FO: Things are happening!
Norton Rally: Day -1
Sunday
There is a great exodus and a huge inodux going on. Non-rider rigs and campers are lined up in
the goes-out lane and rigs, campers, and pick-um-up trucks all sporting Norton
logos are lined up in the comes-in lane.
Across from me I see a pick-um-up truck coming in with a
Norton on a flat trailer behind it with a guy sitting on the Norton. Seriously!
I guess this way he can say he rode it to the rally.
See herein some traffic signs from Tennessee (I think). Maybe Kentucky. The states blur in my mind. In any case I found them interesting. Enjoy.
End First Officer's Log
Captain: We rode the Snortin’
Norton to breakfast at Biscuits Bakery and Café this morning. I had almost
forgotten what riding behind Frank with nothing but his belt loops to hold on
to felt like! Yikes! Also, my 70-year-old right leg really didn’t want to swing
across the seat like it used to when it was attached to a 30-something cowgirl.
Anyway, we managed, and I got to have fried green tomatoes
for breakfast! Yep, the food selections as well as the drawl testify that this
really is North Carolina. By the way, this motorcycle rally is called the INOA Carolina Rally. (For those uninitiated-
INOA: International Norton Owners Association started by none other than Member
#1 Frank Del Monte) Word is there will be 500 of his closest friends here for
this year’s rally. I wanted to order grits for breakfast, but I thought an egg,
a slice of ham, fried green tomatoes (with arugula! and sauce!), alongside a
chocolate croissant was already excessive.
Today turned into laundry day and as we waited for the
washing machines and outdoor dryers
to finish tumbling our clothes, we sat on a bench next to the lovely, wide and
shallow stream that divides this campground into store-pool-office side and
lake-stream-forest side. It’s a catch and release lake, but so far I haven’t
witnessed anyone pulling a fish from its waters. There is a big backwater as well
with water lilies in bloom and other aquatic plants of all sorts. The low,
rustic bridge that crosses the stream is constantly busy with kids on bicycles,
electric carts, razor scooters, big rigs, trailers, and now a passel of British
bikes as well.
There’s something so inviting about a bridge without sides
making a low span across rippling water. A big sign near the bridge says No
Fishing, No Standing, No Loitering on the bridge. Of course there are all sorts
of campers doing exactly those things, so crossing the bridge in a vehicle can
be a very touchy business. So far there have been no serious mishaps except for
one little girl who took a spill off her razor scooter and skinned her knee
yesterday.
Canopies and lines spray painted on grass are taking shape
at the registration area just across from the front window of our coach. It’s
fun watching the activity, and I’m looking forward to all the events to come:
Concourse, Field Events, and Awards Dinner and Dancing. Never a dull moment for
the next five days and then we move on (about three hours from here) to brother
Greg’s property on a Blue Ridge mountaintop. Brother Scott will be along on
Saturday riding his bike down from the DC area. It will be great to visit with
these wild and crazy guys once again, Betty and Linda, too. It’s
wonderful for me to have all these Del Monte brothers and sisters.
PS Somebody just drove by in a 1950’s style police car with
a bubble-gum light on top! I’ll have
to ask Frank, but it looked like a restored Plymouth to me, too cool! This is gonna
be so fun!
PSS Rally pictures soon!
End Captain’s Log
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