Last night I attended an art showing of my good friend Terri Willits. Terri has such great artistic vision (she has an outstanding vision with life as a whole, I am very envious!) I am in constant awe of her work. Her encaustic style is so beautiful and serene.
Her showing was at Crave Coffee House near SLU Medical Campus. Crave is located in an old city church. The setting was perfect for Terri's work.
When I arrived Rick and Bobby were there. We chatted a bit and I got up to look at Terri's work. I knew she was doing a piece on Bobby's scooter and I was very excited to see the piece. I found it on the wall. I was so taken with the theme and the colors. Bobby and I talked about his scoot and my eyes started wandering to the other pieces in the group. I looked up and thought, umm there is Max (Pete's scooter) and UMMMM there is Flutter (my Scooter).
It took my mind a few seconds to wrap around the fact that I was looking at Max and Flutter as a piece of art. There was some writing above Flutter. It was from a blog writing I made when Flutter turned 10,000 miles. At the time I had Bella as well, my second bike. I was writing about how Flutter would always be my first love. Above the bikes and the writing were pictures of places to ride and things to see.
The painting was entitled First Love. So perfect. The piece conveyed three First Loves: My love for Flutter, my love for Max (which of course is my subliminal love for Pete) and the love Pete and I share for riding.
Terri will present me with the piece after her show! I can't wait to go back and see the painting again and again!
Terri, thanks so much for the piece, I am deeply touched.
First Love
El Gallo Azul and First Love on display at Crave STL
Last night at our St. Louis Scooter Club meeting, Steve (Snake) and I started talking about how cold it was to be the following morning. I said, I would really like to go get a picture down at the Commerce Bank with my scoot when it hits single digits. Steve looked at me and said are you nuts?? I was like well yeah....
He said, I think I will try to ride as well. I said sure Steve... Now one would think a dude named Snake is mean as well a snake right? Well Steve is the rider that complains it is cold when it is 65 degrees!! Plus Steve is retired and NEVER gets out of bed before noon. So I blew off his insane thought of riding in the cold until my phone rang at 9 this morning.
Maggie? Yeah? It's me Steve, I am up and I am going to ride.... Yeah right!?! No really I am...
Here is Steve's trip report:
At the meeting last night Maggie and I were talking about how cold it was going to be this morning. Since I am usually a fair weather rider, I thought it might be fun to just see what it was like to ride in really cold weather. So I had two challenges today, one was to get up before noon and the other was to ride in really cold weather. I was out for about 20 minutes. The only problems I had were my glasses fogging, so I had to keep the visor up a little and when I took off my gloves to take the pictures, well then it was time to go home. If I had Kevin's electric heated gloves I would have stayed out a little longer. The weather channels web site for the Ballwin area stated it was 1 degree and the banks sign stated 5 degree, I am going with the weather channel.
New Year's Day 09 was a beautiful day to gather with friends and ride, ride ride!! ETS has had a New Year's day Ride for a few years, last year they were not able to put on the ride so we were all about helping get their tradition restarted!
We met at ETS where Bill graciously opened the doors for some warmth and bathroom comfort! Thanks Bill!!
I sat on the Versys :) Great bike... we shall see. Pete was not crazy about it!
Bill lead us on a great ride over to Forest Park then Noel lead us out of the Park over to the Coffee Cartel! We even saw the two other scooter clubs preparing for their New Year's Day ride! To bad there was not enough room to stop and say hello... but as they say the show must go on!
After warming up and enjoying some great company we headed down to the Riverfront. The Arch was still there and we headed south to the graffiti wall. Seems we should have pre approved our ride with the other club as they took umbrage that we rode the same ride they did.. strangely enough I did not see their route posted. Oh well I will get our Valentine's Day ride approved so we don't hurt their sensitive feelings. Because they care they really do....
FTR, these are MY opinions not the opinions of the SLSC, so stay off that board and talk to me in person if you got an issue, capisce??
I owned a small bike before the 650 and urban riding was all I did for a year a lot of ottoman riders seem to forget this... having been on the levee road to the brewery many times I thought it was time the rest of the club had the experience. I am please to report all survived.
On Saturday the St. Louis Scooter Club and the Gateway Rockers held a toy ride for St. Louis Crisis Nursery. The weather was so so but could have been so much worse! We invaded Extreme Toy Store as our meet up point. Many thanks to Bill and Jeff at ETS. Bill was GREAT as Santa on a Segway!!
HUGE props to the Rock Hill Police Department for coming out and helping us with traffic control!
We paraded down Manchester Road with our bikes stuffed full of toys for the kids! Once we arrived at Shop and Save we we greeted by many of the Shop and Save employees and customers! We parked right up front and unloaded our gifts!
Did you ever have a day you didn't want to end?? This was one of those days, my Ground Hog Day, I could replay this day over and over...
Up and bright early, Pete and I headed to First Watch for breakfast. If you have never eaten at First Watch, do yourself a favor, do so!! The crepe eggs are yummy! During our very organic healthy breakfast we plotted our day. We decided it would just be a day of wandering.
We headed over to Old Lemay Ferry, once at Seckman, I decided I wanted to try out Frisco Hill Road! WOW!! Awesome awesome road!! HUGE elevation changes and a set of switch backs out of this world! Twist Frisco Hill comes back to Old LeMay Ferry, so we zipped on down to Rice Road. I swear you think Ossenfort is the Devil's Road?? Rice Road is OSSENFORT ON STEROIDS!! The road is just to die for, forget the Dragon, we own it right here in Missouri! The views to Sandy Valley are phenomenal.
Once we were done with Rice road we headed over to Goldman East to back track to Sandy Creek Bridge. It was fun coming across the valley we were just viewing from Rice. Goldman is a nice country road and prepares you for Sandy Church! We took a bathroom break at Sandy Creek Bridge, geez I never tire of this place!
Once out of Sandy Creek we headed across Glade Chapel Road, sweet piece of road. Instead of coming up Hillsboro-House Spring per the norm, we took Glade Chapel west to Hwy BB. Then BB to cedar Hill to Gravois to NN. Oh yeah in Cedar Hill, I came around a sharp up hill curve and it appeared someone had blown an engine and there was oil everywhere... I straight away tell Pete to go right, however Bella and I went through it. I felt both tires slide ever so slightly to the right Geezz that could have been SO MUCH worse!
NN is one of the first roads Pete and I ever rode on together.. was fun talking about that as we zipped along. Just another beautiful twist road with massive elevation changes. After NN we headed into Pacific then over to Eureka and time for a Monster break... wow look kids it's Six Flags!
Once a couple of M-80's were downed we headed up Allenton Road, they have repaved Allenton Road, a great road just went SUPER Great!! Of course we could not pass up the scenic loop in Greensfelder Park!
After leaving Greensfelder we headed over to Melrose. Opps up there at NN and Pacific, I failed to mentioned that I asked Pete what did he wanted for lunch, eggs salad or Wolfie's? He picked Wolfies Jump Guess what kids we are going URBAN!! But we still have some country ride to go yet. Melrose to Ossenfort to Wild Horse Creek, does life get much better? Seriously??
Once in town we headed over several urban jungle roads to Woodson Terrace and Wolfie's Hot Dog Stand! This was Pete's first trip and my what?? 1,000th??? I love sharing new places with Pete. Look at this smile :)
At lunch we decided we decided we would ride downtown and see if the Arch was still there. While riding we decided the Arch was more than likely still there so we headed over to Forest Park to the Jewel Box. Did you know there was a Korean War memorial at the Jewel Box?? No?? Neither did we! Was very nice!
Time to go home?? Nahh, what is the best way to finish a Beautiful day???
I can't believe it has been 3 months since I have blogged about my scootering adventures. But then again I can. I have had so many wonderful adventures that I have hardly had the time to blog about them. This will change, I will catch up this week!
This trip is worth going on even if you have to cage it...
Pete and I took off on down the Bluff Road. I love Monday riding, no one on the road at all. I think we passed one car between Columbia and Ellis Grove.
The Bluff Road is in good condition even after some flooding along various points.
The bridge is still out on the turn to Prairie DuRocher but just follow the Bluff Road and all is good. The bridge is really more a scenic cut off than anything...
Always a welcome relief is the limestone holes cut into the wall of the bluffs along the road. The temperature drops like 50 degrees as you pass each one. With yesterday being the hottest day of the year, it was a welcome blast of cold air.
Once into Chester we found Rte 3 South was closed due to flooding. Ended up being alright as the detour took us to places we had never been before. Best part of riding in my opinion any ways.
Once in Murphysboro we headed for the 17th Bar and Grill. The reason for the trip south was as much to eat at this place as was the Little Grand Canyon. Last time we made the trip down here with the club it was closed The place lives up to it's reputation, some of the best BBQ I have ever eaten. The cucumber salad was to die for.
After lunch we headed to Little Grand Canyon, this place was everything I had been looking forward to! Great trails and views! Well worth the trip down to experience nature at it's finest.
The back roads to LCG make the experience even more fun! Like last week's accomplishment of seeing Sandy Creek in all four seasons, we have now seen the scenic overlook in Bloomsdale in all four seasons. Hard to pick which has been my favorite as they all have had their own unique views. I am actually looking forward to this fall as we should have much more color with all the rain we had this spring/summer. As per our usual we found cats on our trip... OMG these were adorable.. sigh, I didn't get to bring any home.
Nice 254 mile day.. gas mileages were good on Max.. umm Pete actually had better mileage on Bella.
Perfect day for riding... with the perfect riding partner as always. I am sure we will plan a fall trip to Little Grand Canyon and hope a lot of you can join in.
Subtitle: Holy Crap there is a lot of farm land in Illinois!
Sub Subtitle: Holy SHIT Illinois has the highest taxes on gasoline for road repair, freaking use it!
What an OUTSTANDING Day for a ride. The right ingredients: great friends and perfect weather!
Jerry, Sandy, Steve, Jerry(Mo-JT), Pete and I headed north to the city to pick up Scot downtown. No issues except my Human GPS was wacked today, sorry guys for the missed turns. I think I was so into riding today I would say to Pete umm I think we should have turned there as we went buzzing by our turn.
Ride up to Springfield is actually nice but holy crap Batman we had to go through a ton of small towns and speed zones.
Once into Springfield we hit Lincolns Tomb and were greeted by Mark (Spanky here on the board) and Dave! Was greet to see Dave again and nice to meet Mark. Mark just got an 08 Burgman 400 in that beautiful blue black color!
We went into the tomb and walked around the grounds. Very nice, was my second time there but it has been 26 years. Yikes...
After the tomb tour we headed over to the WW II, Korean and Vietnam Illinois Memorials, all I can say is WOW. I really really loved the WW II memorial. But the Korean Memorial with the special memorial to the Chosin Reservoir was chilling. Then to have Steve recount a story of a friend of his that was one of the survivors was interesting to hear, thanks Steve!
Mark lead us to lead at Ryan's steak house. That place has some food!! Good Lord, I think I am still full!
After lunch we said our good byes to Mark! Thanks for coming out, Mark, it was great to meet you. Hope to see you again soon!
We headed back south with a pit stop in Litchfield to see Jim. To our great surprise Wade and Boots were waiting for us as well. We also got to meet Jim's wife, Linda. Was really good to see you up and about, Jim! Can;t wait till you are fully healed and we can make that Lake Ramsey trip!
At Litchfield we split into two groups home, Sandy and the two Jerry's headed back on 55 while Scot, Steve, Pete and I went the back roads. Once in the city we got to ride with a band of crotch rockets doing stoppies.. was cracking me up!
I am about a month behind on blogs to much riding not that it is a bad thing! I really needed to get this blog up!
Subtitle: You are NEVER to old to realize a dream!!
Gee I honestly don't know where to start. I suppose the beginning is the best place.
Well over 9 months ago, Dick started planning his trip from Vancouver Island, across the northern section of the US to the Iron Range Rally and then onward south to fulfill a life long dream of riding along the Mississippi River. Dick had told me once in Missouri he wanted to cut across the State and go to Lamar, MO. Lamar is the birthplace of Harry Truman who Dick has always admired. I knew right away when Dick told me about his journey that I would ride with him across the State. Fast forward to today.
Pete and I left St. Louis about 6:30am and blazed up 61 to 54 and into Louisiana to meet Dick. Once in Louisiana it didn't take long to see those Majesty lights down a side street. We pulled over and greeted Dick with a HUG bear hug! He is looking remarkably well for a 69 year old man into his 2nd week of traveling already 3,000 miles.
After some chit chat we found a place in town and enjoyed a grand breakfast!
Afterwards we headed west on Hwy 54. Man the wind in the farmlands was brutal today! We made a quick stop in Mexico to refuel ourselves. Of course I had to get Dick with a Monster
Hwy 54 turns south at Mexico towards Jeff City. We stopped just outside Jeff city for gas and then headed to The Lake of the Ozarks. Pete and I decided to headed over to the dam and the scenic overlook. Glad we did, it was a beautiful detour!
We rode on south into Camdenton and had lunch at a Mexican place (no it was not my choice, was Dick's )!! At lunch Dick detailed his trip to date! Pete and I both were green with envy of Dick's trip! I know I can't wait to hear about the rest of his trip!
After lunch we headed west on Hwy 54 to Hwy 123 then onto Hwy 13/123 junction. Here is where we reluctantly said our good byes.
The 585 miles that Pete and I traveled was worth every bit to have meet Dick and share just a little portion of his 9,000 mile ride! It was a distinct honor to have meet Dick, my life is already richer given today's experience.
Update as of today:
Update on Dick...
Since leaving Missouri he has gone though Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. A couple of days he started heading back west through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and that is where his spot satellite signal went dead for over 24 hours.. we have all been concerned.. but today we get this note from Dick.
----------------------------------------------
Hi guys
Its me.
Yesterday I posted that I was going on a slight detour. It looks like the post never went through.
Yesterday i was heading along Hwy 84 to get to the Ft. Parker State Park. Got to the I-45 intersection, about 120 miles N of houston Tx and phoned my neice in Houston.
She is a flight attendant for Continental Airways and told me to get my butt down to Houston because she was flying down to Caracas Venezuela on the red eye special and was taking me with her. Flight, hotel, meals etc free of charge.
So, I had a sudden change of plans. Sorry Duster, I had no idea that you would be at Ft Parker SP waiting for me.
So.......... I´m sending this post from Caracas Venezuela, just about ready to see the sights with my niece and some other airline attendants.
Man. This is really starting to be some kind of trip.
I OK´d my position this morning from Caracas. I have to tell my family that old Dick wasn,t hijacked and ended up in South America. Laughing
Gotta go. Will resume the trip in a couple of days.
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
)!! At lunch Dick detailed his trip to date! Pete and I both were green with envy of Dick's trip! I know I can't wait to hear about the rest of his trip!
