Linda at 5400 ft!

The chalet 

Lt and Dad 

JDM and the Road King 

Jerry at 5400 ft 

Linda ready to ride! 

Taming the Dragon!

Our long awaited vacation began to seem real as we worked into the early AM hours after a hectic Friday the 13th. Saturday found us both too excited to notice any lack of sleep. We got away about 8:30 and spent well over an hour at the Cracker barrel in Ocala, but we were committed to continuing our "enjoy the journey" mode that we have come to love. We left Florida and climbed Georgia with the Road King attached to the trailer following our every move. Our Yahoo map took us through all the scenic backroads and towns such as Helen, GA and Hiawassee and Hayesville, NC and on through Palmer and Murphy toward our cabin. We realized that this route would take us right over the Dragon - at night, in the rain, towing our bike....After safely maneuvering the 318 turns, we began to look for Happy Valley Trail and we looked for over an hour and drove by it at least 3 times - finally getting to our gorgeous chalet at 12:30 AM - tired. We awoke Charlie and unloaded the truck and heard tails of Charlie's 2 trips over the Dragon looking for the same road. Sunday was rainy early and that put off the Dragon. We went into Maryville for breakfast and a trip to the new Smoky Mountain Harley dealership - awesome shop and nice people. Charlie would have to head back to Ft Campbell early in the afternoon, so we were glad he had got lost and met the Dragon the day before. I rode with Charlie about 12 miles down to the closest gas station and watched him head back west toward his latest home - I still get a kick out of watching him. He is REALLY enjoying his harley!!! Linda and I kicked back and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the QUIET - oh so quiet!!!! It was wonderful. Relaxation became the mandate of the day! We made a fire in the fireplace, laughed and played - and fell asleep early with anticipation of the day to come. I was up early on Monday as usual, made the coffee and headed down to get the bike ready! We left the cabin after breakfast about nine and within 5 minutes we were meeting the Dragon head on! The "tail of the Dragon" is an 11 mile stretch of US129 on the Tennessee/ North Carolina border that sees thousands of bikers and sport cars drive from all over the country to challenge the 318 curves. It is everything it is advertised - it is not for the weak at heart! It will challenge your abilities and hone your concentration skills. I truly enjoyed every minute of it and Linda seemed much more relaxed on the back of the harley than she did in the SUV. We made our 1st pass and stopped at Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort for a breather, a bathroom break and some pictures. We headed off again down the NC side of 129 and aiming for the Cherohola Skyway about 20 miles away. The scenery and the clean air was beyond my ability to describe - we stopped several times just to stare at the water and the mountains! A stop at wheelers Performance Center found us with multiple Dragon souvenirs and on we rode toward the 5400 ft high Cherohola! Once again, it was mile after mile of beauty beyond description, cool, crisp air!!!!! There were observation points almost every mile on the way up and each one was unique and just as awesome as the one before... At the top, we sat and admired the handy work of our Creator and we were both very thankful to be there - it was 20 degrees colder, there was no leaves and it was brown - a big contrast from the bottom. We headed down and continued to be in awe of the continuous picture book scenery we rode through! An hour later we were sitting at Applebee's in Alcoa, TN very hungry and tired. We had rode 140 miles and had stopped about 8 - 10 times over the past 6 hours....Tuesday I got up and Linda stayed at the cabin while I took on the Dragon alone twice. I picked up the pace a little without Linda on the back and had a thrill all the way through - I MUST COME BACK - MANY TIMES!!!!!! What a major league rush! I drove back to the cabin feeling more content than in many years. We packed up and left our beautiful chalet - promising to return as soon as we can. On to Nashville and the "Great Surprise".... At the chalet, we were so far in the Smokey Mountains that we could not even get any cell phone service - so we got our messages as we headed out and Tom, my brother had left 3 messages wanting to know how it went and when we would be there...I called him back as we were heading west toward his house and told of our great adventure and all the beauty;I remember telling him that if he ever got into motorcycling, he had to go there because it was beyond words. When we got to his house, he was not there, only his wife. She said he would be there any time and he was driving an old classic and she wanted to get some pics. We head out to the driveway and notice Joan is pointing a video camera at us. As I turn around and look up the driveway, Tommy is pulling in on a new Harley Davidson ElectraGlide Ultra Classic! W O W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They really fooled us! He had bought it 6 weeks ago and had hid it when Charlie came to visit so he could surprise me and all the folks in Florida - HE DID!!!! GREAT JOB BUBBA!!!!!!! Tom and Joan looked awesome on the bike and you could tell that Tom was more excited over this than anything in years - he deserves it! The rest of the week was riding and playing and visiting with Charlie - the best vacation ever. Linda got a surprise at the old place we used to eat - Mason's Motel. Jenny has another customer that is a Celiac and she fixed Linda 2 of the best meals she has ever had!!!! We picked up Charlie's bike on Friday afternoon and headed back to Florida.

Puppy Updates

Harley turned 8 months last week and weighed in at 82 lbs.
Lilly turned 6 months and is 57 lbs.
Both are turning into incredibly beautiful Labs.
They are both doing awesome in obedience classes and we are enjoying it all.
They are both sweet pups and the whole pack has jelled together as a close group.
Harley and Lilly are staying out of their crates now during the day and so-far, so-good.
YES - they have stolen our hearts!

Harley and his halo 

Times spins on

Whew!!!!!!!!!!! Since January 20th time has flown by! Charlie came home and fell in love with his new motorcycle. He went out just to get a feel for it one afternoon around 2 and came back about 1 in the morning - that's my boy! He ran with his friends and we only got to ride together a little but we have plans to rectify that. We were just excited to have him home! He went off to Airborne School at Fort Benning, came back and got ready to head off for Ft Campbell. Courtney found an apartment just a couple miles away and she is only 5 minutes from her office now. Court and the cats seem very happy at their new home. I towed Charlie's Harley up on March 11 and when I got there that night, Charlie told me he would be going to Iraq in early June. It was a long drive back and I went through a myriad of emotions - mainly I was scared to the very depths of my soul at the negative possibilities. It has become a fact that is never far from my immediate thoughts and I feel today like I felt the minute he told me. The rest of March and April have been full of puppy training, a few rides on the motorcycle and work. Harley and Lilly are both growing into beautiful animals and I have really enjoyed them. All 5 of the dogs have grown into a close pack. We are planning vacation next month - we have rented a chalet in the mountains and Charlie will meet us there and we will ride the "Tail of the Dragon" - 318 turns in 11 miles! The chalet is beautiful and we are so looking forward to being off and seeing Lt Charles again!

Happy Dad and LT /Jan 20 2005 

On we go...

3:22 AM Thursday morn and here we are...
All's quiet, the pups are growing and Charlie will be home 1 week from tonight. While his Mom and I are so excited we can hardly contain ourselves, Charlie will be coming home with a heavy heart. JJ was deployed early and they will not even get to see each other. It just kills me when I can't help my kids - regardless of their ages. This has really crushed him. He has been knocked down before and always responded well - I'm sure he will march on. I DO feel his pain.
Mark Peppers and his wife, Charita are expecting their 1st child! Good people, I'm really excited for them. Little blessings here, heartbreaks all over - keep looking for the sunshine!
On we go!!!

Jan 1 Harley, Lily, Jake and Buffy celebrate the New Year! 

New Years Day

Hello 2005!
I walked Harley at 5:30 this morning and the air was clean and crisp like no other time I can recall. There was no early motor sounds or dogs barking - none of the usual noise that accompany us on our journey. January 1 of this new year started off incredibly beautiful! I felt a peace and a lightness in my heart. My little buddy and I walked on through the early morning darkness both very happy in our little world - thank you Lord!
Walk Jake.
Rendevouz with my lady Linda....
coffee and glow....
19 more days til Charlie is home...
yes - hello and welcome to 2005...

2004 on the way out...

2004 - What a year!
Charlie went to Korea, Courtney grew and flourished, Linda got a break and I remain amazed at the mountain of blessings in my life! Yes - 2004 saw hurricanes, a "spirited" election, a tsunami, senseless shootings and more war - BUT out of each came compassion, generosity, unity and resolve. Our creator always shows Himself when our times appear the worst.
Our house saw Harley and Lilly come to join us, Court came home for a few months, a new roof and lots of laughs! The Genungs on Siesta Key, Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Eric Clapton, 3 big snook in 1 day, fun on the bike, breakfast at Cracker Barrells all over the state and the love of a wonderful woman - what in the world could someone want else?
The gang has swelled to 10 again!
3 Labs - Jake, Harley and Lilly
2 Schnauzers - Travis and Buffy
3 Cats - Obie, Bubba and George
2 Birds - KoKo and Toby
A lot of love for 1 address!!!!!!
I don't know what 2005 will bring but put me down for a ticket!
Jerry out....

Lilly Christmas morning... 

Lilly at Christmas 

Lilly 8 weeks old 

Christmas & Lilly Homecoming

Christmas 2004!!!
Another year of blessings and memories...
Thursday, Dec 23 we brought home Lilly, out female lab that we had visited since she was 17 days old.... She is beautiful! Stopped at Spike and Randy's on the way home to share the excitement and their Dobie pup, Shawna was a real jewell and put up with the little white ball of fur and teeth. Then home to meet the gang. Harley loved her instantly - the others will take their time, as they did with Harley - just a month ago....Lilly served notice right away that she may be little but she had warrior spirit and she stood her ground as all the pack checked her out. She is truly an awesome pup and fit in instantly. Being so young, we have had some fun nights with our little lady, but we are all molding in to a comfortable group! Harley has melted my heart and is turning into a SUPER Lab and buddy! We have stuck to our routine of wrestling and walking every morning and we both look forward to it! He has been to puppy school 2 times and does awesome on the lead. Linda has been handling him in the classes and that lets them bond as well!!! He got his last shots on Dec 24 and was already 48.6 pounds! Lilly weighed in at a whopping 11 pounds on the same day, but Dr. Z says she will be big boned like Harley.
We talked to Charlie several times during the Christmas days and Linda and I cried several times at how much we miss our dude. He was terribly homesick too! He was making his mother's broccoli casserole and that thrilled Mom and boy! He will be home soon - 24 days from today! A big part of our hearts go with him every step!
It was great having Courtney home for Christmas! She and Steven took off for Gatlinburg the day after Christmas for some fun in the snow. She is really growing up and is more beautiful everyday...
Once again, I remained amazed and humbled by the incredible blessings that our Creator continues to pour into my life. Words pale in comparison to what I feel in my heart. I thank You, Lord!

Jerry and Harley / Lunch Box