Fifty Plus (50+) - How 50 miles of intentions turned into 38 and big trouble.

I came home from work yesterday full of it. Thought I would go for a nice big ride and catch up a bit what with having not ridden on Saturday due to other commitments or on Sunday due to weather. I thought 50 sounded a good round number.

But first I needed to take care of the puppies and clean the kennels and feed the rest of the dogs and let a few of them get a little time in the back yard. So I did not even roll out of the drive 'til nearly 5:00. Still it was a very nice evening. And them I remembered that I promised the next time I went for a decent ride, that I would take and post some pics. So I went back to the house and stole Lovey's camera. And then back out the door, still thinking a big fat ride.

When I got to my turn off to Riverdale Road, who should drive up but Son Chris, who was on his way back home from a job interview with the Oklahome Highway Patrol. So of course, we sit in the middle of the road and yack it up for a few minutes. And then off we go again, him home to catch up on his rest, and me on my way down Riverdale Road. It's a way nice night and I stopped several times to take some pictures.

This is the bike on Monkey Business Bridge. It's the one the boys were swinging on and making jungle sounds the first time I rode over it. We've had a lot of rain, the Finley River below is normally nice and clear and about five feet lower than in this picture. Yesterday would have been a good day for a float trip for the adventurous sort.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/IMG_0411.jpg


This is the Finley River Valley. It's pretty lush this time of year.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/IMG_0405.jpg

More Finley River Valley. Back when I kept running hounds, I had a pup out of Finley River Queen. The Finley River dogs are a very well known line of Treeing Walkers. Very good coon hounds. Riding in this valley helps me remember other times.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/IMG_0418.jpg

I took several pics of springs that were running way big yesterday, sadly none of them are worth a crap. The only other thing I saw of note when I thought about using the camera was these. hmmmmm. Anybody missing anything? This is the right age group and all....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/IMG_0422.jpg

So anyway, I keep on riding on into Nixa. By now I'm out of water, so decided to run by Lovey's Curves store and refill. It's now about 7:20. She is still there and closing up. I refill, chat her up a while, carry out the trash and generally help close up shop. She heads on to Wally World and then to home, with instructions to me to get going that way too. Which I promptly ignored and headed back north, away from home. I finally get far away enough from home that if I turn around and head that way, I'll have my fifty by the time I'm back. So back south. It's now a little after 8:00 and I'm hungry. So I stopped and had a grilled chicken sandwch and a coke and filled bottles again.

Now, it's getting good and dark. Which to me is no big thing, I've got a blnkie and a nice headlight. So on down the road I go. But just as I cross the Finley heading back home, my phone rings. It's one fairly P.O.'d Lovey, calling from home, wondering where I am and giving me hell for riding on Highway 160 after dark. Like I'm going to turn into a pumpkin or something. She made me feel so bad when she accused me of trying to make her a widow, that I let her come get me. It was about 9:30 when she found my sorry ass and drug me home. When we got there, I got the last word though. For a change. My niece and her boyfriend had driven down from Springfield. They saw me riding along and she actually commented to her boyfriend wondering if that was me they saw riding. The comment that ended my catching hell was them answering me asking if they could see me with "Yeah, we saw you from a long way, we thought maybe a cop had somebody pulled over or something!" So I guess my light is bright enough. At least for me, never for Lovey though.

When I checked the odo at home, it read 38 something. So that's how 50 miles worth of intent got me 38 and in big trouble.

Great story, got me laughing. It was so well written, it was like I was there! Good work!

A very nice ride report! Thank you for sharing that, and in such an amusing way. Beautiful pics. Looks like a lovely place to ride. How fortunate you are!

Is that your pre ride for the big one? It sounded like you could have made that a better ride if you left in the morning. but I know how it goes.

Nice ride. Nice pics. Enjoyed your story. Too bad the ending didn't go so swell.

You are one relaxed geezer when you are miles from home & stop at 8 PM to get a sandwich.

So now you are riding miles after dark on 55 mph roads?

What has become of my poor old fellow Fred? You must be at least 10 years younger than you were last year.

Since you raise dogs, I assume that you have a number of dog houses, and therefore, a choice of the one in which you would reside for the night :D .

By the way, nice WHITE bike! :D

By the way, nice WHITE bike! :D

Dude. It's green (well, sage, actually at least according to Jamis). And cream. See the Haiku thread. But I guess cream is a shade of white in't it? So thanks!!:D Damn glad to be a member of Team Oso Blanco.:) At any rate, thank the Good Lord that it is not black, or even worse, black and RED.;)

Dude. It's green (well, sage, actually at least according to Jamis). And cream. See the Haiku thread. But I guess cream is a shade of white in't it? So thanks!!:D Damn glad to be a member of Team Oso Blanco.:) At any rate, thank the Good Lord that it is not black, or even worse, black and RED.;)
Looks white in the first pic. Just sayin.

You are one relaxed geezer when you are miles from home & stop at 8 PM to get a sandwich.

So now you are riding miles after dark on 55 mph roads?

What has become of my poor old fellow Fred? You must be at least 10 years younger than you were last year.

I admit to having a good time and not fretting much about it, not being afraid of the dark and not acting my age. I am still a Fred though, I had on a white Tee shirt (the breathable kind) and bright orange athletic shorts. Major clash with the bike colors. But visible!

Sounds like you had a nice ride anyway How about a picture of your dogs

Nice bike, nice ride, nice pics and amusing story. There's always another day for that 50.

Great pictures and ride report:)

Hope you were able to smooth things over with the wife.

Sounds like you had a nice ride anyway How about a picture of your dogs

Here is the litter of pups. I have so many pictures of the dogs it's pathetic.

Twin Boy

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/Twinboy1.jpg

Twin Girl

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/twingirlfront.jpg

Grip

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/brownheadboylookingleft.jpg

Sister

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/brownheadgirlgoodhappygirl.jpg

Mr. Ears. Do you like his gangsta tear? right eye, you hae to really look to see it

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/MrEarsfront2.jpg

And Mr. Black.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/Mr.jpg


THANKS FOR ASKING!!

Those are real cuties:)

I would love to have a puppy but unfortunately they grow up. Guess I'll stick with my psycho cat.

Mr Black has a very distinctive appearance.

Thanks for the fine report and pictures.

I have also been been in the doghouse for riding after dark. Funny thing, I actually feel safer in the dark with the headlight and blinker than late evening before the sun goes down. Can't explain that to my wife. It's a good thing your dogs are on the small side . . . more room for you in that doghouse! ;)

Great story, and nice pics of the puppers. Since your rear light was that good, what light do you have???????????

At any rate, thank the Good Lord that it is not black, or even worse, black and RED.;)

Ouch, that was a low blow :eek:

Great story, and nice pics of the puppers. Since your rear light was that good, what light do you have???????????

It's really nothing fancy, a five LED Bell that Lovey bought me from Wally World. I guess when it's dark, it shows up pretty good though. I did have it set where all five lights were flashing at the same time.

Cute pups, but I have to wonder how you and the pups managed to fit in the doghouse?

Great pictures and ride report:)

Hope you were able to smooth things over with the wife.

She never stays mad at me for very long, I'm too irresistible.:D

Great story and mighty cute puppies. My little Jack Russell is a brown and pink version of Mr. Ears but I love the tri-color best. Thanks for sharing.