Sunday Feb 28 2004
Well morning came quickly once again. Another fine sunny day. The condensation on the inside of the rental was rather thick. And the heat I generated made for some more on the outside too. Never seen that before.
So I reached over turned over the ingition and cranked the AC on Hot. Much to my surprise Beasty Boys were on the radio. When ever I hear there tunes I think of one thing.... Oh wrong forum.
I sat in the back of the rental and began to pack up my camping gear. My sleeping bag blew a seem so the rental is now COVERED in down feathers. I get it all compressed INTO the pack and I go out to see whos up. Well Hoser's gone already. And the other families are awake. Rigo offers me some milk for my corn flakes. Much needed food to get ready for the day of riding. Everyone else is heading to Mc'Ds. I leave early to get coffee and call home. Call home was a bust with these crappy little digital phones.
I arrive back at the riding area. This time we're on the north side of the road instead of the south. But, where is everyone? Just Hoser. After a bit the crews began to arrive and unload. A few good candid shots of OdyKid in his federaly uniform. And up comes the ranger again. This time he's sporting his humvee with AC. He makes eyes at OdyKids condo but no word to be had. Household AC unit was cut INTO the canvas wrap powered by a generator. Cool. We shoot the shit and off he goes.
Well today we have more riders. We add PilotSniper, Ross, Rigo, and Stoneman's Bro. in-law. I CHECK Hoser's 400EX and we're still on the first tank full. He mentions we'll turn around when I hit reserve. We all line up for pictures and off we go. I'm mid pack today and hauling ass up the sand whoops. After cutting off onto the side trails I'm getting a bit too comforatable with my riding skills.
I need to remind myself to stay in the rear, don't hold up the pilots.
Hauling ass ( it felt like) Up tight little trails with low branches. I come around the corner to see the crew coming at me. Assuming they were going fast as I over compesated on slowing and pulling off the trail. As I was falling over flash backs of superman dives comes to mind. If it was My Prairie the CG is so high it would have been on me. But the 400EX was nice and stayed on her four paws. Not me. Plop INTO the middle of the trail. It should be on one of the tapes of the lead vehicles. Rigo hops off his ATV and rotates the EX for me. Thanks dude!
Of we go again. We do several trips up and back on various trails. Now I'm mid pack again.
On some sweet soft flat trails. Oops, curves and shit. slow down bob! Uh Oh. That pine tree looks like it has my name on it. Swoosh: Nope not my name just my arm. with one hand on throttle the other I pull the branch out of my Pitt and threw it behind. Thats when I recall Hoser was behind me.
He's gonna be pissed if I got this baby F'd up. But, I'm good for it and will take responsibility for my actions. I slow to the side and remind my self to keep up the rear. No need to die on the last day.
We zip up and around some more. Great trails for Pilots and Ody.
I come around the corner to find Hoser and Ross in the road. Whats up? Ross had a confrontation with a tree or two. And well the tree won and his ITP rim lost. Its just us three for a while until the crew back tracks. No luck with getting the rim off: inside wrapped around so bad its holding on to the hub area.
Yikes. Now I know why you guys told me about stock versus after market for me up here in rock country. Rigo is sent back to camp for tools and a rim. Well the rim was not to budge so a tow trip it was by Rigo and his ATV. We all putt back to camp.
Now we have just time for one more short trip. Stoneman is ready with his Brother inlaw. We line up and go. This time I force myself to the rear of the pack. Before heading off the main trail we wait for all the riders to be in line. I head up behind Stone and Co.. Now I've been getting good at following these tracks of the Pilots. I see Stone and Co. go right instead of left. Well I might as well follow. We stop and decide its miller time. I learn now its 1.5 hrs away FROM the airport not 1 hour. HMM better head out now. Well this section of trail was more confusing than the rest. We back track a few times with no good luck. Eventually I came by a sign that said no horses (beautiful thing) I know where I am now. I was here yesterday. Mind you I'm on reserve fuel by now.
I haul ass back up the power lines and park it at camp. Its 2:30 pm by now and well that was supposed to be my leaving time (if it was 1 hour to orlando not 1.5). Hamburgers are done I grab one (Thanks again !) and say my good byes. Head out on the road jsut to get cut off. Damn burgers on the floor. good thing I got 2/3rds of it in me.
I make my way to orlando thru the traffic and I'm running very late. I barely make it on the shuttle and INTO the airport. A little angel must have been helping me.
At the last possible moment I remember "Damn I need a present for the boy!". I run INTO the disney store pay too much and off to security. I was second to last guy on the flight and we left the gate 5 minutes early.
I get home to find a sleeping son and a happy wife. (whew) We fire up the MAC and I begin to import the 40 minutes of video. I offered she can pick the sand out of my hair but she declines. So off to the shower it is for me.
Monday came very early and soar. I had bought a play doh set for the 3 year old son and boy was that a hit! Buzz Lightyear Play doh factory. Good thing: More expensive Mickey Mouse Huge hands/paws not a hit. Blue Chips FROM jet Blue at first was looking promising. Nope: "daddy those chips are dirty". Oh well.
Until we meet again I always like to think and say!
Thanks to all for a friendly exciting time!
