2009
Year  3

Posted Monday, March 9, 2009
 Riding Schedule
Greetings Son Chasers and Guests:
I hope this email finds you in good health and ready for some fun and fellowship involving motorcycles. I’m sending the first half of the year’s riding schedule (click on the calendar tab to see the schedule) and asking for your input on the second half.  I’ve selected some of the more popular rides from the last two years to begin the 2009 riding season. In addition we are going to add some riding skill DVD sessions with Q&A to follow. Our first ride of the season will be on March 28 and will include time to watch part of the “Ride Like a Pro” DVD teaching low speed control skills.

I am proposing that we try something a little different for this year’s Blue Ridge parkway ride.  I propose that we go on Oct. 13-15, which should put us in the peak leaf watching time but because it is midweek, hopefully, it will not be too crowded. Of course, it will require more vacation time for those that work but should be worth it. So, tell me if that would work for you.

 I’m leaving the second half of the schedule open to inject some new rides from your suggestions. So, give me a route or just a destination for a new ride.  I’ll try to work it in for the July, August or September ride plan.

Ride safely and follow the Son,
Alan 

Posted Sunday, April 25, 2009
 High Falls Ride
Dear Son Chasers:
Wow! What a day for riding!  I think everyone that owned a bike in Fayette County was out riding yesterday. At least it seemed that way. While I’m sure it was a great day for the many riders that we saw, I don’t believe they could have had as good a time as we did. We were blessed with the wonderful weather, safe travel and twelve participants on yesterday’s ride. Two were new riders with the Son Chasers: Wade Warnock of Newnan and Russ Filko of Sharpsburg. Welcome guys! We look forward to having you join us for more rides in the future.

The summer weather probably made the traffic slightly heavier than usual but we did manage to find some isolated stretches out in the country side that was really pretty with occasional fields of raspberry colored clover in bloom. Steve Thaxton commented that it looked like fields of carpet stretched out for hundreds of yards at a time. The Falls had a good flow of water and the fishermen were not letting it go to waste.

I feel compelled; though maybe not wise, to make two observations on this ride: 1. I heard three guys say that their wives were working so they came on the ride alone. Huh? I can only conclude that they really have it figured out or else they don’t have a clue. I think I’d better just stop the research right there.  2. Dave Kyle decided that the next time we come on this ride that he can leave his jacket liner at home and get at least one more helping of peach cobbler in the “tank”. Well, I don’t think anyone came back hungry. I know I got my money’s worth.

Thank you for coming out and making the fellowship enjoyable. It will be hard to beat but we’ll try again on May 23rd, when we travel to the Whistle Stop Café in E. Juliette, Ga.

 Ride safe and Follow the Son.   
Alan

Posted Sunday, May 31, 2009
Whistle Stop Cafe Ride
Dear Son Chasers:
What a difference a week makes!  Today’s riding conditions were virtually perfect…and the food at the Whistle Stop Café wasn’t bad either.  I understand that when Dave Kyle finishes his testing (or is that tasting?) program he will publish an official critique of the pecan cobbler from the WSC. I heard several folks ask him how it was but he said something about wanting more samples and time to fully analyze the data. So stay tuned.

It was great to see the fourteen that came out this morning, especially Mike Reid who is our newest member and David Banks, Randy’s son visiting from Oklahoma. We had a great ride and a good visit in “downtown” Juliette. Plus, the icing on the cake was to hear Jim Kulaga echo the “all-clear” report from his doctor!  So, we were indeed blessed today and thank God for answering our players. Next ride: June 13, South Fulton Loop. See you then.    
Alan

Note - The Pecan Cobbler was phenomenal -
          well worth the ride.  
Dave

Posted Monday, August 17, 2009
 Canadian Tour
In the month of July, four Son Chasers (Alan Harrelson, Janet Harrelson, Dave Kyle and Ronna Kyle), toured New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada.  If you would like to read more about this adventure, click on the link below.
Dave
                          2009 Canada Tour

Posted Saturday, August 22, 2009
 Callaway Country Store Ride
Dear Son Chasers and Guests:
Boy was it good to be back in PTC and ride with our fellow Son Chasers today!!!  Several of us talked about trips and “adventures” that we have been on lately as we visited around the lunch table at the Callaway Country Store restaurant near Pine Mountain, Ga. The Strandburgs took a 40th anniversary trip to Hawaii, Shane Carpenter spent time in Minnesota with his family, Randy Banks took an Alaska cruise, Chuck Fleegle’s vacation was interrupted by an amazing dog rescue story, and Dave and Ronna and Janet and I told about our Nova Scotia trip. We had a lot of catching up to do so we HAD to set and eat more food as we talked. But we managed to work it all out and had a great time doing so. God blessed us with good riding weather as we rode through Roosevelt State Park including the side trip to Dowdell’s Knob. We also did our share of browsing in Warms Springs, particularly the motorcycle leather goods store and the motorcycle museum. Overall, it looked like everyone had a very good time so we are thankful for another blessing from God.

We also discussed the route for next month’s ride and so far Buckner’s and Butler’s Mill have the most interest. If you have a preference or another option you would like for us to consider, let me know. I’ll be selecting a ride route for September and getting the details of the October BRP ride out to you this next week. Ride safely and follow the Son.
Alan

Posted Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Blue Ridge Parkway Ride
Dear Son Chasers:
I am really thankful for the ride this year! I felt especially blessed to get away and just ride with friends and enjoy God’s creation, even the rain. What?! A ride report on our annual three day ride on the second day!!!  What gives??  Well, as the time approached some riders had to cancel due to things that came up and would not get out of the way. I was almost one of them. As you know we had been helping with my step-dad for the last two months and he had gone back into the hospital last Tuesday and it looked like he could go home to be with the Lord at anytime. Then, I had a restless Monday night due to a head cold and found myself going to the church yesterday morning to see the others off, with me going back home to go to bed.

You’re thinking, ALL RIGHT ALREADY, WHERE IS THIS GOING?!?  Well, my brothers and step sister stepped in and said “go on, you need a break” and Steve Thaxton and Randy Banks said we’d feel a lot better about going if you come along. So I said, OK I’ll go for the first two days. That way I get to ride the Cherohala, The Dragon, The Foothills Parkway, The western approach to the Sugarlands Visitor center and the road through the Smokies. The only thing better would be to throw in the Blue Ridge but that would be another day that I could not give up. My step dad did go on to be with the Lord this afternoon just after 2pm. So, he is in a place that he will never want to leave and I got a much needed break and was able to get back in time to help with the final arrangements.

You’re thinking, SO HOW WAS THE RIDE? One of the best ever, at least for me. Thank you Steve and Randy for twisting my arm. The longer I rode, the better I felt. We had a beautiful day with near perfect temperatures yesterday, little traffic and God’s protection for safe travel. Today was wet and cool but serene and peaceful as we rode through the rainy forest and clouds. Of course we found time and places to eat well and ,except for Steve Thaxton being banned from returning to the McDonalds in Cherokee, NC, it was a delightful trip, even if we did cut it a day short. I’d better not say anything else about the McDonalds incident; you’ll have to ask Steve yourself. Thanks again to those that made this a really memorable trip and thanks also to Janet and Dave and Ronna Kyle for coming out to see us off. This ends our official 2009 schedule of rides but Dave and I have a new ride that we are working on and may introduce in late Oct or early Nov. if the weather cooperates. Remember to ride safely and always follow the Son.      

Alan