Month: November 2018

Intervention, Rollin’ Heavy, and Walking Cranes

I finally got to ride with a group,…woohoo!!! :):):)

Joined Asphalt & Iron on their ride through the Ocoee National Forest.

Wow they are huge with more than 6K members. We met up at Wawa. Apparently that’s a favorite group meetup point. Rough guess, close to 200 bikes were there. I was like, what did I get myself into?!

As small groups took off, I realized it’s just a popular starting spot for bike groups. When we left we had a group of 14 bikes, probably around 20 people. They are quite an adept bunch. Very smooth, predictable, and respectful.

It was a sweet ride, the air smelled fresh and there was so much incredible scenery. The sky was crystal blue with lots of Herons and Egrets flying by. We had to stop at one point to allow a couple of them to walk across the road. We rode by a LOT of ponds and lakes

After 70 or so miles we stopped at Black Bear Pub for lunch. I’m usually the guy in the corner check work emails and surfing Facebook. I was doing that until I was hit with INTERVENTION!!!

A few of the women on the ride scolded me for behaving like an outcast – they weren’t having it.

I was under duress so I started to talk. Not always a good thing if you know me. I guess that whole intervention thing works. I need to learn more about this strange phenomenon “socializing”.

We head out again. Along some of the stretches a few of us have a bit of calculated fun accelerating along some long stretches. On one stretch the couple ahead of me take off and a bandana nearly hit me, I came so close to catching it!

Later I found out it was a 20 year old bandanna that has a lot of memories attached to it. The group didn’t stop to get it. The whole thing reminded me of a viral video…

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/video/man-pranks-wife-while-driving-in-their-car/vi-AAz13lW

We ended up at Shovelhead Lounge where an amazing group Rollin’ Heavy played through midnight. Two guitarists, one bassist, a drummer, and a lead singer. I’ve got to tell you, they absolutely nailed it! It would have been a successful bootleg recording!

(Not my image)

All along the ride at all the stops I had my usual Pepsi or Coke. Hypoglycemia sucks. I don’t respond well to alcohol, unless it is (up to) one beer after a good meal, and ONLY if I’m not riding

The music was sooo good it reminded me of a Monsters Of Rock that I went to in Nürenberg in the early 80’s.

It started getting late so I head out. When I got home I posted the group’s expected “Got home safe” post on their Facebook page. I passed out and woke up Sunday afternoon

I checked my trip odometer and saw I had 205 miles for the day. Not too shabby!

I’m looking forward to doing this again!

CVMA, DD-214, and Michelin Man

Funny thing happened on my way to join the local chapter fo the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association as a Supporting member, since I did not see combat in my US Army 1979-85 stint. I decided to leave my leather vest at home, since I never wear patches. I decided a long time ago if I ever wear patches, it would be in support of our US Military.

So I head out on the 30 or so mile trek from home (Ocoee, FL) to Seminole Harley-Davidson in Sanford, FL. Its a beautiful day, mostly clear blue sky. I’m doing about 10 over the speed limit, low enough to not be pulled over (hopefully), and sadly slower than most of the traffic around me.

So I’m in Interstate 4 wearing my favorite Harley Davidson short sleeve shirt. You know, the one with snaps instead of buttons. Funny how that thing ballooned on the highway when the wind hit me. Felt like the Michelin Man! It was funny, but also annoying, I felt like it was slapping me on the chin, ala Nate Diaz.

michellin-man-on-motorcyccle

I didn’t mind it too much, except I figured I looked really stupid.

When I arrived at the dealer, I locked the bike, grabbed my application papers, and when I reached into my shirt pocket that’s when I noticed my Passport, DD-214, California Motorcycle Registration, and California Firearm Registration were gone.

Well, shit.

I got to the dealer and asked around to see if I could find the group. Nobody heard of CVMA or Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Strange. I posted to their Facebook page, got a few responses. They were upstairs, so I headed there. Found they were meeting in an office, with some folks in the hallway.

Turns out I wasn’t able to join since I needed a paper copy of my DD-214. I have a picture of it that I took to send to the Orlando Harley dealer (inquiring about discounts). But CVMA won’t accept a picture. Oh well, rules are rules. So I’ll need to request more copies, although I have two more copies in my car (which I haven’t shipped to FL yet).

I’m just relieved the really important stuff like my California Drivers License, my US Homeland Security Global Entry card (which required my DD-214), credit cards, medical cards, etc., were all safely stored in my wallet, chained to my belt loop.

I ordered a new Passport and a new DD-214. Not sure if I’ll need to order a copy of my California registration for the Harley, since I have 30 days from Oct 22 to get it registered in FL. As far as the California firearm registration, well, Kamala Harris can suck fierce arctic moose dick.

I guess I won’t be able to go to the CVMA Florid Rally this coming weekend. With only a few months of riding weather, well, sucks what a gust of wind can do. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯