Yesterday, Thursday September 7, 2006, was a good day. I went to bed Wednesday night around midnight and got up around 5:30am. I layed in bed until 6:15 and got up for the day. I had an eye doctor's appointment up at the Altoona VA Med Center. So I ate and took a shower/shaved/brushed my teeth etc. I looked outside and put on my blue jeans and leather jacket and took off for the hour ride up there. It was very foggy out and in the mid 40 degree weather. So not a good time to be out on the motorcycle riding.
As I went out through the valley and heading to Cassville Mountain that will take me into the town of Mill Creek and Route 22 East, I watched for deer and other animals. Luckly nothing ran out in front of me. Riding through the fog made from my knee cap down very wet and cold. The whole ride to the VA was foggy and cold. I was lucky I put my leather jacket on.
At the VA my eye doctor checked me out and I ordered a new pair of glasses. I saw a person there that just got out of the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. He was injured and was there for his Comp Pension Doctor's appointment. He didn't know hardly anything about his benefits. So I told him what to file and how to get things. He then asked me if I was an Officer when I was in. I told him that I worked for a living and that he out ranked me! He couldn't believe it.
The ride home was much warmer and I got to Cassville around Noon. So I ate lunch and Jordan and I got on the bike to head down to Shade Gap to my Mother's and Aunt Nancy's to cut their grass and do other yard work. On the way down there I followed another Harley Rider on Rt 522 south of Orbisonia. Jordan thought it was cool riding behind him. Jordan wanted me to pass the guy. I told him that we were already going 5 mph over the speed limit, (60mph.) So we mowed the grass and did all the other work. Aunt Nancy continued to drill me about how dangerist riding a motorcycle is. Everytime she sees me she has to tell me of someone wrecking and getting hurt on their motorcycle. All the time I tell her that most of those people are speeding and never had any motorcycle training what so ever. I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Class and read books on motorcycle safety. I even tell her about a guy I met at the Orbisonia Pizza Star who was 83 years old and has been riding since he was a teen ager and still rides at 83! He told me that he has riden way over 1 million miles with out an accident. He also rode as a motorcycle messager in WWII in Europe with out an accident in War time riding!
After mowing the grass Jordan and I headed back up to Cassville. First we stopped at the Gap Store in Shade Gap for fuel. The last time I got gas I didn't completely fill it up so my fuel milage would be a little off. I filled it up and figured out that I got 47.8 miles per gallon! Even with out a complete fill up the last time! The ride up to Cassville was very fun! Riding up in the evening with out too many people on the road is very nice. Out side of Pogue (Pine Tree Village) I was hitting all the turns at speed. That is not having to slow down for the slower traffic. I was going 50 to 55 mph in a 55 zone. I wasn't breaking any speed limits but most of the time we have out of state people on this road going way slow!
The day started off with a tad over 2,100 miles on the bike and ended with a little bit over 2,300 miles total on the bike. So the bike isn't quite 3 months old yet and I have 2,300 miles riding on it with out any long trips. I average around 45 to 47 mpg riding around town and on the highway riding 60 to 65 or up to 70 when passing someone I am getting 50 to 53 mpg! The Harley gets up to 10 mpg better than my old 1100 V-Star!
In ending I am excited about next month. The middle of October we should be heading south to Ft Myers, Fl. For the first time ever, Ft Myers is hosting the Florida State HOG (Harley Owners Group)Rally. I order my ticket ahead of time and got a t-shirt and order 2 hats and 4 event patches. The Fl State HOG Rally will start Thursday Octorber 26 and end on Saturday October 28. The $40 ticket includes getting in the event for all 3 days, watching the Police Demo Stunt Motorcycle Team, 2 BBQ dinners, (1 Thursday at Ft Myers Harley Dealership and 1 Friday at Naples HD)On Friday and Saturday afternoons there will be bands preforming at the Lee County Civic Center. Friday and Saturday 7pm to 11pm Ft Myers will be hosting "Bike Night!" The bands there are: Molly Hatchett, 38-Special and The Outlaws. All Southern Rock bands. On Saturday there will be the "Parade of Bikes". This parade will take off from Ft Myers HD and parade through town to over the bridge and to the Lee County Civic Center. I am signed up for this ride. I also signed up for volunteer work to help out. I will be a member of the Safety/Security patrol and also work the Registration Desk on Thursday! The HOG Rally also states that anyone under 14 can get into the event for free! SO I ordered tickets for Jordan and Morgan. I also signed up a riding for the parade. So half of the parade Jordan will ride and the other half Morgan will ride with me. Thursday one of the boys will be with me and Friday the other will be with me. They will also be allowed to eat at the BBQ! So I am very excite to beable to share this experience with my sons! I feel like a kid waiting to open Christmas presents!
