Leaving Florida, Caution, objects may be further down the road than you think!

So, after visiting with Ann's family and the passing of her Aunt Betty, the time has come to make my way home. Still feeling under the weather, I prepare to leave Pensacola Beach first thing in the morning. I get up, make my way down the elevator to the parking garage of the hotel and realize that it's raining. Dag gone! There's a storm brewing to our west and headed our way fast so I decide to change my route. I'll take 10 east to Jacksonville and then straight up 95 north, home. Longer, but I may miss the majority of the rain. Riding a motorcycle in the rain is a little dangerous, not only because of low visibility but other drivers in cars and trucks just don't see you. Highway speeds make it even worse.

As I cross the 3 mile bridge off the island I notice that it's just misting and traffic is low. (It's 4:30 am) The temps are high 60's and there's no wind. Once I get out of the city and on the interstate the road becomes dark and lonely. Interstate 10 is one of the most boring roads in America. It's flat and there's no scenery. The only thing that helps me pass the time is singing to myself and counting motorcycles that I see. It seems like forever, but I finally make it to Jacksonville and 95 north. 8 grueling, boring hours have passed. I only stopped for gas and a snack and had put the pedal to the metal sometimes traveling at 85 mph, just to keep up with the flow of traffic. The Suzuki does well, though, and is purring like a powerful cat, never whimpering or missing a beat.

Once on 95 north, the whole demeanor of travel changes. It's like a fight with the road. Not only is traffic increased but the speeds are constant and nonforgiving. I try to stay in the right lane as much as possible but the lure of Ashland draws me in to open lanes to keep up speed. The pace is tiring and my body is giving out before I know it. Even though I don't want to, I decide to stop at 14 hours and get a hotel in South Carolina. I'm only 5 hours from home, but I can't ride anymore. The bike feels more like a torture device than a mode of transporting me home.

Whew, a hot shower and a nice clean bed is a welcome sight. I go over to the Arby's, next door, for a roast beef sandwich and go back to the hotel for a pitiful meal and a couple of Tylenol. Sleep comes quickly, I'm exhausted.

Morning is broadcasted to me by the sound of rain outside my hotel room door. I get up and open the door the see that storm I was trying to beat had caught me like a trapped rat. What do I do now? It's actually raining so hard that there's a stream flowing past the door and back in to the parking lot. I decide to run out and move the motorcycle to the shelter in front of the hotel office. Stupid move, maybe, but I plan to leave soon and I'd like for the seat to dry. It's 7 am and there's breakfast in the lobby so I eat a waffle and go back to the room to pack my stuff and get ready for the ride. My thinking is, it's got to slow down soon so I'll wait a while. Well, check out is at 11, so at 10:30 I pack the bike and put on my rain suit, start up the Suzuki and hit 95 north. It's raining, I mean really raining. 30 minutes on the road and I've got to stop. I can't see. I go to the rest area bathroom and put my helmet under the hand dryer until the helmet is dry and warm. Back on the road I create a strategy. I get behind a tractor trailer about 50 feet and use the light on the back of the trailer as a beacon or standard. This works pretty well and gets me to the NC border where I decide to take an extended break. I sit under a picnic shelter and people watch for about an hour.

Luck is just not with me today. The rain continues and the traffic increases as the day goes on. Back on the bike and I put my head down and grit out the next 150 miles. The speeds are still incredibly high which is a little frightening. What a minute, it's clearing up and warming up, but I'm almost at the Va. border and the last few miles were as hard as I've ever ridden. The road becomes more familiar and the sweet smell of the pines welcomes me closer and closer to Ashland. What a ride. When I get off 95 and head through the town I realize what I've done. Was it crazy? No! It was an adventure, and I made it! The trip was no Everest ascent but it was one of the hardest things I've done in a while.

Next time: Choosing long distance riding gear

See ya on the road,
AC



27 Aug, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -

Ride, tough guy, ride

I always thought of myself as a pretty tough guy, but this week I was put to the test. I've been planning this Pensacola trip, to see Ann's sick aunt, for 2 months. Everything ready down to the last detail. Bike, gear, bags, tools, snacks, all in readiness. Then comes the big wrench in the works, I get sick. Now, I haven't been sick in a long time but an upper respiratory infection isn't what I need at this point in time. So, I go to the doctor on Wednesday and he gives me some antibiotics with the hope that I should feel better soon. Yes!

Well, Friday morning comes, the alarm gets me up at 5am, I pack the bike, grab a bagel, Kiss Ann, and I'm off. I'm real stopped up and my chest actually hurts and I feel feverish, but I'm going. I get out on 95 south and get up to speed and realize that I don't feel to awful, so maybe things will go smoothly. At Petersburg I slide off on to 85 south and settle in for the long haul. The bike is purring under me and the sweet sound of the Suzuki's exhaust note is like music. I stop for gas right at the NC border and grab a snack realizing that I feel a little better but not great. The day grinds on through NC, then SC, and in to Georgia and but I feel tired and decide to stop a little before Atlanta for the night. My plan is to get up early in the morning and breeze through Atlanta to miss the traffic. I see a Super 8 up ahead and check in for some well deserved rest and hopefully a good meal at a local restaurant. In to the room I go for a shower and immediately hit the sack. I don't feel too good. A couple of Tylenol should ease the pain of the fever and help me sleep.

The next morning comes in the blink of an eye and I feel good. Load up the Suzuki and back on 85 south. It's 5am and there's very little traffic as I approach the city of Atlanta. It seems strange riding 70 mph on 6 lanes that take me straight through the heart of the city and spit me out the other side like I was shot out of a cannon. The lights and the buildings are beautiful as they light up like the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. Quite a sight. 85 South turns dark again as I roll on toward Montgomery Alabama with the night temps only reaching 54 degrees which makes the ride very pleasant. Nippy, but pleasant. As the sun starts to rise (my favorite time of day), I stop at a Waffle house for an omelet and a glass of OJ (I gave up coffee 6 months ago) and I'm raring to go again. When I reach Montgomery I bear off on I 65 south for about 2 hours before taking 113-13 to 29 south in to Pensacola. Time to read the directions Ann wrote for me so I can get to her Uncle Joe's. Out to the bay and across the 3 mile bridge and down rt. 98. This is pretty country, hot and humid, but pretty. It took me a total of 17 hours, counting stops. That's a long ride!

Now, my coming to see Ann's aunt Betty is a surprise. She was recently diagnosed with lung and liver cancer and has only a short time on this Earth. So I'm hoping the surprise will cheer her up. (Ann I flying down and was suppose to be here but her plane got bumped) I pull in the driveway and walk up to the door. Knock knock and walk in the door. I hear uncle Joe yell, "who is it" from the bedroom. I say, "it's me" and walk in to the room seeing Aunt Betty lying down with oxygen flowing and Joe right there with her. They look shocked not knowing who it was because I still have my helmet on. So, I remove the helmet to see a big smile come on Betty's face and she belts out a big "AC". They both start laughing, I run over and give her a big hug and kiss. This made the trip worth while. Just that one smile. She's such a nice person.

Shortly afterwards, Ann arrives with her mother and nurse and the party begins. We all sit an talk as time fly’s by. Betty's 3 sons (Ann's cousins) all come in and before you know it we have to visit in shifts. Betty's real weak, though, so we say our goodnights hoping to see her tomorrow. We head to the hotel on the beach and rest for the night. Sadly, the next morning we get the phone call that we did not want. It seems Betty passed on during the night, taking her last shallow breath at 4:30 am. What a sweet soul. Thanks goodness we got there in time to see her. Somehow, I think she waited, even though my visit was a surprise. I so glad I went.

God Bless Betty Bowles

Next time: The ride back home and how to ride in the pouring rain.

See ya on the road,
AC




15 Aug, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -

Brothers of the Road

Today was a good day. Ann and I went for a ride on the Suzuki 1250S on up to Goochland to meet my buddy Karl for a ride to Scottsville for lunch. What a perfect day for a ride. Sunny and low 80's with a slight breeze. We met at the Hardees at Goochland Couthouse and headed west on Rt. 6 toward Fork Union. As we are riding on a construction section I noticed the bike starting to handle funny, like it was unstable, so I pulled to the side to discover my rear tire going flat. Now I've been riding a long time and I've never had a flat before on a motorcycle. What do you do? There's no spare! Going down fast but not completely flat, I decided to make it to Cartersville which was only about 4 miles. It was taking a big chance of the tire coming off the rim and doing major damage. But, I made it just in time. We pulled into a store and checked the tire. It was real hot which came from running it at low pressure. Sure enough there was a cut in the tread of the tire from debris in the road construction. Hmmm, what to do?

I went into the little store and ask if she had Fix-a-flat, which would be the best I could hope for. Luckily she had one can. Whew, I'm saved. So, I go out to the bike and attach the fix-a-flat and let her rip. It fills the tire and is oozing out of the hole in the tire. It should seal, right?
Across Rt. 6 there's a closed service station that has a coin operated tire pump, so I ride the bike over and start the inflation process. As soon as I put air in, the fix-a-flat fluid starts spraying out of the sizable hole. Oh no! Now what? I go back over to the store and Karl is talking to one of the customers that tells us that he has a tubeless plug kit with him and he would be glad to fix the tire for me. He goes with me back to the bike and not only fixes my flat but gives me the kit. What can you say to a guy like that? I offered him money, but he wouldn't take it. He just said "maybe you can help someone else, just pass it on. We are all brothers of the road." Man, just when you think things are bad, someone steps up and renews your spirit. That one jesture of kindness made my day and the rest of the ride was awesome.

We proceeded up Rt. 6 then right on Rt. 20 to Scottsville where we had a great lunch. We headed over to Rt. 250 by way of Monticello and then on back home to our sweet town. This was a great day, not only did I learn to pack better for my motorcycle trips, but I had great kindness bestowed upon me in the most unselfish way. Ya know, aren't we all "brothers of the road"?

This Friday, I leave for my longest trip yet. I'm riding solo to Pensacola Florida to visit Ann's ailing aunt. I'm splitting the 16 hour ride in to 2 days. What an adventure.

See ya on the road,
AC



03 Aug, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -

I’m a Rider

Every Tuesday evening I ride over to Coffee Lane on Pole Green Road to meet a group of like minded riders. We usually have a snack, and pick a ride leader, then take off for a 2 hour adventure. Sometimes riding out thru the back roads of King William or New Kent and other times riding northern Hanover and beyond. I’ve gotten kind of addicted to the meeting for several reasons. Number one, having a group of guys and gals that have the same interest and love of motorcycling and number two, hearing stories of past adventures and marveling at close calls and trips to far off places. But the most important reason is; hey, I’ve made a bunch of new friends. These guys come together for the same reason but are all different in their education, vocation, and beliefs. But, the one thing that we all have in common is our love and respect of riding.

We also have a variety of motorcycles. From Harley cruisers to full on sport machines, to tourers and dual sports. Once we’re on the road all differences seem to be erased and we are “Riders”. Fun? No need to ask. Like our ride last night, we went 360 east to rt. 14 and were treated to some of the twistiest most technical asphalt around. As we rounded the turns and accelerated hard to the next one, it felt like I was a kid again. Maybe taking a few chances, but all the while staying within safe limits.

The cool part is at the end of the ride. Most people may want to stop for a beer, but not us, we stopped for ice cream, had great conversation, and as I rode off to head home, I thought, “ boy, I can’t wait for next week”.

See ya on the road



02 Jul, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -

Hit the open road

Saturday, and what a day for a ride. Weather clear, high around 80, a small amount of wind. Ann and I plan a trip up to Gordonsville for lunch and the Inwood restaurant and then on to Orange and the countryside around upper Lake Anna. We leave at 11:30 am and head out 33 west with Ann wearing her new helmet and riding jacket. She’s looking good and has a big smile as we head out on the highway.

The first thing we notice is that there are a lot of motorcycles out today. Sportbikes, cruisers, and tourers are all out in force. Gotta be the weather. As we get up to speed I realize that the wind is sweet and gentle enough to put a cool pressure against my chest making my riding position comfortable and stable. I can barely fell Ann on the back as she assumes her passenger zone. She’s a great riding partner because she can remain neutral even in the turns.

The closer we get to Louisa the more traffic we encounter. It’s like everybody and his brother are out and we end up traveling behind a Harley 3 wheeler that is just barely doing the speed limit. They slow for every turn in the road which I understand because of the instability of the 3 wheels. It’s like a tricycle with a big motor. We get thru the thriving metropolis (joke) and cruise out of town on 33 to Gordonsville. Another small town barely holding on in this economy as shown when we enter the township and see several “going out of business” signs. Kinda sad. But, on the outskirts of town after the traffic roundabout (one of the few still in existence) we turn right in to the Inwood Restaurant where we see other bikers have stopped for lunch. We take off the helmets and jackets and head inside for some air conditioning and BBQ. Yum! A big ice water is the first thing I order.

After our delicious meal, we turn west on Rt. 20 towards Orange where we know the Harley dealer is having a big bike show and as we get closer we see more and more bikes. Exciting! On the outskirts of town we see the signs and see a huge number of bikes all gather in this sleepy little town for The Big Bike Show. We slip right past and back to the country where we turn left on 522 towards Mineral but turn on 208 and fill up with gas. Now’s where we start seeing crossing and parts of beautiful Lake Anna. A whole lot of people make the lake look a little over crowded with boats and jet skis. I’m glad I’m on my bike.

We turn off of 208 and head through Partlow and Beaverdam and then left on Henry Clay. The 4 hour ride was great and was made real by my lovely bride saying how much fun she had. Her big statement was how peaceful the riding was because she felt so at ease. I say “ditto”. Peace, yeah, that’s it!
Riding you motorcycle can bring you peace. No stress, no worries, no phone, no computer, just peace.

See ya on the road!



29 Jun, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -

Motorcycle Heaven

Now there’s just a few priorities in life. Family, friends, belief system, and livelihood. Somewhere down the line comes personal possessions. I love my home, my guitars, my bicycles, but fast approaching the top of my list is my motorcycle. No one thing that I own has brought me as much pleasure and excitement in the last year. But now worlds have collided and brought my happiness to an all time high. Yes, that’s right, I got Ann on the back of my bike for a short ride to the country and back. Fearing the worst, I cringed as she got off the bike and took off her helmet, awaiting her critique. Low and behold as she turned to face me, she had a big smile on her face and proceeded to tell me that that was the most fun she had in years. Woooooh!

Being optimistic, I chanced another invitation this weekend by asking her if she would care to venture a little farther. She agreed to make the trek to Tappahanok for a crab cake lunch at Lowrey’s. Adventurous, maybe? I brought the bike out of the garage as she was putting on one of my helmets. (A little large, ya think?) Suiting up and putting on my own lid I start up the BMW R1200R and out the driveway we go. Over to Rt, 1 to Rt.30 then left on 360 just as smooth as I could be, not wanting to alarm her with any sudden or reckless moves. I could feel the tension start to release as we got closer to our destination and by the time we got to Lowrey’s, I barely new she was there.

Talking over the crispy crab cakes she told me what a good time she had and could tell I was on my best behavior. She could sense that I would never do anything to harm her. Surprisingly we talked about a longer trip and maybe going to the mountains. This makes AC very happy because not only is she approving of my new passion but she would like to be a part of it. Awesome!

Tomorrow, it is my intention to buy her a helmet that fits and a sporty riding jacket. Life is good! So in conclusion, “inclusion” and bringing together 2 worlds makes my motorcycle experience that much better.

See ya on the road.
AC



01 Jun, 2008 | admin | Leave comment - 0 -