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Richard Meek '65

Scotty, Paige and I will be at the '65 Birthday party tonight.

Beau, glad you're back and safe. Good adventure dude!

Beau Wann, Jr.

Aye Theodore,
I allus wear safety glasses, as do ALL riders, and this trip was no exception, I had wraparound safety glasses from Graingers. Something blew up under, over, and or around em. Best laid plans of mice and motorcycle riders. But I'm a firm believer in fate. I cant speak for anyone else, but it seems everything in my life, good bad or indifferent, has always worked out to the good.

My trip wasnt over in Livingston, Alabama. Just the solo part of it. Had great time with two of the people I love the most, my wife and eldest Son. We talked and joked and laughed and all the good things you do together on an adventure. Things happen for a reason, and we arent always privy to the WHY! Sometimes the why is as hidden as the nose on our faces, we just choose to look around it. Eventually we get it

Got to watch my grandson Taylor, graduate from Cinco Ranch HS in Katy, Friday night. What an absolute fine young man he turned out to be, and has always been. So polite and smart...makes my heart soar. He graduated with honors, as did more than 75% of his class. WOW... He was just in the plain ol honors, and at at least one third was in the high honors. They awarded plaques to the top ten graduates, all with 4.5 or better gpa. One going to the Naval Academy, some going to UT, some to A&M, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Princeton etc...I cant even imagine having such high ideals as to attend one of those schools.

Church today in the "Little country church in the city"...usual 28 suspects...missing one of the pillars of our church this Sunday. Harry Pettit passed away and laid to rest while I was away on my adventure. He was in his 80s. His wife Jeanne passed away a year ago last spring. Both had been at that church since it's inception in the late 40s. They will be missed...

They WERE Oaks Presbyterian Church...so many now have gone on to what we have been preparing for lo these many many Sundays and special days of the church calendar. I remember when Diane and I were the young couple in the church, some 30 year ago...now, we are the old folks...not many young people left to pass the torch to, in fact no young people at all...not good.

Saw Jim and Ruby Theissen today. They are always in attendance...good to see them. Brings a bit of my high school past back. They are still the same good folks as they always were in my youte.

Still recovering from my sojourn into the whirld of motorcycle travel. No ill effects at all, just good memories. A person cant ask for more than that now can they! 

The first day of travel, Monday, started at 4:30 AM and lasted till about 4:30 PM in Vicksburg, Miss., right smack dab on the banks of "ol man river" hisownself. Yup, the MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER. I have crossed it now, hmmm, some 8 times.  I often wonder how the first person got across that bad boy. That aint no slouch river brothers and sisters. They say it is a mile wide in some places. It's a good half mile wide or more where we crossed it.

Got rained on in Tallula, La, on the first day. Got soaked. I pulled over to put rain gear on. All them other ol boys just rode on like it was nothing...70 miles an hour...the leader, Gary, came back for me as I was putting on my rain gear...he seemed amused, not condescendingly amused, but amused nonetheless, like he knew something I didnt...and well he should , when I finally got my rain gear on, it stopped raining.
Of all the nerve of that rain.Having to stop and pull out your rain gear, and then get on over your boots and other outer clothing, is no easy feat, I might point out. I tried to "combat load" my gear, according to use and emergencys. It worked, mostly, except repacking is a tedious and less than fullfilling activity. As time passed towards the end of the trip, I was stuffing stuff where ever it would fit. I'm a good stuffer...

It might be good to note here, that all the riders, with one exception, ME, had Harley Ultra Classic Crusiers...all equiped with GPS, satelite, two way radios, AM/FM, HI FI, WI FI, I SPY, PIE IN THE SKY, IPOD, IPAD, MP3, CD, cup holders, pot holders microwaves, maids, air conditioning of sorts, heaters...I'm just amazed at what all they had...I'm surprised they didnt have chauffers and butlers. All 5 gallon tanks, fuel injected, 40-45 MPG...

Mine is a big bike, but I have none of the above on my bike. My bike, 2005 Harley Softtail Deluxe, was the last year anyone put a carburetor on em. I still get 40-45 MPG, but have a 4 gallon gas tank, with half gallon in reserve. I could probably go almost 200 miles before empty. We tried to go around 130-150 miles before stopping. These ol boys I rode with, were professionals at riding. They knew their bikes, and their limits and capabilities. I've been riding 10 years, but am a rookie compared to these guys. I might also add that I was a good 15 to 20 years older than the gang.

 Anyway, I'm glad Gary came back, to show me which motel we were going to spend the night in. I had pulled off only 16 miles from Vicksburg. As luck would have it, (and luck is soooo important in any adventure) there was a Waffle House at the Motel, and also gambling houses. I didnt know you could gamble in just about every state but Texas...I prefer to eat than gamble anyway, of course, nowdays, eating at some of these joints is a bit of a gamble. This particular waffle house, the food was...edible...coffee, hot and black, which meets minimum requirements for coffee.

My whole group, save me, went to the gamblin houses. I was exhausted from my "riding in formation" for almost 400 miles, and the rain too. Never rode in the rain until this trip, never felt the need to...not necessarily one of my goals..."oh Diane, it's raining cats and dogs, so I think I'lll saddle up Pegasus and go riding", never entered my mind.  So, I turned on the WEATHER CHANNEL and fell asleep. Musta slept good, cause I dont remember anything about it. No tossing and turning, etc. Woke up normal time, bout 4 AM. Good ol Waffle House, just waiting for me to throw money at it.  Et mah vittles, got a cup O Joe to go...walked over to the river, and watched the sun come up. Lots of fog on the bridge...saw Old Glory waving in the rays of sun as it crested over the horrizon behind me. Got a couple O pics of Old Glory waving over the Mighty Mississippi. Gave me a shiver...a good one...

I'll stop here, too long to tell in one fell swoop...and we all know how long winded I can be...CAN BE???? Yes, I know, thats an understatement...well, I mean well...

So tune in for next weeks installment, of "As the whirld turns"...
Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride,
your frien and bretheren, Mr Magoo...

Suzy Jones '66

Hey Beau, Im one of those readers only Jackie was talking about. Besides Im much younger

than you guys. lol (1966) Anyway, I had to thank you for representing our city, neighborhood,

and class in such a profound way.  Your picture of the crowd took my breath away and I was

proud to say I knew you.  By the way Mr Theisen was very proud also.

Thanks so much

Suzy

Teddie Jordan

Here's a picture of our grandson Will Davidson after his 5th grade graduation ceremony last Thursday. He will now be our second one in middle school, and grandson James will be doing the same this time next year making three.

I think it's great the way they now celebrate all of the kid's milestones, unlike back in our time. I even saw pictures last week of a preschool and a kindergarten graduation. I'm not even sure cameras had been invented back when we were doing that.

We are very proud of Will and he is a fine young man. He is eleven years old and already almost as tall as Fran. He's going to be a big guy. He loves to go to the ranch and to the coast, as all of our kids do, and for some reason all of his school papers are written about hunting and fishing adventures. Kind of reminds me of someone else I have known.

Susan Howard (Bowman)

What a great picture of the three of you!  I know you are very proud!  

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

BroBeau cannot wait to hear more of your adventures.  Please tell your grandson, Taylor, congrats on his high school graduation.  And Teddie congrats on your grandson, Clint's graduation from 5th and going into the BIG Middle School!  Both are fine young guys and I'm sure following in their grandpas' wonderful and caring footsteps!

Suzy Jones -- how great to have you on the forum.  Just made my day and thank you for your sweet words to BroBeau - yes, he's the best.

Hugs,

J

John Burgess Webb

wonderful picture teddie;you and fran have done so well.

its a toss-up between the harleys and the horntoad.i had a little horntoad for awhile over on cheshire,so neat but they were meant to be free so i let him go.i guess they dont come that far north anymore.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hello mine fine waltripines...Thanks Suzy...means a lot to me...Glad I could take part in the event and represent the real heros like Jim Thiessen, who saw action in Italy and other places in WWII...Teddie and Fran...WOW...they sure grow up quick...fine looking lad...I'll swear though, you dont look like grandparents, more like parents...dont know how youve managed to stay so young...keep it up...Yeah it's kinda neat how they celebrate milestones...like you said, cameras must not have been invented way yonder back then...we didnt have a graduation ceremony till HS...well, thats ok, in my case there really wasnt much to celebrate cept just getting the heck out of there...

Most of our trip to ROLLING THUNDER, was rather uneventful, cept for me and the rain...rain gods must a had a great laugh at my expense on that trip...of course, on the return trip, I woulda welcomed some rain it was so hot.
Once we rolled out of Vicksburg, and left ol man river behind us, we rolled across Mississippi, and into Alabama and spent the night in Athens, Ala, where we met up with an ALABAMA STATE TROOPER. We were in good stead with this one. What a nice guy too, all 7 foot 300 pounds of him. Probably the two most respected and known icons of lawr (Massachusetts for law) inforcement, TEXAS RANGERS, and ALABAMA STATE TROOPER.
I cant remember how many times I watched the troopers escort Bear Bryant off the field.

It seemed as if our hotel/motels all had a Cracker Barrel Restaurant in their parking lot. Suited me just fine. Food was better than just edible, and service was good. Although their breakfasts leave a lot to be desired. The 3 Ms, Meatloaf, mashed taters, mac and cheese on the other hand, was first rate. At cracker barrel, you get a meat and 3 sides...most other places just give you two sides...the cheapskates...

From Athens we went straight north...(northern Alabama is just beautiful) through Tennessee, up into Kaintuck, west virginny, virginny and on into Arlington. All went well, until we descended into the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH...somewhere in West Virginia...I remember the number well...HWY60...LORDAMIGHTY...I didnt know we were in for such a...a...a...WILD RIDE...

Each morning the temp was in the 50's, which translated to the back of a motorcycle at 75, to about 40 degrees, or a facsimile thereof...I woulda froze todeath, if I hadnt packed for the occasion. Three shirts, one long sleeve, one sweat shirt, and my blue jean jacket...

AFter Athens, Al, we spent the night in Moorhead, Kaintuck...home of Moorhead, University...I must interject at this point, our point man Gary, missed the exit...when you miss an exit on Turnpike 64, you cannot turn around for 21 miles...so a 21 mile error translates to a 42 mile mistake...what moron builds a highway, and gets moron taxpayers to pony up the cost of this moron highway, that HAS NO EXITS, OR TURNAROUNDS????? We finally rolled into this town/burg/village, and there is actually a few stores I recognize...Lowes, and Krogers....yeaaaaa......Of course I didnt need Lowes, unless I was gonna build a house....NO thanks...

The motel we stayed in was something along the lines of THE BATES MOTEL...Friends, it was old...I checked in last, and my room was on the backside...I was the only one on the backside...lots of dark forests on the back side....lots o strange noises coming from the dark back side....I started to ride my bike into my room, until I sawr a sign that said DONT...so I didnt....I figured I'd wake up and ol sasquatch woulda been EASY RIDER on my bike...I did have my own Pepsi machine...onliest think, I DONT LIKE PEPSI...This motel was so old, The TV in the room was black and white....thats ok,  Gilligans Island was probably a repeat  anyway...

The town of Moorhead, is located in the mountains, and when morning rears it's ugly head, we were socked in by fog/clouds, and cold...time to break out the extra shirts...man it was cold and damp...seemed like it was raining on us the whole way...We probably left around 7 AM, and did not see the sun until after noon...What beautiful country...I would have liked to take pictures of scenic overlooks, and histerical markers, but these ol boys I was riding with, were on a mission...GET TO DC...

We crossed into West Virginny, and it mostly looked like Tenn and  Kaintuck....That is until we came upon the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH...I believe I mentioned that earlier didnt I...Cant stress it enough...
We were suppose to stop off at a school in Rannelle, Wva, and eventually we did...I think....here is where my memory of the events that unfolded get kinda fuzzy....either the DEVILS HWY came before Rannelle, or after...I suppose it dosent really matter, but I do like to have my facts straight...

Here is another interjection...I swear I could hear "dueling banjos" all through our ride in the mountains...glad I was with a gang of sorts...

I saw the first sign...you know which one I mean, the amber colored, diamond shape sign with the squiggly little snake in the middle of it saying, S NEXT 7 MILES...OMG...seven miles of S translates to about a year in the twilight zone...there were 180 degree switchbacks, left S and right S  and up and down S...then we got to a straight patch of road, and I breathed a sigh of relief...until I sawr the next amber colored diamond shape sign...S NEXT 7 MILES...Now we all know what    S    is dont we...Sh************************************t...dont mean to get so graphic here, but we dont have these kinda roads in Texas...straight and flat...is where we are at...in the great state of Texas...

all I know was, "I WANTED TO HELL OUT OF THIS VALLEY"...I really wasnt interested in having "deadmans curve" named after me.." Ladies and gentlemen, if you will look out the right side of the bus, you will see, the "beauwan memorial curve"..."the drop is so far, it took him a week to hit bottom...probably starved to death before he hit bottom"...

Finally we get through the devils backbone, or tail of the dragon...more like mouth of the dragon, whilst he is munchin on my butt...You woulda been proud of me though, I kept up with the group...there were only 2 bikes behind me, and two chase cars....one of the passengers in the lead chase car videoed the ride into the valley of death....he said he was going to upload it to YOUTUBE...I havent seen it on you tube, but I watched it that evening on his IPAD/computer. I am the third bike from the truck if you happen to see it. He says it lasted 7 mins, but he lies...had to be a week and a half if it was a minute...He might upload it as ROLLING THUNDER TX 2 VIRGINIA RIDE, or at least I heard someone ask him to do that...

Riding down into that valley, we came upon a small unique town alongside a river...downtown was lined with telephone poles, and each pole had Old Glory on it...the townsfolk were waiting for us with hand held flags, and waving for all they were worth...kids, old folks etc, all turned out....some sitting in lawnchairs and on sides of the hills...it was cool....dont know how many bikers came through this town, but must a been a bunch...by the time we got there, we were about a couple a hundred strong....by the time we got to Arlington, we were about 3 thousand strong...give or take a couple O bikes...when we hit a hill, you couldnt see the beginning or the end of the procession...dont like riding in formation, but this time was cool...

We rolled into Arlington somewhere around noon on Friday, and descended on the Holliday Inn like a plague of locusts...I must say, the hotel staff handled it with ease and class...I requested a room on the ground floor, or as close to it as possible....they gave me the 1st floor...translated into Holliday Innese, that meant the 6th floor....did I miss that in algebra???? I allus thought the 1st floor WAS the ground floor...musta slept through that...as usual...oh well, the room was very large and comfortable AND COLD....YESSSSS!!!!!!

I might interject here, that all the motel/hotels I have stayed in, have no idear how to arrange the furniture in their rooms...I had to move and rearrange things as to the correct positioning of said furniture...well, I couldnt move the things that were bolted to the walls, didnt have my tools, and lots of the furniture was bolted to the wall....Hmmm, I wonder...were they expecting me????  I saw one of the maids, and showed her my room, and told her that this was how the furniture should be...in it's new places...dont know if her look was in AWE of my talents, or a look of terror...she ran down the hall hollering something in whatever language they speak nowdays..."madre de dios" she kept repeating over and over, till she disappeared down the elevator...oh well, some folks just dont cotton to helpin em out...

I couldnt rearrange the bathroom, cause EVERYTHING is attached to the walls...but what I could do, was line up and arrange all my "POSSIBLES"  in a neat and orderly fashion....each item equadistance from the next...and so on...I'm a firm believer in ORDER...plus my two rubber ducks that the inn keeper gave to each of us in Staunton, Virginia

Friday night was a candlelight vigil at THE WALL...very moving...saw the names of my friends...I could have sworn I heard them laughing and shouting at me from the cold etched stone...I know I saw their faces somewhere through the tears...and there were tears...hugs from strangers, yet a brother...arm in arm we swayed and prayed...wept and wondered..."why them, why not us"...you dont question God...he has a plan...not clear to us most of the time, but I'm sure it will be... in time...

Saturday we rode down to DC to "THUNDER ALLEY" a vendors heaven along Constitution Ave. You can, and I did, buy patches and pins and food and drink and people watch...and I did...Then we rode to Fort Washington Harley Davidson in Maryland...WILD WILD WILD...they had free food, courtsey of Harley Davidson...barbecue, hotdogs and hamburgers, and Papa Johns pizza and drinks....musta been a zillion people there...why not, FREE FOOD...got my bike serviced, oil change, check plugs etc...Pegasus was right on...the gang left before my bike was finished...I told em to go on, I could find my way back to the hotel...i could find my way back to the hotel...I COULD FIND MY WAY BACK TO THE HOTEL...WRONG...I eventually did, but not before getting lost and traveling through some territory that probably had last seen humans sometime when George Washington was alive...

When I finally made it back, I related my story to the guys, and they were somewhat amused...more like rolling on the floor amused....I told em the number of the highway, 210, and they exclaimed, "why thats in Maryland", to which I added, "why yes, yes it is" ...My sense of direction is second to none...just point me in any direction, and I'll get lost...yessir...good thing I wasnt on the Lewis and Clark expedition....probably woulda wound up in New Jersey...It probably would be a safe bet to say I'm not kin to Daniel Boone...

During our down times, times between events, the gang, now joined by other gangs, would set up lawn chairs right in the entrance and driveway to the Holliday inn, forcing the Airport shuttles and limos to go around em...the guys brought coolers of beer and had fine cigars, and just made themselves right at home...WELL??? thats what you do in Texas, right???? I must commend the hotel staff, they were magnificent...whenever a lawn chair would protrude to far  into the driveway, the bellcapt would push it ever so gently so a shuttle could get around it...guy in the chair never knew...they even set up beer coolers in the lobby...we were everywhere...I refrained from partaking of any adult beverage, mainly because it puts me to sleep...real quick...plus I wanted to actually REMEMBER my trip...

Sunday Morning 5 am...Thats when ROLLING THUNDER BEGAN...this is a sound and sight that you have to see and hear to believe...it is actually ROLLING THUNDER, all day...it never stops...Sounds like a jet plane on afterburners...When we got there about 5:30 AM, there were already a few thousand bikes....lots of vendors set up the night before, and also a mile of porta-cans...which as the day progressed, came in handy...well duh...After about 7 hours of steady streams of bikes, 4 parking lots were full, and they were still coming...some 900,000 to one million bikes...OMG...One group that came in, and they were next to us, so thats how I know about this, had a double amputee from Iraq riding with them...they were the NAM KNIGHTS...you can bet they took care of this young man...

I also met the Marine that stands out on the street in DC and holds a salute for 4 or 6 hours....there were two or three of them this year...you can bet we saluted back...

"LITE EM UP...LETS ROLL"...was the command...We left the pentagon right at noon...each person in their private thoughts and prayers...me hoping I didnt run into the guy in front of me...as we crossed the Potomac, people were lined up 2 and 3 deep, waving flags and shouting and smiling and saluting US...woulda been nice 45 years ago...but it was really special this time...I carried with me the names of the fallen friends...the ones that made it back, scarred, but alive...Gary, Burge, Kieth, Richard, Scotty, Lynn P., more names than my little pea brain could remember...but I did try...they were in my heart...

There were a few WWII vets, some in wheelchairs, some with canes...lots of Vietnam vets, Korean vets, Iraq and Afghanistan along the way...they were saluting me, US...I saluted back...lots of youngsters just smiling and waving their flags and carrying signs..."THANK YOU VIETNAM VETS, WE LOVE YOU"...what a sight...I have never felt more humbled and yet proud in my life...all the while, the sound of ROLLING THUNDER, reverberated throughout Washington DC...NEVER STOPPING, OR DIMMING...I could not believe what I was witnessing...if you have never seen it, or heard it, mere discription from me, or watching it on TV, does not do it justice...

This was a once in a lifetime adventure for me...I am so glad I participated in this...seems almost like a dream...I know that I am probably the LEAST of whirld travelers in our class, but, if any of youse youtes want to experience what I so inadequately described, make reservations for Memorial Day weekend, and fly up and experience it...I dont think you will regret it...if you ride a bike, rent one from the Harley place in DC, then head for the Pentagon parking lot...

Once we got through DC, and headed back out on 66 back by the Pentagon, the parking lot that we came out of was still half full with a steady stream of bikes pouring out...3 more parking lots to go...UNBELIEVABLE, JUST ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE...I am so blessed to have been a part of ROLLING THUNDER...a small part...more of just a witness to history...this was the 25th year of ROLLING THUNDER...Our lead rider, Gary, has been 12 years in a row...and something I didnt know until after the ride through the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, was that this was half of the groups first time also...a rookie, just like me...

Only a few of the riders in my group were veterans...the rest were staunch supporters...ROLLING THUNDERTX2 meets down at the VA hospital on Main st, on the 1st Saturday of the month, and after the meeting, go and visit all the vets there, and see if they can do anything for them...these guys put their money where their mouths are...good men all...

Also in the Pentagon parking lot, a coupe of bikers, man and woman, were handing out NEW TESTAMENT bibles...the lady handed one to me, to which I replied..."do you take donations", ( I know these are not free) to which she said no...Now here are two people that are the real deal and right with God...just doing it, because it needs to be done...

Oh, I almost forgot. I checked every motel room I stayed in, and sure nuff, Mr Gideon had been there...started in 1899, and still going strong...every motel room had a Gideon bible...nice to see some things havent changed...

Guess I better sign off for now...if your reading this now, youre probably nodding off, if not plumb asleep...
I'm glad I made the trip...thanks for listening...might get to see yall at Fudds...I hope!!!
your frien and brethern...Olbeauwannkanobiemagoo

Teddie Jordan

Beau,  loved your description of Rolling Thunder, especially the thought that you carried with you the names of  friends and classmates who also served in Vietnam. And the word picture of that many motorcycles rumbling to the Pentagon brings to mind the exact sound of Rolling Thunder, a perfect name.

Thank you Beau for taking and sharing the trip, and thank you each and every one of you for your service to our country, and for our liberty!

On a separate thought, do you know what the plural of yall is?

It's all yall. Hope to see all yall at Fudd's next Tuesday.

Richard Meek '65

Beau, it sounds like an awesome trip and an experience that you'll never forget. I'm sure all those spectators will remember it forever. Glad you're back home safe and sound amigo!

Teddy and Fran, great photos of you and your grandson. I know how proud you must be.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Thanks Richard...dang recollectin was too long...sorry about that folks...I guess the most thing I missed was Diane and being at home...oh, and my critters...I always worry about Cooper when I'm not around...
Hey Burge, I had a horny toad when I was a youte...maybe 7 or 9....called him irving...I turned him loose when I found out my uncles were feeding him beer...I hope he faired well...

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey, it's me again...
had a rather different experience at one of the motels in Staunton, Va...when we checked in, I asked for a ground floor as per usual...like to be as close to terra firma as possible in case I have to make a fast getaway...anyway, the "bell hops tears keep falling, the desk clerks dressed in black..."no, thats another tune isnt it!!! Anyway, the desk clerk proceeded to tell me about the train tracks that ran right around back of the motel, and right by my room..."ok, so what" says I...he says that they are required to tell us, and have us sign a waiver stating that he told us...???????? What???? I told him that the train wouldnt bother me, I grew up within 2 blocks or less of RR tracks, and now live about 2 blocks of RR tracks...and as long as it doesnt come through my room, I'm good with it...he said that nevertheless he was required to inform us and for us to sign a waiver. 

Got up the next morn, disappointed that NO TRAIN HAD APPEARED...I inquired about "our train", and said" Well"???" What happened to my train"?...I think we should all get a "no train discount"....Well, we didnt, but got a free breakfast instead, and staff was very nice. Coffee was excellent for a change! A coffee drinker must have made it!

I'm just glad that I didnt have to sign a "sasquatch waiver" at the BATES MOTEL in Moorhead, Ky...

There is no other word on top, just M O T E L...you can see the fog/clouds in the behind it, as well as ol sasquatchs home...THA FOREST...

Any of youse youtes have an unusual experience with motel/hotel accomodations????

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Thank you Beauman for the arousing patriotic adventure....especially for me as a woman, so neat to know what stirs in the hearts of our men.  Hopefully, the messages of heartfelt gratitude, American loyalty, strife and sacrifice resounded throughout America emitting from our Harley Davidson riders!  Neat to hear of so many ordinary people, out with flags...America still stands!  Thank ya Beau for putting a face on this famous ride for most of us here at home. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the redenvous (SP) of your adventure, although there were several pauses of which I had to get up and refresh my coffee, and cook my breakfast! 

Most of all, to hear of your support from your spouse, Diane, thank you for your updates for us all. And your son, turned oout to be a good way to finish the adventure with loved ones as a part!  Glad to hear that physically you survived with all limbs and muscles intact.

On motels/hotels, I have a small paranoia about the bedsheets, comforters, glasses....people, hotel help, etc. I want to know that what I am sleeping on is really clean!

Richard Meek '65

Howdy Waltripians. I do have a couple of motel /hotel stories. Once when my wife(now former) and I were vacationing in the California wine country we stayed in a very nice old hotel that had been redone. They neglected to tell us about the train that came by the back of the hotel where our room was. About one in the morning a freight train came high balling it down the tracks and the whole place started shaking. I wasn't the what it was whether it was a tornado or an earthquake or what. I've slept through all sorts of storms including hurricanes, my  grandparents house in Garden Oaks was a couple of blocks from the RR but that never woke me. This one did though. Moved the iron bed about  a foot from the wall. Another time a buddy and I were going deep sea fishing out of freeport. So we were staying in a "Bates" type motel because we had to be at the boat so early in the morning. It seems pretty clean but it was kind of worn looking. You felt like you didn't;t want to turn the light off because you weren't real sure what might crawl out from under the base boards. We made it to the boat on time but it was too rough offshore to go out. That has happened three times when I've tried to go offshore to fish. I take as a sing that the Lord doesn't want me doing that.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Kay, sorry for the looooooooooooong report...I tried to condense it, and when I figured out my fingers still worked at typing even after I had a death grip on my MC grips through the valley of the shadow of death, I just went crazy typing...Diane said it was too long...well readers digest condensed I am not. Also a little known secret, after hearing all the "bedbug" scares in the hotels, (I've never seen a bedbug, and thought they were fictitious)  I took along a sort of sleeping bag to sleep in on the beds. I dont want no extra critter crawlin on me.

Hey Rich LH, stay away from them long offshore fishing trips. Heard too many horror stories about being seasick and in storms and whathave you. Anytime I feel the urge to go fishing, I go to krogers and walk through the seafood section. Why, you can view fresh water fish, as well as saltwater fish, and from the comfort of my own boots, on terra firma.  I dont actually buy any seafood, I just look.

I would love to have a lobster and some scallops, and some fried oysters...hmmmmm hmmmm good.
A frozen lobster preferably...dont want to have to waste the liquor on getting a live one drunk, and then dunkin em in some boiling water...OOOO yuk...so a frozen one will do nicely. Wonder how they harvest scallops! Smackem on the head and then chunk em in the boat? If it was me, I'd just talkem to death.  I'm a kinder and gentler dude now days.

Richard Meek '65

Beaucephus I've been giving it some thought and the only thing I have experienced that was even close to your Rolling Thnder experience was when my dad was in the 49th Armored Division/157th Tank Battalion. I got to see the Division pass in review at Ft. Hood (taint perzactly Washington D.C.). Once my mom took my sister and I up there to see it. The other time when I was in high school I worked as the dog robber (waiter) in the officers mess of HQ & HQ Co., Combat Command C, 49th AD. In addition to my mess hall pay I made a lot of money shining boots. Man I thought I was wealthy when I got back to Houston. Anyway it is an awesome sight to see an armored division on the move. Man it just givies you goose bumps.

Paige Talley (Meek)

RIchard - Jordan - NanaPaige         Jordan  Christopher NanaPaige

Jordan Christopher Thomasson graduated from Hayes High School 2012. He is headed for Tarleton State University at Stephanville, TX. We are proud of the boy !!!

Paige

Scotty Croom

beau, i also lived near rr tracks..on ebony and dubarry...never got shaken by them...grandmother lived near rr in victoria,remember train whistles waking me late at nite..then in panama, barracks near canal...sounds of ships coming thru locks resounded thru every nite...you get used to it..

Beau Wann, Jr.

I know, most of us grew up by the RR tracks...fondest memories in life, RIDIN THE RAILS...well inside as a legit passenger...The Silver Chief...and for the life of me cant remember the names of the other passenger trains I rode back and forth fm Houston to Little Rock, Ark...The smells and sounds...The inside of my sons 350 Ford truck smells just like the trains I rode on in the 50s...wonder what it is...Diesel and the seat fabric?
Oh, the wonderful rich wood in Union station downtown, and the rich smells of coffee and all the food they prepared...it seemed that it was always cold when we traveled on the train...just shivered and shook, but enjoyed...

I remember the trains down on DuBarry...one was so powerful, must a had a dozen engines...I was probably 7 and sometime around 1 AM, that particular train shook the entire neighborhood, because one of the light fixtures came crashing down in the middle of our room. Yeah, had to be 7 years old, because both my sisters were in the same bedroom, and shortly after that, I moved to the back porch...One of the mattresses in their room rubbed up against an outlet, and caught fire...the way these cracker boxes were built, I'm surprised more didnt catch on fire...glad they didnt though...

Just drove by there, and they are building a home right across the street for about 700K...saw another new one forsale on Martin and Oak Forest or roundabouts thereof, for 769K...kinda over built for the hood I think...whoever buys it, will never be able to sell it for any profit at all, unless ALL the houses are replaced with the "mansions" now being dotted throughout the "hood"...

Jan Barnes '65 (Nimtz)

Okay Beau... here's your lobster.  I consumed at least three 2-pounders during the last two weeks while visiting The Canadian Maritimes (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick).  Supposedly a one pound lobster yields 4 oz. of meat so I figure I consumed at least 8 oz. of the smooth and rich tasting crustacean (give or take an ounce or two) from each one.  The gaps in our bellies were filled with cod cakes, crab cakes, baked halibut, smoked salmon, fresh mussels and about one dozen varities of seafood chowder (every one of them a winner)!  The only seafood they can't hold a candle to are Texas Gulf coast shrimp.  There, we have them beat!  Oh, I musn't forget their dessert specialty... raisin pie (to die for) washed down with Alexander Keith's Pale Ale.

To enlarge the lobster to its full 2 pounds, and to see other photos of delicious Maritimes seafood and beautiful scenery, just click on the lobster.  (YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN)

John Burgess Webb

beautiful pictures of the canadian maritimes;always wanted to go to nova scotia.the vikings and scots must have felt home there.

glad beau made it back;i love that part of the country.ive taken that straight shot up through alabama twice and loved it.good road when i drove;oldsmobile 455 pegged out till we hit the curves up to roanoke.the ridges are timeless;people live in those "hollers"like they did a hundred years ago.i really feel at home in virginia,the trees and the fireplace smoke,just the history that makes itself felt.i have lots of ancesters from that part of the country.richmond was one of my favorite places,stayed there the last time on the way to tysons corner in fairfax co.good memories for me and i bet it was fine on pegasus.

Teddie Jordan

The power of words! Jan makes me hungry, Burge gives me the smell and sight of fireplace smoke wafting up out of a Blue Ridge holler, Beau the sound of thousands of hogs like rolling thunder, and several stories of railroads and hotels bring back memories and stories of both from my youth and my traveling days. Thanks all.

And Paige, congratulations to you and to your  grandson. He's got a great name and he will do well. My mom went to Tarleton, and I had a great aunt Bessie who lived in Stephenville for years and had a lady's clothing store right on the square, and we used to enjoy visiting that charming town. He will like it.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

BroBeau, thank you, thank you and thank you for taking me on your wonderful patriot journey.  I felt like I was right there with you.  Amazing trip and what an accomplishment, you should be very proud.  Cannot wait to talk to you more at Fudd's tomorrow night!

Speaking of trains - it brought back all the stories my aunt (that passed away at 95 a few years ago) would tell me.  She loved trains and even had a huge American Flyer train layout in the attic (high ceiling) in Austin.  My brother and I would climb the disappearing stair case in the hall and enter into another world!!  A child's dream with trains, mountains, bridges, lakes and all!!   She always loved trains and would tell us stories about when she was growing up.  They lived by railroad tracks and the train would make a huge bend near their house -- she said her father (my grandfather - who was a character) would always yell - "Watch out, she's coming sideways!" and they'd all make a run to the barn.  She said it never got old!  Those were the days!

Hope to see eveyone at Fudd's tomorrow!

Hugs,

J

Jim Taylor

We drove by my old house after church yesterday and then by my old Elementary School, Katherine Smith.  Lo and behold the original school buildings are gone. 

Apparently they are doing an "Oak Forest Elementary" style renovation on Katherine Smith as well.  Sure the school was close to 60 years old, but they won't have those buildings left to make into a memorial for all of us geniuses/curmudgeons that went to school there.

Kinda sad.

Paige Talley (Meek)

Hi, Everyone... I have been working long and hard hours which rarely allows me a chance to stop by the Forum, much less get to Fudds. I hear all about it, though, and I do miss seeing ya'll.

Yesterday's storm(s) roared through CS with winds pushing trees in circles. Gust up to 40" and sustained winds fast. I was watching the wind... hmmm can one actually see the wind ... anyway I was watching the tree tops swirl and bend when a loud crack sounded in the neighborhood. A little bit later, another crrrrack and BOOM!!! and then a very loud CRUNCH... OMGosh. I rushed out the front and found the evidence fallen across the next door neighbor's car crushing the windsheild but not the hood. 

Hope ya'll are high and dry, but not hung out to dry!

Hugs from the Pirate in the Wind

Paige