SPRING: ANNUAL TRIP TO WHEELS THROUGH TIME

Yes, it's finally SPRING here in North-East Tennessee. Happy days! I've gotten my bike sported out with the new suspension (front and rear)  pipe wraps, New (to me) CV carb, rear rocker box has new gaskets for all three layers and gosh, I dunno.  Stuff done.

This past week we had 3 days of beautiful weather. On Thursday, the heat index rose to around 80 degrees! All be praised.  I'm gonna be riding! I decided early in the week, enough time has slipped by without my annual visit to Maggie Valley N.C. and Wheels Through Time. I love this place, I am totally awed by the folks who run it. Everyone is friendly, nice and have the best knowledge when it comes to all things MOTORCYCLE.   And they remember my name.  What's not to like?

The trip is about 105 miles one way for me. I twist through the mountains for 2.5 hours. Enjoying the hair pin turns, the beautiful National Forest where all the old trees are waking up, pushing out the new buds, the great greenery, the amazing purple flowering buds, the odor is amazing. The world is waking from a long winter. My life don't suck. This ride is wondrous.

I've been following Dale, Matt and Trish with their adventures at Wheels Thourgh Time since they opened for 2013. Trish fills us in on the work behind the scenes. Dale and Matt have been working like dogs on many new displays. I was really looking forward to seeing the new displays. So I don't really stop much to take photos of the ride in. I can't wait to get there and check out the museum.

After stopping to chat with the gals at the front desk, (where you will pay for your entry and also your purchases such as t-shirts, raffle tickets and such) I walk through the double doors and I am drawn right away to this Pierce Arrow display. UMMMM good!

There are so many fantastic displays. How does one decide what to photograph and what to leave for the next visit? It's tough.

There is NO shortage of bikes here. I'd say this is one of those really wondrous BEHIND the barn finds. The rubber has rotted so all that remains is the rims. Still...so cool.

Don't you enjoy looking at these period displays? I do!

Board Track racers.

And of course, the iconic view from the second floor.

Some lucky guests are invited to ride with Dale on the sidecar.  You could be one of these lucky folks. Dale and Matt are generous like that. It's a good day when you come to Wheels Through Time.

It's amazing how all the finds are so dang cool.... every nook and corner is filled with good stuff.

I took over 160 photos. Less than 30 were of quality to place here.  So this is about all for now...

I darn sure hope you guys all get to ride soon. Oh, and I am telling everyone here and now. I've decided to volunteer at Wheels Through Time 1 time a week, perhaps more. So...if ya come down (or up) or over...or however you have to come, ask for me. I might be there to shot your picture near one of your favorite displays!  Have fun!

Good GOD, It's Been a Long TIME

OK, UPDATE:
In July, I took on a job after they called and begged me to come back to work. In Oct. Mom got quite sick. We almost lost her several times over the 6 week period of her hospitalization from Oct. through the end of November.  It's still a long road of recovery.

Today, the man who runs the store and calls himself a GM told me I was being transferred from COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS to DIY.  WHAT? Thanks, but I'm not working at the front counter. I quit. I will not work nights and week-ends. I have my Mom to take care of, and a teen-aged grandson to raise.

So now here I am, ready and waiting for spring to come to North East Tennessee.  I can ride to my heart's content. (As long as Mom is well.) So there it is, I will be riding, writing and photographing and I will be happy once more. I can't wait for spring. Hell, I can't wait for the snow to leave outta here by Monday, because I'll be riding.  See you on the road.

ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLES IT'S ALL GOOD

Riding Tennessee

I have a lot of photos from my last couple of rides. I don't know where they were taken or how I got there. I just took photos and kept making turns until it was time to go home.  Funny how I can find my own way home when it's time to go.



I was very surprised when I found this field of sunflowers.



And farms with barns...



I am experimenting with some textures. This barn photo didn't come out well before I added this texture to it. I took the photo while I was riding at a speed of about 35MPH.  It blurred. So this texture saves the photo. What do you think?





This next photo is from Jonesboro, Tennessee (Tennessee's oldest city).  Looking historic Main Street:



I wonder what stories this building has to tell? (Jonesboro, TN.)



In Jonesboro, a story of a Buffalo Solider.



And then there is the car show in Elizibethton, TN.



One of my favorite cars and photos.



One more for your pleasure. Cars...cars...