Vol 2 Issue 2

February 2018 Volume 2 Issue 2

Easyrider Baby it’s cold outside!

Hot Dog! People & Places

Welcome back to Stories From the Road! I’ve been away for a while, but I’m back and ready to tackle the 2018 riding season! A couple of big destinations are planned for this year. Some little event up in Sturgis in August (a redo from 2016), and possibility a visit to Margaritaville somewhere in the keys. But I don’t plan rides based on destinations, but rather destinations are based on my ride.

So, what’s in this issue? Easy Rider Bike Show up in Charlotte, always a good time, was threatened once again by a midweek snow storm. But mother nature was kind and it went off without a hitch.

Also, new for 2018, Every month I’m highlighting businesses and places around the state! So hold on, the adventure continues! This month’s business will have you yelling HOT DOG! Be sure to check out my YouTube channel Stories From the Road. It’s just getting off the ground, so be patient as I work to make it not only entertaining, but informative at the same time. (aka...learning how to use the editing software, and acquiring the necessary equipment to make it) Thank you all so much for your support!

Ride Safe! Ride Often!

Rick

Contact Info:

storiesroad53@gmail.com About the Cover: Me wearing my favorite cold weather mask! January was one of the coldest I've experienced since moving to South Carolina in December of 1989.

At least I didn't get arrested!

Easyrider Charlotte Convention Center Charlotte, NC

I’ve spent most of my life loving 2010 Fatboy Lo with 512 miles on cars. Old cars converted to hot it. To date, there’s over 60000 rods has always been my favorite. miles on it. (did I mention I love Another passion has been motorcy- this bike?) cles. In 1971, I had a chopper built I then joined Carolina Chrome around a 500cc 4 cylinder Honda magazine as a writer and anything engine. It was complete with a else I was needed for. It was here springer front end, 1 gallon peanut I first experienced the Easyrider tank and a hardtail frame. Over Bike show in Charlotte, NC. the years, I owned 2 on/off road The variety of motorcycles were dirt bikes and a 1978 R100S BMW. awesome and the imagination and In 1986, I gave up riding motorcyskill that went into building those cles, moved to Louisville and met bikes were unbelievable. Well, this my present day wife of 30 years. year proved to be just as Fast forward to the summer of AWESOME! 2013 and I fell in love with a black

If you like gers met that baggers there requirement. were plenty to Robert Snipes choose from. had several Personally I baggers there like customthat were in ized bikes that my mind very are still func- function, yet tion for every- gave you the day riding. ability to ride Yeah, before them everyday. you start beat- I think Snipes ing your keyis one of the board over my premier buildcomment, some ers around in of these bag- SC.

Other mentionable were chatit going on with his many talents. ting with the Full Throttle SaBlogger, Vlogger, YouTube chanloon dude that was working the nel, product review and many cash register. I dropped a subtle more. Knowledgeable guy that I hint that I would be turning 65 aspire to grow up to be like! in April and that when I got to Last but not least, the day Sturgis, I might need something wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t to do. We’ll see where that goes. mention Vici Amanti and her CarHahaha. Anyway, there were olina Chrome Girls! They were in many great vendors attending attendance and I couldn’t pass the event and the Easy Rider up a few selfies with them. I girls were easy on the eyes too. love Vici Amanti. A great woman, I ran into Chris Lonsberry of photographer and all around perChris Lonsberry Media. He’s got son!

Kim

Deni

Vici Amanti

Karisa

Featured Favorite

Growing up in rural Virginia in the 50’s and 60’s didn’t offer much in the way of fancy restaurants or entertainment.

One of my favorite memories was visiting a little restaurant in Cluster Springs, Va that specialized in pulled and minced pork barbeque. Another was a trip into South Boston, Va with ‘Poppa’ to the local creamery to get soft serve vanilla ice cream and without fail, a stop at a little business in Riverdale, Va to get a Dr Pepper, hotdog and a bag of chips. Some old habits don’t die.

Hot dogs! Without fail, everywhere I’ve lived, there has been at least one location I’ve found great hot dogs!

My top choice in Lexington, SC is Top Dogs! Now this place had been around for a while before I finally decided to stop and try it out. So I go in and look around for the menu when Milana Frye says ‘ All of our hot dogs are fully customizable. You can pick from a variety of our specialty toppings and unique relishes! All of which are made fresh, in-house.’ So I’m mulling my options around in my head when I finally decide on mustard, ketchup, chili and slow. Now you might be saying to yourself, what’s so special about hot dogs? These aren’t JUST hot dogs, but GOURMET dogs made of 100% beef.

Jason and Milana Frye BUT if hot dogs aren’t your thing, they offer a ‘wild game’ special that changes as the seasons come and go. Alligator and wild boar seems to be the local favorites. My idea of stepping out of the comfort zone of hot dogs is trying Carolina Dog, Ruben Dog or a Brat with sautéed onions and green peppers.

Since then, Hot Dogs has been a weekly lunch choice and I have gotten to know Jason and Milana on a personal level. Being a family-owned business, it’s a great place to bring the family and enjoy handdipped shake!

Baby It’s Cold Outside!

I

’m in a nice warm cozy bed and and get the full affect of just how the alarm clock reminds me it’s cold it really was outside. Never mind, time to get up. Wait a minute! I’m committed to go. I fire up the big It’s Saturday morning! Ah, twin, let it warm up several minutes man. Now I’m awake. My week day and initiate phase 1 of the ‘1 down 5 body routine says, get up, go to the up’ routine. bathroom, go to kitchen, make coffee The 2-3 mile journey proved to be not and fix some toast with butter and so bad with my cold weather emergenapple jelly. Well, one out of three ain’t cy package on. I park and proceed into bad. No bread AND NO COFFEE?! the building still wearing my full garb.

What’s a man to do?! Remembering I Walking in, everyone stops what have my get coffee free t-shirt from they’re doing to look up and see what Creekside Restaurant, I decide that’s just walked into the building. Ok ok, the ticket. But wait, how cold is it? A I’m not GQ material, but I shouldn’t quick look at WeatherBug on my phone get this reaction. Realizing I was still says 19. Well, well. No stinking 19 de- wearing my mask, sun glasses and gree weather would stand between me trusty stocking cap, I proceed removand a good cup of coffee! So proceed ing them all and I could feel a collecto put my freeze out pants on, then tion sigh of relief from the masses in my somewhat ‘holey’ blue jeans and a the building. No you’re not getting long sleeve t-shirt for the 2-3 mile robbed today, well at least not by me. jaunt to Creekside. Wait, what about So, with that free HOT coffee in my my head. I do have that modular full hand and that 2+2+2 breakfast (you coverage helmet I bought. Nah, not IHOP patrons know what I’m talking going that far. So I dig around and find my neoprene face mask, skull cap about) securely in my possession, I and my ’Case knife (guaranteed against settle in for a nice WARM breakfast loss)’ version of stocking caps and now at my favorite breakfast establishment. Was it I’m ready to go! I go into the garage praying I didn’t forget to plug my bat- Maxwell House that coined ‘ ter up to the tender. My lucky day, hmmmmm the tender wire was snuggly tucked hmmmmm under the seat feeding my battery that much needed boost on this COLD good!’?

January morning!

So I back the bike out of the garage

The gang’s all here!

Live to Ride Ride to Live