July 15, 2013: Odd Thoughts.

Frank:  We just rode the Norton down to the Bozeman Steak House for dinner.  Our original choice was the Winchester Steak House right across the street from the RV park entrance but since it was so close I turned left instead of right and blasted out Rt.25 for about 10 miles just to let the Norton run.  The limit was 65, we were doing 10 over and memories of “doing the ton” (100 mph) danced through my head.  I guarantee the bike was up for it but I no longer am.

I love our little camper trailer.  It got chilly last night so we flicked on the heater and took the chill off.  This morning we had coffee perking while the air outside was still laden with morning dew.  Then we took hot showers, got jacketed up and rode into Buffalo to a cute little café called the Busy Bee in the Occidental Hotel. 

In the afternoon one of Wyoming’s famous thunderstorms rolled through our camp.  Thunder!  Lightning!  Loud noises!  Rain too heavy to see through!  And all the time we were sitting in our warm little camper sipping tea and trying to keep the pups from going nuts because of all the unfamiliar noises.  It lasted about 30 minutes and then just rolled away to entertain some other part of town.

When the sun came out all the water on the ground turned to steam and the camp turned into a sauna.  But that too was short lived and the moisture cleared up and the prettiest afternoon you can imagine blossomed.

We walked around the park and reconnected with friends from last year, and friends from the years before, and friends from as long ago as 1978!  Yeah, can you believe this little club of mine has existed for 38 years!  Amazing!

In fact, I had this scenario running through my head.

Lady at registration table:   “What is your membership number?”

Me:  “One”.

Lady:  “One?  How did you get number one?”

Me:  “I started the club”

Lady:  “Really?  The club has been around so long I assumed you were dead!”

But it didn’t happen.  The registrations were filed by name not number.  It’s too bad; it would have made a good story.  Hmmm, maybe it just did.

Cheryl:  The president of the INOA, Suzi Greenway-Haenggi rented a large RV from a local company here, and it was all set up in a site at the campground when she arrived at the rally. The rig houses Suzi and two friends and Norton owners from New Zealand. While Frank and I were visiting with Suzi there were people there from Australia, Mexico, the UK and Hawaii! The small space was incredibly jammed, but nobody seemed to mind.

Suzi’s place is always a magnet for the late-night crowd and people come and go all day every day. She seems to have endless energy and a genuine love of people. She also owns and rides her very own Norton. Her enthusiasm for the Norton rallies is contagious, and she remembers almost everyone’s name from year to year. She can talk your ear right off your head in about 15 seconds and boy howdy does she know how to party. Being around Suzi either ignites a similar craziness in people or simply wears them out in a hurry! Frank and I think she’s a very special lady and enjoy her unquenchable spirit.

While I napped this afternoon, Frank trekked down to Suzi’s RV and ran into our friends from Birmingham, Alabama, Brian and Diane Slark, who had just arrived in camp. They rode a BMW motorcycle all the way here! We visited Brian and Diane two years ago and toured the Barber motorcycle museum where Brian works. I’m anxious to see them around camp tomorrow.

It was great to take two short rides on the Norton today with Frank, one for breakfast and another for dinner. However, the pace of the day and the brisk weather has conspired to wear me out. I’ll be ready for bed sooner rather than later tonight. I hope the partiers have a great night of it, but I’ll not be among them. What happened to those days when we could ride with the wind and then dance away the evening? I’m just happy to have a warm dry place to sleep and not have to crawl into a damp sleeping bag in a tent tonight!

Wishing you sweet dreams and soft pillows,

King Frank - INOA Member #1, Cheryl - Queen of Clubs, Princess Cleo, and Prince Peanut