and harder to keep track of votes and such. We've broke it down to regions and my suggestion is this, the Main club, High Ranking Officers are the keepers of the Basic Club rules. Then Regional High Priestess and such keep regional rules, such as Northeast Gatherings, or Northwest Gatherings, this will keep the State Priestess worrying about state rules, then down to Lower Priestess would take charge of their individual chapters. All in all it was a good idea. I think that we will put this to the vote with the Full and True members however it was planned to be done here on this trip. The funny thing is Officers out number the Full and Trues. Now the Queen didn't want to give up one ounce of controll, but if we didn't create By-Laws now for a larger club we were going to implode. She was really against the breaking it down. She couldn't imagine it getting too much bigger. Therefore she wanted it just regions, I was going for state and chapter.

             Well, I put that all aside as it was time to go and see what Townsend had to offer. At this particular time not much.........We went over the Mountain in the rented cars and could find a suitable place so we just got some adult drinks, Gator brought the blender in her suitcase.......really a blender? LOL! We set it up in the parking lot and took a rock and played hop scotch in the driveway, we jammed out on the country music station the only one that would come in. Played a game of touch football as I had a nef ball with me, generally caused the hotel to come out and tells us to keep it down, yeah right. Well, not to long after the locals showed up and explained some rules to us, Yes Sir we said and laughed as he got in his car.........like what is wrong with playing nerf football? Its certianly better than creating aburnout pit and doing hole shots in the driveway! The clock struck like 10pm and I can tell ya I was done, just done. I packed off to bed, so did Sue. We awoke about 8am when out side to see the most beautiful moring, mounted up and went to breakfast at the pancake house down the street. The ladies driving would go to the cabin today and prepare for the arriving sisters, and I thought I'd take Sue to the dragon first before we to the cabin. Today was supposed to be the best day of the week as the rest of the weekend is expected rain.

             After breakfast we headed out, at the moment I can't remember the little towns name we were heading to but I do remember the size of this joint. The cabin itself slept 26, had a hot tub for 12, an out door bar, game room, 2 washer and driers, out door fire pit, So the time the ladies spent there ought to be comfy. The gals in the cars took off and Sue and I went to the dragon. Ya know we aren't that far from Cherokee National Park, so we went thru Cherokee National Park, Thru Gatlinburg TNN, then some back country roads to 129. We would be doing a loop. I wanted to do Foothills Parkway as it would take off like 4 hours of riding around in a circle thing but well foot hills was closed for road repairs after a rock slide left the road in shambles, or atleast that's the story the local convenice store man told me. Either way Foot Hills Parkway was closed. We were scheduled to ride this route tomorrow with the entire club, however Sue as the newest riders didn't need to be doing something that challenaging in such a pack of bikes. I've done thiw ride with Joann several times as we met in Sturgis 2000. Let's face it NJ to NC isn't that long of a ride. She was the one member that has my respect shes been painting bike for over 20 years now, has the same type of arressive riding style and has complete confidence in her self and machine. She and I will go off by ourselves at one point to really go and rip it up. Maybe we'll sneak away to Cherahola Skyway or not.

               We right before we entered the mouth of the Dragon, I pulled off right there at that bridge there's the lake on the right with camping, I pulled off and reminded Sue that she is the Captian of her own ship, all she had to do is slow down and I would slow down too. Relax, don't squeeze the grips so tight, look up, and ride as your "gliding" long a silk ribbon. OK,I had to do something here for I could tell she had become all tense just at the thought of it, like she expected the dragon's tail to whip her ass, it can believe me but relax have faith, trust self and have confidence and it will be ok. We start out and I had to slow way down from my normal riding, in my head I was saying Sue look up, look up, don't worry about the sides look up, follow my line, look up damit I can see ya looking down up, up. It freaking sucks riding out of your review mirror. It does cause I'm looking behind not in front. I'm sort of hugging the whiteline leaving the sportbike riders have at it. We were doing like 25 to 20 here I know CrazyHorse and I blow through at about 50-55 without any problems and the sport bikes pass us like we are standing still. Me personally I'd love to take a sport bike thru here........shhh don't tell the harley world. Riding the Dragon in 03 is way different that it is now in 2012. For one there wasn't any police, rarely did ya see one, there was only one Photographer. The road wasn't nearly as congested, and far fewer accidents and it was posted at higher speed I do believe the posting was 45mph. As the road grew in popularity the speed limit was decreased and them police presence was known oh and guard rails too in some plases was a new addition.

                 Ah, it only took us forever to get to the site of the tree of shame, yes its been there a long time folks. I have to say I don't know who was more nerveous Sue or Me, watching her struggle in the review mirror made me want to throw up. I longed or other experenced riders right now, someone else to help me guide and care for her. I know that sound selfish, but until ya don't it, you won't understand. We were sitting out side the gas station, lodge, campground, convenice store set up.That concrete ramp thing for bike loading wasn't even constucted yet. We are just chilling and I'm letting Sue have a field day with her smokes when this gal pulls up on a fat boy and askes if we've seen the guys she was with. Nope, if all I could say. She said that they all took off in Robbinsville and didn't wait or slow down to check on her, she had been riding like 3 hours and didn't know where they would be. One of the guys had her jacket and such and she only had a sweatshirt in her back pack. She was from South Carolina and they were going to spend the weekend here then go back. I asked her if she wanted to come back with us. There would be plenty of room, food, bed and anything else she could want. She stared at the two of and decided agaisnt that, well she stared at us like we were gay and trying to hit on her. Really, your on a bike too ya dumb asses bitch other woman look upon you as if your gay. I just said, "good luck" as she ran off to cry on some guys shoulder that were getting gas. She'd go with complete strange men but didn't trust women???

                The rythmic dance began again as we needed to find Bradford cabins and meet up with the rest of the ladies coming in from all over. CrazyHorse was meeting the Florida, Georgia, Alabama Gals in South Carolina on 26 and she'd lead them to the cabin. I was wondering how Raven and her husband Croaker were doing? Can you believe it they were riding 250 rebels, its what they had and they rode the shit out of them but I had no idea what the mountains would do to them little things. Well don't ya know right on 341 the grey began and just before we reached the intertube place and the little bridge that brings us to the mountain side where Bradford Cabins were located the heavens opened up.

(Crazy Horse Arrives from NC.

(Wildone unstrapping her gear, The Florida group has arrived, and was bitching about the driveway)

It freaking poured, and just before we pulled into the cabins parking  it stopped raining and we were wet again, and meet by the rest of the club.

( Sue and her smelly assed sheep arrive)

Gator was there with to cold beers to greet us, that's sweet of her. They all said they could hear us coming up the driveway. They all wanted to know about that driveway it seems it freaked everyone out except for myself, Crazy Horse, Raven & Croaker. Oh why did it freak folks out well ya turn from the main road, go straight up agravel wagon path, that has a 90 turn in it which happens to concrete covered in gravel, then continues as a wagon path with nothing on the one side. The drive is to 5 cabins and its barely wide enough for one car so if ya passing someone it ain't going to happen. They said they heard me coming across the bridge and poped right

up here in less than 5 minutes, they were all greatly impressed. Ya know I have no idea why, neither did CrazyHorse. To me It was just another driveway.

                                                  (I arrive)

                                                                                                                                    

All in a self date....................

     

                   Some time when I set off I have no selected game plan, I don't know where I'll be going or where I'll end up. I kind of enjoy that style of riding for there are times ya find the strangest and weirdest things that people build, design and create. Somettimes is just some awesome food like there in South Jersey in a purple house in the marches, or a crazy bar up in the hills of PA. Then there are times ya walk in someplace and feel like a rock star like I did in the center of  South Florida, or ya just blend in. Going with out a plan gives ya some freedom but I suggest when ya ride like this have a toothbush, and extra T shirt packed on board cause sometimes ya just keep going until ya can't go any further.I haven't taken my self out for a self date in awhile and I was thinking its time to self date myself to nowhere. When I thought about it, the Talking Heads song came to mind.  I can't recall the actual road I took to get where I was  but I do know that I had crossed some that I've traveled before. I kind of zig zaged along the GA and FL border just with no particular direction in mind, then sort of criss crossed my way north. I was just in cruising mode. Its one of them times when things aren't overwhelming to deal with, but just tired of others nonsense. I don't need folks bitching at me, or nagging me to do anything, I take care of business in my time not yours. So when I get tired of folks telling me what to do even though they mean well sometimes I just go.

         I realized that I went too far when I started to see South Carolina plates and a lot of them. One of the pleasures of riding the south are some of the charming little towns. They have some amazing city halls that are still standing or they might have neat little town squares. It's small town America revisited when most of America was still small towns. For some reason I love the old town squares and City halls, old graveyards, old Victorian homes, Souther Plantations, Light houses and big old sailboats. Don't ask Its just what I like. I find the weird and bizare museums neat as well. However on this ride I got so curious as to which little town I passed thru had the best city hall I really didn't realize I was well into South Carolina and me I didn't pack and extra anything not even a tooth brush but it was still early so I could head home no big deal. I went east, and south. I cam upon 95 and jumped on it. Glad I did too it took me about 45 minutes to get to the GA border. For some reason crossing the South Carolna border always makes me smile here, they've got them palm trees and the American flag, on that big wall. Its been that way since I'was like 9 years old.

           Once over the GA border I got off on  route 17 and headed south. 17 is a nice coastal road that runs a good length of the southern east coast before it gets lost in the mix of other roads. I don't remember ever taking 17 south from this point but I did. It wasn' t in the best condition a road could be in but then again I wasn't that far north from a big city. Here the roads a little dirty with trash and such scattered around. It always makes me sad to see such things. This area it not time to think in my own world as there was a very busy and hostile world going on around me, this only lasted minutes till the roadway quited down and once agan became the little country road known as 17 coastal highway. I rode right past the sign and turned around and went back. I like the weird and since this was a self date I can do whatever I want to do whenever I want and seeing this oddity is right up my alley. I pulled into the parking lot, which was shaded

by the large oak trees in the court yard of the Smallest Church in America there was a big statue of Jesus wich was dedicated to all those seeking the Lords guidence. There were statues of Angels and the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Bell tower located next to the church and well an American Flag flying high above. off to the left there was a fire pit and some wooden benches and a pinic table. It was very quite and a number of birds were about there was a steady breeze cooling the area down. I sat at the pinic bench for a few minutes as I drank some water I had bought at the last gas stop. I don't know if its the smallest church in America or not but it was about the size of the average little garden shed. I decided to go into the building and look around, not that I had much to look at I imagined after all how much could actually be in there? I walked up to the door expecting the building to be locked but it wasn't.  There were six wooden chairs on each side with a small pulpit. There wouldn't be a choir  in here that's for sure. There were stained glass windows, and notes pasted all over the walls. I went in and singed the guest book. The notes were from people all over the country, and missing person notices poems for loved ones, offerings, baseball team pictures, family pictures, class pictures, and business cards from all over. I left my business card before I left as well. What poped into my mind was wow this would be a perfect place for the small biker wedding or second or thrid wedding. No no, now I don't have any offers hell I'm here dating myself for goodness sakes,

                    After taking a few photos of the place I headed south on 17. It was a week day so traffic shouldn't be much of a problem. The skies were blue there was a light breeze it was warm but no overwhelming not even for this time of the day. Tress gave was to marshes and small little bridges crossed over creeks. Some of the Creeks had Great Blue Herions and Egrets fishing the side streams or trees filled with nesting Egrets, once in a while Ospreys would be flying over head hunting the water ways.  I think Egrets are suck graceful birds. Their long necks, and legs, and their feather are white and crisip against the blues of the water and greens of the marshes. The salty brin mix of the air isn't pleasent to smell at times, but It signals my brain to chill for the ocean isn't that far away. It makes me think of the times when I was a kid and we'd pile in the car and Mom and a neighbor would head off to the shore. We had one of them big ass tanks of a car, a  1966 Ford Farilane.Yeah man the sleeper of a muscle car in its time. However today, folks love them, small block V-8's.  I remember us heading out all excited cause we were going to the beach yeah! We'd go to Atlantic City or Brigattine. She'd take us straight down route 30,  past Ideal. That little jingle poped into my head "take the wheel of your automobile and swing on down to ideal", we'd go past the giant wine bottles of the two whineries located along 30 and then it would be miles of woods with the occational house, farm, or business utnil we reached the shore areas. Man that was a long time ago and I bet since the last time I was there it has completely changed too. Pitty because NJ really did and still does have some beautiful areas in it. When most folks think of NJ they think of Jersey City, Perth Amboy, Elizabeth, but to us south Jerseians that's an extention of New York City. I'm talking down south Jearsy the majority of it was woods, and farms.I know its not now and its a dam shame too.

             I continued on 17 past Mudbug Charlie's ya know I've got to try that place some time. The last time I past here the marinia was empty now it was full with pleasure cruisers of all kinds. I was heading into New Brunswick and here just nort of Brunswick 17 is still a quite little country road but it won't be for long. It's the gate was to St. Simon's Isle and Jekyl Islands. I easily cruised through this area with only a few stares and what not. I don't get it folks ought to be used to motorcycles in the area there are tons of them so why do they always seem to stare? sometimes it makes me real uncomfortable. For I"m one whom likes to blend into the scenery and kind of go stealth, but it doesn't really happen that way. Oh I love the New Bruswick Bridges its not as tall or long as the Dam's Point in Jacksonville but it almost looks like the same designer designed it. Once across the bridge there's a little stretch of march lands, there's a road right on the other side that takes ya to Jekyl Island and the other continues south. I went throught the confusion of the interchange with 95. and was about 2 hours from home which was nice as the sun was sitting there on the horizan.

 This last stretch of 17  is really just a bunch of small towns some almost past dead, other being revitalized. There are many abandoned buildings and business, cars, trains. One day I'd like to get a group of folks together and do "T's Totally Trashed Tour"  The idea would be to make up a story about each place, and well have one of the members of this ride, would live or work there. I'd just like to do something like that for fun. But for somereason all the folks I know would never do anything like that. My questions is this why do ya take something that is supposed to be about fun and freedom and turn it into something serious. Really, I just like to be gooffy and have a great time. I don't get why folks worry about if someone they don't know thinks they are cool or not. Personally I don't give a dam about what anyone thinks. The only folks that really matter to me are the ones that know me and by now they've learned that I just want to have my self a good time and 99% of the time the only one I've ever hurt, embarsed, shamed or anything else has been me. I crossed over the Blue little grated bridge on the St. Mary's River and see the UGLYEST welcome to Florida sign I have ever seen. I think this welcome since has been here since the 50's.  It just open scalped bricks with a background of blue concrete with big letters on it reading Florida. I guess some day I ought to get a picture of that one. But I was home state home, I passed the inspection station and headed towards Yulee. I passed trailer row where the trailers are queen and grass is just passed not underfoot. Everyone wants to race here as they approadch state road 200 I don't get it is marked 35 but they do like 65 70 here and its no passing, and are shocked when they get a ticket and the car or truck is hauled off.  The American Red Neck is an interesting breed of folk. I'm not talking country for there is a difference between country and redneck trust me. I crossed the small intercoastal bridges and was greeted by the welcome to Fernandina Beach sign.  Before I knew I was back on 8th street heading for home. Hey have a great one! "T"