Last Ride of 2015 and First Ride of 2016

I did a pre-ride on December 31st for our New Years Day ride with John O'Laughlin.  It was a chilly 37 degrees on New Years Eve Day, but we rode the 39 miles.

On New Years Day 41 bikes rode with the Cave Country H.O.G. Chapter, ending up at Overtime for lunch.  A few took a shorter ride, but most rode the 39 miles in the 40 degree temperature.

Jerri and I were chilly, but it was a beautiful sunny day (a great way to start 2016) !!

Our total mileage for 2015 was 16,879 and our total for each bike was ('06 Ultra Classic 146,842 and '13 Limited 43,764).

Cave Country H.O.G. Colorado Trip

Jerri and I left on June 16 for our Cave Country H.O.G. trip to Colorado.  We had a great trip with stops at the Truman Library in Independence and a great ride into Kansas where we saw the stone fences, the largest ball of twine, and the very interesting Garden of Eden.  We had five great days of riding in Colorado including Georgetown (Every Which Way, But Loose), Loveland Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Budweiser and Coors Breweries, plenty of wildlife and beautiful scenery.  Our last day in Colorado included a ride up Pikes Peak.  We stopped in Rolla, MO on our way home to visit friends and see interesting sites on Route 66.  We made it home on the 30th.

2015 Kentucky State H.O.G. Rally

Jerri and I had a great time at the Kentucky State H.O.G. Rally in London June 4th through the 6th.  We rode the backroads surrounding London including an early morning ride to a local lake and a nice ride to Cumberland Falls State Park.

Cave Country H.O.G. Annual Party

At the Cave Country H.O.G. Annual Party on February 7th Jerri and I won the women's and men's Top HOG award and I won the mileage with 17,837 to miles for the year.

The year started off great, but on March 31st I broke my fibula when the white bike fell during slow speed riding practice.  I was off the bike for 6 weeks so my mileage for the year suffered.

Final 2014 Ride and First 2015 Ride

Jerri and I had a great riding season with our mileage a bit lower than usual.  I took my traditional New Year's Day ride of 25 miles at 32 degrees on the 2013 bike.  Today Jerri and I rode with Harley Davidson Bowling Green and Cave Country H.O.G. Chapter.  Nearly 40 bikes rode the route and our first ride mileage was 56 miles.  Not bad for a under 40 degree day!

Our total Harley Davidson mileage at the end of 2014 is 173,783 (30,253 on the 2013 and 143,530 on  the 2006.  Our mileage for the 2014 on the 2013 bike was 14,581 and for the 2006 bike was 3,256  for a total mileage of 17,837.

Trip To The Upper Peninsula

     Jerri requires at least one motorcycle camping trip each so we headed for the west coast of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula (UP) on July 16th.

     We camped at Van Buren State Park and headed up the coast visiting lighthouses at Holland and Grand Haven State Parks.  Our next overnight stop was at the Snyder Shoreline Inn in Ludington.  Friday morning we boarded the S.S. Badger, the last coal fired ferry on the Great Lakes, for a relaxing four hour crossing to Manitowac, Wisconsin.   We headed north through Green Bay, Wisconsin following US 41 and MI 35 along Green Bay to John Walker Wells State Park for another night of camping.On Saturday we followed MI 35 to US 2 with a stops at the Seul Choix Points and Manistique lighthouses before heading north on MI 117 and MI 123 for camping at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.  The falls were amazing and we thank Greg and Michelle Bowlin for recommending a stop there.  Sunday morning was spent visiting the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, home of the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald.  We crossed the Mackinaw Bridge and stayed the night in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan before heading home on Monday.

     The weather was nice and cool so mosquitos weren’t an issue while camping.  We had great food; Wisconsin Beer Soup with a pretzel roll, great lake trout, and we got up close and personal with a Michigan Pasty.

     The folks from the UP were very friendly, have their own state fair, and want to be the 51st state.

     For those who have never rode the west coast of Michigan give it some thought.  The white sand beaches are amazing and you’ll never run out of lighthouses.

1929 Ford Tri-Motor Flight

On June 22nd, 2014 Jerri and I opted for a flight in the 1929 Ford Tri-Motor visiting the Bowling Green airport rather than the usual Sunday Wing-It ride.

I put together a model Tri-Motor and have always liked the plane and we could not miss the opportunity to take a ride.  It was a great experience for both of us and a chance to see Bowling Green from the air.

2014 Kentucky State H.O.G. Rally - Lexington

Jerri and I left with other members of our chapter on Wednesday June 4th for the state rally in Lexington.  We had a great time -  nice rides with plenty of food and drink each night provided by the rally.

Jerri and I won the "Bike Wash" game and I came in 2nd in the slow race.

Lexington is a great venue.  Plenty of gifts and gift cards were given out each evening.

2014 Texas Trip & Texas State H.O.G. Rally in Abilene

Jerri and I headed for Texas on May 7th with 2 nights camping along the Natchez Trace and a 3rd night in the Teepee Motel in Wharton, Tx.  After a brewery tour in Shiner we headed south to Eagle Pass where Jerri's grandfather was born and on to Alpine for 3 nights in the Holland Hotel.

Jerri and I had a great ride to the Big Bend National Park which included a crossing into Mexico in Boquillas.  We took a boat ride across the Rio Grande and Burros into the village, and had a great lunch.  It was great time and the only place I would enter Mexico.

On the 14th we arrived in Abilene for the rally.  Abilene welcomed all of us with open arms - great rides - and entertainment (Travis Tritt and Three Dog Night).  We also met up with our friends for San Angelo.  I competed with my first Novice Skills Competition and Jerri and I won the Texican Hat Dance.

We're looking forward to the 2015 Rally in Tyler