seamus

Took a ride with the wife a couple weekends ago and am finally getting around to posting about it. It's long but there's pics too.

We left with me leading with the GPS for a ride through central Kentucky. Unfortunately, central Kentucky is pretty flat but any time we can get out and ride, we're going to take it.

So we headed west along Hwy62 out of Elizabethtown along these flat roads in search of nothing other than a ride together. Within a half hour, the monotony of the flat roads were droning by. After getting stuck behind a barrelling 18 wheeler going to fast (and too dangerous) to safely pass, we stopped at a gas station to get a drink and wait for the truck to get some distance and hopefully turn off the main road. While there, and the wife was in the bathroom (already?!) I was approached by a man who seemed to be a hundred years old but, according to his son, was only 87. He stopped to admire the bikes and complain that his son wouldn't let him ride his Harley anymore. When I asked him what year it was, he said he couldn't remember, only that he'd bought it new before heading off to "Dubya-Dubya Too". As his son kept trying to leave, he continued to brush him off as he looked over the bikes. When he noticed the DOD stickers on both bikes, he asked if my friend and I were in the military. I answered "yes, my wife and I are both in the military". He nodded silently and finally gave in to his son. He was getting in their truck as my wife returned and as the truck left the parking lot with his son driving, he saluted us. (This is still one of the most memorable parts of the ride for me.)

We left shortly after that, still heading west on 62 towards Leitchfield. This is when I realized exactly what this ride on the flats of central Kentucky was going to offer. I had no choice but to flip a u-turn and come back for this pic:Where else but rural America can you find a place or even just a sign like this? Having been on 3 continents so far, I haven't seen anything like it yet. But, then again, I couldn't read the signs in Korea.

So, back on the road and not 5 minutes after that sign, we pass a park where, waiting to turn onto the road is...a clown in a VW Beetle. Seriously, it was a clown. White face, big red nose and painted on smile. A real life clown. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a pic as we were riding.

After turning south onto Hwy259, we were on a meandering road that eventually gets into a couple of hills that broke up the monotony of the plains. The scenery was perfect. Hills, trees and nothing but us and nature. All in all, a beautiful ride that skirts the western edge of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Turning north onto 31W, we start heading towards our next waypoint in Munfordville. Passing one of those brown historical site signs, we decided to stop and check out the site. It doesn't seem like much at first but after reading the sign, I'm guessing the site doesn't really relay the true history of the site.
Just taking the year it was built into account, the manual stone work involved in the building is a testament to the hard work and dedication it took to make this country what it is today. Plus, the trip we took in a little over two hours with breaks to BS and take pictures would have taken days a little over a hundred years ago.

A short time later (and another pee break) and we're back on 31W heading north when, out of nowhere, we see this enormous cock on the side of the road.

I avoid him but for some reason, my wife has to stop. I always knew it...but right in front of me??

Of course, this led to a huge cock fight: Get it? Cock fight. That's right. I'm hilarious.

We skipped the cave tours since we've been in the area with the kids before but if we go back, we're going to try to stay at the Wigwam Motel in Cave City. Who wouldn't want to sleep in a gigantic, concrete, air conditioned wigwam?

After reaching Munfordville and topping off the tanks, we headed north on Hwy88, which connects 31W with Hwy62. Much like Hwy259, there's nothing but trees, hills and nature to see. It was perfect.

Back on 62, we made the quick jaunt back to Elizabethtown and headed home. A couple of Jack and cokes later and we called it the end of the most perfect day in a long time.

One thing I learned is that I've (we've) allowed my busy life to neglect that which makes life interesting, exploring. Just because people already live somewhere and civilization is thriving doesn't mean you can't explore. New to you is just as good, if not better, than just plain new. New to you allows you to get lost, almost run out of gas, break down, get hungry, get tired or do a thousand other things that could kill you otherwise. New to you allows you to explore what others think is cool, funny, sad, awesome or "normal" and share in those experiences. In some cases, it just brings back memories you'd never remember if you hadn't taken the road less traveled.

I know we're going to make the time to do more of this.

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Ducit Amor Patriae

Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
--- Thucydides

CBRVFR

Thanks for a very enjoyable post.

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"...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass."

Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly.

Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

tigerblade

Great read, Seamus! Exploring is my favorite part of street riding.

That exhaust/hair sign reminds me of a place in Wisconsin, not far from the hotel we stayed at when racing Blackhawk Farms. They had fireworks, cheese (duh, Wisconsin!) and moccasins.

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Seems that doomsday's come early this year

Leelover

Sounds like an awesome time! Nice job relating it too.

You are right, those are the important times, hope you all have many more!

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"The Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." Herger the Joyous

HondaGalToo

Cool story, thanks for sharing!

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“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

CBR929RE

this is pretty much the idea I've had for how/where I want to go most of my riding this year. normally in the past I've stuck to eastern half of the state and a little bit in southern NH and RI (there ain't much of it but I've recently been told there's some decent roads in the corner bordering MA and CT). I'd like to get out further in all directions (well not east cause my bike doesn't float) and explore some more. The areas around here are old to me now.

So your wife does love the cock. and I always knew you liked to fight with cocks.

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if you can't fix it with duct tape, you haven't used enough.

Leelover

Go explore the White mountains

__________________
"The Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." Herger the Joyous

SheepOfBlue

Been to Bell's Tavern also

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way