Well it's official,I can still ride!!!!!!!

In the late fall of 2003 I made a ride I would never forget, a ride that opened my eyes to my true riding style, the birth ride of my long distance riding future,  I did my first Dragon Run!  Now up to this point I had done a few "long" rides.  I rode my 85 Wing to Tennessee and back, a journey of 550 miles each way and thought that was a real distance ride.  I was soon to learn different.  In order to understand the true significance of this "Dragon Run" phenomenon I should really tell the story of that first Dragon Run, the beginning of it all.

It was the last Wednesday of October, 2003.  I was sitting at a dinner with the Goldwing group we were a part of just talking rides and what would be next for a good ride.  I had heard about this infamous Dragon and had a great desire to do this road, but it was clear out in Tennessee and the chance to take the needed time to get there was not going to happen soon, after all, to travel the distance to get there, some 750 or so miles, would take days, then there would be the ride itself then the return ride.  The realistic time line to me at the time was that this was a ride that would take a week to do, and a week was just not on the timeline for me.  Many of the members had ridden the Dragon and I had heard how fantastic it was.  I guess that is how the subject came up that night.  Someone was talking about riding the Dragon during a summer rally in the Knoxville area.  This internationally famous eleven mile long road that lured riders with it's 318 curves in it's short distance seemed to entice me to want to challenge it.

The conversation came around to how unseasonably warm the upcoming weekend was going to be and somehow I made the comment that it would be a good time to ride to the Dragon.  I really wasn't expecting anyone to take the statement as serious, after all, it was a long ways to get there.  Two of my riding friends did take the statement serious.  Robert, a veteran distance rider was kind of the catalyst in the rapidly developing plan.  He told Tom and myself that this ride could be done over the course of a weekend, and we believed him.  Neither Tom or myself had ever taken on a ride of this distance in such a short period of time but Robert enticed us to the point of eagerly agreeing to make the journey.  The three of us agreed to leave Kansas City after we all got off work Friday and head east.  It was going to happen!



From the left: Tom, myself and Robert at the overlook on the Dragon, 2003

 I really didn't give a whole lot of thought to the upcoming ride on Thursday morning, after all I was at work and stayed very busy, until I got a phone call.  The two friends that I was going to ride with Friday evening decided to change the plan.  The phone call came in about 2 pm and was from Tom.  The jest of the conversation went something like this:  Tom: " what are you doing?"  The correctly simple reply on my end was "the same thing as you, I'm working."  I could tell by the pause, accompanied by the chuckle that I was working and he was not.  I had to ask him what he was doing, better yet where was he.  Turns out that Robert and Tom had decided to turn the little weekend trip into a bona-fide Iron Butt ride and had left town Thursday morning, intent on riding 1000 miles to earn Tom the coveted Iron Butt Association Saddlesore 1000 certificate.  I felt my heart drop, knowing that they had gone on and my opportunity to go to the Dragon had gone with them, after all, there was no way I was going to attempt a ride of that magnitude by myself.  That would just be insane, right? 

The weather Friday started out beautiful!  It was looking like the weather guessers got it right but the team-mates I was going to ride with were gone and I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on this kind of ride without someone else along.  The day went on and the weather began to take a dive.  The temperatures began to fall and it began to drizzle.  I was beginning to take all this dismal and now rapidly cooling weather as a sign that I was just not supposed to go.  To top it off, I got real busy at the shop.  Normally I would do an average of two clutch jobs in a month, well I did two in one day.  Clutch jobs are not hard, they are just strenuous.  The day came closer to a close and I had pretty much decided that I was just going to go home and relax when I got the phone call. 

The morning sky in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the early morning hours

It was close to 330 or 4 when Tom called.  I was informed that he and Robert were in Gatlinburg Tennessee.  In an almost dare type statement Tom doubted that I would make the trip.  Well, anyone that has ever been around me knows how well I handle a dare, I am telling you that I handled this one the same as the rest, I accepted it!  Tom told me the name of the hotel they were in and then put a little more challenge in the quest. They wanted to be riding early and I needed to be in Gatlinburg by 630 am EASTERN TIME! 

I left work and with the support of my wife I left the Kansas City area at 630 pm CENTRAL TIME that Friday evening.  I rode in the cold and mist all the way to MT Vernon Illinois.  I was really wondering about my sanity at this point.  I was getting cold and miserable, not to mention that as I headed south on I-57 I started noticing another hazard I was not really used to, DEER!  There were deer carcasses everywhere!  Now it was cool, drizzly and I could meet up with a deer at anytime.  Just when I thought nothing else could impede this trip I got a message across the CB.  Apparently I had not considered the possibility of rain.  The challenge kept echoing in my head and I became more intent on getting to Gatlinburg. 

I neared Nashville and the stars began to shine, the temps started to warm and I was loosing my desire to give up.  It looked more like I was going to make it.  I trekked eastward on I-40, feeling better by the minute, except for the now present feeling of beginning to get a little tired.  I had been up since 6 am Friday morning and was starting to feel the beginnings of fatigue.  I made a stop at a little cafe and got a cup of coffee.  I fueled up and continued on my way.  Well, I had crossed into warm air, the sky was clear and I was feeling fine....until I started up the Cumberland slope.  It got rapidly cold and the temperature change combined with the humidity and the heat from the engine caused the windshield as well as my face shield to fog over rapidly.  I flipped up the face shield and stood on the foot pegs so I could see over the windshield.



The bikes in Paducah, Ky



The sun was just beginning to lighten the eastern sky when I turned south to head into Gatlinburg.  I arrived at the hotel and knocked on the door at 630 am EASTERN TIME!  I felt pretty good, I had just made a solo ride of 881 miles in eleven hours!  I felt I was officially a motorcycle rider.  Tom informed me that he and Robert were going to grab a bite of breakfast.  I realized that I was not the most alert person around at this point so I just used Tom's room for a brief nap.  One hour later we were all on our bikes to head out and ride the Dragon.  We rode in the mountains all day and headed west as the sun was beginning to set.  We rode until 10 pm that night at which time we were all tired and decided to stop in Paducah, Kentucky for the night.

I had done it!  I rode the Dragon, I made the trip and I had discovered that I really enjoyed distance riding.  This ride was a preface to what was to come.  My saddlesore 1000, my bun burner gold and my many trips around the country.  This was also the beginning of an annual event, My fall Dragon run, a ride that has happened every fall since 2003 with the exception of 2009 (more on this later).



Tom, Randy and Franklin at a scenic overlook near Sparta Tennessee, Dragon Run 2010



This ride has progressed to a more scenic ride but it is still a ride that covers a lot of miles in a short period of time.  The 2010 ride was especially monumental because it gave me back my confidence in distance and curvy riding.  When I had my accident in 09, there was a lot of self doubt as to whether or not I would ever be able to ride in the fashion I was used to.  On October 22 I set out with two friends and my oldest son to see if my damaged body and spirit could do this ride.  We rode just shy of 2000 miles over some of the most challenging roads I could find and I am proud to say I made it!  Not only did I make it, I didn't have any more aches or pains than those that were with me.  I don't know if the guys with me could tell or not but after completing the Dragon I thanked them over the CB for coming along.  No big deal except I did so with a huge lump in my throat.  I really did not realize just how much being able to do this kind of ride meant to me.  I literally had tears of joy in my eyes, I guess because I had found out that I was back, I could still ride, maybe not as comfortable as before but I could make the distance!  I came back to Kansas City with the confidence in myself that I so dearly needed.  I came back realizing that I can still ride!



My oldest son and me at the Dragon Resort 2010



I HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH FUN SINCE MY MOTORCYCLING DAYS!

I must say that the decision to bring the car along was most likely one of my best travel decisions to date! When we had only the truck there was always the concern that if something happened to the truck we would be stranded until Brutus was back in commission. I had no problems driving anywhere but there are many that have a problem driving properly and the likelihood of having an accident was a very real threat. That, coupled with the fact that on it's best day Brutus got 15 miles per gallon at approximately $3 per gallon whereas the Mustang consistently gets 28 plus at $2.50 allowed us to have far more fun sightseeing.

Brutus does his job very well, just not very efficiently. 
Really can't complain, overall mpg for the trip was 9.5

But that just can't compare to the 30 mpg and the 
wind in your hair effect that this has!

We got to Abita Springs and even though there were no Mardi Gras parades the city still had Mardi Gras celebrations. Since the floats utilized in the parades stay in tact year round the city arranged for the floats to be staged in the city park and we did not one but two " drive-through" parades.

Just a few of the Mardi Gras sights

   In my previous blog I mentioned that we escaped the snow-mageddon of Texas, well we just missed the onslaught of snow in Louisiana. The park we were at never saw snow and the coldest temp we saw was 25 degrees but just 25 miles west the interstate was closed due to snow and the temps were in the teens. I was raised mostly in this part of the country and have many relatives that live just an hour north of the New Orleans area so we made a couple visits up that way to see them. Cindy loves to play Dominoes with my aunts so we made sure we got up there for one of their weekly Domino dates. While she played I got to visit with my uncle Bobby and catch up on old times. My two uncles, Billy and Bobby, played a very important role in making me the person I am today. From them I learned a very strong work ethic and also learned that I can do anything and solve most any mechanical situation if I just apply common sense and knowledge along with determination and the belief that I can do whatever lies before me, for that I will be forever thankful. I would like to mention another high point of our time in Abita, my best friend, Tom and his wife Leigh Ann came to the campground for a few nights and the four of us were unleashed on the community of Covington and Abita Springs. we mostly just terrorized the great food establishments in the area but we are planning a full scale attack next year so look out! Just imagine the four of us being unleashed during Mardi Gras. ( I can just see those that know us shaking their heads in complete dis-belief, knowing that the only terror we caused was killing bugs with our motorcycles)

The next phase of our outing would take us to Robertsdale, Alabama for 3 weeks and the gulf shores area of Alabama.  The weather was very agreeable so we got in a lot of beach time in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores as well as Pensacola and the surrounding area.  We toured Ft. Morgan and several other places, again thanks to having the Mustang.  It was really fun to cruise the beaches with the top down and the air conditioner going, yes, it was that warm.  We only went to Pensacola once because the short way across the bay bridge was  out  of commission due to some damages caused during the September hurricane and the only other way to the beach area was a very long and time consuming detour.

We finished up our time in the Gulf Shores area and began our trek back to our home base of   Hollister by going back to Abita Springs for a couple weeks.

Hello from Abita Springs, Louisiana    

About 13 feet long, right alongside our air boat tour

Cindy holding our guides pet gator

Cypress roots, this is how the cypress gets oxygen

We 100% recommend this tour!

What more can I say?????

Some shots from Fort Morgan, Alabama

Never piss off a little lady with a big gun......

  While we were here this time we decided to drive to Gibson, Louisiana  to check out the newest addition to the OCP properties .  It was quite an interesting park and the area caused  me to justify adding it to our planned travels next year.  While in the area we went to Big Al's Seafood in Houma where we had a fantastic local meal that included fried alligator.  I have to admit that I love fried alligator now, it has a fantastic taste and texture so you can bet it will be on my food radar next trip.  Our time back at Abita also allowed us the opportunity to go on an air boat adventure in the nearby town of Lafitte, Louisiana. We had done a swap tour 4 years ago on the Pearl River swamp area that was a lot of fun and this air boat swamp tour was  certainly no disappointment!  We had a great guide and got to see some rather large gators up close.  I would definitely urge you to go on and air boat tour if you ever get the chance

We left Abita and continued on our homeward journey.  Our next stop was a couple nights in historic Vicksburg, Mississippi.  While we didn't do a lot of touring we couldn't help but see a lot of civil war history while driving around this great town on the mighty Mississippi river.  Next stop would be Maumelle, Arkansas, just west of Little Rock, Arkansas.  

We stayed at the state park campground here and I have  to admit that I was  quite  impressed by this state park.  It was very clean, very nice sites and just very impressive.  One of the biggest highlights of getting into this parks was some of the houses we went past to get there.  There are some HUGE houses and ranches along the route to this  park with fantastic architecture and beautiful pastures.  Just plain beautiful!

We got back to the Branson/Hollister area and proceeded to get back to our summer "stationary" life back at our lakeside sight.  Cindy was  excited to get busy on her craft room and I was eager to get the deal finalized on the bass boat I had made arrangements to buy.  

I know you won't believe this but I have already sat down and mapped out our journey for next year, a journey I'm sure will be edited numerous times before its final layout but still a new  plan for a new year.  

I'll try to do a few updates  during our summer here at Hollister but with a bass boat and my duties of making snow cones, time will be limited, after all, just because we are stationary doesn't mean we can't still have some fun.

Until next time.....remember Adventure Awaits!

Our stationary lakeside front yard

A view from the boat, just cruising and chillin.

Innovations, Excitement and Some Fantastic Changes!

Well it's a little past January 2 and we have been on the road having a good time! I want to begin this blog with a huge congratulations to my wife for a great accomplishment, an accomplishment that will now forbid me from accusing her of getting lost going around the block, an accomplishment that has enabled us to have more fun when we travel, She has successfully navigated this trip with her GPS and without assistance from me (as in she has always followed). She has learned to use the GPS and now just takes off ahead of me on her own. The day she drove right through the heart of Houston without any issues and without my help was the day that she convinced me that she can do anything she sets her mind to.  With that being said....on to the travels!

Cindy with Krystal Blue in Ashdown, Arkansas

We departed Hollister on the 9th of January and having already decided that there was no need to drive excessive amounts in a day (unlike my motorcycling days) had ours days journey set on Alma, Arkansas for a night then on to Ashdown, Arkansas, where we would stay for a week.  On this first leg of the trip Cindy followed me and since her Mustang was far quicker and more maneuverable than my truck with 42 feet of home behind it, that night we decided that she should just drive to the next destination and we would meet up there.  I have to say that doing this even made the driving easier for me because with her following me I would try to time the stop lights so that we would both make it and so on. Our home is 13 feet, 6 inches tall and this made it difficult for anyone following to see the lights or traffic that lie ahead. I am proud to say that upon my arrival at Millwood Landing RV Resort in Ashdown, there she was.  We both celebrated this achievement and agreed that she should just go at her own pace from now own. 

I got to do a little fishing while we were at Millwood and managed to land one decent sized sunfish. I also had a complete bonehead event that I am sure (at least I hope I'm not alone in this) has happened to others.  The first night at Millwood I decided to not hook up the sewer connection so therefore the tank valves were all closed.  Well, I rinsed a glass in the kitchen sink and got called away or distracted or just simply had an old man moment, either way I managed to awaken to a really strange chirping noise and step out of bed onto a wet floor! No damage done, just a kick myself moment for being such an airhead.

This one was about the size of my hand.

Well, other than my own stupidity, we had a good week at Millwood, mostly just chilled and relaxed then we headed out for our next destination, Huntsville State Park in Huntsville, Texas. This was very close to where my brother lived so it would be a great opportunity to spend some time with him and his wife.  Normally we would just set up in his yard for our visit but I decided this year to go to the state park.  The sites were ample in size but the amount of money it cost to stay there weighed against the amenities offered I can say that we will most likely not stay at this park again, we will instead spend the same amount or most likely less money and have more amenities to enjoy.  Huntsville was a good week, just not anything to write home about. The weather was rather dreary for the most part so we didn't even get to do any cruising in the convertible.

Our site at Huntsville State Park

We left Huntsville and headed on to our next destination, one that we were both looking forward to because it was on the Texas Coast and we were going to connect with some friends from our time at Basswood, Rod and Kay.  The drive south was un-eventful except for the hard headwind for most of the trip.  Brutus did a great job as far as power but that wind killed my fuel mileage.  I guess a second thing that would be noteworthy is that Cindy made it to the Copano Bay RV Resort with absolutely zero problems while I, the one that always was talking about her getting lost, made a wrong turn and had to backtrack in order to get to the campground. Now keep in mind the hard headwind and this wrong turn, they become a humorous punch to the face in a bit.

We got in a lot of convertible time on this leg of the trip, cruising from Rockport, Texas to Port Aransas, Mustang Island and Corpus Christi. We got together with Rod and Kay for a day out on the island.  They gave us the grand tour via golf cart with Rod revealing one of his favorite activities on the island, belt sander racing!  That looked to be a very fun and economical way to get your competitive rush!  The RV resort was extremely nice with concrete pads that were level, a nice heated pool (haven't figured out why they had a heated pool in south Texas but they did), We made several trips to Port Aransas and the island, got to play in the ocean and just have a whole lot of fun.  We headed out of there just in time, just a few days later that part of Texas, as well as the entire state of Texas saw record breaking low temps accompanied by SNOW.  Talk about good timing! 

Remember the hard wind and wrong turn I mentioned earlier?  Well it helped to create another stupid moment first for me.  When we get to our site, I unhook the truck and parked it for the duration.  On the next to the last day of our stay I drive into town and fuel up the truck so that I don't have to deal with it loaded.  I knew that I was very low on fuel from the aforementioned events but didn't realize just how low.  You guessed it, I got about a mile from the campsite and ran out of fuel.  I walked all the way back, got the car and proceeded to go buy a fuel can (that now resides in the back of the truck full of fuel) got fuel, took the car back to the site, walked back to the truck and then back to our site.

Our home for a week in Rockport, Texas, Copano Bay RV Resort

The "heated" pool

Krystal on the ferry to Port Aransas

Krystal on "Mustang" Island

A thousand year (plus) oak tree. Big tourist attraction here

Cindy holding Rosy Boa at botanical gardens

Some of the beauty at the gardens (the flowers aren't bad either)

Toes in the sand, Mustang Island

some beauty (and a statue) botanical gardens

A belt sander drag strip

Great friends, Rod and Kay

One night at Boomtown RV Resort, Vidor, Texas
This was a stop over and the campground was one 
of the nicest I have seen. Definitely on our radar
next year for a longer stay!

 

From Vidor we headed east, on to Abita Springs RV Resort in Abita Springs, Louisiana.  Normally we would go to all sorts of Mardi Gras activities while here but thanks to the covid 19 BS, those activities were greatly reduced.  I'll do another chapter about the good times we did have here including a visit from some more great friends soon in my next blog.  Thanks for reading and please follow me if you enjoyed this.