Just finishing up 2023. How many times have you seen this movie, starring Jimmy Stewart, “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”? Well always good to watch it and remember what’s important in life! God, family, and friends. Money not so much, always helps though!
Let’s retrace some of the trips and happenings of 2023, shall we!
The first long trip of 2023 was Daytona. “Jetson” from Denver trailered to my place. We rolled out the second week of March. First night, made it down to the middle of Louisiana. The weather was good not like the previous year. Rain, rain all the way.
Make it to Pensacola here we cut over to the coastline. Beautiful drive along the coast through Mexico Beach and Panama City. Finishing up the day at Apalachicola. Great little town with good restaurants and a good view of the gulf coast.
Next day Mayo, Florida. One of the best food stops on the trip. Down home cooking, southern style. Cornbread, sweet potatoes, lima beans, wow you know the drill! They probably lost money on us!
Next day make it to “Leadville Larrys”. Always a good lay over, fresh shrimp and all the trimmings.
Actually did a little fishing on the lake in Larrys back yard.
Daytona, is in our sights! Piranha Grill is the first stop. Connect with some of the “Carolina Boys”.
“Jetson” calls up his friend, Doug, from New York City, who is retired in the area. Always good to have friends! A place for us to crash and stay.
A great few days to spend in the Florida sun and with friends. Time to roll back to “Leadville Larrys”, double dip the hospitality”. More good food!
The trip back to Texas begins tomorrow! What a rainstorm, rain for a better part of 100 miles.
Broke out of the rain but cool ride back to Biloxi. Stay at the motel across from the “Hard Rock Cafe”.
Walk to the casino for some action! Always like to shoot craps, fast game, win quick or lose quick.
Lucky this night and walked away ahead! Pretty unusual for me!
Next morning, homeward bound! I-10 all the way. Lunch break at Jennings, La., Darrel’s, right off the interstate. Great sandwich’s, jalapeno mayo, with roast beef and ham is killer! Full belly let’s roll on west. Shut down for the night in the edge of Houston. The traffic is crazy, glad I don’t live there. Next morning coffee next door, try and let traffic subside. Houston. Next stop Luling, City Market, the best BBQ in Texas! “Jetson” agrees, impressive! Pass by the pit and order what you see. “Jetson” liked this venue.
Next stop home, see Pat my wife, and my animals, Rose, Hot Nancy, my dogs, and “One Eyed Jack” my cat.
April finally rolls around, time for the annual trip out west. The same participants as last year. “Roadrunner”, “Happy Hour”, and “Easy G”.
Do our usual Meet at Roosevelt and run to “Easy G ‘s deer camp.
Run to Ft Stockton and take Hwy 385 towards Carlsbad. Cut off just south of Carlsbad to make “Chief Sitting Bull Falls’. This park is located off the grid. Got to want to find it! It is worth the effort. Kinda frozen in time. The water still running over the high cliff. But as years has past the volume of water is much less. Well worth the stop.
After a stay in Carlsbad for the evening, we head to Cloudcroft. After leaving Cloudcroft you can see for miles over White Sands New Mexico.
Run through Las Cruces and Deming and head to Silver City. One of our favorite stops. So much history in this town. The Silver mine was located just north of town. Today, still a mine but mostly copper.
Next day we travel to the Gila Wilderness, located about 50 miles north of town. The Gila Cliff Dwellings is located here. Breathtaking views, the inhabitants were here around the year 1200.
It takes about 1 hour to take the trail up and around the mountain. Well worth the journey.
Leaving Silver City we take Hwy 180 northwest towards Eagar. Always a cool ride, Mountains and valleys with elk and deer galore. At Eagar we turnwest to Pinetop. Our stop for the evening.
The Log Cabin Motel is always welcoming. A bar and grill is located on either side of the motel. How convenient!
Next day. Showlow and west to the Salt River Canyon, One of our favorite stops. The river is running pretty strong this year. Past years very slow.
Globe is on the radar next. We take a little side trip to Superior. My old buddy, Leadville Larry, lived here a few years back. Had to check-out his old place.
Run south out of Superior to Tucson. Catch I-10 to Benson. Check in to a local motel then run to Tombstone. Always a fun ride and time. Meet other riders from all over the country.
After dinner and all the fun we stay in town one day we head back to the lodging.
Next morning everybody parts ways. I head south to Douglas, from mountains to desert. Very scenic road. Past by the location of Geronimo’s surrender.
Run north and catch I-10, run west to El Paso and down to Van Horn for the evening.
Always good to see that front gate. Another successful ride of about 6000 miles.
My how time flies, September already! The “Take It Easy Tour” is upon us.
Next morning, It’s homeward bound for another successful trip.
Believe it or not it’s June already. 100 anniversary of Laconia, New Hampshire is here. “Speehless” is on board for this trip. “Jetson” as well is ready.
The launch date is the second week of June. Me and “Speechless” leave from Fredericksburg.
Northeast bound, first stop Beal Street in Memphis. Always fun and games on Beal Street. Plenty of food and drink on this street.
We continue northeast up through Kentucky and West Virginia. We connect with “Jetson” in West Virginia. The trip continues northeast to Niagara Falls. Quite the site, lot of water coming over those falls.
We roll east through New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Lincoln, New Hampshire is our destination. Located about 50 miles north of Laconia. A easy commute to Laconia.
First day all about Weir’s Beach and the venue at Laconia. Next day we are off to Mt Washington. Couldn’t see much from the top of the mountain, too much fog and clouds, all well, say we have been there!
Next day off to Bentleys down by the Maine coast. Incredible bar with food venue. He has a great museum at the back of the property. Motorcycles, trucks, cars, you name it! We got a personal tour from the man himself!
Nightfall has caught us again, Also heavy rain all the way back to Lincoln. Bummer, at least I won’t melt.
After a few days, time to roll out back towards home. We do make a side trip up through upstate New York. Lot of Amish in this area, horse and buggies, the simple life.
Run back to Ford City, Pa to see my long time friend Cap. Starr, Crash for the night at his place. Catch some local grub at Stanleys Great place, good food.
Roll out the next day, running south to West Virginia. Continue south to Ashville, N.C. Check into a motel and prepare for Maggie Valley tomorrow.
Maggie Valley, the home of “The Wheels Through Time” motorcycle museum. We got on a first name basis with Matt and Andy, Owner and worker at the museum. Lots of bikes and stuff to see at this place. Make it a bucket list item!
Time to head home. We ride together until middle of Mississippi.
“Speechless” heads south, I head west. Getting very hot by now, 100 degrees plus.
Make an evening stop by Tyler with a good friend. Next morning, homeward bound.
“Roadrunner”, Easy G” is ready! The 13th is the departure date. “Jetson” will meet us in colorado. We do our normal meet in Roosevelt. Run to “Easy G”s” deer camp.
Run north up through Big Spring, Lamessa, and Lubbock. Make a stop at Smokey Joes for some food, always a good stop.
Continue north through Dalhart, Clayton, Raton Pass. We are to connect with Bryan in Colorado City. Make the connection at the “High Octane” grill in Colorado City.
Back to Bryans for the evening. Bishop castle next morning, on to Royal Gorge, Salida.
Roll west the next morning with “Roadrunner” and “Easy G”, Catch Cottonwood pass, Black Canyon on the way to Grand Junction. Catch “Colorado National Monument” just west of town. Another must see place!
Head back east to hit The Grand Mesa. The right time of the year, the trees are turning beautifully. I keep saying a must see road.
Travel back to Ronnies for the evening. “Roadrunner and “Easy G ‘ head home the next day.
“Jetson” arrives the next day. Next morning, here we come. Durango, Silverton, Telluride, and Delores.
The scene of the crime! Hit the curb, broken wrist! We made the best of the situation. Rented a car and went to Winslow. I “Stood On The Corner In Winslow Arizona”.
Did the Festival and returned to meet Bryan to haul my bike home. “Jetson” returned to Denver. Bryan loaded the bike and we went back to Colorado city for a couple days.
Rolled back to Texas to check with the doctor about my break. Surgery required. A plate and screws. Could have been worse! Only rode about 2100 miles this trip. Expected to do around 4000.
2nd week of October rolls around, time for the annual pig roast in Johson City. Always a good time, see old friends and meet new ones. Live auction to raise money for the Cherokee Childrens Home, local bands performing and of course the BBQ dinner, always good. Always leave about a hour before dark to avoid those deer collisions.
RIP One Eyed Jack
Fast forward to December, Time to deliver presents and money to the Cherokee Childrens Home in Cherokee. We meet at the Pecan Grove Grill and Bar in Fredericksburg. 100 bikes or so attend, great turnout. We travel the approximate 60 miles to the home. Santa in the lead. We arrive with children waving and staff smiling and waving, a good site to see.
Fajitas and all the trimmings is served this year, with some great homemade desserts. After all the gifts were handed out to the children, a check for $15,000 was presented to the director. Pretty awesome!
This is pretty much a recap of the 2023 rides and happenings, close to 25,000 miles riden for the 4th year in a row.
On a sad note: A small kitten appeared at our front door. He was only a few days old. His eyes were all matted up. Pat took him to the vet, he had herpes in both eyes. They removed one eye and gave medication for the other. Brought him home and put him in the upstairs bathroom. We nursed him back to health. I named him “One Eyed Jack”. Such a happy cat, loved everyone and everything. Wake up each morning playing with his ball and playing with the two dogs. Greet us each morning with a hug and a rub to the beard. Say, “Jack” ready to eat, he would go to his bowl. Smart cat. Followed me in the yard like a dog. He was friends with the deer that would show up daily at the back fence. Never bite me or scratched me, never fought with any of the animals. Such a great personality.
Jack
The day I hit the curb in Colorado, “Jack” went missing! I returned a week later from Colorado, still no “Jack”, I’ve searched high and low, the back pasture and beyond. Still no “Jack.”
I don’t know what took him out, maybe the dog next door, coyote, hog, eagle, hawk, I don’t know.
If all animals go to heaven, I am sure he will be there. He may not have his wings but I bet he’s got his other eye!
Next year 2024 is my 50th year riding HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES! So 2024 is going to be a 50 Year Roadtrip! Look forward to more exciting rides!
Like I always say, live life to the hilt you never know when it’s your last trip!
RIDE FREE AND RIDE OFTEN!
“DAD”
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