INDIANA GET-TOGETHER
Written by George Ramsey, PA State Director
Having just arrived home from Madison, Indiana, I thought I would start this article even knowing that I would stop to watch the Philadelphia Eagles play Monday Night Football. I think I can get some more in at halftime.
Well, here we go again. I was too tired last night after watching football and enjoying two Old Mils. It seems that riding 618 miles in 11 ½ hours took more out of me than I thought. Anyway back to the task at hand.
Last Thursday, the 16th, Ruthie and I set out for Madison, Indiana. We had hoped to leave at 5:30 P.M. since she was on a bus trip. But someone suggested they stop for ice cream so it was 6:30 when we finally got away. We rode for 3 hours and were able to get to Somerset, PA, which was my original destination. We ate at Arbys, got a room at Knight’s Inn and called it a night.
Friday morning it was raining cats and dogs. So, on with the rain gear and off we went. For the next seven hours we put up with the worst steady pounding of cold rain that we can remember riding in. Even with rain suits on, we were soaked clean through. I rode with my glasses low on my nose so I could see over them. Ruthie said, never again!!!
Finally, about 85 miles east of Cincinnati, the skies cleared and the LORD blessed us with beautiful riding the rest of the way. We kept the rain gear on though just in case. When we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express, we looked like a couple of pathetic souls.
You know, some people can’t imagine riding over 600 miles just for a weekend get-together, but for Ruthie and me, our reward is in seeing the faces of our friends that we may only get to see once every couple of years. Well worth the trip!
The Holiday Inn Express was very nice and our room complete with a whirlpool tub was lovely. This was one time it paid off being late to reserve a room. All the blocked off rooms were gone so they gave us the upgrade for the same price as all the others. Hot Dog!!
The get-together was set up by two couples from Kentucky, Greg and Mary Schwartzmiller and Allen and Tonya Rassman, with help from Adron and Emogene Raffery of Indiana. A small group of dedicated people who pulled off a huge success.
Greg led us on a very nice ride through the countryside, and at one point, up a road called Skyline Drive. What a challenge this road was. There were a couple of mean turns, especially one right hander where everyone ended up in the other lane. Believe it or not, Greg said it was a two way road. If someone would have come down that road, there would have been bikes all over the woods. But we all made it and the view was beautiful. When we got back to the hotel we talked about old times and old friends. Later, we had a terrific buffet dinner at the Pines, just a short walk from the hotel. We said our goodbyes to some who were leaving early Sunday and hit the sack.
We were staying over until Monday morning so we decided to go on a poker run in Kentucky with Greg, Mary, Allen, Tonya and Bill Thompson. The ride to benefit the local hospice was called RIDE FOR PETE’S SAKE. The ride was nice, but faster than we ride poker runs in PA. We ended up at Harry Hill Park where they sold food for 25 cents, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, chips etc. We took fifty-fifty chances with no luck and were given a door prize ticket with our entrance fee donation. Ruthie won four coupons for pizza and a DQ coupon which we shared with the others later. I won a coupon for a free body piercing at Kentucky Tattoos (like I would use that), but traded it for a cookie jar. I did all right. It was a good time all in all and we were glad we went. The ride raised over $ 7,000. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed back to the hotel. We left Monday 8:35 A.M. 54 degrees. Nice ride home. Thanks again folks.
George Ramsey