YAY fun! Was good to see so many people come out for the first "real" Monday night bike night. We had a combination of TWT, MH, TSBA, and HSN. Folks agreed that it's nice to finally have something down on this side of town. We discovered (after it was too late) that the deli in the same shopping center is open until 8pm, so I'm tempted to head over early next week and grab dinner before coffee.

*Disclaimer: I need to learn to use the settings on my new camera more effectively - the "automatic" setting isn't all that great at night, but the 'behind glass' setting worked perfectly to reduce glare on the last pic vs. the automatic that just bounced the flash back at me. Once I've learned all of the settings, it'll seem like I'm a pro! Santa was VERY good to me this year!

Becca's drink was a whipped coffee blend, with her name spelled out in chocolate sauce on the inside of the cup! (I love the way the reflective bits glow from the flash)



Standing around talking bikes in the parking lot. The group was split between indoors and outside, but I'd guess 10 people or so? I can't name everyone... but RONNIE WAS THERE! LOL



A game of Monopoly got fired up inside - they were still going strong at 10:30 when I left...



When we were ready to leave, I started the bike to warm it up. Not even a minute later, it chugged to a halt and died. Uh... I'm out of gas.

Becca's response - "There isn't much I can do for you"

I stood it up off the side stand and rocked the tank, enabling at least enough fuel to get through that I was able to (barely) make it to the gas station.

On a 5.8 gallon tank (per Suzuki) I think this is the most I've ever filled up with.



Looking forward to the next one!

I'm upset, to say the least.
The bike I went to Florida to pick up with Moe has been stolen.

The dirty rotten scumbags apparently stole the plastic fairings off it yesterday or last night. Moe then discovered this morning that they came back and stole the whole bike. My first question was "why wasn't it locked up in your storage space?"

The bike is insured and nobody was hurt, which is what's most important. Things can be replaced, people can't.

But I just have to vent - thieves that think they can coast through life taking other people's things for fun or profit will be the downfall of society as a whole. They didn't work for it, so why should they reap the benefit of the bike? Has society become so lax that thieves can come and go within the population and, in some cases, become more respected by their peers for what they've done?

Ok. I feel better now.

Packed in a hurry, unplugged the tree, and did my best not to be late for the start of the trip to Florida. It was a last-minute thing – Moe (BlackWidow) needed to pick up a bike in Deerfield Beach, and I was ready to tackle the adventure with him. After all, behind every good pilot is a great woman navigating! I have friends in Coral Springs, so I’d be able to combine a much-needed visit with the bike pickup.

Moe has this thing with weird accessories. He’s truly metrosexual…



Brian (bdmpastx) was generous enough to lend his truck and trailer for the three-day haul. Although it only has minimal cab space, the bed is carpeted and covered for all the gear and luggage we’d overpacked. The GPS/DVD/TV/Sirius Radio setup is SCHWEEET! With the GPS mounted on the windshield and the radar detector overhead, we had all the gadgets we’d need.



ODO: 51340

After making sure we had everything we needed (keys, insurance card, operating instructions, etc.) we were rolling from Brian’s shortly after 3pm on Friday afternoon. After a while, the days and hours started to blend together. As we got to I10, traffic was at a near standstill. ARGH! We’d wanted an earlier start but stuff just… happens.

Not five miles down the freeway, we discovered we were behind this truck with oranges on his license plate…



Let’s follow him to Florida
What if he’s not going to Florida?
But he’s got Florida plates
Really? You’ve got Texas plates. Are you going to Texas?

As traffic crawled, we watched as the 07 G35 sedan (a sweet ride) in front of us tried to cut in front of a semi with only inches to spare. The truck driver probably didn’t even see the car, but before it could get out of the way it had a nice foot-long gash on its rear quarter panel. Ouch. As the driver tried to get out of the truck’s path and back into our lane, she bumped the F150 in front of her. Uh, let’s get out of this lane before she decides to back up!

Want to go to Iowa?
What about Florida…
Don’t worry, it’s on the way.



ODO: 51508

Fuel and food. The golden arches. Moe thinks there’s a conspiracy that all of the freeway gas stations are required to have a McDonalds attached to them. The stretch was helpful, and we double-checked the trailer hitch and tire pressure. We’ve heard too many horror stories of trailer mishaps, so we were being extra cautious. So cautious, in fact, that I didn’t get to do much driving. Oh well, I’m the only one that knows where we’re going and I’ve got full control over what we watch/listen to!

ODO: 51977

Fuel and a stretch. Ice cream. Moe doesn’t drink anything with caffeine, so he went for the sugar rush.

ODO: 52197

Fuel, food, stretch, and evaluate. The sky was getting lighter, and it was already after 6am. I took over at the wheel, and was told (more times than I think were necessary) how to NOT sway anywhere in the lane, NOT go up to or over the speed limit, NOT to use the hand controls, NOT to pass anyone or change lanes, and NOT to play with the audio/video while driving.

I’ve been driving cars since you were in diapers. I can handle it.
SHUT UP AND GO TO SLEEP!



Moe punched my arm.
OUCH! What was that for?
You did good.
So you punch me? I’d hate to see what you’d have done if I had an accident!

ODO: 52465 (I think I missed a log entry?)

We were now deep in the heart of Florida. The sun was bright up above, there was a light mist in the air, and traffic was everywhere. Now back in the passenger seat, I tried to take a nap. Moe amused himself by hitting the brakes to make my head fall forward and wake me up. He claims the hand control was sensitive…

We got to the bike and got it loaded on the trailer, then were headed over to Andy’s place. He’s a friend that I’ve known since junior high, and I haven’t seen him since he moved to FL and got married. He’s been like a brother to me over the years and he didn’t hesitate to host us when I called and told him we were going to be in town. He shouted across the room to make sure everyone was in agreement – his wife Jen, brother David, and friend Mikey.

ODO: 52602

Andy



We were just in time to help/watch him and Mikey cut down a tree or two. They were dead and the house needed firewood to give the full Christmas effect when company comes over tomorrow. (Don’t forget it’s over 80 degrees out here!)

Me, Moe, Mikey riding out to “the site”





I sat and watched while the boys played with the new chainsaw. Moe got in on the action and helped guide a tree down. He’ll tell you he pulled it down himself, but notice the riding mower that was also pulling…



Trophy pic?



Worth the effort.



Andy is a trained chef from the Culinary Institute of America. What does he do with that training? Make gingerbread houses, of course! He put them together in the morning to give the construction icing a full day to harden. The guests tomorrow would be decorating them.



Moe, Mr. Winston, and David



After showers and a long nap, it was time to hit the road again. It was almost midnight, and we were trying to get back before Christmas if possible.

We woke the bike up from her nap in the garage…



And got her hooked back up to the truck for the long haul home.



There was a whole lot of this…



So we watched some of this (Faster and Faster 2)



Instead of taking 95 back up to 10, we took the advice of a stranger at a dumpster (not what you think but a funny story anyway) and took 27 up and over toward the panhandle. Apparently it wasn’t fun, but I was asleep through it.

Here’s my view from my makeshift bed in the back of the truck…



There were low speed limits and lights and many of the intersections the whole way.

So you hate me right now?
No, I hated you the whole way.

I don’t think it bothered him too much, considering what he was pulling behind us.



As we passed through Alabama into Mississippi, the rain started and it didn’t stop until after the trip was over. Oh well, at least the bike is clean!



We pulled into Moe’s shortly before midnight Sunday night. As we got out of the truck, we realized the truck had kept the dropping temps a secret. My fingers were cold and wet while we fumbled to get all the tie-downs off the bike and get it unloaded.



I got the truck and trailer back to Brian, and got back in my own truck for the drive home. All I could think about was opening my presents – I’d been good and hadn’t peeked into the boxes my family had sent me. I got home around 2am, so it WAS Christmas, right? With my clothes and purse still in the car, I was on the couch opening gifts!

The geek info…

Total Mileage: 2466.5
Total time: 46:20
Moving time: 39:48
Moving average: 62.0 mph

Ok, so with the craziness of the holidays, the strange weather, and the frenzy of to-do's lately I haven't been keeping the blog updated. A quick summary....

Hanukkah at Becca's was a blast - it was just the gals (Ronnie, Becca, Amy, and me) and we had latkes, brisket, ratatoui (sp?) and ice cream for desert. I think I've started getting used to how Ronnie calls Becca vs. me. LOL

I've added Xmas lights to my bike, but at the moment only half of them are working. I haven't taken the time to find the weak link, so the bike sits. Here's what it looked like when I took it out to Sharkey's Machine with friends from work last week:



Nikki ended up with Mono and was caged in the hospital for four days. She's feeling better now, but no riding for two months (her spleen is still vulnerable). For now she'll just cause a stir over on www.MotoHouston.com.



Went for a ride with folks from www.TWTex.com last Saturday. We met up in Hutsville and did a loop that brought us back to Montgomery by early afternoon.



I've been working on getting the house decorated for the holidays, but never quite finish (the story of my life). No matter how many are already out there, the lights just seem to want to multiply! I'm going for a "Winter Wonderland" theme on the back patio, and the colored lights are reserved for the tree. Not sure if you can spot it, but the Menorah is on the shelf (next to the tree LOL).



The Post Office and UPS delivered a few packages with my name on them! I have been good (so far) and haven't opened them, but there's been lots of shaking!



And the craziest of all - I'm heading to Florida tomorrow to pick up a bike. Last-minute thing, quick trip, but should prove to be an adventure! I'll get to see Andy & his new wife out in Coral Gables, too.

This stuff is reaaaaly soft when you fall in it!


Video of a six year-old trying to get up a steep hill:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8330564743552823118&hl=en

GeorgiaPeach and SonOfGeorgiaPeach enjoying their morning cocoa.


L-R: PlaneDr, STrider, me.


My steed for the weekend thanks to Mrs STrider, who wasn't able to join us. Honda XR250R. Tall enough that I don't feel like my knees are up by my chin like some of the smaller bikes, but not too much power for a newbie.


STrider gives me the abridged version of the kickstart routine.


Max came along, of course.


He didn't come out on the trails with me because he didn't want to get dirty. Good thing he stayed back - I went rear end-first into a mud puddle with at least three people behind me to witness the entertainment...

...and then to clear the flooded motor and get it started again :giveup:

Hanging out and having a good time.


We'd form up groups haphazardly and head out to nowhere. I was so confused, I stopped trying to figure out where I was or where I was going and instead just followed the person in front of me.

Thing is, I was unaware of the possibility that the person in front of me might pick a difficult section or path at a split that I should avoid....

...and so it was that I went up onto the "dirt hiccup" :lol2: in the middle of the field, I rolled over the first bump and caught air on the second. As I defeated gravity, I knew in my head that "this can't be good". I never thought to ask about body position during a jump (I had no plans to try to jump anything), so I stayed put over the tank and came down on the front tire. STrider might be able to fill y'all in more, but all I know is I landed on the ground on my right, knee first, then shoulder, then head. Ouch.

I quickly wiggled all my fingers and toes and knew I was Ok, but it hurt. Irondawg came and stood over me and asked what hurt.

My knee
Which one?
[I tapped my right leg with my hand]
On the inside or the outside?
huh? inside meaning bones and outside meaning skin or inside/outside like the sides of my leg?
Just move your leg
[I dragged it across the grass side-to-side]
Ok, just lay there a minute and catch your breath.

I got up, walked around on it, and decided I was Ok. In my nearly three years and 45k miles of riding, I had yet 'till this day landed on the ground. Apparently I'd stored up crashes somewhere and cashed them all in since I'd found lots of softer places to land than pavement.

Seven times.

Yup. On at least seven occasions (heck, I might even be forgetting some?) my body became one with Mother Earth. Some wet, some dry, some sand, some mud, in the woods, in the field - I really wasn't picky about where I'd crash.

When Vern brought the quads out, Snoopster and I went for a few laps, and traded off driver/passenger. She may never be able to take me on the back of her bike, but after the way she handles that huge machine today I can say she's braver than I am!

As darkness fell, we settled in for dinner that Blue Bomber and Mini Mom brought over from Huntsville. :eat:


They brought over brisket, potato salad, beans, and all the fixins. Beth even baked us a cake and some brownies! :clap:


Thanks to GeoriaPeach's laborous effort, we had a fire going and the chairs just magically appeared from the darkness.

L-R: STrider, Woodsguy, Pokey Mon, Justin, Triumph (the dog), Irondawg (the other dawg), [?], Tourmeister


L-R: Lois (MotherOfTourmeister), Vern (FatherOfTourmeister), Blue Bomber, Snoopster, [?], Mopower

The carnage...