10 Days on the Road and a question or 2

Just got home from the longest road trip on the bike I have ever taken.
2400 miles from North Georgia to Ohio to St. Louis to Gulf Shores, MS to
North Georgia. I met some mighty nice folks along the way, some I knew
before and some I hope to meet again. The general idea was to go see my
sister in Ohio. She just moved there and has been bugging me to come see
her new place. Me on my 2002 Softtail and MB on his Fatboy headed that way.
MB couldn't stay gone too long so he headed back after we closed up a really
great hole-in-the-wall close to Nashville, TN. Damn if I can remember the
name of that bar right now, but maybe he will remember. I do remember Cindy
and Shari, two FINE Nashville girls who helped us celebrate whatever we were
celebrating that night. I just love redheads, but damn, TWO redheaded
sisters! I love America. Hit the road late the next morning after some
non-English speaking maid woke us up yapping something about "No late
check-out after yaprak" or what-ever. She was really beside herself when we
finally left, rolling our bikes out with us.



Which is something I wanted to ask everyone. When you stay at motels, do
you pull your bikes in the room with you at night? No, not to sleep with in
your bed, but just inside the door. I sleep so much better not worrying
that some clowns with two 2x4's are going to come by, and lift my bike into
a pick-up and be gone before the motion alarm has repeated the first chorus.
My bike does not leak oil and I am very careful not to scratch their
furniture (or my bike on their furniture). Plus, I back my bike into the
room, shut the door, and then push the front tire up to the door. Someone
else might have a key, but with 600 plus pounds of Harley guarding the door,
the room is really mine for the night.



Spent the night in a little town in Illinois with a dirt track within
walking distance of the motel. One of those really small tracks where one
price lets you go anywhere. The local hero won most of the heats (as
everyone in the crowd assured me he would). The place reminded me of
several places back in Georgia (except the Rebel Flag was not in view, for
some strange reason.). Made it to Ohio and stayed a few days with my
sister. Lost some money at the local casino. Caught up on the laundry.
You can't carry that many clothes in a T-bag, after all. AND THE BUGS!!!!!
One night, I road through the damnedest storm of creature I have ever seen.
Skinny buggers about 1 and quarter inches long, black, with a forked tail.
Millions and millions of them. Flying so thick you could not see the street
lamps. I will never NEVER do that again. It was the first time I ever
wanted a wind shield.



I met up with another set of friends for a few days in St Louis for the
weekend of the 4th. The fair, air show and fireworks at the Arch were a
blast. Thanks AJ, CJ, and RA. Then went down to Gulf Shore, MS where I
changed my luck on the blackjack tables. Thanks, Cindy, where ever you are
for helping me celebrate my new found luck.



On the way back, I was lucky not to be run over by a blue haired old lady.
I was sitting at a red light way back in line, with this little old lady in
a parking spot off to my right. I see her put it in reverse and start to
back out straight at me. She obviously does not see me. I hit the horn
(Harley really should make a louder horn I have decided). The horn must
have spooked her, she tries to slam on the brake, her foot slips onto the
accelerator, and now I am really tripping. When I had pulled up behind the
truck, I had lined up to the right of the truck, so my escape route was
clear. I took off like a bat out of hell, and heard the crunch of metal
behind me. I stopped and went back. The girl that the old lady hit was
mad. Not at the little old lady, but at ME for scaring the lady by using my
horn! I was laughing like hell at her when the police showed up. For a
little while, I thought they were going to figure out some way to make this
all my fault. That's when the tow truck driver (with a Harley sticker in
the window) pointed out the open bottle of Vodka in the blue hair's car.
Things got much more in line after that. Thanks, TR.

"Lee" <Lee.DeleteThis@myhouse.com> wrote in
news:bepksm$a0i$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net:

 > Just got home from the longest road trip on the bike I have ever taken.
 > 2400 miles from North Georgia to Ohio to St. Louis to Gulf Shores, MS to
 > North Georgia. I met some mighty nice folks along the way, some I knew
 > before and some I hope to meet again. The general idea was to go see my
 > sister in Ohio. She just moved there and has been bugging me to come
 > see her new place. Me on my 2002 Softtail and MB on his Fatboy headed
 > that way. MB couldn't stay gone too long so he headed back after we
 > closed up a really great hole-in-the-wall close to Nashville, TN. Damn
 > if I can remember the name of that bar right now, but maybe he will
 > remember. I do remember Cindy and Shari, two FINE Nashville girls who
 > helped us celebrate whatever we were celebrating that night. I just
 > love redheads, but damn, TWO redheaded sisters!

Fess up dude... what's the name of this damn bar? I LIVE in Nashville and
need to add it to my 'must stop by' list.

 > Which is something I wanted to ask everyone. When you stay at motels,
 > do you pull your bikes in the room with you at night? No, not to sleep
 > with in your bed, but just inside the door. I sleep so much better not
 > worrying that some clowns with two 2x4's are going to come by, and lift
 > my bike into a pick-up and be gone before the motion alarm has repeated
 > the first chorus. My bike does not leak oil and I am very careful not to
 > scratch their furniture (or my bike on their furniture). Plus, I back
 > my bike into the room, shut the door, and then push the front tire up to
 > the door. Someone else might have a key, but with 600 plus pounds of
 > Harley guarding the door, the room is really mine for the night.

Used to do it some back in the 70's. Haven't bothered to roll one into the
room in a damn long time. Hardly ever bother to chain the damn thing down
anymore unless I just happen to think about it.

So far so good, and I've got good insurance. Fuggit... been wanting a Road
Glide anyway.

<snip da rest>

Sounds like a great trip and thanks for writing it up. I wouldn't sweat
rolling the scooter into your hotel room and all unless you are staying in
one major shitty area. When my wife and I travel together, I "nest" them
together nice and tight out in the parking lot and run a chain/cable lock
through both frames at once. Tough to move two at the same time. If they
have some of that "freeze-it" shit... the lock's gonna die anyway so I'm
just trying to keep the rookie thieves honest.

Now spit it out... which bar was it?
--
Bob Carroll's EVLTWN BS#159, SENS, Newt#22

'93 FXDL - the EVLTWN/Frankendyna
'99 FXD - Willa's ride
'76 FXE - deceased... a moment of silence please<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->