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September 6th, 7th, 8th 2024

We have been requested to come up with an overnight ride. This has been discussed, and a ride from Hell to Paradise was speculated on. It has recently been suggested that might be a bit long for a Saturday/ Sunday. There is a poll on our Facebook page, with options for a couple of destinations, and a couple of weekends. One of the main considerations, Is a long ride day 1 to get there, and again on day 2 to get back. Leaving Friday on a 3 day weekend is a solution. I personally probably don't have enough vacation to add a Friday if I'm not already having a a holiday, but we will worksomething out. Please respond to this poll. It appearse the few people who wanted to go, either haven't seen it, or haven't replied yet. It is becoming near the wire, and at this last meeting a request was made for us to lock down a date. We're trying. :)

On a trip in Georgia, we were ready to stop for gas and lunch. We were going to make a left, coming down a hill, that was a bit quicker than planned. As we were slowing, we heard very loud exhaust behind us. When we realized it was a tandom tractor trailer that probably couldn't stop in time, we continued straight. The next town was good enough, anyhow. I saw a tree trimming truck... And another... And then three more, as we pulled into the gas station. We pulled up to the pumps, and realized there was no building... There used to be, there was a spot for one... And we realized this was where the tornadoes had just gone through. (I don't know if you recall a few years ago, when the pecan trees were decimated.) We looked, and in the strip mall next to the station, was a huge party. Great smelling food, music, dancing. A police officer starting walking from there, toward us. Images from movies with corrupt deep South sheriffs came to mind. It wasn't just any officer, it was the chief of police. More movies were recalled. We had a bit of a discussion, and he explained, it turns out they had no power. The restraunt owner in the strip mall decided to cook all his food (on wood smokers) and give it all away, since without refrigeration, it was going to spoil anyhow. The chief was inviting us to their party, since they had more food than the entire town could eat at one sitting. They were having a huge party. Talking with the pastor, we discovered the pile of kindling next to the mall used to be the church, or they would have had the party there. One person was picked up by the tornado, 30 feet in the air. He was the only one injured in the whole town, he had a broken hip. They were having this huge party, because God had spared the entire town. At least the people, the buildings were a shamble. The house next to the church... Was literally across the street the day before, you could see debris trailing from the foundation, to where it had landed. Giant trees, 75 feet tall, were lying around like beer cans at a frat party. And they were jamming. We donated all the cash we had on hand, to the pastor, to help these wonderful people. Their lives are in a ruin... And they think to invite strangers to join them in a party. If you are ever near Talbotton,ga... Stop in, tell them those white boys on motorcycles appreciate the lesson on life. I think of that once in a while when things aren't going so good. Step back, see what you really got, and celebrate, because it could be so much worse. And all this, because we didn't turn at that one corner...