PIC OF THE WEEK - MUD FUN!!

We took the Jeep to a 4-wheeler's playground Saturday called Bogs and Boulders.  It's over 1000 acres of trails of various terrain for all types of riding located in Brooklyn, AL.

Flat dirt trails, mud trails, boggs flats, rock hills... and on and on.  We went to explore and we think it might be worth a return visit.  Harley and I kept eyeballing the different ATV's we saw... Hmmmm.  After an hour in this park, we started feeling like the Goliath among the ants. Our Jeep was a little too big for some of the trails but we got to see most of it. 

MUD FUN!

Taking turns slingin' mud

"Wait... I'm dropping my beer!"

"Hang on darlin', get ready to swoop!"

"I wanna go... I wanna go!!"

One thing I noticed... nobody was wearing helmets and everybody had beer in their hands! Could get real interesting around here about dark thirty.

Hope everybody had a good weekend... no have a great week at work. Yeah... I said it.

Lady R (Di)

PIC OF THE WEEK - BANDIT BOY

Today's Pic of the Week is not an awesome road, nor a cool landmark. Instead, I will share a subject you may have seen before, as he is usually large and in charge. This little creature holds a special place in my heart, and besides... he's so cute!

BANDIT BOY

My handsome "little man"... who helps me keep the rest of the brood in line. No one can get a correction from me, without Bandit jumping in and giving his two cents worth. He loves the fact that we have a Jeep now, and he loves going for R-I-D-E-S. (I have to spell it... or else!)

I'm going for a ride!

"I think we go up here and take a right, dad..."

He's is a great little navigator and loves to help drive.

Let's go mom!

I should have named him "Clown"... because he's always making me laugh!

I hope you all had a nice holiday.  Today is my last day off before settling into the new year and I'm going to relish in it all I can.  I think I'll let Bandit help me with some laundry... he likes bringing me socks!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - WINTER TREES

I've been pretty busy lately, getting ready for the holidays and making sure we're ready for our trip, so I was a bit hurried when I chose today's selection.  However, today's pic's are scenes from my favorite road. It's rewarding to observe the seasonal changes in your collections of pictures from a favorite location.

WINTER TREES


I think the title of this blog pretty much sums it up. Riding (or driving) along roads like these will most likely shake off even the biggest of burdens life tends to throw you.  Don't sweat the small stuff, but if you do, go take in a little "southern comfort".

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

AGITATION GRATIFICATION

As most bikers know, the best rides are the long and leisure ones. Finding that perfect road with sweeping curves and roller coaster like hills is like hitting the mother load.  Add a beautiful dose of amazing scenery and you have the perfect recipe for a good ride.  Seeing the countryside on two wheels has brought me more gratification than I can shake a stick at.  I don't think anything will ever replace the feelings I would experience while riding my Glide, but due to a few changes in my life... my search for the ultimate road has changed a bit.

Now that we have a Jeep, a "good" road (if you can even call it that) is laden with ruts and rocks and lined with a gauntlet of sharp tree branches that occasionally reach out for you as you pass, as if to play "tag, your it" with the doors.

Gone are the smooth rides with leans and speed... replaced by agitation gratification.  Climbing to the top of a rutted out fire road embedded with small boulders, is like going through the wash cycle of your Kenmore washing machine. The constant side to side jerky movements coupled with a fling, forward or back, every now and then pretty much sums it up.

Trekking in the Jeep is very different that riding the Glide, but the gratification of doing something adventurous and fun remains the same. Harley and I are doing the best we can to live our lives to the fullest, and 4 wheelin' in the woods (with the puppies!) is helping us meet that goal. I would be lying if I told you I don't miss riding, but the path I've chosen is what works for us... for now at least.

Before the Jeep, folks would ask... "Are you riding this weekend?"  The answer would almost always be a resounding "Yes!".  Now when asked what we're doing for the weekend, I just respond... "I'm going to get agitated!"

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - MT. PLAYGROUND

One of my favorite places to ride, is up around Mt. Cheaha and Talladega National Forest.  Now that I have a Jeep, it's my favorite place to climb!  People have asked me, "Where do you spend your Saturdays these days?"  My answer is short and immediate... "the woods!"

MT. PLAYGROUND

The hills you see in the distance are the Talladega, Rebbecca, and Horn Mountains.  Harley and I have been all over the Mt. Cheaha area on our Glides, enjoying the hilly curves of the asphalt, but lately we've been exploring the rough and rugged ridge tops of these hills.
 

While exploring the rugged trails that cut through these steep hills, our Jeep adventures have allowed us to enjoy a part of our beautiful state that seems to be hidden from the rest of the world. It's amazing how peaceful and serene it is up there. 


I have accumulated quite a collection of pictures while trekking across these secluded pathways and I plan to share them with you all soon. 

Have a nice week everybody!

Lady R

GOIN' HUNTIN'

Today is such a nice fall day, I think we'll go huntin'... for tire killers!!


We found an awesome road to practice our 4X4 skills.  We just have to watch out for those dangerous predators of rubber! I'll let ya know if we find some!

Whether your on two... or four... Let's ride!! Have a great Saturday everybody!!

Lady R

... AND THEY CALL ME MAXINE

One of my favorite character's is Maxine.  She's refreshingly honest, quick witted, and sassy as hell.  I've always said that I want to be just like her when I grow up.  I guess I've done just that. 

When we bought our Jeep, we were told by many, that it was just like owning a motorcycle.  The vehicle was just the beginning... accessories an add-ons to break the bank, will soon follow.   They were not kidding!  We already bought a soft top for it (ordered that the day we drove it off the lot... cha-ching!) and my eyes continue to dance with excitement as I skim through the pages of Mopar's Jeep candy catalog.  I didn't realize how much cool stuff there was to buy for a Jeep!

Never having owned convertible before, I'm all about riding around with the top down and taking off to the woods.  I just have to be very careful with sun exposure. I have a skin condition called Rosacea, so with that in mind, my first piece of Jeep gear was a hat.  Not just any hat mind you, but a really cool "outdoorsy" kind of hat.  Something that said... adventure!  I had ball caps galore, and fancy dress up Derby hats, but I needed something that would not only keep the sun off my face, but could also withstand the attacks of dropping do do, and the ability to stay on my head during extreme wind conditions.  I thought I had the perfect solution.  I told Harley I wanted a fishing hat.

So, on our first topless outing, we stopped in at Camo Country in Wetumpka, a great little camping supply store stocked with everything from boots to hats and lots in between.  I walked in... shopped...  paid for my purchase and walked out smiling... in less than 2.5 minutes.  How many women do you know can do that??

Back in the Jeep, I plopped my new hat on my head and asked Harley how I looked.  He studied me for a moment, stifled a good laugh and said...  "What took you so long?"

Well, for the rest of the day, my hat served it's purpose.  We had a great time riding around the countryside in our topless Jeep, and I avoided sunburn while snapping pictures of our favorite roads.  I was very pleased with my new prize.

That following Monday, while talking with my co-workers about how we spent our weekends, I made a comment about getting my hat for the topless Jeep rides. They all froze at the same time and gave me this look.  You know... the kind of look that made me wonder if I had broccoli in my teeth.  Or worse yet, a booger hangin' off my nose!  I'm the oldest of my co-workers and the only one without teenagers at home to supervise my sense of fashion.  I'm also the only one who doesn't really give two shits about all that anyway, but that's beside the point.  I like to be different, and as long as I'm not taken for a total freak, I'll continue to march to the beat of my own drummer.  With that said, I looked at their bemused faces and told them... "I'll show you.  Before the day is over, you'll all want one!!"

So I did... and they laughed! They took one look at me and my hat and said... "You look just like Maxine!"

 

Maxine... my heroine!!  To be able to go through life, doing what pleases you, without the shackles of worrying what others think sounds mighty nice. I've discovered that the older I get, the easier that becomes.


So... thank you ladies!  You've made my day.  And in the words of my role model and favorite lady, Maxine...
 
Lady R

FOR BOBSKOOT... JEEPERS PEEPERS

Just a quick little addition to my previous post. Bobskoot left a comment on my Chattahoochee State Park post, asking where my Jeep was? The funny thing was... I was thinking like a blogger when I took this...
I didn't post it at first because... I wasn't on my motorcycle. What the hell, these ARE my wheels these days, so... here ya go Bobskoot!

How 'bout a nice action shot!
I'm really enjoying this new addition... I think everybody should have one!

Lady R

GOODBYE OLD FRIEND... HELLO NEW BABY!!

I know this blog is about motorcycles and riding, but today it's about trucks. I wanted to announce the arrival of our newest family member, but I felt like I needed to honor and old friend.

Saying goodbye is tough... especially when that old friend served you well and never let you down.

Goodbye Big Blue...
I'll miss you... Serve your new master well.

(This is where you can bow your heads for a moment of silence.) Amen!

Say hello to my new baby...
They call this "Mango Tango", but it kind of reminds me of another brand I like.

This hard top will be great during the colder months, but we've ordered a soft top for it as well. I certainly plan to check this bad boy out... topless. I can't wait!

4X4= fun!!

Lady R