Christmas Letter, December 18, 2013
Dear Friends,
There is a saying among travelers that "good trips make bad stories", and vice versa. One may apply that to years, also: we've had a good year, but not one that makes an exciting Christmas letter. We pursed our respective obsessions (motorcycling, blue grass) and avoided further medical adventures. So I will keep this fairly short.
Bettie and I together, and I separately, enjoyed some quality time on two wheels. I did my first (and likely only) "track day", in which one rides at speed around a (more or less) controlled race track, pushing his bike and skills beyond what is prudent on public roads. It was exciting and educational, but not something to make a habit of. Best left to young people who have not fully developed all lobes of their brains. (Though many of you will conclude that I have lost some of mine.)
We spent two weeks in North Carolina, riding among other roads "The Tail of the Dragon", a mandatory bucket list item for all motorcyclists. NC was pure delight for our sport: quiet curvy roads, beautiful scenery, good food. However, ... the heart lies in the West.
And so ...
Our other major expedition was to Taos, riding the mountains and mesas of New Mexico. And eating even better food. And then there were trips to the Texas Hill Country, Arkansas Ozarks, ...
I don't have gorgeous photos, because I'm too lazy and/or greedy for riding time to stop and take many.
We are active in our local BMW Motorcycle Club, helping out in assorted computer and social media capacities. Recently I became "RideMeister" so I get to scout and plan the Club's day rides, about once a month. We also added a third member to our motorcycle fleet, a reacquisition of the small dual-sport bike I rode, when just starting my two-wheeled career.
Allen's Landing Band, did their usual once-a-month gig at Hickory Hollow, plus several corporate and private engagements. The membership is up to six musicians now, and all that keeps Bettie pretty busy.
The high point was another show at the Mucky Duck.
There is a saying among travelers that "good trips make bad stories", and vice versa. One may apply that to years, also: we've had a good year, but not one that makes an exciting Christmas letter. We pursed our respective obsessions (motorcycling, blue grass) and avoided further medical adventures. So I will keep this fairly short.
And so ...
Our other major expedition was to Taos, riding the mountains and mesas of New Mexico. And eating even better food. And then there were trips to the Texas Hill Country, Arkansas Ozarks, ...
I don't have gorgeous photos, because I'm too lazy and/or greedy for riding time to stop and take many.
The high point was another show at the Mucky Duck.
The year had its sadness and loss. We lost two friends, one a talented musician and former member of Betti's band. Another, a long-time family friend and spirited lady, two months short of one hundred.
Looking forward, I will borrow a little glamour from 2014: in February we plan a trip to Costa Rica with our Denver friends, our first international trip in several years. We'll have that to tell you about next Christmas.
