Dixie Deb - Harley for Life!
The First Ride
The Next 3 days..
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---Now I'll tell this as best as I can.. even tho 20 yrs have passed, it seems like only yesterday! From part one, Dix & I had just taken off. I was already well-pissed from the "discussions" me & the ex had as he had tried to ride Dix.. and here I was strolling down the road on her! and flyin' free! She was a bit clutsy maneuvering when pushing, but she rode just fine.. it was a Friday, around lunch and I had cash & my leather.. so we rode on.
 ---On we rode.. and thanks to the folks in the pickup that handed me that beer while we were cruising! I had just started singing again, when over the next rise, there was now an ominous black gathering of clouds ahead.. and we rode right into a big afternoon rain. Dix had a very open, old-style rectangular air cleaner. I didn't know to keep the water out.. and it was pouring cats & dogs. She had chugged a few times before we finally found an overpass to park beneath and wait for the downpour to pass.. watching the cars go by watching us. Thanks to those folks who stopped and gave me beer there as well. ---When the rain finally lessened to a light drizzle, she wouldn't start. I had been working on this motor since May.. part by part.. I knew she was right enough to run.. then I thought of the rain. I got out my shop rag.. partially wet but still useable, pulled the air cleaner & plugs and dried what I could. Now the battery was dead.. yeah, she was electric start only and due to her custom setup, her battery was tiny. Since we were at an overpass, the ramp was nearby.. like an oasis, it seemed to keep moving farther away, but I finally got her a good ways up the ramp.. I couldn't get her to fire the first time down, but made sure the second trip back up wasn’t wasted.. and on we rode.. ---There was something about a pipe.. and fire on my boot? Plugs, wires, re-tightening bolts.. more electrical tape.. Lets just say I wrenched her ass all the way there.. we were making slow but sure progress. The 2 hour trip was now more like 4. I had not been to Terrys cabin before, he had just got it that summer. The last direction I could remember mentioned a farm road turnoff toward the creek. It had been a long afternoon, and I looked forward to seeing my good friend, and introducing him to Dix.  ---Then I pulled off the asphalt.. a farm road? It was an old creek bed.. large and small rounded rocks.. embeded & loose.. and some big boys! I meanuvered Dix thru an obstacle course that would make any Marine proud. I was actually riding at a good little clip thru one part when I musta hit a loose one.. she threw me down to the right so hard, it felt like my thumbs were at my elbows (and it felt like that for months). ---Now, a quick side bar.. as I was riding Dix here on our maiden voyage, from that first takeoff only that morning, on throughout the tiresome trip, and especially as I was finding my way up thru rock alley, I felt that I could ride that bike down.. I could handle her like I needed to in most any situation.. protect her from damage.. up until I hit that rock. Never again did I entertain such a mindset.. I will be right behind her, guarding her back.. but I would let Dix clear her own way in the future.. ---Dix & my soaked, tired & dislocated body finally made it up to the cabin. I tried to suck in the beauty of this old cabin on the creek.. it looked more like a river.. and weeping willows everywhere, my favorites! No vehicle was in site, but I knew this was the place. I found my way around the house to what actually was the front porch toward the river and gratefully dropped out on the old rattan couch there..  ---Man, I was beat.. every muscle hurt in its own way and I was a drowned rat.. but I had made it! I enjoyed a good laugh at myself. I drank in the beauty and sounds of the river as I drifted into a needed rest. Some time later, my friend Terry arrived home to find a chopper in his yard and a pile of wet leather on his porch. I was quite the surprise I'm sure. There was oil smeared across my face.. I was drying, but still soaked to the skin from the afternoon rains.. and I was moving a bit slow. He got me & Dix settled in as I told him about my trip.. and thru the evening we caught up on time.. life was good! ---The next afternoon I told Terry that I had to keep riding.. hugged him bye and got back to the road. At a crossroad near a railroad track, in a small strip of a town, I took a wrong turn.. about 5 minutes later when I rolled back thru, there was a couple bros on bikes at that same crossroad. Motioning me over, they said they had heard me pass thru and invited me to join their party. I followed them across the tracks, past about 3 buildings, and turned into the parking area of a nice size bike shop with 3-4 open bays.. and several other bros and their bikes. ---Several ol' ladies then showed up.. I remember a Gremlin (was awhile ago ya know.. haha) loaded to the gills with beer & party supplies. They were headed up toward the parkway for a party.. a party of biker folk, headed up into the mountains to enjoy the ride and the party at its destination. This was turning out to be a great second day on Dix! I was once again treated to a beautiful vista of late summer sun on my beloved mountains, and now traveling with roaring pack of Harley brothers & sisters!  ---Dix only has at most 3 inches of clearance.. and has this really odd made kickstand.. very short and curved. Anyway, somehow she fell over at one overlook stop, and snapped the clutch arm off .. all that was left was a nub! Not Good! After some thought, a Bro comes up with a HUGE vise grip and CLAMPS it on. Yes, it worked.. and on we rode. I remember some of the party, the great folks, and that later I napped on Dix.. my leather folded on her bars for a pillow, and her seat, even in reverse, curved perfect to my butt. Damn, I was happy.. ---Very late into that night the wind rose, and it became apparent that another deluge was fast approaching.. I knew that the road we were on would connect to the Interstate somewhere south. A couple of the bros volunteered to escort me down the mountain to my turnoff. Not far out, one of their throttle cables snapped. As they made their plan, I assured them we would be fine, thanked them for their hospitality and Dix & I rode on. The moon that had been some help was now totally lost in the angry black clouds I could feel more than I could see. I rode into another storm.. going down the mountain.. at night.. on Dix's chopped frame in the kiss-your-ass curves.. again rat soaked.. with vise grips for a clutch. What was supposed to be a short trip, ended up feeling like 20 miles before I could get back on the Interstate. ---The Interstate? what am I doing here again? It musta been somewhere around 3am. Truckers barreling down the road, sucking me side to side.. the rain pelting becoming small rocks as we gained speed.. the bath I probably needed, but didn't have a choice in.. small streams across the road.. Dix's pencil-thin front tire. The thought of the mountain route kept me putting onward here. With the front of my aircleaner partially wrapped in my bandana, we skipped the underpasses. I just wanted to see home! ---I had learned just how much Dixie loves to ride & party.. It coulda been much, much worse.. but, she had taught me a lot.. and had shown me a helluva time! I would just have to learn how to keep up with her! God, I love Harleys.. ---p.s. I still have the vise grips Bro, if ya readin' this story.. |
Dixie Deb
