Training theWolf: A trip with my Daddy

theWolfTamer

theWolfTamer

Wizard
thewolftamer71.blogspot.com
Yes, I still call him Daddy.

16 March 2010 -- Departure

Dad and I decided to go to Savannah for St. Patrick's Day a couple of months ago. He would be riding his 2002 Yamaha Road Star Midnight and me on my 2005 Yamaha FZ1. This was something we'd talked about since we both got bikes but nothing ever happened until this year. We booked our hotel using priceline.com for arrival on 16 March and departure on 20 March. I plotted our route using Street Atlas 2008 to avoid the interstate.

I stayed up late on the 15th futzing with the new top case that arrived earlier in the day, hoping to get it mounted for use on the trip, but around midnight I gave up. I was supposed to get the bike washed from the Sunday Ride but I didn't do that either. At least I had clean clothes. At the last minute, I remembered to convert the routes from Street Atlas for use on my iGo8 gps. After that, I stuffed all my clothes into the Fieldsheer Expander Tail Bag and my personal stuff and shoes into two compression sacks and went to bed around 3 or 4.

Route to Savannah:



Daniel, my little brother, was supposed to fix my hair the morning before we left and I should have been at the house around 8. I got there around 10 after taking the bike to a self serve car wash on the way. It was a waste of $2.00 because the car wash had no pressure and no soap. The towel I bought for $0.75 to dry off the bike was little more than a big paper towel that broke up when I tried to wring it out. Disappointed, I went straight to Dad's.

A couple of hours later, with re-twisted dreads, Dad and I were ready to leave:






We left around 12:30 or 1:00 and went to the gas station where I noticed the gps was trying to make me follow all the flags on the route I'd exported from Street Atlas. I quickly erased the flags I'd already passed and we were on our way. Our route took us through Conyers, Covington, Monticello, Milledgeville, Irwinton, Swainsboro, Twin City, Bloomingdale, and finally into Savannah.

It was a beautiful day for such a long ride, around 280 miles. We stopped in Covington to shed my liners and to take a break. So far everything was going very well. Traffic was light because it was a weekday. I was getting used to not having the gps voice in my ear because the week before I'd shipped my headset back to the manufacturer for repairs to the microphone.

Once we left our stop, the gps went haywire. Somewhere along 212, it wanted me to take a dirt road for no reason. I kept on going expecting it to re-route as it has always done but it just didn't. The route path was there so I followed it, stopping a couple of times to try to get the directions and distance summary back. Our next stop was in Irwinton for gas and rest.



It was getting near 5 o'clock and we still had miles to go. Hwy 57 is a nice sweeping road that passes through woods and farm land. It was about this time I noticed the green grass, a distinct change from the near winter landscape from around our homes further north. It was also on Hwy 57 that I saw my first deer, a little one standing along side the hwy. The sound of Dad's Vance and Hines pipes thankfully sent it retreating into the woods instead of into my path.

One of the things I'd been noticing all day was Dad's retreating headlight when we entered the sweeping curves on the back roads we traveled. Later, he admitted he enjoyed the scenery much more than the curves. I guess the lumbering Midnight Star preferred straight roads to the curvy ones.

When 57 crossed US 1 just outside of Swainsboro, I decided to go to the dreaded I-16 instead of taking the much longer way on back roads. It was nearing 7 o'clock and the daylight was retreating. We stopped once more before getting on I-16 and the GPS finally calculated our route after struggling to do so since Covington some 4 or 5 hours before. We had a little over an hour left to travel before reaching our destination.

Once on 16, we put the miles behind us at a brisk, but barely over the speed limit, pace as I enjoyed the chirping from the radar detector warning of the hiding state patrols in the median. About 30 minutes outside of Savannah, we stopped for gas one last time before continuing. It turns out, Dad's bike gets about 125 mpg or just below 1/2 full on my gas gauge.

By the time the GPS announced we'd reached our destination, it was a Mall and not our hotel. After a fruitless search through our luggage for the name and address of the hotel, an unproductive phone call to priceline, a helpful, but nosy, security guard came over to see if he could help us. He couldn't tell us the name of our hotel, but he did direct us to a nearby Burger King with free wifi. It was a good thing I decided at the last minute to bring my laptop.

We arrived at the Courtyard by Marriott in Midtown Savannah around 9:30. By the time we unloaded the bikes all of the nearby restaurants were closed so we decided to eat at good ole Waffle House. The parking lot was so full when we returned, we couldn't park near our room and had to park on the other side of the hotel. It was a long day, made longer by my procrastination that ended with us talking ourselves to sleep.

The next day was St. Patrick's Day and we were excited about seeing the parade and taking part in the famous festivities. More to come...

Thank you for reading.
Patrice, tWT
 
Good for You! It's not that often these days to be able to share our passions with our fathers. Mine was a private pilot so airplanes was his thing but I would have given anything to share a ride with him. He's been gone now for about 12 years so I just think of him when I'm on the road. Don't let this be the only trip you and your dad share.
 
It's awesome that you got to spend the time riding with your Dad. Regardless of any mishaps, just to have that opportunity to make the trip at all is great. I enjoy every trip we take wother (my wife and I) and always look for that next opportunity.

Thanks for sharing!
 
17 March 2010 -- St. Patrick's Day

The whole point of the trip was to find out what the hype was about SPD in Savannah. After the late night before, we woke around 10 to discover the parade was about to start. We hurried to get dressed and decided to find food in the area of the festivities, either on the famous River ST or at the City Market.

Our route for the day:



We were lucky to find parking for both bikes at the price of a car right next to the man watching the lot and stopped long enough during the walk to purchase little bits of green to adorn our motorcycle attire. We went to City Market first because it was closer to the parking (and I had no idea how to get to River ST from where we were). As soon as we rounded the corner, we saw the Yuengling Tent. First order of business changed from food to beer.

Walking around the Market, we found Cafe at City Market with Corned Beef and Cabbage posted for the daily special. In honor of St. Patrick, we made that our breakfast. Here's Dad checking in on his family while we wait for our food:



And me while I wait:



Soon we were eating a delicious plate of food, with a lot of meat, a small spoonful of delicious cabbage, and another small spoonful of potatoes. We both finished the veggies long before the meat, this is what I had left:


Now you see why I don't have more pics of food in my reports, I don't think about it until it's over!!

We also had to order another beer to wash it all down.






After eating, we explored the City Market. We caught some beads being thrown out by a local radio station. Then it was time to get rid of some of the beer we'd consumed. You know, you only rent beer. While looking for the bathroom, we passed this statue of Johnny Mercer in Ellis Square, outside City Market. He was a noted composer born in Savannah. When we passed him, someone was adding the green lei to the green string of beads.

Dad decked out with is green, and Johnny Mercer:



Me and Johnny:



There were showers in the forecast. Other than a quick one on our way downtown from our Midtown hotel, there hadn't been much rain. As we walked to River St, it started to sprinkle.

The first thing we saw when we got there was green water in the fountain




An enterprising homeless lady took our picture for a tip.


In the spirit of SPD, they were trying to turn the Savannah River green


Me and Dad in front of City Hall



The scene at River ST was more crowded with less places to sit and enjoy the day. Also, in order to drink, you had to purchase a $5 band that allowed you to then purchase your choice of alcoholic beverage. We decided to go back to City Market where we could buy our drinks without a band.

The crowd there was a little smaller, but a lot more lively despite the rain.



In addition to the radio station that was tossing beads and stuff, there was also a live band. We decided to hang around here for a while. We took cover from the rain and listened to the band.



Dad met a very "friendly" man who offered us our choice of drink. Dad got something while I was standing in the rain singing along with the crowd as the band performed "Sweet Child of Mine". I got my first Bloody Mary, made very spicy. It was delicious. We talked to the man and his wife for a while before the rain subsided and we decided we'd seen all we came to see.



Here we all are. His wife was impressed that I rode a motorcycle, and like many women I meet, talking about maybe learning to ride one day. I wish I remembered their names. It was time to go get rid of our last drinks and get turkey legs to compliment my bloody mary. I was disappointed to discover the tent with the wonderful smell, no longer had turkey legs. But right AFTER I threw away the rest of my bloody mary--I didn't want to drink it with out eating any more food--we saw another Tent that had turkey legs on the way back to the bikes.

The only thing missing was the grilled corn in the husk like they have at the Apple Festival in Ellijay. We got back to the hotel early enough to get parking right outside the room, unlike the night before when we had to park on the other side of the hotel.

Our hotel is right above Midnight's windshield...now the view from the room


Dad kicked back and relaxed



We thought about going back out, but ended up spending the evening just talking then eating our Turkey Legs. They were really good even later heated up in the room's microwave.
 
What an awesome experience! I wonder if my wife would be pissed if I brought her home a bike this weekened? She knows how to drive a clutch, but to preserve living a little while longer I will wait until she is ready....could be a while :)
 
theWolfTamer said:
Cos, you might want to mention it before you buy it; she might already know what she wants. Or better yet, sign her up for the MSF class for her birthday/your annivesary/mother's day whatever event's next.
Click to expand...
We have certainly talked about it, she said maybe when our youngest graduates from HS (two more years). Your trip and pics look like you had a nice time.
 
18 March 2010 -- Going for Broke

For Thursday, we decided to do a little recon on the Diamond Casino Cruise that Dad heard about from co-workers. We asked about it at the Savannah Info Center on River ST the day before, but the lady there, who was a little irritated by all the revelers seeking shelter from the rain, said the only casino cruise she knew was in Brunswick.

I knew that was wrong from an internet search before we left, but beyond confirming it existed we didn't know much else. I did a search that morning and confirmed it only cost $5 to board and that they had food. The website made it look like it would be a modern casino with slot machines, gaming tables, and a restaurant. I plugged the address into the GPS and after breakfast and a visit to the Yamaha shop to look at bikes and accessories, we set out to discover more about the cruise.

The day's route:



The GPS got us in the vicinity but not to the door. I use the iGo8 software as GPS on my pda and I'd noticed the addresses were wrong. It had never been a problem up until this trip. I don't know if it was because I dropped the pda a week or so before the ride, or the fancy new skin I uploaded the week before, but the GPS has not been right. I hate to admit it, but it might be time to upgrade the pda. After asking a lawn maintenance guy at a self serve car wash, we learned we were only a mile or so away.

The worker manning the dock told us the ship was only 7 months old and to arrive about an hour before launch at 7 that evening. He said we could buy our boarding passes then. I took a couple of pics of Dad on Midnight and Baby underneath a tree as we left:







Since my bike wash on departure day was unsuccessful and the rain and parking in the grass on SPD, our bikes needed a bath. We went back to the Self Serve Car Wash and washed our bikes before heading back to the hotel for a little rest.



We decided to leave Baby at the hotel so we could save our parking spot and take Midnight. Dad drove on the way to the cruise and I got to drive on the way back. We arrived at the dock around a quarter after six and were allowed aboard as soon as we went through security (!) and paid our fee.

The boat we boarded was not 7 months old. It was much older and reeked of stale cigarette smoke as soon as we stepped aboard. There were three decks. The first had slot machines and a little bar with televisions, the second deck was the gaming floor with a few slot machines, and the top deck was open with a serving area, tables and chairs. The cruise didn't allow photography so I didn't get any pictures. The sign said the capacity was 500 people but I wouldn't want to be on that cruise with that many people.

After walking around trying to find the restaurant I read about online, we discovered they were serving food on the same deck we entered. We saw people eating wings, sandwiches, and burgers but nothing like was pictured online. When I saw the posted menu I understood why. Who would want to pay $15 for a pasta meal in these surroundings? If I had not been so hungry, I don't think I would have wanted anything.

We decided to split an order of wings and eat at the Denny's near the hotel since the cruise wouldn't return to dock until near midnight. I've had better wings at Wing Street, but they were edible. We washed it down with the nastiest draft beer I have ever tasted. It was so bad, I didn't drink another beer for the rest of the trip!!

We had a great time but ran out of money about 30 minutes before they turned the machines off. The bad thing about a casino cruise is you can't leave when you're broke. We had the pleasure of watching and listening to others gamble until the captain announced we'd reached the no gambling zone then it seemed to take forever for us to reach the dock. The ship was very smooth. If you didn't hear the engines, you wouldn't even know the boat was moving.

Riding Midnight in the dark with Dad on the back was an experience. I hadn't been on a v-twin since I took Sam (my 1993 Suzuki VX800) to the shop and had forgotten how big the difference between the two types of engines could be. At one point, Dad had to tell me to shift because V-Twins don't need to be revved like 4 cyls. Not only that, Midnight doesn't have an RPM gauge, just the speedo mounted on the tank. I couldn't even feel Dad back there and it was nice to be able to flat foot a bike for a change.

I did not like the riding position. I have never liked the feet forward controls on a bike and this ride just confirmed my motorcycle prejudices. The bike is smooth rolling along on a straight, but turns with it's long rake and massive weight are interesting. It reminded me of Sam's floppy steering and made me realize no springs would fix that. I could get used to a cruiser if I had to, but I know I'd scrape just about every time I entered a curve.

We ate at Denny's and got their new meat lover's breakfast. Apparently Denny's has revamped their food so it tastes better. I haven't eaten at Denny's since I moved home from California so I don't know how improved the food was but the meat lover's breakfast was good and the staff was very friendly.

We couldn't have ended the day better.
 
19 March 2010 -- Sightseeing

After another late night, Dad and I slept late. We didn't have a plan for the day so we decided to do a little sight seeing. We didn't want to take one of the tours so I searched online for a driving tour. I didn't have much luck but I thought we might be able to find something if we went downtown. Dad remembered a sushi restaurant we passed on St. Patrick's Day and suggested Sushi for our first meal. That was fine with me.

With all of the gps problems, I decided I'd be better off navigating by memory. Plus, I couldn't remember the name of the restaurant or the name of the street we were on so we headed toward downtown on Abercorn St. I managed to find the restaurant but the special we'd seen had changed. Instead, we got the daily special of negri sushi and a california roll plus an extra order of Sashimi with octopus, squid, and yellowtail (I think). The restaurant was Sushi Zen and the food was pretty good. While we were eating, we decided to cross the bridge to South Carolina.



After eating, we crossed the bridge.



On the way back



We stopped at the visitor's center to see if there were any driving tours we could take ourselves, but they were only interested in selling the guided tours. I decided to go to Skidaway Island State Park instead.

Our route for the day:



On the way to Skidaway:



Since we weren't in a rush, when I saw the pier alongside the hwy, I decided to stop. To my surprise, we would be crossing Moon River.






Stitch Attempt (I'm getting better)



Dad on the pier:



Me on the pier:



There were people fishing off of the pier when we arrived. We watched them put chunks of raw chicken breast into a weighted basket. Their catch so far:



Local wildlife:



Trying to get a pic of Dad riding behind me. The strap got in the way, but it's still a good pic:



Over the shoulder (no strap)



Harry Truman Fwy on the way to Skidaway Island



Skidaway Island State Park is a small park that has camping, picnic shelters, trails through the marsh and a place for viewing wildlife. Skidaway Island has a rich marsh filled with oysters, mussels, clams, and whelks, that was once a hunting and ceremonial ground for Timucua Indians that lived in the area at least 4,000 years before General Oglethorpe first sailed up the Savannah River. The Timucua became extinct by the 1760s from European plagues and English-sponsored slaving after being targets of the Spanish Missionary and slave traders. The fossils of Georgia's mega-fauna, such as mastodons, mammoths, giant sloths, and native horses, which became extinct five to ten thousand years ago have been found on the island by paleontologists. It is definitely a place I will return to one day.

After riding around the island, we retraced part of our route to go to the beach at Tybee Island.



We spent an hour on the beach watching the water and the birds.






After Tybee, we sought a restaurant that served crab legs. I'd seen a billboard when we were going to the Casino then again on the way to Tybee Island. It took a while, but I found Tubby's Tank House on River ST in Thunderbolt. We each ate a pound of crab legs and a baked sweet potato. The food was very good and I'd probably go back there again.



It was pretty dark by the time we left but we weren't that far from the hotel and made it back before midnight. It was another wonderful day spent with my Dad. It reminded me of when I was little and he used to take me places with him. I was a little sad that we would be leaving for home the next day.
 
20 March 2010 -- Going Home

I chose to go a different way home than the way we came so we could see some other stuff. With all the GPS problems on the way down, I let the iGo8 make the route instead of using the one I'd created before we left using Street Atlas.

The way home:



We were up and ready before either one of us expected. Here we are packed and ready to roll:









We ate breakfast at McDonald's before saying good bye to Savannah. Dad had to love this route. We took one of the straightest state highway I have ever ridden in Georgia. It was worse than slab!! Not much to see or even a reason to take the camera out to even attempt moving photography. We took a little break outside Sylvania where the gps shut off and struggled to retrieve the route once I restarted it.

The red line telling where the route should have been was there, so I just kept going, glancing down every now and then to be sure I didn't miss a turn. At first I thought I'd be able to fix the issues but after this ride, I decided I didn't want to bother. Now just to decided between getting another PDA or a specific gps unit.

On the long straight road home, I kept reflecting on the hours of conversation and the thrill of seeing my Dad's headlight in my side mirror. My parents got divorced when I was 12. I lived with my mom but spent some weekends with Dad, but not enough to suit me. We have always been close but some how drifted apart through my teen years. In my early 20's, I realized how much I missed him and made a conscious effort to talk to him at least once a month.

When I got my first motorcycle, I had no idea what a motorcycling life was about. Getting one had been a lifelong dream but now that I had it, what next? Weekend rides, moving to California, commuting to work; I discovered ways to integrate the motorcycle in my life but there was always a little something bothering me.

When I returned home, my Dad bought a motorcycle shortly after I got back. On a Saturday afternoon ride with him, I discovered the thing I'd been missing all that time. Him. This trip re-connected us like we were when I was little.

He was constantly surprised when I mentioned something I liked doing or watching that he also liked doing. I was constantly surprised by how much we think alike. I knew it, my mother never lets me forget it, but seeing it was different.

I think I was lost in this reverie when I came over a rise in the road and saw blue lights ahead. I slowed down and glanced in my mirror to see him making a u - turn. Surely, he wasn't coming after me. The speed limit was 55 on the two lane road outside of my mother's ancestral home near Wadley, GA. I was keeping my speed around 70 on the empty straight road. I pulled over and he said I was doing 77!

There was no way I was going that fast. When we transitioned to US1, I saw state patrol everywhere and was very mindful of my rate of travel. The radar detector hadn't missed a cop yet but this time it did. I wasn't fighting the wind like I should have been at that speed. I don't mind getting a ticket for what I was doing, but I do mind getting a ticket for what I wasn't. Anyway here it is, my first motorcycle ticket:




I was done taking pictures after this. He claims I can call and they will give me assistance with the ticket because if I was doing what I thought I was doing he would not have pulled me over. There wasn't another car on that road even after we left him, I think he did it because he was bored. I should send him the bill for the insurance hit I'll take for the next few years.

All in all it was a great trip and I hope we get to do something like this every year from now on.
 
Wow! What a great story about such an awesome experience! With the cruise and ticket put aside, no amount of money can buy the experiences you got to have with your Dad. The HUGE smiles on both your faces tell it all. Thanks for sharing and I hope the two of you have MANY more trips together and often!
 
Thats a great trip for sure Tamer! Those are memories that you can cherish forever. My son is almost that age where he'll soon be riding with me as well. I hope to make our own great memories......with the exception of any speeding tickets of course! I just got my first one after over 30 years of riding and driving. I definitely wasn't going as fast as the officer states either. I'm currently waiting for my court date where I'll be fighting it "tooth and nail"! I'm glad you had such a great time with your "daddy". Thanks for sharing.
 
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