SeaCat
Hey, my Halo is smoking
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2003
- Posts
- 15,378
I finally crawled into bed around 0100 this morning. It was still warm out, the thermometer was reading 81° with 70% humidity. In other waords it's been uncomfortable here for the past few days.
As I crawled into bed I was thinking about riding today but I didn't think it was going to happen. My head hit the pillow and off into the hands of Morpheus.
Then I was yanked out of a sound sleep by the screaming of the alarm clock. I found myself sitting up in bed breathig hard and wondering what in the hell was going on. Tapping the off switch on the clock I looked at the time and found it was 0500.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to fall back asleep right away so I padded out into the living room. I was sitting in my recliner scratching Bubba when two things happened. The first was my wife came out of the bedroom and smiled as she turned on the coffee pot. The second was I glanced at the thermometer and saw the outside temps. were down to 75°.
Before I knew it I was in the shower with a full cup of coffee waiting for me on the counter. I brushed out my hair, put in the lenses and worked on the coffee as I got ready for the day. Coming out of the bathroom I found my wife had already set out jeans and a Tank Top for me.
After getting dressed I wandered back into the living room to find everything in readiness. My boots were in front of the recliner, the coats and the helmets were sitting on the table along with the gloves and keys.
After braiding each others hair we were ready. We grabbed our gear and out the door we went. I backed up the bike until it was clear of the cars. It was dark and cool out when I pulled the clutch, pulled the choke and hit the starter. With a grumble the bike fired up and sat there under me idling as I finished getting ready. My wife climbed on behind me and we motored down to the entrance with our light leading the way. As we sat at the entrance for a second the engine started revving up and I knew the bike was warming up.
I could feel the smile starting to grow on my face as I eased out the clutch and pulled onto the deserted roadway. At the next light I pushed in the choke and listened to the engine settle down beneath me. When the light turned I again eased out the clutch and off we went heading west with no destination in mind. Our choice this morning was just to ride.
After a bit the road turned into a minor highway and off we were going. The bike rumbled beneath me as I rolled on the throttle and our speed lifted to 60 MPH. I settled back with my hands settled gently on the bars. Every move I made was translated into an action by the bike, we were one as I felt my wife reach forward and rub my back through the heavy denim and leather I was wearing. Behind us the sky was slowly lightening as the sun inched ever closer to to horizon. Today was going to be another hot one yet for now it was beautifully cool and calm.
Running north and west through the ever growing light we passed through the sleepy little towns that epitomise old Florida. Redneck-ville and Cracker Town are some of the names used by the new comers on the coast but to me they are little slices of heaven.
We had been on the road a bit over an hour when my wife meaned forward and mentioned she was hungry. Glancing down at the trip odometer I saw we were reaching 80 miles and agreed. Pulling over now wouldn't be a waste of time. (No I hadn't started with a full tank.) I knew we could get a bit over 100 miles before shifting to reserve but what the hell. I started watching for a plce to pull over. Maybe ten miles later I saw just the spot.
A little diner on the side of the road flanked by a station with all of two pumps. At second glance I could see the lights were on in both places and I could see cars pulled up in front of the diner. Easing off the throttle I down shifted and into the station we coasted. It was a little dicey in the parking lot as it was dirt with gravel over it. I walked the bike over to the pumps and shut down as my wife climbed down.
After tanking up we motored over to the diner and parked the bike. I did have to reach into my cargo box for the puck though. I do hate putting the stand down on dirt. Pulling off our helmets we clomped into the place while noticing the sign over the door read "Mikes".
A couple of orders of Country Fried Steaks washed down with strong hot coffee and we were set up right. Going back outside we climbed aboard and pulled on our gear as I started the "Beast" once again. This time we had to pull on the sunglasses. I was happy tp pull onto the road and get some breeze over us as with the sun going up so did the thermometer.
Off we went and now I had an idea of a place I wanted to ride to. I watched the signs and pulled off when I needed to. I could see the questioning look on my wifes face in the left mirror and had to smile. I leaned back and told her my plan to do the trip around the lake. She leaned back with a grin on her face as the wind pulled her braid out behind her. I settled into the saddle and rolled on a bit more throttle as we rumbled down the road.
Now we were passing through scrub lands bordered by cane fields and marshy areas. The heat and humidity were climbing and even through the breeze created by our passage we could feel it. We could smell the earth around us baking dry. The smell of dirt and hot grasses was heavy in the air as we continued out trek. After another hour I started watching for someplace to get gas. I was at the sixty mile mark so I wasn't worried but I knew I would be needing gas in a bit. Past the ninety mile mark I saw a place on the side of the road and pulled in. I filled the tank as my wife grabbed us a couple of large glasses of Sweet Tea. After dropping those down our dry throats we were off again. Slowly, ever so slowly we arced to the east then north.
All too soon it was time to head East again. I spotted the road by it's signs and after downshifting curved into the turn before rolling back on the throttle. By this time I was more than a little warm and was wondering how my wife was dealing with the heat. At the first oportunity I pulled over at a small store and we rested for a bit as we drank cold water and Iced Tea. When I pulled off my jacket and vest I could see the jacket was soaked. My wife on the other hand was cool and dry when she pulled off her jacket. I asked her about this and she just smiled until she mentioned she always had a nice breeze while I was closer to the windshield and didn't get as much.
After sitting in the shade for a bit and watching the cars and trucks go by we had cooled off enough to go on. Back on the bike only this time I wasn't wearing my jacket. Just the vest. Back East we headed for not enough miles before the traffic started picking up again. Before too long we were once again in the traffic of the city and headed home. I watched the cars around me as they jockeyed for position as they chatted on their phones and sipped their Lattes. (I won't mention some of the things I've seen people doing as they drive.)
Way before I wanted it to the ride ended as we pulled into our parking area. Hot and sweaty we climbed off the bike and stretched. We wandered inside, changed and headed for the pool to wash off the sweat of a long hot and entirely satisfying ride.
There was no way I would have missed this early morning wake up.
Cat
As I crawled into bed I was thinking about riding today but I didn't think it was going to happen. My head hit the pillow and off into the hands of Morpheus.
Then I was yanked out of a sound sleep by the screaming of the alarm clock. I found myself sitting up in bed breathig hard and wondering what in the hell was going on. Tapping the off switch on the clock I looked at the time and found it was 0500.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to fall back asleep right away so I padded out into the living room. I was sitting in my recliner scratching Bubba when two things happened. The first was my wife came out of the bedroom and smiled as she turned on the coffee pot. The second was I glanced at the thermometer and saw the outside temps. were down to 75°.
Before I knew it I was in the shower with a full cup of coffee waiting for me on the counter. I brushed out my hair, put in the lenses and worked on the coffee as I got ready for the day. Coming out of the bathroom I found my wife had already set out jeans and a Tank Top for me.
After getting dressed I wandered back into the living room to find everything in readiness. My boots were in front of the recliner, the coats and the helmets were sitting on the table along with the gloves and keys.
After braiding each others hair we were ready. We grabbed our gear and out the door we went. I backed up the bike until it was clear of the cars. It was dark and cool out when I pulled the clutch, pulled the choke and hit the starter. With a grumble the bike fired up and sat there under me idling as I finished getting ready. My wife climbed on behind me and we motored down to the entrance with our light leading the way. As we sat at the entrance for a second the engine started revving up and I knew the bike was warming up.
I could feel the smile starting to grow on my face as I eased out the clutch and pulled onto the deserted roadway. At the next light I pushed in the choke and listened to the engine settle down beneath me. When the light turned I again eased out the clutch and off we went heading west with no destination in mind. Our choice this morning was just to ride.
After a bit the road turned into a minor highway and off we were going. The bike rumbled beneath me as I rolled on the throttle and our speed lifted to 60 MPH. I settled back with my hands settled gently on the bars. Every move I made was translated into an action by the bike, we were one as I felt my wife reach forward and rub my back through the heavy denim and leather I was wearing. Behind us the sky was slowly lightening as the sun inched ever closer to to horizon. Today was going to be another hot one yet for now it was beautifully cool and calm.
Running north and west through the ever growing light we passed through the sleepy little towns that epitomise old Florida. Redneck-ville and Cracker Town are some of the names used by the new comers on the coast but to me they are little slices of heaven.
We had been on the road a bit over an hour when my wife meaned forward and mentioned she was hungry. Glancing down at the trip odometer I saw we were reaching 80 miles and agreed. Pulling over now wouldn't be a waste of time. (No I hadn't started with a full tank.) I knew we could get a bit over 100 miles before shifting to reserve but what the hell. I started watching for a plce to pull over. Maybe ten miles later I saw just the spot.
A little diner on the side of the road flanked by a station with all of two pumps. At second glance I could see the lights were on in both places and I could see cars pulled up in front of the diner. Easing off the throttle I down shifted and into the station we coasted. It was a little dicey in the parking lot as it was dirt with gravel over it. I walked the bike over to the pumps and shut down as my wife climbed down.
After tanking up we motored over to the diner and parked the bike. I did have to reach into my cargo box for the puck though. I do hate putting the stand down on dirt. Pulling off our helmets we clomped into the place while noticing the sign over the door read "Mikes".
A couple of orders of Country Fried Steaks washed down with strong hot coffee and we were set up right. Going back outside we climbed aboard and pulled on our gear as I started the "Beast" once again. This time we had to pull on the sunglasses. I was happy tp pull onto the road and get some breeze over us as with the sun going up so did the thermometer.
Off we went and now I had an idea of a place I wanted to ride to. I watched the signs and pulled off when I needed to. I could see the questioning look on my wifes face in the left mirror and had to smile. I leaned back and told her my plan to do the trip around the lake. She leaned back with a grin on her face as the wind pulled her braid out behind her. I settled into the saddle and rolled on a bit more throttle as we rumbled down the road.
Now we were passing through scrub lands bordered by cane fields and marshy areas. The heat and humidity were climbing and even through the breeze created by our passage we could feel it. We could smell the earth around us baking dry. The smell of dirt and hot grasses was heavy in the air as we continued out trek. After another hour I started watching for someplace to get gas. I was at the sixty mile mark so I wasn't worried but I knew I would be needing gas in a bit. Past the ninety mile mark I saw a place on the side of the road and pulled in. I filled the tank as my wife grabbed us a couple of large glasses of Sweet Tea. After dropping those down our dry throats we were off again. Slowly, ever so slowly we arced to the east then north.
All too soon it was time to head East again. I spotted the road by it's signs and after downshifting curved into the turn before rolling back on the throttle. By this time I was more than a little warm and was wondering how my wife was dealing with the heat. At the first oportunity I pulled over at a small store and we rested for a bit as we drank cold water and Iced Tea. When I pulled off my jacket and vest I could see the jacket was soaked. My wife on the other hand was cool and dry when she pulled off her jacket. I asked her about this and she just smiled until she mentioned she always had a nice breeze while I was closer to the windshield and didn't get as much.
After sitting in the shade for a bit and watching the cars and trucks go by we had cooled off enough to go on. Back on the bike only this time I wasn't wearing my jacket. Just the vest. Back East we headed for not enough miles before the traffic started picking up again. Before too long we were once again in the traffic of the city and headed home. I watched the cars around me as they jockeyed for position as they chatted on their phones and sipped their Lattes. (I won't mention some of the things I've seen people doing as they drive.)
Way before I wanted it to the ride ended as we pulled into our parking area. Hot and sweaty we climbed off the bike and stretched. We wandered inside, changed and headed for the pool to wash off the sweat of a long hot and entirely satisfying ride.
There was no way I would have missed this early morning wake up.
Cat
