Two weeks ago, Old Socks and I rode in the ride to honor Max McCullar then, we rode to the metropolis of Ariton with Darryl and Karyn and ended the evening at the Bates' for a little fellowship. The following weekend, Old Socks, Darryl, and I met with our brothers and sisters in F.A.I.T.H. Riders at Dale Co. Lake for their annual benefit ride. However, we did not ride with them. Instead, we went back, got Karyn and went to Reece and Rhonda's, then off on an adventure to Abby Creek, then back to Enterprise (Mike had spent the day with R&R's boys). We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves both weekends and the great friends we spent the time with. This weekend was a bit different. Old Socks took the day off to spend with me on Friday. We spent some time together, cleaned some carpet and I had a wonderful opportunity to begin to catch up on 25 years with a friend from school. I absolutely love how God has a way of renewing relationships in His time.
On Friday afternoon, my boss called and asked if we were going to the air show in PC, which we had not planned to, even though we normally do go. Long story short, he said he had not rented the condo for the weekend and figured I wanted to go down for the air show. I just needed to go by the office & pick up a key....I could do that ;) So, Old Socks and I loaded up the bikes & Mike & headed to PCB for the rest of the weekend. We had a beautiful ride down even though it was a bit breezy. While there, Mike boy enjoyed the beach and pool. Old Socks and I simply enjoyed a little down time and time together.
It looked like it was going to be a beautiful ride back on Sunday afternoon when we headed back. We got to Bonifay and stopped for a hiney break. While there, a lady came up to us and asked if she could ask something without offending. She began to tell of how her car was pulling or veering to one side. She had her child in the car with her and was headed to Ft. Walton Beach (home). Old Socks looked at the car and checked the air in the tires. He told her that he thought it was likely the alignment. I gave her a card and asked her to let me know when she made it home. Of course, my phone number and the website information was on the card. Thankfully, shortly after we made it home, she messaged us to let us know she had made it home safely.
As we rode up the road, I prayed for that lady (Felicia) and her son that they would be protected and have safe travels. On further up the road, as we rode, it became apparent that we were headed directly into the storms we had been receiving warnings of to our phones. Old Socks pulled up along side me and told me that if we rode into it, he wanted me to stop. No problem....after that episode with the coyote on wet pavement. However, I was blazing up the road trying to make it to the station in Hartford before the storm did. I was watching the miles and when we were maybe two miles away, we ran into the rain and it was pretty strong. I pulled off onto a side road and we decided to go back to an intersection a mile or so back. Once we arrived at the intersection, a lightening bolt hit VERY near us. Old Socks said we should try to make it to the station. So, we headed to what we perceived would be a safe haven in the storm. As we rode back into the rain, which was coming down heavily, the cross-winds were strong from the west. At one point, the wind took me from the center line to the side line and almost into a sign post in a turning lane. Old Socks said he wondered what was happening with me, then, the wind let him know. We persevered to the station, was thankful and felt blessed that we made it there safely. Once we pulled under the awning and got off the bikes, a gentleman came up and asked if we were caught in the hail. Hail? What hail? He pointed out literally mounds of hail that had accumulated in a matter of a few minutes just before we arrived at the station. Let me just say, we were even more thankful and felt even more blessed to have been spared the ride in the hail. After the rain subsided, we rode the remaining twenty or so miles under partly sunny, chilly skies.
The events of our past few weekends may not be your cup of tea. You may not be a biker and may have no desire to ride. That is okay. You don't have to be a biker to honor a veteran. You don't have to be a biker to participate in a benefit. You don't have to be a biker to enjoy time with great friends. You don't have to be a biker to enjoy a get-away with your love. Further more, you don't have to be a believer to appreciate the awesome opportunities Old Socks and I had in the events described above, or even to appreciate the safe travels. But if you believe in a loving God Who protects and guides, then you have an appreciation as we do. If you don't, is my desire for you to know the One Who gives me a joy, a peace, a calm, and a life like I never experienced prior to my knowing Him. His Word says that if you seek, you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
Until next time friends, be safe and make every day count!
On Friday afternoon, my boss called and asked if we were going to the air show in PC, which we had not planned to, even though we normally do go. Long story short, he said he had not rented the condo for the weekend and figured I wanted to go down for the air show. I just needed to go by the office & pick up a key....I could do that ;) So, Old Socks and I loaded up the bikes & Mike & headed to PCB for the rest of the weekend. We had a beautiful ride down even though it was a bit breezy. While there, Mike boy enjoyed the beach and pool. Old Socks and I simply enjoyed a little down time and time together.
It looked like it was going to be a beautiful ride back on Sunday afternoon when we headed back. We got to Bonifay and stopped for a hiney break. While there, a lady came up to us and asked if she could ask something without offending. She began to tell of how her car was pulling or veering to one side. She had her child in the car with her and was headed to Ft. Walton Beach (home). Old Socks looked at the car and checked the air in the tires. He told her that he thought it was likely the alignment. I gave her a card and asked her to let me know when she made it home. Of course, my phone number and the website information was on the card. Thankfully, shortly after we made it home, she messaged us to let us know she had made it home safely.
As we rode up the road, I prayed for that lady (Felicia) and her son that they would be protected and have safe travels. On further up the road, as we rode, it became apparent that we were headed directly into the storms we had been receiving warnings of to our phones. Old Socks pulled up along side me and told me that if we rode into it, he wanted me to stop. No problem....after that episode with the coyote on wet pavement. However, I was blazing up the road trying to make it to the station in Hartford before the storm did. I was watching the miles and when we were maybe two miles away, we ran into the rain and it was pretty strong. I pulled off onto a side road and we decided to go back to an intersection a mile or so back. Once we arrived at the intersection, a lightening bolt hit VERY near us. Old Socks said we should try to make it to the station. So, we headed to what we perceived would be a safe haven in the storm. As we rode back into the rain, which was coming down heavily, the cross-winds were strong from the west. At one point, the wind took me from the center line to the side line and almost into a sign post in a turning lane. Old Socks said he wondered what was happening with me, then, the wind let him know. We persevered to the station, was thankful and felt blessed that we made it there safely. Once we pulled under the awning and got off the bikes, a gentleman came up and asked if we were caught in the hail. Hail? What hail? He pointed out literally mounds of hail that had accumulated in a matter of a few minutes just before we arrived at the station. Let me just say, we were even more thankful and felt even more blessed to have been spared the ride in the hail. After the rain subsided, we rode the remaining twenty or so miles under partly sunny, chilly skies.
The events of our past few weekends may not be your cup of tea. You may not be a biker and may have no desire to ride. That is okay. You don't have to be a biker to honor a veteran. You don't have to be a biker to participate in a benefit. You don't have to be a biker to enjoy time with great friends. You don't have to be a biker to enjoy a get-away with your love. Further more, you don't have to be a believer to appreciate the awesome opportunities Old Socks and I had in the events described above, or even to appreciate the safe travels. But if you believe in a loving God Who protects and guides, then you have an appreciation as we do. If you don't, is my desire for you to know the One Who gives me a joy, a peace, a calm, and a life like I never experienced prior to my knowing Him. His Word says that if you seek, you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
Until next time friends, be safe and make every day count!
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