Vi's Version!!

All our bags are packed and we ready to go!!

Viola/Snowball/Avonlady leaving



This is my friend Vi. She was just arriving there to start the first send off from the Palladino's. Like she said she was the trip organizer. Got all the people together and kept track of it. Planned the route around the people that were offering there homes and time to ride. Nice bike Vi!!
Nice job, I know ya didn't plan DEATH VALLEY!! LOL

Vi is a newlywed. Bruce is his name. I never really got to spend any time there as we stayed one night and we went out to biker night for a couple hours.

That is Vi second from right on the bottom. She was the tail gunner on the Dragon. She wasn't ready for the Dragon on her new bike. Good for you for admitting it Vi.. Sometimes it's hard to admit, but safer..

Bike Night... We had to win those t-shirts. That was the best beer I'd ever had. Was a thirst girl! I see you hiding that cig...it didn't work.

How the days have flown by since the start of this Conga. From its conception to its finale...
I remember back when Flo first said how she only dreamed of riding cross country. I think I was one of the first ones to egg her on. I am glad I did....

I helped organize the stops and each individual person Flo would stay with to the best of my ability. Her main goal in the beginning sprang from her desire to ride "The DRAGON" and how we wanted to all do this with her.

I so enjoyed talking to each lady who held her hand up and could actually be part of this great expedition. I so appreciat e all the ladies who also raised there hands, but routing wouldn't allow Flo to come to them to. THANK YOU!

Okay, so the morning of May 21st, I get a call from the first hand off person "HighPriestess" who was so ill she couldn't make the trip. Sheila we were so sad that you weren't well and hope you will be available the next time.

I called Trixie-Cindy and said what time are you leaving. I had not planned to head to Florida and escort Flo but I did it anyway. I had a blast seeing Jerry and Donna again and meeting Hippie John.

So, as would seem to be the case throughout this trip we were running an hour behind getting to Flo and 2 hours behind schedule getting back into Georgia due to inclimate weather of which we avoided under an overhang at a truckstop. The 3 of us shared some laughs and got scared by some cloud to ground lightning. You would have thought a bomb dropped it was so loud...lolI hope Trixie will chime in with the gloom and Doom guy we encountered there. She tells it much better than I...

We got back to my parked the bikes for the night. Jumped in the Pickup and we went to bike night in Pooler, GA. Flo said to me...I am sure glad we parked the bikes first. She was a wooped puppy by time we ate dinner. We ran into the Toxic Twins...had a great dinner and both won T-Shirts from Low Country Customs. Came home exhausted but Flo had just enough energy to call Doc and say we were here.

May 22nd....the day to depart for Ellijay, GA to our wonderful Ms Wolfie-Holly's house....we had coffee and Flo made sure to log onto the forums and give an update. We actually left on time at 9am and decided we had to make a detour to pick up T-shirts and to scrape the edge of South Carolina....I almost feel selfish that I got to have her all to myself for over a hundred miles. We clipped SC and had already ridden 50 miles before we could even get out of the Savannah area of Georgia. Here is where we wind up 2 hours behind meeting up with Michael unfortunatley Miriam had to work. (btw Micheal I still have your map for all it's help....rotf).

We stopped and had lunch and headed to Jackson, GA another 100 miles to meet up with Sunflower Denise and her DH Dale. We were still running 2 hours behind. We were having a great day. Michael left us there and Dale went back home too! Now there is just the 3 of us. I finally got to lead more than one other person. We got misplaced once due to incorrect directions, but only for a few minutes. Between Dale's assitance over the phone and the guy who overheard we were lost...we got back on track. I was amazed by another lady who couldn't even tell us where we were and she lived there in Gainsville...

It was getting later in the afternoon and we still had almost 200 miles to go. Mountain Routes are no fun in the dark. Everything seems that much harder to navigate after it gets dark. We finally made it to Holly and Wolfie's around 10pm. Navigated the Driveway of Doom and had a wonderful spagetti dinner. Holly you did great and we all appreciate you lots...
I was worn out and hit the pillow and was the 1st one asleep. Flo and Sunflower stayed up on the computer for hours.
Just so you know Denise is truly not a morning person. We had the hardest time getting her to wake up...

May 23, the day to "SLAY THE DRAGON"....that was awesome and even though I followed in a Cadillac Escalade the trip was so worth it. It also gave me a feel for the roads I would negotiate by myself the next day.
Off we went to meet Gypsy-Cindy and Ueee-Bill. Of course Minnie Me-Beth and Danny were there and Sherry and Gene to meet us. We had 9 bikes and 10 riders and 1 me in the Caddy.
So many laughs and smiles this day. I would do it all over again and again. I enjoyed Ueeeeees U turn, I know Denise didn't but we went through this one lane bridge and the first road to the right was Lovers Lane. Wished my sweety had been with us...
Wonderful BBQ at Cindy and Bill's house, thanks guys had a blast looking foward to seeing y'all again this summer to truly slay the dragon on my own bike.

Sat. May 24 parting was really difficult. We were all leaving at the same time and everyone else was going left while I turned right heading home. I went 300 miles of beautiful roads alone and met up with my DH in South Carolina where I finished off a wonderful weekend at my home up there.

FLO what can I say! You have been an inspiration for so many Ladies and I am so elated to count you amongst my friends. I know the above is more like a ride report but I am not really good at sometimes putting my feelings down.
My heart is very full right now. I have truly been here for the whole ride and I have cried and laughed with you as I have read each Blog and post you made on the forum. Since my time with you I have only strengthened my resolve to do my own cross country tour. My DH and I are saving our pennies.
You have been such an inspiration to me and so many others. I would say not only have you fullfilled a dream but you have touched lives in so many positive ways that most of us never get to do. That in itself is living this life to it's fullest and you my dear have. I look forward to your many adventures and meeting with you again. I am so Proud of YOU!

I raise my wine glass to you my dear. I wish you many miles of smiles and sunshine and many friends to brighten you days.
God must Love you, I know I do...Big Hugs, Vi