Sunday, January 13, 2013

Atlanta or bust!




New Zealand is famous for its explorers and adventurous spirit.  There was Sir Ed Hillary, Sir Peter Blake, Kate Shepard and ....Wogey!

So off I went to visit some fellow bloggers in the land of  the heart Attack burger, the big gulp, (really is big) up sizing and and the 2nd amendment.

So the evening of the 27th Dec, I left NZ.   In just a short 21 hours I would be drinking Loris alcohol and discussing great biking stories. Ironic then that I arrived just two hours after I left. As fresh as a daisy, or at least one that was picked a day before. The 13 hour direct flight from NZ is made all the more cherry by the very friendly guys at US immigration! Welcoming arms is the only way to describe them.... A few hours rest in LA, before a direct flight to Atlanta.

Lori and I greeted each other as if old friends.  In a sense we were, and even though I had travelled half way around the world it is as if we had been drinking buddies since our youth, not to mention conaciers of MM's and its assorted varieties.

You can read Loris version of events here.

I have never been a great tourist, preferring to immerse myself in the culture of any country I visit.  Enjoying the opportunities to meet people, to talk, to discuss differences  and to generally see how anther country does things as opposed to NZ.

This was the great thing about meeting Lori and Mr Oil burner.  We spent many hours discussing biking stuff, New Zealand, Blogging, guns, driving on the right, all sorts of stuff.  Yet we were comfortable enough to sit in each others company in the evening and just read.  Comfortable silence whilst amongst friends is a wonderful feeling.

The highlights for me..

A few nights in Savannah, wonderful place, fill of character. The little cottage we stayed in even had it's own ghost.  It is actually part of the ghost night tours, and the vans would park out the front and  the tourists would  take a few pics....this of course presented a  opportunity for me to have some fun, which I of course did, much to the amusement of Lori and Chris.  All I can say is, there is one bus load of tourists that are absolutely convinced a ghost exist!



On My last day there Lori threw me the keys to her loved BMW R1200.  Some juggling with gear and we were off.  I admit I was nervous, after all I had been threatened with death in the event of a we off.  So the first 20 Min's I was  dealing with the intricacies of a bike I was not familiar with and riding on the wrong side of the road, while under the watchful gaze of Lori..  But in no time at all I was feeling comfortable.   With Chris leading and Lori behind I was like a rose between two thorns!  Great fun and fulfilled a wish to do some riding while I was there.

The Barber Motorcycle museum in Alabama must be  one of the most amazing bike museums anywhere in the world. Five stories high of just about every bike every made.  To properly go through it and read every single thing about every bike would take days.  I loved the experience and was just in awe of the place.    Every biker at some stage should make a pilgrimage to this place and visit.










We had many a discussing on gun laws and gun control, being in the South I was in doubt as to what the local views are on this topic.  During the discussions I had mentioned that I had never even fired a hand gun, and this was all the encouragement needed for us and Loris neighbour Mark to head off to the firing range and let go a few shots...heaps of fun, in fact....it was a real hoot..or should I say shoot!




All too soon it had to end, San Francisco was beckoning and I had to leave.  A special thanks to Lori and Chris for making my time in Atlanta very special.  I look forward to repaying there generous hospitality and frindship when the visit NZ.







26 comments:

  1. Wow, this motorcycle museum is something. I am going to put it on my list of things to see should I get there.

    It doesn't come to a surprise that you had a wonderful time. That's called good karma, my mate.

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    1. Thanks Sonja, The Barber Museum is a must see that is for sure.

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  2. really cool they let you take a bike out for a spin. I'm pretty jealous you got to Barber. I'm only 850 miles away and never stopped in yet.

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    1. Jon, yeah mate it was good of Lori to let me ride her bike, it was some thing I really wanted to experience. 850...just a Sunday morning ride for you Americans.

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  3. So, you're not going to let us in on the ghost story beyond mentioning that it was fun playing with the minds of tourists.

    Nice photos of the Barber museum. One of these days though it seems to be on the wrong side of the country for convenience. One of these days you'll need to make it up to Alaska.

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    1. Hehe...the tourist story shall remain a secret, in case on of them is reading this blog, wouldn't want to spoil there fun!

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  4. You are a brave man, under the threat of death. One behind, one in front. That must have felt like pressure! Great that you were able to meet up with so many bloggers. Looking forward to some lamb!

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    1. Gary...Lamb, wine, more wine some tequila..looking forward to your arrival, have pre warned NZ Immigration so they should let you in ok!

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  5. Hey nice shootin there tex. Looks like fun Wogey, I hope you didn't drink them out of house and home.

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    1. Thanks Steve, the shooting was lot ob fun, and some thing I am unlikely ever to do here. AS far as the drinking goes...well your an Aussie, you know how it is..

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  6. Roger:

    I can imagine the pressure of riding Lori's "R" and riding on the correct side of the road for a change. Guns laws are different up here. We used to be able to go to a gun range to shoot, but not anymore as you have to belong to a Gun Club. We even need permits to transport our firearms

    Perhaps one day we too will get to see the Barber Museum, you are so lucky

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. I think visiting the museum is one pilgrimage every biker should make.

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  7. I'm impressed that you were able to get this written so quickly!! I'm still writing my summer adventure...and not even trying to milk it. :) If i were you, I would probably still be drinking by the pool...

    Mate, it was wonderful having you here. I'm so happy that you chose to spend some of your precious vacation time with us. Too bad it was winter breaks and weather and riding buddies were not cooperating. Otherwise a longer riding trip would have been in order. Next time...

    As for the "R"...new bike, wrong side of the road, death threats, and damn inconsiderate drivers that cut you off...you did great will all the pressures!

    Hugs. We miss you. Just have some vodka languishing on the shelf without you. I try to use it and the lemonade up, but it isn't going too quickly. :) Soon Wogey. We will be there soon...

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    1. Lori, it was a lot easier to ride on the wrong side than drive..yes I forgot about the van, and only 600 meters from leaving your house as well! Was great though wasn't it, and I felt more and more comfortable as the ride went on.

      Keep the Vodka, I am sure I will be back one day, and we can finish it then! It keeps. well it doesn't in my house but that is another story.

      Thanks again for a great week, love to you both.

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  8. And no photo of the zombie target that shows off your mad skillz??

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    1. I have stuck the Zombie target on the front door, if the zombie Apocalypse ever happens they only need to see that and it will scare them away.

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  9. I enjoyed reading your take on the Atlanta adventure. I am so glad you had such a lovely time with Chris and Lori, but how could you not - it was Chris and Lori.

    I have heard stories of the Barber museum. I can only imagine how it is in person.

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    1. Brandy, I am sure my version of the San Francisco week will be amusing as well!

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  10. Start a blog and become friends with people the world over. Now that's got to be the best thing ever, eh? You've even got Lori calling you mate, mate :-). And how generous of her letting her ride your Beemer - didn't she know you're still on a learner permit??? The Barber museum is mind-blowing, could have spent days there. Great post!

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    1. Mate, well we became friends because of blogging, so you don't just make them all over the world, you make them in your own country.

      I found that by buying her Lori lots of drinks I was able to lull her into a false sense of security!

      You would love the Barber Museum!

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    2. You raise a good point Geoff: That does not look look like Rog at all, must have been one of those blogger imposters masquerading as advanced instructors!?

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  11. oooooooooooooooh, adding to bucket list: the barber museum.
    and to shopping list; refill tequila and vodka. =)
    what a fabulous time that must have been!...

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    1. It was great hun, next time though would certainly like to spend more time with you, our breakfast was to quick..and the Margaritas barely.

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  12. I have been planning a trip to the museum for a long time but so far haven't had a chance to get there, soon. Glad you saw it but I want to see more photos. Gee, my posts usually have dozens of photos, I hope you guys like to see photos. I love to see photos of places I might never make it to. Glad you guys had fun, I will visit Lori when I go down next time :-)

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    1. Mate, will up load a a heap on flicker and send you a link.

      Your post do have heaps of photos I agree...it just takes you three months to up load them !....

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  13. What?? Roger's got a learner's licence?? I thought he did it all on a wing and a prayer and a large glass of vodka...

    Love the photos of Barbers - did they have any proper two-wheelers there? Didn't see any photographic proof...

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