My American Ride (in Harley Tee Shirt Fashion)

I've been fortunate enough to get to ride all over the United States and enjoy the roads, towns and people everywhere I've traveled. For many years, I would buy a tee shirt at every Harley dealer I visited. After 100-plus tee shirts, I stopped buying at every one and now only buy a tee shirt if I think the dealership has a cool name (Bald Eagle, Grand Canyon, things like that). But, I got a wild hair this weekend to take pictures of a lot of the shirts in my tee shirt collection to see what kind of story they told. They tell me that I've traveled a lot of miles on a motorcycle over the years. Enjoy the trip and the tee shirts.


My first Harley tee shirt from Battlefield Harley-Davidson in Gettysburg, PA. I bought my first Harley there and rode it home to Texas. I like to tell people I had 1500 miles on the bike before I got it home from the dealer. Jerry Evans bought his 2nd Harley at the same time and we rode them back taking excursions down the Blue Ridge Parkway and Natchez Trace. Great ride!

Of course, once I got back to Texas, there were Harley dealers all around the state that had to be visited.

Mancuso became my "home" dealership.

Stubbs was also a regular stop while I was living in Houston.

Beyond that, every dealer in Texas was fair game depending on where I was going and what I was doing.

Then of course, there were the cross country rides that I tried to squeeze in every chance I got. Like the trips from Texas to Florida to attend Bike Week and Biketoberfest activities in Daytona Beach over the course of several years. This meant finding new routes through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to break the monotony of a dreaded ride across I-10. Between Harley dealerships and Hooters, we always managed to keep it interesting even if it meant riding a few hundred miles out of our way (like when we came back by way of Tennessee one time.)

Chattanooga - Home to one of the best Hooters in the US.

2004 was particularly special for a ride down Route 66. I was working in Milwaukee and decided to ride up for a couple of weeks of work, then ride back along Route 66 as far as I could cover until I ran out of time and had to go home. I made from Chicago (Route 66's origin if you are headed west) to western Oklahoma. Clinton, OK to be exact, where I finally turned south for Texas. Of course, you can imagine that Harley-Davidson didn't miss the marketing opportunity presented by Route 66 as you'll see from the shirts below.










In 2006 I made an epic trip from Texas to California to meet my favorite biker, Bandit, of Bikernet.com. It was a great ride even counting the couple of days where I was sick as a dog, but still riding because I didn't have time to waste sitting in a hotel tossing my cookies. Even though most of the shirts from the trip came from Texas, the ride along the Mexican border was awesome. I remember the shirts from Barnett's and Sierra Vista were long sleeve because the ride was in January and I was freezing my butt off in the desert when the sun would go down. On the way home I met Jerry in west Texas and we made a stop at Bone Daddy's for BBQ and cute waitresses. I remember Jerry looking longingly out into space and saying, "This is my favorite place in the whole world."





My California trip was one last run before I moved to Virginia in February 2006. But, not to worry, the motorcycle went with me and the rides continued. 2007 included my first trip to Laconia, New Hampshire for their bike week (which Jerry and I agreed was lame, but did give me the opportunity to ride my Harley to Maine) and my first ride to Sturgis, South Dakota for the Black Hills Rally (NOT LAME!) The Sturgis trip meant a couple of days at the Buffalo Chip Campground, a ride into Wyoming and an afternoon drinking beer and hanging out in Deadwood.












Of course the move to Virginia meant acquainting myself with my Virginia dealers with Grove's winning out as my dealer of choice.






2009 meant a couple of rides to Alabama to visit the folks that included a break down in the rain in southern Virginia where New River Valley H-D took good care of me. I also managed a visit to Ocean City for their version of Bike Week that year, but I was only there for the day, so I can't really offer a rating for that one.







2010 included another epic 6000 mile ride out to Las Vegas to get Jeremy and Casey married. The trip out gave me a chance to ride a little more of Route 66 west to Kingman, Arizona. The return trip included meanderings through Texas, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina.







This summer's ride was a trip out to Iowa for a family reunion and then a return up through Minnesota and across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.




Of yeah, 2011 also included a few months back in Texas working, so why not throw in another tee shirt from the Great Republic of Texas! That's a wrap.

Spring Civil War Ride

I reluctantly moved to Virginia in January of 2006. I was apprehensive because I had spent 23 years in Texas and considered myself a Texan. What I didn’t appreciate at the time was how much Virginia has to offer in the way of history and a Texas-like sense of state pride. I now have easy access to places like Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Yorktown and other places that played a significant role in forming our nation. But, my favorite thing about living in Northern Virginia is the easy access to an abundance of Civil War sites and history. There are literally hundreds of sites within 100 miles of my home including no fewer than eight major battlefields. I have the luxury of jumping on the motorcycle and within minutes I am able to take myself back in time to a place where survival was a daily goal for some and unattainable for many others.

A shot from the Manassas NBP this fall (2011).

The Civil War; also known as The War Between the States, Mr. Lincoln’s War, or if you’re from the south like me, The War Against Northern Aggression, represents one of the darkest four years in our young country’s history. Slavery was a major factor in the war, but as in most wars, the cause is not simply one thing, but a combination of circumstances, and lest we forget the most common cause, power and money. The Northern states possessed the majority of the power in Congress and the nation’s wealth. The Southern states wanted more power in Congress and most of their wealth was wrapped up in cotton. Slaves made the cotton industry king in the South and a threat against slavery was viewed as a direct threat against the wealth of the South.

The Electra Glide parked along the split-rail fence at Manassas NBP.

I live only a few miles from Manassas National Battlefield Park (NBP) and drive through the battlefield daily on my way to and from work. Manassas NBP was the site of two major battles of significance during the war. The first battle (known as 1st Manassas), in July 1861, was the first major land battle of the war. The South won 1st Manassas and that battle introduced the North to the famous Rebel Yell as well as earned Thomas J. Jackson (a Colonel at the time) the nickname of “Stonewall” Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson Monument at Manassas NBP (I took this one earlier in the year when the battlefield was covered in snow)

In August 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia to a decisive win in the 2nd Battle of Manassas. As a result of the loss at 2nd Manassas, President Abraham Lincoln relieved Major General John Pope of command and merged Pope’s army in with Major General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. Unfortunately for Lincoln, the Army of the Potomac had to endure multiple changes in leadership as he searched for a general who could, or would, “take the war to the rebels”. But as of late-summer 1862, McClellan was Lincoln’s guy.

The Electra Glide doing what it does best. Taking me to visit great places.

Lee decided to take his army north into Maryland. His goal was to take the war to northern soil and allow Virginia time to heal from the war. In addition, he hoped a victory on northern soil would impact the elections coming up in November of 1862. Lee’s army marched north from Manassas, crossed the Potomac River and began what became known as the Maryland Campaign. The Maryland Campaign ended in the bloodiest, single-day battle in the history of the United States along Antietam Creek.

I’ve visited many of the battlefields in the area and two of my favorite places are Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. Between my desire to visit these two places again and the need to get out on a motorcycle ride after a long, cold winter, I decided to go for a ride. In a rare moment of weakness, Renee agreed to come along providing it wasn’t raining and wasn’t too cold. I plotted out a ride that would not only take me to the battlefields, but also ensured we got to ride some terrific roads on the way there.

After filling the gas tank at the local 7-Eleven, we headed west on Waterfall Road across Bull Run Mountain and then through the Virginia Piedmont on our way to Antietam National Battlefield. The roads on our way to Antietam are a motorcyclist’s dream. Each rises, falls and winds their way across the hills and dales that make up this part of Virginia and Maryland. The ride into the Antietam battlefield meanders along the Maryland side of the Potomac River on Harpers Ferry Road providing great views of the river as well as the countryside walked by the armies of the North and South.

A shot of Waterfall/Hopewell Road from a ride last fall.

A shot of Halfway Road that runs between The Plains and Middleburg, Virginia

This is Foxcroft Road north of Middleburg alongside Goose Creek

Harpers Ferry Road alongside the Potomac River just west of Sandy Hook, Maryland

More of Harpers Ferry Road as it winds its way toward Sharpsburg

We arrived at Antietam NB and spent some time riding along the designated route and stopping to view the sights and read the history associated with this special place.

On September 16, 1862, Gen. McClellan and Gen. Lee came face-to-face near Sharpsburg, MD. Lee was defending a line to the west of Antietam Creek with his back to the Potomac River. Union troops began their attack on Lee's left flank the next morning. The two armies hammered each other back and forth all day.

The Dunker Church at Sharpsburg. Named the Dunker Church because the congregation believed in full immersion baptism. In 1862 it was the site of the initial engagements of the Battle of Antietam.

The Miller farm and the cornfield where heavy fighting occurred 0n the first day of the battle.

The monument in honor of the Maryland soldiers who fought and died at Antietam. It sits across the street from the Dunker Church.

Union assaults against the Sunken Road came very close to breaking the Confederate center, but the Union army wasn't able to take full advantage of their success here.

What started out as a defensive advantage almost turned into a disaster for the Confederate troops as they found themselves sitting ducks in the Sunken Road, also known as "Bloody Lane".

Another view of the Sunken Road from the observation tower (lower left of picture) and the field Union troops crossed while assaulting it.

McClellan had Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside working Lee's right flank. To gain access, Burnside's men needed to cross Antietam Creek. The stone bridge over the creek was well protected by Confederate troops from Georgia who were perched atop a ridge over the creek. Burnside took most of the day to make his assault, but eventually crossed over the bridge and began to roll up the Confederate right. But, before he could complete his rout of the Confederates, Gen. A.P. Hill's troops arrived from Harpers Ferry and drove Burnside and his men back across the creek. This counterattack saved Lee's army from a crushing defeat and left the outcome of the battle basically a draw.

The view of Burnside's Bridge over the Antietam Creek from where the Confederates held the high ground.

Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with more than 26,000 casualties.

Campsite replica from Antietam National Battlefield

After our visit to the Antietam battlefield, we continued north on the back roads of Maryland. One stop included in our route was the Washington Monument. Now I know what your thinking, "Good grief, Chuck. The Washington Monument isn't in the backwoods of Maryland." Well, that's where your wrong.

The citizens of Boonsboro, Maryland, in Washington County, wanted to erect a monument to our first president. So, they built a stone tower that is 34 feet tall and was dedicated in 1827, 58 years before the more famous monument in Washington, DC was completed. It sits 1540 feet above sea level near the top of Monument Knob on South Mountain and offers a great view of the valley below.

The original Washington Monument in Washington County, Maryland.

The view from Monument Knob in Washington Monument State Park.

From the Washington Monument, we wound our way through some Maryland back roads and into Pennsylvania for our overnight visit in Gettysburg at the historic Gettysburg Hotel.

The Historic Gettysburg Hotel where Abraham Lincoln once stayed. It's now run by Best Western, but our room was great. We'll be back for another visit soon.

We roamed the streets of downtown Gettysburg the rest of the evening finally settling in at the Garryowen Irish Pub on Chambersburg Street. We had a great time there mostly listening to the conversations of the other patrons (who, according to the bartender, had been there most of the day). They were having a great time and their party atmosphere was contagious for Renee and me. We spent a couple of hours there enjoying the beer, wine, food and conversation. Or, as they say at the Garryowen, "Ceol, cainte agus craic" - Music, Talk and Fun!

Renee hanging out with Abraham Lincoln and Perry Como on the square in Gettysburg. I'm not sure of the Perry Como connection, but Lincoln is pointing his hat at the window of the house where he wrote the Gettysburg Address.

The old train depot in Gettysburg.

The next morning we braved the cold and climbed on the bike for our visit to the Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP). The pictures tell the story for the battle at Gettysburg better than I can, here's a quick history.

The battle was fought over the first 3 days in July 1863. The fighting began on the north and west side of town, continued through the town itself, and eventually to the south where the Union army held the high ground.

By this time, Lincoln had appointed Maj. Gen. George Meade as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lee had lost his right hand man in Gen. Stonewall Jackson earlier in the year (May), but still had many of the same generals with him. Unfortunately for Lee, none were as savvy as Jackson and several opportunities to take control early in the battle were lost. In addition, Lee's eyes and ears of his army, his cavalry led by J.E.B Stuart, were missing from the battle until the last day. All of this led to a defeat for the Confederate army.

Renee with Lincoln again outside the Visitor's Center at Gettysburg NMP.

The view northwest of Gettysburg where some of the early engagements began on the first day of the battle. Lee had actually instructed his leaders not to engage the enemy, but war rarely goes as planned.

The view looking back into town toward Seminary Ridge.

Cannon lining Confederate Drive in Gettysburg NMP

The view looking across the field where Gen. Pickett led his charge. The Union army were located along the tree lines you see in the far background. Pickett's men had to cross this much unprotected ground to reach the Union lines. It was a blood bath.

The view from Little Round Top where, again, the Union troops held the high ground and the Confederate troops had to clamber over boulders to reach the enemy lines.

The view back toward town from Little Round Top.

One of the monuments in the Wheatfield where several rounds of battles were fought.

The view from the Union lines of the field Pickett's men crossed as they made their charge.

The copse of trees that represented the Union lines as Pickett's men made their charge. The Union lines were near here and this area represents the "High Water Mark" of the Confederate lines - meaning the farthest line of advance in the battle.

More of the area around the High Water Mark.

The angle where some of the fiercest hand-to-hand combat occurred during Pickett's charge.

Confederate Gen. Lewis Armistead's brigade got farther in the charge than any other. He was shot three times just after crossing the wall near the Angle. Armistead was great friends with Union Gen. Winfield Hancock who was leading the Union troops in the area where Pickett's men charged. He was rendered aid by Union Capt. Henry Bingham, who informed Armistead that Hancock had been commanding this part of the defensive line, but that Hancock, too, had just been wounded. Armistead's wounds were not believed to be mortal, but he died two days later.

Hancock survived the battle and the Civil War and went on to be the Democratic nominee for President in 1880.

The monument to Gen. Lewis Armistead, marking where he was wounded.

The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in 51,112 casualties (23,049 for the Union and 28,063 for the Confederate armies).

Pickett's charge alone resulted in total losses of approximately 6,555. Estimates say at least 1,123 Confederates were killed on the battlefield and 4,019 were wounded and/or captured.

Time to Ride Again

Well, it has been a long, cold winter here in Northern Virginia and other than a couple of short, cold rides, the bike has been sitting in the garage...waiting...just waiting. The wait is almost over. With a little luck, Renee and I will be touring a few Civil War battlefields in 11 days. I will be writing an article on the ride and submitting it to a magazine. Hopefully, it will get published, but you all will get a sneak preview of it on the blog whether they decide to publish it or not.

I love to ride. It's difficult to explain how much I enjoy hitting the road. It doesn't matter if I have a destination in mind or if I'm just riding and exploring. A big part of it is seeing new things, meeting different people. You know, getting off the beaten path.

There's a website that lists strange roadside attractions (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/). Things like Muffler Men (tall statues used to advertise a wide variety of businesses), Goats on the Roof (a place in Georgia that has, you guessed it, goats that live on the roof of the building), just crazy stuff like that. It's become one of my "go to" sites when I am planning a trip these days. You should check it out for your next road trip and see if there is something so weird along the way that you just can't resist stopping to see it.

The Civil War ride with Renee is set and there's so much history to see that I haven't even looked at the weird roadside attractions yet. But, I'm also planning a ride to Texas to visit Jeremy in April and I'm loading that ride with as many weird and scenic stops as I can fit in. Plus, I have a list of all the stops from the Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so I'm working a few of those places into the mix too.

I rode some of the Blue Ridge Parkway back in 2001 when I bought my first Harley. I'm going to ride the rest of it on my way to Texas. I also rode part of the Natchez Trace back in 2001 and I'm going to finish it on my way back. Those roads, tied in with a few wacky attractions and a diner, drive-in or dive and I am in hog heaven.

Bottom line, days on the road are my form of spiritual rejuvenation. It gives me the chance to get back in touch with how I really am. I should have been around back in the 1800s to wander the country and live like the saddle tramp that I am. But, I've been extremely blessed in my life, so I won't complain. I'll just hop on the bike and take advantage of the time I get to do what I love.

See ya on the road!

Keep Right

If you’ve read any of my ride stories you already know I don’t like riding on interstates. But, sometimes you can’t avoid it. As far as I’m concerned, there are only 3 reasons to ride the interstate:

1. Speed – You have a deadline or need to make up time to get where you’re going

2. Rain – You have a little more room to maneuver and visibility (seeing and being seen) is usually better

3. Night – For the same basic reasons as #2

If none of the above is applicable, you’ll usually find me cruising on a two-lane road enjoying the scenery and, hopefully, stumbling upon the unexpected. So, it goes without saying that my frustration level shoots through the roof when riding on the interstate and dealing with drivers who don’t understand the concept of “Keep Right Except To Pass” or “Slower Traffic Keep Right”. These drivers are directly interfering with achieving Number 1 above.

I know I’m not the first to register this complaint, but if I can influence just one person from being the dork that commits the left lane driving offense, then it was worth my time to write this. Actually, it was worth my time anyway because I wanted to get this off my chest.

Now I’m not complaining about urban traffic where every lane is being used to keep traffic flowing. I’m talking about the boneheads who cruise along in the left lane even when there isn’t an entrance or exit ramp, another vehicle, or anything else around for miles. If you insist on riding in the left lane, the onus is on you to pay attention to traffic approaching from behind you and move out of their way. By the way, once you move to the right to let them pass, STAY THERE!

“Keep Right Except To Pass” – Seems like a simple concept, huh? I mean, you use the right lane to cruise along and if you happen to catch up with someone, you move to the left lane, make the pass and then move back to the right lane. Wow, I can’t really make it any more complicated than that. Unfortunately, I use the “Go Right In Order To Pass” option a multitude of times because the “Keep Right Except To Pass” concept was too hard for a large number of drivers to comprehend. Maybe they feel they need a quarter mile gap in order to move back over to the right. No, I refuse to give them the benefit of the doubt. MAKE YOUR PASS AND MOVE THE HELL BACK OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE!

The one thing I see all the time is people moving into the left lane to make a pass, but not accelerating to complete the pass and move out of the way of faster traffic. The problem is they had their cruise control set at 1 mph faster than the guy they were passing, so it took 10 minutes to make the pass while backing up faster traffic behind them. If you find yourself moving into the left lane to pass, MAKE THE PASS! Don’t screw around in the left lane. Here’s a helpful hint: Your gas pedal still works when your cruise control is set. You can actually accelerate by pressing on it to enhance your passing capacity. And guess what else? When you move back to the right lane and lift off of your gas pedal, most of the time your cruise control will revert to the original setting. Cool! (This helpful hint was meant facetiously, but I couldn’t come up with the best set of words to make it flagrantly obnoxious.)

“Slower Traffic Keep Right” – Another simple concept, but yet one that seems to cause mass confusion on the interstate. Look, it doesn’t matter if you’re going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone. If the guy coming up behind you is doing 80 mph, YOU ARE THE SLOWER TRAFFIC! It’s not your responsibility to regulate the speed of others. If you’re passing, make the pass and move over. If you’re cruising, then you’re already in the wrong, so quit cruising in the left lane and MOVE TO THE RIGHT!

Of the hundreds of miles I spent riding on the interstates on my Las Vegas trip earlier this year I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say I saw more than 50 drivers abusing the left lane by either not moving back to the right lane after passing or just simply cruising along in the left lane oblivious to all of the other traffic around them (even when 5 or 6 cars passed them on the right). And by the way, this wasn’t just old drivers, women drivers, Asian drivers or any other stereotypical label you might use in a bad driver joke. This disorder knows no bounds when it comes to age, gender, or ethnicity. Drivers of all ilks are equally capable of ignoring these two simple signs and rules of the road.

“Keep Right Except To Pass”, “Slower Traffic Keep Right” – Remember, the ass that gets run over may be your own!

Alabama Bound – Fisher House Ride Day 7

I’ve made the ride between Austin and Houston many times and there’s not much you can do to jazz it up unless you’re willing to take a lot more time. For the most part, it’s US-290 for 130 miles, especially if you’re destination is the northwest side of Houston. Unfortunately, that also equated to a day of riding without taking many pictures. So, I apologize for the lack of pics in this post. The last 3 days of my ride were mostly on interstates so I didn't take many except when I stopped and visited the Fisher Houses.

Leaving from Kyle did give me some variety though. I used TX-21 to slide east and slightly north to Paige, Texas where I hooked up with US-290 and hauled butt to Houston. I had breakfast plans with friends in Houston and didn’t want to leave them hanging too long.

We were scheduled to meet at a place called The Egg and I, or something equally as un-biker-like. Come on man! I ate breakfast at the Cowboy Café the day before. How was I supposed to eat at some she-she foo-foo place called The Egg and I? Luckily, the place was packed and my buddy Patrick was able to convince his wife, Tanya, that JBs Steakhouse and Grill would be the better place to go for breakfast. So, before I could get off the bike at The Egg and I, Patrick and Tanya stopped me and suggested JBs. God is good.

Breakfast tacos...yum yum!

I had a giant plate of breakfast tacos at JBs and enjoyed spending time with Tanya and Patrick. They were our poker buddies for many years in Texas and I still miss those Saturday night get togethers. Plus, it hit me that the little old lady I met in Roswell reminded me of Tanya. The Roswell lady was much older, but if you added 25 or 30 years to Tanya, I’m guessing you’d get my Roswell girl as the result. They had similar builds and sounded similar although the Roswell lady was raspier. Still, I couldn’t help the comparison between the two and had to tell Tanya I had met her in the future. Maybe there’s something to that Roswell UFO mystery stuff after all. I may have been experiencing time travel in the parking lot of the Cowboy Café.

I spent an enjoyable time with Tanya and Patrick, not to mention loaded up on a good breakfast. We said our goodbyes and I rolled out of JBs parking lot in search of US-290 again. My intention when planning this ride was to stop at the Houston Fisher House on my way through town. But, as usual, I was running later than I planned and wanted to get to Mobile before too late in the day to have dinner with my old high school friends. It was a Saturday morning and I hadn’t hooked up with the director at the Fisher House at the VA hospital in Houston, so all I would be able to do was get a quick picture and keep going. I opted to skip the stop and make up some time.

This brings me to the worst part of the trip. If you are traveling to Mobile, Alabama from Houston, Texas there’s really only one route and it includes hundreds of miles of I-10. You will encounter some of the worst highway in America traveling this section of I-10. It is rough, they throw in miles and miles of construction, and you never know when traffic might just come to a complete stop for no apparent reason. Needless to say, it is not my kind of highway. The only saving grace is the 18 mile bridge across the Atchafalaya Swamp. It’s rough too, but at least you have the swamp on both sides of the highway to keep it interesting. The Atchafalaya Swamp is the largest swamp in the US. It is about 20 miles wide from east to west and 150 miles long from north to south and covers approximately 595,000 acres.

The Atchafalaya Swamp

I had lunch (my usual McDonalds cheeseburgers) in Covington, Louisiana and called ahead to my friends to make sure we were still on for dinner. I was back on I-10 in no time and continued east to Biloxi, Mississippi. Biloxi is home to Keesler Air Force Base and home to another Fisher House. I knew I wouldn’t be allowed on base without the proper paperwork (i.e. I left my registration somewhere other than on me or my bike). Still, I decided to try my luck with the security detail at the gate and see if I could either talk my way onto the base or be allowed to walk. Unfortunately, the gate closest to the Fisher House was not open and the signs directed me to the main gate. The Fisher House was too far from the main gate for this old man to walk, so I had to pass on a visit to this Fisher House too.

I wanted to visit the Keesler Fisher House in particular because they took care of my mom and dad during my dad’s eye surgery at the VA hospital there. Dad couldn’t say enough nice things about the director there and how hospitable the Fisher House staff was. I had exchanged email messages with the director and knew he wasn’t going to be around that weekend, but I still had hoped to be able to pop in for a visit. Oh well, maybe next time I’ll be better prepared.

The lighthouse on US-90 in Biloxi.

I grabbed a couple of pictures in Biloxi and took I-110 back to I-10 for the final run to Mobile. I stopped at the welcome center on I-10 as you cross into Alabama from Mississippi. It’s one of the prettiest rest areas you’ll find. I always make it a point to stop there when I’m traveling east on I-10. The giant oak trees with the Spanish moss hanging from the limbs are beautiful. I like finding a quiet place and sitting there for a few minutes. It refreshes me better than any energy drink and I like to think it restores a little piece of my soul every time I visit there.

The beach in Biloxi with the Beau Rivage Casino in the background.

I had dinner with several friends at a Mexican restaurant just south of I-10 near Theodore. It’s becoming a habit to drag my high school friends out any time I’m in Mobile. It’s nice to get to see them and catch up, but it’s also nice to watch them as they interact with old friends that, in some cases, they haven’t seen in a while either, even though they live in the area. It’s amazing to me how those friendships from more than 30 years ago continue to last and how exciting and interesting it is to get together and hear what everyone has been up to.

After dinner, I jumped back on the bike and rode the remaining 50 miles to Foley, Alabama where my mom and dad live. The next day was Mothers’ Day and I was hoping to surprise my mom. Unfortunately, I let the cat out of the bag when I called Dad earlier that evening to let him know when I’d be arriving. She was standing there as he tried to answer my questions without giving away the secret. She figured it out and he had to tell her before I got there, but it was still a nice surprise.

My niece and former sister-in-law were also visiting, so it was go to get them too. It was a quick visit because I needed to be on the road again the next day, but still, it was worth the extra time to get to say hi, particularly on Mothers’ Day. Of course mom got up the next morning and made us all breakfast, but I think that made the day that much more special for her (at least that’s what I tell myself).

This day covered 700 miles with all but 70 miles on interstates, either US-290 or I-10. 630 miles of interstate riding isn’t really my idea of a good day on the road, but sometimes you just gotta suck it up and roll with it.