THE SILVER BULLET

I read a bumper sticker the other day that said, "you are never to old to have a great childhood".  That would describe me.  I decided that I wanted to ride again. After all these years, I wanted 'back in the saddle'.  Once I discovered  ROAR  motorcycles for women, I knew I could do this.  I love to ride, but being the short person I am, I never felt totally comfortable or totally in control on big Harleys.  Short legs and short arms make for tough handling.  ROAR modified my Suzuki Intruder 800 to fit ME.  I feel balanced now, and I am having the time of my life.  I can't stay off the thing.

I have never been one to let what 'might' happen stop me.

Motorcycles have been in my background for many years.  Here is a picture of my Grandmother, my father at age 3 and his sister taken about 1920.

After WWII, my dad opened a motorcycle repair shop in Lake Butler, Florida.  There he met my mother (and Shorty's mother, but that's another story).  He had been riding since he was a boy, and loved nothing more than being on the open road on a Harley or an Indian.  All through CCC camp in the 30's he rode the backroads of Georgia.  I have stories, and I will occasionally chronicle them here. I will try my best to get some old pictures uploaded. 

I have joined the ROAR sisterhood and will go on monthly rides with them and I hope to make some wonderful new friends.  I will post pictures.  If you are interested in riding, or learning to ride, or if you just want to go drool over some of the most beautiful bikes around, then stop by ROAR the next time you are in Daytona Beach. 

My first 'bike' was an old Cushman Eagle that my dad fixed up for me when I was 12 years old.

Of course mine didn't look this good, but it was white.  I rode around my neighborhood so much, old ladies complained because the noise interupted their afternoon naps.  But I didn't care.  I must have put 10K miles on it, and with every mile, I loved riding more and more.  I then graduated up to an old 150cc 'buzz saw' and wore it out playing dirt bike in the orange groves.  What fun.  My dad would let me ride his '74 around the neighborhood also.  He restored an old Police bike like this one.

It was painted a metal flake blue with a blue windshield and white saddlebags.  I dropped it once because my feet didn't touch the ground.  Knock on wood, that is the only time I have ever dropped a bike.  Let's hope it remains the only time.  I loved my Dad's Harleys and Indians.  I wish he were still around to give me some pointers today. 

Well, I guess that's it for now.  I'll be back with updates and more pictures.  Lots more pictures. 

From the World's Most Famous Beach

Charlie

Thursday July 2, 2009

I'm up and ready to ride.  This past weekend was a blast.  I rode all weekend.  On Saturday, I rode with the 'big girls'.  I rode with the ROAR Sisterhood out the back way to 415 to 46 to Mims and then to Dixie Crossroads for lunch.  What a blast.

Joanie (in  red) was our lead.  She was having trouble with her speedometer so we had a nice slow leisurely ride.  It was fun.  Safety is always the first concern so I'm learning how to ride staggered in groups and read hand signals about conditions.  On the way back to Daytona, we ran into some heavy rain and had to stop for a bit at a local Stop and Rob in Titusville.

On Sunday, I wore myself out.  In the morning I rode with a group of retired Firefighters from Palm Coast.  What fun.  We rode down to New Smyrna to the beach for lunch.  One of the guys dropped his bike, scary stuff.  Then I rode The Loop for the first time with Toni and her sweet husband Keith.  I had so much fun.  I am going to love getting to know these new friends. 

I also met Maria.  She and I are the same age and we will ride together and hopefully be great friends also.  She is my age and a joy to talk to.  I am so blessed.  After the ride with Toni and Keith, I gassed up and flew to ROAR for the 3pm beginner's ride.  Back to New Smyrna down A1A for lunch.  Someone threw a huge ball right into us on A1A.  Luckily no one had to dodge it but it could have caused an accident.  We also ran into a flock of buzzards on the highway.  Honestly, I would hate to have one of those things fly into my bike...I'd hate to embarrass myself by puking on The Bullet!!!!!!!!

                           This is Maria and me on one of our rides. 

It seems the pictures I take on the Blackberry and upload to Facebook save here as thumbprints.  I could be doing something wrong.  Sorry.  Glad I take my regular camera.  Oh, you can find me on face book by seaching my first and last name. 

Signing off for today.  Have lots to do.  Take care of yourself, and ride safe.

Charlie and The Silver Bullett

Friday, July 10, 2009

Another day in the land of liquid sunshine.  I rode today and got soaked.  I don't mind the rain so much, but lightening is another story.  Scares me.  I made it home ok...I try to watch carefully for standing water.  When the rain gets too hard, I find a place to stop.

Back in the mid 40's my father Ray Smith, had a Harley AND an Indian.  One evening, Ray was on the Harley and Sandy and Rosie were on the Indian.  Sandy is my Mother's twin brother.  This particular evening they were riding on US1 between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach.  It was on the stretch around the airport where the road is straight and the railroad track runs alongside US1.  This was long before I95, and as I say BD.  (before Disney).  It was a time when fruitstands and gift shops dotted the highway. You could buy chenille bedspreads and pralines and have a free orange juice sample at Mom and Pop stands. Anyhow, this particular evening, almost dark, Ray was on his 'Hog' doing what he loved most, riding.  The unspoken game was 'outrun the freight trains'  It was a game right up Ray's alley.  The train engineers apparently had a 'challenge' whistle or something and bang, the race was on.  Ray opened up the Harley and left the Indian in the dust. Rosie said she watched him flying alongside the train, when all of a sudden she could see his headlight swerve from side to side to side. There were sparks flying from metal parts scraping the road.  She said it seemed to go on for a long time...then he stopped, turned around and swung his light back and forth so Sandy would slow down.  He had run into a herd of cows laying on US1 warming themselves on the still tepid asphalt.  He was dodging cows right and left, and managed to stay upright through it.  I can only imagine how fast he must have been going when he started his swerving and how he must have had to play the brakes and throttle to stay up.  Only he could have done that.  He was one of the most experienced riders of his time.  He rode until his death in 1983.  I don't ever remember him saying he dropped a bike.  But then I don't think he would ever have admitted it.  Remind me to tell you about the transmission he put in my Cushman.  Thats another story for another time.

I miss Ray Smith, and Rosalie Wimberly Smith and Sandy Wimberly!!

This is Ray and Goldie.  and no

Goldie wasn't my Mom...Ray

was married 5 times. I love it.

Here is an original biker!!

Have a safe one...

Hugs

Charlie

August 5, 2009

I just created a Chrome Divas page so I can chronicle my adventures with them in a different place.  That page will be more about pictures than blogging.  I have so much going on right now I can't keep track of myself.  I have had to let some aspects of my life fall by the wayside.  Like fricken DATING. Ok Ok, I didn't actually LET that happen, it just did.  But so what, I'm having a good time anyway.  I had a guy last night tell me I needed to lighten up.  I couldn't tell if he was kidding or serious.  I was smiling and dancing around, so I'm not really sure.

Anyway, I'm fine and looking forward to more adventures on the Bullet and with the Divas.  So click the link above and see what it's all about.  And if you are reading this, and NOT a Diva, consider joining in.  You won't be sorry.

From the beach

Charlie

FridayAugust 21st, 2009

I went to visit my sister in Titusville. She took this shot of me on the Bullet. 

Lovin' Life!

Charlie

Here is the insignia my Dad has on his shoulder.  The description is Army Air Forces 1942.  I need to do some research on that.  I always thought he was a mechanic and did a lot of work on motorcycles during WWII.