The Road Trip Starts!!

 

Sunday afternoon I packed up the Road Queen in preparation for my road trip. It was an emotional event for me. Although I had packed my girl many times for road trips over the years, after last year's accident, I had a knot in my stomach I wasn't prepared for. She packed up quickly, thanks to the many road trips under my belt. I sat in the barn awhile, reminiscing about past trips and missing my riding partner, my Buffalo, more than ever. Warren Harley-Davidson had done an excellent job of making my girl whole again, including mounting Buffalo's urn on my handle bars. I sat in the barn, thinking about the challenges of the past year, thankful that things didn't turn out worse, and wondering if what I was about to attempt was a mistake. Was I ready to face my fear head on? Was I ready to tackle the road on my terms or let it scare me away from the thing I loved most? That evening, I hopped in the shower and, in all honesty, I broke down and cried. I was questioning if I was ready to do this again? I was questioning if this was a foolish endeavor? I was questioning if I still had it in me to hop on the Road Queen and run solo down the highway, taking on new adventures.

Monday morning, I swung my leg over the seat, tapped her into gear and rolled down the driveway. As I worked my way over to the highway from the house, I started to feel that old, familiar rush, and my heart sang with the beat of the motor as she worked through the gears. When I opened her up on the highway, I felt that I was, truly, where I belonged. And, once again, I was one with my machine.

My original plan was to head south to Florence, Kentucky to spend my first night at Marie's place. I used to work with Marie at RJ Martin Electric and was looking forward to catching up with her for the night. Plus, in all honesty, I really didn't know if I could handle the ride all the way to the Kid's place in Troy, Illinois, which was my first intended long term stop. I recently learned that one of the six rib plates, titanium plates put in following my accident to help my six broken ribs heal, has become detached, at least on one

end, and I had no idea if or how that might affect my ability to ride long distance. The Kid had requested that I give her away at her wedding on May 17th, so the plan was to layover in Kentucky my first night and then continue on to the Kid's the next day.

I am not sure whether it was the adrenaline rush of being on the road again or the threat of possible storms or being anxious to see the Kid and the family again. But around 9am, I stopped at a rest area to gear up for the rain threatening on the horizon and something in me said that I should push on to Troy, Illinois, do the 560 miles straight to the Kid's place. And so, with nothing to lose, I texted the Kid that I was heading her way and texted Marie that I had a change of plans. And I was off to Troy!

I arrived some time after 5pm. I have to say that I love, love, love my Klim riding gear and, as much as I hate the fishbowl feeling of a full face helmet, it sure comes in handy in the rain! I ran through showers off and on all the way to Troy, but I made my first long distance ride and it was exhilarating!  

And I got my first in-person look at the barn that was in the middle of preparations for the wedding reception on Saturday. There was still a lot of work ahead to finish things up, but it was coming together quite nicely. 

The Kid and granddaughter, Janae, have been busy creating table centerpieces, cleaning, putting together bouquets and generally doing all those little things that make a wedding reception pop. 

Kevin, his subcontractors and his crew from his L3 Contracting Company, had been busy pouring and finishing concrete, hanging and painting wall finishes, installing light fixtures and power for the DJ and band, and decorating the high work, with the watchful eye and direction from the ladies.

Tuesday I did my best to help the Kid and Janae clean and do what we could get done ahead of the crew coming in, after working all day in the sweltering humidity, to work inside and outside of the barn doing clean up.

Here are some preliminary photos of the venue, but there is a lot more to do... table cloths, chairs with chair covers, building a stage for the band, etc. Today is a sort of spa day for the bride to be. A hair appointment this morning and then a nail salon visit for all of us ladies this evening! Tomorrow is rehearsal for the littles participating in the wedding and Friday is the full on rehearsal, tons of deliveries and final touches.

This will be another one of the many moments over the past 12 years that I wish so much her Dad, my Buffalo, was here to share this moment. I am so honored that she has asked me to give her away and I will try not to cry too much. 

Peace and Love to all. Count your blessings. Every day. 

Bobbi