I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
#1
05-16-2006, 06:12 PM
I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Cause I second guessed my self a thousand times,weather forecast was wet and cold,too far in too little time,too old for this kind of punishment,but I went anyway.
Lost my Dad last year and my Mom is 74 and wishes she could see me more often,haven't been home since last July,so I decided to surprise her for Mothers Day.My regular days off are Sunday and Tuesday so I had to get a Saturday and Monday off to make the trip and my boss agreed.
Bought myself a Grantour bag and a coupla old saddle bags,packed a coupla changes and some rain gear and headed out Sat morn at four am,cold but dry thru Alabama,hit Tennessee at eleven am and Kentucky at one pm and finally some sunshine. Ran into rain on the Bluegrass but it stopped by Lexington,shoulda put the rain gear on before I got wet,but I never do.Made the run from Lexington to Maysville ,where I was born, in an hour and a half and crossed the Ohio at six pm,15 minutes from home.Well actually about an hour,stopped at the old bar where I used to drink as a kid fourty years ago and had a coupla beers and a shot,knowin' there ain't gonna be any whisky at Moms place.
Mom bout fell out when I walked in and asked what we were havin' for supper,she couldn't believe her eyes,never seen such a happy woman.
Slept like a log that nite,got up an went to church with Mom on Sunday,something I haven't done in fourty years.The ground shook a little bit, but no lightning struck so I guess it was ok.Took Mom to lunch at Rockin Robins, a little fifties type diner on the river at Ripley and back home to visit family the afternoon and early to bed.
Got up at two am packed up and headed out at three am.
Mom lives on a hillside overlooking the Ohio,with a steep driveway and a parking pad at the top.It was cold,in the upper fourtys and wet. Soon as I nosed the front tire over the edge my right foot slipped out and there was no stopping with the weight of the luggage.Over she tumbled,Mile zero on the return trip and already dropped my bike.Not much damage,bent the brake pedal a little and broke the signal stalk,bags protected the rear.Got that heavy mother up and headed on my way finally.
Cold as hell to Lex,wet on the Bluegrass Pky,soaked my legs before I finally decided to put rain gear on,warmed up about ten degrees by the time I hit Tennessee.Still cold,54 degrees when I hit the first rest stop in Ala but at least it was dry.Sunshine by Montgomery and clear sailing on home.Hit Mobile at six pm,stopped at the local joint and had a coupla beers.Bartender wanted to know why I still had on that heavy leather jacket.Told her this was the first time I'd been warm all day and I wasn't taken' no chances.
When I got to the house and called Mom to let her know I made it ,she said this was the nicest Mothers Day she'd ever had. Guess it was worth it.
Some observations
48 degrees is cold as hell on a bike.
58 degrees is a lot warmer than 48.
58 degrees and wet is cold as hell.
Best rain gear in the world ain't worth a crap if you forget waterproof foot gear.
Three hours of sunshine on a Harley makes up for ten hours of cold and rain.
750 miles at speed without ear protection is foolish,ears ring for twelve hours.
You are eventually gonna drop your bike.
Cold beer is worth a million dollars after a fourteen hour ride.
Life is good when you're fifty seven and can still make a hard run and love it.
Good Luck
Tom
Lost my Dad last year and my Mom is 74 and wishes she could see me more often,haven't been home since last July,so I decided to surprise her for Mothers Day.My regular days off are Sunday and Tuesday so I had to get a Saturday and Monday off to make the trip and my boss agreed.
Bought myself a Grantour bag and a coupla old saddle bags,packed a coupla changes and some rain gear and headed out Sat morn at four am,cold but dry thru Alabama,hit Tennessee at eleven am and Kentucky at one pm and finally some sunshine. Ran into rain on the Bluegrass but it stopped by Lexington,shoulda put the rain gear on before I got wet,but I never do.Made the run from Lexington to Maysville ,where I was born, in an hour and a half and crossed the Ohio at six pm,15 minutes from home.Well actually about an hour,stopped at the old bar where I used to drink as a kid fourty years ago and had a coupla beers and a shot,knowin' there ain't gonna be any whisky at Moms place.
Mom bout fell out when I walked in and asked what we were havin' for supper,she couldn't believe her eyes,never seen such a happy woman.
Slept like a log that nite,got up an went to church with Mom on Sunday,something I haven't done in fourty years.The ground shook a little bit, but no lightning struck so I guess it was ok.Took Mom to lunch at Rockin Robins, a little fifties type diner on the river at Ripley and back home to visit family the afternoon and early to bed.
Got up at two am packed up and headed out at three am.
Mom lives on a hillside overlooking the Ohio,with a steep driveway and a parking pad at the top.It was cold,in the upper fourtys and wet. Soon as I nosed the front tire over the edge my right foot slipped out and there was no stopping with the weight of the luggage.Over she tumbled,Mile zero on the return trip and already dropped my bike.Not much damage,bent the brake pedal a little and broke the signal stalk,bags protected the rear.Got that heavy mother up and headed on my way finally.
Cold as hell to Lex,wet on the Bluegrass Pky,soaked my legs before I finally decided to put rain gear on,warmed up about ten degrees by the time I hit Tennessee.Still cold,54 degrees when I hit the first rest stop in Ala but at least it was dry.Sunshine by Montgomery and clear sailing on home.Hit Mobile at six pm,stopped at the local joint and had a coupla beers.Bartender wanted to know why I still had on that heavy leather jacket.Told her this was the first time I'd been warm all day and I wasn't taken' no chances.
When I got to the house and called Mom to let her know I made it ,she said this was the nicest Mothers Day she'd ever had. Guess it was worth it.
Some observations
48 degrees is cold as hell on a bike.
58 degrees is a lot warmer than 48.
58 degrees and wet is cold as hell.
Best rain gear in the world ain't worth a crap if you forget waterproof foot gear.
Three hours of sunshine on a Harley makes up for ten hours of cold and rain.
750 miles at speed without ear protection is foolish,ears ring for twelve hours.
You are eventually gonna drop your bike.
Cold beer is worth a million dollars after a fourteen hour ride.
Life is good when you're fifty seven and can still make a hard run and love it.
Good Luck
Tom
#5
05-16-2006, 06:29 PM
Road Captain
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RE: I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Great ride...made your mom happy...doesn't get any better than that!
#6
05-16-2006, 06:29 PM
Stellar HDF Member
RE: I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Solid gold man!
That had to make your heart happy, thanks for sharing.
That had to make your heart happy, thanks for sharing.
#7
05-16-2006, 06:36 PM
RE: I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Sounds like a great ride man. Congrats!! I'm sure your Mom will always remember that visit and that makes cold as hell worth it.[&:]
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#8
05-16-2006, 07:06 PM
RE: I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Wonderful story, Tom. As others have already said, thanks for sharing it.
Creating memories. Living in the moment.
That's what it's all about...
Creating memories. Living in the moment.
That's what it's all about...
#10
05-16-2006, 11:22 PM
Extreme HDF Member
RE: I didn't tell you guys about my planned trip.
Amazing what a Mother's love can do for a person. You have memories forever. And I bet you would do it again in heart beat!! Proud of you son.
