Paradise: Riding my HD along the beaches of the Sun Coast, FL

Boy, can life get much better than this? It's 87 degrees and sunnny riding amongs the tourists and natives - mostly scantily clothed - heaven on earth. Obviously my sciatica is much better.

My truck is finally done and delivered to Dennis's house. While it was getting an alignment, the mechanic recommended new wheel bearings on the front right. My bud Mick is going to hook that up for me today.

I fly back to IL tomorrow night. USA3000 goes from Clearwater to St. Louis for $110, not much more than gas and a motel for me to ride my bike. But I HATE riding in the rain and there's alot of that in the midwest this week. I'll get back here and pick my bike up later.

My parents come in here tomorrow afternoon. I'm going shopping today and will BBQ for them tomorrow - marinated Pork Tenderloin, baked potatoe and baked beans (one of my favs). And then I guess I'll do some more riding here in Paradise!

Life is GOOD!

1500 miles on 2-wheels over 5 days hurts!

While GETTING older is certainly better than the alternative (death), it sure isn't easy getting used to sometimes. I have been riding motorcycles for 16 years now and have more than 120,000 'documented' miles (I'm enrolled in Harley's Mileage Program). I have done several "Iron Butt" rides(1,000 miles in 24 hours). But I was younger then!

I left southern Illinois Wednesday afternoon and got into Treasure Island, FL Thursday evening (1040 miles), Then Friday afternoon, Pam and I rode to the Leesburg Rally and partied the weekend around central FL. We rode back to TI on Sunday. By Monday, I could hardly move my back hurt so bad - the sciatica nerve apparently was not happy with me.

BTW - I put some new pictures up. Click on Photo Album at the top-left of this page!

Today is slightly better - or I'm getting use to the pain. TG for muscle relaxers, 800mg Ibuprofen and heating pads. And probably Pam's "elbow in the butt" massage helped too.

My dilemma now is: I'm in Florida (OH, POOR ME) with my bike and my truck is in Illinois now complete. The real problem is the weather back in the Midwest - it sucks all week except for Wednesday (tomorrow) but I'm not ready for another 1000 mile trip on 2-wheels just yet.

USA3000 airlines to the rescue. Fly 1-way from Clearwater/St. Pete airport to St. Louis for $79 - actually $110 with fees and taxes. About what it cost to ride my bike here when you add in a 1 nite motel stay. I'm booked on the Friday night flight!

I was also able to arrange a new parking place for my truck and trailer when I'm home here. The marina where I was parking changed management and the new guys weren't very understanding of my situation. And my FL tan has been renewed - I love my vitamin D! And I'm "stuck" here for four more days! Right now I need to go get some groceries - the fridge is empty!

Now I lay me down to sleep ....

IN FLORIDA! WOO-HOO! And I was just in time for one of my most favorite things - Sunset in the Gulf. But OH BOY what an effort to get here. My truck won't be done until Friday, so I HAVE to go back to Belleville. I rode my bike -- 1040 miles in a day and a half - with NO windshield (that's another story for another day). Boy is my butt sore. I'm thinking my abs got a major workout too.

So tonite I sleep in MY bed for the first time this month! Then tomorrow it's off to the Leesburg Rally (just 150 miles away) with a date -- how about that? As soon as Pam gets off work, we ride to the party!

Good news and more good news!

Things are looking up. I found a load in Houston that #1) only adds 150 miles to my return trip to IL and #2) pays enuf to cover ALL my fuel expenses both down and back! I'll deliver this one in OK in the morning and, if I'm REALLY lucky, find soething else going my way.

And, if that wern't enuf, (their) insurance company called and they APPROVED the supplemental cost of repairs to my truck! These guys (EMC Insurance) have been most agreeable to work with.

This would be the opposite of my prior experience with Workmans Auto Insurance. They still havn't paid a $650 claim when one of their insureds hit my trailer -- and was given a traffic ticket -- in Sep 2008! They won't even return my calls anymore. Wonder what that means? Anybody know a good CA lawyer?

In Houston .. for a moment!

My O' My, time flies when your having fun. My friend Dennis was released Sat and is back home doing well. No pain he claims! Good for him!

I have been busy doing nothing, at least until yesterday. Friday afternoon, the car repair place says my truck won't be done (no suprise) but they still havn't got all the ordered parts in yet either!! And I'm suppose to be in Leesburg, FL for the rally this Friday!! OMG!

Then Sat I took a small load going to Houston (friends truck) ande now I'm trying to get outa' here!

Opps -- GTG just got a call and I'm going to get my load headed for OK and then on to IL to get my truck and bike and then FL we hope.

to be continued!

I'm lost W/O my Truck!

I spent the day with Dennis in Effingham, IL while he had a new knee (2-e's)put in. All went well and the doc says he will be out of the hospital perhaps Sat -- WOW! Three days and he's out - amazing.

Meantime I'm lost without my truck. I will "happen to be in the area" drop by the repair shop to see how things are going. I'm hoping maybe this week but next week is more likely. And I have to be in FL for the Leesburg Rally Apr 24 & 25 - that's like NEXT week!

I have had MANY emails from friends and family I haven't spoke directly with lately (years in a couple of instances - sorry Levonna). It's been neat. I hope someone reads this because I enjoy posting. Leave a comment below if you like.

Motorcycle ridng weather the next two days - YAY! Been cold and rainy here alot.

Tomorrow, I may tile Dennis's bathroom. He never finished the shower walls (drywall now).

Right now it's Cardinal Baseball time.

Dennis gets a new Knee today

I'm at the hospital with my best friend Dennis who is getting a new kneee as I type! Well, my truck is in for repairs and Dennis got a ride to the hospital (me) and I'll cover Dennis's business while he recovers. Everybody wins!

The procedure lasts about an hour and my time is about up...

Monday, Monday....so sad to me...

Who was that? The Mommas and the Pappas? No, The Moody Blues! Now THAT would be appropriate!

I had an 8 am appointment Monday morning to get my truck aligned and 2 minutes into the deal, the mechanic shows me that my rear axle is SEVERLY out of whack. I'm talkin 2" difference between the left side and right side clearence betweeen the front of the tire and the wheel well!!!

(Flashback) - about 6 weeks ago, I was in a small town just east of Kansas City for the night. I had dropped my trailer but left my tailgate down since I was going to re-connect early the next morning. I then drove around and found a dead-end street with a cul-d'sac to park and spend the night. After a few hours (watching a video) a city policeman stopped by to check on me (a truck parked by itself on a dead-end street is suspicious in small town, USA). Everything was cool!

I climbed into my little sleeper but was rudely awakened about 2:30am when I felt my truck rolling down a hill (or so it felt). Dazed and confused, I lept into the drivers seat trying to grab brakes and throw it into gear and get my truck to stop -- which it eventually did after several seconds. As reality was slowly taking control (guess I was sleeping pretty hard), I realized there where red taillights in my rearview mirrow that shouldn't be there.

A tractor trailor had swung into the cul-d'sac and then backed into the rear of my truck pushing me about 15' into the field! He claimed to have ..."not seen me." RIIIIIGHT! Coincidently, the same policeman responded to my 911, the other driver was cited and I now have an insurance claim.

Originally I thought a crushed tailgate was the only damage and could be simply repaired at my liesure. Apparently, because the parking break was set, a pin broke that aligns the rearend thru the leaf springs to the frame while being shoved by the big-truck. This discovery now made repairs critical since this became a safety issue. So, my truck is presently in the repair shop here in Belleville. They tell me at least a week! And where do you find a rental vehicle to tow my flatbed with? So now we have lost income - perhaps.

Alas, as with most dark clouds, there is a silver lining. My best friend - Dennis - is scheduled for a surgery Wed morning. He needs a ride to the hospital 90 miles away. He has a small delivery (truck) service that he will be unable to do for a few weeks. So, I will become 'Dennis' for a bit while he is in the hospital. He gets a ride, his business has no interuptions, I get a place to stay and possibly make a few $$$ -- everyone wins!

You see what an awesome life I have! How blessed am I? So, our lesson for the day: No matter how dark it looks there is ALWAYS a glimmer of light somewhere! You just have to keep looking. Many times it's not right in front of you. Have you ever noticed, like in a really dark room, you can see better using your peripheral vision -- concentrate on 'seeing' what's off at an angle. And so too are many things in life.

'Till next time.

My Travels

Sunset in my sideview mirror going east on I-80 in Iowa with a HUGE thunderstorm in front of me -- this photo really doesn't do it justice - it was AWESOME!

And so it begins, my foray into the 21st Century and exercise my journalistic skills (at least in MY head) to share my adventures with whoever cares - or is it 'whomever?' I'm sure my dad will let me know!

I believe it was my rain luvin' cuz, Sherita, that first suggested I blog my adventures. I'm finally getting a 'round tuit'. But what precipatated (where's the spell check?) this imagined need for sharing my travels?

Two things: first of all, I have always loved to write. I was a journalism major after all. Telling stories thru pictures and words is something I REALLY enjoy. And I've been told, I ain't too bad at it. Second, after more than 50 years on this earth, I have found a job that I absolutely LOVE. I deliver 'Hot Shot' loads around the midwest and south. If someone needs something larger delivered (ie. C-130 airplane propellers or locomotive radiators or an antique tractor, etc) I will do it. I have a 30' flatbed trailer and can haul anything up to 15,000 lbs.

And now I have modified my trailer so I can also carry my HD Road King -- travelling the USA with my bike and getting paid for it; what could be better?

Perhaps now you understand my need to spread the word on what an absolutely wonderful - and blessed - life I have. I see things and go places that many people don't. And I want to share.

Thanks for the opportunity. I will try to update regularly - a few times per week. And look - now I can add pictures!!! Here is a link to some past pix:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Ngold101/Travels?authkey=Gv1sRgCIPFl-6JyrW-YA&feat=directlink

I will update these also as I go.....enjoy!