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It was so blasted hot for this ride I commented to Hildia on the way to the jump off that probably wouldn't be anybody there. Was I ever wrong. The biggest crowd this year turned out proving that you just never know. We had nineteen motorcycles show up, seven of which were ridden by guest riders. We were strung out for a quarter of a mile rolling out of Collierville and thanks to Hildia we got the pictures to prove it.
Our route took us down highway 57 to Middleton where we turned right and headed for Mississippi. We lost a couple of our guest riders in Middleton who, as best as we can figure, simply turned around and left us. We understand that the lady had just moved to America and we think maybe the excessive heat index was just a bit much. We picked up Hwy 72 at Walnut then up the hill on Country Road 745 and we arrived in the parking lot of Chapman's at 6:00PM on the dot.
By the time the lone waitress assigned to our little nook got us all fed it was nearing eight o'clock. She worked hard though, did a good job and the wait was worth it because everything on my plate was delicious. No complaints about the food other than the servings were too much. Hushpuppies were especially good I thought.
There was a bit of confusion on the ride home, a failure to communicate so to speak. One of our guest riders thought a simple wave of the hand meant for her to pull over so she did. Consequently, everybody pulled over for thinking a mechanical failure of some kind. One group was a quarter mile in front of the other and communications went haywire. But we eventually figgured it out and got back on the road. Then my lights went to acting up after a left low beam bulb blew. The brake and tail lamps got dim and if I hit the turn signal both of 'em blinked. I just knew I was loosing electrical power but the amp gauge showed 14 amps constant. I decided to limp home and hope the cops ignored my weird lights.
As folks peeled off heading their separate ways eventually Hildia and I were alone. With only one lamp on low beam I ticked off a few drivers by running my lights on bright. Danny and Lori offered to follow us in case the beast quit. We thanked them but decided we could make it.
And we did. But the oddest thing, just as we got within sight of our house I hit a bump and everything except the blown low beam lamp went back to working normally. Go figure. Hildia and I rolled in the drive at 9:15 pm tired but happy to get our ailing bike home with no further problems. We slept like logs that night and I dreamed of new batteries, halogen headlight bulbs and hushpuppies.
Roll Call: Todd Simpson, Paul Romesburg, Mike Zikoski, Terry & Mary Carol Scott, Danny & Lori Parker, Charlie & Darnel Gibson, Rick & Donna Hightower, Tim & Linda Duncan, Joe & Bonnie Shoemaker, David Elston, Buck & Donna Perminter, Chat Lofton, Lou & Carla Nathan, Hildia Max, Yours Truly and last but not least, seven guest riders.
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Tour Riders® 2011
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