History and Imagination

Tracey and I just returned from a trip North through the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. During this trip I spent a lot of my motorcycle time delving through my past memories from history class about each of the areas we were riding through. When riding for long periods you find ways of keeping alert--this trip was my imagination and history.

When traveling through Oklahoma you can't help but look out across the horizon and imagining there is a tribe of Indians up on that hill looking down at the circling wagons. You think about how long it would take to travel the roads by horseback or covered wagon. While in Oklahoma I also learned what a "Sooner" is. And yes its the University of Oklahoma mascot but a "Sooner" is those people who went out to claim land during the Oklahoma Land Rush before the blast of the canon. The ones who waited for the blast of the canon at 12noon on April 22, 1889 were known as the "Boomers".

Through Kansas of course you are constantly thinking of The Wizard of Oz and looking for that tornado that will sneak up on ya. We did have a little rain and dark clouds but mostly we just rode on through.


Corn, corn and more corn--Iowa. I have to say that traveling on the interstate that Iowa is the most beautiful because of all the farms and corn fields you see. It is absoultely a site to see nothing but corn in all directions. I am kinda partial to old and new barns anyway.

Our plan was to travel to Minnesota and spend a night with our Texas neighbors (they stay in Texas in the winter and Minnesota in the summer)for a night and then go to Michigan down between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and home trough Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Arkansas. But we got to Minnesota and fell in love with the beauty of this state. So with the hospitality of Mike and Judy we stayed the entire week with them. They were the best hosts--they showed us around Hinckley MN where they grew up and then we all went up to the North Shore along Lake Superior.

I don't know if you ever heard of the Great Hinckley Fire but we visited the memorial to the over 400 people who died in this fire in 1894. It was considered a Firestorm. Hinckley was a logging community until after this fire and then because the entire land was cleared they began farming. Both logging and farming is still done today.

During our day trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior we visited two lighthouses, I never knew there were light houses on the Great Lakes but evidently there are many (a trip for another time). The North Shore was beautiful and reminded me of the west coast with the cliffs and rocks. The rocks in the lake are smooth from the thrashing of the water over them. Once the rocks are smoothed to a flat state they no longer roll back into the lake and line the shore.



When visiting the two lighthouses we learned that most of them are not in service and are actually bed and breakfasts now. The Split Rock Lighthouse has a great setup showing how the lighthouse keeper lived. (See pictures in my gallery)


Along the road side, through every state, we saw lots of wild flowers. These flowers made for a beautiful ride and of course I --loving flowers like I do--just had to get pictures of all of them. I will not add the pictures here but please go to my photo gallery and view the pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/justlyshy


Have you ever been to a small town parade? There is nothing like it. We were fortunate to be in Hinckley for their CCC (Corn & Clover Carnival) which started out with a parade. Mike was actually in the parade on a float dedicated to their 50 year reunion from high school. Sitting on the side of main street watching the crowd, especially the kids dancing to the music brought back so many memories of when I was a kid visiting my grandparents in a small town called Delta, Colorado. AWESOME!

While staying the week with Mike and Judy we stayed in the camper they have for guests. There is nothing like waking in the morning to the pecking of a woodpecker, or the sounds of the loons in the distance. We were hoping for a siting of a bear but no luck. At night we would play Farkle and have great laughs. One night we even built a fire outside and did smores and fried peach pies. We would like to thank Mike and Judy for all the fun and hospitality.

From Minnosota we followed the Mississippi River south and crossed over into Wisconsin. I had a training in Verona so we had decided to change our plans again and stay the week in Verona WI. I went to my class during the day and Tracey hung out and rode the back roads.

While in Wisconsin we made a side trip over to Milwaukee to the Harley Davidson Museum. We learned a lot of history about Harley Davidson. My favorite part was the painted tanks and getting to sit on some of the old models.
A highlight for Tracey I am sure was our visit to the Brewers Stadium. We ate lunch at Fridays inside the field and watched a fantasy baseball group. The Ballpark in Arlington is still better.

From Verona we headed home knowing that we were two days from home. Again, imagination and history come in to play for keeping alert. We passed through Springfield Il, a home of Abraham Lincoln. Meramec Caverns which is said to be a hideout for Jesse James. I did a lot of thinking about the fur traders along the Great Lakes and Rivers we were crossing. Through Minnesota, and Wisconsin I thought about Little House on the Prarie, I never watched the show very much but I heard that she was from here. So I imagined how life was for those pioneers.
Another great past time for me on a motorcycle is looking at clouds, something we had plenty of on this trip. Beautiful white fluffy clouds that you could just drift away in. So needless to say, my history and imagination got me home safely and I have many memories to keep forever.

Thanks again to Mike and Judy!!!

The Old South and Smoky Mountain Ride

Vacation-A general leave of absence from a regular occupation for rest or recreation
A specific trip or journey for the purposes of recreation or tourism

Well this vacation was not much rest but sure had a lot of recreation and tourism. Tracey and I could not have asked for better travel companions than our "Harley Family". Our trip through 9 states in 9 days was not only beautiful but very memorable. Lots of laughs, frustrations with weather, and just great friends.

We started out on Sat and rode half the day with great weather but once we reached LA, the rain came in full force. I have to admit we learned a lot about riding in the rain. With the rain it slowed us down and took us almost 12 hours to reach our first destination in Meridian MS. That is the longest day I have ever rode but it was not to be the last one.

The next day we had rain all day and didn't make our destination for Savannah so we gave up the opportunity to eat at Paula Deen's (sorry Paula maybe next time). We stayed in Perry Ga and enjoyed an evening of good food and hot tub conversation. Even if it was Sunday in the "bible belt" and no beer. Still, laughs were had by all, thanks Darlene and Tracey for all the red faces on the wait staff.

From Perry we headed toward Savannah (on the way we had an incident where Ray's bike wouldn't start...sure is funny watching them push a harley!!)and went to the HD for minor repairs and lunch at HOOTERS since Paula Deen's was booked. Then on to Hilton Head Island for a slow tour of the island. This is where Darlene had her mishap with losing her saddlebag and now she is known as "One Bagger".




We made it to Charleston where we spent two nights with no rain. Charleston was beautiful of course. We saw Boone Hall, took a carriage ride around Charleston, went to Isle of Palms for swimming in the ocean and rode in a taxi with MAD MAX..a ride to remember...seat belts a MUST!!!

Wednesday we headed for Anderson SC where my brother lives. We stoped in Myrtle Beach, SC for lunch. In Anderson we had a great visit with my family. It was wonderful to have them drive down to meet us. Sorry Kevin and Mandy couldn't make it.

Darlene and Ray left early on Thurs to hit the Dragon and they took the ultimate challenge and did it in the rain!! Way to go!!

Thursday the rest of us were to take the challenge of the Tail of the Dragon but when we got to Robbinville it was raining and none of us were interested in any wet mountain roads we hadn't already done that day. We rested in the greatest little inn called TWO WHEEL INN, I highly recommend it for motorcycle riders. We each had a garage for at least one bike and great rooms. It was the most fun and relaxing to just sit outside and watch the rain and drink beer (of course had to bring it in since the county was a dry county).



What can I say about the Tail of the Dragon? It was scary, curvy, twisty but well worth the ride. Glad I practiced those figure 8's before I left since that was about how tight the turns are. 311 curves in 11 miles. Didn't have time to look at the scenery except at the overlook. Deals Gap was a nice stop for t-shirts and patches. We will definately be displaying our triumph. Glad we didn't add to the Tree of Shame.



Friday, Tracey and I stayed at Robbinsville while the rest of the group left for home. Terry, Linda, Andy and Mary came up from Anderson to ride the dragon with us and then we went to Helen Ga on Saturday. The ride to Helen GA was the most beautiful of the whole trip. Helen is a small little Bavarian tourist town up in the mountains around some great lakes and rivers. We spend almost 4 hours in Helen just walking the streets and Tracey even got a TATTOO!!













We ate at an authentic Bavarian Restaurant with delicious food.
Then Tracey and I headed for the long trip home.

We stopped by IUKA, MS to see where she used to live then stayed in Corinth, MS for the night, knowing we had a very long day ahead.

We got up at 6am and took 72 to Memphis which was a beautiful road on a early Sunday morning. Saw a lot of corn and oats not much traffic so it was a real relaxing ride (NO RAIN). We finally made it home by 5:45pm very tired but knew we had had a VACATION!!!

Life happens not SH--

It was a sad day yesterday for us. What we had been anticipating happend. Tracey, after 17 years, is no longer with FedEx. She took the blow pretty hard but she will bounce back. I have lived my life by the motto, "Everything happens for a reason", my children have learned this also. We may never know the true reason for many years or ever, but there is an ultimate reason that the "power that is" puts us through these hardships. Tracey and I live a wonderful life with family and some of the greatest friends anyone could ever have. Sometimes our life seemed just too good. So this is a wake up call about life. There are many changes in life, some good and some bad, but you have to take the bad and make them good. So we will be looking for other bigger and better opportunities for Tracey and continue to live our life as we have always done...to the fullest.

What fun we had -- Wii is not just for you kids. 10 adults (childlike adults) playing Wii with two TV's side by side what a site that was. Never had so much fun. "To the right Bruce, to the right". And Bert...don't ride your Harley like you drive that Mario Cart.

That was a great Saturday night with friends. Now on Sunday, Ray put together a route to see some wildflowers and cross some nice bridges. It was not as sunny as we would have liked but never did rain. It was a great ride. We also became bar hopper bikers. (BHB) We stopped for lunch at Loose Wheels, what great music and food. Bar #1 (no drinking by us tho), then we went some back roads to a little unique bar and motorcycle shop in Westminster. It was a "pit" stop and we picked up a patch for Bruce !!! Bar # 2 still no drinking. So are we truly BHB's? Guess the qualification don't say you have to drink ...so yes we are BHB's. What a great day, we saw so many wildflowers and not just blue bonnets, there was red flowers, orange flowers, pink flowers and turtles, road runners, goats, dogs, long horns, brahmas and just cows, lots of horses and friendly people waving along the road. AND best of all bridges!!! This is by far one of the most beautiful rides I have been on in the spring. Thank you to Ray and Darlene for the great company and route. This ride is a definate do over.

As my blog is called Gone with the Wind, we did do a lot of side riding in the wind but I think it popped my neck back in place....imagine that.

Wildflower Ride 2009

Well the wildflowers are out there but we will be missing them this year. Tracey has a "bum" knee and needs to stay off it, and it is raining so would not be as much fun. So what do you do instead? Get 10 people together for a Wii rally. No motorcycles needed and rain or shine. Stay tuned for how that turns out....

Well Denise has her hand healed to the point she can now ride her motorcycle and that she did. We met her to breakfast on Sunday and then rode through Justin, to Krum and then back home. Denise did very well and will gain experience with each ride.

Found out today that the whole gang will be going on the cruise for Hogs on the High Seas. This is going to be so much fun. I will have to post some pictures.n Wish it was November already.

But before we sail away on the cruise we have our Old South and Smokey Mountain ride to do. I am really looking forward to this one. I have mapped out the route and it will be a 8-9 day trip. I can't wait.

I am still waiting to hear when I will be able to have my surgery, its hard waiting on the insurance company, I want to get it planned around work and all the fun we are going to have this year. Oh well time will tell.

Bye for now....

Here it is Monday and what a nice weekend we had. We went on a ride to Decauter for lunch and Sweetie Pies. It was Bruce's first long(er) ride and he did so well. Then we went to Denise and Bruce's house for Pizza and cards. Ray and Darlene came also and I can't remember when I have laughed so much. We had a great time.

Tracey and Bruce went to Daryl's today and installed the CB on Bruce's bike so when we go to Shreveport next week he will be able to communicate (or at least listen). I am really hoping the weather will be nice and he will ride. Denise still has her hand pinned so she will be caging it.

Stay tuned for next week for the escapades of Shreveport.

Well it has been over a year since I have posted anything on this blog. Needless to say we have been very busy riding our Harleys. During the year I have moved from the Heritage Softail to an 09 Street Glide named Bonnie Blue (from Gone with the Wind of course.)

I never knew how much different Harleys ride. I started out on a Dyna Low Rider and I thought it was so easy to ride until I moved to the Heritage. I LOVED my Heritage, people say why did I move to the Street Glide but after you ride the Street Glide you will know why.

It's amazing how only 3 years ago I thought I would never be able to ride my own bike. I progress my skills every ride and I do ride a lot.

In the last year we have made many trips around Texas and we also went on a trip to Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas. We did this in July 08. Let me tell you--- you never want to do this ride in July. Las Vegas was 120 degrees, my hands were so hot it felt like I had been holding them in a fire. It was hard to breathe. All in all it was a very exciting trip.

This year we are planning 3 long trips:

• Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Tail of the Dragon over Memorial Day week
• Trip to Niagara Falls in July
• Hogs on the High Seas cruise

I look forward to writing about these experiences. Talk to you soon!!!