Wired from the road, I decided that a few beers would help me fall asleep.
About the time I had a mild buzz, I heard a bike coming in. Finally someone would be able to show me where
everybody was!
I greeted Grog, who "just showed up" and knew about as much as I did about where the netscum were. So we
talked until daylight when we heard bikes pulling up to the showers down the road. Then we had directions.
So we "showed up", I pitched my tent and discovered that the day's ride would be happening within a couple
of hours, so I decided I might as well just take a shower and stay awake. At Broadfield and Eddie's Grill
I checked with folks to make sure I wasn't doing anything stupid, I was painfully aware of my lack of sleep
and was prepared to drop out of the group if I posed a danger to others.
Once we got back I crashed hard. I woke up after dark and joined the party. I put my remaining beers in
someone's cooler that had ice, took a cold one and sat down and listened to the jokes and conversations.
The following could be a verse, but I hear it more as a bridge...
"Riding into Broadfield, the ride to Eddie's Grill,
"His face lit by the campfire, that's when my heart stood still...
"It could happen to any one of us, but let me tell you son,
"It humbles me to realize he was picked to be the one.
"We live in...
"Mansions and mobile homes, different ideas, different tastes,
"And the different roads we've traveled have brought us to this place.
"I guess you'd have to be there, maybe then you'd see,
"It's more than just a slogan, that EK Rides With Me."
In the morning I broke camp, said goodbyes and headed for the showers. With clouds still threatening I decided
to take the slab back home so I would have the chance at more overpasses for shelter and make better time than I
had in the twists and turns of the old highways. Rather than the rainsuit I chose full leather to offer the most
protection amid the traffic. The hardest rain was at a gas stop and I waited it out under their canopy. I made
it home about 10PM that Sunday.
"And I saw...
"Mansions and mobile homes, the sunshine through the rain,
"Miles and miles of interstate, and cagers drive insane.
"The "Welcome to Kentucky" sign, then "Welcome to Tennessee",
"Ten more miles and I was home, but my thoughts on EKIII."
--
Roger
'58-'03 Whatzit
'03 FLHTI
TOMKAT BS#150 SENS NEWT#1