You got to roll with the punches, and get to what’s real.
I’ve been moving all day. Hell, pretty much all week. I’m pretty beat. Having a brewski, kicking back and enjoying a moment in the new house.
My kids are digging it. New rooms, new situations and after years of pushing them pretty hard to get a work ethic, I can see that starting to stick. Just like my old man did to me. They did good today. It makes me pretty proud.
I was born and raised here. Left here when I was 16. Its funny. Back then, all I wanted was to get out of here. Now, I’m just glad to be back.
I’m 46. I look at my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve paid a few dues, had some great times and I can’t bitch about a thing. In fact, its the opposite. I really dig my life. “Perspective” has been on my mind all week. I want to make a post about it, just not right now.
Thank God for your darkest, shittiest moments in life. I’m not sure how some people shoot out the other side and why some people fold, but my worst times have formed me into something I like. I feel pretty lucky most days.
Another step in getting back to my rockabilly. The road back is looking pretty good methinks.
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior I don’t know why he didn’t say, ‘I love you, too.’ When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed.
About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep – I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.
There’s not many things better than being out in the middle of nowhere on a bike. With a bike, you know you can enjoy it and end up back somewhere.
Just make sure you’ve calculated the gas mileage right.
I’m a Led Zeppelin Fan, and a big fan of Robert Plant. I know where this video was filmed. I’ve been there.
The school house he’s in was filmed in Bundyville, Just south of where I used to live for a handful of years. It burned down not long after this was filmed. Out in the Arizona Strip, south of St George Utah.
Great song. I could be out in the middle of nowhere, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Hope that bike starts.
Hope you and yours are having a good 4th of July. Here’s to long roads, sweeping turns, a family who’s got your back, and friends to laugh with when and where you stop. Whatever land you hail from, be proud of your heritage methinks. There’s always something good in there.
Maybe, the best money a man can spend is to buy the boxed set of Band of Brothers. I’m a fan. In my opinion, we’re still swinging from the balls of these guys that did their duty for the sake of doing it. With some hard work, they influenced the whole world, just by doing so. To me, It was the greatest generation.
Dick Winters died in 2011 at the age of 92. He was in the trenches, led men like himself into battle and came home to fight the battles we fight every day. This local news clip is about him.
Pretty cool.
I give you Vera Lynn. Listen to this song, and before you dismiss it as old, watch the video that comes with it. Singing about the times. About going to war, and wondering if your kids or husband was coming home. About right and wrong of the times. About meeting again. The same things we value this day, just in a different melody. People don’t change much.
Its summer up here now. Hit 100 degrees today, or damn close. It’s so much different than living in the desert the last 30 years. When its warm, everyone has an activity, or a ride, and you make hay while the sun shines. Since getting home, I’ve had a ton of fun, but this weekend I’m going to do absolutely nothing. Ahhhh, how ’bout a little nothing?
Flashback to June 1st.
Woke up that morning and got my shit together and met big D in the lobby of the Hotel. We were flying out together, and it was nice to see a familiar face for one last time. We hit the shuttle, and said our goodbyes in the half hour ride to the Airport.
Flew Home.
My plan was to stay at my older brothers house, and cook some ribs for a family get together the next day. Skeezix had just bought a new smoker, and we were going to dial that bad boy in. He bought 12 racks of ribs, and we’d smoke em on both of our smokers, have a few single malts and maybe a good cigar, and shoot the shit about the ride, life and whatever else comes to mind.
After my wife refused that plan in a way that no man could deny, I woke up the next morning in my own bed headed to Draper to meet up with my brother.
Pulled into my brothers house and started prepping for the biggest BBQ I’d ever done. Planned on 50 people, and I was in charge of the spare ribs. Apple wood smoked for 6 hours, and my homemade BBQ sauce recipe.
My Bro and I, making the BBQ sauce. After eating real texas BBQ, I’ll never sauce a rib again. Its on the side if you want it.We ended up smoking 9 racks, and they turned out good. BBQ is like golfing. You can always think you coulda played that one hole better.The oldest granddaughter (and my favorite niece), and my 101 year old Grandma. She’ll make 102 Easy.1967 Lincoln Continental that was owned by my Dad.
Our oldest brother showed up in the Lincoln. My dad bought this car in 1986. I helped him strip it down, and build it back up. Suicide doors, power steering, cruise control, monster engine. Classic Detroit Sled. My Oldest brother bought it later down the line, and finished it off. He did a killer job. The old man would have been proud.
Joking with my brother. He’s a good soul.
The plan was… (and I missed the memo), was that this day was our Fathers Birthday. We were all to bring something that reminded us of dad.
I will say this: Vern Dunn was a solid and good man. There are not many who are born into the world who had the charisma, the compassion and the sheer ability to kick ass as my dad did, all in the right combinations. Just a good man. We’re all proud to spring from the guy. We all took our turn and told a story about our father.
Pat (Skeezix, as named by my dad), telling a story about our pop.The beat goes on. My kids never knew him. Missus Zip, the kids and I listened In. Values, they happen from the ground up. Glad to see them sticking.We all took our turn, and told our stories. A good day.
I started to blog to remember the trips I’ve made a bike over the years. I look back on it, and I read them, as a record of things I want to remember in life. This is one of those days. Pretty cool. When you strip it all down to nothing, family means everything.
Flew into LA a couple of days before, and the next day headed over to EagleRider for a meeting about the trip. Met the EagleRider crew, and talked about the route.
I’ll admit, I had no idea what to expect. I just saw a group of people from the UK, Switzerland, Brazil, New Jersey, Belgium and Australia. Just names on paper. Could be good or bad, and I had no idea. I was ready to ride and I’d figure it out as I went along. Met Steve, our tour guide for the first time. He seemed professional and pretty easy going. In the end, my instincts weren’t wrong. Brandon was on his first run with EagleRider on the chase vehicle, and felt we were both kind of in the same boat in a way. We spent the morning getting a few things ready, checking out a few locations, having some lunch and shooting the shit. We drove over to LAX to find a spot to park the bikes for our first stop, just as a plane was coming in right over our heads, just like in the movie.
A Good omen. The first of a few on this trip. It was starting to feel like I’d finally gotten here.
We headed back to EagleRider to get ready for everyone to arrive and get everything ready. We spent some time loading Captain America, a spare bike, and double checking equipment and tools. I paid attention and tried to learn a thing. Getting a feel for this tour, and how EagleRider works.
Easy Rider Tour Signage. EagleRider did this right. Official Tour of the Movie. No one else can claim that.
I knew they’d built the bikes for this ride, but I’d never seen them up close. I am not gonna lie – I had a woody.
First thing you notice on the Captain America BIkePretty damn nice job methinksThe Billy BikeAnother Shot
Beautiful bikes. EagleRider did a good job.
About the bikes: no, they’re not hardcore original. Even Peter Fonda didn’t ride the whole route on a hardtail. They’re softails, and V-twin engines. They’re made to ride. They look pretty damn good.
Got to drive the EagleRider van to pick people up. They launched a whole lotta tours that day, so it was kinda hectic. The focus for them is customer experience. In my 2 weeks, it showed over and over.
When everything was somewhat settled, they gave me my bike for this trip. 2013 Street Glide. Six speed, 103. 11 miles on her.
2013 Street Glide. My bike for this ride.
We all got our bikes going, headed to the hotel. Then dinner, at Gene Simmons Rock and Brews. Pretty Cool Place. Conversation was good, and we were all looking forward to tomorrows ride I think.
Everyone was a stranger at that point. That would change. In the morning, we’d ride. Quick Easy Rider stop at LAX, then on to Death Valley where the movie really starts.
