Memorial Day Weekend Ride with Friends

This morning we jumped on our bikes at the crack of dawn, I think we left our house around 4:30am or so to go to Rising Sun Indiana to meet up with Aaron & Etta Childs for a day of riding.

We stopped for breakfast at the Cacker Barrel Restaurant off I-74 near Shelbyville, I was hungry and it was still a long ride ahead.  I took some pictures while we were riding and it was a wonderful cool morning.   Sitting on the back of a bike, you get to see so much beauty that surrounds you.  You know I don't relax and think about my surroundings while being in a car.  Being on the back of a motorcycle is just a different experience all the way around.  I listen to the music and just sit back and relax.  Here are a couple of pictures I took while riding to Rising Sun Indiana.

Our Breakfast Spot "Yummy"

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - Early Morning Sunrise

The Sun is coming up to add warmth to the day

We made it to Rising Sun and met up with our friends.  Here are a few pictures that I took, as you will see I'm kind of a camera nut and I take a lot of pictures.

After we met up with our friends, we decided to head out, with Aaron leading the way and us trailing behind we went over a bridge across to Kentucky to a little town called "Rabbit Hash" and i kid you not the town's mayor is a dog named "Lucy", this was a cute little hole in the wall town with lots to see and explore.

After visiting this town we headed south through Kentucky and we were getting hungry for lunch so we came across this restaurant overlooking the Ohio River, we stopped and ate, this place had an outside buffet which was pretty neat.  By lunch time, the temperature was rising and it was HOT, an ice cold Pepsi was calling my name.  After lunch we headed out again continuing south was came to a Lock, we called this the "Damn Lock, with the Damn employee in the Damn drive-thru", this was very interesting as I have never been on an actual lock ever before.  This was neat because we got to walk up to an observation deck in one of the towers and man what a site to see.

Aaron & Etta at the top of the Lock Observation Deck

Our Lunch Spot

Bikers love this place as you can see

Lock

Lock

Aaron & Jeff just hanging out in the shade

Me overlooking the parking lot at the lock

So we left here and headed back over another bridge back into a town called Madison, we continue on some back country roads that were twisty and full of fun, this patch took us across southern Indiana, to the back southern side of Columbus, IN and then on to Nashville and back east .  We ended up in Trafalgar, IN and somehow got a little lost and this was a good thing, it gave us a chance to see some country side with curves and the promise of a nice Summer on it's way and showing that it was in full swing, this was a very hot day but was a very enjoyable day of riding.  This was my first day trip of the year.  Hope everyone enjoys reading this blog and looking at pictures, this is my first blog so any suggestions are welcome.

Flags for Hero's Ride

Here is my HOG Chapter 1 News Article piece that I did back in May 2011:

“FLAGS FOR HEROES RIDE”

05/28/11

     On Saturday May 28, 2011 I was able to be a part of something bigger than myself.  For the first time ever I was given one of the most honorable opportunities and that was to escort the World Trade Center Beams from Harley Davidson of Indianapolis down to Louisville, KY and back to Indianapolis with the H.O.G. Chapter 1.

     When my husband and I pulled into the Harley Davidson of Indianapolis dealership this morning, I stood in awe, seeing those beams up close was astounding and brought chills to my body.  As I stood there and gazed at those beams, I couldn’t help but think of all the lives that were lost and all the families that were affected.  As I helped get all the riders and their passengers registered I looked at every single person in awe thinking that even after ten years we “Have Not Forgotten”. 

     This ride was a tribute, and seeing all the bikers come out and support this cause was out of this world.  As we got started on the ride I couldn’t help but notice as cars drove by and came upon the beams in shock realizing what we were riding for.  They were eager to slow down just to get beside the beams and pull out their cell phones to take pictures as they drove by.  Some people were smiling, others giving us riders thumb’s ups!  This was so moving to see that as I was sitting on the back of our motorcycle, I held my head up high with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat, and a pain in my heart and thought to myself, it’s not everyday that you get this kind of opportunity to do what we did today.  I have never been more proud to be an American.  This was a very humbling experience as well as very emotional. 

     Let me tell you when we pulled into the rest stop in southern Indiana, this huge crowd of bikers became still and hushed in honor of the WTC Beams and the American Flag that draped over it.  What an awesome experience!

     I gazed at the American Flag and many thoughts went racing through my mind.  One thought stood out the most and that was exactly what our American Flag stood for.  We all have been brought up with the normal standards of what the flag stands for but today it stood for so much more than I was taught as a child.  For the first time, I was emotionally involved in its meaning.  The American Flag stands for our Freedom, Perseverance, and Justice.  Without the men and women, who have served, died and are still serving for USA we Americans would not have the freedom we have today.  GOD BLESS THE USA and all the Armed Forces, Emergency Responders and all serving this beautiful country.  You are our HEROES….We Will Never Forget! Our prayers go out to all family and friends who lost their loved ones in this tragic event and the history of events that followed.

With Pride to be an American

First Time Blogger

Not sure how this is going to go, but wanted to give it a try.  So here goes nothing.