We Bee Cruzin!!!

Halloween Cruise '09

We were able to book this Halloween cruise with 22 other people that we know from our chapter and several of their friends. Billie and Linda worked very hard getting this put together with a Carnival agent named Bernadine. What a blast!

Some of our crew awaiting the famed Lifeboat drill.

Here is the representation from the Main Deck Port side of the ship. We had the cabins 70 - 82.

We are the Humble Bumbles and we were gathering for the swarm.

We assembled in the Brad and Shirley Hive.

We buzzed the decks and even made a Karioke appearance.

Mike was caught doing a pole dance.

Formal night --- Lobster and Prime Rib!!! Yummmm!

The Crew sure cleans up nice!

Cozumel

Let's go get the booty!

The Coconut Shrimp on the right is a personal favorite. If I didn't get these at LaMission, I would have missed my favorite dish in Cozumel. They are as good as they look!

Monday evening dinner.

Progreso

You wouldn't believe these double decker buses. We had to duck the power lines going across the street as we made our $2 tour of the town. It was worth it but quite the adventure. See the picture below on the left.

The waiter on the right has one of the largest bottles of Tequila that I have ever seen. They were offering free shots to all patrons. Imagine that!

The school children were so excited to see the bus and the tourist. They were just smiling and waving like we were the hometown soccer champions making a victory parade.

We stopped in for a bite to eat and a little refreshments... did I say shots?

Really good!

Night shots from the atrium.

Tuesday night in the dining room. Great service and good food.

The Last Sea Day going home and chillin...

Ricky and Karen get a visit from Billie while Robin, Karen and Carolyn did the line dance class in the afternoon.

Has anyone seen Rex? I think someone was looking for him.

Brad and Shirley were gracious hosts again for an afternoon wine party before the last evening meal on this fun cruise.

Thanks Brad and Shirley!

Bob , Shirely and JoAnn say goodbye to some new friends who sat next to our happy bunch.

We sure had fun sailing the seas with these sea bees!

Until next time... otw

Lone Star Rally "09

We were fortunate enough to make some of the Rally in Galveston this year. We went down Friday with some friends and spent the night. We strolled around the Strand and the vendors on Friday during the day then escaped to Landry's for some good seafood before heading out for our cruise on Saturday. There were so many cool bikes to see. I took a ton of pictures.

There were characters and costumes galore. This guy's helmet was awesome! Probably not much for protection if riding a bike but looked pretty damned impressive.

And some characters that were just there for show...

I wonder why so many people turn out for these things?

OTW

Pikes Peak

We ventured to the beautiful state of Colorado on our July vacation with friends. We love riding this wonderful country and seeing the sights with those who share a common interest of riding and exploring all that this great country of ours has to offer. If I could retire with the wealth of winning a big lotto, I'd spend what days I have left trying to see as much of this place as I could. I must admit though, this was a for sure one time thing for me in this picture. That thin air is hard to deal with at my age.

The view from the Cog Railway to the top is breathtaking and even moreso as you get closer to the peak... literally! This shot is looking towards Colorado Springs. It was a toasty 39 degrees on the top the day we went up.

The ride down was really good, especially when we got below the 12,000 level. I was able to actually take a good breath by then. These trains are incredible. Simple design and they have operated for many years without a single accident.

Did someone say waterfalls?

It wouldn't be Colorado if there were not at least one waterfall and we saw several from the train. These were small but there's no such thing as an ugly waterfall to me. I love them all. The snow runoff was still going even in July. Probably ran through August too.

Some of us were really whipped after that high altitude and the ride up from Dodge City Kansas. Mike was catching 20 winks on the way down. Can't say that I blame him. I was pretty whipped too. Next time I want to soar with the eagles, I think I'll just go to Philidelphia and wear some green.

Then capping the day with a little ride through the Garden of the Gods before stopping for a great dinner at the Mason Jar and on to our hotel for a good night's sleep before continuing our adventure in this beautiful state.

And saying good night under a full Colorado moon on a clear Colorado night is something you just have to experience for yourself. It's a Rocky Mountain High.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

On July 4, 2009, we were very fortunate to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial with some dear friends. The site is very awe inspiring. The reflecting pool shown here is absolutely beautiful. Visiting this site will take you back to that fateful day when domestic terrorism struck the heartland of our country.

We spent about 4 hours at the site and going through the museum. The empty chairs will make you think. Most of us will never know what the survivors have gone through and many are still suffering today. The untold horror of what took place will forever be a shadow over our country and a testament to the uselessness of this sort of violence. This one desperate act did not change what took place at Waco or Ruby Ridge. It could not. However, the perpetrator(s) of this horrific act only proved that they were guilty of innocent blood and if vengeance was the motive, it certainly did not avenge a single life. The sadness and solemnity of this site is a bleak reminder that not all enemies of our country are from foreign shores. The mis-guided, mis-informed and ignorant acts of desperate people present a very real and present danger.

If you are anywhere near Oklahoma City, put this one on your must see list. Let us never forget those who were victimized that day. We all will carry the scars but none more than the survivors of this despicable act of treason.

The fence on the side of the Memorial that leads to the Museum is decorated with memorials from relatives of the victims and visitors to this site in honor of those who perished. They are placed in the chain link fence that was erected at the site while the work was being done and because of these, the fence was never taken down.

Took this picture on top of Sandia Crest in New Mexico over the Thanksgiving Holiday. It was 28 degrees and the wind was howling at the 10,678' level. These poor birds were taking advantage of the kindness of the people that run the Restaurant on top of the mountain who place food for them on the bird feeder hanging on the deck.

Can you spot the three birds in this picture?

Wimberley Re-visited

What a difference 5 months make. The boys were having a blast with the rope swing into Cypress Creek in Wimberley. With the temperature in the high 90's, that cold water sure looked inviting. Made the shade a most sought after spot. This creek is so clear you can see the fish and the bottom even though the water must be at least 8 ~ 10 feet deep in spots. The peaceful serenity of this spot will always stand out in my memories. The sounds of boys having a summer splash is as refreshing as the morning dew.
This guy was doing back flips into the water. He had the act perfected as he did it at least four times for us. These guys are building memories that will last a lifetime. Can you remember the care free days of your summers as a child? I remember the summers of beach visits in Virginia.
This kid didn't use the rope. He simply jumped from the big limb. All three of these boys were accomplished swimmers and they were even joined by their dad a little later for a big plunge into the cool water.

Brenham Airport

Brenham Airport

This is a really great little restaurant. We have had great food both times we have been here. It is a nice ride through the country and we always enjoy the company of wonderful friends as we go.

Friends like Randy and Sharon. They always make for a great time when they are around. Randy has led some awesome rides and introduced me to some really fine eating establishments. He and Sharon do a terrific job as our Ways and Means Committee. Randy's keen sense of humor is a delight to behold as he works his magic of agitation (all in good fun I must add) as well as bringing interesting topics of conversation. I think he knows about everything about a Goldwing too.

Steve and Linda are always a pleasure to have on a ride. Steve can plan some awesome rides and lead them or he does a super job as the drag bike as well. Linda is always fun. She puts so much effort in the things that she does for our chapter. Our newsletters are without peers because of her diligence.
Karen did an outstanding job along with her husband Ricky as our Chapter Couple of the Year for 2007. She also braved the cooler temperatures this particular morning to come out on her own bike to join us on this ride while Ricky helped out a friend who was teaching a Motorcycle Safety course back home.

And what can I say about my lovely bride! She is the consumate companion. She is so supportive in all we do. She can put together a trip better than anyone I know. She is so detailed and does her homework on every place we have been. If you enjoy the pictures I take on our own little trips, thank Billie for setting them up. Without her, I couldn't do the things I do and life sure would lose its excitement and flavor.

The day started cool and clear but quickly warmed up as we made our way to Brenham by way of some back roads out of Chappell Hill. We arrived at the airport shortly before noon after making one rest stop along the way. After a great lunch, we headed back, taking a little scenic route through William Penn, Navasota, Anderson, Richards, Dacus and Montgomery ending up in Willis our final stop.

As I've stated before, it's great to be on the road with friends...

Until next time, We'll see you down the road.