My Princess

IN LOVING MEMORY

To The Adirondecks

We headed out to Spartansburg, Pa on the 27th of June. There was a graduation party to attend; grandchild of old friends, Lynette and Mac

We took a direct route just to get there and regrettably took no pictures on the way.

After a couple of days stay Princess and I rode through the Adirondeck National Forest on our way to visit other friends in Bradford, Pa. It was a wonderful ride and we also spent two rainy days on a walkabout around Bradford. For some reason we tend to forget to take pictures but we did visit the Zippo Lighter and Case Knife museum where Princess got her Zippo fixed for free.

We arrived back home on Wednesday the 1st of July; a day of riding almost entirely in the rain.

First Week of Summer

Yes, it's getting hotter in W Central Ohio and it looks like the beginnings of great riding weather. We will soon be heading out for a week on the road in north central Pennsylvania to visit old friends.

The yard has been trimmed. The grass has been mowed. The garden has been weeded. And I finally put up that split rail fence Princess has wanted.

INDIAN LAKE IS THE SCENE YOU CAN MAKE

Johnny Tat and Walt play every Saturday night at Blackhawk Landing on Indian Lake. As you can see there are a few of us who get to perform as well. Mike and myself, AKA Whitefish Special, really enjoy playin' together.

My song list hangs on the mic, unlike Mike who can actually remember things. There is also our friend Bob. A novice on the guitar but a great voice for old classic country songs.

MAY IN THE OUTER BANKS

We arrived on the OBX (Kitty Hawk) on Friday afternoon, May 15th. It was a gorgeous day but days like the first one would be short-lived.



We rented the same ocean side cottage we've rented a couple of times before. A gorgeous view from back deck to say the least. But you will notice the sky is getting darker and the waves a bit higher.

I'm not all that fond hanging out along the Outer Banks as I'd much rather be somewhere I can ride and see different scenes. Not much to see along the Outer Banks from one end to the other.

But Princess and Grandaughter Lauren did manage to take advantage of a break in wind and rain to hunt for beach glass.

We had to turn on the heat for 3 out of the 5 days we were there. The wind was pretty much a constant 35 mph with higher gusts. For a day and a half the rain was un-ending. Actually it was all too reminicent of most of the times I've been to the OBX with Princess. I think I'll not be up for another visit for quite some time. Of course Princess loves the ocean and that means I'll be taking my lead from her. I'm sure some future day she'll say, "I can smell the ocean" and that will be my cue.

Local friends Graelie and Porter hosted a little get together. It's always nice to visit friends when you're out on the road.




I'm not sure where we're off to next though we do have a some New England travel plans made and I'm really lookin' forward to that. In the meantime Princess has suggested I take another one of my "last great solo rides". The older I get the more meaningful a long ride gets. I started these annual "last great solo rides" 11 years ago at the age of 50. It's get tougher every year and I'm sure this one will be just as challenging.
Now, I don't do those "IRONBUTT" runs because I don't see the point of racing through a 1,000 mile ride; especially when I'm still capable of making it through 3K miles enjoying every mile of the journey.

THE RIDE TO ALABAMA

Finally we got out of Ohio. The winter was long as it usually is for a biker and his family. February through April are just killer months of waiting. In our younger days we would brave the March winds and head out for parts unknown. That luxury seems to disappear as one gets older however. I don't think my second year of retirement is going to see me spending my winters in Ohio again however.









We left Ohio on Thursday, April 23rd, and arrived at Buddy's place in Mobile Bay on Saturday after being in the saddle for about 950 miles. Of course the sunsets are beautiful.











We always say we're going to take more pictures but it just doesn't seem to happen while we're riding. But Princess did get a "from the highway" pic of the USS Alabama which we later toured.











We rode everyday while visiting Buddy and JonnieSue. We did manage one pic of the 4 of us when taking a rest break.














We stopped at one point to look at the one thing on top of Princess' wish list; a Hatteras Trawler that is for sale. She settled for a pic of me, Buddy, and Buddy's son Nick who had just returned from Iraq (Marine). It was their first meeting since Nick's return. Buddy said, "it's been a great week". Ya got a fine son Buddy but I gotta say he must of got his looks from his mother.










And then one last pic before we had to say "c'ya again in August".

Spring is springing

Mid March in W Central Ohio and we're being teased a little at a time as Spring begins to settle in. The picture attached is a reminder of what's to come for the old homestead. Spring is the time of year you wish would last for 365 days.

Our motorcycles are prepped and ready for the year ahead. We'll be heading out of here for Mobile Bay, Alabama in less than a month's time. From there it's anyone's guess as there are places to go and people to see.

Waiting Out The Storm

Now it's really cold here in W Central Ohio. Princess and I had tentative plans to take a trip to Alabama but we never had any well laid plans and the weather has been a real problem. How to get south with the bike has been an issue. And I think that's true because I really don't want to haul the motorcycle anywhere. I'd personally rather wait out the storm and then get our tails in the wind when the weather breaks. The south isn't experiencing the best weather either and I see no point in hauling a motorcycle through and to it all.



I'm not now nor never have been a fair weather rider but the years catch up to a person; as what would be an adventure in younger days is now downright stupidity. So personally I face what can be described as one of life's turning point contradictions; i.e., I can't do what I use to do but I still want to.

The economic woes of the country needs to be considered in all that we plan for as winter breaks. I believe this coming summer may be our last year to really get in the wind and put the miles on the motorcycles. I hope I'm wrong but I'm not optimistic.