TRIP 2007 IN PICTURES AND IN WORDS
 VOVMC FOUNDERS TRIP BACK EAST
  MANY THANKS TO ONE AND ALL FROM ALL OF US
IT WAS AUGUST AND TIME WAS BURNING, WHEN BROTHERS CHAPPIE AND MAD JACK STARTED THEIR BIKES. THEY WERE HEADING EAST TO PICK-UP BROTHERS SMOKE AND NC. REP. WOLF. AND ON TO TN. AND NJ CHAPTERS AND THEN ON TO RHODE ISLAND AND FINALLY TO NY. IT WAS DAMN HOT HOWEVER EVEN AT 0600 IN THE MORNING!!! WE HAD TWO BROTHERS BACK-OUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND THEIR HEALTH WAS A CONCERN FOR ALL OF US AND WERE GLAD THEY LISTENED TO THEIR DOCS. WE WISHED GATOR AND A NEW PROSPECT FROM AR. COULD HAVE WENT HOWEVER. THE PROBLEM WAS WE HAD TO GO IN THIS TIME FRAME SO IT WAS NOW OR WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO WANTED TO KEEP THE PACK DOWN RIDING EAST IN THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, BEFORE IT WAS OVER I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WAS THINKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER EXCEPT MJ WHO LOVES THE HEAT!! IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES EVERYDAY WHILE WE WERE GONE AND THE HARLEYS DIDN'T LIKE IT EITHER. THE HOT WEATHER JUST SEEMED TO FOLLOWED US AS WE WENT AND RETURNED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AT THIS POINT, THAT THE PICTURES ARE NOT IN ORDER LIKE THE TRIP OUT WEST BUT WE ALSO FORGOT A CAMERA FROM A BROTHER THAT DIDN'T GO AND WE FINALLY BOUGHT ONE ONLY AFTER IT WAS ALMOST TO LATE. THANKS FOR A 7-11 ON EVERY CORNER BACK THERE!! THERE WAS JUST THE ONE PROBLEM CHAPPIE'S TRIKE.(AGAIN) HOWEVER, IT WORKED OUT AND NO ONE HAD TO WALK. FIRST STOP WAS AT FT. CAMPBELL, KY. THE HOME TO THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION. CHAPPIE HAD GOTTEN HIS DOD STICKER RIGHT BEFORE AND THAT CLEARED THE WAY FOR GETTING ON BASE WITHOUT A HASSLE. WE HAD TRIED TO GET A ROOM AT THE TURNER HOUSE BUT TO MANY BEAT US TO IT AND SO WE DECIDED TO SHOW CHAPPIE AROUND THE BASE. THE INTERNATIONAL CHAPLAIN AND CHARTER MEMBER HAD NEVER BEEN TO FT. CAMPBELL DURING HIS SERVICE AND BEING A INFANTRYMAN HE LIKED TALKING WITH THE NEW YOUNG COMBAT TROOPS WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM IRAQ. THEY WERE GREAT YOUNG TROOPERS AN ENJOYED SEEING US OLD GUYS STILL HOOKING DOWN THE ROAD. WE WENT TO THE PX AND THE WALK OF HONOR OF UNITS WHOSE HISTORY GOES BACK MANY DECADES. THEN CHECKED OUT THE PLANES AT THE MUSEUM, US CAV. STORE ETC. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE BROTHER RABBIT WHILE THERE. WE DON'T THINK HE WEARS ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIS VN REUNION 70-71 HAT. HE SERVED WITH MJ IN THE ARMY. HE WAS ALSO JUST HERE IN SPRINGFIELD WITH THE MISSES DOWN AT BRANSON. IT WAS THEN TIME TO GET BACK IN THE HEAT AND TRYING TO GET TO BROTHERS HOUSES IN TN. THIS WAS NOT TO BE THEN (MECHANICAL TROUBLES) AND CHAPPIE HAD TO TURN AROUND AFTER JUST GETTING IN THE SOUTHLAND AND HAD TO RETURN HOME..(THE SMART ONE WE THINK). BECAUSE OF TIME AND CATCHING BROTHER SMOKE FROM WEST VA., MJ HAD TO KEPT RIGHT ON TRUCKING UNTIL THE STOP FOR A HOTEL ROOM OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. HE WAS TO TIRED TO DRIVE ON AND DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE UP BROTHERS AND THERE FAMILIES. TO OUR BROTHERS IN KNOXVILLE..SORRY BUT IT WAS TO LATE (NO VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING) AND THEN COMING BACK THRU HE WANTED TO GET THRU TRAFFIC, BUT DID GET A CALL THRU. WE HOWEVER HAVE NEXT YEARS GET TOGETHER DOWN SOUTH DON'T FORGET.      
THE NEXT DAY
MJ WAS ON A MISSION TO MEET UP WITH BROTHER SMOKE ON INTERSTATE 40 HEADING EAST AFTER A MUCH NEEDED REST. HE HAD TOUCHED BASE WITH EVERYONE HE COULD BUT WITH STURGIS GOING ON AND AT THE END OF IT, BIKES WERE EVERYWHERE AND BROS WERE ON THE ROAD ALSO. WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE 1%ERS WE MET..THANKS FOR SHOWING US VETERANS A SHORT CUT GOING AND COMING THRU THE TRAFFIC..I'M TALKING ABOUT BROTHER CHAPPIE GOING THRU MEMPHIS ON THE WAY HOME. HE HAD A GREAT TRIP AND GOT TO SEE AND MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE!! AS MJ WAS COMING TO THE CONNECTION PLACE TO MEET SMOKE HE PULLED OVER AT A REST AREA AND MET SOME OF THE CHRISTAIN MOTORCYCLE ASSN. OF NC. HE AND THEY TALKED AND A SHORT REST AND HEARD THEY HAD BEEN TO A VETERANS SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS RALLY. OUR THANKS GO OUT TO THEM FOR THEIR GOOD WORK AND SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TO OUR BRO..MJ WAS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM BROTHER SMOKE AND HE WAS IN A HURRY TO MEET THE NEW BROTHER WHO HE HAD SPOKEN WITH BUT HADN'T MET YET BUT HAD HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT FROM OTHER MEMBERS. IT WAS A NICE SITE FLYING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND TO SEE OUR PATCH AT A MILE'S DISTANCE. AS HE PULLED OVER, THEIR WAS SMOKE DOING WHAT HE LOVES TO DO..PUFFING A CIG WITH A GRIN ON HIS FACE. AFTER THE HUGS AND WELCOME HOME, THEY HIT THE ROAD AT A MO. ROLL. THIS IS WHERE I BETTER TELL YOU THAT SMOKE HADN'T RODE A STOCK HARLEY SEAT FOR 2000 PLUS MILES VERY LONG BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW THOSE OLDER ONES RIDE.(HE ENDED UP WITH SOME PADDING) IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE WE WERE AT BROTHER WOLF'S HOUSE IN DURHAM. BROTHER WOLF WAS THERE WITH THAT "YO BRO'S" AND WE WERE ALITTLE HOT BY THEN FROM THE RIDE..WE NEEDED A SHOWER..AND THE BEST PART FOOD. WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANKS TO SISTER WANDA FOR SUCH A GREAT MEAL AND THE COLD BEER AND REAL NICE BEDS AFTER SOME SHOOTING THE BREEZE INTO THE EVENING. PLUS MJ GOT IN A LOAD OF LAUNDRY..MUCH NEEDED:)WE HEAR. IT WAS TO BED AND THEN A EARLY START TO ROADISLAND BOB'S PLACE IN THE MORNING. SPECIAL THANKS TO REGIONAL REP. WOLF FOR EVERYTHING.      
AS THE SUN BROKE, WE WERE UP AND GOT PACKED AGAIN FOR THE SCENIC PART OF THE TRIP. EVEN THOUGH THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS ON A HARLEY ROARING THRU THE TUNNELS WAS AS GOOD AS IT GETS TOO. AS MJ TOOK THE LEAD WE HEADED UP NORTHEAST TO THE BIG APPLE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ROAD WITH MJ IN THE LEAD..THIS IS A FIRST...WE NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER GOT LOST! HE'S SAID BEFORE THAT HE WOULD NEVER GO BACK DOWN IN THE CITY AND TRUE TO HIS WORD, WE JUST CHECKED OUT THE CITY FROM THE BAY. YOU COULD SEE THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND EVEN THE GREAT LADY HERSELF FROM WHERE WE HAD PARKED. I HAVE TO TELL YOU TOLL ROADS ARE FOR THE BIRDS UNLESS YOU HAVE A EZ PASS. AS WE WERE TAKING IN THE SITES, WE WENT BACK INTO NJ. ON THE TURNPIKE. WE PARKED ON A BRIDGE TO GET ANOTHER VIEW OF THINGS AND CHECK OUT THE ROADS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ON COURSE. AS WERE SITTING THERE, A NJ TURNPIKE LEO CAME IN BEHIND US AND STOPPED. MJ WENT UP TO THE WINDOW AND HE JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF EVERYTHING WAS OK AND SEEN WE WERE VETS..HE HAD TO BE THE BIGGEST COP IN THE STATE..WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT IN THAT PATROL CAR!?? AT THE END HOWEVER, HE LOOKED US IN THE FACE AND SAID GOD BLESS AND DROVE OFF. SO MUCH FOR THAT EASTERN ATTITUDE WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT. AS WE PRESSED ON TO RI. THE SKY GOT DARK BUT IT WAS JUST ALITTLE REFRESHING MIST AND NEVER GOT WET..(OH YEA..SMOKE ENJOY THOSE THOGS FROM CHAPPIE) IT WAS A LONG HAUL INTO THE SCENIC TOWN OF KINGSTON, RI. WE WERE TIRED AND HUNGRY. WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A COLLEGE TOWN ALSO, SO WE WENT TO THE LOCAL PIZZA JOINT AT THE COLLEGE FOR SOME MUCH NEEDED FOOD AND DRINKS. ROADISLAND BOB(NOT RHODE ISLAND) CAME PULLING IN ON HIS SCOOT. IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR US, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE DEAD TIRED. BROTHER BOB HAD JUST GOT THRU SURGERY AND WAS ON THE MEND LIST AND WAS STILL WEAK AND LITTLE WHITE FROM THE ORDEAL. WE DECIDED THAT SMOKE WOULD GO TO BROTHER BOB'S AND WE WOULD HEAD TO A HOTEL. WE WERE TIRED AND ANYPLACE WOULD HAVE WORKED BUT THIS IS A RESORT AREA AND THINGS WERE JUST ABOUT FULL..MJ WENT IN TO GET ROOMS AND COME OUT AND SAID THEY WERE $250 A NIGHT AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS!!!! HE THEN STARTED THE SENIOR RATE THING BUT LUCKY FOR US, HE HAD HIS MILITARY ID AND WE GOT THEM FOR $99..THAT WAS BETTER THAN CA:) BROTHERS..THE BEACH WOULD HAVE LOOKED GOOD BY THAT TIME THOUGH AND WE COULD HAVE ALSO STAYED AT TATTOO'S PLACE BUT IT WAS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE WERE SPENT OUT..NOW REMEMBER THIS IS A COLLEGE TOWN AND WHERE ONE IS SO IS COLLEGE GIRLS AND PARTIES..BROTHER SMOKE WANTED TO DRINK BUT BOB SAID THIS WAS A DRY AREA. WE ALSO TALKED HIM GOING TO BOB'S.(WE ARE STILL ON HIS LIST:)FOR THAT ONE. NO SOONER THAN WE CHECKED IN AND SHOWERED IT WAS TIME TO CHECK OUT THE PARTY AND GIVE SOME FATHERLY ADVICE..I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS..JENNA WAS A GREAT YOUNG LADY AND WITH THAT LONG BLACK HAIR AND EYES SHE WAS THE CUTEST IN THE PLACE!! SHE EVEN WANTED TO GO WITH US RIDING BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE OF WORK..WOLF WAS THERE TO HEAR ALL OF THIS..AGAIN..SO MUCH FOR THAT EASTERN THINGS WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT..WE WILL SAY THIS AGAIN NOW..WE HAD NOTHING BUT A GREAT TIME WHEREVER WE WENT.
THE NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST WE ROAD DOWN ONE OF THE GREATEST PHOTO SHOOT AREA'S WE HAVE SEEN. BROTHER BOB TOOK US DOWN TO THE HARBOR AND THIS GREAT LITTLE TOWN AND EVEN THE LOCAL BIKERS WERE FRIENDLY..NOT MANY VETS CLUBS IN THAT AREA I GUESS AND EVERYONE WAS VERY FRIENDLY IN THAT TOWN..IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO MEET BOB THERE LOOKING BACK. WE THEN REALIZED THAT TIME WAS SLIPPING AWAY AND WE NEEDED TO GET TO SMILING CHRIS'S HOUSE IN UPPER STATE NY.BY CANADA. WE PULLED IN A GAS STATION WAITING ON TATTOO AND HE ARRIVED IN THE NICK OF TIME BEFORE WE LEFT. (OOPS AGAIN NO PICTURE)I FORGOT NOW WHERE HE WAS COMING FROM ON HIS SCOOT.(MAYBE HIS TATTOO SHOP) WE ALSO MISSED ANOTHER THERE, BUT NEXT YEAR IS THE LONGER STAY AND BEACH AND COOKOUTS TILL WE DROP. AS WE STARTED TO LEAVE, WE GAVE HUGS AND SAID GOODBYE TO BOB AND TATTOO. THEY DID HOWEVER RIDE WITH US OUT TO THE HIGHWAY. WE WARNED THEM THAT WHEN HARLEYS HIT THE HWY WE WERE BOOKING SO THEY JUST RODE AWAYS TOGETHER AND THEY DRIFTED OFF IN THE MIRRORS. IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT SEEING THEM BUT SAD AS WE LEFT. WE ALL KNOW THAT TIME IS OUR ENEMY NOW AND WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY WHILE WE CAN. ON TO NY.       
AS WE ROLLED THRU MD.(BEFORE RI.) WE CAUGHT A TOLL BOOTH..IT SO HAPPENED THIS GUY WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN AND SAID DON'T WORRY I GOT IT AND WAVED US THRU..A BROTHER THEN AND A BROTHER NOW! THANKS!!! NEW YORK IS REALLY ONE PRETTY PLACE UP NORTH NEAR CANADA. I JUST WISH WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE PICTURES BUT THIS WAS A TEST TRIP AND WE NOW KNOW SOME SHORTCUTS TO HELP. WE MUST PUT IN HERE THAT WE MISSED NJ ROLLY, BEN, ETC..BECAUSE THEY WERE IN FL!! AGAIN THIS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT WE WERE TWO WEEKS EARLY THAN EVERYONE WAS TOLD AND WITH THE RAIN THAT CAME IN LATER FROM THE GULF AND THE COLD WEATHER, WE MADE THE RIGHT MOVES. AS WE PULLED INTO SMILING CHRIS'S TOWN, WE GAVE HIM A CALL FROM A KFC OR WAS THAT A TACO BELL:)? COME TO THINK ABOUT IT, IT WAS BOTH WE THINK. CHRIS CAME ROLLING IN TO TAKE US TO HIS PIECE OF HEAVEN IN THE COUNTRY..HIM AND SISTER LEONA HIS MISSES AND HIS GRANDSONS WERE UP TO GREET US. WE ALL FELT LIKE WE WERE AT HOME RIGHT AWAY. WE MISS THAT ABOUT ONE PLACE DOWN SOUTH. SINCE WE HAD EATEN AND IT WAS GETTING LATE WE STARTED TO TAKE BATHS AND GET READY FOR BED. SMILING CHRIS SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ROOF WAS COMIMG DOWN WHEN MJ FELL IN THE JAQUZZI!! HE WASN'T HURT BUT SMOKE SAID HE HEAR ALOT OF WORDS COMING OUT THRU THE DOOR:). WE ALL HAD BATHS AND HIT THE SACK. I BET THEY NOW HAVE A NOICE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS! I QUESS EVERYONE GOT UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE NEXT MORNING. AS WE EAT BREAKFAST IT WAS THEN WE STARTED IN ABOUT THE WEATHER. SMOKE WANTED TO ROLL AND I THINK EVERYONE DID TO BECAUSE OF THE STORM IN THE GULF AND IT WAS ALREADY BRINGING IN BAD WEATHER THE NEWS SAID. WE WERE REALLY SAD AS WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIG FEAST AND SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SHOOTING A COW. I THINK SOMEONE WOULD HAVE HAD ONE TWO IF THAT HAD HAPPENED. WE WOULD HAVE LEFT 1/3 FOR YOU BROTHER CHRIS:)..AS WE STARTED LOADING UP, AS WITH RI. AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, WE WERE SAD WE WERE LEAVING BROTHERS AND YOU NEVER KNOW THE NEXT TIME YOU WOULD SEE THEM. WE TOOK SOME PICTURES AND HUGGED SISTER LEONA AND SAID WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD. AS SMILING CHRIS WAS RIDING 50 OR MORE MILES WITH US, IT WAS NICE ROLLING TOGETHER AFTER JUST BEING TOGETHER IN AUSTIN, TX. IN JUNE. BROTHER CHRIS SAID HE NEVER HAS FLEW THRU SYRACUSE AT 80..HE'S 67 SO BRO YOU AREN'T NEVER TO OLD FOR SOMETHING NEW AND DUMB:)!! TOLD YOU WE WOULD WRITE THAT IN BRO:). HE STILL LAUGHES ABOUT THAT PART. AS HE PULLED OFF, WE FELT ALITTLE DEPRESSED AS WE DID IN THE OTHER PLACES. IT SO MUCH FUN WHILE YOUR THERE BUT LEAVING A GREAT BUNCH OF BROTHERS ANYWHERE IS ALWAYS HARD. I KNOW SMOKE FELT AT HOME BECAUSE HE WAS OUT IN THE BARN EARLY.(CHRIS YOUR NOT MISSING ANYTHING ARE YOU? PROBABLY SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT WE CROSSED IN SOME AREAS AND BACK FOR THIS STORY, BUT IT REALLY WAS A GREAT RIDE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED. THE ONLY PLACE WE DIDN'T STOP AGAIN WAS AT THE WALL..WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SAVE THAT ONE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TRIP.
IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING AT ROANOKE, VA THAT WE ALL SPLIT UP GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WE WERE AT A LOCAL GAS STATION AND A COUPLE OF NAM KNIGHTS CAME IN, THEY WERE THE ONLY VETERANS MC IN VA. OUT AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT. AFTER GASING UP, WE SAID OUR GOODBYES AND IT WASN'T UNTIL EVERONE GOT HOME THAT WE MADE SURE EVERYONE WAS GOOD. WOLF SAID EVEN HIS HARLEY WAS NEEDING A TUNE-UP AFTER THIS TRIP. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT SMOKE SAID HE FROZE OFF A BODY PART OR TWO GOING HOME..MJ GOT TO SEE BROTHERS RED IN KY,(HE GAVE HIM A NEW DOO RAG ALSO) WHO JUST RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS ON THE WAY HOME AND BROTHER ROACH. RED LOVES THE PINE TREES AND SO DOES THE MISSES. THIS IS A GREAT ACTION SHOT. HE DID HAVE ONE STORY TO END HIS PART WITH, AS HE WAS ON INTERSTATE 24 HE WAS BOOKING AND AS HE WAS COMING UP TO A CAR, A TEENAGER WAS GRABBING FOR THE CAMERA. AS HE PASSED, HE ROLLED IT BACK SO THE KID COULD TAKE A PICTURE..HE SAID SHE WAS JUMPIMG UP AND DOWN AND HER DAD GAVE A BIG THUMBS UP AS HE PRESSED ON. I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE YOUNG AND HOW LITTLE THINGS MEAN SO MUCH TO OTHERS. WE HAD ALOT OF PEOPLE WAVING AND TRUCKERS GIVING US THE THUMBS UP AND MORE THAN ONCE WERE WE THANKED FOR SERVING AT STOPS. IT WILL HUMBLE THE HARDEST OLD SCOOTER TRAMP WHEN HE THINKS ABOUT THE KIDS NOW SERVING. THEY ARE THE HERO'S AND WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERYWHERE!! WE WILL END THIS AS WE DID THE WESTERN TRIP LAST YEAR..WE MISSED SO MANY BROTHERS BECAUSE OF WORK, STURGIS, VACATIONS, ETC. BUT WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD, I CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IF MORE COULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET US. HOW DO WE END A TRIP LIKE THIS WITH WORDS ALONE? THIS IS THE ALWAYS THE BIG QUESTION. HOWEVER, NO GREATER LOVE FOR A BROTHER AND COMPASSION AND SPIRIT SHOWN TO US ALONG THE WAY MAKES US A STRONGER CLUB AND A UNIT. LET EACH OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THE BEST AROUND AND LIKE MANY YEARS AGO..YOU STILL ARE! AS WE RODE, WE RODE FOR YOU TOO. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES BROTHERS! ENJOY SOME OF THE PICTURES, SORRY THEIR ARE SO FEW. THANKS BROTHER CHRIS FOR YOURS ALSO. WE PROMISE THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. UH MAYBE.



      
  Some of the Brothers.  FT.CAMPBELL,KY-101ST ABN   
 
     
         
            TALK ABOUT ENDING A TRIP! THIS IS THE WORD!!