Got a Kitchen Pass from my Bride!
This has been on my radar for a couple of years, but it's the same weekend of The Steel Horse Rally in Ft Smith, AR. I've always chosen the Rally ... until now. I was looking at the dates, but wasn't serious about either this year. A few weeks ago was SCOM/SHINDIG in Amarillo and we caged it due to our travel schedule prior to that. And after that weekend, I was nothing short of exhausted. We'd been traveling for something like 19 days ... Hawaii, Phoenix and Amarillo. Steel Horse would have to wait a year I told myself. But I was itching to put some miles on. Still, the weather sucked... really sucked. However, I noticed a bright spot in the forecast. I'd considered rolling up Friday .... but .. wasn't sure. However, nothing but Blue Skies Sat-Mon ... So, I'm scheming. I've realized I've got a few buddies partying it up in Ft Smith. Instead of getting a room in OK, decided to roll up 200 + miles that morning, hit the meeting and quickly head out the door 170 miles or so to AR. My buddies that had dropped in there are set, no rooms avail for me, but Tim had a spare bed ... so ... I've got a plan.
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Up EARLY ... slam a lot of java and finally throw a leg over the bike as the sun is coming up. I should have just grabbed some Interstate but I've got a fetish for two lane roads. So, up Hwy 69, to 75 and then wiggle my way up on 2 lanes NW into Ok City. Problem is... I rely on my bikes GPS this time and damned if it didn't fuck with me a few times. I'm thinking .. "WHY am I on THIS road??" more than once. Finally, pop up Google Maps on the phone and between the two, scooting along no issues. I normally go old skool and print out a map that I've verified prior, but like I said... I've been dragging ass. Lesson learned! Meeting starts at noon, I pull up at 1100 hrs, and head inside. Now.... I'm smiling and glad I made the journey. Inside I find Skrape and his contingent. Crayon is in from AR. See a lot of familiar faces from the OK Chapters. Mason our NPRO is in with his contingent from AZ. Burner is with them and speaking to the crowd as he's running for NPRES; we finally get a real face to face to chat. And our Region V rep is here as well; always good to see Lefty whom is our future NSEC. Whew, lot of Big Dog's in the house! Man ... had to break away for a few Bloody Mary's there at the Legion's bar, chat with the folks in there for an hours or so. Overall enjoyed the Meeting which thank god was short (less than 2 hrs). I'm soon sneaking out the door, on the bike and headed East!
Before I joined the CVMA, I rode with the IIRA and made a lot of lifetime friends. Three of them have been in Ft Smith for a few days and I'm rolling in for a reunion. When I pull up around 1700 they're in the Lobby waiting for me, hand me a few cold ones and we're catching up! Donnie and Stump are always trouble together, but guessing Tim has been babysitting the last few days? LMAO. Well, hour later we're headed out to grab some grub, listen to music, lot of adult beverages and ... well .. a great fucking time! After a great dinner, we hit the bars and finally end up at 906. Great Cigars and .... 7-3 is in the house! Run into my brothers Chief (Mic) their CXO, Lil Joe (previous CC?) and Ozone their CSEC. Great night! The time flies by waaaaay too quickly and it's midnight, I'm exhausted, few others are feeling no pain .. and time to crash. I'm thinking I'm going to be out and up early and head home .. but .. Tim and I find ourselves chatting for the next several hours catching up on old times. In all these years, I don't think we've ever had that productive of a conversation. I could have chatted until the sun came up, but... had some miles to put on Krimson.
Up around 7, we're all moving and loading bikes and ... after twenty minutes or so of BSing, we're all headed out. Damned that went by quick! On a positive note, glad we quit consuming beverages before midnite; actually feel pretty good with 4 or 5 hrs of sleep. Stump and Donnie and rolling SE, Tim is finishing the loading up and I'm headed SW. Its about 60 deg, sunny and warming up. I'll grab a lot of throttle keeping it about 10 over, but as I get closer to Texas, I'm in the triple digits often when I can see the traffic ahead of me .. or .. lack of. I'll pull up before 1pm, and after a quick shower and change, 12 minutes later mama and I are headed out for Sunday Funday! Most can't believe I show up ... hell I can't either. I'm friggn beat! I'll sleep over ten hours that night. Having fun is work!
Next year.... Steel Horse it is. It's on the calendar ;)
I've always in my personal life considered that I've had 3 circles of friends. First can usually count on one hand; the ones that ...
