I was planning to do a multi-day ride with Randy. He wasn’t feeling well this morning and decided not to go. I understand, if you are sick and try to ride, you WILL be miserable.
I thought about a couple of plans, then decided to make a little change to the route I was planning to ride with Randy. I got the GPS out, edited the route then got ready to go.
I gassed up the bike, started both trackers, and started rolling. I got a few minuets down the road and went to turn on the route in the GPS. I couldn’t find it! I knew the first location, so I entered it into the GPS. I would just add the next site once I got to each stop.
My first stop was at Hooligan’s HD. This is in Oxford, AL and Tim belongs to the HOG chapter here as well as the chapter where we got our bikes.
I went in and was warmly greeted! I regret that this isn’t usually the norm. The salesman helped me get the check-in with the HOG app, then helped me got checked it with the riding challenge, even getting the latest keywords. I can see why Tim likes this place.
I went outside and got my picture with the bike in front of the dealership for the dealership challenge. Harley has so many challenges going on at one time, it can be confusing which dealership participates in which challenge and and which challenge is yearly or one that is on-going. Maybe one on-going challenge and one annual would be enough for people, but there are a lot of people who ride Harleys and each one like different challenges, so Harley wants to have something for every one.
The only one that I did which required a picture was the dealership challenge.
The next stop was in Tallapoosa, GA. This was to verify that I had been to a town mentioned in Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Tallapoosa is one of the towns he mentioned. I learned a few weeks ago that BMW is VERY specific as to what is and isn’t allowed. I used the Chamber of Commerce in El Dorado and they denied it. I had used a historical marker in the past with a sign “Welcome to Waterloo” in the background. They denied that one. I was able to go back to Waterloo and and took a picture at the Post Office. So, for Tallapoosa, GA, I was going to use the Post Office there. I entered the Post Office into the GPS, and I was on my way. Only about 30 miles away, so I would be there quickly.
As I entered the town, I remembered the Veteran’s Park which had a Huey and several other military items. I thought that across the street from the park was a city limits sign for Tallapoosa. And I also wondered if there would be a cannon in the park. As I got into town, the GPS pointed left for the Post Office, but I made a right turn to go to the park (also, there was a “no left turn” sign at the intersection.)
I got to the park and went to look for the Huey. I found it, but they were doing some restoration work on it and I didn’t think it would be a good picture. I looked around for a cannon or two, no luck. As I left the park, I didn’t see a city limits sign. Okay, at least I have to Post Office in the GPS!
As I head back into town, I pull into the parking lot of a BBQ place, “Turn Around Bar-B-Que.” It is in the same building as an equipment shop.
A few blocks away, I found Owen’s BBQ.
As I was leaving, I noticed a coffee shop! I parked in front and ran across the street to get the picture of K&M Coffee.
As I started rolling, I saw the Police Department on my right with the parking lot mostly vacant. I liked the idea of pulling into the parking lot on the right, then make a right to get back on the road. I have had great luck with police officers and sheriff deputies in the last few weeks, I thought this would be a fitting tribute, as long as they don’t come out and office me a tour and a place to stay for some reason.
I sat here for a few minutes to try to enter in my next locations. This was turning into too much trouble having to type in the names, especially when the keyboard is split between to pages that I would have to switch between. I decided to just head back home. I managed to get 400 miles on the bike today, which was what I was going to get if I had stayed with the initial plan. But, this was I get to sleep in my own bed tonight!