PIC OF THE WEEK - SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

SOMEWHERE... OVER THE RAINBOW

When Harley and I spent some time up at Lake Martin this past summer, we had the opportunity to see a beautiful rainbow that touched the ground from one side to the other. We stood there for a moment and enjoyed the awesome view and tried to think if we had ever seen that before.


















This Pic of the Week fits my mood right now. It's been a bit of a rough year for my family and I, and I'm very glad to say goodbye to 2010. For me, this full arch rainbow represents a fresh start and new beginnings. You know... that place where "troubles melt like lemon drops... and happy little blue birds fly."

My Christmas has been good, but a little bittersweet. Even though we're all missing my Dad, as we experience our first Christmas without him, I have been enjoying the company of my awesome mom who escaped the snow in Iowa to spend a southern holiday with Harley and I. Now, I feel so energized by her presence and love, I feel like I can tackle 2011 with a renewed attitude. I resolve to change any habits that need changing and continue to live my life to the fullest. And yes... there's motorcycles involved!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Like it or not, Christmas is...

JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Are you ready?

I want to wish you all... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - MUSIC LESSONS

Riding around in the old South, your bound to see some really old stuff. Old barns and buildings, rich with history, stand along the roads with their decrepit facades and wild landscape. They seem to be everywhere as you ride and they have always held a fascination for me. I like to imagine what life might have been like, back in the old days.

NOTASULGA, AL
Located on Hwy. 14 in Notasulga, AL, these old relics still stand proud, right on the highway's edge as if to say... "we're still standing!" While enjoying my stretch break, I notice something very peculiar in the window of this old and historic building.

MUSIC LESSONS
It's nice to think that the lovely community of Notasulga, AL was actually putting the old structures to good use. I wonder if the students of the music class play for the Barn Dance! LOL!

Me personally... I think it would make a great Haunted House, but then again... I don't need music lessons either.

Just another peek at my world. Hope you all are getting ready for Christmas... time is ticking!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - JUST RIDIN'

It's been getting busier and busier around here, but not too busy to get in a good ride Saturday. We decided it was probably our last good comfortable mid 60 degree day before the colder air finally takes hold of the south. That's okay by me... I'm ready for it! Our neighbor asked us yesterday, while we were hanging Christmas wreaths on our windows, if we winterize our bikes. Harley said sure... we wash 'em... fill 'em up... and ride 'em. Thank goodness that's the extent of our winterizing around here.

I didn't get any new pics of anything worth sharing, so I pulled out a couple favorites from my archives. These were taken by my hubby while we was enjoying the beautiful Arizona area with a couple of his good buddies a few years ago.

JUST RIDIN'
My pal Big Ed doesn't like it when I post pics of him on my blog, but he proved to be a perfect model for today's Pic of the Week series.

When the holiday hustle and bustle gets too overwhelming... leave everything behind and go ridin'. Life always seems better on the back of a bike.

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - RIDIN' BITCH... TO ATLANTA

Motorcycles are not my only passion... I like football! This weeks Pic of the Week is not my own, but came to me via email from my brother earlier this year in a series of amazing animal pictures. It's fitting of my mood, however, as my beloved (and sullied) Auburn Tigers ( who's mascot is also an eagle) have won their way to the SEC Championship game to be played in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 4th. Woo Hoo!

RIDIN' BITCH... TO ATLANTA
I'm sure this is probably a doctored photo, but to me, it's still awesome! Especially when I can look at it with winning eyes and think to myself... we're going to Atlanta. However, I'd rather we be playing the Florida Gators than face Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Game Cocks... again!! It will be a tough game, and they are the only thing standing in the way to Auburn's first chance in 11 years at a National Championship game.

We did ride this weekend but this pic, of my Glide posing in front of the RV park at Auburn, was actually taken a couple weeks ago.

Our temps stayed pretty cool during the holiday, and we got on the Glides and enjoyed some beautiful sunny rides... just no pictures! It's hard to stop and shoot when your hands are numb! I think some heated gloves are going to be on the top of my Christmas list this year!

Have a great week everybody and...
WAAAAAAR EAGLE! HEY!!

Lady R

BILL NICHOLLS SCENIC HIGHWAY... THE REST OF THE STORY

... continued from yesterday.

So there we were, surrounded by beautiful autumn colors...

...taking a nice stretch break and enjoying some refreshing swigs of our Sonic sweet teas...


...when all of a sudden the peace and quiet of this tranquil countryside became intruded upon with a loud and thunderous roar.

I was looking in the opposite direction when I heard Harley say, "Holy Cow!" No, Irondad... it wasn't a bovine in cleric garb... nor was it a Hemi-Cuda or a butt load of wild turkeys as Bobskoot or Willy D might have suggested. So what was it, you say?? It was... it was... it was...

WILD HOGS!! (well... with several others mixed in! lol!)

I stood in awe for a few seconds before I had the presence of mind to grab the camera and try to capture these awesome riders before they were all gone. There must have been 30 or more, smiling and waving at us as they went by. I could feel the vibration of their bikes in my stomach as I watched them pass and I was thinking... "how cool is this!" Unfortunately, the only front shot I was able to (successfully) capture was the Spyder bike bringing up the rear.

Once they were gone and out of sight... the returning quietness of the fall colored country side fell eerily around us. We stood there for a moment and didn't speak, then Harley said... "Let's go catch 'em!" That's why I love that man... he knows how I think! LOL!

Well, we didn't chase them down like we joked we should, but instead we went about our way and had a nice lunch with Harley's Momma. Such a good son!

There's something totally cool about watching a large group of riders cruising along a highway like we did. I felt just a little envious that we weren't riding along with them, but hey... me and my Harley man have been a team of two for quite a long time now. I think we'll just keep on keeping on.

I know this is Thanksgiving week and it's all about the turkeys. But, be on the look out... you never know when a "hog" is going to come around the bend!

Ride on!
Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - BILL NICHOLLS SCENIC HIGHWAY

BILL NICHOLLS SCENIC HIGHWAY
Harley and I like to ride our Glides up to Sylacauga to visit with his mom, so we find ourselves cruising along the Bill Nicholls (Hwy. 148) scenic highway often. Some of you may recognize this spot... I've posted Spring pics of this very same curve. It's a nice little drive with some great views from time to time as you travel through the southern edge of the Talladega National Forest. We were standing here, taking a break this past Saturday around noon, when all of a sudden, the peaceful quiet of the autumn country side was gone and it sounded like all hell was breaking loose.

Harley just stood there and said... "Holy cow!"
You never know what may come around the bend... come back tomorrow, and you'll find out!!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Have a nice day!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - HATCHET CREEK

If you've been reading my blog long, you may have seen pics of Hatchet Creek before. It's one of Harley's and my favorite rest stops while we're out toodlin' around the countryside.

CR 29 in Coosa County, between Titus and Weogufka is absolutely one of my favorite roads to ride on. It's a little piece of the Dragon right here in Alabama and we often stop at this bridge where Hatchet Creek and Swamp Creek join together.

HATCHET CREEK
Looking to the west.

Looking to the East.

The Autumn colors along this stretch of highway were just popping! Vivid reds and bright oranges and yellows would pop in and out of my peripheral vision causing me to swivel my head around like a bobble head doll! It was a refreshing ride in all respects... cool air, cool colors and miles of beautiful country road.

???
This road reminds me of a question mark, as if to say... what lies ahead?

Me? I know... I've been up that road before. (smiling...)

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - GIANT PRAYING MANTIS!

Riding your motorcycle through beautiful scenery doesn't mean you stop can watching for debris and road hazards. I realize it's hard to stay focused sometimes, but it's just part of it. While leaf peeping on Mt. Cheaha, we came around the bend of a beautiful fall colored road and got this big surprise!

A GIANT PRAYING MANTIS
A Jurassic sized praying mantis getting ready to take us out as we passed by! Luckily, we were on our toes and we were able to avoid any incident.

Harley snapped this pic to make sure I wasn't eaten by the large stick monster and was still following...
... and I was!

I'm very glad we were able to continue our journey... it allowed us to enjoy more of this!

Happy Monday y'all! Don't work too hard!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - MITCHELL DAM AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE

Harley and I stopped and visited one of Alabama's many dams during one of our rides a few weeks ago. I'm always amazed at how these structures work and they're usually quite impressive, but I have a funny reason for posting this pic today.

MITCHELL DAM
It actually serves as a good visual aid for how I feel the direction of our Country has gone lately. I feel like I'm out there in the water being sucked in by forces stronger than me and beyond my control. I'm drowning... but I want to live!

Tomorrow is voting day. I'm tired of big government... I'm tired of being told what I need... and I'm tired of giving everything I earn to the undeserving. GO VOTE!!

...Or you'll be sucked through the intake like water under the dam!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - FALL LANE

It's sooo nice riding through the cooler Alabama air these days. Saturday, as Harley and I rode out in search of some pretty foliage, we're able to enjoy the weather as it is so much more comfortable now.

We found ourselves riding up around Talladega county and near a little town called Fayetteville, when we came upon this cozy country road that was a tunnel of reds, orange, yellow and browns.

FALL LANE
While we stretched and drank our Sonic Sweet Teas (yes, we have made up a way to carry Route 44 drinks in our saddle bags) I took some shots of this beautiful road, I'll just call Fall Lane.

I love riding on roads like these. They almost seem surreal. The gauntlet of shade and color transforms into a secret path from your favorite childhood storybook, and allows your imagination to take you far, far away.

It was a great day Saturday. Riding our Glides... listening to Auburn football on the radio... beating LSU and making the Auburn Tigers #1 in the SEC... just puts icing on the cake.

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - LOOK BOTH WAYS

When Harley and I are out exploring little country roads we've never been on... we often cross over small rivers and creeks. Sometimes the bridges are large and impressive, and sometimes you might not even realize it's a bridge... till you look both ways.

The bridge...

Looking left...

And looking right...
This scene may not be as impressive as some as our other bridges and rivers, but with the Glides at rest, the quiet peacefulness of nature came over me while I stood there and listened...

It reminded me of why, while riding... I always look both ways.

Have nice week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - OLD GLORY AND VICTORY LANE

Happy Columbus Day everyone! For the first time in several years, I'm enjoying today's holiday at home. Thanks to my boss for being a good Grandpa and taking his grand young'ins to Disney World. Thanks again boss! Hope you had a great time.

I'm feeling a bit patriotic today, so I posted something I've been saving.

OLD GLORY
Back in July, Harley and I went to Talladega Super Speedway to participate again in the annual Biker's for Babies event. It was a beautiful day to ride the track and this year I actually waited in line to get my souvenir photo in Victory Lane.

VICTORY LANE
It was cool to realize that I was in the very same spot that some of my favorite drivers like Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace stood while relishing in the glory after their victorious run. I had fun and I'm glad I waited for my photo... I just wish the dude taking the pics would have included the Talladega logo right above my head. (I know, I know... never happy!)

I hope those of you that have today off, enjoy the extra time to do something fun, like me. I'm spending the day the way the great discoverer Christopher Columbus did... looking beyond my imagination and pressing forward, deep into the world of the unknown... my kitchen cabinets!

Be sure and take a look at Thunder Beach and the Three B's... Beaches, Bikes and Beautiful Babes I posted on Saturday. Candy for the eyes... yum, yum.

Happy Columbus day again... and to all a great week!

Lady R

THUNDER BEACH AND THE 3 B'S... BEACHES, BIKES AND BEAUTIFUL BABES

Take a look at this Fall's Thunder Beach Rally... served up with big blue skies... lot's of sunshine... and comfortable temperatures that hung around the mid 80's all weekend long. It just doesn't get any better than that.

BEACHES
The beaches in Panama City are still just as lovely as ever. In fact, one of my pals revealed to me that they've gotten a lot of Destin and Gulf Shores business because of the oil spill disaster. The city is always changing and building, so the construction along the coast line was a bit of a drag, but we managed to avoid any mishaps while me maneuvered around.

Even though we didn't take advantage of it and stick our toes in the water, I enjoy riding along the coast and being able to look over at the magnificent view. (In between the condo's that is!)

BIKES

We saw some impressive bikes during the weekend. We walked around several different venues... all of which had their own version of shows and contests. Let me hush a minute and let your eyes feast on some of these beautiful machines.


This one is for Dave over at Road Grits Cafe.
It made me think of you and wondered what you would say about those foot boards. Pretty wicked, heh?

I posted pictures of this trike in my BAGR4LF AND THE BEST IN SHOW post, but it appears he added the flag carrier since then. Very nice!

BEAUTIFUL BABES
We all gathered around to cheer on our friend, Shooter, as she put herself out there for the Ms. Thunder Beach Contest. The guys in our group offered up their assistance on what "sexy biker chick" attire meant, and even made her go change... twice! LOL! We all thought she looked awesome, but unfortunately she did not take the crown.

The tall skinny blond with fake hair and sparkly boobs won. What do those judges know!
My brave friend... Shooter.
Her legs go all the way up her ass too... they're just not as long as everyone else's. Woo Hoo! You go girl!

Here are a few of the other contestants... for your viewing pleasure! LOL!

This contestant danced with her shadow... pretty cool.

Had to include this groovy chick. I thought she was cute as a button.

Well there you have it... another great time logged in the history book of life. We've been enjoying the Thunder Beach Rallies for about 8 years now, and I have to remind you... it's not so much the rally itself, but the friends we see while we're there.

I want to give a big thanks to our pal, The Pizza Man for letting us stay at his place on the beach. It was good seeing you and we appreciate your hospitality immensely.

Listen up everybody! If your ever in Panama City Beach, and your hungry, you need to eat at Marco's Pizza. It's locally owned and operated (by our friend and his family), and not only do they make really good pizzas, they also have the best Italian Subs I've ever eaten. They're at 7010 Thomas Drive and they deliver too. If your looking for something good to eat... you won't be disappointed. Eat at Marco's!!

Until next time... keep the shiny side up and ride on!

Lady R