BBB 2018
It's Sunday, weekend prior and I'm typing this. We've been planning this one for awhile. We first attended back in '09 and came back for the next 4 years Overall, the lodging can get expensive and the RV park's costs were getting out of hand. So, we took a hiatus, back up for another trip or two.... and said 'we're done.' . But .. .my buddy Jesse D and his family live there and he's always pinging us to roll up.... so this year... we're headed that way!
Almost a year ago, I found some good hotel rates (Marriott property just north of town), good location and momma is in. As time progresses, other folks are chiming in. Our Fandango VP is in, with his GF Rozzie. Brother Dick from MN with his bride (she recently committed to the trip after a job change) are headed down. Donnie and Jill are rolling in from Hot Springs. The list continues to grow... names keep popping up. Hell, we've decided to even put a name to the 'event' since it's in the Southwinds' backyard!
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| IIRA mini Event |
Monday Evening: Run to Kroger for all the liquids. Mama has her stash of Champs, small and regular bottles. I've got my Dos Equis Ambar for the evenings, and Mich Ultra for stashing on the bike (they don't phase me). Jerky for the nibbling on during the rides. We are set! Now, just gotta prep the Yeti's to make sure everything is ... perfect.
Tuesday. 24 hours to go and I've got a shit load to do. Gotta' move the RV, get some things out of the carport moved into the building, get Krome cleaned up. Gotta' business lunch with an OEM partner. And, I'll I can think about is... grabbing some throttle in the morning and heading down the road. Jim just texted me he took the day off to prep, so I know he's getting pumped. I'd just mentioned to Lucy last night I hadn't heard from him in like a week and that was a simple " what time we leaving on Wed?" . So, I'm guessing we'll be sipping some beers later this afternoon .. sort of a Rally Pre Party?
Wed . Up early ... 0315; WTF? So, got some work emails done, listened to the rain outside and sipping' java. Rain should be over around 0800 and then ... soon.. we mount up and head out! Jim and I rolling out with rain gear, Lucy in the chase vehicle. With her RA she has trouble doing 200+ miles, so we loaded up the SUV with um.... supplies... and ... no having to pack up the bike bags. Works for me! Not 20 miles out, rain stops, rain gear off, temp is in the 60s and we're headed for the state line. Before we hit the tollway, we get off the main road and continue up 271 all the way to Arkansas. My map planning takes us off 271 to 270, 112, 59, etc before hitting 540 in Ft Smith.
Turns out the whole time Lucy's GPS is saying " turn around .. turn around' .. .. wanting to stay on 271; made for some conversation at the next stop. But we're back in rain gear, temps have been down in the mid 60s and .... looks like we've got a clear shot to Fayettville and drying off. Rain gear stowed .. again... tanks topped off... some good ol Popeye's spicy chicken in the bellies and we're rolling up 49 into the mountain range. I never tire of these views and I've seen them 3 times now in the last 3 months on two wheels. Yep, I'm smiling. Soon, we're pulling up to our Marriott property hotel, which is in a perfect geographic position for the Rally. I'ts literally 1/2 block off Interstate 49 in a quiet area. Score! Soon as we get the bike unpacked, checked in ... it's raining. All about the timing? The weather pretty much sucked the whole day ... rainy .. chilly ... gloomy .. But on two wheels, it's all worth it. We're here! So, we load up the SUV and head over the Jesse Davis's place; 
their new casa they just built. Dittels and Farley are staying with them the whole weekend and it'll serve as home base for many this weekend. Wed night is good. Lots of cold beer. Little whiskey and bourbon makes it's presence. Brother Dick always has a stash of Indian branded cigars that seems to always be near and more than we could smoke all weekend. A tall pile of pizza boxes are soon stacked high for consumption .. and ... before midnight we are headed back to the hotel. We've got an early KSU Thursday morning.....It's 0700 and .. I'd rather be sleeping. But, we've got a 0900 KSU at the NW Heritage Indian dealership for their annual IMRG Indian Owners ride during the rally. Good news is ... though it's 50 degrees out there, sun is out and forecast is .. SUNNY. We're running a lil later than I'd hoped for. After gassing up , we pull up at 0845 and parked towards the rear. But, the rest of our crew hasn't made it. In fact... they are running late. I can't reach them on their cell phones and we're all mounting up. Lucy and I have decided to bail if the ride leaves and our folks aren't here..... but.. as everyone is putting on helmets... Dittels roll up. Jesse is across the street fueling up. This one is on him..... .gives me something to bust balls for later in the morning? Anyways... as the IMRG ride begins...we're all in it... barely! Now, one thing that bugs the crap out of me. I signed up for this ride for two reasons. One, out of respect for the dealership. NW Heritage's owner Justin is an
awesome guy. Period. He's runs an awesome dealership. And, Bob Rear is the go to guy in the Service area who has my respect. So, I'm there #1 reason .. because of them. But, it's an Indian ride and I'm thinking .. 'that's cool'. And the route is into an area I've never been .. they are headed NW into Oklahoma. But, I become aware of something that just bugs the crap out of me lately. Behind me are two VIC CCTs (nice bikes.. but ... they ain't Indians). In front of me is an Ultra Classic. Next to him is a Vic Octane. Up in the pack is a Heritage Softail. So basically, 10% of the bikes in the mix are not Indians. This is an Indian Owners' ride. Did they not get the memo? I know.. I know.. what's the big deal, right? I guess they wanted the free patch and the free lunch .... Well, back to the ride. We're off!. We're split into two groups. The sightseers and the Pacesetters. Slow and Fast. And it worked well. Lets just say .. most of the ride, we were scooting at a 'good' pace and I truly enjoyed it. We got 200 miles and awesome views and twisties and curves in that I didn't know existed in the area up there; I'd do it again in a second. Temps have risen and I'm down to a short sleeve shirt. Additionally, we had a police escort out of town that worked perfect, blowing through a dozen plus red lights ensuring we stayed together. We stopped 3 times for breaks which....... I don't get it but hey .. I'm not a smoker. Still around 2pm or so, we're back at the dealership, Jimbo's getting his oil changed quickly, 
free lunches provided by Indian Motorcycle Company .. and ... grab a dealer shirt (isn't this a requirement?). Time's a wasting so we saddle up and head to Home base... the traveling R&R mc clubhouse? Cold beers, left over pizza...... post ride de-stress time. Prepping for the rally? Well, we're soon down to the Baum Stadium vendor area checking out the wares. Interesting thing nowadays. All the custom stuff used to be all HD. Now, just about every vendor pushing custom wheels, pipes, you name it.. have an Indian or two out front. Progressive Insurance ALWAYS seem to have a Indian out front. It's definitely a new world and a nice change. Back in the corner is the V8 Chopper Tent that always gets me going..... damned they are  |
| http://www.challengermotorcycles.com/ |
ever had but the location rocked, food was hot, beer was cold . Problems solved. And then ... many of us are hitting the wall. Lucy and I decide to hit the road and head back to the room. I'm dragging ass all the sudden. The rest of the folks will work their way back to their place for the night. We've got a 0930 KSU from my place to meet up with the Southwinds folks rolling in. Friday is going to be an awesome day of riding. I've planned the Friday and Saturday rides and I've been pumped for weeks thinking about the AR Pig Trail and all the other awesome roads. I'm ready to get a good nights sleep and enjoy the weekend. Soon we're back at the room . ,,,,. and.....I'm not sure when it began exactly. The day before we left, I did a LOT of chores around the house prepping things. One of the last things I did was with the help of a friend, move the hood of the slingshot from one building to another and we reinstalled it. My back felt a lil' strained after that but not injured. I'd even made a comment about it that evening. Rode up Wed no issues. I noticed on the ride Thursday my exit off the bike was different . I was draggin my left leg over the seat. Backing up twice I didn't feel like myself. Couldn't put my finger on it. But now .. it hit me. Taking off my boots I've got a pain in my lower back that I've become to used to over the last three decades. But this was different. My hip also had a burning sensation. After a quick shower I got onto my back in bed, and my fate was now sealed. Every two hours I was awake in searing pain. Come morning, I somehow with Lucy's help got fully dressed. She had to help me with Jeans, boots.. everything but my vest. The whole time I'm attempting to get ready she's telling me I'm crazy and she's afraid to get on the bike with me. I don't know what I was thinking; I just knew we were here... .. assumed the pain would 'go away' .. ... we were here for the rally and I'm going to ride!. But I can't. The best I could do was make my way to the bed and drop onto my back. I'm pulling the plug. A call to the group to cancel gets me Jesses' chiropractors' info. A call to the doc's office and we've got an appointment in an hour. Thank god I'm already dressed. Now, getting down to our SUV is another task. I'm barely walking. Into the office another task. The adjustment table, another. To the store for a back support brace ... some over the shelf pain killers .. back to the room .. a huge task. Finally, with the wife's help I'm back in bed. And .. I thought I was going to ride??? Sure thing. I'll spend the next 24 hours bedridden, on my back staring at the ceiling. Watching TV. Wasting the the rally day away. Telling mama' we'll ride tomorrow. She telling me I'm crazy. She was right, I was wrong.
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| IIRA Crew |
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| Annual car Show |
then meet up with everyone for some real BBQ! It's killing me to 
see everyone on their bikes .. but at the same time I'm glad my back pain is somewhat manageable. The icing on the cake was that Lucy had caged it. Still, we've got a dilemma. I've got to get my bike home. I'm convinced I can ride it home. Lucy says NO. I know she's right but I can do this. Jesse has offered up his garage to store it and I can come back for for it. But, the brilliant decision is by Donnie and Junior. They make a call to Rob Gregory and he soon has Todd headed my way with a Trailer. Soon it's loaded up, to get Krome to Little Rock. Have some warranty work needing to be done on it. I've had some upgrades planned so now they will get executed on. New chrome wheels. Big Bore kit. Aftermarket Cams. Tuner. This couldn't have worked out any better. And once Krome is loaded up, my mind is free of worry. I quit thinking I may be able to ride it home. Thank you Rob! Well, from there, it's over to Home Base. The Southwinds folks head out their direction and the big dinner get together is over for now. I've still got some sipping to do tonight. I'm on 4 wheels with a DD. And I'm on back meds. What could go wrong? Well, nothing really. Unless after a few hours of drinking with your friends, you count putting your head back and closing your eyes for just a sec an issue. Well, maybe 7200 seconds total. Lets just say when they woke me up .. I had no idea where I was. Be careful what you mix? But, my back felt good and that's all I cared about. Bro and Sis hugs for all .. and .. we're headed back to the hotel (okay ... after a Waffle House stop!). This was going to be a long night of getting sleep. The back got pushed today and was pushing back.Sunday .... time to leave. Today was Lucy's day to shine. She packed up the entire room. She packed up the Hotel cart with everything. She moved most of it into the SUV. All without a single complaint. I'm reminded what a rock-star I'm married to. My back is acting up and I'm moving slow. This is the girl that is normally moving 'slow' due to her RA situation, but not today. Soon we're packed up and time to roll. I'm functioning enough to drive us home. I'm thinking I 'll maybe last an hour or two, but.... the seats are comfortable and supportive; I'll manage the entire day. The 310 miles home was non eventful. In fact when we get home, it's somewhat surreal to me. The weekend went nothing how I'd expected. My bike was in Little Rock. All my friends were headed home, or back to their normal lives. I'd been planning that weekend for almost a year and now.. it's over. Some things just don't go as planned. Definitely not the Blog Post I'd originally starting typing last week.
BBB 2019? No. We'll be heading to Hot Springs the first first of October for the Gregory Polaris event. But, no moving around heavy crap prior. I'll be attending that one injury free, god willing!
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| Krome en-route to Indian Motorcycle of Little Rock |
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