I am so bummed out. I only got 68 mpg on my scoot this time. It is still good, I guess.

Drove to Hoover and back this evening. I don't think I particularly like going 50-60 mph in the dark. Especially with amber glasses on. The glare is too much, the bugs hurt like a big dog, and I am not as confident that I can be seen. Think I will try to hold my scooting to daylight hours.

Dark, cool, windy night

Bugs, like snow, fall in the light

Can you see me now?

Brrrrr! Cold Alabama Nights

What on earth? Why is it so cold in Alabama right now? We had to cut our scooter rides short tonight because we weren't dressed warmly enough. Plus we are really tired. I did tell you that my husband is old, and I am practically getting ready to just about start getting old.

purple sunset clouds

decorate the evening sky

ohmygosh, it's cold!

Don't you just love riding in the evening? I do. I love when the air gets a tidge cool and the scents of nature waft past...wonderful! We just did a little jaunt into town to eat tonight. The food was good, but a bit too pricey...three meat and three's was almost $30! Sheesh! It's like riding together is bringing my family closer. I love that!

two scooters, two bikes

five friends head on a mission:

water Becky's plants

Our first adventure

Paul, my 57 year old husband, finally bought a scooter, so we immediately set out on an adventure. It required a lot of discussion, of course, just as the purchase of his scooter required much deliberation. Motorcycle or scooter? Which motorcycle? A big one like a cruiser? A lighter one like my son's Honda Shadow Spirit 750? Oh My Gosh! Just make up your mind and quit talking about it!

What won him over was riding my People S 250 home one night. He had been riding my Schwinn Graduate 150 just to see if he could stand to motate on 2 wheels. When we switched scooters that night and I rode my Schwinn again, I realized why he was hung up on buying a motorcycle rather than a scooter. It is tiny, and much like riding a sardine can on small wheels with a pretend engine...well, in comparison to the much stronger, larger wheeled People S 250. Once Paul rode my People he had to get his own People. Now we both have People. (I crack me up.)

Anyway, the big adventure.

We drove from Oak Grove in western Jefferson County, near Birmingham, AL, to Centreville, AL. This was well over 100 miles by the time we passed Centreville to get to Jimmie's BarBQue and then drove back to Centreville again. Jimmie's wasn't our original goal, but since we were both tired of being pelted by the rain we opted for his place over Big Girl BarBQue which was 5-10 miles further - no one really seemed to know how much further for sure. It's delicious bbq, found about halfway between Centreville and Prattville on Hwy 82.

Lessons learned on our first big adventure:

• Always carry a long sleeved shirt and long pants
• Always have a neck gaiter, because 70 degrees/6:30 a.m./foggy/60 miles per hour = dadgum cold
• Carry ibuprofen in your seat when you are traveling that far.
• Stop often
• One hundred miles is a long dadgum way to go in a day on a scooter
• Riding gloves would be nice, even in the summer
• Have one extra day's worth of prescription medicine in a keychain pill bottle just in case.
• If you are traveling with an old man who goes to sleep at 9:30, be sure you bring something to do

So we did all this driving down to Jimmie's and back to Centreville under partly cloudy skies. The partly cloudy sky became an angry purple, fully clouded sky with equally angry wind, so we decided to find a motel for the night. Thank goodness for the Windwood Inn! Can you believe in that little town we found a spotless American-owned room for about $50 bucks? We were amazed. As we ate our ice cream treats from the neighboring DQ, we decided 100 miles was a good rule of thumb for adventures to remain fun. Of course, we could go farther, but at what expense to our tender buttocks?

Mileage average: 70mpg+

Here's a link to the Inn (so I can find it again!)

http://www.trails.com/all-hotels/points-of-interest.asp?poi=65368

partly cloudy skies
full of possibilities
on the first trip south