Ten Days Without A Ride - BUMMER!

I guess I knew that at some point I would have to give up the luxury of coffee on the lanai at Hotel Sacramento, which is what we call the home of Diana and Ilidio in Lake Mary, Florida, and spend a few days taking care of business back home in Montana.
The flight from Orlando International to Minneapolis was a smooth ride.
I knew I was back in the the Great Northwest when I saw the De-Icing truck moving toward us prior to take off for the last leg of the flight from the Twin Cities to Helena, Montana.
Those guys knew what they were doing and soon had the wings and tail section flooded with whatever it is they spray on planes prior to take off.
Clouds of liquid splashed high in the air and even covered the window through which I was observing this strange winter time dance of the Boom Truck Operators.
 It was, I am sure, a lot more fun for me than the folks running the trucks and sprayers.

The Midnight arrival in Helena brought Iron Butt Association member, Linda Darelius out to offer me a ride home and son Roger was there too so we headed for Shellie's Truck Stop restaurant for an early, early morning breakfast.
She had even stopped by the grocery store to stock my refrigerator, before picking me up at the airport.
Linda had three months of mail spread out on the dining room table.
The bright red Priority Mail folder caught my eyes first. It meant Certificates, Badges and signs from the Iron Butt Association commemorating my 50 Hour Coast to Coast ride in October which brought me the honor of being the oldest person in the Iron Butt Association record book to complete the ride.

 The annual Christmas Party of the Helena, Montana Last Chance Riders MC was great with lots of stories to be listened to and shared. A crazy Pirate Gift Exchange brought howls of laughter as someone received a gift and someone else took it away from them.
A tip of the hat to Bob and all the members who put the shindig together.

I couldn't wait to place the "Throw" Janis and Mike had sent me for Christmas on the Yamaha Keyboard in the Living Room.
"Del On Wheels," pretty well summed up the last 18 months of motorcycle riding. Thanks Janis & Mike.

The first ten days of my trip are over and most of the business I needed to handle is complete.
Now, as the end of the two week visit draws closer I occasionally feel the fingers of my right hand drawing together as if to roll that throttle and the left hand twitches as it slips the clutch and I move smoothly and rapidly onto I-95 for a morning ride.
As I watch Hogan's Hero's on Roger's ME TV station I squeeze the arm rest of the recliner and imagine myself on the open road ... and , oh well, you know the North Country winter biker dreams.

Ahh well, only a few more days and with the sun shining on my back I will be heading south in Florida to Fort Meyers for a quick visit to the Minnesota Twins training camp and a visit with Minnesota relatives who spend the warm days of spring cheering Paul Molitor and his Twins as they prepare for the coming season.
There will be a lot of Florida riding in the next few weeks before the long ride home to Montana in late March or early April
Trails to follow, people to meet, Bike Week at Daytona Beach and the annual Bike Week dinner of the Iron Butt Association in Jacksonville.
All good times to come and I have enjoyed these days of winter in Montana.
The mountain snows have created a winter wonderland and even though the ride is in a car instead of on a bike, it is still a good ride.
The sunshine, the morning coffee on the lanai, the visits with Ilidio's friends, Jack, John, Jeff and the rest all make the return to Florida for the remainder of the winter very appealing.

Watch for me,
I'll be in the Right Lane America.
Del "Lonnie" Lonnquist