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Dave's Rides

Welcome to Dave's page where he describes his adventures. Dave is an avid rider, hitting the road at every opportunity.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. II ISSUE I 01/08/2012 RIDIN IN THE WIND January 8th, 2012 VOL. II ISSUE I Well we have been truly blessed by God with some great weather in January. This past weekend it has been in the 60’s and 70’s. the sun shining bright. Wearing my leather duster, chaps, and my gauntlet gloves kept the cold wind from breaking me down. Some say I was looking like Darth Vader ridin my black Heritage Softtail. Left Fayetteville, NC Saturday morning headed on a mission to see the end o US HWY 70. Along the way I stopped in Havelock, NC at MFI Inc. this is Machine Fabricators Incorporated. We welcome them to our Map program. At MFI the service motorcycles, do custom fabrication for that ride of your dreams. They have bikes or sale on consignment and used bikes or sale. Coming down HWY 70 was great. No crosswinds to fight. Not a whole lot of traffic to contend with. Just running free on the open road. My bike is really running good. The sound o thunder headed down the highway. After going through Morehead City. NC the next stop was at Harkers Island, NC. You turn right off 70 and travel about 4 miles down Harkers Island Road. Then when you cross over the draw bridge you are on the Island. This area is loaded with history rom the Blackbeard days. Yes they still have people that speak the language! It is also where they have some fine duck hunting and the Duck Carvers Guild Show which is nationally recognized. They have ferry boat tours to the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Cape Lookout Lighthouse is located right across the bay about 4 miles. Also on the islands is the wild horses that are the descendants from the pirate days of Blackbeard and the Spaniards who was settling in this area. Great fishing is available or charter. The wildlife over there is awesome. Charles Kuralt always had wildlife videos at the end of every CBS Sunday Morning Show. This was his home state. Also on the Island you got to stop in at a restaurant called “Fish Hook Grill”. I am here to tell you that I have eaten my share of shrimp in the day. This frried shrimp is local and fresh everyday. Not to heavily breaded. This I like because I can taste the shrimp. Miss Faye Moore has a great business for the community and we welcome her restaurant to our map program. Went back out on Hwy 70 and continued East to the end. Stopping in at Davis Shore Provisions. They are doing some major renovations and expansion. They are adding an ice cream bar and expanding the gift shop. Bikers and coffee is a must. I will tell you this, I had a large double shot of French Vanilla Cappuccino and I had no problems getting home. They are in the perfect spot on hwy 70. When you leave there you take a left on 70 and continue East to Sea Level, NC. There you will find the Sea Level Inn Condominiums and Restaurant.. They have rooms or rent starting at $75.00 per night, one bedroom and 125.00 for a 2 bedroom. WOW! What a find. There are a lot of “Diamonds in The Ruff” out there. They just have to be discovered. This place is 12 miles from Cedar Island where the Ferry will take you to the outer banks heading to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. At Sea Level is where Hwy 12 starts and the Crystal Coast Ends. Continue another 7 miles from Sea Level and you come to the end of the line. The road sign reads “END” 70...another sign reads “road ends in 2500 ft! the end of the line! It was a beautiful ride down and a nice ride back to the house On Sunday I attended Church Service at Freedom Biker Church. I really like this place. They are building a new church in Vander, NC and will be ready in August, 2012. It was a packed house today. You can see God’s work happening. All walks of life come to praise God and proclaim Jesus as their Savior. After service we rode to Seven Springs Restaurant in Seven Springs, NC. Loretta Beasley, co-owner, was celebrating her Birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LORETTA! At Seven Springs Restaurant on a Sunday you can get 1 meat, 2 vegetables, and a drink all for $7.00. Now that’s a deal. Also it is down home country cookin that will keep you full. Also they had the dessert up on the counter. There it was…apple jack turnovers…twisting my arm and resistance was futile. Had the fried chicken breast, green beans, lima beans, corn, and mashed potatoes with that apple jack turnover. My cost was $11.50 due to the extra veggies and the apple jack…Fine Eating. During the dinner Kellie asked me “where we going next David”…”Roseboro” I replied, “Railroad St. Steakhouse” here we come…ALL ABOARD! We all had are picture taken with Loretta in front of the sign and while the pic was taken Loretta let me know that “you know what they say about payback?’ oh yes payback is coming. We had a sae and thundering ride back to the house. Fifteen bikes thundering down hwy 13. Until the next time be safe and KEEP RIDIN IN THE WIND!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXXVII 12/21/2011 RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I ISSUE XXXVII DECEMBER 21, 2011 Hello fellow riders and how are we doing today? Hope you have been ridin every chance you get during this winter season. Those days are few and far between. The last two days was spent on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Went to see the Lighthouses down the strip. Bodie Island, NC, Cape Hatteras, NC are the two I had time for this trip. Also went to Kill Devil Hills which is home to the Wright Brothers First Flight Memorial. Seeing these sights for the first time will make you silent for words and be stunned in amazement. Cape Hatteras has to be the most famous lighthouse of all lighthouses. When asked name a lighthouse, Cape Hatteras is the first to come to peoples minds. It has guided many a ship up and down the coast of North Carolina. Also was saved by North Carolinians by moving it inland, saving it from the beach erosion to the Atlantic. Going down HWY 12 and crossing over the bay bridges from one island to another reminded me of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland. Long and awesome for miles. Going across the bridge to the first lighthouse on Bodie Island was an experience. You can see the lighthouse from being on the bridge. Pay attention because it can be easy to watch the lighthouse and not the road. Its that big! Once you continue south on HWY 12, you will be traveling down Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge before you get to Buxton, NC which is Home to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Ridin to this place you can tell where the road was washed out from Hurricane Irene. Some nice new asphalt and new dunes built up to help ward off the storm surges. The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills has a museum with an authentic replicas of the Wright Brothers aircraft. The hill and the land has been preserved and markers of the first 4 successful flights they made. It cost $8.00 to get in and is good for 1 week. You have to see this memorial that changed the world as we know it. Without the Wright Brothers we would have no planes, or air travel in this world. Now if you love doing it in the dirt, love racing and horsepower, 4 wheelin, then you need to stop by Diggers Dungeon at Grave Digger Motorsports in Popular Branch, NC. Located on the Outer Banks on HWY 158. Diggers Dungeon is our newest client on our Motorcycle-Maps program. Outside of the Dungeon is one of the Grave Digger Monster Trucks stuck in the ground nose first. Seeing this truck I had to turn back around. I was always a Digger fan but did not realize they were in North Carolina. Got to stop and get your Grave Digger souvenirs from the Diggers Dungeon. Also in the summertime they have $5.00 rides and there is Diggers Diner for some great food. The portions you get are very satisfying and really good. Got to stop. Up coming events for 2012 DAYTONA BIKE WEEK MARCH 9TH THRU 18TH DAYTONA BIKETOBERFEST OCTORBER 18TH THRU 21ST SOUTH CAROLINA MYRTLE BEACH BIKE RALLY MAY 11TH THRU 20TH NORTH CAROLINA 9TH ANNUAL BARRY’S OBX BIKE RALLY APRIL 12TH THRU 15TH 10TH ANNUAL OUTER BANKS BIKE WEEK APRIL 21ST THRU 29TH 12TH ANNUAL OBX BIKE SHOW AUGUST 28TH THRU SEPT 3RD NC STATE HOG RALLY SEPT 27TH THRU SEPT 29TH SOUTH DAKOTA STURGIS BIKE RALLY AUGUST 6TH THRU 12TH Start making your plans now…until next time be safe and keep RIDIN IN THE WIND

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" 12/16/2011 RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I ISSUE XXXVI DECEMBER 16, 2011 We have been experiencing some great weather here in North Carolina for December. 60’s and 70’s for the highs and very few days below freezing. But I really think that Ole Man Winter will strike us all and only the die hards will ride. I have my thermals, chaps, and a new leather duster and gauntlet gloves to do the job well. I have been riding to the Outer Banks along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Morehead City, Beaufort, Otway, Davis, Williston, Stacy, Cedar Island, Sea Level, Atlantic. With beautiful weather these towns are loaded with the small MOM & POP businesses that we are looking for. In Morehead coming in on Hwy 70 pull off to the right on Horton dr. and then left on High St to visit Knuckleheadz Kustom. You can get your bike serviced…oil, transmission, primary…changed for $115.00 out the door. That’s right. I cant find anyone to beat that price. The customer service is great also. Also run on over to Jacks Waterfront Bar. Located on the waterfront in Morehead. Its an open air bar with live music and dancing on the weekends during the winter and 7 days a week starting in March in the spring. Just around the corner is Chopper Toyz. This place is a Retail Leather Apparel, motorcycle parts and accessories, tires, patches, you name it. Love the smell of fresh leather in the morning! Chopper Toyz have some really great deals. They are on Hwy 70 East. Cruising out to the East on 70 you will pass over the State Port and smell the pines from the warehouses of ground up pines hauled in by semi’s and barges. Pine Sol at its finest. Cruising over the bridge it will cross over the bay to Beaufort, NC. Come to the first traffic light, take a left and go to the stop sign, take a left and FishTales Restaurant and Tikki Bar is on the left. This is the place for the infamous “REDNECK RAP”. pork bbq and slaw wrapped in tortilla bread and fries. Man my mouth is watering just thinking of this. When I first ate this dish the sauce was running down my arm. It was so good and loaded with bbq that I was licking my my forearms, the palms of my hands and fingers. Now Colonel Sanders aint got a prayer on this one! I decided to cruise out 70 even further because I wanted to see the end of the road to the point of having to take a ferry across the sound. Came across a place called Davis Shore Provisions and General Store. They have a kickin coffee shop will all the flavors. I got the double shot of cappuccino and I had no problem getting home after a long day. Inside the store is loaded with souvenirs, gifts and local artist paintings and photography. Mack and Kim Overby are in a great location. Only 20 miles from Cedar Island Ferry to take you across the sound to Cape Hatteras. Now when you go further East, Hwy 70 will veer off to the right and Hwy 12 starts to the left. Going 70 to the left you will come to Sea Level, NC. There is a Inn and Café called SEA LEVEL INN & CAFÉ. Cant miss it. The rooms are actually condos that are 2 bedroom 2 bath. So I am telling you right now to start making your reservations NOW! This place will get booked and stay full all season. Kim and Debbie Schieferstein just recently started to make renovations and upgrades. This is a beautiful place located along the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Like I said, MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW! Call 252-225-0202 for reservations. Coming back thru turn onto Harkers Island Road to go to Harkers Island, NC. There are 5 ferrys currently running to take you to the National Seashoe to see Cape Lookout Light house. Tremendous piece of history behind this place. The lighthouse guided many a ship to safety at night time. The wild horses are also prevalent for viewing along the coastline. Stopped in at Captains Choice for Lunch and had the Beef Tips over Rice special. The food and service was great. They have a really good salad bar with a country atmosphere by the bay. We have new additions to our Maps…Davis Shore Provisions, in Davis, NC…Sea Level Inn & Café in Sea Level, NC…FishTales Restaurant, in Beaufort, NC…Chopper Toyz in Morehead City, NC…American Dream Cycle in Fayetteville, NC You can also check out my new page on Facebook…”RIDIN IN THE WIND”…to keep you curren with all the details of the Mom & Pop Businesses that we talk about. The address is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ridin-In-The-Wind/264848973572424 Just copy and paste! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Be Safe…see you next year and keep RIDIN IN THE WIND!

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" 12/11/2011 DECEMBER 11TH, 2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXXV Well riders it is getting close to Christmas time and a lot of us have put the bikes up for the winter and some down south are enjoying some 50 and 60 degree weather. I have been doing a lot of riding this year. I have logged over 20,000 miles on my hog in 2011 riding through South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania. My eyes witnessed some of the better things that God has provided us in this world. Our Motorcycle Map Program has been a huge success this year in NC. We look for the “mom & pop” businesses that drive the American economy. Small business hires more people than corporate America. Small Business America that is motorcycle friendly is what we put on our maps. Also we launched our Iphone app which covers the whole country. Businesses will be hyper linked and take the motorcyclist straight to their address. It updates every 15 seconds keeping you moving in the right direction. A great investment for under $5.00. New businesses that we signed this year are as followws: KnuckleHeadz Kustomz Jacks Waterfront Bar Abbott Insurance Wendy’s Everyday Garage Sale & Used Harely Parts Circle B Food Mart Seven Springs Restaurant Heroes Sports Oyster Bar & Grill Froggy Bottoms Sports Bar Poindexters Sports Bar Skin Fantasies Tattoo & Body Piercing Beckys Log Cabin Restaurant and Lodge Lu Mil Vineyard The Businesses who renewed for another year and know the value of our Map Program Cycle Works Inc. Freebournes Team Powersports Currently we want to welcome our new businesses that have signed up for the 2012 year Chopper Toyz Davis Shore Provisions and General Store Fish Tales Restaurant & Tikki Bar Businesses that have renewed to date Barry’s on Walnut Island Famous Frank’s We want to welcome all of these “MOM & POP” businesses that have been and will be a great addition to our motorcycle family. We will keep you updated on our new businesses that join our program. Had the pleasure to travel with Dennis Munden. Dennis is the Owner/President of Motorcycle-Maps. Dennis had a lot of time on his hand one summer. Traveling over 9,000 mile in 45 days on his motorcycle. 20 states traveled, 20 maps purchased and not one maps could tell Dennis where to camp, eat, bike service, motels or bed and breakfast. So we have the birth of Motorcycle-Maps. Dennis came to North Carolina to visit some of the Businesses we signed up this past summer. We traveled to the Crystal Coast. Starting with breakfast at Seven Springs Restaurant, in Seven Springs, NC. Then to Morehead City to see Knuckleheadz Kustomz, Chopper Toyz, Jack’s Waterfront Bar and then to Beaufort, NC for lunch for the infamous “Redneck Rap”. It was a beautiful day traveling. Seeing our customers serving people first hand and hearing from the people they serve was tremendous. Granted time did not allow us to see everyone but that will not be the only trip Dennis will be making to NC. We currently have maps in Georgia and a new one Coming to Virginia. Do you know a business that is motorcycle friendly? Send us an email at davidh@motorcycle-maps.us and if they sign up you can earn $25.00. Until next time, Ride Safe, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" VOL. I ISSUE XXXV 11/03/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXXV NOVEMBER 3RD 2011 For most of the country the fall foliage has fallen off the trees and the winter weather is coming upon us. If your in an area that cannot sustain riding during the winter months you need to check with your local bike shop to get your ride “winterized”. letting your bike sit up for a long period of time can be harmful to its health. Gas can go bad, all your oil settles down to the bottom of the motor and seals ,gaskets, and bushings can dry out. Getter done! Since the last issue I had some unexpected things happen in my life. The passing of my mother was really unexpected and came quick. She now rests in a better place with God and in peace. To many times we take life for granted. Everyone does it, I don’t care who you are. Take the time to pick up the phone, call your loved ones. Tell them how you care about them. One day in your life you will wish that you had done so. If you live far away from home, make the time on occasion to take the trip and visit your family. During my travels in October, I was in Cumberland, Maryland and the trees were on fire! This Western part of the State is one gorgeous place to be in the fall and winter time. Very historic and winter skiing at its finest. I remember the one resort was called “WISP SKI RESORT” locacated in Garrett County Maryland. Deep Creek Lake every winter holds snow mobile races on the frozen lake. it’s a blast and its party time in the mountains. Been riding hard here of late. Traveling the East Coast of North Carolin’s Outer Banks. Highway 1 riders is now back open from being down due to the wrath of Hurricane Irene. That storm did a number on the people and businesses of the Outer Banks. The best place to go and stay in my opinion is a little place called Barry’s on Walnut Island. It is a restaurant and lodging and sports bar. Barry will be offering camping in the near future. They also have their annual Outer Banks Bike Show every Labor Day weekend. The outerbanks offer some great riding along the coast. the lighthouses along hwy 12 and the most famous lighthouse, Cape Hatteras, located in Buxton, NC. You can take Hwy 70 to Beaufort, NC and take the ferry across the sound to get to Buxton or ride hwy 17 to 158 in Elizabeth City, NC. Either way some great riding. Was Beaufort, NC on November 2nd , 2011 and sat down with Bobby Cox the Head Chef of Fish Tales Restaurant and Tikki Bar. Bobby already knew what I was thinking…“hey!”, he shouted to the back. “we need a Redneck Rap!” Oh yea. When the waitress put the dinner in front of me, I just sat there and looked at it! Bobby wanted to know what was wrong. Nothing was wrong, I just swallowed enough saliva to quench my thirst. Right now mouth is watering just thinking about this dish. Pork BBQ and slaw stuffed and wrapped in tortilla bread. Man this meal will have you begging for another. The juices run down your forearm, in your hand and fingers. Yes it is forearm, hand, finger and lip smacking good! Fish tales is like a magnet pulling my bike across the bridge and take the first left at the light, left at the stop sign and a left into the parking lot. Fish tales offer a great view outside of the restaurant to enjoy your meal. you got to check it out. During this time of the year riders need to be weary of the deer crossing the highway. It is there mating season and you will encounter them. BE SAFE AND “KEEP RIDIN IN THE WIND”

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" VOL. I ISSUE XXXIV 10/06/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXXIV OCTOBER 5TH, 2011 The weather is getting cooler and it is time to break out the leathers and do some extreme ridin! Just this past Sunday I had the priveledge to ride with an awesome group of people. They are from the Freedom Biker Church out of Fayetteville, NC. They had a pancake breakfast, sausage, biscut meal before service that morning outdoors. Beautiful weather to worship God and all the wonders that he has blessed us with. All to many times in our life we can easily take things for granted and life will slip by you in a hurry. Pastor J.D. Tew and his wife Kellie have great church bringing the Word of God and Jesus Christ to the biker community. Service on Sunday was about “are you ready?” Are you ready to meet your creator at any given moment in life? J.D. started off by asking everyone if they remembered their first motorcycle ride. I can sure remember my first one. Just purchased a SL175 Honda Street/Trail Trials Bike. Had a blast with that ride. Going through the mountains of Western Maryland and tearing up the dirt trails. Then all of a sudden…had a tire blow out on the rear…was going along at a good clip and thought that this was it and I am not even out of high school yet. I survived and so did the bike. We had several more years of enjoyment until I moved to North Carolina. J.D. talked about his first encounter. His first ride was with no helmet, no goggles, flannel shirt, Sears straight legged heavy weight jeans, and Chuck Taylor hightop sneakers! He was stylin and profiling. Said he could do no wrong. Got on that motorcycle with the old school style slick banana seat and took off. Every turn he was leaning that bike to the right and left with every turn. Felt like he was on top of the world until this one turn to the right caught him off guard and his left hand came off the handle bar grip and he was holding on the gas tank for dear life. Now lets think about this for a moment. You are holding on the tank with your left and the right has what?…the gas throttle…oh my…what do you think that right is going to do?….crank it!!!!…he said he tried to get his right foot off the peg but the shoe strings were caught in the foot pegs. He said at that point the realized that this must be it. This must be the day that he will meet his creator. “I am not ready for this”, he proclaimed. Then a man unplugged the game machine and saved him from total embarrassment from falling off a game machine! Had me going and everyone else going. He got my attention, and everyone else’s as well. So are you prepared every time you journey off on your bike? Because when God calls you, because has other plans for you, and your task is done on Earth, there is no turning your back on Him. So we all need to be prepared in life for everything. Ephesians 3:20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! This was the passage of the day that J.D. preached about to all of us before we took off to Goldsboro, NC. All of us need to take a step back and appreciate the many wonders that God has given us and realize that you only have one life to live. God has provided us with many things and His Son Jesus Christ. After service we left Froggy Bottoms at the new I-295 and headed to Heroes Sports Oyster Bar & Grill for some fine eating. Silent Heroes Motorcycle Club lead the way up to Goldsboro. Thirty bikes took off and you could feel the thunder from all the V-Twin Muscle that Harley-Davidson had to give the pavement and the wind. Rolling along two rows single file, fast and tight. One would think a earthquake was happening followed by thunder from a storm of steel. A great feeling. Heroes was waiting on us and greeted us with some fine hospitality and some fine food for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Freedom Biker Church Group and look forward to many more good times with J.D. & Kellie Tew and their congregation. Be Safe with God’s Speed and keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" VOL. I ISSUE XXXIII 09/23/2011 September 23rd 2011 VOL. I ISSUE XXXIII “RIDIN IN THE WIND” As the summer comes to an end and the fall riding season begins, please check your bike over for the little things that can go wrong and keep you stranded on the side of the road. Been there and done that. From May to the end of August I put on 14,000 miles on my HOG. During this time I had 3 complete fluid changes, 2 new rear tires, a stator replaced, rear rotor replaced because it warped, new brake shoes front and rear, and about to have my fourth fluid change. My ride is still running strong because I stayed up with the maintenance. Believe me, you take care of your scooter and your scooter will take care of you. Always check your fluid levels before taking off on a long trip. Check your air pressures in both tires. Check your air filter. Yes this is one item that gets neglected. You will be surprised on how dirty it can get and rob you from gas mileage. These little checks you can make regularly can save you money in the long run. The tires I bought are Dunlop tires. My ‘08 Heritage Softail Classic uses a Harley 150/80 16. I bought a Dunlop 150/80 16. Same speed rating and weight rating. You would think they are the same tire but they are not. The Harley tire has two added belts for strength and to hold the weight of the Big Twin Motors these HOGS carry. The Non-Harley/Dunlop tire ran good for about the first 4500 miles then it started to wear really fast in the center and it looked like I flat spotted the tires or was doing some serious burn outs. I still got 9,000 miles out of the tire, but the Harley tire I normally get around 10,000 miles. So the Harley tire will be my choice from now on. Now that my bike has gone through major servicing during the last week I can enjoy the nest 5,000 miles comfortably. Rember to ride safe and keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" XXXII 09/11/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXXII SEPTEMBER 9th 2011 “WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE UNITED STATES WAS ATTACKED?” I think that everyone will always remember what we were doing when we were attacked by terrorists that demolished the World Trade Towers. I remember! I work for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Back on September 9th 2001 I was at work building tires on a 2 man operation when Ron Hall came up to me and said the World Trade Towers was just attacked!. Knowing Ron and that he can be full of it a lot of time, I just looked at him and said “Yeah Right”. But I had to take a double look at him because he was pale looking and in shock. Got on my cell phone and called the house and my wife Robin told me she was watching it on the TV. I was talking with her about the jet crashing into the building when she screamed that another one just hit the other building live on TV! This was the real deal. We were under attack. Then the Pentagon was hit with a jet. Then Shanksville,which is about 60 miles from my hometown of Cumberland, Md , where Flight 93 went down. My mother was a RN at Sacred Heart Hospital in charge of Trauma and ICU, CCU and was notified that survivors may be coming to the hospital. They prepared and then got the call later that there was no Survivors! I felt anger and hatred. Still do and probably will have no forgiveness for what they have done to this Nation. It woke up America and bonded us together. When I got done talking with the wife I was in disbelief. Everyone at work had stopped what they were doing and was in total shock. Is this for real? Don’t think anyone in our section built rate that day. I know my partner, Allen Wrench and I did not! All we could think of was “NUKEM!” We need to remember the people that lost their lives that day. Remember all the men and women who sacrificed themselves to save anothers life in New York, Washington, DC and them men on Flight 93 who took out the terrorist as the plane was crashing. Many say the flight was headed to the White House. They Sacrificed themselves for America. Reflect and tell us what you were doing that day and keep those who sacrificed their lives for freedom and those who lost their lives in your prayers. “IT IS NOT ABOUT NOT NEVER FALLING, BUT ABOUT GETTING BACK UP AFTER YOU HAVE FALLEN” Dave Huff

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" 09/09/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXXI SEPTEMBER 9th 2011 “THE WILDCAT” Motorcyclists talk about a lot of rides in North Carolina and abroad in this country. For instance in North Carolina we have the infamous “TAIL OF THE DRAGON” at Deals Gap. This beast has 328 turns winding like a tail or snake crawling in the grass for 11 miles! A lot of motorcycles have met their fate on Hwy 129 in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Then as you leave North Carolina into Tennessee on US 421, look out for “THE SNAKE”. Just as good and just as bad. If you are a new rider, I personally would get some riding experience before taking on either one of these routes. Make sure your ride is in top running condition with fresh brakes and brake fluid levels in check ‘cause your going to need them. I have a new ride route for everyone. Its one that I have been doing for the last three and a half years. Did not know really what to call it until I outlined it on the map and saw it for myself on the new edition of our North Carolina map. I call it the “THE WILD CAT”. when I give you the routes to take, outline it on a map and you will see what looks like a Wildcat in the crawling attack prone position in a tree limb ready to pounce on a squirrel or a bird. It was pointed out to me by my best friend and riding partner Paul Setzer. This route is around 500 miles! A lot of our businesses from the map are located on this route! You can start this route at any point and it will take you back to where you started. It is as follows for me: Starting from Ramsey St take I295 to I95 North…take I95 north to Smithfield and take Exit 95 70 East Bus. There you will find Becky’s Log Cabin Motel and Restaurant. A fine place to get something to eat, have a drink or spend the night. From there continue on 70 East Bus until you reach Hwy 70 east and go towards Goldsboro NC. Once you get into Goldsboro (do not go into downtown 70!) follow the signs for 7o bypass, you can pull off on N. Berkley Blvd Exit and go North to Heroes Sports Oyster Bar and Grille. Can’t miss this place. It looks like a huge boat coming out of the building. Located in front of Lowes Hardware. From Heroes go back to 70 East and along the way on the other side of Goldsboro on 70 East is Open Road Biker Gear. It is a place to get all of your leather riding apparels. Continue to Kinston, NC. I always stop at Winners Choice Gas and Food Mart in Kinston, they have the 3 hose pumps. Located on the right at the junction with Hwy 55. From there continue to New Bern, NC. During this stretch of HWY 70 you will be going through the Croatan National Forest and a lot of Farmland. There is absolutely no civilization for the nest 50 miles. Hwy 70 is 4 lanes with a divided grass median like a interstate with 70 mph riding. Really there is not much traffic after you get out of Goldsboro and Kinston. Once you get to New Bern, get off on US HWY 17 South and go to Jacksonville, NC. Once you get to Jacksonville, Shamrock Biker Outfitters are on 209 Henderson Drive. Hwy 24 West intersects with US 17. Take HWY 24 West all the way back to Fayetteville. Going down HWY 24 West is all back country Highway. A lot of farm land running down this way. One 8 mile stretch you will take the 24 bypass on I40 and get off on 24 West exit in Warsaw, NC. Once you get to Stedman, NC, 34 splits into 4 lanes divided. Then take I95 North to I295. Complete loop I call “THE WILDCAT”. Yes its long, it can be rough for the first time, but once you ride it a couple of times it can be fun and relaxing. This also can be one hellacious Poker Run! Now that can be a possibility for every stop being 100 miles and get a card. Great run for a charity. Possibilities are endless. If any of you have a ride route you would like me to share with our readers, send me an email to davidh@motorcycle-maps.us I will be glad to run it and share my experience with the fold. Be Safe and Keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND” David Huff

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXX 09/06/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXX September 6th, 2011 It’s the Labor Day weekend. The weather is supposed to be great and the wind is great fro ridin. I hope that everyone had safe travels over this fabulous weekend. My weekend started about 2 pm on Friday afternoon Sept. 2 with a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Running up I-95 was hectic with the Holiday traffic going North. Could not wait for my exit up by Wilson to get on the secondary roads and get to cruzin with no heavy traffic. Runnin’ up highways 42 to 13 and to 17 was nice ridin’. hardly any traffic. The only perils was the state crew cleaning up the downed oak and pine trees that were freakin’ huge! The oaks must have been 200 yrs plus. Three people might hold hands and get around the trunk! Amazing what mother nature cand o to such weight and mass. Stopped in at Famous Franks Hot dogs and Grille in downtown Elizabeth City, NC on Business 17 (South Hughes Blvd). this place has class for being a biker friendly establishment Owned and operated by Tiffany Jefferson. Inside of Famous Franks you can have some family fun with the Pinball machines, and some various game machines that bring you back the mid 80’s to late 90’s. Famous Franks is also a big Supporter of the local High School and College Athletics. Motorcyclist pass thru here everyday on there way to NC 158 enroute to the famous NC 12 which takes you down the Outer Shore or “Barrier Islands” of NC. The highway takes you past the lighthouses of our State. The well known Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the most appealing in Buxton, NC. This one they had to move a mile inland due to the Beach erosion threatening the lighthouse. Stopped by the Outer Banks Bike Show being held at Barry’s on Walnut Island. The band Triple Shot from Tidewater Va. Was doin’ some jamming Friday night in the Lounge. Barry’s also has a restaurant in the same building. No room were available in his lodge so I had the long ride back to the house at night. Not one time did I see any deer on the way back home. All of that farm land and no deer! All I can say is the good Lord was watching out for this biker. Thank Him everyday for a safe return. Saturday did a big loop around Goldsboro, NC to Kinston and back down Hwy 55 to 13. This time when I refueled at Winner Choice Gas Station I put in 1.5 gallons of 110 octane and 3 gallons of 93. My Hog took on a new life for the next 200 miles. It was like it was on the 357 Magnums caffeine tabs you can get over the counter at the convience stores! I did it to help clean out the fuel injection system. Doing this at least once a month seems to help keep it running smooth and run at max potential. To finish up the weekend my best friend Paul dropped by the house and we broke out my Sportster. I hopped on my Heritage, Paul on the Sportster and we ran what I call the “WILDCAT”. Runs from Fayetteville to Jacksonville down Hwy 24. Then Jacksonville to New Bern up US 17 North. Then Hwy 70 West to Smithfield. Smithfield to Fayetteville coming down Hwy 210. If you draw a line on a map that I just outlined for you, it looks like a profile of a Wildcat that is in the ready position to attack. A nice run for an all day run with plenty of places that are Motorcycle friendly. Goldsboro has the Heroes Sports Oyster Bar & Grille, Open Road Biker Gear, Smithfield has Becky’s Log Cabin Motel And Restaurant, Team Powersports, Poindexter’s Saloon in Fayetteville and Jacksonville with Shamrock Biker Outfitters. It has been a great weekend ridin with good friends and I hope we can keep it going. Have fun and be safe and keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND” Dave Huff

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXIX 08/26/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXIX AUGUST 25TH, 2011 Getting prepared to ride with a group can be a feat by itself. Making sure your ride is in shape, checking weather reports. Yes we do have Hurricane Irene coming and it looks like this will be the last ride until next week. Tire pressure checks, etc. did all of that today and had to drive my truck to the printer and get 5000 maps so I can distribute them to my clients across the East coast. so excited to get the maps. This front cover features the USS NORTH CAROLINA. I took the picture and it is the first time I have had anything featured on a print especially a front cover! Kickstands up at 9:30 am at the Hardees on Ramsey St. Then on our way out Hwy 13 to Newton Grove and pick up a few more riders. Then to Seven Springs Restaurant for lunch. Seven springs, NC, the oldest city in Wayne County, North Carolina. Then gas up in Kinston, NC and off to Knuckleheadz Kustomz. One of our riders is getting his bike serviced. I was riding with a few combat veterans today. Since I put out the invite yours truly was told that I am riding point since it was my route. Well I took the lead and never looked back. My first time riding with a group. I must say I enjoyed the ride with these guys. Eric and his wife, “Mule”, Rick, Daniel, Chris, and Robert. We picked up Rick, Chris and Daniel at Newton Grove then proceeded to Seven Springs, NC. The ride down Hwy 55 was kind of slow due to farm traffic trying to get as muck harvested before Hurricane Irene hit the NC shores. You could not have asked for a better day to ride. Bright blue skies slight breeze, wind in your face and feelin free! Stopped in at Seven Springs Restaurant for lunch. Once we got their we all felt like we were at home due to the fact that Loretta’s staff made you feel like we have known each other our whole lives! The food was awesome today. Beef BBQ was the special on Thursdays. They have a unique flavor to their BBQ that gives you down home country cooking taste. We were all full and I could of stayed their awhile longer and relaxed but we had to move on, full belly and heavy feelin. Stopped for gas in Kinston and got spotted by the BEHIND BARZ rep and it was on for us having group pictures done for the magazine! What a rush. This day was turning into one we will talk about at work for awhile. The reps name is Ernie Murphy. They call him “BALD EAGLE”. Nice young man who already knew of our maps from one of the stores that I service called Winners Choice Gas and Food. Off we went o Knuckleheadz Kustomz to Daniels bike serviced. Great ride down Hwy 70 east. But let me tell you one thing , the traffic going west was bumper to bumper due to the storm approaching. People pulling their boats back to the house. There was some really big ones being moved. Daniel got the full service on his Volousia Intruder with a 12 point safety inspection, tire pressure adjustments, cables lubed for $95. That was also using synthetic blend oils. Total time was 40 minutes when it was put up on the rack! We all decided to stop by Britt Motorsports and check out the used bikes. I was sitting on an ‘08 Ultra Classic. If I sat on it for another 5 minutes I would have had to strat the app process. So I was outta there. Then to Jack’s Waterfront Bar for a couple off cold ones. Jack’s sponsors the Crystal Coast Boat Races and Bike show for the last 6 yrs with proceeds going to charity. I was a great day with friends and a great ride home. We all have made excuses for another ride due to the fact there are more places to visit. Be safe Eastern North Carolina from Irene because we all have to keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXVII 08/17/2011 VOL. I ISSUE XXVII AUGUST 16TH 2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” Well my fellow riders another week has gone by and great ridin weather we have been having! I left Cumberland, Maryland last week for a long ride home after spending a fabulous time with classmate I have not seen in 35 yrs! Bishop Walsh High School Class of 1976. The best there ever was. Before I left town I had to get some pics of the #734 Steam Locomotive from the Western Maryland Railway, C&O Canal Depot, then off to the Narrows, then outta ther down Route 51 and a stop at the Paw Paw Tunnel in Paw Paw, West Virginia. Love walking the towpath. Ridin weather was great going through West Virginia and Virginia. Came up behind two riders from Quebec!. So I was tagging along down route 50 coming up on my turn off on US 17 South. They turned as well and I don’t want them to think I was following. About 2 miles down the road , the female rider got into trouble. Something in the air hit her and she was trying to pull it from her helmet. She motioned to her husband to pull over. I pulled over to offer assistance. Lousie was her name and she said a bee hit her up side the face and she was numb. Her husbands name was Rene. She was cleaning the remains out of her hair and she noticed my plate on my bike…HOGMAN…she just looked with shock and pointed and said “you…aren’t you?” As I was pulling out my business card and showed her, she remembered that I write this article “RIDIN IN THE WIND”…how ironic was that! Gave her and Rene a map and a journal so they can log there trips. They were headed to Virginia Beach. The map will help them with places to go and points of interest. Finally got to US 17 and the I95 intersection and bid farewell to them. May never see them again but we will never forget the experience. Going down 95 was like running in the Indy 500. Everyone running wide open. Things started to calm down and this vehicle from New York pulled up beside me. Window rolled down and this dude stuck his head out the window and yelled “Hey HOGMAN, keep ridin in the wind brother!” Now twice in one day? Or was it a fluke? I personally think not a fluke. This guy has read the blogs. KEEP READING. Anytime I am on the road, outside of my County of Cumberland, NC, and anyone comes up to me and tell me to KEEP RIDIN IN THE WIND, you will get a free map and journal. Limit is one per day. So be the lucky one and find the HOGMAN first. Be safe and Keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXVI 08/07/2011 AUGUST 7TH, 2012 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXVI This morning was a much anticipated day. Knowing that when 3 am came around on Friday morning,aUGUST 5th, my big butt was leaving work for a 415 mile journey back to my hometown in Cumberland, Md. Leaving that early in the morning proved to be beneficial because the lack of traffic and putting her on cruise control. No problems with the trip this morning. In fact its running like a champ! Smooth and hitting on all cylinders. Ran into a little bit of rain in Fredericksburg, Va. Just put the rain jacket on and away went again. The ride up today was nice. Now for the back country road riders, when you start from US 17 out of Fredericksburg, take it all the way to Route 50 in Paris, Va. This will take you through some awesome country and civil war battlegrounds. Civil War History in the area is huge. Historical cities like Warrenton, Va. , Marshall, Va., Paris, Va., and when you take 50 to Winchester Va. Now out of Winchester take US 522 until you junction with Route 127. Take 127 and this will take you through the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Then take Route 29 and you will go into West Virginia to the Potomac River in Paw Paw, Wva. Cross over the bridge into Maryland and now you are on Route 51 going into Cumberland, Md. All of these ride routes take you through vast mountain ranges that have been untouched and farmed for generations. This is my home. I can never get enough of it. During this trip I pasted some great points of interest. The C&O Canal that runs along the Potomac River from Georgetown , Md to Cumberland, Md. The canal shutdown around the time of the depression when the railroad system was taking over. Cumberland has a lot of history to offer. The Famous Fort Cumberland that now has St. John’s Episcopal Church on its ground. Under this church is a system of tunnels that during the French Indian wars the soldiers of the fortress would go through the tunnels and smuggle goods coming to them from the river. George Washington’s Headquarters original building is still standing today and is a museum for people to visit. Everyday Cumberland has a historical steam locomotive that you can ride from Cumberland to Frostburg . Then spend all day in Frostburg and return to Cumberland later that day. The train runs on the historical Western Maryland Railway. Cumberland also has the Baltimore & Ohio Railway. You can actually take the train to Camden Yards to see the Orioles play MLB baseball and see the Ravens play NFL Football. Also famous for Cumberland is THE NARROWS! This was made famous because it is a narrow passage between Haystack and Wills Mountains. Running through this passage is the first National Highway in the United States. It became famous as the only known gateway to the west. Also the B&O and Western Maryland rail ways run along the bottoms of each side. Then you have Wills Creek that runs in between all of this. Wills Creek has some really good Trout fishing during the spring season. Lovers Leap is also at the highest point of this gorge. It was during the time of the settlers when an Indian Shawnee squaw and an American settler wanted to get married and the two families said no. so they took it upon themselves to jump from the cliffs and be together for ever. During my stay for two days here was my 35th high school class reunion at BISHOP WALSH HIGH SCHOOL. It was the first time I have ever been back to one of these events. Must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself seeing my old classmates for the first time in 35 yrs. Our event was held at the school who was having there annual Cash Bash to support the Athletic Program. It was packed with alumni from previous years and those from LaSalle High School. Plenty of beer and food to go around with drawing for cash every 15 minutes. Thanks to Erin, Elaine, Cindy, Mary Ann for putting on a great event and look forward to doing this again. Everyone be safe and keep “RIDIN IN THE WIND”

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXV 08/03/2011 AUGUST 3RD 2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL I ISSUE XXV Right now we are in the “DOG DAYS” of summer. In August it is always hot as hades and we must take care of ourselves while riding. Heat exhaustion is a major problem. Just because your cruzin at 70 mph and it feels good, you are still being drained of fluids. Hydrate yourselves with water or Gatorade. Avoid caffeine containing products. Seek medical attenion if you stop sweating…this is a major sign of dehydration. Went cruzin the North Carolina Senic Hwy 210. Rolling countrysides that start on US 421 and run all the way up to the Virginia state line. It is some beautiful country. Be on the lookout for for the small mom and pop restaurants along the way. One in particular is Johnsons Corner Grocery and Grill at the intersection of US 421 North of Wilmington. Got some Great food and friendly staff. They also have the old school individual gas pumps. I was leaving Wilmington , NC when I came across the grill so I decided to check out the back roads of Hwy 210. In Wilmington I was on the deck of the USS NORTH CAROLINA taking pics for my journal. Truly a historical icon you don’t want to miss. She is celebrating her 50th anniversary being in port. During my travels over the last weeks I have been cruzin the coast. every time I got to visit Fish Tales restaurant and order the REDNECK RAP. it’s the only thing I will order. I wonder why. Old Redneck that I am, nothing finer. When I got done eating I asked the waitress to take my card back to Bobby Cox and tell him Mr. REDNECK is here. Bobby came out to talk and we had a blast talking about the business and the REDNECK RAP dinner and now how his cooks are producing meals from the heart with artistry. The way it should be. I am here to tell you that the REDNECK RAP is so good that your lickin your forearms, hands ,fingers. You don’t waste anything on this plate. Just thinking of the meal makes my mouth water and gives me the urgency to go back each time. You got to go and try it out. Visit the Tikki Bar that they have and enjoy some good ole fashion horse shoes. During these hot days of summer make sure you check your oil , tire pressures , and signs of wear because they will wear out faster in the summer than the winter. I changed my oil 2 times in 6 weeks. Yes I put over 7 thousand miles on my ride in 6 weeks. Luv every minute of it being on 2 wheels. Today I was cruzin down 70 and my check engine light and battery icons came on…Pulled into the business KNUCKLHEADZ KUSTOMZ. The stator which supplies the juice for my battery failed… broken wire was the culprit. Well a lot of places did not not have one until the phone call from new river, they found 2 at new river air station. Now its 4 pm and they close at 6 and I am 155 miles from home. These guys are great. The whole team got together like Nascar and fixed my bike. Great feeling knowing my ride is being taken care of properly. I was told by David Lewis from KNUCLKEHEADZ that I need to stop ridin so I can wash my bike. John P and his “BUG SPLAT CHRONICLES” would be proud of what my bike looks like. Probably take a gallon of bug and tar remover. Now for all you riders out there I have a little something for you. I have a personalized plate with HOGMAN. it’s a North Carolina plate. The first one of you that spot me and tell me that you read this article “RIDIN IN THE WIND” will receive a free journal from MOTORCYCLE-MAPS so you can start your own journal of your ridin experiences. I will be ridin through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania this weekend , August 5 through 7 . So be watching out. BE SAFE AND KEEP “RIDIN IN THE WIND” Dave Huff

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXIV 07/24/2011 “RIDIN IN THE WIND” VOL. I ISSUE XXIV JULY 24TH 2011 Today I got up before the birds did, more like 5 am. I could of done the procrastination thing and hit the snooze button a few times and get my daily exercise as well which would have been about 5 to 10 sit ups. That would of depended on how many times I hit the button. Right now I am up to 6 sit ups a day. Today my plans was going to the USS NORTH CAROLINA BB 55. She is in port at the city of Wilmington NC. She has been there since August of 1961 celebrating her 50th Anniversary. The City of Wilmington has really taken care of this vessel and it is listed in the National Parks Registry. One awesome boat! This is a must see and it’s a good ride to Wilmington, NC as well. Carolina Beach is located just due East . You can have dinner on Front Street while viewing the Battleship. Boat rides are available along the port for $5.00 giving another view of the Ship. I took a lot of pictures today of the big 16” guns on the stern and the bow. There is a lot of history with this boat. She was the first to arrive at Pearl Harbor after the attack. Nine time she bombed the beaches and islands of occupied Japan. Earning 15 battle stars. She earned the right to be defender of the carriers . Escorting the Enterprise against air attacks during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, on August 24th 1942. Sank an enemy troop ship. One of her Kingfisher pilots during the battle of Truk rescued 10 down Navy aviators on April 30, 1944. She was hit by a Jap torpedo and did not sink! She was home to over 2300 men during the war. The ship is 729 feet long, Her top speed was 28 knots or 32 mph. She average 1 mile to 145 gallons. During the war she steamed 307,988 miles. NORTH CAROLINA made its own electrical power producing 8.4 megawatts of electricity, enough to power a city of about 6500. The ship is maintained through admissions, gift shop sales, private parties, functions, meetings. You can also send a tax deductible contribution to FRIENDS OF THE BATTLESHIP, PO BOX 480, WILMINGTON, NC 28402.. No gift is too small. The trip down Hwy 87 was a great ride through the country. It is 4 lanes until you get to Elizabethtown , NC, then its 2 lanes until 74/76. That will take you straight to the ship. You cannot miss her. When it was time to depart I stopped by Johnson’s Corner Grill for a cheese burger and fries and also refuel. Good ole country burger fried up on the grill like the old days. They also have individual gas pumps like the old days as well. So if you pump premium, its all premium. It was a good day in all and go See the Battleship North Carolina during her 50th Anniversary! Pictures can be viewed on our Facebook Website in our albums! David Huff

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXIII 07/23/2011 THE LONG JOURNEY FINALLY COMES TO AN END AND A NEW ONE BEGINS. July 22nd 2010 This morning will be the end of a long journey that I will never forget. Do I want to do this again? Yes indeed I do want to do this again. There is so much to see and not enough time to do it all. This mornings ride was a hot one. I can tell I was back in the deep south with all the humidity. I say the last 100 miles was torture and I thought it would never end. Traveled through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Arkansas, Tennessee. 13 states total. 28 days of riding and site seeing. 6,081.0 miles for an average of 217.178 miles per day. 140.244 gallons of premium fuel 43.36 miles per gallon $393.57 total cost for fuel. $944.71 motel cost. $813.60 The Shop for new rims and bearings. $350.31 California Phil’s new tires front and rear. $427.50 Gruene Harley-Davidson for 20,000 mile service and replace front brake switch. $500.00 for food and drinks $1302.72 for gifts and souvenirs $154.27 for U.S. Postal Service shipping items back home. $4886.68 total cost

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXII 07/21/2011 THE JOURNEY HOME CONTINUES JULY 21ST 2010 Checked the Weather Channel for the weather patterns and made the determination that it would be best go to Memphis to Birmingham to Atlanta. The ride was long and hot. Went passed the Talladega Speedway on I20. The freaking place is huge. Sits right on the edge of I20. Stopped in at Mt. Cheetah Harley-Davidson to take a break because of the threat of rain. Really bad rain. Ate at Logan’s Roadhouse and the rain passed on and so I went on. Just before I got to Atlanta it was hot. I was thinking about getting a cold shower and how good it would feel. Then all of a sudden I got hit with a wall of water for about 2 minutes with the sun shining again. Be careful of what you wish for, it might just happen. It sure did to me. Just a reminder that it is not the first time and will not be the last time. Ride my horse hard and if I have to, put it up wet. Today it was put up wet. Checked in at the Super 8 at Covington, Ga.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XXI 07/19/2011 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES HOME JULY 20TH, 2010 Took off at the crack of dawn. Everything running smooth. Bike riding great. Now the wind blowing like hell from left to right and its hard. Got to the 412 turnpike in Oklahoma and headed for Tulsa. This highway is like riding on air. Smooth and new and a freaking toll road. Oh well I guess you get what you pay for. A great highway. Connected on I40 and started heading East to Little Rock, AR. Went past Little Rock and stopped in Lonoke, AR. Checked in at a Super 8.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XX 07/18/2011 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES JULY 18TH 2010 Today went to Wal-Mart to purchase shipping boxes to lighten my load. I can tell I am really heavy. Packed 2 boxes with all the Mt Rushmore statues and clothes that I know I am not going to wear. I cant wait to go to California Phil’s to have my bike serviced for tires. The weather conditions around here are very humid and in the 90’s. I believe I will be leaving real early in the morning when it is a lot cooler and when the thunderstorms are not as prevalent. There is a Sonic right next door to this Super 8 so I do not have to go very far for food. Main Street here has Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, Subway, Holiday Inn Express, and don’t forget about Heavy’s Barbecue on 7th Street. JULY 19TH 2010 Took my bike to Phil’s and had 2 new tires put on. When I get back I have some other maintenance issues to handle like a possible primary leak underneath. The new tires are great. Rides like I am on air except for when a cross wind hits me. Got to get me a Batwing Fairing to cut the wind instead of the wind cutting me. Went to Heavy’s Barbecue again. That is some great beef barbeque. He asked about the pig picking’s he has heard about in North Carolina. Told me he might try it out. Packed my bike and got it ready to go at 6 in the morning. Went to the post office and sent the last 2 packages and it really lightened me up!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XIX 07/17/2011 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES JULY 17TH 2010 JULY 17TH It was a day I did not want to come but I knew all good things must come to an end. Believe me when I say that if I was retired of well off financially my big ass would not have been coming home so soon. I still did not get to do everything that I wanted. When I got here and saw that there was more to do than what I heard I knew 1 week was not going to be enough time. I bid the “Wild Hogs” good bye and exchanged phone numbers. Those boys are planning a trip to the east coast and I would be more than happy to entertain the thought of them staying at my house. Got all of my gear packed on my “horse” and headed for Concordia, KS. That is approximately 632 miles. My mind was mentally prepared for this and so was my body from riding all over the countryside. The trip down I90 east was hard because of the gusting crosswinds of 30 plus mph. I was glad to get of the dam interstate and start heading down US 81 to Concordia, KS. Made it in 12 hours 34 minutes. The time changed from mountain to central about 150 miles into the trip. My ass did not start getting sore until about the 550 mile mark. I was determined to make it.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XVIII 07/16/2011 The Return To Spearfish Canyon July 16th 2010 JULY 16TH I woke this morning with the intent of first going back to Big Thunder Gold Mine but I met these bikers from Oklahoma who checked in next door to me. They were all retired military and riding to Colorado Springs. Before that they were going to stop at Sturgis, SD, then to the Devils Tower Run through Wyoming. Those four men were crazy and hilarious. Their names were Roy Post, Bobby Kilcrease, “Skeeter” Columbus, and “Snuffy”. Snuff just wanted to be known as Snuffy and so be it. We shot the bullshit in the parking lot for about 45 minutes before Bobby said that I am leading them to Sturgis. I had to go the Post Office their anyway. Did my Business at the Post Office and drove back by the Café they were at and asked them if they wanted to do the Spearfish Canyon run. They never been there before. When I told them it is were Dances With Wolves was made they were all for it. Guess who got volunteered to lead the way again? Yours truly. It was a lot of fun being with these guys. Got pictures of them together and with their bikes and called the the “Wild Hogs”. Bobby claimed they better keep that nickname because it is now the second time they heard it. It was even better the second time going through Spearfish showing them the sites. This is the first time I rode my bike without a helmet. We could only go an average of 25 mph. top speed was only 30 in the straightaway’s. It felt dam good doing it. These boys loved this canyon and I was glad to be apart of showing it to them. Later that evening I ran back to the Badlands for sunset. It was true what people was telling me about the sunset changing the color of the rocks. I have never seen anything like this spectacles. Different shades of red and orange all over the place. I have pictures at 1:00 pm and now at sunset. Even got a couple of shots of my bike with the sun setting behind the Black Hills in the distance. Went to Mt. Rushmore for the night viewing of the monument. At nighttime the faces are beautiful on the face of this mountain. All four Presidents standing proud overlooking America and reminding everyone the price of Freedom was with blood spilled from Americans defending our country.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XVII 07/15/2011 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES... JULY 15TH Went to Keystone, SD and went to Big Thunder Gold Mine. Went their to do a little panning and to see what the mine is all about. Panning for gold is something we all use to do with our boys when they were growing up. Found a few small nuggets but they were nothing to write home about. But had some fun anyway. It only cost $8.00 and as long as you show them your vile that they gave you , you can pan each time for free. Left for the Badland this time down through the National Grasslands. Then all of a sudden the canyon jumps out at you and for as far as your eyes can see it is nothing but canyons and gaps of rock. You can see the trails in the bottom of the valley. I can see why the bad guys could get away from the law. This place is so desolate. No water from what I could see from the cliffs. They say at sunset the rocks turn a different color. When I was there you could see the red and orange starting to come out from the way the sun was hitting them. It was about 2 pm and it was probably an awesome site at sundown. Ran back to Rapid City and ventured up to Hill City Harley-Davidson. The vendors were already starting to setup their businesses. Vance-Hines, Arlen Ness, Rush, Drag Specialties to name a few. There are a bunch of vacant lots with electric hookups and fields with the same that are only used during the rally. The people who own them only lease them during the rally. They make enough money during this time to make enough money for a whole years wages! This dealership has really good customer service. The people that work their go out of their way to help you find what your looking for. A salesman even tried to sell me an Ultra dressed out. But I just could not do it. My horse has been good to me and we will not part ways. I will keep her and hope that when I am gone it will be passed down in the family.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XVI 07/15/2011 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES JULY 14TH 2010 Today I made an attempt to go to the Badlands of South Dakota but the winds were kicking from the north at and up to 40 mph. riding in open country going straight I was leaning sideways like taking a turn. Needless to say I made a u-turn. Live to ride another day. Be safe. I waited until the late afternoon and the winds died down considerably and it was on. I rode back to Custer State Park for an evening ride on the Wildlife Trail. What a ride it was. The first encounter was with a herd of Buffalo crossing the road. I gave them their space and got some great pictures. A big bull Buffalo came from my right side about 25 yards from me. Here I am on a motorcycle and everyone else in their vehicles. Oh shit I was thinking. Took pictures anyway. All I could think that this big fellow was going to charge me and I am so screwed. They can run up to 40 mph. that’s fast for these 1200 pound plus over grown steers. They probably weigh closer to 2000 lbs. That bull stopped and looked at me and started grunting and so did all the other bulls. They were just crossing the road but no chances being taken. Giving them their space. Mating season is closing in for them in September and the bulls are already starting to spar one another. Their must have been over 300 of them grazing and moving across the road. Came across some Mule Deer Bucks with some huge racks that were not fully developed . There multiple bucks running together. Mule deer are huge in the body with longer ears like a mule and black tipped tails. When they run they run with their tails between their legs unlike a Whitetail running with the tail up right. Came across a Pronghorn Antelope buck 20 yards grazing along the embankment. All these animals in this park are not spooked by anybody driving through the park. There is no hunting. Fishing only is permitted in the streams and lakes. Still no Elk or Bighorn Rams. I guess it just was not meant to be. It is a beautiful place and I will never forget the wonders that God has given us. On the way back I had to ride past Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore. Both of those monuments were lit up and you could see them for a few miles as you approach. I just wish Crazy Horse could be finished within the next 10 years.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XV 07/13/2011 The Journey Continues JULY 13TH 2010 STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA Well I finally made it to the legendary Sturgis, SD. It is a small town in the Black Hills north of Rapid City. Cruised around the town for awhile and enjoyed the sites. Walked the main street where the rally is going to be. I bet it is an awesome site with thousands of motorcycles lined up on both sides. Vendors are already setting up their spots. Some local shops are already selling shirts and souvenirs. Went to one shop and they were selling the official shirts for 3 for $27.00. Yes I jumped all over that deal. Also went to the Harley store and bought my shirts from their as well. I have been buying at least 1 shirt per state during this trip. My feelings are if you wear a shirt from a dealership, you better have rode your motorcycle to the Harley business to buy the shirt. The U.S. Postal Service is making a killing off of me as well because I have been sending flat rate boxes back to North Carolina. So far there has been 4 boxes sent back home loaded. SPEARFISH CANYON Oh my what a place to ride. You roll through this canyon with winding roads. Some of which are 15mph paperclip turns. Plenty of places to pull over and take pictures of the Canyon cliffs and Trout Streams that run the bottom of the Canyon. There is also Bridal Veil Falls which is a beautiful natural water fall that flows over the rocks like white velvet. It even looks like a brides veil. In this Canyon is where the movie “Dances With Wolves” was made. The perfect surroundings for such a great film. There is so much to do in Spearfish Canyon. You can not get it all done in one day. Trout fishing, gold panning, horseback riding, 4 wheeler trails, the list goes on. You can spend an entire vacation just in this area. DEADWOOD, SD Came out of Spearfish through Deadwood, SD. This is where Wild Bill Hickok made his riches mining for gold. He was shot in the back during a poker game while holding ace’s and eight’s. now we know why they call it a deadman’s hand. Calamity Jane is also buried their beside Hickok at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Jane ran the Pony Express from Deadwood to Keystone on a daily basis. Deadwood still looks like a throwback to the past. Gambling Casino’s. Western style saloons and Gold Mines that made the town famous. Plenty of things to do in Deadwood, but make sure you bring your “fat” wallet.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XIV 07/11/2011 From my Journal of last years trip JULY 12TH, 2010 MT. RUSHMORE Woke up this morning and was so excited about going to Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Custer National Park. Riding SD 16 is a beautiful ride out of Rapid City. Riding up to the top the monument just jumps out at you and gives you a cold chill running down your spine. What a wonder to see. At the parking gate you get a band for your handle bars, which is good until 12-31. Cost is only $10.00. As you walk up the steps on the memorial you walk through the “Avenue of the States”. Each State flag is represented through a walk way. When you get to the viewing site you are at the base of the mountain and you become momentarily speechless. 147 workers carved the faces for 14 years from 1927 to 1941. The monument was still not finished! The war broke out, funds ran out. I say leave it alone and do not finish it. The gift shops are reasonably priced and have a lot to offer. Books on the history of the architect and how the making of Rushmore was challenged day in and day out. This is a must see for anyone coming up here. CRAZY HORSE This monument has been in the making for over 65 years. The architect was approached by the Native American Tribes about doing a monument of Crazy Horse. That was in 1935. Then the war broke out and the architect served in the war until 1945. He was approached overseas about doing monuments about the war and he declined because he made a promise to the Native Americans. So from 1946 to the time of his death in 1982 he carved out the face himself! When he died his wife contacted their son to keep the construction going. Also the size of this monument will be a lot bigger than Rushmore. You can take all 4 faces of Rushmore and set them inside the face of Crazy Horse! It is also said that it will be about another 20 years and the arm and horse will be finished. The feathered head dress will be another 15 years. Probably not in my lifetime, but for futures generations to enjoy this wonder. CUSTER STATE PARK GOD’S COUNTRY You ride through this part of wilderness and you can not believe your eyes on the rolling grass lands. The Black Hill mountain ranges. Especially the wildlife trail loop. You ride right through the wildlife area and you see wildlife in their natural surroundings. This Wildlife Loop Road is 18 miles long. It takes about an hour or more to travel this road. The first encounter was Pronghorn Antelope. A doe and her fawns feeding in the grass land on the fats below the mountain. 30 yards from the road and not spooked what so ever. Also in the same field was a bunch of Prairie Dogs poking their heads up out of the ground. Burrowing holes in the ground and popping their heads up and sitting upright just staring at you. The locals say that Prairie Dog hunting is very popular and fun. They use .243 caliber rifles for the long distance shots. They say you have to be more than 100yds away because they are very smart about their surroundings and can sense danger. Did not see any Big Horn Rams but they are in the park as well as Elk. The Buffalo sightings were awesome. There must have been over 300 hundred Buffalo grazing in the field. They were a few hundred yards away but they are so huge they stick out. It was just 25 years ago they were on the endangered species list with less than 300 remaining. Now they are in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South and North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming. It was a great undertaking the federal government undertook on preserving the Buffalo for our nation. On the way back from Custer Park you got to ride US 16A. This is called the Iron Mountain Parkway. This winding road runs between Mount Rushmore and connect back to SD 36. It was built in 1933 and is a must ride. The twist and turns you take make the ride a lot of fun. 15mph paperclip turns. There is on place that has 5 Pigtail bridges. These bridges circle down like a corkscrew as you descend down the mountain. Each different bridge puts you at the next level down the mountain or the next level up. One spot in particular is a lookout point where you can see Rushmore 3 miles across the canyon. What a site. You feel like you are on top of the world. What a day. I took over 127 pictures in one day. It took about 1 hour and a half to travel 5 miles atop of the Black Hills.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XIII 07/10/2011 JULY 10TH HEADED FOR RAPID CITY, SD The ride through Nebraska was windy on I80 but when I got off the interstate it was much better. Cruised up US 183 north through nothing but corn fields for miles. Now we know why we call them the “Cornhuskers”. Gas in this state has some weird pricing. Regular, which is 87 octane, is more expensive than their premium, which is only 89 octane. Had to add an octane booster for this state. When I got to South Dakota, it was like you entered a different world. The land terrain changed. Grasslands everywhere. Then there was the buffalo grazing in the fields. Found out that the local ranches buy them and put them out to pasture like cattle and sell the meat. they get the buffalo from Custer State Park who regulates the heard. That heard is wild and roaming free. Got to I90 and headed to Rapid City, SD. On my way there I had to pull into a Best Western in Murdo, SD due to severe weather up ahead of me. No problem. Just live to ride another day. JULY 11TH Made it to Rapid City this morning. On the way there I stopped at Wall, SD and stopped by Wall Drug. What a site. The town is a throwback to the 19th century. General stores, saloons, lined up both sides of the street. The walk ways were covered like in the western days. Black Hills gold was the dominant product in the gift shops. Also the rally shirt for Sturgis, SD Headed out and checked in to the Motel 6 on I90 in Rapid City. Rain was in the forecast so riding today was limited. Ate at a place called Arnold’s Classic Diner. Been around since 1940. You go into this place you think you are in the Happy Days TV Series. Juke box vending at each both. The inside even looks like the old Malt Shop where you could go to the bar and order a chocolate malt and have a good time. So basically the rest of the day I was unpacking and planning what I was going to do for the rest of the week

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XII 07/09/2011 MY JOURNEY CONTINUES FROM JOURNAL A YEAR AGO JULY 8TH and JULY 9TH Lawton, OK to Concordia, KS Got up this morning around 7 am. The Best Western in Lawton is not one of my best recommendations. The Wi Fi had a poor signal. Cramped quarters in the bathroom. The Wi Fi went down and I called the desk for help and the man at the desk acted like he did not care or was just not in the helpful mood. Complained to the desk in the morning to the manager and he was apologetic but it did not matter, I still did not get a break on the cost. $114.00 tax included will get the thumbs down. One star only! The country side going north on U.S. 81 out of Oklahoma City was gorgeous. The only time I encountered traffic was coming into small towns. When I was in the outskirts of Oklahoma City, I spoke with a Sheriff who was admiring the cruiser case I put on the back of my bike. Asking questions of where did I get it? How much did it cost? Easy to install? He was telling me he was looking for a setup like this for his Road King but did not want to pay the price that Harley wanted. Can not say that I blame him. Another group getting gas commented on the license plate “HOGMAN”. To tell you the truth I really did not think I was going to get that name from the DMV but it is mine now! The sheriff was telling me that all the bikers going to Sturgis go straight up U.S. 81 all the way to I90 in South Dakota. That was good enough for me because I really did not want to get stuck in Oklahoma City with all the flooding going on. Rolling through that country in OK was a lot of 4 lane roads. When it became 2 lanes, they were not your usual 2 lane. They were wide and for the most part really smooth. Entering Kansas was a trip. After the “welcome to Kansas sign you se a huge sign that reads “This is a readiness tornado county. Be prepared.” That will get you thinking of the Wizard of Oz. About that time, I see a sign that advertises the Wizard of Oz Museum and Kansas movie set. Now that would be my luck, getting caught up in a tornado and wake up in the land of Oz. I have noticed that Kansas has a lot of horse farms in their state. This state must be the Sunflower capital because the main crop was Sunflowers. Come to find out that one of the locals said that David Sunflower Seed Company buys a lot from the state of Kansas. The same seeds we buy to eat. Also noticed in these vast rolling terrains are these huge windmills with 3 blades. Now get this, farmers lease their land to the electric companies and they put them on their land. The farmers in return are taken care of from the electric companies. Pulled into a town called Concordia, Kansas. This is a town with WWII history. It housed 4,000 Nazi POW’s from 1943-1945. The government paid the farmers for their land and gave it back to them after the war was over. Speaking to the local museum, they claimed that Kansas had 17 POW camps with this one being the largest. The POW’s worked for the farmer and the also farmed their own crops to support the camp. It was a working and self supporting prison. A lot of the locals resented them coming here but later on, they accepted them because they saw their sons in them and they were no different than anyone else. The historical society also stated that when the war was over 95% of the POW’s did not want to go back to Germany and asked for citizenship. I wonder why? Because we treated them like human beings while they were prisoners and not slaves. This city also had the “Orphan Train”. This train transported children who were orphaned from the holocaust from WWII. 250,000 children were transported from New York throughout the country and adopted by families. It is said that 1 in 25 Americans today are somehow related to the children from the Orphan Train. Wow. The city has been doing a lot of renovations for the historical side. Their is an old opera house called Braun Theatre. They are in the process of rebuilding. The Orphan Train museum is restoring an original passenger car the children were housed in while making their train ride. Inside the museum are restored antique autos and trucks dating back to 1912. Each car is fully functional and was driven onto the showroom floor. The best one was the 1928 Ford pickup with a restored wooden bed. This truck has won numerous award at shows. My stay was at the Super 8 Motel for 2 days. One of two in this city. $54.95 per night plus tax. Nice people that work there. All the restaurants are within walking distance from the motel. One notable was Heavy’s Barbecue. I wonder how he got that name. He mingles with the crowd introducing himself and asking if everything is to your liking and getting to know people. To look at Heavy you know why he got his nick name. This man is about 6’3”, 350lbs plus and loves to cook barbecue. The beef barbecue was the best I have had in a long time. Beef coming from the local cattle. I sampled the Hog barbecue and it sure was not anything that I have tasted in North Carolina. They use regular homemade BBQ sauce. Nothing like ours. Stopped by the local motorcycle shop called California Phil’s. Phil works mainly HD’s and V-Twin motorcycles. We talked for about 40 minutes. Bought a shirt and a leather travel bag for my windshield. Shirt was $25 and the bag was $30. The bag had the same chrome studs as my saddle bags. He has a website called CheapHarleyParts.com. Free shipping with orders over $250 and no tax charges for online purchases. This man will be getting my business for online orders. Tires are cheaper as well if I buy 2. He looked at my tires and told me I will make it to Rushmore and back to NC but I will be changing them when I get back. Also he stated that if I come back through and it is his day off just email him and let him know when I will be there and he would make it a point to get my tires changed out. The man is committed to service.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue XI 07/08/2011 JULY 8TH 2011 RIDIN IN THE WIND Yesterdays ride was a good one. It was not unbearable with high humidity and it was rather nice on the coast at Morehead City, NC. My first stop was in Seven Springs, NC. It is the oldest city in Wayne County. It still is a throwback to the days of Mayberry RFD. Yes you read correctly, Mayberry. I can relate to this growing up in a small railroad town in Western Maryland. At the end of Main Street, sit’s a restaurant called Seven Springs Restaurant. Owned by Earl and Loretta Beasley. From the outside it has the good ole hometown look that reminds you of where you were born and raised. Walked on the inside and I was greeted by a friendly staff that was down home country ready to make your visit worth your while. I had the BBQ Beef with peas over rice with green beans. Flat corn bread to keep the food on the fork and have the right flavor to go with your food. Living here in North Carolina I have learned that the best cooking comes from the home in the country. The Beef BBQ was so good I hope one day there can be an all you can eat special. It was the good rib sticking style. There was no room for desert. Good food always makes you full. I would tell any biker that if your going down hwy 55 you got to stop in Seven Springs. The restaurant is on the right as you come off of hwy 55. After eating a fine dinner hop on your bike and head out of town to the north to hwy 70 and head to Goldsboro on Berkley Blvd for Earls other place called “HEROES SPORTS OYSTER BAR AND GRILL. Have that night cap and enjoy some fine oysters and a cold suds. Believe me I will be stopping by. After that delightful meal it was very relaxing to get on my bike knowing what good people there are in this world. Got back on my Hog headed for the coast and stopped in Kinston, NC at WINNERS CHOICE Gas and Food. This is the station that everyone need to stop at for a couple of reasons…1...the 3 hose gas pumps…the only style pump besides the individual pumps that will give you 100% of the time the gas you buy. Try to steer clear from the single hose pumps…2...it is the half way point from Raleigh to Morehead City. From Kinston to New Bern, NC there is NOTHING! So make sure you check everything and top off your tank…3...the hospitality and you can sit down and take a break and enjoy some refreshment and something to eat. They also have the “COFFEE ZONE” and you know as well as I do a good cup of coffee and ridin a bike goes really well together. I sat down had a drink and went over some notes before I got to Morehead. Pulled out with a good caffeine buzz going and started humming down HWY 70 where there was nothing but blues skies and little traffic to worry about. We were “Ridin In The Wind”. Got her up to about 75mph and cruzin. The speed limit once you get out of Kinston is 70 mph and she was purring with the RUSH slip ons I put on 2 years ago. Soundin sweet! Pulled into Morehead City and stopped at KNUCKLEHEADZ KUSTOMZ. Scott was there with Chris working on a bike doing a complete service. This business I have confidence leaving my bike with them and knowing when I pick it up she will be better than I left it. You can get a complete fluid change with synthetic oil for $115.00 out the door. that’s the primary, transmission, and motor, lube all cables and make any adjustments needed. Now tell me where you can get that type of deal? Not from the dealer. In Morehead there is a big bike and car show coming up in August down at the waterfront with Jacks Waterfront Bar and Knuckleheadz. More details will be coming soon. Stopped in CARLONE’S PIZZA for dinner. This restaurant has a bar with 18 different Beers, 6 different Wines. Future plans hold that from 10 to 2 am will be closed off to over 21 only and host private party functions. CARLONE’S also delivers. While there the children of families can go upstairs in the balcony and enjoy a good game of Fooseball while waiting on your order. You can dine in halcyon or downstairs looking out the windows watching the boats cruz by in the waterfront. Since my taste buds been having a craving for beef all day, I decided to have the 6” Roast Beef Sub all the way, with fries and a drink for $7.50! Now that’s a great deal. The sub served on toasted bread was more than enough. People my mouth is watering just thinking of this. The sub had the right amount of seasonings . The fries were not overcooked but had that crisp outer shell and a nice flavor. I put the sub down and realized later on I am almost done with the fries and left the sub alone. My mistake, mentally I apologized to the sub for neglect. It was so good I should have bought the 12” long sub but I know if I did I would be so bloated I probably could not lift my leg to get up on my bike. Carlone’s on the waterfront is managed by Billy Morrow. Talking with him I can tell he has a good vision for the restaurant and his customers. He likes to make sure that you are satisfied with your dinning experience and enjoy your night at Carlone’s Pizza. While I was there a customer bought a special which was a 20” large pizza with 2 toppings with 10 chicken wings for $25.99. When the pizza was served I was stunned. That baby was at least a 2 footer! You cant tell me it was a 20”. you could feed a family of 5 with that special. Had to take a few pics of that one. It was a pleasure meeting Billy. He is the type of individual that you feel like you have known him your whole life. A biker himself and understands what a biker would like to have after riding all day. After the long day and the storms were brewing back in the east, checked the weather channel and the storms had control of HWY 70 so I ran HWY 24 all the way back to Fayetteville with no rain! Also keep checking for my lastest entries of my trip from last year to Rapid City, South Dakota. We at MOTORCYCLE-MAPS.US value the feedback of other fellow bikers. The Author David Huff can be emailed at davidh@motorcycle-maps.us Thank you for your patronage!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue X 07/06/2011 MY JOURNEY CONTINUES FROM MY JOURNAL FROM LAST YEAR...HOPE YOU ENJOY JULY 7TH, 2010 LEAVING SAN ANTONIO FOR RUSHMORE I decided to leave this morning because hurricane Alex was which slammed the southern coast of Mexico was also hitting Texas as well. Today a window appeared and sunshine all over the place. Blues skies and hardly any clouds. Rode U.S. 281 all the way to Lawton O.K. during this trip through the rolling hills of Texas was some beautiful country that I have ever driven. Went through some notable towns as Johnson City. This was the home of our late President Lyndon B. Johnson. His former ranch is now a national park and this place is huge! A must see for people passing through. It is a small town of less than 10,000. A lot of gorgeous terrain. Stopped at Joe’s Short Stop to eat and check the weather. Ordered a double meat cheeseburger and fries. Dam that burger was freaking huge! Had conversation with a local young man of about 21 yrs. His name was Devon Wolfe. He is a farmer on his family’s property. Did not get his name until we parted ways. We carried on a conversation non-stop for about 45 minutes while we ate our burgers and fries. He gave me some insight about the terrain and some recent history. Asked me if I remembered coming through a town called Hico. I replied, “Yes I did. It was where there was a T in the road”. “Yes” he answered. “Do you remember a coffee shop named the “Coffee Cup Café?” “Hell yes right on the corner”, I answered. Devon told me it used to be spelled with 3 K’s as he was winking at me. Holy s@#t I was thinking. He said they were forced to change it when Obama was elected. He asked about my opinion of Obama. Well now knowing about the café and him asking me about Obama I replied, “OBAMA” One Big Ass Mistake America O.B.A.M.A. The old timers behind me about choked on their food with laughter, so did Devon. They never heard that acronym before. He was telling me that Texas does not like Obama. Period. Have you ever seen him in Texas yet? He asked. Cannot say that I have. Texas has some good people. Finished my day at Lawton OK. Stopped by the dealership on I44. Nice place. Good customer service. Met this guy in there that worked at the Lawton Goodyear Plant and is the head of fire rescue in the factory as well as safety. He gave me his card. Name is Rickie Rainbolt. Claims we are going to like our new plant manager Billy. Seems everyone calls him by first name. He seemed to be a nice man. We carried on a conversation about our two factories and we hardly had any similarities at all. I wished him well. Would of liked to have had a tour but you got to go through a act of congress to get permission.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue IX 07/03/2011 JULY 3RD 2011 Anticipation is building for the upcoming fireworks being displayed all over this great nation. Right here at Fort Bragg, NC, the base puts on one hell of a display. You can see this event for a few miles if you locate yourself in the right places in Cumberland County. When you see a Veteran please remember to thank him or her for the great service they gave to our country. Also remember those in prayer for the ones that have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Important things to remember about your bike….service…service…service. I can not emphasize that enough especially in the south where the heat and humidity is extreme in the peak summer months. Check that oil and tire pressures. Remember you are on 2 wheels not four. I synthetic oil can go for 5,000 miles but when the heat is on the oil breaks down faster. I personally change my oil every 3000 during the summer months regardless. When riding in the heat of the day, by all means please hydrate with water or Gatorade. You can dehydrate while riding and that can be disastrous! Hydrate every 2 hours and avoid caffeine or the energy drinks. Eat right with the water or Gatorade. Take care of yourself because nobody else is going to. I did not do to much riding today. Taking a break from all of the running I have done over the past month. Ran a short ride up 401 N to 421 in Lillington , NC. Turned right on 421 S all the way to Spivey’s Corner, NC which is home to the National Hollerin Contest held every 3rd Saturday of June. Then South on Hwy 13 back to 401 on Ramsey street and I am back home. A good ride if you just want to unwind and go RIDIN IN THE WIND. Until next time be SAFE

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue VIII 07/02/2011 JULY 2ND 2011 RIDIN IN THE WIND Yesterday marked the first day of the 4th of July holidays so I am personally asking each one of you to be safe and watch out for the ones in the cars and trucks. It seems they have to be on a cell phone while driving and they don’t pay attention to what is happening around them. That is how a friend of mine t-boned a car because the operator of the car did not stop coming of the ramp at I 95 and hwy 13. TALKIN ON THE CELL PHONE. COME PEOPLE HAVE SOME SORT OF CONCERNS. Yesterday I stopped by the RAILROAD ST. STEAKHOUSE in downtown Roseboro. Yes as long as I lived here in NC and drove through Roseboro on hwy 24, I did not realize the downtown even existed. The RAILROAD ST. STEAK HOUSE is located across from the old Roseboro railroad station. Stopping there and standing outside brings back memories of when I was growing up in Cumberland, Maryland. A Railroad town with the stores lined up and down main street. Entering the restaurant it is like walking back in time reliving history of the railroad. Paintings and drawing lined the walls bringing you back to the time when the steam locomotives was taking over the horse and buggy. While there I enjoyed the shrimp plate with 2 sides for $6.99. Who needs to go to the coast to get a good seafood dinner when you can get it right here at the RAILROAD ST. STEAKHOUSE. Then the friendly staff asked if I wanted any desert. Are you kidding me? I honestly had no room for any desert. The Steakhouse is owned and operated by Richard and Laura Barefoot. They have a good vision going for the public to enjoy a night out for dining in a historical part of North Carolina. The RAILROAD ST. STEAKHOUSE is located at 102 SW Railroad Street, Roseboro, NC. Open Monday thru Friday for lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Dinner Wed-Thurs. 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Fri.-Sat. 5:00 pm- 10:00 pm. Prime rib on Friday and Saturday nights. Phone number is 910-525-RAIL(7245). Also every 2nd Friday night of each month the downtown area of Roseboro has a Classic Car night on the 2nd Friday of each month on the downtown strip. Bring out that old street rod and bring back the roots. Then it was back to RIDIN IN THE WIND and the next stop was WINNERS CHOICE GAS AND FOOD located on HWY 70 and 55 intersection. I patronize the business with the 3 hose gas pumps. Lets think about this reasoning. If it was a single hose pump and you get 93 octane, are you getting all 93? NO YOU ARE NOT!. That hose has got gas in it from the previous customer and chances are they pumped cheap grade 87. You know as well as I do that if your motorcycle is going to perform at its highest level 93 is the way to go.. So with the 3 hose pump, when I pick up the hose for 93 octane I know I am getting 93 octane. The gas station has been only open for 3 weeks but I see great promise for this station. It is located at the halfway mark between Raleigh and Morehead City. So this is where you want to top off because between Kinston, NC and New Bern, NC there is nothing! You are traveling through the Croatan National Forest. So also have a good charge on your cell phone as well. WINNERS CHOICE is owned and operated by Tapan and Kinnari Patel. When I first met them I was explaining our program form MOTORCYCLE-MAPS and the reasons I like to target 3 hose pumps for our motorcycle riders. They were amazed and did not realize that yes there is still gas in that line from the previous customer. WINNERS CHOICE is also where you can sit down and relax and take a break from riding, get refreshment and something to eat. The Patels are very nice people with the heart to succeed and take care of you the customer. Next stop was the store called OPEN ROAD BIKER GEAR. This shop is run by Randy Hodge. They have everything you need for riding apparel. Patches for you leather vests. Helmets to fit your attitude on riding. Randy also does service work on motorcycles. When I stopped by I gave away a couple of maps to motorcyclist who was at his store. Now they know about MOTORCYCLE-MAPS and the benefit it can have for the motorcycle enthusiast. OPEN ROAD BIKER GEAR is located on 4752 US 70 HWY EAST, GOLDSBORO, NC…PHONE 919-778-7001. Ventured back west on 70 and stopped by ADAMS ROADSIDE BBQ in Goldsboro and purchased the Beef Brisket BBQ family dinner with 2 sides. Now I have had good beef brisket from Texas, and if I did not any better I thought it was imported from Texas! Scott and Karen Adams takes a lot of pride in his pork and beef BBQ. He also does a lot of catering. Call Scott at 919-751-0270. Then back to the house and put my HOG up for the night. It was a good day of riding and a good day to BE RIDIN IN THE WIND!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue VII 06/29/2011 JUNE 29TH , 2011 HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO TRAVEL TO HAVE YOUR BIKE SERVICED? That is the question of the day. To let it be known, when I stopped by Knuckleheadz Kustomz in Morehead City, NC, I first encountered this big dude outside the building and he asked, “how you doing Mr. Sturgis?” That caught me off guard for a second then I realized I had “Sturgis 2010” logo on my left chest. Then my come backer was, “How you doing Mr. Knuckleheadz?’ Everything was fine from then on. Sat down with Scott and Taffie and talked with them about our Map program and we need to give them a warm welcome aboard. I felt at home with the whole crew. It is a family owned business that makes custom handlebars, sissy bars, tanks, footboards, battery covers and a lot more. They also have a full service shop to work on all of your service and repair needs. Even a department for working on old school street rods and custom detailing! Now back to the question, how far? I have paid out a lot of money to have my ride serviced. I own a ‘08 Heritage Softail Classic. Recently they did a full service which was oil, filter, primary, and transmission change. Lubed all cables and inspected all the mechanics of my bike for $115.00 out the door. This was done with synthetic oil. Glad the inspection was in the service because they found that I needed rear brakes really bad, which was an additional $75, which included labor. Knuckleheadz takes great pride in workmanship. They have motorcycles that have been featured on front cover of magazines and several award winning bikes. Knuckleheadz is 155 miles from my front door. $30 in gas round trip and I still came out ahead compared to a dealership and got a nice ride in down HWY 70. YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG WITH THIS COMPANY!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue VI 06/27/2011 JUNE 27TH 2011 REDNECK ALERT…REDNECK ALERT…REDNECK ALERT During my travels over the weekend I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Chef Bob Cox of Fish Tales Water front Restaurant. The man is down to earth on what it takes to be successful in the restaurant business. He told me that he left a 60k per year job to take on his own venture at Fish Tales. If he had to do it again he said he would call the place “ WHAT DO YOU WANT “ restaurant . He does not prepare a menu for his personal satisfaction. It is prepared for you the customer. I had lunch before we talked. My lunch was the REDNECK RAP. Yes I did spell rap correctly and Bob explains why, “ It caught your eye (spelling). Thr Rap is made of his famous pork bbq that falls off the bone and slaw packed in fajita bread.. When I first bit into the Rap I was stunned…I was wondering if it comes with all you can eat price. Trust me my mouth is watering right now just talking about the REDNECK RAP. Like I told him it is finger lickin, lip smackin, beard lickin good! The story I got from him on the creation of the REDNECK RAP was for the longest time his associates working the kitchen would be eating the leftovers from the bbq pot after hours. Others would be coming by after party hopping all evening. Bob told me they were like turkey vultures around the pot. When they looked up the bbq would be running down their beards, all over their face and hands while licking their fingers. Was not long after that he got the idea of putting the bbq on fajita bread with slaw. Thus the creation of REDNECK RAP. Now I love good pork bbq. If there is a pig picking going on, you can rest assured I am going to have my chair close by the cooker and a cooler of brew. Bob does a lot for the military men for our country. Up coming in July 16th weekend he is throwing a party for group of marines who are deploying to Afghanistan. Anyone who is riding to the coast needs to stop by Fish Tales in Beaufort, NC and thank these men for their dedication and service to our country. Without them we would not be able to enjoy the life we have today….FREEDOM! SEE YOU ON THE WATERFRONT AT FISH TALES!

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue V 06/27/2011 DAY 4 THRU DAY 9 JUNE 28th thru JULY 6th ALAMO and THE RIVERWALK Brandi and I went to the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. The walk is underground with the San Antonio River running through the middle of the “underground”. Restaurants line both sides of the river and the place is packed. This is truly amazing on what this city has done. What I do not agree with is how they neglected the Alamo over time. It was only during the last 60 years that the historical society started to make conservation efforts. The city built so many buildings and businesses around this mission that it is only half of what it use to be. Nevertheless, you get the eerie feeling of what had happened here almost 200 years ago. There are original cannons on display. Artifacts from the fortress donated by people including the singer Phil Collins. Under the mission chapel, which everyone recognizes today, are 6 soldiers buried. To this day, they are unidentified. They were found during renovations 30 years ago. They were given a proper military funeral as well. We do know they were from the volunteers who defended the Alamo. Went to the Alamo Village in Brackettville, TX. This is where John Wayne built the movie set for the making of the movie The Alamo which debut in 1960. In addition, there were around 55 other movies and mini series made at this site. It was built scale like San Antonio and the Alamo was in 1836. If you ever get the chance to go to the Riverwalk, you have to go to Mi Teras Restaurant. This is a Mexican family owned establishment that has been around for 70 plus years in San Antonio. You can tell they take care of their people that work for them. This place is beautiful and lit up inside with decorations as if they are having a siesta everyday. Men dressed in playing music at your table with guitars and singing that brings a chill to you. They really make you feel comfortable while enjoying your meal. The tree of us could not finish our meal. For $70 total and you could not finish was great. Portions were very ample. We all had steak and chicken fajitas. The bread was freshly baked and hot when served. Nothing cold. One waitress and two waiters worked our table and made sure the drinks were flowing. Never had to ask for anything. Give this place a 5 star rating! Also, take the boat ride through the river walk. If you do not go to eat in the underground, you have to ride the boat. Your tour guide will give you some very interesting facts about the city and its history of every building in downtown San Antonio. You see about every part of the city. The ride takes about 30 minutes and well worth the $10.00 price tag. MISSION TRAIL OF OLD SAN ANTONIO David and Brandi and my self went to the 5 Spanish Missions of San Antonio. Today four Missions still hold services. All but the Alamo. The other four when I was ther were holding wedding services every hour and Catholic church services daily. The missions are a beautiful piece of history and the National Parks services are doing a good job of restoration and rebuilding the facilities. I put together some brief history I found on each Mission. The Five Spanish Missions of Old San Antonio A chain of five missions established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century became the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America. Built primarily to expand Spanish New World influence northward from Mexico, the missions also served to introduce native inhabitants into Spanish society. Four of the missions (San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, and Espada) were originally founded in East Texas. As the East Texas missions succumbed to drought, malaria, and French incursions, however, they were relocated to San Antonio. The missions flourished during the middle of the 18th century, but later declined due to inadequate military support, disease, and increased hostilities with Apaches and Comanches. The Alamo (1718) The first and today the most widely known of these missions was San Antonio de Valero, commonly called the Alamo. It was established in 1718 as a way station between missions already existing in East Texas and other base missions in Mexico. It was well over 100 years old when it became the focal point for the Battle of the Alamo, fought March 6, 1836. The Alamo will always be remembered and associated with that battle. San Jose (1720) Soon after the building of the Alamo, a second mission was founded in 1720 about five miles downstream. Named San Jose, this new mission was established by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, who had previously left a failed mission in East Texas. A model among the Texas missions, San Jose gained a reputation as a major social and cultural center. Among the San Antonio missions, it also provided the strongest garrison against raids from Indians. San Juan (1731) First established in East Texas, mission San Juan Capistrano made its permanent home on the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. Within a short time, the mission became a regional supplier of agricultural and other products including iron, wood, cloth, and leather goods produced by the Indians in its workshops. A few miles southeast of the mission was Rancho Pataguilla, which in 1762 reported 3,500 sheep and nearly as many cattle. Concepcion (1731) One of the most attractive of the San Antonio missions, the church at Concepcion looks essentially as it did more than 200 years ago, when it stood at the center of local religious activity. The mission was well known for its religious celebrations. Not visible today are the colorful geometric designs that originally covered the exterior surface of the mission. Inside, however, are original paintings of religious symbols and architectural designs. Espada (1731) Mission San Francisco de la Espada, like its sister missions San Jose, San Juan, and Concepcion, had its beginnings in East Texas. Originally named San Francisco de los Tejas, Espada was renamed and relocated to San Antonio in 1731. It is the southernmost of the chain of missions located on the San Antonio River. Mission Espada features a very attractive chapel, along with an unusual door and stone entrance archway. -- The Missions Today -- The Alamo, a Texas shrine since the war for Texas independence, is today a visitor's center and museum of early Texas artifacts. It has been under the care of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas since 1905. Missions San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, and Espada continue to operate as active parishes of the Catholic church and all are open to the public. Through a cooperative agreement with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park of the National Park Service administers and maintains these missions today. GRUENE HARLEY-DAVIDSON I visited Gruene Harley-Davidson and I must say the people their make you feel like you are part of their family. They know the big investment that you made in your motorcycle and want to make sure that your horse stays in top shape. They offered me a deal I could not refuse. Change my oil, primary oil, and go through my bike front to back for $300.00 this also included a detailed cleaning. Great service. Just an oil change was only $95.00 with a detailing. They did find a bad rear tail light bulb out and my front brake switch was not working. Got it fixed for a total of $425.00 out the door. They also adjusted the front and rear brakes and top off the fluids if needed. My horse looked like it was brand new. If you stop in San Antonio you got to stop at Gruene. HURRICANE ALEX Well the first hurricane was threatening my trip north and it was dumping rain on San Antonio by the inches real quick. I was going to leave on that Tuesday but left on Wednesday. Alex circulated the oil spill in the Gulf and started dumping oil in Louisiana beaches and marshland. What a mess. BP is trying to develop a new cap for the well but in the meantime millions of gallons are flowing. This oil spill is worse than the Valdes oil spill in Alaska. This spill in the Gulf will be around for years not months. SAN ANTONIO SPEEDWAY Went to the speedway to watch the drags. They had some really great bracket racing. They did not run the 1/8 mile they were manning up and running the ¼ mile. They were flying down the track. Even diesel Dodge trucks cookin’ at high 11’s. The most interesting was a 1990 Ford Mustang. This little car was a beast. During time trials it ran 202.531 mph in the ¼ mile at 8.99 seconds. The place went ballistic. All night long he was dominating. Then all of a sudden he was no more. The announcer said they had mechanical problems and was out. That car was always over 200 mph. what a car to watch. They also ran pro stock rail drag cars. They were not in the top fuel class. They were running 100 octane. They were running low 9’s. but he fastest of the day was that dam Mustang. The motorcycles were screaming. They had a pro class running 185mph plus. To fast for me on two wheels. They love their racing in Texas.

RIDIN IN THE WIND VOL. I Issue IV 06/26/2011 Day 3 JUNE 27th, 2010 Waking up this morning, I knew this day would feel like the longest leg of the whole trip. 252 miles to go until I get to David and Brandi’s house in Schertz. Had a good hot breakfast, pack my bike, and back on the road again. The traffic was not that bad UNTIL…I got to Houston! I was thinking about Beaumont and how bad the Sum B@#$% were but dam. Going through this city with the delays and construction going on I can only thank God it was a Sunday and a non-workday. City looks good but the road system sucks. Should have taken the I-610 beltline. It felt like this third day was never going to end. The excitement of seeing David and Brandi was getting stronger and time was slowing down. I finally pulled into Schertz around 12:30pm and called Brandi to come get me at the Valero gas station. She told David that she was going to the Sonic for drinks. David has yet to have a clue that I am here. I was so glad to see Brandi. I gave her a big bear hug and exclaimed to her I made it! We were both glad to see each other. I followed her back to their apartment complex and there was David in the back of the truck unloading their belongings because they were moving to a new apt. Homeboy did not even recognize me. So I waited for Brandi to park her car and I pulled up in a spot across the lot. I could hear Brandi telling him to look across the lot. I was taking my helmet off and hollered “whats up Homey?” The boy could not believe his eyes. He thought I was not supposed to get there until Thursday the 1st on his birthday. It was emotional for both of us. The last time I seen them is when my Step-Dad passed away in March of 2006. We drove over to Brandi’s parents’ house to see Image. She is a Black Lab that I had a lot fun with when she was up to a year old. I would play bird down with her. I taught her left from right, stop, stay, and bird down. Seeing her 7 years later and how big she has grown up, I really did not think she would remember anything about me. Guess what? She remembered who I was and my commands and would not leave me alone. Truly amazing. I love that dog. I wish I had a chance to take her bird hunting. She would have been great! When we got back to the apartment, the three of us sat around and talked about the trip and my events getting here. David and I even broke out a couple of beers for a toast. The Heritage Softail did such a great job. I sat down and calculated my mileage. 1,387.8 miles to David’s front door from mine (Fayetteville, NC to Schertz, TX). 28.156 gallons of premium fuel at a cost of $81.87. Total miles per gallon…49.289! AND THE FIRST LEG OF THE JOURNEY WAS DONE!

RIDIN IN THE WIND...VOL. I Issue III 06/26/2011 DAY 2 JUNE 26TH, 2010 I woke up this morning thinking I would be sore from the previous days ride, but I was not a bit sore at all. Infact I was ready to get on the road. It was 8:15 am and 75 degrees, crystal blue skies, RIDING WEATHER. First stop was Mobile, Al. pulled in at Mobile Bay Harley-Davidson. This place was just around the corner from the USS Alabama. This boat is enormous in size. I would suspect it being bigger than the USS North Carolina. The customer service at this dealership was great. Once they figured out, I was from North Carolina they went out of their way to find me a shirt that was a XXL of the battleship. They had none in the store. The woman helping me went and got a shirt they give only to customers buying a new bike. She told me I may never come back through this way and she wanted my experience to be remembered. Pulled into a gas station before I left Mobile and met a couple from Mississippi. Joe and Riana. Two nice people. They like the tour pack I put on the back of my bike and could not believe that I got it from Meancycles.com. They were riding a Road King and heading to see some friends in Ga. Therefore, I am on the road again and stopped at a Harley dealership in Biloxi, Ms. Name was Mississippi Coast Harley-Davidson. Unbelievably they were having a bike rally. At this rally was a bike show with custom Harleys and antique bikes as well. The oldest was a 1957 125cc street bike! Something to ride around town in is what it looks like. Still it was in great condition and it was fully functional. The best custom looker was a Road King painted in the Stars and Stripes. One unique bike was a heritage with a sidecar that was enclosed with a convertible top. Driving along the Gulf Coast was beautiful. Riding over bridges that went across the wetlands and seeing the beauty that God has given us. It is up to us and future generations to preserve this natural wonders. Going into Louisiana I am glad I gassed up before reaching I-12, which bypasses New Orleans. This Interstate is nothing but a 20 mile long bridge! It is built right across the marsh wetlands. There are two bridges. 3 lanes going east and three lanes going west. Do not have a break down or you will be stuck there for a while on the service lane on the bridge. The speed limit on this bridge is 60 mph for autos and 55 for trucks. Trucks must use the right lane only. Law enforcement was out heavy patrolling with radar and helping travelers. Stopped at a gas station in Hammonds La and I could not believe what I was seeing. Taxidermy alligator heads for sale. Various sizes from 4 inches to 20 inches. Very unique. The plan was to stop overnight in Beaumont, TX. and finish the ride the next day. Let me tell you about people in Texas driving. They do not care about how fast they drive. I was on I-10, 6 lanes east and west, going west and this dude in a 4 wheel drive cam from the right hand lane and did a 45 degree to the left hand lane. Cut me off and I missed my exit. I started cussing “son of a b@#$h”. That is all I could say. Eventually the “son of a” became “sum” and “sum b@#$h” was the dominant vocabulary. I got the hell out of Beaumont and ended up in a small town called Winnie, TX. They have nothing but motels and restaurants and gas stations. The place I stopped for gas was the Bar H Country Store. You walk into this place and there are deer heads everywhere with antelope heads. This is my kind of store. Selling everything for the sportsman except guns and ammo. Real friendly people and willing to go the extra mile to make you feel at home. End of the day I checked in at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Winnie, TX. This place was gorgeous with an outdoor pool you do not have to go across the parking lot. Very clean and comfortable surroundings. Hot breakfast bar in the morning. They also let me park my bike in front of the entrance under the breezeway so they could keep an eye on it for me. Great people!

RIDIN IN THE WIND...VOL. I Issue II 06/25/2011 DAY 1 JUNE 25TH, 2010 I could hardly sleep knowing the day has finally come and I am taking my multi state trip. This trip involves seeing my son (David) and his wife Brandi in Schertz, TX. Everyday at work I was counting down the days until it was time get out of town for a whole month. Maynard kept telling me that he was going to text me at midnight everyday counting down the days I had to come back to work. Big Al kept telling me my vacation was being cancelled due to conflict of interest because he cannot have a month off as well. The sun was shining bright at 8 am in the morning when I pulled out. Half way down Ramsey Street, I realized I did not have my bike keys so I had to turn back. Dam. Now I am gone. The next stop was Elgin, SC for refueling and Thunder Tower Harley-Davidson. Been here before and it is a fine facility with friendly people to serve you. What is unique about this place is it has a “birthing room” for when you are buying a bike. Your bike is brought into the room with you while your paperwork is being filled out. Once completed you ride it out of the building and you and your HOG are born to the road. I could not have asked for better weather conditions. Next refueling stop was at Granite Mountain Harley-Davidson, Stone Mountain, GA. The famous Stone Mountain Memorial is just 15 minutes from the dealership and is a gorgeous piece of artwork carved out of the side of a granite wall on the face of a mountain. Two refueling stops later, I was watching this thunderstorm as I was approaching Montgomery, Al. Decided to pull over get something to eat, check in with people back home and wait it out. The rains passed through and it was time to go. Sun shining going through Montgomery and started down I-65 south headed for Mobile. Then all of a sudden, I hit a wall of water from nowhere! The sun was shining for crying aloud! Traffic was 20 mph and flashers on and soaked to the bone! Found a exit and pulled in to a gas station and there was another biker who was hammered as well. Therefore, inside the grill I dried off with the hospitality of the owner and got to talking with the other motorcyclist having a good time. When the rain quit there was this enormous rainbow. Therefore, we both knew it was time to roll. His name was Fred. A local resident. He was riding a Suzuki Boulevard. I told him that we may never meet again and it was a pleasure talking with him. Settled down for the night at the Best Western in Greenville, Al on I-65. One of the better ones that I have stayed in during my travels of coaching baseball and bowling. They had free wi-fi, anything I needed for the room if I forgot anything. Clean rooms and a hot breakfast in the morning that was very good. Give this Best Western 4 star rating. Points lost for having to walk across the parking lot to the pool.

"RIDIN IN THE WIND" 06/24/2011 JUNE 24TH, 2011 Hello my name is David Huff. Welcome to my page of Dave’s Rides. I have been an avid rider on 2 wheels sine the age of 15. With that being said I am 52 years old and have owned many a motorcycle. My first was a 1972 Honda sl-175 twin. It was a street and trail bike. Growing up in the Western Maryland Mountains of Cumberland, doing it in the dirt was the thing to do in those days. I was first introduced to the Harley line when I was given a ride on the back of an Electra Glide.Bicentennial Edition. Then on I was hooked on the Hog. Could not afford a Hog until recently when I purchased my first one, 2008 Heritage Softail Classic, Vivid Black and Chromed out from the factory. Sweet ride and we have been all over the country. Currently I have 31,000 miles on this machine and I can tell you it is NOT a GARAGE QUEEN! I bought it to ride and not sit collecting dust like an ornament. Last year I took 32 straight days off from work and traveled the country wanting to see the many wonders that America was built on. My travels last year was 6,086 miles in 28 days. Kept a journal for everyday so that I can look back on the accomplishment I set out to do. Check back to this page on a daily basis for I will share with you my journal excerpts. I hope you enjoy.