Mobile Harley Owners Group Chapter #0040

Welcome
Our HOG chapter invites you to come visit us down here on the Gulf Coast. Here in Mobile, we are blessed with great climate and a beautiful place to call home. We like nothing better than getting together, riding, and having fun.

Check out our "Visit Mobile" page to find out more about our area and history Web2.

Our group crosses a wide spectrum of social, economic and cultural boundaries; our common threads are Harley's and our friendships.

This guestbook is monitored. Please keep in mind this guestbook can be viewed by members and non-members which means anyone. All anonymous and offensive postings will be deleted.

Hello Everyone: Check Out the New Gallery Album Five, Posting of New Pages to follow.

Coming Soon!!!!! 1st Annual Bacon In The Sun Cruise To Cozumel Pictures, Check out Gallery Album 5 first page complete, more to come.

If you have recently been on a ride or to an event and would like to share your photo's, you can send them to webmaster@mobilehog.com or bring them to our next meeting. Acceptable forms are CD, floppy, email, zip file, scan-able copies and flashdrives. I look forward to hearing from you.

Looking forward to getting your photo's of the Bacon in the Sun Cruise to Cozumel

Ride to work. Ride at lunch. Ride alone. Ride with a friend. Ride with your chapter. Ride around the block or ride all day. The important thing is, whether you ride one mile or 100, on the front seat, or the back, you become a part of Million Mile Monday.

Then, log on to members.hog.com, register your miles, and watch the online odometer click toward 1,000,000 – or beyond.

How does one say “goodbye” for this many days? I don’t know. I’ve never really figured out how and as a result, I’ll rarely say the word. “Goodbye” just seems inappropriate…strangely incomplete. I hugged Gena , mumbled, “ I love you and see you soon,”

That would have to do, as we roared out heading west...

I looked away into the distant sky as the sun was rising behind us. It truly was a glorious morning, the blazing sun and purple clouds creating vivid streaks of light across the heavens my thoughts started to drift......Riding is an intimate experience, immersing the rider in a level of interaction with his machine, the road, speed, distance and nature. Riders become more a part of their machine than non-riders can often understand. You really begin to feel the connection to bike when riding a 70 mph and your bags start falling off........

A thousands miles makes for a long day on a motorcycle, as we rolled in to Amarillo TX after about nineteen and half hours of riding ...WOW.... but we did it ( The Iron Butt ) glad it was overwith. Along the way we shivered in the cold, roasted in the heat, fought vicious crosswinds,and watched in awe the thunderstorms clashing in the distance. Was told Larry and I missed quiet a show on I-20. I’m sure we were exhausted, except it’s hard for us to feel tired when you can still picture the huge blue skies, the rolling plains, and the open road speeding by. Maybe later, when we can wipe the grin's off our face, We'll get some sleep. We'll need it for tomoorw will be a fun day.

Immortalized as the "Mother Road" in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, when it was designated in 1926, this national highway was one of the first roads to connect the Midwest to the West Coast, and rural areas to urban ones. In New Mexico, Route 66 slices across the entire state, from border to border. These days, this 2,448-mile-long highway that spawned songs and a TV show, has been replaced by I-40, but in some spots, the old highway parallels and is marked by brown Historic Route 66 road signs. New Mexico, In Tucumcari, a teepee that marks the entrance of Tee Pee Curios and still beckons customers, Route 66 has held a special place in the American consciousness from its beginning. The road is uniquely American. There are a thousand stories of hope, heartbreak, love, hate, starting over, and new dreams found along the next bend of the highway we call the Mother Road. The story of Route 66 is our story; it embodies what makes us a great nation. No other culture has had the same type of love affair with the road, and few have had the wide-open spaces offered by the American West. We all thought the mother Road could became the destination it's self. The carnival atmosphere of Route 66 attractions promoted the unusual. The more outrageous the better ~ anything to catch the eye of the passing motorist! We all half expected to see Jan & Dean standing on side of the road singing as we went by. This is the stuff of legends, and modern Route 66 entices people from all over the world to experience in a small way what it used to be like once.

We were all looking forward to getting started that morning seeing what was to come that day. At the waffle house we ask three times how to get to Cadillac Ranch, I guess not knowing there was no way to miss it.

What we found on Route 66 is an attitude, not a road, not a route, not a destination. Most of the nostalgia was at best manufactured for today's travelers. The trip is still worth the ride though. There are places to visit and things to see. There are snake farms and hometown cafés, museums and motels. There are even ruins—sad, lonely, motels and service stations abandoned when they were bypassed by the hustle and bustle of the world.

We also found on Route 66 that long distance motorcycling is not always an exact science. Best laid plans and all that stuff, this is were Dennis let us have the joy of fixing a flat on Route 66, Thanks Buddy.

As we rolled down route 66 and I- 40 into New Mexico we found it is indeed the Land of Enchantment. For us traveling the old Mother Road into New Mexico presented the first glimpse of the exotic cultures of the southwest. The fascinating Native American and Spanish cultures encountered along New Mexico's Route 66 opened up new worlds never dreamed of before. New Mexico presented us with the adventure of discovery, in our own way we found places and people along the way that were worth finding. We seen amazing sights, experienced great pleasure, and even endured intense pain. We gasped at incomprehensible vistas, marveled at truly astounding works of God, and had nature clomp us firmly back into our place.

We found every stop can be a chapter in a book if you have the time and are willing to communicate, Politeness counts. We are not a member of some renegade biker gang. We are a tourist representing the cadre of motorcyclists interested in something more than speed. This is a learning experience with rewards that will be forever etched in our memory upon our return to daily life.

The hours had flown by and before we knew it, another day was gone. As we enjoyed the evening like brothers setting on a wonderful porch in a Santa Fe hotel, remembering the day's events. We smoked cigars talked if there were no troubles in the world because on that night there were none just great friends having great times remembering what was and starting to miss the ones at home.

We had to get a early start as we need to find the Harley Davidson dealership in Santa Fe. Like all journeys there are side roads one must take and if we wanted to get to Colorado we must visit this side road of the service department to get Dennis's bike back in tip top running order. What we found was the word ( SERVICE ) was not to be found there at all......for that matter, I don't recall service being high on anyone list in Santa Fe in any business other than the self service gas stops.

Dennis, with his desire to keep us moving decided to self mechanic, to which we were all amazed and grateful. What ever he and Mike did with a phone, laptop and what I believe looked a lot like a shoe string, it worked well enough to get us moving north.

..WOO HOO , but before we left we went in to check the forecast for the trip north through the TAOS MTNS. They use the term “scattered thunderstorms” in the weather forecasts out there and they use it a lot, essentially for the entire summer. Basically, it means, “We’ve absolutely no idea what the weather’s going to do, not even a guess.” You encountered everything from 100+ degree heat and extreme drought to sleet, snow, and fog under that particular forecast. So took that under advisement saddled up and headed out.

As we rode over the Taos to Colorado I was thinking about a Willie Nelson song. I grew up a-dreaming' of being' a cowboy, and Loving' the cowboy ways. Pursuing' the life of my high-riding' heroes, I burned up my childhood days."

I am sitting is firmly affixed to my Motorcycle; this fact in no way diminishes the joy and exhilaration of seeing the landscapes big as life before my eyes for me to drink in the beauty and the years of wondrous anticipation realized in the flesh. It took a long time to get here, finding our self in these places of dreams, the open road, clear of traffic and eagerly watching for what's coming over the horizon. I like to think the Pony Express Riders shared this longing for being out here, away from everyone else and on your own.

My thoughts were we passed through towns where Abe Lincoln practiced law, Jesse James robbed banks, and Will Rogers learned how to twirl a rope. We could cross Mark Twain's great river into lands where outlaws hid in dark caves, and drive through picture-book countryside's where cowpokes still chased doggies into the sunset.

We rode hard on this day from the Red Mountains of New Mexico to the lush green hills as you enter Colorado. We enjoyed seeing the ski slopes as we ventured to Durango.

You look forward to chance meetings since by nature we are not solitary. Motorcycle touring demands frequent stops. This is not to say there is no human interaction. Quite to the contrary. You have become a magnet. An oddity. Those whose paths you cross will stop and take note. And through these conversations you will gain insight into the lives of others as they try to relate to an unusual traveler's. Larry and Mike discovered such people on this evening as they were from the south and felt a brotherhood with fellow southerners from Alabama ( what a small world ) Phil and Traci were so kind to invite us to dinner for the following evening.

Remember that thing about side roads, the side road this time was taking us to the Durango Harley Davidson where Dennis was going to have his bike fixed correctly this time so we could enjoy the ride through the higher passes.

At last we were heading west toward Cortez..... again all bikes in tip top shape ( are so we thought )

Cortez and Mancos stand at the entrance to perhaps the best Ancestral Puebloan site in the nation, Mesa Verde National Park. Exploring at 10,000-feet, Ahead lies the majestic splendor we will traverse. Our primary interests are the mountain cave's, like little cities that we will explore. This was a sight we will remember for a life time.

What we noted on top of the Mountain was "Dress warmly" is the first rule of thumb ( just kidding.. but true ) after our explorations of that day we were going to get to ride down the mountain on some dirt roads with 1000 foot drop off's and no guard rails... WOW- You think you have finely tuned riding skills;.... on this today we get to put them to use. With this came much enjoyment.

We also found the answer why ride a motorcycle? Why spend hours in the saddle, exposed to the wind and weather, simply to get there? We saw folks they had caught a plane traveled thousands miles , boarded a bus, and been dumped in the park. We were in the same place at the same time seeing the same things but instead of rushing off the bus to take snap shots of Mesa Verde and all the glory around them they were taking pictures of four boys from Alabama on motorcycles...who was having the richer experience? Like life the journey is the reward.

We enjoyed great hospitality from our host that night as well as we enjoyed the best Elk Steak we have ever had ( to be known the only Elk Steak we have ever had ) but this was a fine evening with fine people from the south. Southerners have love affairs with words. People sometimes think we speak slowly because we think slower or because we are naturally lazy. Not so. We speak slower because we love our words so, that we can't stand to part with them. We caress them, massage them, polish them and linger over them lovingly before allowing them to go on their way with a lilt and an inflection found nowhere else in our country, and when southerners get together with other southerners no matter where, it can go long into the night for that very reason.

Million Dollar Highway". But how can one put a price tag on this experience! On all sides you have this insanely beautiful terrain. But the shoulder less margin between you and the void is also always there. Climbing thousands of feet above sea level, the road showed us sweeping vistas, huge mountain peaks above us, created views that seemed to go on forever. On several occasions we would round a turn or crest a hill and the views would make us gasp. It was a recipe for absolutely intoxicating riding. The mountains here look as if they were created entirely from pastel. Crimsons bleed into purples and grays with vibrancy nearly unmatched by other peaks.

The byway traverses multiple mountain passes that each rise more than 10,000 feet above sea level. The towns that we passed through are renowned for their history and beauty. Both Silverton and Ouray are rich in mining lore and sets on what is called the San Juan Skyway or "The Million Dollar Highway.” There is a Debate that arises as to why this section of highway was given this name. Theories circle around the high cost of building the highway, while others hold that it’s in reference to the rich ore-bearing sediment that was used in the road’s construction. Others think because the sights of some of the highest mountains in the United States — also showcasing their grandeur from roadside vistas is the reason. We didn't care which it was ! All we did was soak up the beauty and charm of this road and the towns that it took us too. We spent hours exploring Silverton and it's Charm and finding out important information that can only be obtained from conversation with the local citizenry. Such as hearty cooking, you know to kept us nourished. Such a place was to be found in our next stop Ouray ( what a place to visit awesome history and beauty ) As I shared with Gena the reason we wanted to go the Western Hotel was for the food we had no idea it was once a whore house..... HONEST.

It was getting close to dark when we pulled into the hotel parking lot in Gunnison many hours later. I was surprised to find my hands shaking from exhaustion. The day had only seemed like minutes....WOW from the saddles of our motorcycles we enjoyed winding roads, high passes, steep grades (in one case, a published 26% grade )--it all kept us moving. Hundreds of miles of curves, granite outcroppings, sheer cliffs, and huge trees kept us looking. Every hour, you’re on a different planet or so you thought— with no losers. The corners and the beauty go on forever. We did between 200 and 300 miles through mountain passes, along rushing rivers, over bridges and across high plains with dramatic changes in scenery. What can you say about the roads of Colorado?

That evening Larry decided to share with us his little adventure on highway 50 coming through Mesa Blue Lake. He told the story of how, when he needed to come up to 80 miles hour to catch us, it was all he could do to keep the bike from shaking off road.

So off to self mechanic another bike we went.

We came to the conclusion it was a wheel bearing and we need to find another Harley " quote " service department. We located one 60 miles west of us in the city of Montrose were we had just been. Together we decided it was best to get up early the next morning and be there when they open. Remember the best laid plans and all that stuff, well when we got up the next morning we were greeted with 32 degrees.

We headed back to Montrose it was rather cold monring ride but nice for 3 of us ( one of us had a nagging worry as to if he was going to ride all the way or walk, Mike offered for him to ride two up but Larry said he would rather risk walking...go figure ) As it turn out we worried for nothing has we all made it to Montrose save and sound. With in a few minutes of the service manager coming out to look at Larry's bike he noticed right off , it was the spokes in the wheel that were broken giving him his wild rides.

Of course, they had no wheel....so we had a meeting, you know the four minds and a plan was hatched. We had them over night a new and better wheel to replace the old and not so good wheel, but at a cost. Again remember the side road thing we spoke of earlier, one has to do what one has to do to keep moving. This time we did not want to wait around all day and part of the next at a Harley dealership so we decided to rent a car, a steel cage, so we could continue to the Rocky Mtns and would return tomorrow to retrieve the new and better softail.... new wheel and all.

Taking a summer journey through the Rocky Mountains could be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. These mountains are a statement in diversity and resplendent natural beauty. Combine the physical grandeur with a bit of Old West history, a few abandoned ghost towns, the world's most impressive national park, and, of course, you have the makings of a trip you won't forget.

All directions in the Rockies lead to soaring peaks, summer snowdrifts, mile-high valleys ultimately giving way to to barren, half-frozen tundra 12,000 feet above sea level. You'll go from T-shirt weather at 3,000 feet to heavy jackets and back again to summer weather in a single day.

Going through the Rocky Mountain National Park... If you go through the park at a peak tourist time, as we did, DEFINITELY go from west to east... There is a lot less traffic that direction, and the scenery is brilliant... I had the late John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" playing in my head the whole way because of my buddies ... Corny?... Yes, but in a good way...it was magnificent. One of the best ways to see Rocky Mountain National Park would be on a motorcycle but we would not know the joy this time. Trail Ridge Road Scenic and Historic Byway is the highest paved road in the United States that doesn’t dead end. The grandeur of rocky peaks and lush blankets of pine trees accompany you through. Grazing elk, Deer and other animals are common visitors to the roadside and surrounding cliffs. The road combines straight-aways with twists that showcase all aspects of the parks beauty. Tundra with brush no higher than a few feet is a contrast to the granite peaks of the Rockies that loom like immovable giants with all the spectacular scenery. The mountain air is fresh and clean as it pours into your lungs and tugs at your jacket and pants.

Top of the peaks you are reminded you are but human the beauty was breath taking ....well ok it could have been the thin air that had us gasping for breath but we would all like to think it was the magnificent beauty.

We watched the sun go down over the peaks and ours thoughts were.... it's dark!!!....I mean really dark !! All the animals we enjoyed getting to the top may not be so enjoyable heading down a dark mtn road with steep drop off's. We did enjoy the trip down and as we left the park we found a nice BBQ place to eat an visit about what we had just witnessed.

We went back roads that night to Idaho Springs was a nice trip, but traffic got tedious as we neared I70... We almoast became a hood ornament on a fast coming truck, but the adrenalin rush made it worth while :-) .....I sure was glad the others were sleeping because it may have been to much adrenalin for the older hearts in the group to handle. None the less we arrived in Frisco late that night with out a worry, just wanting to get a good night sleep as for tomorrow would be a long day.

We left early this morning thinking it would be easy to find a good cup of coffee before we headed off to Leadville, we were wrong , like all good soldiers we just got what we could find to keep moving.

Fortunately, in Leadville on the main drag there is an unbelievably cool coffee shop, The Golden Burro, a coffee sign is in the window and you can't miss it... They give you a nice big porcelain mug for the coffee, but after the first cup as Mike found out it is self-serve only......he did a nice job waiting tables, but he never shared with us how much tip money he made.

Leadville, the highest incorporated town in the United States at an elevation of 10,200 feet. As high as this town is, it’s dwarfed by the two tallest peaks in Colorado, Mount Massive (14,421 feet) and Mount Elbert (14,440 feet). This route also crosses the continental divide twice and follows the Arkansas River nearly to its headwaters. Mining history is tucked into the scenery along this byway. Millions of dollars worth of precious metal was extracted from the mountains in the area in the 1800s, and Leadville proved to be the silver queen of the Rockies, providing one of the richest silver veins in the state.

We left Leadville in a get back to Montrose mode, to get the bikes. We headed south on US24: Not a terribly exciting road, but the scenery was nice and the pace serene by our standards as we enjoyed the alpine like views.

Finally we were back where we started the day before and we could enjoy what we came here do....RIDE ... the bike's were in top form... Ussssss Toooooo!!!!...( Are so we thought). Few things can match the joy of the open road while riding a well-tuned bike. The afternoon is made even better with the knowledge that the trip still has miles of highway and new adventures ahead.

There is also a special feeling of freedom and exhilaration that comes from racing down the highway with the power of the engine roaring between your legs and the wind in your face. That feeling cannot be matched with any other form of travel.

This was a trip that is becoming more than just the scenery and the sense of freedom. It is also the people we meet along the way. Bike riders are part of a select community of people. They invariably wave to one another when they meet along the highway. At rest stops and restaurants bikers go out of their way to meet and greet one another. We enjoyed meeting riders from other countries here to ride in our wonderful land. Also we visited with the true wild hogs in a place called Cannon City just out side the royal gorge.

The journey rather than the destination is what matters, it is acceptance of the challenge's that becomes paramount. You are given the opportunity to display your resourcefulness when confronted with a challenge of bike's breaking down. Although the reward may not be obvious at first but as we reflect back they are becoming more clear.

We are participating in an endeavor that most choose to avoid, as they prefer to stay put and never seek the road less traveled.

During this time of the year as we headed out east toward home with temperatures can reach 112 degrees. Cross country motorcycle riding can be incredibly exhilarating feeling. Sunlight dances through the treetops drenching the gray-black highway in irregular shapes and patterns. Much of the hypnotic engine roar trails behind you like a jet vapor trail.

We are eastbound and I can't get that "Smokey and the Bandit" theme-song out of my head.

Eastbound and down, rolling up and trucking...we're going to do what they say can't be done....he he... Now it's stuck in your head too.

A pungent smell in your nose as the highway glides past beneath your feet. If you enjoy the outdoors, this is a great way to see the country. You can soak up the fresh air and sunshine as you drive down the highway. Trees line either side of the road you feel you can almost reach out and touch the beauty of roadside flowers...........STOP!!!!!! ............. This is Kansas .....motorcycle travel you do have a much greater sense of being a part of your surroundings while riding a motorcycle this was not good. The pungent smell was cow crap, the fresh air was so thick with dust it would gag you, the sunshine was 112 degrees that felted like you were breathing in a oven and oh, the trees and flowers I just threw that it because it sounded nice. The only flowers are dried up cow patties and the only trees looked like something out science fiction novel where you landed on a planet with no life.

Life can be fun.....even through Arkansas, however you would be hard pressed to get Mike to say he had a good time going through Ar-kansas. I thought we lost you buddy, but that marine came out in him to press on

I arrived home as the sun had already set, my wife hearing the rumbling of the bike pulling in the drive opened the garage door. From the backyard I heard our dog, quietly barking a greeting. People had missed me here. I’d missed them too.

The wife pulled me inside saying, “Come in! Tell me about your trip!” As I entered the house I glanced back at the motorcycle cooling in the garage. The black and chrome sweetheart had carried me far away and back again. Together we’d met, and mastered, many challenges. Thousand's of miles. We had done it. Tomorrow I would order a new parts to fix damage from this trip.

What I thought to be over, with = one phone call the trip would just keep giving. Having gone 4000 plus miles and what was thought to be home again , you get a call that you never want to hear.....A friend whom went out of her way to help another friend has hit a deer on a motorcycle. All that can be said about this is.....GOD is in control and is still in the miracle business............................

“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip : a trip takes us.” ( and it did. . .it was wonderful !!!)
- John Steinbeck

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Welcome to Mobile AlabamaChapter #0040

Welcome to Mobile Alabama
Chapter #0040