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"