The adventures of me and my Arctic Cat on Stone Mountain

Rest In Peace my friend

2009-05-07T09:43:00.002-04:00

Early this morning my best friend Kim Plogger passed away. It had been 5 years, 4 months & 19 days since we did the kidney transplant. Kim had suffered a great deal her last months. More than most people will know in a life time. But her suffering is over now.

Rest in Peace my friend.

My heart is breaking

2009-05-05T16:45:00.004-04:00

This could turn into a rather long post, so hang on, and hope you're sitting in a comfortable chair.

The phone rang today. My heart sank when I saw on the caller ID who it was. I was afraid to answer. It was the husband of one of my best friends. Sam was calling me with news that we needed to prepare ourselves for what was about to happen. Now I know that no matter what you do, no matter how you know that the person that you care about will not suffer any more, there is really nothing that you can do to prepare yourself for a death. I've cried till my eyes hurt and still cry some more.

I've lost several family members during my almost 55 years. Two grandmothers and one grandfather, several aunts, uncles and cousins and several people that I have known for a long time. But none as close as a friend as Kim.

I don't mean to talk about her as if she has already gone. She is still alive. Or at least some faint form of life. I guess I need to go back and start at the beginning for you to understand why my heart is breaking.

In December 1997 my husband was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. He was sent to see a doctor at UVA hospital in Charlottesville, VA. We both had spent many a night already due to other family members illness but this time decided to stay somewhere other than in a motel in Charlottesville. We had picked up a copy of a hotel/motel coupon book. Stopped at a Days Inn that was in Waynesboro and asked that even though they didn't have an add in there would they honor the same rates for a Days Inn that was in Staunton. They said...... Sure!

And as they say the rest is history. There were two lovely ladies that was working there, one as general manager and the other as assistant manager. Dawn and Kim. Not to mention some super people that worked the desk that proved that they were caring wonderful people. But anyhow, Kim and I just hit it off.

Have you ever met someone that you felt as if you had known them all your life? That is how it was with Kim. What was even more strange was when we realized several months later that we had actually met her father over a year before we met her! Then there were just those little things that really seemed to really draw even more attention to the fact that we were meant to be friends. Both of our mothers name is "Betty". Her husband and I share the same birthday, May 25. We were the same blood type, A+ and finally we would share a kidney named "Sydney".

Kim had been a diabetic since she was a teenager. Over the years the disease had taken it's toll on her. Kim had lost a toe and finally lost her kidneys. In March of 2003 Kim called me one morning to say that she was on her way to the dialysis center. A few weeks later she was put on the transplant list. I know that several of her family members were ruled out right off the bat due to health issues. Some were tested but their kidneys didn't work well enough. Then came the day that we were at her house and it was the same day that even her husband found out that his function wasn't good enough either. That's where my part of this story came in.

I had lost some weight at that point but needed to loose another 15 pounds. To my surprise I did it in a MONTH! Then I was able to start the initial testing here at a hospital near my home. Things went rather well. I passed all the test that were done here then they made me come up to UVA for more testing.

In October my phone rang with the news that a date for our surgery had been set. December 18, 2003. One week to the day before Christmas!

Checked into the hospital that morning, Kim and I both were not scared, nervous or anything. Can't say the same for our families! At one point I told them to hush their crying, I'd be right back!

I never will forget all the long talks we would have. We would talk a lot online at first. Then came the long phone calls. And would we ever talk about anything and everything! One of our favorite topics was about how things floated in Hot Tubs! I'll not say another word about that here! We would laugh till we about wet our panties then laugh some more. I'm really going to miss her laugh.

On January 15, 2009 Kim checked into UVA hospital for surgery to move her pancreas from where it was first put to another location that hopefully wouldn't cause so much trouble. I wish now that they had left things alone. I don't know exactly what caused all the infection, I'm no doctor or expert. But I can't help but feeling that if they had left things alone that maybe she wouldn't be on her death bed now.

I've got an Angel that Kim had given me just before our transplant. It has a built in recorder that Kim had recorded a message on it for me. To my surprise after over 5 years it still plays! I'm going to set it up, record it on video just in case it quits and I never get to hear her again.

I know I'm not the first person that will have lost a friend. Kim is one among many friends I've lost over the years. But none will hurt me as much as loosing Kim. I've got a couple friends that I've had longer that mean just as much to me, Scottie and Lisa. But to watch a good person die little by little is so hard.

Kim, we gave it our best girlfriend. We tried. I tried. Rest in peace when it's your time to go on. Always know that you will never be forgotten and that you were loved.

A little past 3 weeks now.

2009-04-07T20:41:00.004-04:00

Well, it's been a little over 3 weeks since I had my surgery. Yesterday and today have been ugly, gray, cold days, so not getting to ride hasn't bothered me. BUT this past weekend........... OMG it was beautiful. Warm.......... PERFECT for riding. But did I get to go? NO. Doctors orders "NO RIDING FOR AT LEAST A MONTH IF NOT MORE IF YOU ARE STILL SORE AT PORT SITE."

That stinks!

Maybe soon I'll be back out on the trails.

OH and one other tiny tidbit of information. My Emachine died! Well, not exactly died, bit darn near it. Had to take it to Dr. Dellis. It had to be reformatted. AND I reckon that all my photos, videos and everything else is GONE! Just shoot me now, PLEASE!

One week before my surgery!

2009-03-06T10:45:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited. I guess the word is out for sure now. I'm having weight loss surgery done on March 13. I'm ashamed of myself and how I look. I have no energy to speak of and things are going down hill FAST due to the weight. I've tried before to get shed of it, but you know it came back and found friends to come stay too!

But this is going to be a complete life change for me. No more Diet Pepsi. Sorry Pepsi company! I know I've been a major buyer for a lot of years now and I'm sure going to miss my favorite drink! At most I'll only be eating about 1 cup of food. THAT'S IT TOTAL! If you don't think that is a tiny amount just measure out oh say one cup of mashed potatoes and put on your plate. It sure looks like a tiny amount!

Steak will not be on the menu for at least a couple months. IF I can chew it up small enough, what would make only one meal before, will now last for at least 2-3 meals if not more!!!

One good thing, it will be a long time before I have to buy any new clothes. I've still got at last count about 5-6 sizes smaller than what I am now IN MY CLOSET! AND a lot of them still have the tags on them!!! I don't mind a bit that they are a couple of years old. That does not matter to me one bit. As long as I can finally get in them will tickle me to death.

Well, I'll do my best to try to check in once more before we leave next week to go to the hospital. But if I don't, please keep me in your prayers that I have a good experience with no complications during surgery, a fast time healing from all pain and loose a LOT of FAT!

I can't wait! ONE WEEK AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No riding but wonderful news!

2009-02-25T18:38:00.003-05:00

I know that this blog started out being solely for all of my adventures on riding my Arctic Cat. Well there is going to be another chapter added to those adventures. And in the long run it will add to my riding.

What is it? OK, I'll tell. I'm having Bariatric Surgery done on Friday March 13, 2009. I'm having the "Lap Band" done. What it is, is a band that goes around the top portion of my stomach to basically form a new much smaller stomach. Don't ask me how it works, I've even asked Dr. Weiss that question. You would think that with that larger portion of the stomach still there that it would feel hunger. But it doesn't! Go figure.

I'm very excited about finally having something done that will help me at last with my weight. The band doesn't do it all on it's own, it's just a tool to help the person reach their goal. It will be with me till I die or decide that I no longer need to have it in place. But honestly, I don't see it ever coming out.

I know that I've shown photos of places and other people here on my blog, but have tried to never show one of myself. There is a reason for that. I'm not comfortable showing the world the "real" me. In my mind I'm not this big, in my mind I can sit where I want and not worry. In my mind I can do things that any "normal" sized person can do. But the hard truth is that the real me can't do a lot of things.

Worst of all is the way that people that don't know me judge me just because of my size. I know that a lot of people don't, and those people are wonderful caring people that mean a lot to me. But it is those people that don't know me and snicker, stare or flat out say things out loud for me to hear that hurt the most.

I'll admit that the childish side of me can't wait till I get to goal. There are a couple people that I will HUNT out so that they can see the "REAL" me. OH I more than likely won't really say or do anything, but in my mind I'll be thinking "Now say again how you want me to get my FAT A$$ out and stay out because I have no business there!" OR What I'll really be thinking is.... "See I can loose the weight but you are unable to grow a working brain that actually makes you an intelligent human."

I started to post a photo of myself, but I don't have the nerve to do it right yet. Maybe this summer after there has been enough weight loss that you can actually tell the difference I might show a "Before and during" photo. We will see.

But for now all I want to say is keep on riding those trails. I'll be back out there soon. I miss it way to much!!!!!!!!!!!!

RAIN, SNOW and COLD

2009-01-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

Due to the nasty weather and other factors I've not been riding ANY for weeks. This really stinks. I hate winter! HATE IT!

TWO WEEKS!

2009-01-19T17:21:00.002-05:00

YEP..... YOU HEARD ME!! Two weeks without a cigarette! I'm so darn proud of myself.

Today is Thursday AND Day 4!

2009-01-08T08:30:00.003-05:00

Today is very special. It is day 4 without smoking! If you had told me 5 days ago that I'd stop smoking COLD TURKEY I would have laughed my behind off at you. Well not completely cold turkey, I did go on day 2 to see my doctor and begged for some Chantix. THAT stuff is a WONDER DRUG!
Oh I get the urge big time at times. But it will pass usually in a few seconds. Right now I'm taking it one day at a time. I've got to be smoke free for a month before I can have surgery. I'm on my way!
Went in yesterday to get started on the process. Everybody that works in the ARH clinic in Hazard are such wonderful people. Next step is to get some blood work and test done then wait to have results sent in and then to hear from the insurance for the OK. This waiting is going to be the worst part. But if I, a smoker for over 32 years can quit, darn it I can do ANYTHING! Just call me "SUPERWOMAN"!!

A new year, a new me hopefully

2009-01-05T15:34:00.003-05:00

Well, I've made a few important decisions. #1. I WILL get rid of the flab on my body. #2. I have STOPPED SMOKING!

Both are really tied into each other. I have made the appointment to meet with a group of doctors that do Bariatric surgery. I'd rather have the bypass done, but if I have to I'll settle for banding. BUT either way I have to stop smoking!

Lord give me strength!!!

Keep me in your prayers that I can do this. Honestly the surgery would be a breeze compared to stopping smoking. It's not been 2 hours yet...... and already I'm freaking out!

That felt GREAT!

2008-12-30T21:18:00.005-05:00

Finally got to get out on the trails again today. It's been almost 2 months! That is way to long..... way.. WAY to long. Didn't get to ride for very long, but it beats nothing at all. Jim, Dale and his two boys, Austin & Brandon and myself all went down to WTOP and rode for about 4 hours today.
I can say with great certainty that I'm getting old and really starting to feel it now. My neck is sore from wearing my helmet for even that short of a time. But it kept my ears warm so it isn't all bad!

As you can see Mud Bowl I & II are both lakes! Anybody got jon boats to use?
Looks like bad (colder) weather is about to sit in again, so the riding today will have to do me for a while. Oh well. Sure gives me something to look forward to!

How could I almost forget?

2008-12-18T14:15:00.004-05:00

Now I know I'm loosing it, and I've got proof! How on earth could I almost forget that 5 years ago TODAY I was in UVA hospital and at this moment had just woke up from surgery. What surgery? OH I forgot that part didn't I! I gave my bestest friend Kim my left Kidney!

Happy Anniversary Kim & Sydney (the kidney)!!!

Aren't we cute in our matching outfits? Kim is on the left and I'm on the right. THIS is the ONLY photo of me that I'll post anywhere! Not that I look that great, but because it is so special.

No riding. Darn

2008-12-18T11:22:00.003-05:00

No riding this past weekend, and it is looking like none this coming weekend either. Had to finish up Christmas shopping and now the rain has set in. I'm not complaining about the rain one bit. Believe me. We really need it. Especially seeing as how we rely on our water to come from our own well instead of using the city/county water line here. Our well water taste so much better.

I am kinda bummed because with all this rain being rain due to the warm temps that we've seen very little snow so far this winter. But with husbands job if it does snow then I'm left without a way to trailer my ride to anywhere to ride at. Last year someone mentioned to me why didn't I just ride it from the house to the base of Crows foot and ride. OH I could have done it, no problem. BUT with what snow we did get I would have been VERY easy to track right back to the house and in Virginia riding where I would have would get me a HUGE ticket and fine!!!!

OH well. Maybe I can get a chance to get back out on the trails soon. I sure hope so.

33 years

2008-12-12T19:01:00.003-05:00

Today is December 12. I wonder if Chris knows that I'm thinking of him on his 33rd birthday?

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Mixed feelings

2008-12-08T07:37:00.004-05:00

Saturday was the "Christmas Parade" in Middlesboro. A small showing of Holler Crawlers showed up to ride. Granted it was cold and snowing, but that only added to the excitement in the air. I had Miss Kitty all decked out for the event. I was the only one there that was riding "Rudolph"!! The bad part was that the wheels that I got to go under the "Santa Sleigh" didn't work out so it had to be left at the trailer. Lesson learned on that one. But at least I've got a whole year to find the ones that I do need and have them on for the 2009 parade!

It wasn't till later Saturday evening that I heard about the tragedy that had happened at just about time for the parade to start. 4 young people, two of which were ROTC cadets that were to march in the parade, were killed in a traffic accident. Two of those were twins. So sad. I can't imagine what the families are going through right now. All we all can do is to pray that God helps them get through this time.

Another weekend of no riding.

2008-11-29T10:05:00.004-05:00

Well the weekend is here and it is another weekend of no riding. This stinks! We were supposed to go down to WTOP for a work day but we both are just flat out so tired from the last two days that it isn't going to happen. That and the fact that the rain should start here any time soon. It's only 39 degrees right now and I'm no fan of getting soaking wet at these temps.
Thursday was Thanksgiving of course. Everyone was up at my parents house for the traditional Thanksging Day Dinner. I'm proud of myself. I didn't over eat today and didn't feel as stuffed as the turkey!
We did play a cruel joke on two little boys. I've got to admit that it was pretty funny. I've had to use a different program to do the video of what happened. I'm not pleased one bit with it. I hate doing something on a program that is so different than what I'm used to. It is unedited but still really funny. If you want you can go to YouTube to watch it. My channel there is "skeeterbait1234" . It is the one listed as "Vanishing Christmas Present". Be sure and pay close attention to the face of the one in the stripe shirt when he finally gets his present open! Priceless!
Well that's it for now. Next weekend is the Christmas Parades. I know we will be riding in the Middlesboro parade. Should have lots of photos and some video of that up shortly after.
Hope your Thanksgiving was GREAT! Ours was.

Nothing really to up date

2008-11-23T23:41:00.003-05:00

In case you're wondering where I've been, well there hasn't been much to talk about. This weekend made the 3rd or maybe the 4th weekend in a row that I've got gotten to go riding. That really stinks too.
Today would have been really good, but today is also November 23rd, my youngest sisters birthday. Today she turned 45!! Just about the entire family took her out to eat at a new BBQ place in Cumberland Gap. I'll admit as much as I LOVE BBQ.. well I'll be hunting another place to go the next time I take a major craving for BBQ. It wasn't that bad, but it was FAR from good. OH well.
The only real thing to talk about is that I've made a major decision in my life. I'm going to have the "Lap Band" done ASAP. I'm sick and tired of the looks, the snickers and just flat out looking at what is in the mirror looking back at me.
More on that in the months to come. Till we meet again, hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! See ya'll soon I hope!!

Witness to history in the making

2008-11-05T01:26:00.004-05:00

This will be the only political post in my blog that you will ever see. I make it a policy not to talk politics. But, tonight we the whole nation, have taken part in making history for our nation!
I know that outside of my family and personal friends, nobody really knows that I am alive. That is the way it is with most people in this nation. But tonight we all were important. We voted. We changed this nation.
I had made up my mind months ago on who my vote was going for. And after listening to all the television, print and even phone attempts to change my vote, I was even more sure of how I was going to vote!
When are the idiots that decide all the "messages" that goes out going to learn that mud slinging is NOT what most of the people want to hear. The one that really got me going was the one that made an issue out of Obama's middle name! LOL. NOW you tell me, did you have any control over the name that your parents gave you? LOL
I'm glad that it is over. Mainly so I won't have to listen/watch all the negative adds on my TV.
Congratulations to our president elect Obama.

NOW lets get back to talking about riding in the mountains!

Now that is what I call a Birthday Party!

2008-11-02T22:28:00.004-05:00

What better way to celebrate your birthday than out on the trails with friends. That is just what we did today. My friend Dellis (Partsman as we know him) had his birthday on the trails today. A good group, minus a few missing people that will remain nameless! BUT YOU know who you are and shame on you! Anyhow, I made a mad dash to Wally World this morning to pick up a dozen Cupcakes. They sure were pretty... before they made the trip in the back of Jim's box across 2 mountains! lol But they did make it anyhow, a little lop sided but that didn't matter. They still were good!

Put a candle to put on it. Of course being the nut that I am instead of picking up Numbers or small candles I opted to have only one on it...... this "?"!! lol I think he liked it.

Well today we did the Cawood loop again. But this time with a twist. Jim came and rode with us today! His riding has improved so much. He's really doing well. He has even found out that it is fun to go through some pretty good water/mud holes! Now this one that he went through I've seen several try. Most get hooked to and pulled out. But that darn Arctic Cat just clawed himself right through! And Jim didn't have to really do anything other than back up a little bit and take another run at it. I've seen most that if they do make it have to get up on the front rack and ride it out...... but all he did was sit there. Go CAT Go!

Well it's late and I'm tired. Think it is time to give it up for the day. I'll admit that with two full days of riding I'm beginning to feel them. Don't want to admit it but I will.

I hope that before the week is out to have the video up of the "Water hole adventure".

Till then.... take care!!

Oh How we need RAIN!

2008-11-02T00:11:00.004-04:00

Can we say - DUSTY! Beautiful day today... couldn't be any better other than getting rid of the darn dust. We need rain so bad. It was warm.. really warm for November 1st! But we need some rain!!!

OK, got that out of my system.

Met up at Colmar this morning at 10. Had a good group riding, even picked up an extra at the parking area. Started out with 6 rides, 9 riders. Myself, my husband Jim, Carl, Roy and "B", Donnie & Lavon and Wayne & Lisa.

I've known Wayne & Lisa for several years and this is the first time that I've ever seen them in any condition other than spic-n-span, sparkling CLEAN! I worried that they both would really HATE riding today in the dust, but they actually said that they loved it! So much so that he is going to go this week and see about trading in his HARLEY in on his own ATV! That's cool!

Bless their hearts, Donnie & Lavon drove down here again all the way from Paoli, IN. Since the last time they were here back in September they bought a RAZR (not sure of the spelling but it is a SidexSide).

Heading out tomorrow to ride with Dellis and the gang. Will be heading out to Cawood, Kentucky. I've been there so much that I think I could do that ride with my eyes closed, but it is a great ride. If it wasn't I'd stay home. One other thing makes tomorrow special. It is his (Dellis) birthday! Last year we had a good party for him. I've got to get out early enough in the morning to find some cupcakes and take. Guess I'll be making a VERY early morning run to Wally World.

Better get in bed or I'll never make it. See ya'll tomorrow evening or Monday morning with an update.

He's BACK!

2008-10-31T14:16:00.004-04:00

Who's back? My Floating Ghost! Now during the day he doesn't look so bad. But at night, when your car headlights hit him.... and floating right beside you is a GHOST.... THAT is when he looks the best!

Looks like a great weekend coming up!

2008-10-31T11:27:00.004-04:00

The weather forecast for this weekend is looking GREAT! I know that Saturday the Holler Crawlers have a clean up day (actually Sunday too) on WTOP. Supposed to do some trail clean up, brush clearing, some trail work, brier cutting, trash pick up, etc. Jim and I both will be there to help out. But Sunday I'm playing hookie!

Sunday, November 2 is Partsman's birthday. I've got to pick up a cup cake and a candle for him today. Last year we had the works for him. He had never had a birthday party until he got a big surprise! Had a BIG cake, HUGE card & the works. This year's celebration will not be as big but none the less fun.

Today being Halloween I'm fixing my "floating ghost" again. Haven't done it in a couple years so it is about time to fix another. IF I can figure out how to make it float and film at the same time I'll get some video of it when I get it all fixed. I'm sure that in the daylight that it doesn't look like much. BUT at night... with a car light shining on it..... it will look cool!

I'm outta here for now. Got to get it all fixed up then head out to WalMart for a bit. See ya later!

All Day On The Mountain

2008-10-28T08:44:00.007-04:00

I told you I'd do a better job of updating this blog!

Yet another beautiful Sunday was spent out seeing what wonders God has done to the planet Earth. We revisited some areas on the mountain and went to a couple new sites. One is another cave that is near "Rock Church". OK, now I can say that I've been there seen that. Not exactly crazy about the trail getting to there or back from there (had to backtrack). Not exactly planning on going back again. AND if I do it will be by walking!

The second new place that we went to was the overlook to see Wild River. Beautiful! Absolutely breath taking! I took some pictures but honestly they do NOT do it justice.

Had a good crowd that left the Rose Hill parking area at 10 AM. Dellis, Don, Eulis, Morgan & Michael, Dale & Brandon, Chris, Bobbie, Maranda, Autum & myself were there. Everything was going good till Chris's 98 454 Arctic Cat had major rear end problems. He had to be towed back to the truck from the bottom of the backside near the Wild River trail. Dellis was riding his wife's big Honda and so he pulled him back. I was running front for him just in case he needed help to get him up some of the steepest parts. But never did have to hook up. Dale made a statement that made me very proud of "Miss Kitty"..... something about how that thing will pull and climb a tree! She may be only a 300 cc engine but it is a good one!

The highlight of the day was to watch Morgan play on the "Hillbilly Slip-n-Slide". Now mind you this was October 26! NOT July 26! Even though it had warmed up nicely being soaking wet is NOT the way that you wanted to be. That water was COLD! But she had been wanting to go back there for a couple months and this is the first chance that she had gotten to go. She had fun, that was showing on her face. She had the biggest smile you've ever seen and laughing all the way down too!!

Sunday was the first time that I was "wired for sound" via my Chatterbox. I love it! Riding through the mountains listening to everything from Motown to Southern Rock to Bluegrass is a BLAST! Made things a lot more fun. Especially when we would hit a trail and the perfect song for that trail would be playing. Sure didn't seem like we spent 9 hours up there, it seemed to go by really fast. But I felt every minute of it by the time I got home. My knees and my right shoulder were killing me. Something tells me that time, age and weight are getting to me. But I've rested up now, most of the pain is gone and if it was warm I'd do it again today!

Speaking of warmth... it sure isn't warm or pretty out today. Gray sky's and it is only 37 degrees right now at a little after 9 in the morning. Something tells me that it isn't going to be getting much warmer than that. Even saw some snow flurries earlier this morning!

I did give Jim fair warning that one time during the winter that if it snowed during the week that he was NOT going to take my truck to work. Yes it is the only thing that we have that is 4x4. The Equinox being front wheel drive will make it up this driveway just fine, unless it is solid ice under there. I'm really wanting to go down on the mountain and take some snow pictures at least once this winter. I've learned my lesson and know to stay on the south side, that's for sure. But I've got to do it at least once this winter.

I have no idea what this next weekend has in store. There is supposed to be a group of people coming down from Indiana. Not sure if they are still coming or not but if they do I'll be out on the trails somewhere. Till then... take care and ride safe!

Ride, ride and more RIDE!

2008-10-21T12:43:00.007-04:00

Where do I begin?

Things have been going really well, for the most part. Been doing a lot of riding off park (WTOP) for the past month. It has been a lot of fun. I didn't realize how much I missed riding on Stone. In the last couple weeks I've been across Stone to go to the Harlan Overlook (Harlan Kentucky) twice. Once it was just my husband and myself and then this past Sunday with the guys (and gals) that visit "ridewhereyouwant.com" aka Partsman and friends.

Also have done two trips up to Hensley Settlement. Now that is an adventure. Trail is for the most part easy to moderate. With a lot of smooth riding. Bad thing is where it isn't smooth.. it is ROUGH! I mean ROCKY - BOUNCE your guts out rough.

I've served as trail guide several times for different groups. I've had a blast. Every group is different. Some like to really see as much as they can see in a day. Others want to see stuff but at a lot slower pace, bad thing is that they miss out on so many other things that there just isn't time to see.

The leaves are changing here and it is getting really pretty to be outside. Bad thing is that it means that you put on a lot of clothes and strip during the day then put back on before you get back to the truck! Thought sure that my riding gloves were going to be enough Sunday. NOPE! My hands got so cold. I kept kicking myself for not taking my good winter gloves. Those would have felt a lot better on my poor frozen fingers. Bad thing is that it really isn't that cold. BUT after being in the upper 80's and lower to mid 90's for high temps all summer, when it gets down to the upper 40's lover 50's it feels like it should be the dead of winter.

I've gotten several really good videos done from all the riding. In fact I've got so many that there is no way to post them all here. I will upload one but will provide links to the others. AND if you like them and are signed up on YouTube then please rate my videos and leave me a note if you can! I love reading people comments... Good & Bad. I do have one more video that I need to get the footage worked up. Hopefully I'll get time to do them before this weekend. In the mean time here are some links to the ones that are the newest ones that I've done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQcYEiEcK0I (Hensley Settlement PT. 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRm-6jqyYB4 (Hensley Settlement PT.2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tGApUYBWMw (Part 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJfT2YPEAA (Montage)

We, most of the family, went over to my sisters cabin on the river farm one weekend. I'll admit that riding in a pasture is NOT my favorite thing to do. I hate with a passion riding there and dodging the "FRESH Cow Patties"! BUT getting out and riding with 4 generations of my family is awesome!!!!! Not many people get to ride with a family group that range in age from 2 to 79! Here are the videos of that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBwQYe0TX7s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx-f7psvou4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZODsMQWrQE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wNNlF47AwE

Here is a short video of the inside of the little "cabin" that we built last summer. OH I forgot to tell you that the people that built that was myself, my husband and my sister! It's not perfect but it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2OOoO9jqRA

Here is the video of one of the groups that I guided at WTOP. I got an email from them and they liked it so much that they are coming back in a little over a week to do it again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afE5uW4bUqo

This is one of the trips that we call "Cawood Loop". It's a really GOOD ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlJoqSewDCc

This is of my husband and myself going to the Harlan Overlook. Caught up with some friends and rode back with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT-0jB1MT5Y

Remember I said that I had gone up to Hensley Settlement twice? Well I've saved what I think is my best video to put up on here to view. Hope you like it!

Well I think I'm semi caught up. I know I've said it before but I will do a lot better at trying to keep things updated here.

Till next time! See ya'll.

Sunday Aug. 24

2008-08-26T00:07:00.004-04:00

I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to ride on Stone! I hadn't done it in a while.... I'll admit that I don't miss all the really ROUGH parts of the trails up there. They will jar your innards (YES that is a word! lol) loose for sure..... but it is well worth it.

Only 3 started out that day. Dale, Don & myself were the only ones that met up at the parking area in Rose Hill. Those two are very brave souls indeed! They put ME up front playing "Follow The Leader"! I really felt bad for both of them by the time we got back to load up and go home. Don was covered in dust.... but poor Dale I swear had every speck of dust that had been kicked up on the trails on him! I don't see how he could see or breath.

Did the Cawood loop, then drove by the lake to see who was there. Found some riders from Virginia that Dale knew. They had been playing there for a while. I've got some video of that bunch playing and our part of the ride and some video of the Saturday ride yet to work up. I'll try to get in here and get it up soon.

But for now all I have are some photos. OH and we did see some Turkeys on the trail. Live TURKEYS..... not the "idiot man turkeys" that I know! WHICH will remain nameless! hehehe

Looks like next weeks ride is shaping up to be a REAL good ride! Where to? Who knows. But as of right now I know of at least 4 people that are wanting to go that normally don't go with us. I take that back, one is Mudd Puppy! She always puts on a good show.... and what few times I've had her and Ivy together it is even BETTER!

Till next week..... have a good'en!

Saturday, Aug 23

2008-08-26T00:02:00.003-04:00

Served as guide this past Saturday to a group that wanted to explore Wilderness Trail Park. Got a late start as one lady is a nurse and worked the late shift and had to get a little sleep before taking off. Didn't get to go very far..... but it was a good ride.

Dust was boiling, as usual, but everybody made it back to the trucks/trailers in one piece.

Where do I begin? I'm behind again!

2008-08-21T23:46:00.004-04:00

I'm so far behind on updating this that it is a wonder that anyone comes here any more. I'm sorry.. but the good news is that even in this dust and heat "Miss Kitty" and I have been getting out some. Not near as much as I'd like... but beats the heck out of staying at home all the time!

Now to do some catching up. Looks like last time I posted was on about the July 20th ride. Didn't get to go for a couple weeks after that. Rode on Stone Mountain on August 3 with Dellis,Dale, Randall and Morgan. Found lots of mud of course!

On Aug. 8 went down to WTOP for a while. Did some tree trimming first then met up with a group of guys that were here in the area for a visit from Ohio! Took them to see/play in Mud Bowl II. They had fun!

Next trip down was Aug 10. Met up with all the old gang that I rode with last year on Stone, plus a few new friends. When we got to the Colemar parking area we found some other "Holler Crawlers" that were there to ride. So we all hooked up and rode most of the day together. 15 riders in all! Had a BLAST!

Jim hadn't gotten to ride any since his knee surgery but he finally got to go on August 14. We knew it would be an easy ride seeing as how we were taking the grandson Michael down for his first time. Michael is only 10, but he has his own "Sportsman 90" I was impressed with how that little ride went! Jim did alright with being out on the trails after the surgery. His knee hurt a little more than usual after the days ride, but he did it anyway. Michael now thinks that his papaw is the BEST!

Thought sure that I was going to get to go riding again this past Sunday, August 17 but nobody posted about going so I stayed home rather than risk going alone. Instead we cleaned the mud off of our rides..... which they really needed! It took several hours of pressure washing, then hand washing to get all the mud off.

This coming weekend is looking REALLY good for a LOT of riding. I've got a group that I'm guiding on Saturday and on Sunday Dale and I have already said that no matter who else goes WE are not sitting at home again! WE WILL RIDE!

I've got several minutes of videos from the previous rides.... so rather than wait a long time for them to load here I'll just post the links to what I have up on You Tube.

Michael's trip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E4v-VPcDdc

The turkeys we saw on one of the trails - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8tU-du4xsM

August 10 ride - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=813Qrz7ml5g

Hope you enjoy them. Till next time......

FUN! FUN!! FUN!!!

2008-07-20T22:57:00.004-04:00

Thirteen riders (I'm not in the group photo and like it that way) met up Sunday morning to brave the dust and try to find a good mud/water hole. We found BOTH! Lots and lots of dust.... and a really good water hole!

Where I hadn't ridden for a while it sure felt GOOD to be back on a trail again. I really missed it. Tried out my new full face helmet today. Broke it in proper! Covered in dust!!! Other than the fact that it was hot, it really helped to keep that dust out of my eyes and it was so easy to flip up the shield when not needed. I like it. BUT I think I would like it better in cooler/cold weather.

Got some really good video today. Haven't worked it up yet..... it could take me a day or two to get it done, but it should be really good when I do.

I promise I'll come back and upload it when I am finished with it.

Later people!!

Tomorrow..... I RIDE!

2008-07-19T20:44:00.003-04:00

Oh boy..... The 20th is finally almost here. Going on a really good ride in the morning. Had to go borrow my sisters trailer so I could haul 3 rides instead of the two that mine will. Picking up my baby sisters niece and her boyfriend at a little after 8 in the morning, then drive on down to Middlesboro. Should be a really good ride. Can't wait!

I put new lights on "Miss Kitty" today. She's looking fine! Should be really good light to see the trails at night now.

Seeing as how it is almost 11 PM I'll get a photo of her tomorrow. See ya'll either late Sunday or early Monday with a ride report!

No riding this past weekend, Hubby knee surgery

2008-07-16T21:49:00.003-04:00

At times Family comes first. On Friday, July 11, my hubby had knee surgery. So needless to say I stuck close to home to take care of him. He has a hard time getting up to get anything. I did tell him that there was one thing that he was on his own with...... no need to say it here.. it would be TMI..... but you can guess what it is.

I do have the photos of inside his left knee..... pretty cool looking! Not bloody and so white and clean..... other than the torn places you wouldn't think anything is wrong.

But now this coming weekend is a different story. I've already told him that he had 9 days to heal enough to be here a day along because I was heading out to ride!

A bunch of Holler Crawlers and other people that just want to join in are going to ride "The Crater" around Middlesboro. Should be an interesting ride..... long but good. Can't wait! At first I thought that both of my nieces were going with me, now it is down to only one. Ivy and her boyfriend are going to ride down with me. That's good. She doesn't get to go riding near as much as MuddPuppy does.

Well.... till sometime Sunday night or during the day Monday... stay safe! I'll have lots of photos I hope!

Happy Birthday America!

2008-07-06T21:26:00.005-04:00

Well, America has lived to see yet another birthday.. isn't it wonderful! I know of no other place on earth that people enjoy the freedom that we do. I know that times are getting tough right now on a lot of people. It is us too. But we are a tough nation and we will survive.

Several members of the Holler Crawlers got together at one of the many pads and had a really good cookout and then a lot of really good fireworks after. It rained a little bit on us, fog set in and for a while you couldn't see much. But it cleared off and really was a nice evening to spend with a bunch of friends.

Sprinkles served as our cook for the evening and as usual he did a really good job. He needs to have his own restaurant. SouthKyGal was the lady that came up with the idea, her and her husband furnished the fireworks. GREAT JOB!

I am so glad that back in January I decided to take a chance and come down and ride with BCO. I've gained a lot of new friends that will forever have a place in my heart.

July 3, 2008

2008-07-04T08:54:00.003-04:00

If we had waited another 4 days it would have been a full month since we last rode. That is the longest I've ever gone without riding! I know that next weekend is out due to the fact that my husband is having surgery on his knee on July 11... so it will be a couple weeks before I can go even after that. So I had to ride while I could.

Six went down to WTOP to put in at the Colmar parking area and six came home hours later. No accidents, no breakdowns. Not a lot of mud (another dry summer) and LOTS of dust...... no shortage there!

It's raining now (July 4th - 9:17 A.M.) and I'd give anything to go back down as soon as it stops! Anything! We are supposed to go down for the fireworks that a Holler Crawler member and her husband have bought up. If it stops early enough I may go ahead and go down early and ride for a bit before we are supposed to eat tonight. It would be wonderful to ride with NO dust what so ever. BUT.... I know I'd be a muddy mess after so what to do. Hummm

More GREAT Bluegrass Music!

2008-06-29T11:10:00.006-04:00

I'm in HOG heaven! I sure am!!! Two weekends this month I've gotten lucky enough to be able to attend two different Bluegrass Festivals. The last being "Goin' Back To Harlan" Festival in Harlan Kentucky. WOW!

Now mind you I've seen every performer that was there at other places, but still it amazes me at their talent and the warmth that they show the fans. Yesterdays line up included - Pine Mountain Grass, Shadow Ridge, Alecia Nugent & Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Kentucky Rain was supposed to be there but their bass player didn't show!

I won't talk bad about those that I wasn't crazy about, that is rude. BUT I can yell, shout, scream how much I really enjoyed the ones that I personally liked the best!

Shadow Ridge - All local boys that should be on the biggest stages there are in the US! Scott, C.F, Daniel, Barry..... AMAZING! Always top notch.

Alecia Nugent - How can someone so tiny have such a BIG voice yet on some songs sing so gentle she makes it seem so effortless. Wonderful! Thank you for coming to my back yard to perform.

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper - WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!! WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so in awe of your talent. I know that most of the world would look upon you and see nothing but a person with "disabilities". Nothing could be further from the truth! Your talent for playing not just one instrument but several is something that most "so called normal" people could only dream of doing. Your musicianship is amazing. And to top it off.. your just a wonderful human being. For you to take the time to sit and listen to an overweight, middle aged lady from the hills of Virginia really means a lot to me. I can't wait till your newest CD comes out. You can bet that I'll have my copy in record time. When you played "Jerusalem Ridge" from the upcoming release.... well I can safely say that it will be my new favorite! Fantastic!

I'm including a video of the last song of the last show of the last day...... ENJOY!

Michael....... YOU ROCK!

No riding for the last 2 weekends.....

2008-06-27T08:57:00.004-04:00

In case your wondering what is going on, the answer to that would be absolutely nothing. Husband is down with his knee so he can't ride and he can't walk without using crutches so I have to stick close to home to help him when he needs it.

The only thing exciting that I've gotten to do is on Friday, June 13 we went over to Duffield at the Natural Tunnel State Park to see Rhonda Vincent & The Rage in concert. That is always a treat! Didn't get to go see them any during the 2007 year. Between surgery on hubbys other knee and deaths in the family things didn't go so good the entire year. But we are making up for it this year!

I'm so proud to say that I know Rhonda and the entire Rage group of people. Hunter made my day the instant that he saw me. He is such a great guy. Kenny as always takes the time to talk to you. Hubby got to take his photo with Rhonda again.... that he just loves to show off! (funny how he never smiles like that in a picture with me! LOL) But then I got some special attention from Hunter so I guess we are even! LOL

Thanks guys for being the wonderful people that you are. Your music is the best but the people you are is something that can never be beat! Hope to see you again in September at Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival.

And I can't leave without saying a very special thank you to Rhonda, Kenny & Hunter for helping me with the little video message for BCO! It is priceless!

I know of no other group of performers that would do this for someone like me. I'm nothing special, just an overweight, middle aged lady in the heart of no where yet still they take the time to do something so special. Thanks!

Juvenile Diabetes Poker Run Ride

2008-06-10T13:52:00.004-04:00

If I had to describe the days ride I could do it in two... no make that three words. FUN... Dust... Mud!

Everyone met at the old St. Charles school in St. Charles Virginia on Saturday morning June 7. I knew we were in trouble early on... it was HOT. With no sign of any real relief from the heat. But still there were 41 people that signed up to take the ride. There was a $20 entry fee..... of which 100% was given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation!!! I know that it doesn't sound like a lot of money, but every penny helps.

Met up with a lot of people that I've not seen in a long time... and even kids (now grown up and parents themselves!) of people that I grew up with and went to school with up at St. Charles.

Left out of the school parking lot a little later than the original starting time... but that was OK. There were still people coming in and wanting to ride. Finally got going and it was a fun ride. Wasn't that much of a challenge to the ride it's self.... but it still is a good place to go. There are some mud holes up there that are just made for getting people stuck. And they did! Here is the video that I shot of where we went that day.

Well, I think that with this post on my blog that I've gotten everything up to date. I hope I do! Maybe from here on out things will not be so crazy. It's gotten very hot.... and I do mean hot. And with the price of gas being right at $4.00 a gallon unless I just can't stand it I may not be riding so much. Or at least trailering down to WTOP. I may go ahead and ride on Stone Mountain. It only takes me 10 minutes to get from the house to the trail head. So that is more in my price range.

So, till I post again, stay safe... ride long and ride HARD!

More catching up, Ride For Sean

2008-06-09T19:30:00.004-04:00

I'm still playing catch up so bare with me.

On Saturday, May 31, 2008, there were about 200 riders that came out early on that morning to support the children of the fallen Bell County Deputy Sean Pursiful.

All in all it was a good ride... a really good ride. Some of my bunch that didn't fall out and join in with another group rode a total of 58.4 miles that day. We had a good time.

Half way through the ride everyone stopped at the Colmar parking area for some FREE FOOD! And not just any free food either. Faith Temple Church had spoke up and said that they wanted to help. They bought, had butchered and then cooked on the grill 2 whole pigs! Everyone that day had some great pulled pork. And let me tell you it was good!

A lot of businesses in the county gave food and goods to be used that day too. We had FREE hot dogs and chips and drinks too. If you left Colmar hungry it was your own fault. It wasn't because we didn't' have plenty of food to go around. I take that back..... I heard.... I said "I HEARD" that they also had some really great RIBS...... but I didn't get not one single piece. NOT ONE! Oh well... maybe next time.

The total raised to go in the education fund for the kids was just under $2000. By the time they are old enough to start drawing on that it should turn into a good amount to help pay the bills for college.

This was the first event that the Holler Crawlers were host to. We did some things wrong, didn't get some things in the right order, but all in all it turned out good. Nobody was hurt other than some major dust in the eyes. Nobody was left behind, everyone made it back to their trucks. So in that respect it was a really good day.

Stay tuned for the next update! I'm still playing catch up on our adventures!

Busy, Busy, BUSY!

2008-06-09T09:18:00.002-04:00

Where do I start? It has been weeks since I've posted anything. And it is not for the lack of riding, that's for sure. Could it be to much riding? No..... NEVER!

The weekend of May 23-24-25 was a very busy one indeed. We spent the 23 & 24 in Pineville working the booth/tent for the Holler Crawlers at the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. Sold a lot of shirts/hats/stickers but more important we signed up a LOT of new members to the Holler Crawlers! On Saturday we signed up 22 new members!!

Sunday, May 25, was my birthday. I never got out of the yard! Why? I was just to tired from the two days before. I needed to rest up from two days of being out till after midnight and then another two hours before laying down then getting up before daylight to hit the road again! It wasn't that long ago that doing that wouldn't have bothered me. Now...... well I hate to admit it but time is catching up with me. I can't go and go and go like I did when I was younger.

Monday, 27th, was spent down at WTOP clearing trails and getting ready for the "Ride For Sean" that was coming up FAST. Tuesday, 28th didn't go down but went over to my sisters to borrow a "mini bush-hog" to get some mowing done. Wednesday.... mowed 2-3 acres off in the Colmar parking area to have a good spot to put the food tents. Thursday my baby boy Dan went down to ride WTOP for the first time. I do think that the boy liked it! He was covered in mud. Had a blast!

Met up with Jon on the trails and we finished out riding the route that we were going to lead on for the "RFS" on Saturday. Friday, didn't go down to WTOP till late in the day to take tables and chairs to have to use. Then finally at last it was Saturday, May 31.

WOW! We had people from several states come to ride and give their support. I'd say right at 200 rides were there. Just in my group that I was leading I had almost 50 rides! Not riders.... I had more than that but rides alone! Poor people.... I hate to say it but it was so dry... and dusty that if you weren't in front you ate/breathed a LOT OF DUST. Never lost anyone.... no major break downs..... nobody really got hurt, other than dust in their eyes, so that was a GREAT ride! I did have one little "incident" but I can't/won't go into it here. But after talking to someone this past Saturday I found out that he (the person that I'm NOT talking about) does this everywhere he goes..... wants to stir up something out of nothing. Then talk about it all over the place. Oh well.. you run into all kinds out there.

I've got to run for now.... but there is still a lot of updating that needs to be done. I promise that I'll finish up this evening. I promise!

No riding this weekend, but there was GREAT Music!

2008-05-19T11:05:00.003-04:00

I had every intention of getting Miss Kitty out and getting her dirty this weekend but it didn't happen. Already had plans on heading down to Sevierville TN to attend their "Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass" with some friends on Saturday. The weather could not have been more perfect! As for the music, all free I might add, it was FANTASTIC! Other than the last act on stage. I'll admit that I was looking forward to seeing Marty Stuart, never seen him in person before, but after about 1/4 of his set I was ready to go home. Why? Well if your going to bill something as "Bluegrass" it had better be BLUEGRASS! What he did was anything BUT Bluegrass! Shame on you Marty! Shame on YOU!

Here are the links to what videos that I have up on YouTube... (Much easier than waiting for them to upload here)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyM-OyVKVs0

And

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NZfqdkFwnk

What we did enjoy was watching and listening to Trey Hensley & Drivin' Force, Cumberland Gap Connection (Two sets each), Dave Peterson & 1946, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, Bradley Walker (current IBMA male vocalist of the year). All of those groups/people were FANTASTIC! Just wasn't that impressed with Marty Stuart. Sorry to all those MS fans out there but I wanted to hear Bluegrass, not.... well I'm not sure what to call the type/form of music he was doing. It really wasn't country..... wasn't rock.. wasn't pop.. and sure as heck wasn't Bluegrass! Oh well..... Oh and somebody needs to feed that poor man. Skinny as a rail! I prefer some meat on my men... he looks so.... under-fed!

Now as for Sunday, well of course it had to rain. I know, I know..... we need the rain here really bad. We still haven't recovered from the drought that we have been in. But why on my ATV days?

Today is Monday of course, and I'm meeting my girlfriend Tammy for lunch. She called a few days ago and wanted to take me out for my "Birthday lunch". Now granted that I really need to back away from the table.... but free Pizza Plus Lunch sure will be good! And for the record it isn't my birthday yet. It isn't till next Sunday. That is IF I decide I'm actually having a birthday this year. I don't like getting older. Especially now since I'm really beginning to show my age. I still say that growing OLD is God's cruel joke on a person. Your mind still thinks YOUNG.... still wants to do all these things that you did when you were in your 20's, 30's even in your early 40's.... but now it is like you still want to do them but your body says "YOU WANT TO DO THAT? Forget it! You do and I'll make you pay for it dearly!"

But all you have to do to know that I'm over the hill now is to look into my face and eyes. They are not the same that looked back at me in the mirror even just a few short years back. I still say that I'll fight getting older, kicking and scratching every darn inch of the way!

Well....... that's it for this past weekend. This coming week is filled with things to do and stuff like that. Most of it is things to get done around the house that we have been putting off for months. Then we have to get things ready to take up to Pineville for the "Mountain Laurel Festival" this coming weekend. Then the next weekend will be the Benefit ride for Sean that the Holler Crawlers is hosting. So it is going to be a VERY busy time. Hope to make it back here soon with updates on how things are going.

Till then..... ride long.... ride hard...... and always ride SAFE! Hope that some of you can make it to the Benefit Ride for Sean!

Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering

2008-05-13T11:42:00.003-04:00

WOW!!! OH WOW!!! Wonderful!!! Fantastic!!!

Now I would guess that your wondering what I'm talking about being so great that I'd start off this chapter with words like that. Well..... you'd first off love to listen to the sounds of the Dulcimer. Mix that in with every other string instrument that can be carried to a campground and what do you get? WOW!!!
A few years ago our area had been chosen to two people to make this their new home. Terry & Pam Lewis had moved here from Georgia to be near their daughter and grandson. I had heard the dulcimer being played but never like the way I had heard Terry play it. I never knew that a small 3 stringed instrument could have that much heart and soul. My friendship with them started after seeing an article in the local paper about a "Dulcimer Concert" that was going to take place in the little town of Rose Hill. I convinced my husband to go with me and well...... the rest is history! That night forever changed my life and love of music.
Fast forward to May 2007. Terry had been working with the Cumberland Gap National Park and came up with the idea of having the "Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering" in the campground area of the park. That was the first year and it was GREAT! This past Saturday was the last day of the second annual "CGDG".
It didn't help things that my right hand was so swollen that I couldn't hold the pick in my hand and that the shoulder was having so much pain that I couldn't play. BUT I was not going to let it stop me from enjoying some of the most fantastic music by some of the nations top Dulcimer players! I only missed one night of the music and that was because of a downpour of rain, and the fact that I was covered in mud from riding on WTOP that day.
Every night there were people up at Terry's campsite but nothing could ever compare to what went on Friday night. AWESOME! FANTASTIC! SPECTACULAR! (Do I need to go on?) Here sat several of the top Dulcimer players in the nation..... jamming and laughing and just flat out having a blast! All I can say is that if your a fan of Dulcimer's and didn't get to attend, then YOU MISSED IT!
I have met Mr. Don Pedi before and I can honestly say that I'm in awe of his talent. Not only is this man the most fantastic Dulcimer player around but his knowledge about the Dulcimer and the history of music is well..... amazing! And to top it off he is just a flat out fantastic guy to boot! He has to be something special.... he likes my cornbread!
I met for the first time Ms. Lois Hornbostel... WOW! I really like her. She's a hoot to be around and well..... what can I say about her playing other than FANTASTIC! Also there this year were - Bing Futch, Alan Darveaux, Deby Libby & Richard Woods. All were absolutely fantastic! Each brought a little something different to the dulcimer that only made it even more special.
I could go on and say something about each person that was there this year but then this blog would be never ending and I would do a lot of repeating myself. But just know that if I didn't mention you in person or sing your praises that it in no means implies that I didn't enjoy your contribution to the week... it mainly means that I'm at a loss for words! And believe me, that doesn't' happen very often.
I've uploaded several clips of video to YouTube.... but I'm no where near done. Here are just a few links to what I've got posted so far..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_P5XKe6rRA

&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2f4AnJNclo

You can click on my name and check out the rest of what I've got posted so far.
Hopefully next year instead of having to drive back home every night we will either have a camper or find one to rent to use that week. I really don't want to miss one second of next years event.
I've got a lot more that I could say about this week but no time to do it in. More on this at a later date! I promise!!

I'm so far behind that I'll never catch up!

2008-05-13T10:11:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I've not been here to work on my blog in a couple weeks. There is a good reason for it. I've been super busy either riding or attending the "Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering". I've not told you that the Dulcimer is my other passion have I? Well it is. BUT first I guess I need to back up and catch up on things.

The last time I was here I was talking about my two nieces that I took to the mud bowl. That was on 4/27. I went back down to WTOP again on the following Thursday 5/1 and again the next day Friday 5/2! I took the next day, Saturday off. I was just flat out worn out. I think sometimes I try to convince myself that I'm still young and it just isn't working. OH well.....

I was back at it on Sunday 5/4. Met up with Dellis, Crash & Dale to ride at the Rose Hill parking lot. Crash and Dale brought along their boys. I hadn't seen them all winter and they had grown a lot! Except for "Possom", he's still a tiny little thing but tough as a pine knot!

We went straight across Stone into Kentucky. Did take one side trail that Dellis wanted to show me what they had found a couple weeks before. Someone had built a beautiful shelter that had a sleeping loft above with a really nice picnic table and benches below. But the best thing that they had built was an old fashioned "OUT HOUSE"! Talk about finding heaven in the woods! One thing for sure it gave me lots of ideas to do something for mom up on their river bottom. The only bad thing about that would be every time we would want to go down to use it someone else would be there thinking it was there! That would make me very angry. Anyway it is a good idea. Now back to riding.....

On the next day, Monday 5/5 my hubby had a doctors appointment. After he got out he came to the car and said "Lets go riding!" Now normally I would be very happy.... but I was beginning to get a little sore from all the other days riding but I agreed to go without saying a word.

When we got home I told him to go change into his riding clothes and that I'd load up the "Cats" to get ready to go. Grabbed the keys and load up his first...... then went to "Miss Kitty" and the old gal didn't want to start! The battery is going bad but I do have a pull start as a back up. Good to have in case your out and things goes bad, but very hard on the arm/shoulder if it kicks back on you! It has been over a week now and my arm/elbow/wrist still has a lot of pain. I know it won't kill me... but it sure hurts.

That evening after we rode we stopped by the Cumberland Gap National Park campgrounds to see some friends of ours. We had been riding with them a few weeks back and she somehow managed to loose a pair of glasses. Now remember WTOP is 9,000 acres and yep.. you guessed it... Hubby found them! You should have seen her face when we handed them to her. Bad part was she had just gone to have new lenses put in another pair of frames to replace the ones that she had lost. Well, at least now she has a spare pair.

Didn't get to go riding again till Thursday 5/8. A friend of ours called the week before to see if we would be guides for him and his brothers and a brother in law at WTOP. We had been really watching the weather reports/forecast. They were giving some pretty heavy rain to move in on that day. But they said that the forecast said that it would be later on in the day before it made it so they wanted to go ride for as long as they could. Now what is funny, normally I'm either in the "Older" group of riders or I'm the OLDEST! This time I was the YOUNGEST! But also the dumbest. I was down in the "Mud Bowl" showing them what a good play area it is and well..... I turned left when I should have stayed straight! I sunk "Miss Kitty" up to the frame in mud! Hubby had to bring his down with the winch on it to pull me out! That was embarrassing to say the least. But to top it off when I was off trying to hook up the cable I slipped and down I went in the mud! But it is only mud and washes off thank goodness.

Well that is my riding caught up to date. I've not been able to go since then. I was supposed to have went yesterday but backed out. My youngest son was wanting to go down but the weather was nasty and my hand/arm was hurting a lot so I called it off till a later date. Today and tomorrow would have been perfect weather to go but he is working so it will just have to wait.

MUD! RAIN!!

2008-04-28T18:22:00.003-04:00

Should have known not to even try it but we ignored that BLACK CAT and went any way. What am I talking about? After going over to my sisters house to pick up Mudd Puppy on our way back to here there was this big ole black cat that ran across the road in front of us. I did the big ole X on the windshield but it didn't work. We had 3 trucks going down pulling 3 trailers with 2 on each! WE did look pretty cool going down the road. I hauled my hubby's ride (took it because of having the winch on it) and MuddPuppys ride... Bob had his and Shannon's and David stopped to pick up Ivy's to finish out the bunch.

When we unloaded at the Colmar parking lot first thing that the girls did was to stir up the dust big time doing donuts in the gravel. Ivy is fantastic at doing donuts! But then it started..... first Shannon ran through a water hole and her Polaris decided it didn't like water! I thought they would never get it started again. But they did........ then Bob's started running really rough... and I do mean rough. I know that where we stopped to get gas we've stopped a million times before and had never gotten bad gas. But then it started running a lot smoother and so off we went.

Hadn't been there to long when "Sprinkles" & "Lady Redneck" caught up with us.

Started up trail 66B toward the Mud Bowl...... took a side trail that loops around and comes out right at the edge and.... well nobody was staying together. We had rides scattered all over the place! Finally found everyone and I made them follow me. That was the last thing that I needed.. to have someone break down or get hurt and not know anything about it. Not good... not good at all. BUT nobody broke so we were Mud Bowl Bound!

Shannon decided that seeing as her ride didn't like water she just stayed up on the rim to watch. Bob never even ventured down into the bowl..... but of course MP, Ivy & David hit it wide open! I'll admit.... I have as much fun if not more just staying on top and watching people get dirty...... then to see the smiles on their faces when they come out.

Then the rain started. Sprinkles took off toward their truck and never came back to join in with us. And believe me I don't blame them one bit! It was a cold rain... and windy on top of that. Nasty outside for sure.

We (the rest of us) drove down to the "Powder House" for shelter for a while... but of course by the time we got there we all were soaking wet. Stayed for a while.... had lunch then when it slacked off to nearly nothing we took off toward the Water tower. While on the trail I picked up on the radio "Rancher" hollering at us. We waited on him at the tower... but told him as soon as he got there that we had to leave. I didn't want to, but people were getting to the point of shaking they were so wet and cold.

I know that Shannon & Bob have heard me talk so much about WTOP and what great trails we have there and what beautiful views... well needless to say they didn't get the best tour. Maybe they can come back and really see what we have to offer.

If you've ever wondered what to do with two VERY MUDDY TEENAGE GIRLS on the ride home, put them in the back of the truck! I stopped in town as soon as we got there and bought them both new CLEAN clothes to put on! You can see what they looked like at the end of the video. NOW you know why they didn't get in the cab of my truck till they had clean clothes!!

Well, that's it for my riding adventures this weekend. Till next week (or next ride)..... ride long.. ride hard... but above all ride safe!

Good Day to be a Holler Crawler

2008-04-26T23:55:00.003-04:00

The little town of Pineville, Kentucky had their "Spring Fling" on Saturday April 26. The Holler Crawlers were invited to come sit up a tent to present the club to the people that came for the event. Part of our job was to have an "ATV Show". Well it really wasn't a show like you see at Car or Motorcycle shows.... just cleaned up our rides to show them off and such.

My husband and I arrived in Pineville shortly after 9 this morning to help set up things at our tent. Mostly took over and parked our Arctic Cats.... and sat the helmet out to show it off to try to sell tickets on as part of a fund raiser for the club.

We had a lot of people to come by our tent to ask questions about the club and what we are doing up on "WTOP". Had several people join the club on the spot and a lot to take the applications home with them. At last count we are getting very close to having 100 members!!!! That is pretty good for a club that has been a club no longer than we have! Or at least I think so.

I cleaned for 3 days on both of the AC's... they sure did look pretty! OK, so maybe pretty isn't the right word for them but they sure did look shiny and clean. One thing for sure..... after tomorrow (Sunday) at least one of them should be covered in mud...... again!

Heading out in the morning to take Shannon, Bob, David, Morgan & Ivy down to WTOP to ride for the day. Sure hope that we don't have rain. If it was a warm rain I wouldn't mind it... but the weather isn't that warm yet! At least I always carry a poncho with me... which reminds me.... IF I ride Jim's tomorrow I had better get it out of my bag and put it in or I could get VERY WET! OH well..... I'll look at it this way. I've not missed very many weekends of riding in the past year and so far I've not gotten wet from being caught in a rain yet. Now I won't say that I've NOT gotten wet.... OH I have..... but it was from running through water/mud holes! That is a blast! Just think... here I am a woman that is actually a "Grandma" and I still like to play in the mud!

Well....... it's late.... after midnight and I've got to get an early start in the morning. See ya'll tomorrow evening with some pictures of the days ride.

3 out of 4 days! Now that was FUN!

2008-04-23T09:33:00.004-04:00

Finally a GREAT week of riding-working. Spent Thursday & Friday of last week putting up trail markers at WTOP, took Saturday off to rest, then hit it again on Sunday to play! I've found something that is soooooo much fun! Mattress Surfing! I took my niece with me on Sunday along with a twin size mattress. Cut holes in it to where I could run a chain through to have a way to pull it. Then used a tow rope between the mattress and the ATV to keep it away from any dirt it may kick up. We had a blast! But the bad news is some big dummy ran off and forgot both cameras on Sunday! Now that was stupid of me. We did manage to get little snips of video using her cell phone camera.... but I've not gotten the pieces yet to put them together to make a video. It was fun for sure! And that kid is like a little leach! She stuck right there every inch of the way every time she rode.

I do have some photos of what we did on Thursday and Friday. Saw some more beautiful views and rode some really great trails.

Spent yesterday, Tuesday, cleaning up a lot of ATVs! We are taking the two Arctic Cats to Pineville for an ATV show. So I've still got a lot of work to do on them to get them spit shined up to look GREAT! It will take me the rest of the week to get that done for sure. I sure do like our Arctic Cats.... they are great machines. Cleaned up my daughters rides too. Her and her hubby are coming down this coming Sunday to ride at WTOP for the first time. Can't wait to show them what we have to offer. One of these days I'll add all the miles of trails that we have to see just how much we do have. One thing about it. You can ride as hard as you'd like and NOT see all the trails in one day.

Till next week... stay safe and ride long!

Ramp Festival - Black Mt. Off Road Park - Evarts

2008-04-14T09:50:00.002-04:00

I wish that I could say that I had a wonderful time at Evarts this past weekend,but sadly to say I didn't get to go this year. It would have been my first time riding at one of their "events". But the good news is that the Holler Crawlers did have several members that did get to go.
Here is a link to photos and a video that was shot Saturday. Enjoy!

Photos: http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/bellman30/bellman%202/?albumview=grid

Video: http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/bellman30/?action=view&current=RampFest08.flv

Thanks to Bellman of the Harlan County Ridge Runners for posting the links to those!

Show Me The Mud!

2008-04-11T17:55:00.003-04:00

Well this week started off semi good... and went down hill from there. I was at my parents trying to get some more work done on their new storage shed and my shoulder was hurting so bad that I had to quit. Not a good thing to have happen on a Monday. Tuesday I gave in and went to the doctor. He gave me a shot to take care of the Bursitis.... that was Tuesday and it is still bothering me. AND I've been a good girl and have followed his instructions. I've not lifted anything heavy this week but still it hurts.
So to keep myself from going crazy I did another video this week. Song choice was "Mud On The Tires" and title of the video is "Show Me The Mud". Do you get the idea of what the theme of the video is? lol Hope you enjoy it!

Riding at WTOP

2008-04-06T22:36:00.002-04:00

I was about to believe that the weather man had lied again. But it did clear off and was a beautiful day.... just enough clouds to really stand out against a beautiful blue sky. Gorgeous day! Got a late start this morning, it seemed as if I was stuck in slow gear. But made it I did and boy am I glad that I did. Met up with Rancher420 and his girlfriend at the Mud Bowl then rode on over to the other side of WTOP to go to the "Bridge To Nowhere". Because of some work being done the main road was blocked and we couldn't take the direct route to get there..... but we made it! Acutally, having to go a different way turned out to be a much better ride in the long run.
But of course I had to pull one of my famous stunts. I had been down that trail before..... not that many times but I had gone that way. BUT>>>>> I made a big mistake and took a right hand turn one trail to soon! I am jinxed! I swear I am. Every time I "pick" which trail to go on it turns into a darn dead end trail! But it was a NICE dead end trail! lol Had to use my wench once to move a BIG tree off of the trail.... and on another I had to use the little saw that Grizz had given us. I must say.... both worked really well today! That little saw is a real trick. It won't cut something that is REALLY big.. but it works real good on stuff as big as your arm or smaller.
I've got a few pictures of today's ride, but just a few. I'll have to download them then come back and edit this to add them. Hopefully I'll get that done sometime tomorrow.
Well...... I'm glad that I got out today. It turned out to be a really good day for riding. Even with all the wrong turns! Oh well..... at least for the next person that takes that trail.... most of it is CLEAR for them!

Oops, I lied!

2008-03-31T22:16:00.003-04:00

Well....... I got to go riding a little bit after all on Sunday! Here I sat all feeling sad for myself.... thinking that here is going to be yet another weekend that I don't get to go out and ride..... when out of the blue.... I load up and take off!

Well actually my daughter came down to install added memory on my computer, then we get to talking and next thing we know we load up and down the road we go.

Now never mind that it was right at 4:30 in the evening... all I cared about was that I was taking Kitty out for a spin. Granted it would at first thought be nothing more than to do the 11 mile loop from Rose Hill, up the tracks, to the top of Crows Foot.... then out the ridge back to the truck. Well it turned out to be a little more than that.... a total of 20 miles in fact!

My step son in law came up a trail and ran into us.... then we got the bright idea of going on out to see "White Rocks". Now mind you the white rocks that we can legally ride to is not the true "WHITE ROCKS"...... but still it is an amazing view from up there.

Sad thing is that we left here in such a hurry NOBODY had a camera one with them! BUT I do have some older photos of previous trips to show you what wonderful views can be had from up there.

So now one day this week I've got two rides to clean up.... lord have mercy are they filthy dirty! MUD all over them! It sure was super muddy on top. FUN! My jeans and boots are still covered too. They should be dry enough now to beat most of it off before washing what I can. Got to get them ready for the next time.

So, looks like I told a little white lie when I said no riding this weekend. I GOT LUCKY!

No riding this weekend

2008-03-30T11:52:00.004-04:00

Well, it looks like another weekend with no riding. I do not like weekends like this. I try to stay home during the week, I would say that I try to get housework done, but I hate to tell a lie. Mostly I do a whole lot of nothing.

This past week has been a busy one anyhow. On Tuesday I went over to Pringles house and picked up the two ATVs that belong to my daughter and her hubby. He, Pringles, had been working on them, getting them put back together. When the Polaris and the Yamaha left here I wouldn't have given you two cents for either of them. I would have thought that it would take a small fortune to get them back into running condition. What happened to them you ask? Grand kids! In my humble opinion I honestly think that they tried to see how fast that they could wreck them both and then walked off and left them. But, they are both running, and I have to admit.... I like both of them now. I've tried to clean them up some, they both were filthy dirty. Still have a whole lot of work to do to get them as clean as they should be. Now why I'm cleaning up something that as soon as they are taken off the trailer to ride will find the nearest mud hole and ran right smack dab through the middle I do not know.

I guess I'm one of these funny people that while hauling them TO THE RIDE SITE, want everyone to look at them and say.... "There goes some sharp looking ATVs."..... Then on the ride home I want people to say.. "There goes some people that look as if they have had some major fun today playing in the mud." Now that we have been having some really good rains I'm using my pressure washer to clean them up here at the house. At least now it's getting a pretty good workout.

Thursday I took the Polaris to town to have two rims looked at. Two tires were not holding air and the tires kept going flat again. So far so good, but I've not went out to check on them today so I'll hold off on saying that things are fixed in that department. But they were both up over 24 hours after I came back home with it so that is better than what they had been doing!

Friday I changed out bags on my "Miss Kitty". My darling husband had gone ahead and ordered for my birthday (which isn't until MAY!) my early present. Mom had gotten him a "Moose" brand bag for his ride and I really liked it. It has features on it that mine didn't have so that is what he ordered, one just like his! Now other than size of our rides, mine is a 300 and his a 400, they are a matched pair! We both have the solid boxes on the back and have matching bags on the front. They do look sharp. AND now I can actually keep a drink in one of the pockets right in front of me and don't have to stop, get off and open box to get something to drink when we stop! LOVE IT!

Saturday was a day on the road. Went up to daughters house and helped them move an entire storage shed full of stuff out to the new house. On the way home stopped and had the oil changed in my 02 Silverado. I am not happy about what they found. Looks like my truck has a blown gasket of some sort and so that means that it has to go to a garage first thing on Monday morning to see how much to fix it and how soon. I've got to have my truck! Can't pull the trailer with anything else that we have here! I just hope it doesn't' cost a war pension to get fixed.

Well, for the pictures this week I posted a video instead. I may have added it to an earlier post, but it is still a good one to watch. This has photos of most of the people that I've ridden with in 2007 and the music background is "Memories" by Elvis. Love the song, but not a big Elvis fan, but no other song would have fit the photos as well as this one did. So enjoy the video.... till next week (or if I have any earth shattering news) I'll see you next week!

Till then, Ride Hard, Ride Long but always Ride Safe! Wear your helmet!!

Easter Weekend

2008-03-24T18:14:00.002-04:00

Well, not much happened this weekend. Hubby went up to Hindman, KY to take the ATV Safety Course. I'll admit, it was really rough getting up out of bed at 5:30 on a SATURDAY morning, but we did it. We already had the Cats loaded and ready to go. WHICH by the way almost didn't happen! Let me back up here for a minute......
Friday I finally got around to cleaning off the mud from the week before. I know, I should have had it done long before then but, well what can I say. Anyhow, I washed and sprayed and washed till I had two of the cleanest Cats you ever saw! Really sharp looking. While they were drying off I loaded up all the trash I could find to go with what was already loaded on the trailer to take off to the dumpsters. No major problem there...... and while we were out I picked up a couple burgers & fries to have for supper..... NO COOKING! LOL..... anyway... as I was coming out of the store I looked at how the trailer was slanting toward the back end of the truck. I thought, NOW that's weird. I even mentioned it to Hubby.
When we got home we first came inside and ate our supper then went back out to load the ATVs. Or we thought we were going to. Hubby held on to the trailer and lifted it up then pushed it down and.... YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE the movement that there was from the hitch receiver! It scared me to death! Sooooooo we got out the tools and the tarp and laid it down to where I would have something to lay on instead of the ground. Now what was funny, I laid down on the driver side..... scooted over to the passenger side and started checking EVERY BOLT that is in that receiver hitch. Found a couple that were a little bit loose..... but nothing major.
Scooted back over to the driver side...... first I tightened up the 2 bolts that are on the back bar for that side.... then got the 4 bolts that hold that plate on..... then scooted a little bit more to where I could see the two bolts that held the whole thing to the frame and..... THIS IS WHERE I JUST ABOUT HAD A MAJOR HEART ATTACK! The bolt that is farthest to the back.... WAS GONE! That whole left side had actually BENT down! BENT! I was about in tears!
First thought was.... what would have happened if we had loaded up the CATS and took off without seeing that..... Second thought was.... What if it had broken totally off while I was pulling them home last Thursday?!? (Insert look of total horror and shock!)
Now here it is by this time about 8:30 - 9:00 on a Friday night! We had to leave no later than 6:30 - 6:45 the next morning to get to Hindman by 10:00, and we didn't have a thing to pull them with!
I was in a panic and went over to the neighbors house..... he works on cars/truck (but is really a paint/body man) in the hopes that he might #1. have the bolt that we needed.. #2. know where to find one at this late hour! Well it turned out that when I bought that hitch that it came with NEW bolts that replaced the old bolts in that spot..... and I had KEPT and actually FOUND the ones that went there! BUT he did have to go over and get his floor jack to PUSH the hitch back up toward the underside of the frame to even get the bolt started. BUT we got it fixed! THANK GOD! Afterwards we loaded both Cats up, strapped them down...... double checked them and finally came in for the night.
BACK to Saturday...... We managed to find the ATV Training Course with a little help from a wonderful gentleman that we ran into at a little store/gas station in Hindman that knew where this place was. When we pulled up in front of the building I looked to check how far we had driven...... ONE way was 106.6 miles!
Training course was easy.... well for me at least. At times a bit boring. BUT Hubby learned a lot from it so that is the important thing. I got a chance to talk in length with the instructor about what to do and where to go and what all is involved in becoming an instructor. I really want to do this. Not for the money, but to do what I can to teach people how to ride safe and stay safe. I do not want to go to any of my friends funerals anytime soon. If they die from OLD AGE........ that is one thing... but from an ATV accident.... that is another.
I called today and talked with a person from the regional office of the ATV Safety Institute, they are sending me papers to fill out and send back. We will see how that goes.
Well...... that's my ATV adventures for this weekend. Sunday was Easter and hardly anybody that I knew rode any. I guess everybody spent family time. That is the important thing.
Till next week or there is news to report..... Ride Long, Ride Hard, BUT always ride SAFE! Wear your helmet!!!

A day I won't soon forget. Witness to a Plane Crash!

2008-03-14T00:05:00.004-04:00

You know, you see things like this on TV and read about them in the newspapers, but you don't expect to be an eye witness to an airplane crash! I'm still shaking. And it has been several hours now since it happened.
Jim, Pam, Terry, Grizz & myself were doing mostly trail riding and some clean up work down at WTOP (for those that don't know what that stands for it means, Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park).
Terry & Pam had just split off with us because they had to go home to get ready to attend a meeting of another ATV club, Mountain Trails. Grizz, Jim & myself were going to go by the water tower and make our way over to the other side to the Mud Bowl.
We saw this small airplane that was going really slow and low.... and I do mean LOW! It looked as if it was trying to land. I won't go in to details here but the next moment we saw it go down. We all knew it had crashed.
Jim and Grizz took off toward where they thought it had landed. I stopped for a second to call 911. I would say that the call came in no more than 30 seconds after the plane went down. Maybe that was what helped to save his life. I hope so.
There was one man in the plane. He was alive when I got there. I'm here to tell you I was scared to death. I couldn't bring myself to actually look to see him. I was afraid to look for what I might have seen.
In an attempt to make a long story short, I went down to the intersection of the road on 1344 to wait on the rescue people to get there and lead them to the crash site. I know one thing... Miss Kitty can run off and leave a fire truck sitting in my dust! I had to almost stop a time or two waiting on them to catch up. BUT then I guess driving what they were and hauling what they were that they can't keep up with something like an ATV.
By the time I got back up to the crash site, they had the gentleman out of the airplane. He was hurt, not sure how bad but at least he was alive. The fire truck/ems people called for an air rescue to come to the site. It took about 20 minutes for it to get there. The rescue squad had gotten there shortly after the fire trucks and attended to the mans injuries. They loaded him into the back of the ambulance and waited with him there till the air rescue arrived on site.
From what I was reading at the WYMT news site they took him to UT Knoxville Hospital. I wish that I had a way of knowing that he will be OK.
Before I go any further I have to mention that not only was it the three of us at the crash site, but Brandon & David were on the other side, near the Mud Bowl and came over too. All 4 of them pulled the man out of the plane. They arrived there while I was down waiting on the rescue squad. I'm still so shaky that I'm having a hard time remembering it all. Or should I say put everything in the order of events? Yeah that's it.
I'm going to try to call Knoxville tomorrow to see if I can get in touch with any of the mans family to make sure that he is OK. I pray that he will heal from his injuries and will be alright. It is so remote up there that if someone had not seen him go down I'm not sure how long it would have been before someone found him. And with him being in the shape that he was, I'm afraid to think of how he would have been if it had been a long time. I'm sure that he wouldn't be alive.
Well, that is what has happened in my part of the world on Thursday, March 13, 2008! Sure hope it does not happen again anytime soon!

Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park!

2008-03-11T23:24:00.003-04:00

It is official..... we have a name! The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of naming the new ATV/UTV/etc park.... Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park! For those of you that have no clue what I'm talking about here is a little bit of background on what is going on in Bell County Kentucky (Middlesboro).

We are located in Bell County KY, which is located on the Kentucky/Tennessee/Virginia state line, in the shadow of the famous Cumberland Gap, where Daniel Boone opened the Gateway to the west via the Wilderness Road. Also home to Middlesboro, KY, the town built inside a meteor crater.
We are deep rooted in Appalachian tradition and southern highland culture. Corn bread and coal mines. Log cabins and over-alls. Front porch conversations and deals sealed with a hand shake. And of course, a down-home, come-on-in-and-grab-a-plate attitude. No matter who you are or where you are from, the people of the mountains of southeast Kentucky will treat you like next of kin.
We in Bell County are blessed with breath-taking mountain views and some of the best trail riding the world has to offer. The coal and lumber industries have left us with trails of all kinds and of all difficulties. From level gravel roads with spectacular views that are great for beginning riders to rutted out, rocky log roads that would make even the most experienced riders get chicken skin (that's goose-bumps in mountain talk)...Bell County has both and everything in between. Mud, dirt, gravel, rocky creek beds...whatever you want in a trail riding experience, we got it.
Great mountain views. Great trail riding. And great people. We invite you to come on down to the mountains and experience it first-hand. We know that once you do, you'll be back for more.

To the locals, it has always been known as Mountain Drive.
A pristine stretch of land in eastern Bell County comprised of beautiful plateaus, roaring mountain streams, and deep hollers.
On top of the mountain you get the feeling of almost being in the old west...on a primitive frontier landscape. Rolling, grassy fields and scrub brush...and yes...even cattle dot the landscape. Wilderness as far as the eye can see. Then you look beyond the pastures and you immediately realize...You're on top of a mountain! A glance to the north will give you a view of the Pine Mountain Range...And looking to the south will offer a view of the towering Cumberland Mountain range.
Mountain Drive has been extensively mined and beautifully reclaimed over the past half century. After coal and lumber operations ceased on the property, large sections were leveled and reclaimed as pasture land, in an area where flat pasture land was a luxury of the highest degree.
Through the generosity of Asher Land and Mineral, our club has obtained the right to develop 9,000 acres of this property into an off-roaders dream come true. The future park will stretch from the Colmar region in the west to the end of Hances Ridge in the east, with more land hoping to be added down the road to connect in with the already world famous trail riding in Harlan County. The entrance will be the locally-famous "Bridge To Nowhere"...which will now be a Bridge to Somewhere. Somewhere beautiful.
The park is also bordered on the north end by the famous Cumberland River and will be accessible from our trail head area, where visitors can enjoy some great kayaking an canoeing, as well as river smallmouth and walleye fishing! And speaking of fishing, Mountain Drive also has numerous ponds that contain largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie, which our visitors can fish on the terms of catch and release. All that is required to enjoy some great fishing is a valid Kentucky fishing license!
As a club we are also planning on developing camping and picnicking areas throughout the property.
Mountain Drive, Now known as "Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park" offers riding of all kinds...there is truly something for everyone. For beginning riders, you can cruise for hours upon end on easy, flat gravel roads...taking in the sights of the beautiful mountain ranges on either side and watching all kinds of wild life. For those who enjoy a bit more of a thrill, Mountain Drive also contains miles of wooded trails, ranging from easy to extreme. Pick your poison!
What about mud you might ask? Allow us to introduce you to the Mud Bowl.

A redneck Roman coliseum if you will...The mud bowl is not for the clean-at-heart. This huge mud pit is bordered by walls on the side for spectators to cheer you on...And enough mud holes of various depths to get you as muddy as you wanna get! And this is only one of many mud pits that Mountain Drive has to offer!
Our club also has plans to develop a huge rock garden for all the rock crawlers that want to test their skill and also have plans to develop a race track for thrill seekers to lay claim to bragging rights!
Mountain Drive will soon enter a new phase of it's life. It will host people from all around the world who desire to get the full southeast Kentucky experience. The club will do upkeep on the trails and also keep the park free of litter and will set up trash cans throughout the area.
The best part of this area for visitors to our area is the cost of riding this beautiful land...FREE. That's right...there will be no charge to ride any of this land.
As of now we are in the process of mapping the trails and going through the development phase. We are working hard to have this land opened up to the public as soon as possible.

All riders will ride under KRS 411.190 - "Ride at your own risk"

For the most part the park is open now.... but there is still work going on almost on a daily basis. WE are working hard to get things cleaned up.. trails mapped and cleared of trees, brush etc.

For information on where to stay and other things to do while you visit our wonderful area you can go to http://hollercrawlers.googlepages.com/ .

Please come visit us for a wonderful ride and some amazing views of our part of the world!

No riding this past weekend, but did some club work.

2008-03-10T13:07:00.002-04:00

The weather wasn't that great this weekend for riding so some of the club members got together at Terry & Pam's house to do some much needed club work on Sunday. They had already cut out and primed boards that will be used for "Trail Markers" and needed members to come help paint on the numbers and decide which number will go with which trail.
The main trail that connects both sides of the park will be known as "hc Route 66"... the sign markers for that trail/road will even look like the old sign markers for the famous Rt. 66! Now as for how long any of them will stay in place before they are either stolen or shot to pieces who knows!
The Holler Crawlers have their monthly meeting tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at Pineville. Topics to be discussed are the plans for the Benefit ride for Sean & King that were killed on duty back in January. We will also be voting on the new name for the newest ATV Park in Bell County. The two choices will be #1. Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park #2. Wilderness Road Motor-Sports Park. Personally I like #1 the best. I think it tells it all.... anything form of transportation that is considered "OFF Road" is welcome there! In my mind if you say the word "Motor-sports" I think of RACING, like they do at Bristol. But I'm only one person with only one vote. I've got the voting slips printed up and ready to hand out at the meeting. I'll come back HERE on Tuesday night after I get home to share how the vote went.
Well it is now less then 2 weeks till my husband and I go up to Hindman, Ky. to take the ATV Safety course. I'm looking forward to it myself. I just hope that it isn't freezing cold. I've got enough clothes that I can put on to stay warm... Jim with his health issues has a harder time of it than I do.
Well for now that is all the news about riding or club activities. Not a whole lot, but I'm sure that as the weather improves that it will change!
Till next post.... Ride Long, Ride Hard but always Ride Safe! WEAR YOUR HELMET!

Holler Crawlers on the Move!

2008-03-05T20:26:00.003-05:00

I wish I could say that every day that any of the Holler Crawlers were out working that I was there, but I can't. I had stuff that I had to get done here at home on Saturday and again on Monday, but we all sure had a great time on Sunday!

Trails are being cleared left and right and new trails are being found every time Terry & Pam go down to ride. A lot of work has already been done on making this a world class ATV park. But sadly there is a lot more work to be done. With time, and a lot of hard work by all of the Holler Crawlers it will get done.

Took some new trails this past Sunday that I had never been on before. They were an adventure for sure! Beautiful trails.... and there is one that I do hope that we have named already. In honor of our Club President, BCO aka BC Uh OH... the trail that goes down to the creek I want named "UH OH!" in honor of BCO. IT is steep..... that is for sure! But we all made it down. Thankfully once your down at or near the bottom there is another way out that I've been told is not as steep as the one that we all took going down. (It seems that we missed the marker to take the NOT SO STEEP ONE! LOL) And there is still yet another way back up..... and honestly..... I think it may have been steeper than the one that we took coming down! YIKES! And of course some took this one out and some didn't. NOW which one do you think that I took?

Yep.... the steepest one! I think I held my breath all the way up... but we did it! It made me feel good to get to the top... IN ONE PIECE! I was on my 04 300 Arctic Cat and it did just fine. Most people look at "Miss Kitty" and do a double take at it because of where that model has the engine placed..... but now let me tell you...... that KITTY loves to climb! We may not make it up as fast as some of the bigger more powerful rides.... but darn it we make it up too...... that's what counts!

Took time out Monday to do a little work on my trailer. I had to redesign the front of it to give myself an extra foot of floor space to fit both of the AC's on. For the most part it is done. Still have some sanding and painting to do, but we laid one piece of the flooring down and brought both up to see how they fit..... and I'm THRILLED! They will now both fit on the trailer... and the ramp closes!! I'm one happy lady!!!

I've got some video of this past Sunday's ride.... but sadly it is still on the card in the camera. I promise that I'll get to it in the next couple days and get it up for everyone to see. But for now enjoy a few pictures from this past Sundays ride. And of course I had to add one of the CATS on the trailer WITH THE RAMP CLOSED! Am I happy? You betcha!

Till we meet again.... RIDE Long... Ride HARD... But always ride SAFE! Wear your helmet!

Meeting Tonight

2008-02-26T15:40:00.002-05:00

The Board of Directors and the Officers of the Holler Crawlers ATV Club meet tonight in Middlesboro to discuss possible names for the new ATV park and to try to make final plans for the Benefit ride in May.
Hubby was going to go with me tonight, but he is home sick so he can't go. And here I had plans on going early and eating some KFC! Looks like if he gets any it will be take home.
The temps are dropping fast... and the wind is really howling outside. The forecast is for snow to move in here. Hope I get down there and back without any trouble. I don't think I'll have any problems.... but with this crazy weather you never know!

We did it!

2008-02-25T11:08:00.003-05:00

We did it! I am so proud of the "Holler Crawlers" for all the hard work that went on this weekend. We are no where near done with what work needs to be done, but sure did get a really good start on it.

Saturday morning a group met at the Colmar parking area and got busy right off the bat picking up trash and hauling it away. It is amazing to see the difference between the before any work was done and the after two days of cleaning looks like! The group that met Saturday mostly picked up in the lower section of the parking area to begin with, then moved on to do some much needed trail clearing. There are still a lot of trees that need to be cut and moved before all the trails are fully opened. But even with what has been done just this weekend the difference is amazing.

Sunday morning an even larger group of people showed up to really put a lot of hard work in for the day. Everyone split into groups and were working in different areas of the Colmar parking lot. Some went up toward the "Beaver Pond" while some were in the upper lot cleaning trash, while others hauled what was burnable to a safe site and set on fire. While at the same time a group were on the trails with chain saws still fighting those downed trees! It was an amazing sight to see..... everyone working hard with one goal in mind. To clean up our park and open more trails.

And of course, after everyone had finished up with their area it was time to "PLAY" a bit and have some major fun!

Everyone met up on top and formed a large group to go on some "sight seeing and trail riding" for a while before going home after a good days work. We all rode down to check out the "block building" that is on one of the trails. AND of course we picked up what trash was around that building while we were there. The building needs a little work (NEW ROOF) but it really could be used for so many great things. It is well hidden and would make a great place to get out of any bad weather that might come up on a days ride. Hopefully some of the business people in Bell County will get behind the effort and donate the materials needed to put that new roof on. I've got a brand new nail gun that needs to be put to work!

I still say that it would be great if we could harvest what trees are fallen and use the logs to build a "club house/cabin" on the property. Free lumber is GOOD! But I know it would be really hard to get them from where they are laying now out to a workable site. BUT it still is a great idea. Now to come up with a way to get it done.

After stopping at the block house the entire group went to...... where else but..... THE MUD BOWL! It was something to see everyone (well most everyone) going down in to the bowl to play in the water. There sure was some wet, muddy people that came out of there! But you know what.... EVERYONE of them came out with the biggest smiles on their faces that you ever did see!!!

After everyone got their fill of the mud we made our way back down to the parking area. Everyone was tired from a long days work, but very happy to have done it. The rain held off, only saw a slight drizzle at one point and everyone made it safely home.

I heard talk about going back this coming weekend to do some more work. I'm sure that someone will be there doing something. I wish that we lived a lot closer, I'd be there every day doing what little I could by myself. My house would suffer for the lack of attention, but I'd be happy just to be out and riding.

The HC officers and board of directors members are meeting this Tuesday to discuss the list of names for the new park and narrowed down to 3 names for the club as a whole to vote on at the next meeting on March 11. I know I have my favorites but if one of them will be chosen I don't know. I'll have to wait and see what the club votes as their favorite.

We will also be trying to make final plans for the Benefit ride for Officer Pursifull that was killed by two young boys back in Jan. AS soon as I can I'll post final details for everyone in case you want to make plans to attend.

Well, for now I've gotten caught up on all the happenings. There hasn't been a lot of riding being done. Weather has not been to good and when it was I had other things that had to be done first. Maybe spring will be here soon and things will get back to normal! What's normal? Riding every weekend of course!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of some of us working & playing! We all had a great time!

Clean up Day!

2008-02-22T12:00:00.007-05:00

This weekend, Feb. 23-24, the Holler Crawlers will be doing a "Clean Up" at the Colmar parking lot. Last time I was there people had been using it as a "dump" for all sorts of trash. I think I even remember seeing a old bathroom toilets! Maybe if we turn it upright and fill it with dirt and plant flowers in it people will get the idea? OK, so I'm just kidding. No planting of flowers in old toilets. That would be a little to tacky. BUT I am hoping that the community sees what the club is doing... and that we mean to do more good for Bell County than harm they will stand by us and support the Club.
This coming Tuesday, Feb, 26 is a meeting of the Officers and Board of Directors of the Holler Crawlers. We will be discussing names for the park and getting a list of 3 for the club as a whole to vote on at the next meeting. And making plans for the "Benefit Ride" for Sean Pursifull., a Bell County Deputy that was killed while on duty. As of now the date for the ride is May 31. The date should be set in stone within the next couple of weeks. When all the final plans are made I'll be sure and post any and all information right here.
Looking forward to March 22 of this year. Will be going to Hindman, Kentucky to take the ATV Safety Class. That will be very interesting and very informative.
On a more personal note, I've gotten Jim's Arctic Cat equipped with a new Gorilla 2500 lb wench and put on the front Brush Guard for him for a Valentines Day present. It looks really good on there. Now the only thing left to do is to get the rear bumper put on. That will be in place no later than mid April!
It has come to my attention that some people have been making fun of how I've named our ATVs. Personally I don't care what they have to say. I do know for sure that either machine has more common sense then the person/persons that have been running their mouth! AND the ARCTIC CATS are NOT HUMAN! Am I putting down the people that run their mouths? I guess I am. I never have been able to understand what makes people think that running their mouths makes them look ....... what? Intelligent? NO! More on the lines of the "Village Idiots"! Enough on that subject.
Well for now I'll hush and get some much needed work done. Sorry that I've not been posting much on my blog. I've not been getting to do any riding for weeks and it is killing me! Maybe soon the weather will break and the Arctic Cats will be gotten out of storage and rode through the mud!
Ride Long, Ride Hard, RIDE SAFE!

Atteneded my first "Holler Crawler" meeting!

2008-02-12T21:12:00.000-05:00

I finally was able to make it to the monthly meeting of the "Holler Crawlers" in Pineville, KY. We were a little bit late, due to some things that we had to do before we really could get on the road. But the important thing is that we made it. My husband went with me tonight. I'm so proud that he did. Now he knows what sort of good people that I've been riding with the last month or so.

One important piece of business that needed to be done tonight was to elect/appoint a Board Of Directors. Bless their hearts, they actually wanted me to serve on the board! Actually I'm very proud and honored. I vow now to do the best job that I can possibly do. Thanks fella's for the honor of serving you.

Plans are being made now to do a "Benefit Ride" on May 31, 2008 to raise funds to go to the family of Sean Pursifull, a Bell County Deputy that was killed while on duty. As more plans are made final I'll post more information. But if you love riding, and want to ride with a purpose then please make plans to come join us.

Sorry for any misspelled words tonight. For some reason the spell check is not working!

Hillbilly Ice Skating!

2008-01-28T23:22:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I had to do this.... THANKS JIMBO! I had no idea that the cameras were out and clicking away. Honestly, I'm glad that they were. I know that it has been said that a picture is worth a Thousand Words...... well, here's the pictures!

Now you know why, even in bad conditions, that I love riding where I do! AND all this is within a 10 minute haul to the trail head from home! I love this place!

Lesson I learned, the hard way!

2008-01-28T08:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I've learned a very valuable lesson yesterday. NEVER be leader! It wasn't that I didn't know where I was going.... I guess it was bad Karma or something.

Good news is that I didn't get cold! Feet, legs, hands stayed warm as could be. BUT if I had to use words to describe the days ride it would be "An ADVENTURE"!!!!!!

I should have know that things were going to happen right from the get-go from what happened. OK, now first off this is first time that I was the leader of a "group". That didnt' bother me... I knew where I was going and how to get there and what to expect. WHAT I didn't expect is for me to ALMOST flip the ATV on the first 100 FEET of the TRAIL!

I was in the process of reaching to flip the button to put it into 4X4 when that puppy spun out and went sideways with me on the STEEPEST part of the trail head! Talk about scaring the poopy out of you! ALL I could do was use my finger to trigger the mic on my head set and say OVER AND OVER AND OVER..... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guys (BCO, Tinbender and somebody else I forgot!) had to come grab hold of the front of my ride to hold it down to keep it from flipping... and I had to crawl off of it UP HILL..... and with my knees the way they are I almost couldn't do it! But we got it straight.... locked it into 4X4 and I made it on to the top of the hill. NOW what is so danged bad.... I've been up that same spot no less than a 100 times and NEVER had any problems!

Ok, I recoverd my composure and we all made it up that little part and continued on with the ride. No major problems ..... trail on the SOUTH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN was muddy but nothing more worse than I had already seen before. Arrived up on top at the first resting point "Crows Foot" and it was covered with snow that had been there since last Tuesday. I told them that I knew that there was one spot on the north side that is a steep incline that could be rough. WELL ROUGH WASN'T the WORD FOR IT! About 100 feet before it REALLY got steep...... right as your coming out of a steep curve back to the right you hit SOLID ICE! Trail was coverd in a THICK SHEET OF SOLID ICE! It only went maybe 20-25 feet but still it was downhill and WHOA! I knew that the worst part (as far as steep) was JUST beyond that. So I did the leader thing and said I'll go as far as I can and check it out, everybody stay here and wait for me to yell on the radio.

WELL ...... There was some rocks that the tires on the left could ride on that COULD have kept you on the trail..... and that is where I had my wheels... BUT>>>> NOPE! I started down heading forward.... the back end slipped off the rocks and here the heck I go, spinning around....... going BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL ON THE ICE! One of the guys (Tinbender was that you? I forgot I was so scared!) came down and grabbed hold of my rack on the front of my bike after it had came to a stop and...... HERE WE WENT AGAIN! Still sliding and this time a fella with me... he then slipped.. was on his backside... heading UNDER MY ATV.... both of us still slipping, sliding down the mountain!

Finally came to a stop and more came down to help me (and him) out of a BAD situation. They grabbed my bike and spun me around (STILL ON THE ICE) and got me heading forward again... then I made it OFF The ice onto solid ground. I went on down the trail.. the ground was clear, no ice no snow... came to a spot that I could park the bike and walked down the trail to where I could REALLY see the worst part of the trail. By this time another rider had came down and joined me (guess he figured with my luck I'd need dragged out of there). I just looked at him and said "I'm NOT going down that! You can if you want to BUT I'm NOT!"

Well the good part is that all this is that we were at an intersection right in that very curve that gave the choice of going off the mountain on another trail. I had only been that trail ONE other time (the last time I rode that route) and I knew that at the bottom there were some really BIG BOULDERS that we had to go over. I knew that my AC would make it because of the ground clearance, but there were 3 "side by sides" that were no where near as high off the ground as I was. I told them that I thought we could make it down but I wasn't to sure about coming back up (seeing as how the other trail was OUT OF THE QUESTION!)

Other than finding a few trees that had fallen across the trail.... and a couple of the sideXsides JUST barely clearing the trees.... we finally made it OFF THE MOUNTAIN! I was never so happy in my life to see SOLID LEVEL GROUND!

We went on over to where we were heading to.... played in the mud for a bit, had a bite of lunch then headed back. AGAIN I had a bit of a problem..... NO BODY else but me and it was my own stupidity.... I thought I had hit the button to lock it into 4 wheel drive... but dummy me had it in 2 wheel drive! Got to one of the big boulders and almost didn't make it up. AFTER I finally made it over.... I saw what I had done and felt like a PURE FOOL!

When we got back up to the top of the mountain we made a right turn at Crows Foot and came back out the top of the ridge to come down the mountain that comes out right at the trail head. PHEW...... we made it..... OR SHOULD I SAY I MADE IT! I told one of the fellas that next time I said I wanted to ride somewhere..... DO NOT GO WITH ME! RUN hard the other direction! I've learned my lesson.... KEEP ATV IN 4X4..... and stay the heck off ICE!

I'm sorta sore in my shoulders/upper arms from fighting the trail... had a major head ache when I got home.... I guess from stress..... but all in all it was OK. Now I'm not ready to hit Stone again anytime soon...... MAYBE oh say..... next JULY when there is NO CHANCE OF ICE!

My Hardest task to date...

2008-01-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

Well, the day has come at last. I've made up my mind to shed the blubber that is on my body. I actually started yesterday evening. After what I went through, I had to do something and NOW!

I'll say up front, I LOVE FOOD! And especially anything sweet. That is my real downfall. I crave sweets! I almost believe that if you put chocolate on something, anything that I'd eat it! Well, maybe not EVERYTHING, but almost!

My goal is to shed by the end of December 2008 97.5 pounds. Even at the goal weight by most people standards I would still be considered fat. But for my old bones much more gone than that and I'd look unhealthy. I've cleaned off my NordicTrack to where I can actually get to it to use it, and did a 20 minute workout this morning before 8:30! Got the old heart rate up. I need to do more walking but with all this weight that I'm packing around my back hurts me so bad that I have to stop within a few minutes and sit down. Needless to say that it is very painful in my knees and hips to.

What brought all this on? Well it's like this..... the weather is cold/cool and there are some days without rain on the weekend that would be perfect to get out and ride in. I've got a great coat to wear that keeps me toasty warm. BUT from my upper thighs to the top of my boots I still get cold even with my thermal undies on!

So I sat out yesterday to find me a pair of Thermal Bibs. WHOA! Well, lets just say that I did find them..... but I also left them at the store! Talk about sending an old lady into shock! WHOA! Anybody remember the cartoon character "Porky Pig"?? Well imagine PP in a pair of bibs!

So for now, I'll either go and tough it out.... or I'll just stay at the house till it gets warmer. BUT there will be a change in my body image. I will loose the weight! I've got to or I'm going to die an early death from a heartattack or stroke from all this fat I've got on my body! I've got to much riding to do...... to chance that happening.

So with a lot of prayers and kind words of support I will get the weight off. AND keep it off this time!

Video recap of 2007

2008-01-20T10:32:00.000-05:00

Well seeing as how it does work putting up video to watch I'm going to add another. This one is titled "Friends & Family". It is a collection of photos that was taken over the summer/fall/early winter of everyone that was on some of the rides I took.

Hope you enjoy this little video. I know I really enjoyed making the "Memories".

Second week in a row... no riding!

2008-01-19T17:59:00.000-05:00

Well this makes the second weekend in a row that I've done nothing but sit at the house. I've never been a big fan of cold... but now it's down right nasty outside. I heard that the low in the morning is supposed to be somewhere around 9 degrees! I'm sorry, as much as I love riding I'm staying IN THE HOUSE tomorrow!

The only good thing about not getting out is that I've had plenty of time to work on the videos for the Holler Crawler ATV club ride that we did on Jan. 6. Had a bit of a problem with one of the files.... but we got things worked out at last! I'll admit, I like the way it turned out. I am not happy with having to chop it up into segments under 5 minutes though.

I've never added video to any of my blog post... this will be the first. I hope it works!

I think it is there! Enjoy!! Leave me a comment if you like it!!!

Starting off 2008 the right way!

2008-01-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be out on the first Sunday in January riding over 45 miles on an ATV! I'm doing things that surprise myself every day. BUT I'm loving every minute of it. I know that I'm going to come to the point that I can't get out and ride the way I do now. I know that. I honestly think that is why I ride at every chance that I can. I'm making up for all those lost years, and the years to come that I'm forced to sit at home and just wish that I could get out and ride.

Met up Sunday morning at the barn of BCO in Middlesboro Kentucky. Nineteen people were there to ride! There was a total of fifteen ATVs and Side-by-sides. The only ones that I knew already were Terry, Pam & Doug. All the rest were new FRIENDS. The weather man lied.... again. I knew that it wasn't going to be a sunny, pretty day but it was supposed to get warmer than what I thought it was! At times there was a little drizzle of rain. But not enough to even make the poncho's come out for cover.

We rode to two different overlooks. I think the name of the first over look is "The Towers". It overlooks the valley below that runs from Harrogate to Lafollette Tennessee. The wind was HORRIBLE...... and COLD! And needless to say the cloud cover didn't give that much of a view. I want to go back to really see how far you can see someday. After we took a break there for a bite of lunch we headed back down off of that ridge to head over to a place they call "Top of the World" that overlooks the city of Middlesboro Kentucky. Before and in between both overlooks there was some fantastic creeks to play in. I think I'll add the photo of myself that Pam took of me out playing in Tackett Creek. Great place to wash off the ATV and have some fun doing it!

We started out at about 9: 30 that morning and got back to the barn right at 5:00 that evening. I was tired and sore and COLD. But it was worth all that and more to have such a great day out riding, seeing new places and meeting new friends!

Thanks to BCO and everyone else for letting me join in on the fun. Can't wait to do it again!!!

Last ride of 2007

2007-12-30T23:41:00.000-05:00

Talk about a happy woman, I sure am! Got lucky and rode Saturday and today (Sunday)!

Today I went with part of the group that I've rode with all summer/fall, Dale, Crash, Hooker, Little Jimmy, Possum and Terry (Crash's father-in-law). We took off at 10 A.M. this morning from Rose Hill and went to Martins Fork Lake again. They guys knew that it would be an absolute muddy mess so they had to go.

Made a HUGE mistake to take a break just before we got down to the lake. By the time I caught up with the guys Dale was attempting to do some of his world famous "donuts" and had a little mishap. He flipped it over on it's left side. Dale wasn't hurt to bad (or so he said) but it did hit his ankle and jammed his back a little. Nothing broken thank goodness!

AND wouldn't you know that all this had happened before I got there with the video camera! BUT I did catch the boys out in the mud a little to deep and ...... well 5 ATVs went over on the ride today and 3 were stuck at the same time! LOL!!!!! They got one unstuck and brought it over and the 3 then had to hook together to get the other two out!

I rode Jim's new 400 today. I'll admit that I do like that thing.... the ground clearance is out of this world..... and lots of power. BUT being as new as it is..... it isn't riding that great and the steering is still a little hard. My shoulders and back are feeling it tonight. But would I do it again tomorrow? You betcha!

Can't wait to see how many weekends in a row I get to ride in 2008! Stay safe everyone! Ride long, ride hard, but above all ride safe!!

Rode on Stone again today!

2007-12-29T23:36:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Well I got lucky and did some riding today up on the mountain. After making a run to get oil and filter for Jim's ATV we came home, loaded up and took off to Rose Hill. When we stopped at Dellis' shop Terry was there. He and his wife Pam joined us. No pictures to show of todays ride..... it was all video.
The mountain is full of mud/water holes. If it wasn't so cold a person could have a ball up there splashing around in them. But it is just a little bit to cold to get soaking wet.
On the way home we went by Pringles house and found that they were having a cook out. Ok, so I wasn't invited, guess they don't want me around much any more. Oh well. I did sorta bite my own nose off to spite my face. Long story and I will NOT go into it. Maybe with time things will get back to the way they used to be. But Pringle was nice enough to go ahead and change the oil in both of the ATVs for us. Thank You Pringle!
Not sure if I can go riding tomorrow or not. Right now it seems like nobody can or is willing to go. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. If not then I'll have to wait till it is a warm day and maybe find someone else to go with.
See ya'll later!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

Well, Christmas has came and gone for 2007. In a way I'm glad that it is over, yet on the other hand I'm sad to see it go. I don't like the pressure to spend, spend - spend to find the perfect present for friends and family. But I do love being with my family, seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter and seeing the family together at Mom & Dad's house.

This year we had several people at the dinner table, Mom, Dad, myself, my husband Jim, Sister Janet and her husband Frank and daughter Ivy, my daughter Shannon and husband Bob, my son Danny and wife Michelle. Missing were my sister Phyllis and husband Jimmy and daughter Morgan, and niece Lindsey and husband Josh with sons Dillon and Rylie.

Daddy's health is not the greatest that it's ever been. Dad had a bad stroke back in May and he still suffers from it to a certain degree. Mom is not the strong woman that she has been either. But I'm so lucky to have them with me still.

We had some family members that have gone on to Heaven this year, My grandmother, Georgia Williams age 94 passed away in January 2007 and Jim's mother Gladys passed away in June 2007. Jim also lost his only brother Calvin in March.. it's been a very bad year on him. But he is working through it and seems to be coming back to life.

After dinner we had some of Dad's family stop by for a visit. His sister Barbara, her son John H. III, and his children Micah and Addison. It was so wonderful to see them again. It seems like family does not get together now as much as they did when I was a young girl.

I do hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and I send my wishes for a Happy New Year!

Enjoying a nice day in December

2007-12-23T17:43:00.000-05:00

Caught a really good Saturday and hubby and I took off on a little ride. He made one mistake and said he wanted to try on Stone Mountain! OH GOODIE! We put in at Rose Hill and went up the old RR bed to Hagan, then up to the top of the ridge to the Crows Foot. He wanted to make the loop out the top of the hill back out toward RH but I convinced him to keep going on over the mountain. Poor fellow.... he fell for it! Now where I'm so used to riding up there nothing seems steep to me any more...... but to him... being the greenhorn that he is.... well I asked him after we got back to the truck did he think about killing me? His answer was YES! hehehe Then I had to remind him that he made it and did just fine... now he has more of an idea what his ride can do and where it will take him as long as he is careful. It isn't like anything was that steep and dangerous but to a fellow that had never ridden Stone before I can see where it might have seemed like I was trying to kill him. BUT it did teach him that he could do it!

We rode on over to Martins Fork Lake. The lake level is really low now for the winter draw down. Talk about having lots of MUD to play in! If only the guys that I ride with had been there they would have been so happy! But we had the place all to ourselves. I didn't get out in it, all I did was take some pictures to show the guys. Maybe next weekend they can get there and then there will be lots of "Dirty" pictures to show.

It was getting late in the day so we headed back over the ridges. I'll admit that he did a lot better coming back then he did going over. That was all he needed was to spend time on his CAT. He even mentioned today that yesterday was FUN! I hope that the bug has bitten him as much as it has me. That would be great! Don't look for it to happen.... but ya never know.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and it is getting colder each day. The forecast is for a light dusting of snow early on Christmas morning. I hope it doesn't. Working the job that he does... if it snows then he has to work. But I'd love to see a little bit and go up on the mountain to get some pictures! Just not on Christmas day.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas! Keep on riding..... ride long.... ride safe!

December 18, 2003

2007-12-18T22:34:00.000-05:00

On December 18, 2003 my best friend got something very special. My LEFT kidney! I had met Kim while my husband was at UVA hospital to have his left kidney taken out due to cancer. It is strange how some people you meet and become instant friends. Kim and I were like that. And I'm a firm believer that God put me there at the time that he did because she would need me later on.

I had first met her dad, and had no idea he was her dad, about a year before I met Kim. He was at a horse show up in Russell County Virginia. Kim and her entire family live in Stuarts Draft, VA. Kim's mother and mine both have the same name, Betty! Kim's husband and I have the same birthday, May 25! And of course Kim and I have the same blood type, A+. And now Kim and I share body parts! OK, just one part, but that's enough.

I'm going to show a picture of Kim and myself the morning of the transplant. Our hospital beds were side by side only separated by a curtain. After we both had gotten undressed and into our lovely hospital gowns and caps we took this picture.

Our families were there with us both. And both families were crying and all that. Funny how I never did get nervous or anything. And neither did Kim. We were the only calm ones in the bunch! You should be able to tell that by the picture.

After the transplant we decided to give a name to our shared kidney. We named her "Sydney". I think it fits.... Sydney the kidney! LOL

It's been 4 years now. Sydney is going strong for Kim. That is the thing that I'm so proud of. The rest of me may be falling apart, BUT I sure have good kidneys! Or should that be "Had" good KIDNEYS? Anyhow, Kim, If you needed another and I had a dozen I'd do it all over again.

The one thing that people said before we did the transplant and after that upset me more than you will ever know was "I couldn't do that for a family member, let alone just a friend." NOW that made me mad..... still makes me mad. The good Lord made us with some things that are actually spare parts. And if part of me can help another person live a normal life again, darn it I'm doing it!

If anyone that comes here and reads this, please think of just one thing. Please think about becoming an organ donor. It is amazing how many lives you could save.

FYI: Kim is on the left, I'm on the right.

Don't you just love our matching outfits! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

High Speed Internet has made it to my house!

2007-12-17T18:32:00.000-05:00

Oh Happy Day! OH HAPPY DAY! Finally getting rid of slower than you know what dial up after 7 years! OH HAPPY DAY!
I've never seen my computer go this fast. Zip..... Zip!
I'm happy! Can you tell?

December 12, 1975

2007-12-12T18:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Christopher! I know that you probably won't ever see this, but I thought just in case that I'd put it up here. Today you turn 32. Seems like yesterday in one sense, yet a couple of lifetimes ago in another. But I could never forget this date no matter how long it's been. I hope that you've had a wonderful day and that your wife and boys have made it a special day for you.

Mom

A note to my visitors....

2007-12-11T20:37:00.000-05:00

I've been seeing where there have been several hits on my little blog. But nobody is leaving me any messages! Either my blogging stinks..... or it may not seem interesting enough. Please, if you don't care...... leave me a message or two! And pass this site around to your friends if you or someone you know enjoys riding ATVs.

THANKS!

Today has been a GREAT day!

2007-12-11T20:12:00.000-05:00

Anytime it gets this warm, in December, YOU better get out there and ride. Which is just what I did! My friends called me this morning and we took off and rode on Stone Mountain today. I loved it! Pam wasn't feeling to good but she went. Maybe next time Pam you'll be feeling 100% better.

We put in at Rose Hill and went up to the top of the mountain then out to White Rocks. One of these days I'm going to actually go out to see the REAL White Rocks, but they are on National Park land and you can't ride your ATV up to there. YOU can walk, or ride a horse but nothing with a motor! I can't walk that far, my knees and hips won't let me. And I don't have a horse so I guess I'll just have to be content to take pictures from Rt. 58 looking up at them.

The picture is of my friends that I rode with today. Thanks guys! And a couple views from our ride. It was a great day!

Not to sure if I'll get to ride again during December.. but I sure hope so. Heck I may get out in the snow.......if it ever snows around here. I might not be able to move I'll have so many clothes on... but I'll get out there and ride no matter what!

Two Weekends In A Row!

2007-12-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

OK, so we are in the middle of a major drought here..... a lot of peoples wells are going dry or are so low that it isn't healthy, but why rain on two weekends in a row? WHY? This is just so not fair. I'll keep an eye out on the weather..... and if by some strange chance it still stays warm I can get some riding in this coming week. I sure hope so. It's killing me having two Arctic Cat's out in the shed and not getting to ride either of them! Oh the shame!
While we were out yesterday I did see several trucks hauling ATVs that had either gone riding somewhere or were on their way to ride. I'm not a big fan of getting wet and having the wind blow you as you ride in this cooler weather. Now in hot weather...... give me a water hole to run through and I'm happy!
Maybe it will be a short winter and spring will get here quick. THEN nobody will ever find me at home.

The Weekend is coming!

2007-12-06T12:44:00.000-05:00

The weekend is just another day away and right now the weather forecast is looking GREAT! Can't wait.... looks like I will get in a FULL weekend of riding for a change.... both days, Saturday and Sunday. Going to head down to Mtn. Drive in Bell county and ride Saturday. Jim, Terry, Pam, Doug and his wife are coming. I've posted on the "Holler Crawlers" site and I think that some of them are going to try to make it too. We are supposed to meet up at 10 in the morning. Can't wait to meet some new people and ride with them too. I've got a good feeling about this new club starting up. Looks like a bunch of good honest hard working people are behind everything. I sure hope it does well.

Sunday I plan on riding with Dellis and the gang. I'm pretty sure that there is one person that will NOT be happy to see me again.... but you know what.. I've lived over 53 years without even knowing this person and right now I don't give a hoot if they like me being there or not! I'm riding and that is that!

But before I can even think about riding I've got to get this nasty house cleaned up. Ok, so I'm not a fan of doing house work.... but who is? I'd rather be out riding Miss Kitty. Hummm if it would warm up just a little bit more I might even go out and unlock and take her for a spin around the yard. But then again... it looks like it is warmer than it is! My reading says it's only 38 degrees outside right now. Brrrrrrrr to cold for me to be out in the wind. Maybe tomorrow I can sneak in a few minutes riding.

The picture above is of my husband Jim and his new Arctic Cat 400.

1st weekend without riding! Feels weird.

2007-12-02T22:59:00.000-05:00

This is the first weekend that I've not gotten to go riding at all. It sure feels weird. I honestly don't like not getting to go at all. Saturday we, my husband and I, took his daughter and her husband down to Bass Pro. They had never been there and I love that place! So it wasn't so bad. Spent way to much money there...... that's for sure! But it was a good day after all. I'll admit it was a little to long of a day..... got home at about 1:15 A.M. Sunday morning..... but it was a good day still no matter how late we got home.
Today I kept my word and went to church with my husband. I was supposed to go with him last week but he was sick and didn't go himself. So of course what did I do? Go riding of course! But this Sunday the forecast was for rain and cooling temps. It started raining a light drizzle early in the day. Rained off and on but more off. I had thought about coming home and loading up Miss Kitty and taking off and finding the group. But I was having such a hard time keeping my eyes open from the late night on Saturday that I opted to just stay home.
Maybe next week I can get Kitty out and go for a ride.

Till then...... ride long..... ride hard..... but always ride safe!

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

2007-11-29T17:52:00.000-05:00

Well good folks........ he did it! He finally did it! On Wednesday, Nov. 28 my hubby and I went with two friends down to the area of Bell County Kentucky known as Mtn. Drive. I've been there several times over the summer/fall months..... even went this past Sunday. Hubby had been there one time before.... we borrowed his son in laws Brute Force and he rode it. I think he saw then WHY I love riding so much. Ever since then he's been talking about getting one. Well as you know he did indeed finally break down and bought himself a Brand new Arctic Cat 400.

Yesterday was a good day to ride. The weather warmed up nicely and the sun was shining so brightly. We got to the trail head at a little after 12 noon. Unloaded and took off. One thing that I'm most proud of is that everyone wore their helmets! That is one thing that I'm going to put my foot down about...... NO HELMET...... NO RIDE! I know, I know, there has been times I could have bitten his head off...... but I do honestly love and care for that man of mine and I need to keep him in one piece.

We met up with Terry and Pam at the trail head and had a really good days riding. With all the rain that we have finally been getting the dust that he had such a bad time with the first time there was gone. NOW he had lots of mud/water holes to go through. I'll admit that if it had been a LOT warmer I could have gotten him soaking wet. But I'll save that treat for next spring/summer/fall when it is a lot warmer.

Didn't get many photos of the group. We were to busy riding and looking. Saw some parts of Mtn. Drive that I've never seen before. Heck for that matter I saw more new trails the other day too! For those that like to ride for several hours and see some great views.... this is the place to go.

And speaking of going...... I heard from the newly elected president of the newest ATV Club in our area.... The Bell County Holler Crawlers. They are listed in the forums of the "Kentucky Outdoors" site. Sounds like they have the makings of a great ATV club. I intend on becoming a paying member. Anyhow they are working with the owner of the area of Mtn. Drive. I intend on doing what ever I can do to help them not only spread the word about what a great area that we have here in our own back yard, but to help the club grow and do well. I hope that they can keep open that area. Until you've riden there and saw for yourself how many trails that there are you wouldn't belive it!

Now that we are a TWO CAT family hopefully we will enjoy riding even more together.

It's here! Introducing "Tom Kat"!!

2007-11-27T22:12:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading my blogs you know that a while back I was talking about finding our latest addition to our rides. While on a day out we stopped at Bass Pro and was really checking out the Arctic Cats..... and fell in love with the 400's. I'll admit that at the time I honestly thought that it was nothing more than a dream of owning a brand new AC. I'm here to tell you that DREAMS DO COME TRUE! While out Saturday doing a little Christmas shopping we stopped by the Arctic Cat dealer in Kingsport, TN. At that time we really had no intention on actually buying one now..... just stopped to see what they had and to kill a little time. Found out that they had some really good offers for financing. That was Saturday. We talked..... and talked....... and did some more talking. The talking continued into Sunday. Come Monday morning we called the dealer and did our paperwork over the phone. A little bit later they called back to tell us that we got it! They would have it ready for us by the time we got there to pick it up. That is the photo that I've got posted..... they just had loaded it on to the trailer at the dealer. Even though we both had sat on it I swear it seems bigger now that it is here. I've got a 5 by 12 trailer and when we got it home we found out that "Tom Kat" as we are now calling the new one, and "Miss Kitty" mine will just barely fit onto the trailer! And I do mean just barely! For the time being to haul both of them we are going to have to load them both end to end and then take the ramp off and tie it to the side. The tires prevent us from getting the ramp anywhere near closed! Thank goodness a month or so back I bought some REALLY strong straps to tie anything down with. Without them there is no way that we could take them both anywhere to ride! But I've always heard that were there is a will there is a way. Guess it's true. Honestly we need to do some work to find a better way to load and haul both bikes safely. That will for the time work, but is going to be a lot of extra work on both of us to get them to anywhere to ride. OH well... it's worth it no matter what we have to do!

Am I tickled? YOU BET CHA! I honestly don't think that husband will go with me every time I go riding..... but now at least he will have one when he does want to go. And if anything happens to Miss Kitty that would prevent her from going I'll have a back up to take. Hope you like what we picked out. I love it!

Sunday Nov. 18, St. Charles Area ride

2007-11-18T19:50:00.000-05:00

After being sick for a week and getting very little sleep Saturday nights sleep was a blessing. That and the the fact that Sundays temps were a lot warmer than I thought they were going to be. I had no other choice than to get up, load up and go riding! I had told one of the gals the night before that I wasn't going.... so I decided to find another place to ride for the day. I hated to show up after telling them that I wasn't going two weeks in a row. Called Jason and he either couldn't or wouldn't go...... so then I called David. For those that have no clue, David is the husband of my very best friend here in the county. We all have the same last name, but are NO relation. Anyhow.... we met up at the St. Charles Elem. school parking lot and left from there. Found the trail head and let me tell you...... the trails/roads goes on forever and ever! We did some back tracking seeing as how neither of us knew a thing about where we were. And I've learned a lesson.... don't let me pick which way to go when coming to an intersection! Every time I said go "that way" it turned out to be a dead end... and most times really quickly! Thank goodness I had my GPS with me. Our goal was to go across the mountain into Kentucky. We finally made it...... but just barely. Found a trail that went in the right direction, but not to long after we crossed the Kentucky line the tail came to an end! NOT FAIR! I know that there is a trail up there somewhere that goes all the way into Evarts. One of these days I'll find it. May take me a while, but I'll find it! Anyhow, we did just under 40 miles today.... weather was really nice.... lots of water holes to go through! I cheated on those.... made David go through first to test to see how deep they were! I know.... that was mean of me! hehehe But it really is a nice place to ride..... I'll go back as soon as I can get the chance... maybe next time I can talk my hubby into going with me. MAYBE. Doubt it.... but I'll try. If not then there is always David I can call to go!

Till I ride again...... or something happens..... ride long... ride hard.... but always ride safe!

The Barn Quilts are UP and in place!!

2007-11-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

OH happy day! We finished today putting up the second of two "Barn Quilts" at Mom & Dad's farm at the Dot intersection today. OH do they look Fantastic! I love them!!!! If everyone hadn't gotten busy with other things for a couple of weeks we would have had them both up in a matter of days of each other. Instead it took a couple extra weeks but we did it! Yesterday it was my husband, myself, Mom & Dad. Today we had my son Danny, one of my sisters, myself, Mom & Dad. The hardest part was climbing up and down the ladders. Heights don't bother me that much...... I love the view from up high like that.. but it is the getting there and then back down that I'm not crazy about. My back is killing me.... I've had to help move the ladders several times and I know I shouldn't have done it. But nobody else was in any better shape to do it so it had to be done! OH well... I'll eat a pain pill here in a little bit to ease things off I bit.

Hope you like the pictures!

Playing in the MUD at Martins Fork

2007-11-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I have to say that I'm one happy person. I got to go riding yesterday with the gang. I didn't decide to actually try to catch them until 9:05 AM! Now that may not sound so bad, but they leave the parking lot in Rose Hill at 10:00 AM! I didn't have Kitty loaded..... No lunch packed.. really wasn't dressed to go riding that early on a November morning either! But I made it! The gang was pretty well ready to leave by the time I got there. I asked which way they were heading and told them that I'd catch up with them, not to wait on me. They were taking their normal break at the top of Crows Foot when I got there. Then headed on over to the back waters of Martins Fork Lake in Cawood Kentucky.

There was some really good mud there so they decided to stay there and play instead of heading on into Cawood. At first I just sat and watched everyone play and sling mud. I kept sitting there...... knowing that it really wasn't so deep to get stuck in, watching and thinking.... well it's ONLY MUD! Finally I locked Kitty into 4 wheel drive..... and hit the mud myself! I'll admit.... it was FUN!

Only bad thing is that I've already made one trip to the car wash..... spent $6.00 and still don't have all the mud off Kitty! Going to have to break out the pressure washer here tomorrow evening and finish the job. The seat is going to have to come off and wash down inside a lot better. Got a feeling that I'll go back to WATCHING everyone play in the mud next time! It's just to hard to get all that mud off.

Not sure if the weather is going to hold out for another ride anytime soon. Forecast is for the temps to go down several degrees by the weekend to the mid to lower 50's. I'm not a big fan of riding in that cool of weather. Not to bad if your sitting still, but moving the wind will cut you to the bone. Guess I'll just have to wait and see how things goes.

Till next time...... ride long...... ride hard... but ride safe!

Feeling a little bit better, but.......

2007-11-08T12:44:00.000-05:00

I'm still not sure how things will go when I want to go riding this weekend. The weather forecast isn't looking to bad. So maybe I'll get to take a short ride if nothing else. If I have to I'll go alone again. I can do the loop from the top of the mountain at Rose Hill to Crow's foot again if I have to. There has been a lot of things going on that I can't discuss here in such a public place. Maybe I've got them taken care of. I sure hope so! It would kill me to have to give up something that I so dearly love to do. I know that the day is coming that I will not be physically able to do what I'm doing now. I know that. But for now I want to ride every chance I get. Guess this is what I get for starting something so late in life. Seems like just yesterday I was in my early 30's. What happened? Who put the clock on fast forward? The only good thing about time passing this fast is that I'll have Kitty paid for in no time! And believe me, that is the only good thing!!!!! Oh how I wish that I had gotten an ATV a long time ago. If I could get in another 10 years of great riding I could die happy. By that time I may be forced to only ride in places like Mountain Drive, but at least I'll be riding! I can see it now....after my passing the kids/grand kids will look at some of the pictures of my attempt to stay young and will say "That was one cool old lady. She was doing a pretty good job of keeping up with kids that were young enough to be her own and loved every minute of it." How else can anyone see wonderful views like the picture above?

Big Suprise Birthday party for Dellis!

2007-11-06T08:05:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, November 3, 2007 the gang met at John's house..... which Dellis didn't think was anything special seeing as how most of the gang is there every Saturday evening to tune up and work on their rides. What he didn't know was that for a while we had been plotting to throw him a Birthday Cookout! It was a fantastic success! I think he sorta got the feeling that something was up.. but not to sure what it was. But he never expected anything like that! We had tons of food and a HUGE cake complete with a toy ATV just like the one he rides. We all piled in Johns house.... John, myself, Morgan, Randall, Jimmy, Deborah, Little Jimmy & Nikki, Dale, Donna, Austin & Brandon, Big Jim K., Junior and my hubby Jim. (Can you count how many JIM's were there?) Sallie, TopDog & one of their girls stopped by for a few minutes but didn't stay for the food. We had all signed a HUGE card to give to Dellis.... complete with his famous logo on it. Honestly I think we almost got the best of him. He made the comment that this was the first time in his life that anyone had ever done anything like this for him. Then he got really quiet. I hope we did you proud Dellis! We love ya man!

Harlan Kentucky Overlook, Nov. 4, 2007

2007-11-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Kitty may have made her last trip for a while. But it was a great ride to end on! Left Rose Hill parking lot at a little before 10 this morning. Started out with 8 bikes and had one late comer to catch up with us just a little way over the mountain from Crows Foot. 1st stop was at Cawood to play in what little mud was left. I was having radio problems so I went to the store to buy fresh batteries thinking that was it. NOPE. I think that one radio is dead or dying! I got lucky that I did have the other one with me. Our goal was to go to the Harlan Overlook. We made it and it was beautiful! Thank you for taking me there!!!

If any of the guys that I ride with read this, I want to say an open apology to everyone for my foul mood today. I said and did some things that were uncalled for. I'm sorry, it won't happen again.

Things beyond my control are happening and it looks like me and Kitty will not be riding for a while, if ever again. I can't go into detail, but believe me I don't think that I could ever miss a bunch of young fellows more than what I'm going to miss you guys. You all mean the world to me. I know that I'm old enough to be your mother and yet you still let me tag along with you. Thank you for that. You've made me feel young again.... OK, younger than I am and that is a miracle!

I guess it is fitting that I got the one last GREAT picture of you all..... and I'm not in it. Maybe it was a sign of what was to come. I'll never forget the laughs that you all have given me.

Take care fellows. Ride safe and ride forever!

Wednesday, Oct. 31 Black Mtn. Adventure Park

2007-11-01T16:22:00.000-04:00

Loaded up "Kitty" early to haul over to Evarts, Kentucky to go check out "Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park". Met up with Terry and Pam at the parking lot of the local WalMart and we drove over together. By the time we got there it was almost 10 o'clock. Sure was hoping that it would have warmed up a lot more by that time... it hadn't! There was still frost on the ground where the sun hadn't hit yet! Brrrrrrr It was cold!!!!
Had a good time.... we rode for about 4 hours. Didn't cover much ground, we went really S L O W but it was good. Terrys brand new Honda acted up a bit on him. The electric shift died on him. Come to find out the battery cables had came loose. Hopefully that is all that was wrong. He went ahead and came home a different way to be able to go by the Honda shop and drop it off. He's supposed to pick it up today.
Maybe next spring when it is a warmer day with more daylight I can get to go back and explore a lot more than we did yesterday.

Cawood Kentucky MUD!

2007-10-29T11:34:00.000-04:00

If you want to make a teenage girl happy... just give her a big ATV to ride and a BIG ole mud hole and she's HAPPY!

Good sized group met up at Rose Hill yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in the morning to start the ride. It was chilly, but actually not as cold as last weeks ride. IN the morning that is! At least last weeks ride it warmed up really well..... this time it never did really get what you'd call warm. Must have been perfect riding weather for mud holes though. Several had a blast! I'll admit that sometimes I've thought about making a run through, but then I rethink that idea and stay on the sidelines taking pictures. It's way more fun.

The group that went this week were myself, Dellis, Randall, Johnny, Jimmy & wife Debra with Possum, Dale & wife Donna with both their boys Austin and Brandon, Morgan and two new people rode with us today, Harold and Jewell riding a Razr 800.

Had a blast us usual, but there are getting to be way to many camera's and they just point and shoot way to many pictures! One thing about it. I know I've got to go on a serious diet and shed this weight. Change of eating habits starts TODAY! It may be spring before anyone sees any difference but there will be a difference! I've got to!

It's getting colder every week now. Not sure how much longer I'll ride. I'm not a big fan of cold and if I put on enough clothes to stay warm I wouldn't be able to move. But we will see what next week brings. I'll decide the night before if I'll go or not.

Till I ride again..... stay safe!

Lee County Tobacco Festival Oct. 27, 2007

2007-10-27T23:43:00.000-04:00

Kitty and I did our first parade today! Kitty was looking really good. Looked like new! Rode in front of the float beside Jimmy (Crash)... What were they thinking! But it was fun for the most part. I did catch one group of young girls that I swear was laughing at me. Ok, I know I'm not skinny by any means, heck I'll say it out loud. I'M FAT! But I do love riding and it makes me feel a lot younger than I really am. AND as long as I can, I'll ride... no matter who laughs at how I look! In the back of my mind I keep thinking...... "Girls, I used to be young like you, I used to be even slender like you, but time and kids takes it's tole on a body and you won't always look like you do now." So the best thing I can do is go on with MY Life and forget the actions of some foolish teenage girls.

It cost me a whole $1.00 but it was worth way more to get the "Bulldog" to come over and put it's "paw" around Dellis. Poor fellow had no idea what was coming off..... but it was surely priceless!

Now back to the parade! Crash and I rode our bikes in front. Dellis drove the truck pulling the float. On the float was Big Jim, Donna and Deborah and the kids, Little Jimmy, Brandon, Austin, & Nikki with Hooker & Dale bringing up the rear. Really large crowd to view the parade today. Weather was nice, but could have been a little warmer. Clouds started rolling in about the time I got back to the trailer and I couldn't wait to get my jacket on.

I guess everyone enjoyed it enough that we might do it again next year. I hope so! If they do then I'll make plans on doing it with them. You could not find a better group of people to hang around with. Everyone is young enough to be my kids... yet still they let me play along with them. Thanks!!!

Visit to Hensley Settlement & Other places Oct. 21, 07

2007-10-22T08:15:00.000-04:00

I can honestly say that the weather could not have been any more perfect for a ride. Even though it was cool Sunday morning starting out it warmed up really nicely and the sun was shining all the way. As usual the group met at Rose Hill to start the ride at 9 A.M. Nice size group and this time it wasn't just Morgan & myself along with the guys. Debra came with her husband Jimmy (Crash) this time riding her own bike. And they brought both their kids!

The plan was to ride to Hensley's Settlement on top of Brush Mountain. I had been up there one other time before but it was almost 40 years ago! I know I was a teenager, but can't remember how old I was. I know it was a VERY long time ago, that's for sure. At the start of the trail up the mountain on the Kentucky side we caught up with the second large group of people out riding. We took a break and they started on up the mountain ahead of us. Caught up with them several times. I had heard that the trail was rough....... and it surely isn't a smooth ride but it wasn't as rough as I had heard. I'd call it challenging. If someone would take a sledge hammer up there and spend just part of a day it would be a lot easier ride. Guess nobody wants to put that much effort into it. I would if my back would stand it, but I honestly don't think I can do it.

We finally made it to the settlement and it was beautiful! Well worth the ride up. A lot of the old buildings are still standing and you can go in most of them to look around. The trees were gorgeous! Perfect fall color. Honestly I'd give anything to live in a place like that. So isolated, so peaceful and quiet. You didn't hear another sound other than the wind and the birds. But I'd say it does get rather rough up there in the winter. I've seen snow and ice on top of the mountain when no where else has anything.

After we all ate our lunch we walked the trail through the settlement. I'm so glad that the park service has taken over the settlement and is preserving it. Such history up there to see how far into this remote area and how they lived. But then we had to leave. By this time in October the sun goes down early and it gets cold quickly.

Our next stop was to ride to what they called "Kings Table". Part of the trail there is rough, rocky but nothing like going up the mountain to the settlement. But I have to say.... WOW! What a beautiful place! Going down the trail through the woods is absolutely breath taking! Then all of a sudden you turn the curve and there sits a table out in the middle of nowhere! Someone had hung a tarp up between some trees. I have no reason why...... but they did. But it surely was a breathtaking ride just to get to there. Then it was on to a place further down the trail that they had given the name of "Hillbilly slip-n-slide". Morgan...... being Morgan just had to try it. I had my camera in hand... but honestly I was laughing so hard and she was moving so fast when she came down the slide that I couldn't get a picture! Maybe someone else will post one and I'll copy it and show it here. I've not laughed that hard....... that long in AGES! Thanks for the memories Morgan! IF Dellis got good video of that one I'm sure that it will make YouTube.... and who knows...... maybe even send it into America's Funniest Home Video's!!

After doctoring Morgan's wounds (she did get a couple small scrapes and a tiny cut or two) and changing into some dry clothes (remember it was a WET slip-n-slide) it was time to head back to the parking lot to go home. Morgan and I started to ride out the mountain ridge top out to Crows Foot, but she wanted to say in person goodbye to everyone. I told them when we got there that someone was going to have to adopt her! It was almost 6:30 when we pulled up to load our ATV's on the trailer.

It was a long day of riding..... some challenging trails...... but it was a GREAT day out riding my Kitty and I'd do it again today if I could play hookie from work! Till next time......... have fun.... stay safe!

October 15, 1994 - 2007

2007-10-15T20:20:00.000-04:00

Thirteen years ago today was our wedding day. Although I love my DH (dear hubby/husband) right now I could choke him! HE's NOT said ONE word about what today is! NOT a PEEP! I know now that I should have went ahead with my first thought this evening...... I already had "Kitty" loaded up and freshly cleaned...... I should have went riding somewhere...... anywhere! Oh he's going to hear about this........ NOT a word..... not a card... not a single flower. And where is he right now? Parked in front of the TV watching the Baseball playoff's! I can remember the weekend we got married he almost cried because it was opening weekend for "Coon Hunting Season"! MEN! ARGH!

Ah, the weekend! 10/13-14

2007-10-14T23:48:00.000-04:00

The weekend has came and gone already. I've came to the conclusion that something just isn't right about this..... it's all backwards! The weekend should be 5 days and the work week should be 2. Nice idea!
Saturday was a beautiful but windy, a little cool to ride but I was wanting to so bad. Hubby and I went down to "Wilderness Road State Park" to check out what all they had for this years festival. It really is nice..... and it seems to have had more vendors there this year than any year I've seen before. Talked with the lady in charge of booking the music for the festival and as of now "Wilderness Road Dulcimer" is supposed to be playing there in 2008! So mark those calenders for the second weekend in October and be there!
Today, Sunday, I went up with Mom to Granny's house to go through some of her and Papaw's things to see if there were anything that I wanted to keep. I'm honored to say that I've now got their old guitar and an old electric guitar! I can tell that the flattop has been played many hours from the wear on the neck. I'll cherish it all the rest of my life. Thank you Mom for letting me have it. She also gave me the set of three Yellow Ware bowls! Oh they are sooooooo nice! I'm tickled to death! Can't forget the pair of McCoy planters that stayed on Granny's back porch!
After we loaded up what I brought home, we loaded up some of the things that Mom is keeping. Granny's Electric Organ....... and Sewing machine. I can close my eyes now and see Granny sitting at that Organ playing away. Granny would have been 95 had she lived till this years birthday. It doesn't seem right that she's been gone for 10 months now. Sure do miss that feisty little woman.
We unloaded mom's stuff at her house then I came on and put up what stuff I had. It may take me a few days but I'll get the guitar cleaned and polished up and put new strings on it. It is in pretty fair shape to be as old as it is.
Today was an even warmer and more beautiful day than Saturday was. I'll admit that I kept thinking about how I wanted to load up Kitty and go riding. I got a late start but we made it! Unloaded at the bottom of Stone Mountain at Rose Hill and went to the top and took a right out the ridge. Rode to Crows foot and came back down and headed to the truck via the old railroad bed. Stopped several times just to enjoy the quiet..... to listen to the leaves falling and just looking around. I was alone so I didn't eat any dust what so ever! It was sooooo nice! I know that I broke one of my own rules...... Do NOT ride alone..... but it was just to nice of a day to miss out any riding what so ever. The sun had gone down and it really got cold on me. I stopped and found where I had packed away a jacket and a pair of gloves. They sure did feel nice! It was really dark by the time I got back to the parking lot.... but I was happy. I got to go riding and all is right with the world again!

Attended MTORA meeting

2007-10-12T09:36:00.000-04:00

I attended the MTORA meeting last night. I was courious as to what all went on at a meeting. I was shocked to see how few people actually were there considering how many are actually paying members. Now I understand that a lot of members don't live in the area, and I can understand why they don't attend, but for those that live IN the county... that is another story. I guess this is just like "Bluegrass In The Park" was.......... only one or two doing the work and everybody else enjoying what they do!
I could understand if they had meetings every week....... but geezzz people! They only meet once a month.... can't you get out one evening? It isn't like the meeting goes on for hours and hours to where you'd be dead on your feet when you get home. I would have been home by just after 7:30 had I not stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. And the meeting didn't start till 6:00!
Anyhow back to the subject, there were 6 people there including myself. The president wasn't there but from what I was told he had a good excuse, but what about the other club officers? I know that the secretary was there but other than where were the others? Maybe at the next meeting they all will show up and dozens other members and make me eat my words.
OH in case you are totally in the dark as to what MTORA is...... this is what it stands for ... Mountain Trails Off Road Association Inc.
Anyhow the good thing that was done was to set a date for the "Joyce Heck Memorial Ride" to be held on Sunday November 4, 2007. Ride to start out at 10:00 AM. I'll do my best to be there unless it is so bitter cold that I can't stand to get out in the air to breath.

I have my GPS!

2007-10-10T08:24:00.000-04:00

Terry brought the GPS to Dulcimer class last night. I got really lucky. VERY lucky indeed! It is a Garmin etrex Legend Cx. This one came with the basic stuff to install. But Terry found out that he needed more things than this one came with so he bought another one, more expensive of course, that came loaded with all the programs within days of buying this one. He's installed everything that the new one has onto this one for me, for FREE! If I've not mentioned it before now I think the world of Terry and his wife Pam. Those are two of the nicest people on the planet! And the best Dulcimer player in the world! I stand corrected.. Dulcimer Players! Pam plays too.
I had to turn it on last night after getting home. I now know exactly where on earth I'm standing just outside my back porch. Hey it could be handy to know! I'll admit that it is going to take a while to learn exactly how to use it, but in the long run it will be so much fun to have. Now I can download and hit some trails that I've only heard about. Or who knows I may find some new ones that I can share with other people. I rather doubt it, but it could happen.
We got some rain yesterday and the trails should be a lot better this morning, but I can't go on any of them. I've got to go to work and open the shop up at noon so all I can do is talk about going for a ride.
Maybe I'll get lucky and have a few days that are warm enough for me to get out and ride this winter after the shop shuts down. I'm not a big fan of cold, freezing weather. But I might try to put on enough clothes to stay warm and venture out on my own.
Well I guess I need to get off of here and do two things, make that three. Load the dishwasher, load the washing machine and do some more reading in the owners manual.

We found our second machine, now to come up with the $$$$

2007-10-09T10:15:00.000-04:00

We, husband and I, took a little drive yesterday. Was supposed to leave Sunday evening and spend the night somewhere but didn't get home from Sunday's ride early enough. Just needed to get out of the house and away from everything even if it was just for a day. Started out going to Shoney's at Harrogate for Breakfast. And of course we ate to much.. yet again. Then went into Middlesboro to buy the cheapest gas around. But then it isn't cheap anywhere but at least it beats paying $2.75 a gallon at any station here in town!

While in Middlesboro we went in to see if hubby could find a Bluegrass CD he had been wanting. They had it! He bought the latest Bluegrass CD by Larry Sparks. I've been wanting so bad the CD by Hunter Berry "WOW BABY".... they didn't have that one! Grrrr

We just took off following our noses down the road. Next stop was Morristown, TN. Still couldn't find my CD! Kept going.. We got onto I-40 west bound and got off at the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge exit. NOW lucky for us there is a brand new " Bass Pro" shop at that intersection. Lord how I love going into that place! One of these days I'm going to walk in there with enough money in my pocket to just load up anything and everything that I want from there!

We wondered up and down the isles till we came to the part of the store that has the Arctic Cat ATV's. WOW! Oh how I love those KITTY's! Finally got hubby to sit on an 08 400 4x4. I thnk he really liked what he felt and saw! I sure hope so! OH that thing was pretty! Great ground clearance..... and all the bells and whistles that I'd want on one. It may not be the biggest that AC builds but I honestly think that for no more than he will ride it and I know he will stay off the roughest trails... that it is more than what he needs.

We left there still talking about it.. and kept talking about it all the way home. Oh we did make it on into Pigeon Forge and I made a bee line straight to the "Ernest Tubb Record Shop" and would you believe that they had SOLD OUT of Hunters CD! I was ticked off to say the least! NOT fair! Looks like I'll have to wait till I get to finally see Rhonda & The Rage in person over in Ky the 1st of November then just buy it straight from Hunter at the table.

Cross your fingers and say a prayer that we can swing getting that new Arctic Cat! I do love that thing... it's so sharp!

Finally found Martin's Fork Lake!

2007-10-07T22:26:00.000-04:00

I've always heard it said "Third time is the charm." well.. it's true. The past two weekends we have tried to make it to Martin's Fork Lake in Cawood, Ky. Well today we finally made it! I'll admit, just getting there was an adventure in it's self. After Pringle jinxed the trip right from the start we should have known that we were going to be in trouble. He had a little problem in the parking lot first thing... but then got it going and off we went. Then poor Dale had to stop and put in more water before we even got to Crow's foot. That is when Mudpuppy found that she had lost her cell phone! We, Mudpuppy and I, left and backtracked all the way to the parking lot where we began! But good news.. we did find the phone and kept her out of trouble.. well sorta... it was kinda wet! Maybe it will work when it drys out. I sure hope so. Ok, now on with the trip.... I'm a fairly good rider but we came to a place that I knew it was time for me to get off and let someone else take it over that rock! Now it wasn't just your normal little pebble.. OH no.. that I could do. This is one that put you in danger of flipping straight back!! I knew that my Kitty had the power.... but I found out that I didn't have the nerve. I'd rather be safe than have a broken anything. I drove up to the edge and then took a really good look and yelled for someone to come and do this for me. I walked up and over while Dale rode my Kitty.. but it did have a little help.... not that it needed it but they had the tow line hooked to it to keep it from flipping. I loved what Dale said about Kitty after he got up to where I was.. he said "that thing will climb a tree!" But then after everyone made it up over the boulder there was one other little thing to get over... a tree! Now it wasn't the size of the tree it was the way it had been cut. Someone had cut it a foot high from the ground and leaned it over. Darn if I didn't get stuck on that sucker! But I had help and they got me free and we went on. Finally the lake was in site a few minutes later. LUNCH TIME! After everyone ate it was time to play.. and for some reason they love to see what sort of trouble they can get Mudpuppy in. There was a fallen tree that went over some of the backwater and of course they put her up to going across the tree log. She made it... but she crawled all the way there and back! Next stop was near Cawood. The mudhole that they were heading to was sorta taken.... someone had gotten a truck stuck in it and had just left it there! Next it was off to the river/creek to play in the water. I like water! Mudpuppy got in and washed off some of the mud.... and she had a little help! hehehe Then it was time to head home.... seems like we made it back a heck of a lot quicker than we got there!

But we made it. We all ate dust.. again... cough.... cough. But we made it. Nobody broke down to be towed home, and nobody wrecked and broke anything... so it was a good day!

The leaves are starting to change..... maybe next week the leaves will be at or near peak fall color. Maybe we will go slow enough to get good pictures of it too! Till next week.. stay safe!

The weekend is here!

2007-10-06T10:01:00.000-04:00

Well it's the weekend at last... My better/other half is going to be very busy so that means that I can go riding guilt free! Not sure where the group will head to tomorrow (Sunday) but wherever it is I'm sure that it will be a good ride. I have a brand new Thor helmet that is still in the bag brand new and clean. I've got to get it dirty! I heard that it is against the law to have a perfectly clean helmet. Can't break the law!

Before I forget...... if you find this blog.... and like what I've done with it please feel free to tell me about it. If nothing else just drop me a note to say hello! See ya'll tomorrow.

Just could not stop till I showed this picture of "Pringle"

2007-10-06T00:09:00.000-04:00

Now I may get into trouble for showing this...... but most people would call this deep...... OH no..... not this gang...... they call this "feep" . I'll not try to explain...... for I might offend someone, I'll just let your own mind try to figure it out. But I just had to show you how to get an ATV very dirty! The one picture that I don't have is the one of the 3 ATV's hooked to him that pulled him out finally! Why? Well like I said there were 3..... and two of them were "female" powered! Can't pull and take pictures at the same time! Now I wish that I had handed my camera to someone!

Views from Stone Mountain, an ATV riders dream

2007-10-05T23:54:00.000-04:00

I just had to add some more photo's from this ride. It was such a beautiful day and I got some great photo's. These are some of the views from, White Rocks, Goat Mountain and ??? (I forgot the name of the one place that we rode through but it is over in Kentucky somewhere!

September 30, 2007

2007-10-05T23:18:00.000-04:00

WOW! Huge group met at Rose Hill.... we tried yet again (I forgot to mention this last post) to get to Martins Fork Lake.... but can't get there due to a mines reworking an old site. Maybe soon they will be done and I can get there from here.
I'll let the pictures do the talking for this ride..... Can we say DUSTY?

September 23, 2007

2007-10-05T23:03:00.000-04:00

By this time we have been several weeks without one drop of rain.... it sure was getting dry and VERY dusty. But still we ride! Met up with the group at Rose Hill again. This time we went up to Hagan and went across Crow's Foot into Kentucky. Started to have some trouble with a couple of the ATV's... but still they pushed on in hopes that they could/would make it and find what they needed. Had one to drop out not to long after we got over the mountain. He had a rear seal leaking and nobody had any 90W oil to replace what he had lost. He turned back. Then the rest of the group pushed on. Dale.... poor fellow had the worst luck of all! His ride...... OVERHEATED big time! His fan died on him and so he had to drift off the mountain.... then be towed to a safe place to where he could be loaded up and took home. Oh did I forget to say that this time I was the ONLY woman along? But I have to say that this group of "gentlemen" were just that.... perfect gentlemen!
We fought dust like crazy.... it's getting so dry. AS much as I love riding I almost hate the dust more. But still I pushed on. I didn't get my camera out to get many pictures that day. But I did get one of something/someone that we found on the top of the ridge coming home. JOAN! Now I'll admit.... that is one strange ride she's on. But it made it to the top of the mountain and back down so I guess that's a good thing! There is a picture of Joan and her ride.

Despite the dust we did manage to find some mud... Kitty's dirty! And of course I have to show KITTY all cleaned up and ready to go back to the barn for a weeks rest.

Sept. 16, 2007

2007-10-05T22:53:00.000-04:00

Now this is what I call a ride! Although I didn't get to do the entire ride the rest of the group made it and I think I heard them say that it was over 80 miles that day!
A LARGE group met at Rose Hill to start the ride at 9 AM. I took my niece Morgan, forever known from now on as "Mudpuppy" with me. That kid has grown up on an ATV and can out ride most men! Anyhow first stop on the ride was "Rock Church"... that is such a nice place to see.

We rode from there on over to the Kentucky side and rode.... and rode.... and rode! The entire group stopped again at the bridge to nowhere. But this time I was one of the ones to get brave! Ever seen a fat lady jump off a bridge on an ATV? You will now! Look close...... NOT one wheel is touching ground! Would have gone higher but you got to admit that Kitty is carrying a load. OH well... not everyone can be skinny!

Morgan and I had to leave the group and meet up with my husband at the furthest point of the ride. My trip meter said that we had rode 49.7 miles! We had to attend a birthday dinner for my dad.... his 78th! Both of us were filthy.... I do mean filthy! Hubby and her mom both had to bring us clean clothes. We had to go into the bathroom at the mall in Middlesboro to change and clean up.. but it was worth it. I'll admit.... Morgan was a little worse for wear than I was.... and here's why....Have you ever seen anyone have so much fun in dirty water? Now you know why we've named her "Mudpuppy"!

Sept. 12, 2007

2007-10-05T22:26:00.000-04:00

Again Pam called to see if I wanted to go on a ride with her and Terry. This time there is a fellow named Doug that was going to serve as our guide. HE knows every inch of Mountain Drive and trails that I'd never found on my own. This time we put in midway on what we had been doing. Instead of making that left hand turn this time we went right then kept going till we got to KY 1344 and went left... then parked on top of the hill.
Doug took us everywhere up there (well not everywhere but lots of new places)..... saw some places that I never dreamed would be there. Found the waterfall..... and some beautiful wooded trails that were great!

September 3 ride

2007-10-05T19:09:00.000-04:00

What I'm about to tell you, well you might not believe. There were 6 that took the ride that day, and they ranged in ages from 13 to 73. Now that might not be so strange, but 5 of the 6 were women.... and the only man was in his late 30's!
I had been telling my mother and the rest of my family about "Mountain Drive"..... so we loaded up and took off. There was myself, my mom, my youngest sister, and two of my nieces and David! We rode 40 miles that day and yes Mom did every inch of it!
We rode to "Bridge to Nowhere" and the girls (13 & 14) walked down to the river and had a blast playing in the water. They got in..... clothes and all... even laid down in the water! Silly youngens. But it was a hot day and I'm sure it felt good.... and they were totally dry by the time we got back to the trucks to come home... mud covered and dusty..... but dry.
At one point when we were leaving the bridge everyone lined up at the furthest edge.... and the race was ON! Needless to say.. David won... he's riding an 07 AC 650 with more power than the rest of us..... but Mom said that if she had her other bike that he'd never have caught HER! And believe me... she's right!