" Wisdom is worth more than silver, it makes you much richer than gold"

(Proverbs 3:14)

Cindy and I recently completed a trip over the Thanksgiving holiday, a trip that we enjoyed immensely.  My brother has lived in Texas for many years and other than seeing him at a funeral, we just haven't kept in touch.  Neither one of us are really very social and we are both very independent.  I had told him many times that we were going to come visit but I was always able to come up with a reason not to.  

With the passing of my brother-in-law just a few months ago (he was only a few days older than I am) I kind of got to evaluating what is really important in life.  If you have followed my blog, you know that an accident just over four years ago pretty much depleted my income and eventually bankrupted us.  I made it a point to scrimp and save every spare penny I could so that we could make a trip this Thanksgiving that allowed me to go see my brother, my relatives on my Mom's side in south Mississippi, then go to central Tennessee to visit my Mom and sisters.  

My brother is a true artist!  He can make anything you can imagine out of wood, unlike me.  My only product from wood is toothpicks.  I marveled at some of the items he showed me while I was visiting.  The amazement was compounded by hearing the story behind each accomplishment.  My brother is not a showman but tells sincere stories of his creations, the history from start to finish.  I am putting a couple pictures in this blog to show you what I mean.  I am going to tell you as much as I know about the two items. 

To truly appreciate this model of a track hoe you have to hear the events that brought about it's creation.  While at a dinner with people from his work, people that know that my brother has wisdom and insight and actually can "see" things in wood that no one else sees, one of them was holding a chopstick.  He looked at Bob (finally used his name) and asked just what he saw in that chopstick.  Bob's answer was that he saw a track hoe.  Then came the challenge to show the track hoe.  Bob sat there and with only his leatherman, from the time they ordered their meal to the time it was served, he made the track hoe you see above.  He used sugar and water as glue and spared no detail.  Even the bucket is hollowed out and the boom actually works.  The object you see next to the hoe is a quarter just so you can get an idea of the scale.  

Bob has a coffee table in his house that I just could not get over.  It was about the prettiest piece of furniture I have ever seen.  Bob told of how he took a fallen cedar log from a recent hurricane and formed it from log to table.  The pictures do not do it justice.  It looks like the paint must be a half inch thick.  You don't look at this table, you look into this table.

 I spent a couple days with Bob and Nancy, just enjoying some time with my brother.  He took me around and showed me many more of his projects.  I don't think I would ever tire of looking at what he has accomplished.





We left Bob's and headed east to visit my relatives in southern Mississippi.  The last time I saw these relatives was also at a funeral.  My aunts and uncles on Mom's side had a lot to do with me becoming who I am.  Between them and my Grandma and Grandpa, these were my examples of how to live.  My dad taught me a lot, mostly about my trade and survival, these relatives taught me about life and caring about others.  I learned how to have fun around these relatives.  I learned about good feelings from them.  My inspiration for writing this actually came to me while I was reading a book written by my Aunt Rie (southern for Marie).  I saw this verse while reading her book and it planted a seed in my heart to write this adventure.

We spent a couple days having a great visit with the aunts and uncles then headed on up to central Tennessee to visit with Mom and my sisters, joined by my brother-in-law.  We all had a great Thanksgiving dinner together, Mom, my sisters and my sister's kids and grand kids.  One of the reasons I wrote this under the heading of wisdom and value is because of something that happened while I was at Mom's.
I may have inadvertently upset some relatives while I was there.  I had no intention of doing so but sometimes things happen that set off a course of events that end up leading to hurt feelings.  I want to thank God that I have the wisdom to realize that I may have done this and pray that if I hurt anyone they will forgive me.  I felt badly the entire way home over what had happened.

To bring this back into perspective of the title, I don't know why but I felt that I had been given the wisdom to make this trip.  Sometimes you never know if this will be the last time I am able to talk to any of these relatives face to face again or if I'll be able to talk to them with both of us on this side of the dirt.  The time we have on this earth is not guaranteed and unless we take the time to appreciate those we love, waiting may be too late.  I feel at ease, I know that should any of us pass, I had the wisdom to realize that family is important and even though it was financially difficult, the richness I got from seeing and visiting my relatives is worth more than any gold or silver that could come my way.

I hope and pray that my kids and grand kids stay close and hold sacred the value of family.  When I pass, I pray that there be no disputes between my sons.  I pray that they realize that having a brother means being a brother and no matter what happens in life that they never let anything come between them as brothers.  I wish for my sons and their families that when I am gone they will pass on to their kids that this old man loved his family and placed more value in them than any amount of silver or gold could ever come close to purchasing.

In closing I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, may God bless.

October 29, 2003 The Beginning...

Cindy and I had been riding with the Eastern Kansas Tour Riders for over a year by this time.  We had made many great new friends and had ridden several short, exciting group rides with them.  There was one member, in particular, that I really liked to talk with and dream of doing some of the things he had done on a motorcycle, Robert.  I would sit and listen to him tell of his road adventures and the rides he had been on much like a child would listen to a fairy tale.  Robert had been everywhere on his motorcycle and painted such a great picture with his stories that one could only hope to someday have such an adventure as those he spoke of.  Someone else that seemed equally caught up when Robert would speak was my best friend, Tom.  It seemed that Tom and I always tried to sit near Robert at our weekly club dinner rides.  We both would sit there and envision ourselves on the ride with Robert.  October 29, 2003 was one of these dinners and, for me, the beginning of what would be my turn to live and create some of the most fantastic travel memories of my life! 
In Kansas City the weather is simply put, unpredictable.  There is no real pattern to it.  We can have today's weather of sunny and warm and tomorrow be cold and covered with snow.  This particular October day found us blessed with a very warm, sunny day.  The forecast for the weekend was more late summer/early fall type predictions than the normal cold and dreary commonly expected for this time of year.  We had a large turn out for this dinner ride, in great part, due to this fantastic weather.  Tom and I sat and listened to Robert tell of the fantastic "Dragon" in the mountains of Tennessee that made its way into the beauty of North Carolina with its alluring 318 curves in just 11 miles.  I had read of this road in some of my motorcycling magazines and had dreamed of trailering my bike there someday and riding the Dragon.  Yes, I said trailering.  It was a long way to the Dragon and quite honestly I had not convinced myself that I could ride that far on a motorcycle.  Life was about to make a very dramatic change!  I was about to have one of those moments when my mouth would suddenly develop it's own course of action without first consulting my usually analytical mind.  The conversation between myself, Robert and Tom went something like this:
Robert: "We (referring to himself, Tom and me) should ride to the Dragon together someday."
Tom: "Man, that would be awesome!"
Me (remember, mouth in action before brain engaged): "The forecast is good for this weekend, let's leave Friday after work and do it!"
There was a couple problems with my statement.  Problem number one was that this was a one way ride, just to get to the area of well over 750 miles.  Now, take into account that we would ride once we got there and we would all have to be back at work Monday morning.  I had never ridden that far in a day before.  I had never been on a road as challenging as the Dragon and had never really ridden in the mountains.  I have driven in the mountains and had a very good indication of how tricky the roads could be to maneuver and felt quite comfortable on mountain roads in a car or in an 18 wheeler, wasn't quite sure about a motorcycle.  Thanks mouth, I think you may have just lead me to something that I would fail at, and I do not like to fail.
I sat back, surprised at the words from my mouth, subconsciously hoping that maybe, just maybe, they had not heard what had spouted from my lips.  They had heard.  Immediately the conversation switched from "we should"  to here's what we will do". 
I think Tom and I pretty much in harmonious synchronization looked "lovingly" at our respective spouses and asked "can I go on a ride with Robert this weekend?"  Neither spouse thought that was a real unusual request and granted us our request, then asked where we would be going.  Both of them had looks of total wonder when they found out we were doing a weekend ride to Tennessee.
Now I am really obligated.  My mouth has surely killed me this time.  Since it was my idea, there was no way I was going to chicken out of this, no matter how much my brain tried to convince me this was not a good idea.  The three of us immediately got out a map (dinner, forget dinner, this was far more important) and agreed that Gatlinburg, Tennessee would be a fantastic place to begin our adventure.  We agreed to leave after I got off work Friday and head out.
I went to work Thursday with a feeling of pride.  I was about to ride to the Dragon and spend some time riding in the Great Smoky Mountains.  I was about to have a "Robert" motorcycle adventure.  My co-worker, having been an over the road truck driver, introduced me to a reality that I had lost sight of.  It was over 750 miles to Gatlinburg.  If we were going to ride once we got there and be back (another 750 miles, at least), that meant I would be on my motorcycle at least 25 to 30 hours.  I had to be back at work Monday morning at 7 am and performing the task of auto mechanic while sleep walking was not safe.  He worded it a lot different but that was the message.  Wow!  I hadn't thought about all that.  None the less, my mouth had gotten me in this and I had to do it, after all, it was possible, right?
Friday morning came and the excitement was just indescribable.  I showed up for work at 7am and got busy.  Being an auto mechanic is a very unpredictable job.  Some days each task is a simple one, some days require more mind work than actual physical labor, and then there are the Friday's like the one I was about to have.  This was to be a very physical day.  I ended up performing not just one but two clutch installations!  Now the thing to remember here is that I was of the mindset that I did not need a transmission jack when doing these type of jobs.  I just lifted the transmissions out and back in.  That was easier and that was the way a young, fit guy would do it.  Transmission jacks were for the weak.  I was in the process of my second clutch when I got the phone call....
"Hey Frank, what are you doing?"  It was Tom on the other end and I could tell from the tone of his voice he was not working.  There was the hint of joy in his voice.
Now I have to interject here that the weather in Kansas City on Thursday was good but the weather on Friday started out more like June than the end of October but deteriorated very rapidly so that by noon I was looking at a very cloudy sky with temperatures rapidly falling.  This was not what I was expecting, and quite honestly, neither was the next thing I heard.
"Man, I'm working, just like you are, right?" I replied, even though my gut told me he was not at work.  "We're still on for leaving this evening, right?  Tom, just where are you?"
Amongst the many things that intrigued Tom and I about Robert was that Robert was a member of the Iron Butt Association, an organization that was all about long distance riding.  The minimum qualifier to become a member of this elite group was you had to do a documented and witnessed ride of no less than 1000 miles in less than 24 hours.  Robert had done this more than once.  This was one of the quests that Tom and I had talked about many times, and would someday do.
"Robert and I are in (honestly I don't remember where he said he was, I just know he wasn't anywhere near Kansas City) on our way to Gatlinburg, the long way around." 
What?  Seems that the weather was too nice Thursday and Tom and Robert had a far more flexible work schedule than I did, end result, Tom and Robert had taken off Thursday and headed out on an official Iron Butt Saddlesore 1000 so that Tom could get his official membership in the Iron Butt Association.  This really changed the stakes.  This meant that I would have to ride to Gatlinburg by myself.  To really make matters more dismal, it was now starting to drizzle outside and the temperature was now in the low 40's, not the upper 60's like the beginning of the day. Tom sensed my mood change. 
"You're not going to come now are you?"
"I don't know, I am tired, having two heavy jobs in one day and the weather is becoming quite miserable, I don't know right now."
"I'll give you a call when we get there and check in.  Got to go, talk to ya later."
I could bow out and not feel bad about not going on a trip that was my idea.  They would understand, I was physically tired, and too in-experienced to make such a trip by myself so yea, I had a legitimate out.  I had almost convinced myself to not go by the time I got home, sometime around 530 or so.  I was really down, I had been looking forward to at least attempting to do this and now it seemed that it just wasn't meant to be. 
I was greeted by my loving wife, a woman that can read me better than I could read any printed page.  She sensed my depressed mood and was trying to assure me that I should go ahead and make the trip, then the phone rang, a phone call with a challenge that would be the beginning of my motorcycling future!
"Hey man, how's it going?  The weather get any better?" Tom was sounding a bit tired but I could hear in his voice that he had accomplished the ride and was not boasting but wanted to convey his victory.
"Weather sucks here.  Cold and drizzling, I don't know.  Where are you?" I asked, trying to sound interested but not too, holding my feeling of disappointment back.
"We're in Gatlinburg!  I did my Saddlesore 1000.  We are going to get some food and then rest." 
I hesitated to answer, then came the challenge.
"You are not going to come are you?"
Challenge?  What challenge?  That question doesn't sound like a challenge.  Oh, but it was.  It wasn't his words or the way he said them but my ears heard it as a challenge!
"Sure I'm coming!  Give me the name of your hotel and I'll see you in the morning!" 
There goes that running mouth without prior brain engagement again!
We kind of bounced back and forth on no you're not with my yes I am for a bit.  Finally I told Tom I had to get going. 
I was mounted on my motorcycle and finally headed out of Kansas City at 630 pm, central time.  The weather was miserable!  I thought more than once during the trek across Missouri about turning around and just quitting.  The weather radio on my bike kept telling me that this was what I had to look forward to all the way to St. Louis, maybe even beyond.  There would be no disgrace is playing the safety card and just going back home.  If you know me, you know that I don't comprehend the word "quit". 
I rode on across Missouri, adapting to the conditions and starting to feel more excited about what I was doing.  I had driven in worse, in a car or truck.  This was new to me.  Riding in the elements that were not shielded from me.  Exposed to feel the cold and dampness.  No, I was going to meet this challenge!
The ride slowly got better.  I proceeded across interstate 64 and as I neared Mt Vernon Illinois, I could see some stars.  I headed south on interstate 57 and the further south I went, the warmer it got.  This was going pretty good!  I began to forget the miserable conditions from earlier in the day and was starting to get into this ride.  I was monitoring the CB radio, never a bad idea when you are trying to make some time.  The CB talk soon took on an avenue that I really didn't like, the talk of rain ahead!
I was more accustomed to riding in the rain than in my "rookie" days and the rain itself did not bother me.  The thought of rain and the fact that I was getting tired did bother me.  I kept going, I had come too far to turn back now. 
To my relief, the rain never happened.  The skies cleared and the stars again made themselves brightly visible in the moonlit sky.  I careened down the interstate, again starting to enjoy the ride when I was made aware of another obstacle that I had not thought about.  Now since most of my riding experience up til now had been during the daylight hours I had never really thought much about the sudden appearance of Bambi and the catastrophic results of motorcycle meets deer but as I rode on during the night the high number of deer carcasses that I saw along the interstate suddenly made me aware that this was a force to be reckoned with.  Now, even though I was getting tired, I had to focus and be alert for deer on the highway.
I am glad to report that I did not meet Bambi that night.  The motorcycle and I continued on our way.  The only stops we made were for fresh fuel for my machine and a fluid exchange for me.  I rode on through Nashville.  Quite a new experience for me.  I have driven through Nashville and other big cities many times but motorcycling through an unfamiliar big city is a demanding task, even if the traffic is light.  People don't look for motorcycles and in the wee hours of the morning it has been my experience that the majority of the drivers are not very alert, be it due to fatigue or substance, either way, I was on my toes and alert.  I did not want to get squashed after making it this far.
I grabbed interstate 40 out of Nashville and was now headed east.  I was beginning to encounter the foothills of the mountains.  The weather was getting really nice and my adrenaline was still rushing from riding through Nashville.  I was beginning to enjoy this trip!
My 97 Goldwing was equipped with a Tulsa tall windshield.  I had never really given much thought to this when I bought the bike but I was soon to learn that this was not a real good thing all the time.  I have always liked looking over the windshield of my motorcycles but with this one, I had no choice but to look through it.  Not normally a big deal but tonight I learned to not like this tall screen.  I began to make my way up the Cumberland when the combination of engine heat and moisture and surrounding temperature resulted in total loss of visibility through the windshield due to rapid condensation.  I rode on in my upward assent by standing on the foot pegs and looking over the windshield.  This slowed me down a bit but I figured it was better to see where I was going than to to encounter a more solid object at speed. 
My motorcycle and I continued our journey.  Each mile was more proof that I was destined for this kind of riding.  The traveling that has always been in my blood was now meeting up with the excitement of motorcycling and the two together were about to become a positive mindset that would take me places, that would entice me to do things that challenged me and show me a whole new way to enjoy living!
The departure from the interstate onto highway 441 towards Gatlinburg found me very tired.  I was struggling to keep awake and having difficulty maintaining speed.  I managed to get one more burst of energy and made it on into Gatlinburg. 
The sun was starting to change the hue of the eastern sky.  The time was 630 am Eastern time!  I had just covered over 750 miles in eleven hours by myself! (yes I did the math, speed may have been exceeded just a little)  I was excited, to say the least.  I found the hotel that Tom had told me they were at and proudly knocked on the door. 
They could see that I was tired and honestly I really think they were surprised to see me at all.  We made some small talk and since everyone was up, they went to grab some breakfast and I took the opportunity to get about 45 minutes sleep while they were gone. 
This was going to be a great day!  I had been awake since 6 am Friday morning.  I had done some very physical work, I had met the challenge of rotten weather, I had missed the rain, missed Bambi, traveled through Nashville and climbed the mountains, in 45 minutes I would be headed out on the Blue Ridge Parkway, headed for the famous Dragon, seeing the majesty of the Cherahola Skyway and having the time of my life with two very treasured friends.  Yes, this was the beginning of a lifetime of living!
Watch for the second part of this adventure to come soon.  Thanks for reading and remember life is for living!

These two are the sun rising after my 45 minute nap in Gatlinburg Tennessee.  It seems that motorcycling enables eyes to see beauty that was always there, just never really appreciated to the degree that it should be.

 This is a picture of, from left to right, Tom, Myself and my motorcycling Guru, Robert at the Fugitive Lookout.  Thank you so much for helping open this door to adventure.




 

This ride became an annual tradition, every fall from 2003 through the fall of 2008, then again in 2010.  I will post more pictures in part 2 and beyond.  I urge everyone to find their passion, motorcycling is mine.  May God Bless!