THE "BAD"

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

We are going to Panama City for Thunder Beach! I really tried to get my second post up of the Bike Fest series, but it just didn't happen. I've been busier than a one legged woman in a butt kicking contest! Sorry to do that to you, but I'll be back Sunday.

Have a great weekend to all! Ride on! Lady R

"THE GOOD"

BIKE FEST SERIES - 1 of 3 "THE GOOD"

There are so many GOOD things I want to share with you about my weekend at Holt during the Bike Fest, that I decided to dedicate one whole post to just that. The weather was great! After playing in the warm sun during the day, it was refreshing to feel the cool evening air on your skin.

GOOD PEOPLE are always a great reason to get together and share your enthusiasm and love for a common interest; motorcycles. When we come to a bike rally, we may only see some of these people a few times a year. But, I feel like we all just come together for the same reason, to have fun and make some memories. Everybody likes to just get away and forget the stress of daily life, and maybe shuck a few responsibilities. Hell, I like to think of it as "recess for grown ups".

GOOD FOOD is also close to the top of the list of good things, these last couple days. The Lone Ranger started everybody off with breakfast each morning, as usual. Bacon, sausage and eggs cooking on the camp stove, and coffee brewing, will make even the laziest sleeper give up the fight to sleep in. Our buddy the Road Runner spun his magic around the smoker all day and created a feast that could have made even the pickiest eater happy! He cooked Boston Butts, Ribs, Chicken, also, someone else brought Moose, Caribou, and Elk. This was some good stuff! Pans of potatoes with onions and mushrooms, and baked beans, all cooked on the grill. I'm telling you what! If you went hungry, it was your own fault. Oh, we also had plenty of brews. Nothing goes better with a good grilled Butt than an ice cold Bud! LOL!

GOOD RACING is really the main reason all this comes together in the first place. Watching these Drag bikes are pretty cool and they keep you entertained in between races and qualifying, with stunt riding and other fun stuff. A group of about eight trick riders will go up and down the track doing wheelies, rear wheel dougnuts, brake stunts, and other amazing things all at the same time. They also had a slow race and some street matches, where anyone can get out and run down the track. I think I would do that sometime, maybe when no one was watching. Shhhh!

I must mention the GOOD MUSIC. They had music both nights, but Saturday, Geneva sang and she was great! She mixed it up real nice and did a lot of rock, some country, some great biker songs, and just sounded wonderful. Music feeds our soul just like our riding does, and I think having a good band playing makes everyone get into a joyous spirit. Or maybe it was just the spirits! Regardless, as I stood around, listening to the music and watching the crowd, I saw couples giving each other secret looks, hands being held, and several times an embracing couple would start swaying to the music creating a dance floor of sorts, right where they stood. This is what it's all about.

I would probably be negligent if I didn't mention all the GOOD FUN we had! I said in my earlier post on Monday, the camping area was set up like a little neighborhood of tents and campers, with wide enough passage between for the assortment of Atv's and golf carts to drive around and maneuver through the camp ground. Well, what do you imagine happens in any small camp-town at night. You go around and see the neighbors of course! During the evening, while all the festivities are going on, the campground is usually buzzing with traffic flow. People trying to hook up with old friends you don't see very often, except at a rally maybe. LOL! This gets to be pretty fun. There always seems to be a lot of laughing and playful heckling being shouted about as people spot one another. Every now and then you may even come across some pretty interesting entertainment, so you really have to be ready for anything!

I have several GOOD PICS I want to share with you and they are in front of this post. I hope you have enjoyed the first part of my Bike Fest series, "THE GOOD".

To be continued...
Next in the Bike Fest series, "THE BAD". Stay tuned. Lady R

RALLEY WEEKEND IN HOLT

Going to the Emerald Coast BikeFest is a great way for us to spend our weekend with several friends, old and new, who also share a love, or at least an interest in motorcycles. Many times, these rallies have lots of friends we just haven't met yet!

Harley and I loaded the bikes with enough clothes to last the weekend, some cash in our pocket, and a fully charged digital camera ready to capture some "Kodak Moments". We left Friday after lunch, and made our way south to a little place in Florida called Holt. It was a pretty nice ride through some scenic country side and didn't have any trouble except for a short little rain storm. We just took this opportunity to gas up and get a drink, and were back on the road in about 15 minutes. It only took us about three hours to get there.

When we get to the gates of the event, the Emerald Coast Drag Strip and surrounding property was already buzzing with activity. There were bikers and bikes of all kinds, ATV's and Golf Carts all simultaneously moving around the grounds like a well organized colony of ants. The area for camping was set up in a grid pattern that allowed for traffic to flow easily throughout. It kind of reminded me of being in a small neighborhood in the suburbs, only the homes are all Campers, RV's and tents of all sizes and colors.

We rode past the track and vendor area to go and seek out our friends at the camp site, which is usually way in the back of the camping area. This is good for several reasons, but mostly, it allows us to set up our Campers and RV's (seven this year!) in a circle pattern making our center area great for bike parking, cooking, and congregating with each other throughout the weekend. Also, being this far back has it's advantages with noise levels and privacy. We found our friend Big Ed, who has graciously allowed us to call his Raptor our home away from home. I knew I was in for a great two days when I heard him say as I rode up, "Oh s#@t, here she comes!" I'm the oldest in my family, so I am a big sister to three brothers. Big Ed is like the BIG brother I never had, and he likes to tease me every chance he gets. I try to give back everything he dishes out but, he's just better at it than I am.

To be continued....
This is just the beginning of what I called a great weekend! I have so much I want to share with you, and in the interest of time and read length, I will break down my weekend experience into three part series for you to enjoy. I'll call it the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY! Besides, I've got to sort through my pics, as some are too adult in nature and are not for posting, I also have several pics my friend has to get to me as well. Please stay tuned! Lady R

HORSESHOE BEND - MY "TARA"

SATURDAY - PLAY DAY! Harley and I are notorious for putting off our "honey do's" till Sunday. After working all week, we are not wanting to postpone our ride any longer than we have to. I really enjoy, and look forward to these long relaxing Saturday rides! Harley rides his motorcycle to work often, but it's not like getting out on the open road and letting it go. It's time for some "therapy for the soul".
Today we decided to go up toward Mt. Cheaha State Park and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. We probably logged about 270 miles altogether as we, made our way north, up Hwy. 9 to Ashland, then Hwy. 77 to Talladega. We stopped and had lunch with the Colonel and stretched our legs a bit before we began our ascent up the curvy, twisty road that takes you to the top of Mt. Cheaha. (we stopped for pics, but I will save them for another post). Coming down from the mountain, we took Hwy. 49 and rode south, until we stopped at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, which is about 12 miles north of Dadeville.

This historic site, where the "Creek War", 1813 - 14 took place, is a nice park with restrooms and picnic areas. As you meander around on a 3 mile loop road, through the battlefield grounds, you can see trails and markers designed to inform you of the Creek Indians and the events that took place here. The Tallapoosa River curls around severely to make a horseshoe shape, which gives you a sense of being on an island. Riding through a gauntlet of overhanging trees provide a tunnel of refreshing shade on a hot summer day. This Park is the backdrop, of what I think one of the most beautiful places in Alabama.

I remember the first time I saw Horseshoe Bend, I thought to myself..., this is my "Tara." You see, I fell in love with the South and many things Southern when I saw "Gone With the Wind." (I was a very hopelessly, romantic adolescent!) I like to daydream a little when I'm riding back in this cool shady part of the park. I imagine a modest, but comfortable Colonial Style home, verandas and all, nestled in a lush forest of Oaks and Pines, sprinkled with Dogwoods and Crepe Myrtles, all surrounded on three sides by the beautiful Tallapoosa River! This is where I say Ahhhh! Home Sweet Home!

Alabama has many pretty highways and parks within its borders, and we are having a good time finding them, one country road at a time. Every time we find ourselves here for a pit stop, I always want to take that little ride through the park. Sometimes, Harley would just as soon go on about our way, but I can usually talk him into riding once around the loop. So, as I'm meandering through, enjoying the coolness of the shade, looking into the center of the forest to see my imaginary house, and glancing around to the river to see my imaginary little boat tied to my imaginary dock, I'm reminded at how nice and serene life can be if we just keep a balance between work and play.

We eventually found our way home again, and some of the time today was spent on capturing some great pics for future posts. Harley humors me when he knows I'm stocking up for my blog file. Sometimes, he even see a good place to stop before me! What can I say. Today was a great play day! Ride on. Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK

Smile everyone! It's Monday!
While on a "Boy's Trip" to Nova Scotia last June, Harley captured this great shot. The Lone Ranger and Harley bought their '07 Street Glides last year before they went on this trip. They are ascending up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire and they stopped for this photo op about 5,ooo feet up. I like this picture because it looks like it should be a Harley Davidson ad. Beautiful! Oh yeah, and the scenery is great too! Lady R