Day One 5/27/06

My Dad and I packed so much that we did not think we could fit it all.  But we did.  As we left, I felt sad about leaving my Mom and my dog Pepper for 2 weeks and as we got on Hwy 6, I asked myself if it was too late to turn back.  But I sucked it up and kept on going.  It was boring leaving Houston, let alone Texas.  But it got better as we got to Arkansas.  We saw a lot of Harleys going South and not North like us. We wondered why?  It was cool in the morning but it got really, really hot later.  And our bottoms got really sore after a while.  After looking for a Hotel for an hour, we finally found one at 6:40pm just outside Little Rock, Arkansas. 510 miles in one day.

 My wife and I just thought this would be a good opportunity for me and the kid to bond in togetherness as father and daughter before she transformed into a teenage monster like we had before. So after extensive work in preparing for such a long trip, not counting taking a 12 year old along, we were ready to leave.  I had the maps and a pretty general plan.  We were going to try and hit all 3 Harley factories and see the country.  If we didn’t make all three, then that was fine.  Yep, we were going somewhere and it really didn’t matter if we ended up where we thought we were going. Anyway, we left Houston at 8:30 AM headed to Little Rock. We made it through Little Rock about 20 or so more miles and the wall of TB (tired bottom) hit us.  The 1^st night was a vision of what was to come.  I had way under-budgeted on hotel cost.  I was thinking 50-60 per night, but they were 70-80 per night and some were a lot more. oopssss

 Day 2

We left really early in the morning so we could get a head start.  It was really nice except this time it almost rained and we had to stop.  But it was cool we had lots of fun and I am really starting to enjoy this trip with my Dad.

 On the second day I thought we would hit Memphis and see the King’s home. The kid thought we were going to see the Burger Kings home (NOT).  Anyway we took an exit into downtown Memphis (a mistake) and I got turned around.  Not that it is that big, but if you are not familiar with the streets and lost, it isn’t the best.  We left Memphis without seeing any Kings home or anybody else’s and headed towards Nashville.  The thought was to get to the Smokey Mountains for a couple of days and ride in the hills. We made it to the east side of Nashville and got a room. We met some folks from New Jersey on a trike with trailer. They were hauling a lot of stuff and I do mean a lot. They had hanging clothes on racks and stuff but were really nice people.  I decided that we did not pack too much.

 Day 3

It was a clear and beautiful day.  People in Gatlinburg are really nice and helpful.  We went through the Smokey Mountains some but not a lot.  We will go through them more tomorrow.  We stopped at a Harley shop and picked up some stuff to send home.  I liked that.  My Dad has been telling everyone that asks what we are doing, that he is taking me on this trip as one last chance to bond with me before I become a teenager.  I hate his guts and think he is dumber than a rock.  But that needs to stay our secret because I am too attached to my life, if you catch my drift.  But it is a beautiful trip so far.  I have not seen anything ugly yet, except some fish we saw at Ripley’s Aquarium.

 Well If I would have known that Gatlinburg was so close the night before, we would of just rode into there, but I didn’t. I will tell you that Pigeon Forge (Dolly World) is a real tourist trap and there are not enough drugs for me to stay there.  But now Gatlinburg is a different story, this is worth the trip. Even though it was busy, it did not look like a tourist trap, it had some taste and down-home feeling to it.  The ladies at the Harley store (a satellite store) were real nice to the kid and even to me.  We went to Ripley’s and at 20 per person; I felt it was way over-priced just to see some fish. I can see this on the TV I’m thinking, but it was a nice aquarium. We just walked around the rest of the day and took it easy looking at the sites.

 Day 4

   Sarah & I overlooking Gatlinburg   

 Today was cool. We spent 9 to 10 hours on the bike, so basically the whole day on the bike.  Eight out of the 9 to 10 hours, we were lost.  Don’t look at me it was my Dad. People in my family just can’t read maps including me.  But we saw lots of beautiful scenery.  We are in Tennessee but we were so lost we ended up in North Carolina.  I know, how in the world could that happen?  Well, somehow we found our way to the hotel after asking about 5 people how to get there.  But when we got there it rained on us right as we got back to Gatlinburg.  I am sure we learned our lesson, whatever that was.

 Well this was the day that we were going to head out and see the sites and ride the Dragon’s Tail (314 curves in 11 miles).  We rode through the Smokey Mountains and were seeing some really beautiful country  I know now where they got their name, they really are smoky! Go figure.

Anyway we rode and rode trying to find this Dragons Tail and I couldn’t find it even after asking for directions several times, I must have been really ate up with the D.A. cause we never found it even with the maps we had. But I was not disappointed cause we saw some very beautiful country and the riding was top notch. I am thinking that we have got to come back here again.  Next time I will bring the wife and score some brownie points!  When we finally got close to town again, I found the Dragons Tail, but it will have to wait till the next day.  I was way to tired to try something that two people just died on the week before. This Tail thing has a price it wants and I wasn’t going to play dumb with it.

 Day 5

Well, we finally found the Dragon’s Tail and it was way cool.  I got lots of really good pictures.  I liked the hotel we were in, even though we had to change rooms.  And this guy that works at the desk named Ivan, he kind of freaks me out!!!!  But otherwise, I have been enjoying the trip.  We found the Harley shop in Maryville.  I got a sticker thing,  a Harley pin and a card from a really nice lady named Annah Neely.  She worked there and was really nice.  We had so much fun today, it seems that everybody we meet, likes me.  This is a day I will never forget mostly because of the Dragons Tail.  That was sooooo much fun. 

 

Tree of Shame

Early rise, breakfast for the beast and me and off to tame the Dragons Tail.  We start going up this mountain farm road (what we call Farm to Market roads in Texas) and I am thinking, this is a pretty nice ride in itself.  Anyway we stop at a look out over a reservoir for a minute or two then head on up the road.  I was looking for a sign that said we were on the tail but the road just got curvier and curvier and curvier. I saw signs that said “ Lane Crossing Kills” and all of a sudden I see this man taking pictures of us on the bike trying to go up this road. We go and go and all of a sudden we are at Deals Gap, the end of the tail.  Well, we made it up the Dragons Tail and didn’t hurt ourselves (the kid) and it was real fun.  I never got over 2^nd gear once we got into the heavy curves, you just can’t go that fast and stay kind of safe.  We saw the TREE of SHAME this is where they hang the boots of folks that supposedly died trying to ride the tail to fast and a whole lot of bike parts from people that have crashed. These were mostly sport bikes, but there were a few Harley parts in the tree.

 Day 6

Today was a crumby day.  We got into an accident and it rained on us 3 times.  Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident except, LT (aka the bike).  We may have to replace the front fender because it has a big dent in it.  We are behind our schedule today but that is okay.  Today was not a very fun day; it was probably the worse day ever.  I just hope that tomorrow is better.

 The day did not start out crummy. We left Gatlinburg with a full tank and a lot of good memories in our hearts and minds.  I thought it would be cool to ride through the Smokey Mountains and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway headed north. Well, so far so good. The Blue Ridge is a nice ride, but slow (speed limit is only 45) and there are no towns on it. I didn’t realize this too much until it was way too late in the day. We had passed Ashville, NC and it was already past noon. We were high (5600’) and then it started raining.  It rained and rained and I thought as cold as it was getting, this could be sleet anytime.

Now I was thinking, we need to get gas and I don’t see no stinking gas station. We came up on a Ranger Station and pulled over.  I asked the Rangers where the closest gas was and I was informed about another 40 miles up the road.  So we hung out a little bit talking to some other Harley riders as they waited on the rain with us. We said our goodbyes and those guys mounted up and road off in the direction we were headed. We kept going and going and the out of gas indicator light went off on my Ultra (they use more gas in the mountains DA). I am thinking we are going to run out of gas on this road with no town or anything and me with the kid. Was I going to hear about it from the wife.

We finally saw the exit for Spruce Pine and we exited right into road construction.  We had traveled 28 miles with that little damn light on and I knew the gig was about up.  Sarah said in the intercom that there is a station up on the right. Well I look up (I don’t see no stinking gas station) and then I look down at the little light thinking we ain’t going to make this one.  On the two lane rode with no shoulder, the people behind me would just have to watch us push it to a station.  Sure enough the truck in front of the truck I was behind of stopped short and I just heard breaks hitting and screeching. All I could say was crap as I laid her down and bumped right into the rear of the pickup. This happened so fast that all the training went somewhere, but I can’t tell you where, but it went. We were not injured and the man we hit was fine. Nothing time and money can’t fix, and we were lucky that we were really going pretty slow.  The Harley riders from the Ranger Station stopped and helped us pick up the bike and to check on us. Good folks from Seneca, SC.  The man we hit offered us a place to sleep, the kid is looking at me saying “NO DAD” in her eyes and all I could think about was the scene from Deliverance!! So we said no thanks but thank you anyway and left town after I got my ticket!

 Day 7

We did not do a lot.  We just rode and got soaked.  We went through North Carolina, VA, West Virginia, and Maryland and stopped in Pennsylvania.  We stayed in a really expensive Hotel but it was worth it.  The beds were soooo comfy, it was like you were floating on a cloud.

 Man is above an understatement, it rained and it rained on us but we really made good time since we made it back to real highways and toll roads. What is the deal with all the toll roads back east? Jezz they have a lot of toll roads. But they got gas and hot coffee so I dealt with it.  Anyway we finally made it to York, PA late in the evening and started looking for a motel. Now unknown to me, there was a street rod convention in York that weekend and every place was full, we did end up at a 4 Seasons wet and looking for a room. Oh yeh they had one $200.00 but it felt good and was dry. It rained on us all day but about 2 hours and I was ready for rest. I have never seen so many nicely done hot rods. Those Yankees had some nice cars.

 Day 8

Today was sooo cool.  We went on a tour of a Harley Factory in York PA .  That was cool.  We also went to Gettysburg Battle field, but that was boring.  We got our intercoms fixed and we only got sprinkled on for a few seconds.

 Well we made it to the Harley factory in York, turns out that on this Saturday they just started doing the tours on summer hours. It was a pretty nice tour although not a lot was going on, I did learn a lot about the type of bike I rode. I forgot to take a picture of us in front of the plant, but we got our little pins.

After that we stopped by the dealership in York and I had to buy a new intercom because of the accident, I guess I pulled to much on the cord and it broke internally. They helped out a great deal and treated us like old friends. Most folks would just look and Sarah and me with a little amazement when they found out we were from Houston and on this bonding trip.

At Gettysburg I was amazed of what I have heard and watched about on TV was in front of me. A humble feeling came over me for the lives of all the men that died there North or South, they did and fought for what they believed in, a different time and place I guess. I wonder if we will ever be a people (nation) so convicted in our feelings again and be willing to act on it as those brave men did.

Anyway the kid did not feel the same as I did (to young to understand I guess) and after a while advised me that all those people are dead so let’s go.  Well, we saddled up and headed towards Milwaukee.

 Day 9

We just rode and got rained on and we rode from Boone PA to Hammond, Oh and got rained on.

 Well it did rain pretty much on us all the way. We were going to try making it to Milwaukee, but we gave up on that as it was getting late and the road was starting to wear on us. Also again toll roads, jezz.

 Day 10

  The Main Plant Milwaukee

We got lost in the south; yes I said south part of Chicago.  But we got to our destination which was Milwaukee to do the Harley plant tour.  It was not very good.

 Let me tell you, if you have never been lost on the South side of Chicago, you haven’t been lost, After about three hours of trying to get out of there we made it to Milwaukee and to the Harley factory, the last tour of the day.  I have to admit that the interns that were doing the tour, needed help. If my kid sensed it, I know everyone else did also.  But I must say I learned something there also, just wasn’t that good of a tour. Maybe another day it would be great.

 Day 11

We went from Le Clair on the Mississippi River. to Kansas City.

 I have to say that sleeping right on the side of the big river was nice and the view was great also.  Well when we left Le Clair we were going to Kansas City and then back to Texas.  Yes I was getting kind of ready to see my own bed. We have been riding hard and it has not been boring.  Well we gassed up somewhere in Iowa and I had my riders back rest and lower rain gear bungee corded to the trunk, well they are now on the side of a highway going to Kansas City. I figure that’s a $300 plus mistake.  Anyway we made to KC and a room and were in for the night.

 Day 12

We went on the Harley factory tour that was the best tour out of them all.  I really liked that place and the tour guides knew a lot about what they were doing.  It was really fun.  I even got some stuff for free because of what my Dad and I are doing.

We stayed in a very nice hotel. It was not as expensive as a holiday Inn but it was so much better. It is called Sooner Legends Inn and Suites in Norman Oklahoma.

The KC Plant

Okay three Harley factory tours in 5 days on a bike with a twelve year old. Top that one fathers out there, because they are memories of a lifetime for us both.  I have to say the Ms. Sunny (the lady that gave us the tour in KC) was the best in spirit and knowledge of the Harley culture and bikes of all the tour guides.  The people at HD need to clone her and put her at the other two plants. That woman knew more about HD history and parts than all the others put together. Plus she made it a blast to be on the tour for all the people there.  They (the folks at the KC plant) were kind enough to give the kid something for our trip, just a little pin, but it put a big smile on her face. After that we saddled up and headed towards Texas, I was hoping we might be able to make into the state, but it was just too much. So we stopped at Norman, Ok. I will say that the motel we stayed at was pretty cool, not that I am a OU fan by any means but it was a family owned motel, nice theme with the OU great sports people and great food. Even has DVD players in all the rooms to go with the larger plasma TV’s. Pretty neat.

 Day 13

From  Norman, OK. We decided to make it home today. We made a long journey of 400 + miles.  All the way home and we stopped at Mancusos HD to get our bike fixed and my mother picked us up from there.  We were soo tired when we got home, I didn’t even have enough energy to eat. 

 Last day, I hope, my butt was tried, my bike was hurt and I had bonded all I wanted to for now! But we left Norman at 9Am and headed for Texas.  Yes, we could smell the Lone Star State. We hit Dallas just right (traffic was light) and kept on going. We made good time and no rain. This was only like the 4^th day we had not run into rain.  Anyway we hit Houston just in time for TRAFFIC, but we made it to the dealer where I have all my bike’s work done.  I guess they are use to taking my money and I am use to giving it to them, go figure.  But they take real good care of me and LT (Louise Two – wife’s middle name since she was kind enough to let me have a new bike)  So we got off the bike, unloaded all the gear, we had a lot and it seemed to grow.  I blame it all on the kid. I looked at the trip meter and we had traveled 4766 miles in 13 days. Me and a twelve year old girl, I need drugs (Advil) and rest now. Also she ate fine on the road!

 Conclusion:

Three weeks later as I go over this and think about the journey Sarah and I made; I would advise all Harley riders (and non Harley) to make some memories like this with a loved one.  Even with the crash, rain and the other issues, this was a journey of a lifetime for Sarah and me.  I can leave this earth knowing that I gave this kid some memories she could tell her grandkids about.  Also I think she might understand the gruff ol’ dad a little better.  I am doubly blessed with a kid that did not complain once the whole trip, I think she was just awed.

 The 04 Ultra made the trip without any problems of her own, she never gave up and handled the journey with grace.  So to all you fathers out there, go on a journey with your kid; it’s okay really.  PS I will be getting a GPS before I do this again!

 

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To the Directors and Members of Houston AREA #1 H.O.G.

   My name is Gerald James. I’ve been a member for about 5 years or so and have only missed a few meetings. Unfortunately, I was doing some volunteer work on the Sunday of the August Chapter Meeting and wasn’t in attendance when Johnny announced the winner of the Mancuso VIP Card bike.

   As you may or may not know, I was the lucky winner! Even though it’s been a few weeks, I am  still in a state of excitement after picking up my new Street Glide (Johnny allowed me to “upgrade” to a different model in exchange for me paying the difference in price. What a deal!) At the time of this writing, I haven’t had a chance to personally thank Johnny, the sales person said he’s been busy with opening a new dealership.

   For what it’s worth, I will soon put my 2001 FLHT on the market. It’s in excellent shape. That being said, I’ve always kept it in good shape. And where did I buy my parts? Thank God, I purchased everything at Mancuso as that’s how I accumulated the rebate points!)

   For the record, I intend to buy all of my parts, motor clothes and Harley Davidson Accessories from Mancuso and will make certain to use my Rebate Card. I’ve been contemplating just how to tell Johnny and JT and the rest of the Mancuso Family how thankful I am for having won the bike. Although I have yet to find the words to convey my thanks, I have, in fact, made a personal vow not to ever wear a Harley T-shirt from any Harley Dealership other than Mancuso (exceptions being, I wouldn’t mind wearing one from a dealership in a foreign country or perhaps a state that is far, far away).

   I guess what I am really trying to say is although I have always felt a sense of obligation and loyalty to deal solely with Mancuso Dealerships, I now have a darn good reason to feel obliged and I want to somehow prove it. For some reason, at least for me, simply saying thank you will never convey my true appreciation for the kindness and professionalism that I always find at the Mancuso Dealerships. Although I know Johnny wouldn’t mind me wearing a shirt from a competitor, let it be known you will never see me wearing a competitor’s shirt. It’s the least I can do!

   I am writing to let everyone know I am very, very happy to have won and intend to ride my new bike proudly as a member of Houston AREA #1 H.O.G.

   In closing, like I said, I’m still so excited I really don’t know what to say so for now, I’ll simply say, winning the bike has made me feel lucky. I feel lucky not only because I won the bike. I also feel lucky just to be able to ride as a member of Area #1. And I want everyone else to know just how lucky we are, to have a sponsoring dealer like Mancuso. And certainly, I want everyone to know how truly blessed I feel for having won the bike. As a final comment, I want everyone to know, there really is a Santa Claus. And his name is Johnny!

Sincerely,

Gerald James