Tuesday June 12
I woke up this morning with a new attitude. I guess I needed a day off and a cheap bottle of wine to get over some of the stress from Dad passing and riding across Kansas. Maybe Big Red knew I needed a day off and that is why he kept spitting out the spark plug wire.
Pete, the tow driver, picked me up at 8:30 and we went to Bluff Motorsports. They said they "might" be able to change the tire late that afternoon. I was not hanging around for a "might" so Pete and I changed the spark plug wire in 5 minutes, strapped the tire on the back, and I headed down the highway.
Pete is one of those guys you love to meet, especially when you are broke down. He is very resourceful and truly a caring guy who just wants to help. I can not thank him enough.
I headed south towards Kennett, hung a left, crossed the might Mississippi and rolled up the half mile driveway to Holly Tree Manor B&B about 3:30, where Jim and Barbara Smith welcomed me into their home. My original interest on Holly Tree was Barbara's connection to Elvis and it's very rural location.
We found out that we had a mutual connection. We had all worked for the same company in the past. We spent hours, first over tea and scones and later over good beer, talking of Elvis and past job experiences. They are a fantastically wonderful people with a great history, just like Holly Tree Manor.
Barbara's claim to fame is she dated Elvis Presley when she was 19. I could tell you all about it, but it is better if she does it herself.
I woke up this morning with a new attitude. I guess I needed a day off and a cheap bottle of wine to get over some of the stress from Dad passing and riding across Kansas. Maybe Big Red knew I needed a day off and that is why he kept spitting out the spark plug wire.
Pete, the tow driver, picked me up at 8:30 and we went to Bluff Motorsports. They said they "might" be able to change the tire late that afternoon. I was not hanging around for a "might" so Pete and I changed the spark plug wire in 5 minutes, strapped the tire on the back, and I headed down the highway.
pete doing the lower end and carl supervising
pete the worker and dave the boss coming out to take all the credit
I headed south towards Kennett, hung a left, crossed the might Mississippi and rolled up the half mile driveway to Holly Tree Manor B&B about 3:30, where Jim and Barbara Smith welcomed me into their home. My original interest on Holly Tree was Barbara's connection to Elvis and it's very rural location.
the mighty mississippi
the half mile drive to holly tree manor
barbara and jim of holly tree manor
Barbara's claim to fame is she dated Elvis Presley when she was 19. I could tell you all about it, but it is better if she does it herself.
Check out their web sight for more info on the B&B
hollytreemanor.us.com
Wednesday June 13
Today was a perfect scooter day. It started with a early morning walk around the grounds of Holly Tree Manor with nothing but the sound of a few birds. Not a car, not a tractor, not even the wind.
It was peace.
At 7 we headed out for Trenton for breakfast. Instead of cooking, Jim and Barbara wanted to take the crazy guy on the scooter into to town and show me off. Breakfast was at The Last Drop Coffee Shop and I can say it was excellent. I always love these little oasis's in really small towns in America. It was a great social morning over coffee with the locals.
I headed south for Chattanooga. The route I picked out was even better than expected. Back roads with rolling hills, lots of turns (not twisty's) just enough to keep from getting bored. Almost no traffic and beautiful deep blue skies and prefect temperatures.
trenton tn, a town with a sense of humor
Outside of Hampshire there were dozens of vehicles parked on the side of the road near a church. I thought it was a really big funeral but as I passed the church and saw a tractor and trailer in the parking lot. I did a u-turn and went back to investigate. At the small Hampshire Baptist church, I met Ronda Malugin. She told me this is the monthly food distribution to those in need. They service about a 150 families a month, a lot of them elderly. As we talked I learned of other programs she and others perform. She has the "Backpack Project". This one I had not heard of before. They pack food in backpacks every Friday for kids to take home over the weekend. Every Thursday they cook a hot meal for those in need.
This not a story about those in need. This is a story about what people do to help them. Instead of just sending a check, these people give their time in many ways to supply the very basic need of the their neighbors, food. Instead of sitting in front of the TV complaining about how bad things are, as reported by all networks or politicians, quit complaining, get up, go out and help your neighbor.
barbara, on the right, the cook on the left and helpers
Just outside Chattanooga there are several very large fireworks sales warehouses. As I was passing a very, very, very loud firecracker, or maybe dynamite, went off. It cleared the cholesterol out my heart.
We rolled into Chattanooga a 5 or if you back up a mile or two, 4.
