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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...
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