Seems like forever since my last post and that’s a fact! The last half of 2022 was one to remember, much happened that changed my life for the better and made me a much happier person. Some of that change included a lot of riding Black Betty and some traveling adventures with my sweetheart Patty! We did several trips to places I would probably have never gone and we intend to do more this year.
To explain and talk about these adventures in one blog post would be a very long story and many photos. Rather than do that in one post my intention is to break these up into several posts over the next few weeks. Not all of these adventures included “Black Betty” but this coming year you will see more of her. 😎
One of our first adventures was another camping trip to Blackwater River State Park in late September, my favorite place to camp and enjoy the outdoors. Of course we loaded up Black Betty for this trip because it’s an awesome place to ride with great scenery and no traffic!
Following are a few photos taken at the park and some videos riding through the park in the Blackwater Forest area. If you listen closely, in some videos you can hear me chatting with Patty, our helmets have blue tooth sets so we can talk while riding. 🙂
Stay tuned for our next post coming in a few days. We visited Evansville, IN, had never been there before so it was quite interesting for me.
Hope you found this interesting. Hit the follow button to see what happens next. Not a “biker” by definition, just an old man that loves to ride motorcycles.
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My brother and I have a tradition of at least once a year camping at Blackwater River State Park. Love that place and our most favored thing about these camping trips is the eleven mile kayak trek down Blackwater River.
We have missed the last two years due to circumstances, one of which was due to my not being able to walk very well. See previous posts if you’re not familiar why that was? Actually the last time we camped here, it was just too cold to get in the river.
This camp time included some friends of ours, Pam and Richard Anderson. They love camping almost as much as my brother and sister-in-law, camp with them on many occasions. Pam and Richard brought some new toys with them to test. Electric powered bicycles! Of course this conjured up many conversations about the future and electric powered vehicles of all types.
They were actually testing their bicycles for a future planned camping excursion out west where a lot of bicycle riding would be beneficial.
First let me post a few of the photos taken with my phone around the campsite, floating down the river on kayaks, etc.
Monday was devoted to the Kayak trip and of course eating. They sure knew how to eat while camping. In fact, not sure why I brought any food as we never used any of it. Will say this trip down the river was much better than our last one since we wised up about the fact that no matter how smart you think you are, SUNBURN is very much a reality. Sunscreen this time, worked great and no pain afterwards.
Most of my motorcycle rides, ones video taped were all done on Tuesday while out trying to find our friends on the electric bicycles. They left ahead of me and plan was for me to catch up, follow and even do video of them riding. I said plan…. gave them about 10 minutes head start, took off and about a mile down the road realized that my phone wasn’t with me. Was wearing blue tooth helmet and wanted to listen to music and monitor phone calls while out searching for them so had to return for it…. see video below.
After retrieving the phone, next video is me listening to music (no, you can’t hear it on video) while beginning my search for the elusive electric bicycles.
This next video is to let you know that even I can sometimes miss a gear, especially on this sensitive shifter they put on the Suzuki. Still out searching the back roads for those bicycles. Just a mile or so from the park there is a four way stop, my decision was, which way to go first, only three options. 🙂
After running a few miles down two of the options, tried to find them on my phone tracker, no signal, so tried southern route toward the camp road entrance off highway 90 just to be sure they didn’t go that way. Next video is a stop on the river bridge which is really on the way out of the park area back to civilization.
Next video is going back into the campground to ensure that they had not returned while I was out searching. No they had not returned but was able to finally find their location on the tracker.
After locating them on the tracker, headed in that direction and finally found them…. next is a short video. Most times my videos are three minutes long (setting on that cheap camera) but battery was getting low so cut this one a little short.
This next video is after finding them and turning around we stopped for a chat about the bicycles. Was curious how they felt about them and questions of how long before recharging, what distance and or speed can be maintained, etc. In this video, you cannot hear much of what they are saying only me since the mic was on my helmet only. Another short video, quick chat in the middle of the road and on our way.
Long story short, they decided that about 35-40 miles would be the distance on one charge. Charging takes approximately six hours. They averaged a speed of 13-15 mph that day just taking it easy pedaling with the battery assisting. Bicycles set at highest mode could probably reach 35-40 mph if needed. Should they run out of battery power they can be manually pedaled like a normal bicycle.
There was a lot more video taken that day but most of those roads you have seen in the past and felt no need to repeat those scenes. Rode each day while there but not with camera mounted helmet.
Hope you found this interesting. Hit the follow button to see what happens next. Not a “biker” by definition, just an old man that loves to ride motorcycles.
Please leave comments, suggestions and hit the like button. Feel free to share this on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other desired location. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, link below. Thank you so much for your time.
No endorsement or commission from Revzilla but I’ve purchased several items from them and have been very happy with the quality of products and the expertise of the employees, highly recommend www.revzilla.com
Had always wanted to ride in a Poker Run, knew the basics but had never participated. There was one scheduled last year before my accident happened but it was cancelled due to the Covid thing and some other issues.
This year however, the VFW Post 4437 in Defuniak Springs, FL was determined to do this Poker Run to benefit a local charity that does amazing things for cancer patients in our area. Not only was I excited to ride but a little nervous also since it would be something I’ve never done and with people that I didn’t know since I’m not a member. Am a Veteran but was never in a war zone so not qualified for membership at that post. Remember at this point still building my confidence back. Because it was for my favorite charity Cancer Freeze was very determined to do this in spite of all my doubts and made up excuses.
I posted out of my normal order of progression about this a few weeks past Here: VFW Post 4437 Poker Run and if you follow my Face Book page you already know how excited I was to participate. 🙂
Weather was suppose to be rainy that day and without tons of confidence yet wasn’t sure I was ready to ride in the rain, don’t like riding a motorcycle in the rain anyway but woke up that morning, kept kicking myself in the butt to DO THIS and stop thinking negative. The starting point was about twenty five miles from my home so bit the bullet, got dressed and headed to the VFW Post, figured I could always back out after I got there if weather was too bad. 🙂
Got there early, met some people, ask a few questions, just hanging out while people were coming in and registering etc. About ten minutes before we were scheduled to pray and bless the bikes it started sprinkling rain. YUCK… not good. Long story short it didn’t last very long, dried the seat off with a towel and we were kick stands up on time and believe it or not, didn’t rain on us all day. In fact the sun came out and was a very pleasant day. So we’re off and I’m trying to get as near to the back of the pack as possible, that way could peel off at anytime should I start feeling uncomfortable. Never happened, half way through this trip and I’m hoping it will continue longer than planned.
Beginning of the ride as we were leaving the post. Turn down your volume, have terrible recording equipment.
Will have to tell you, one thing that made me feel a little out of place was the type bike I was riding. Out of the seventy or so bikes that started the run, only about four or five were NOT Harley Davidson’s! Most all of these bikers you could tell were experienced and quite normal for them to do these rides. Many of them were the VFW Post 4437 Motorcycle Riders group and many of their friends. That’s ok, I’ve felt out of place before and was having too much fun to back out now! You see not only was this my first Poker Run but it was also the first time I had ever ridden in a group ride that large. Normally I ride alone, my favorite way to ride, have ridden with one or two others in the past but never a group.
An idea of what it looks like from my position in the group, keep in mind there was still more behind me. Was still cloudy in this photo but sun came out bright later. 🙂
Staging area before all bikes were there
Parked at one of our stops
Another stop
Our next to last stop
One of our places to stop
My bike behind those two Harley’s
Short video of our first stop on the Poker Run, Horse Power Pavilion. Turn down your volume, wind noise is bad. 🙂
To say I enjoyed this day would be an under statement. Hey, had a good reason to ride my motorcycle and a great cause to benefit, what else could you ask for! Would definitely do this again anytime especially if it was for the benefit of Cancer Freeze. I encourage you to click that link and check out all the things that Cancer Freeze does for local cancer patients in this area. Started by a local couple with many different events scheduled throughout the year to raise money, all done with Volunteers, no salaries involved. The main event is always the first Saturday of February each year held at Lake Jackson in Florala, AL, only about two miles from my home.
Just so you know, you can learn more about and DONATE to Cancer Freeze from that link! Please consider. 🙂
Once again, thanks for reading/following, hope you will continue. Remember not an “Old Biker” by definition, just an old man (by birth certificate) that loves to ride motorcycles. Biker is really not the right word for me, “motorcyclists” fits better.
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions and hit that like button. Stay tuned, follow to be notified when next post publishes. And if you feel the urge, share this on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Thanks for reading. 🙂
How do you do that? In my case it was the desire to get back in the saddle quickly, missed the wind therapy and certainly needed it for my well being after being cooped up and encumbered for so long. It was the theory of “if you fall off your horse, get back on as soon as possible”. People would ask “why would you at your age want to ride a motorcycle again?” Of course I understand they were only concerned about my safety and you have to appreciate it, but that was not helping me get my confidence back. 🙂
My normal answer was that motorcycle riding was one of the few things in life that I still enjoy. And thinking to myself, life is short so you gotta do the things that you like while you’re still able. Here’s the thing, if you, God forbid, had a car accident, would you stop driving? Not likely, but you might have a tendency to be more cautious and aware now that you know it CAN happen to YOU.
By the way, the motorcycle accident I experienced was the first and only vehicle accident that I’ve ever experienced in my fifty plus years of driving. So YES it CAN happen to anyone anytime and I’m very aware of that now!
Quite honestly, the first few times strapping on the gear and throwing a leg over that Suzuki there was nervousness. Seems though after you gettting on, pulling out onto the highway all nerves settle as you feel you are now in control, just gotta watch out for potholes, obstacles, and drivers in cages that are not paying attention. Thought the best way to regain my confidence was to just get out and ride. Do some practicing, starting, stopping, turning, etc.
As previously stated have watched some online video’s posted by Jerry Palladino – Ride Like A Pro YouTube Channel. Had actually purchased one of his training videos when I first started riding the Yamaha in 2019. He offers some great tips to help you practice and improve your riding skills. Offers his You Tube channel packed with many tips totally free of charge.
Ok, so back to building confidence, just started riding every day possible, weather permitting. Didn’t record all of the days I rode but here is an example of some that I did track on “My Ride” phone app. Feb 28 – 20 miles. March 5 – 35 miles. March 12 – 55 miles first ride. March 12 – 51 miles second ride. March 21 – 120 miles. March 29 – 44 miles. April 2 – 38 miles. April 3 – 61 miles. April 5 – 42 miles. April 13 – 62 miles. April 19 – 114 miles. April 22 – 94 miles. All of these rides are basically back country roads around my area, not much traffic avoiding the major highways. That’s how I’m most comfortable riding.
As you can see, I’m starting to get my confidence back little by little. Of course these rides are not the only riding I’ve done since sometimes just jump on and go to the store, or ride around the neighborhood and don’t bother to turn on the app to record the trip.
Now that you’re caught up to date on my motorcycle riding, there are a few places I’ve been and rides taken that I would like to take you on in some future posts. Some are interesting rides and you might enjoy the experience I’ve had?
If I had some decent camera equipment for recording video and audio while riding would love to share the whole experience with you but as of now that kind of equipment is not in the cards for my budget. I did purchase another one of those Cheap but decent Cameras but haven’t figured out yet how to get better quality out of it without the wind noise etc. Maybe some day someone will feel my pain and gift me one. 🙂 🙂
Once again, thanks for reading/following, hope you will continue. Remember not an “Old Biker” by definition, just an old man (by birth certificate) that loves to ride motorcycles. Biker is really not the right word for me, “motorcyclists” fits better.
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions and hit that like button. Stay tuned, follow to be notified when next post publishes. And if you feel the urge, share this on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Ray's Motorcycle Experience 