Bike trips past

I have done allot of bike trips and I have always wanted to write about them. I figure this is probably my only chance, so here goes.

One of my favorite trips had to be TX. We had no real destination we just decided to head south and then west. There are trips you plan for and trips you just go out and explore where ever the road takes you. The only plan for this trip was to head out and see how far we could get in 7 days seeing what ever strikes our fancy along the way.

It was summer of 1995. Saturday, 6:30 am, after a restless night we woke up to the sound of the alarm. We are both excited about the ride to come. It's a crisp morning. The bike is packed with everything we need including a tent and sleeping bags. By the time we return home we will have ridden over 3,000 miles. We took our time and stopped to see so many places.

Our first notable stop was the Arch in St. Louis, Mo. There are a few things I am totally afraid of and one of them is heights but this was awesome. That was an experience for me with my fear of heights. Yeah me, skydiving me, I'm scared of heights. The worst part of skydiving for me is the plane ride. I hate small planes!!! Some how it's different after you are out of the plane.

The next stop was Memphis TN. We visited Elvis’s home and then found a motel and checked in. Since we were within walking distance of Beale St., it didn't seem right not to head down town to listen to some blues. There was music everywhere we went. It was really good. Pure, raw talent. Of course we did have a couple too many, but that was the purpose of getting a room and walking. The walk back to the motel is a story of its own which I probably won't tell. Then we stumbled into a motel room. Despite a rough morning after, we were up bright and early the next morning and on the road again.

When we got about half way through MS we rode into a bad storm. We finally found a car wash and rode into one of the stalls for cover. After the rain stopped we found a laundry mat and put on dry cloths and tossed our wet cloths, boots included into a drier.

Going through LA we made a stop in New Orleans and spent the day in the French Quarter and had some real Cajun seafood. We spent most of the next day in town and then headed out late afternoon. We were told that while in the lesser populated areas of LA you should always be looking over your shoulder because there are some French Cajuns that do not like outsiders. We found this to be totally untrue. The people we met were all real nice. It's unbelievable what urban legends you will come across while traveling. We stopped at a nice little Ma & Pa restaurant and had a steak I will never forget. Just wish I could remember the name of the restaurant.

After dinner we rode pretty late into the night. Later than we had planned. It was a dark night with no moon and we could hear the ocean and decided to head down a side road toward the sound of the waves. We rode over a hill that turned out to be a levy. We stopped just short of being hit by a wave. We where still on pavement but the waves were coming right up onto the road. We found out that to continue on to Galveston we would have to travel by Ferry. During our 1 hr wait for the ferry we were practically eaten alive by mosquitoes. Lesson learned...always carry bug spray!

When we got into Galveston Bay it was pretty late and rather than get a room we decided to go out to the beach. We spread out a blanket and crashed right there. The sound of the ocean was so peaceful. We enjoyed it so much, we slept in a life guard tower the next night. The life guard tower was a little more private.

The next day when we got up, some homeless people thought we were homeless and new in town. They were telling us where we could get large boxes for shelter and where we could do our laundry for free. They said they knew where there was a laundry room with a broken lock. We thanked them and told them we where on vacation and we just enjoyed sleeping on the beach. We talked for a while and some of their stories were actually interesting.

We did some exploring around town and stopped at the local supermarket to pick up our traditional beans and wienies for lunch. They have been a tradition since our first bike trip. We eat them cold right from the can at least once during every trip. It started as a joke. While R was preparing me for the "test of my endurance", he told me that we would be sleeping cheap, eating beans from a can and roughing it all the way, riding from can't see to can't see. He wasn't serious, but I was ready for it. I have actually come to look forward to the beans and wienies. We even keep a small can opener in the saddle bags just for them.

It was over 100 degrees that day and while walking into the store I noticed a bike that was just like R's bike and the kick stand was sinking into the asphalt. It looked like it would fall over at any minute. Just inside the entrance to the store there was a steel pole in the center of the entrance that was painted the same color as the wall behind it. Since I was watching to see the bike fall over and not watching where I was going, I walked right into the pole. That damn pole actually echoed out a bonnngggggg. I kid you not, it really did. I could hear people talking to me but I couldn't seem to speak. I just stood there in a daze trying desperately not to pass out. There was a cop walking in behind us and he wanted to call an ambulance. NO WAY! I was not about to spend my vacation in a hospital just so they could say I had a concussion and keep me awake all night. That night we got a room and R was feeling a little rambunctious and started chasing me around the room. (Playfully, of course) I hit my ankle on the metal frame of the bed and it swelled up so bad that I could hardly walk the nest day and couldn't get my boot on.

We stopped in Waco TX the next night for a steak dinner. The cowboys down there apparently don't take to kindly to men beating up on women. They thought R had beaten me up. It was an easy assumption; I was a real sight. My forehead was swelled up and all black and blue. I had a black eye and I was still not able to get my boot on and limping really bad. We heard them say something about Men like that should have the shit beat out of them and started walking towards us. As they were walking our way R said, "honey, you gotta quit starting those bar fights, each time, it just gets worse." I said, "I told you before, I didn't start it, I finished it!" They looked at us and back at each other and didn't know what to think and just walked away.

We headed north to Dallas and then on to Oklahoma City and home through KS and MO. We had been back about a month and I had a car accident. I hit a tree at 60 miles an hour, no seat belt. I hit the steering wheel and split my forehead open clear down into my eye and across my nose. Looking down I noticed the trans pushed up through the floor and when I got out of the car it looked like the motor was where the radio used to be. I grabbed a pair of clean socks that my son had left in my car and held them on my head. I walked over to a farm house and asked to use the phone to call R. They got all excited and insisted on me sitting down while they call an ambulance. Again with the ambulance! I told them I walked there so I figured I was fine, just a broken nose. They finally agree to call R. He gets there and wants to take me to the hospital and I'm pissed because he didn't bring the car trailer. He drags me over to the truck and tells me to look at myself in the door mirror. OK, after seeing myself they won. It took 48 stitches on the outside and I had to go in for surgery the following morning to fix my shattered nose. They took xrays and told me that I fractured my skull on the right side. My head was injured on the left and center from the car accident, so this made me ask how that was possible. They said the fracture looked like it had happened maybe a month before. Damn Pole! The Dr in the emergency room did an amazing job stitching me up. It can all be covered with makeup. Now that the scar is 14 years old, it is hardly noticeable.

Even with a skull fracture and probably an ankle fracture it was still one of my favorite trips.

Remember our troops.

This week is especially busy and emotional. We are having a bon fire party on Sat and I have the wake on Fri and the funeral on Sat for our friend's grandson who was killed in Afghanistan. His body is arriving at the airport from Germany now as I type.

He was hit on the 4Th of Sept. They induced a coma because he had no brain function. They took him off life support on the 11Th after his parents were able to get there and spend some time with him. His organs were donated for other soldiers. It has taken this long to get him home. I don't know if that is because he wanted his organs donated or if it is just how long it takes to go through the military process, maybe both. My heart goes out to his family. I can't stop myself from crying every time I think about it.

My nephew is in the military and came home from a tour in Iraq last Dec. He will be sent out again in Dec or Jan. I heard on the news last night that they are asking for more troops in Afghanistan but the troops they need won't be ready till Jan., so I have a feeling that's where he'll be. Especially since he is in training again. My youngest son is trying to join the Marines. All though I am proud of him for it, I am scared to death.

Even though we are all busy in our daily activities, I hope everyone reading this takes a minute to think about our troops and say a prayer, salute, raise a glass or do what ever you do to wish them and their families well.

Time, where do I get more?

I've been so busy with school I have not been on my bike since Labor day weekend. I sure miss it. Sometimes I think about riding to school on the days that I don't have as many books to carry and then I think about all those crazy driving students flying through the lots and at the same time, busy getting caught up on phone messages and texting. I've come so close to getting run over both on foot and in my car. I'd rather ride in Chicago than the college parking lots. Time is going so fast, I am already at mid terms for this semester. Next semester I am not going to try to be superwoman and I am only going to take 4 classes. Summer semester I think I will only take 1 or 2 Internet courses.

Labor Day weekend ride.

A group of us got together and took a ride to Savanna, IL on Sat. First stop was a hotel to check in. Then on to Poopy's. http://www.poopys.com/ Poopy's is a Biker Bar/Parts store/Grill/Campground/tattoo parlor. You name it, they got it. Then went to The Iron Horse Social Club checked out the band there for a while and decided to ride into IA.

We rode over the MS River on a metal grated bridge. We had to stop in the middle of the bridge for construction and that made a couple people a little nervous looking down through the bridge and into the water.

I remember the first time I rode over that bridge on my own bike. It was some what intimidating. I was riding a Sportster and they have that skinny front tire that makes it a little wobbly. I don't notice it that much now on my Low Rider. Either that, or I just ride better. One of the guys was voicing his fear so we had to really give him some grief. After all, isn't that what friends are for?

Then we headed south to Fulton and crossed back over the river and headed back to Poopy's. One of the guys decided to camp for the night and par-take in the all night party. By camping he could get totally shit-faced and not worry about getting back to the motel. He said he headed for bed about 2:30 am and found some guy that he had never seen before, passed out in his tent. Can't understand why someone would want to claim this tent. That is my other half trying to help put it up. It didn't look much better after they were done. The rest of us chose to sleep in a bed.

The next day we headed up Blackjack RD to Galena and then took Stagecoach Rd To Nora, IL. Blackjack Rd and Stagecoach Rd both look like they would be really nice in the fall when the leaves are changing. I would have liked to get some pictures but our lead guy didn't stop. Some time I will have to make the ride alone just to get some shots and take in the scenery.

They were suppose to have a pig roast, band and car show in Nora, but they had to cancel the pig roast and the band, but they did have a pretty good car show.

We spent the night in Stockton and came home Mon morning.

One more American Hero, gone.

In my blogs, Our weekend, the good, the bad and the ugly! and The long weekend! I introduced you to my friend I call Harvey. I am sad to say that Harvey has lost his grand son to the war in Afghanistan. He died this morning in Germany of head wounds he suffered on Friday. Only 20 years old. They had him on life support till his mother could get there. She is staying with him till she can bring him back home.

When I was at the hospital visiting Harvey, His daughter was there too. All 3 of her sons were in the military and she was worried about her youngest in Afghanistan. She was telling me how she was in constant fear of something happening to one of them. She said she had not heard from her youngest in two weeks and was not sleeping. A couple days later he emailed her and told her he had been out on a mission and was fine. This time the email didn't come.

I have heard that, by the time this war is over, we will all know someone who was touched by it.

Short post

Today in my communication class we where assigned partners for an essay we have to write. The essay we have to write is suppose to be based on something interesting about our partner, something that you would not guess just by looking at that person. I was partnered with a kid that sleeps in class and I can't imagine there is anything interesting to get an essay out of.

He probably thought he got a raw deal getting the oldest person in class as a partner. I have already sent him an e-mail summarizing a few of my experiences; powder puff racing, skydiving and riding. I still have not heard anything from him. He's probably sleeping!!!

Am I nuts or what?

We all know I started school a week ago last Monday. It's probably the best thing I've done in a long time....but did I really have to go full force into it like I did? I'm finding out the hard way that 8 classes are a bit much. I study till midnight and I'm beat. The professor called on me to answer a simple question and I completely went blank. Talk about feeling stupid.....I sat there looking at him like he was speaking a different language. DUHHH!!!!! I honestly could not, for the life of me understand what he was asking me, let alone answer him. It was in our homework and I got it right there, but this morning it was gone!

I just want to go back to work and the sooner I get this done the sooner I can find work that will pay a little more than min wage. I understand that I can't expect to make the money I made after 33 years with a company but is $15/hr really too much to ask? Keep in mind that's close to $10/hr less than I was making. Someone thought I was worth it to keep me around that long. Most of my learning is from experience but that don't count for anything any more. There are so many people with degrees that are out of work, employers are only looking for degrees. As soon as the economy picks up, they will loose those people to better paying jobs.

OK, I vented, now I think I will try to get a nap and start all over again.