Boog
Traveling Story Teller
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2013
- Messages
- 8,513
- Location
- Dumfries, Virginia
- Ride
- 2014 R3T, RAMAIR, Full Viking Dual exhaust
Day eleven Aug 11th
Looking at my dirty bike next to Lupe’s pristinely clean rides, I felt unworthy. Brahma was as dirty as any road bike could be. Bug and bird guts all over the front and sides, dingy dirty residue everywhere else. But I will say not once has this bike given me cause for concern with its readiness to travel on; and so I climbed aboard and rode away from my good friend Lupe’s.
I leave Tulsa feeling refreshed and ready for the next leg through Arkansas en route to Tennessee. By now, I am becoming a pro at feeding tollbooths. I learned to keep a few bills inside my vest pocket for easier access to the overly hungry toll grabbers. Luckily, the tolls are done by the time I hit I-40.
Arkansas appears before my windscreen in all its forested glory. This is going to be another hot day but not as warm as yesterday. The air stays dry and the scent is pleasing as the miles pass underneath Brahma’s frame. I stop in Russellville for gas and sign read an aptly worded BBQ sign that says, “Big Daddy’s BBQ, we put mean on your buns”. I tried so hard to get my camera out to take a picture of these two…um, girls as they walked by the sign eating BBQ sandwiches. I am sure that no motorcycle, including a Rocket 3, could hold up under either of them. Alas, I could not capture that image for you but I did get a picture of the sign just for fun.
My next stop is at another retired military buddy’s house (Dave) in Arlington, TN, just north of Memphis. Both he and his wife were linguist, he in the USAF and she in the Navy. I would like to think it was my idea that she started riding her own bike some 8 years ago when I talked her into the safety course. Her first ride was an 883L, which she traded off a few years later and bought one of the first HD Slims that came out. She is a short girl, (poor little feet barely touch the ground when she stands up) but she can handle her 103 HD just fine. Dave rides a Road Glide Ultra and even though he likes my R3T, says he is going to get one of the new Road Glides as soon as HD releases another Ultra version. I pulled my bike into their garage and answered a phone call. I turned around a second later and saw him cleaning my windscreen. Aren’t biker friends the best?
Dave took us to a local BBQ joint (Hog Wild) where it is said they have the best BBQ in TN. Evidently, the wet ribs are not the ones they are talking about. Dave cautioned me to order the Memphis ‘dry rub’ ribs and to be honest; those were pretty darn good; better than the wet ribs anyway. I should not complain at all. BBQ is good almost everywhere one goes and yes, I do love it a certain way. So try the wet ribs if you like, they may be exactly what you want.
Back at their house, we had some homemade hard lemonade. I intended on bringing some Fireball to give Dave but I left it in Denver, (I hope Liam does not get into it, he does not have his pilot wings yet and this stuff will lift you off the ground). Dave made up for it as his hard lemonade will sneak up on you. I do not taste any alcohol at all; and it goes down very well. He says it takes about four months to make it and I think I will try my hand at it soon.
Day 12, Aug 12th
Morning comes and Dave’s wife fixes a great breakfast before they head off to work and I hit the road. I am heading to Columbia, TN to my Aunt and Uncle’s house. I do not want to take the super slab today so I head down to Hwy 64 and head east. I plan to see the battlefield at Shiloh but as is normal with me, I get distracted when I see something cool like the sign for the Buford Pusser’s house and museum. If you do not know who he was, watch the movie Walking Tall. Buford was the Sherriff of McNairy County TN and lived in Adamsville. For any history buff who wants to receive firsthand knowledge from people who knew him as a friend and neighbor, check it out and it will only cost you a few bucks and about 45-60 minutes. On a side note, I had a German Sheppard once that was Named Buford; he did not need a gun to keep folks in line either.
From here, I ride east through the low hills and forests of middle Tennessee en route to my Aunt and Uncle in Columbia. Along the way, the widening of the highway by a construction crew slows me down. I see the big rock drills in use before they blast away the mountainsides. The little kid in me wants to stop and watch, but the bike says no and I continue. I think how wonderful it is to be out on a solo long trip. The trees are fully green this time of year and the temperature is mild by August standards. I simply feel great as I enjoy the machine and nature.
I arrive just before dinnertime where by aunt has a wonderful meatloaf for super. This part of Tennessee is great for riding in any direction and I may retire to this area when that time comes. For now, I will enjoy an excellent meal, great conversation and a well-deserved sleep.
Day13, Aug 13th…Day off from riding.
Looking at my dirty bike next to Lupe’s pristinely clean rides, I felt unworthy. Brahma was as dirty as any road bike could be. Bug and bird guts all over the front and sides, dingy dirty residue everywhere else. But I will say not once has this bike given me cause for concern with its readiness to travel on; and so I climbed aboard and rode away from my good friend Lupe’s.
I leave Tulsa feeling refreshed and ready for the next leg through Arkansas en route to Tennessee. By now, I am becoming a pro at feeding tollbooths. I learned to keep a few bills inside my vest pocket for easier access to the overly hungry toll grabbers. Luckily, the tolls are done by the time I hit I-40.
Arkansas appears before my windscreen in all its forested glory. This is going to be another hot day but not as warm as yesterday. The air stays dry and the scent is pleasing as the miles pass underneath Brahma’s frame. I stop in Russellville for gas and sign read an aptly worded BBQ sign that says, “Big Daddy’s BBQ, we put mean on your buns”. I tried so hard to get my camera out to take a picture of these two…um, girls as they walked by the sign eating BBQ sandwiches. I am sure that no motorcycle, including a Rocket 3, could hold up under either of them. Alas, I could not capture that image for you but I did get a picture of the sign just for fun.
My next stop is at another retired military buddy’s house (Dave) in Arlington, TN, just north of Memphis. Both he and his wife were linguist, he in the USAF and she in the Navy. I would like to think it was my idea that she started riding her own bike some 8 years ago when I talked her into the safety course. Her first ride was an 883L, which she traded off a few years later and bought one of the first HD Slims that came out. She is a short girl, (poor little feet barely touch the ground when she stands up) but she can handle her 103 HD just fine. Dave rides a Road Glide Ultra and even though he likes my R3T, says he is going to get one of the new Road Glides as soon as HD releases another Ultra version. I pulled my bike into their garage and answered a phone call. I turned around a second later and saw him cleaning my windscreen. Aren’t biker friends the best?
Dave took us to a local BBQ joint (Hog Wild) where it is said they have the best BBQ in TN. Evidently, the wet ribs are not the ones they are talking about. Dave cautioned me to order the Memphis ‘dry rub’ ribs and to be honest; those were pretty darn good; better than the wet ribs anyway. I should not complain at all. BBQ is good almost everywhere one goes and yes, I do love it a certain way. So try the wet ribs if you like, they may be exactly what you want.
Back at their house, we had some homemade hard lemonade. I intended on bringing some Fireball to give Dave but I left it in Denver, (I hope Liam does not get into it, he does not have his pilot wings yet and this stuff will lift you off the ground). Dave made up for it as his hard lemonade will sneak up on you. I do not taste any alcohol at all; and it goes down very well. He says it takes about four months to make it and I think I will try my hand at it soon.
Day 12, Aug 12th
Morning comes and Dave’s wife fixes a great breakfast before they head off to work and I hit the road. I am heading to Columbia, TN to my Aunt and Uncle’s house. I do not want to take the super slab today so I head down to Hwy 64 and head east. I plan to see the battlefield at Shiloh but as is normal with me, I get distracted when I see something cool like the sign for the Buford Pusser’s house and museum. If you do not know who he was, watch the movie Walking Tall. Buford was the Sherriff of McNairy County TN and lived in Adamsville. For any history buff who wants to receive firsthand knowledge from people who knew him as a friend and neighbor, check it out and it will only cost you a few bucks and about 45-60 minutes. On a side note, I had a German Sheppard once that was Named Buford; he did not need a gun to keep folks in line either.
From here, I ride east through the low hills and forests of middle Tennessee en route to my Aunt and Uncle in Columbia. Along the way, the widening of the highway by a construction crew slows me down. I see the big rock drills in use before they blast away the mountainsides. The little kid in me wants to stop and watch, but the bike says no and I continue. I think how wonderful it is to be out on a solo long trip. The trees are fully green this time of year and the temperature is mild by August standards. I simply feel great as I enjoy the machine and nature.
I arrive just before dinnertime where by aunt has a wonderful meatloaf for super. This part of Tennessee is great for riding in any direction and I may retire to this area when that time comes. For now, I will enjoy an excellent meal, great conversation and a well-deserved sleep.
Day13, Aug 13th…Day off from riding.
