Last Saturday started well:  Beautiful sunrise, perfect riding conditions and a group of riders off for a tour of covered bridges and twisty mountain roads.  After breakfast, first stop was Three Mile Island, where the famous near miss occurred some 25 years ago.  We took some time for picture taking, roaming the grounds and viewing the towers.  Then we were off to a coffee break 10 minutes down the road, after which we were on the road to the first covered bridge.

    The Reactors at TMI                                       The famous plaque of the incident

    Group picture at TMI

Someone on the list has a sig line:  A curve in the road is a curve unless
you don't make it.  Well, one of our riders tried to make a new road, going
where no man has gone before.  The bad news is that Bob (Woodie) with Gloria
and his Wing decided to ride up a grassy lawn.  Wing down, riders down, end
of ride for now.

    See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil        Our new friend Linda with Ruth Jackson

Even the worst events get rapidly turned around by the WOTI family.  A quick response was had from emergency personnel, and Gloria with Bob were taken to Lancaster Hospital.  Linda, living a few doors away from the scene offered us her driveway for parking Bob's Wing until Tom went for Bob's truck and trailer.  The hospitality we received was extra-ordinary:  Linda (our new friend) brought out chairs, water and offered here home to us.

    Jim & Kitty relax on the lawn                    Strategy was discussed....

Tom returned with the truck+trailer, and we loaded the Wing and headed back to the Inn at Lebanon, then walked across the street for lunch.  The group decided to take up a collection for Linda, and flowers plus a card with $50 for a new battery for *her* HD 883 motorcycle was delivered to her personally.  I have her email, but will ask her if she can stand a bunch of thank you messages first.  If so, you all can thank her.

We took what was left of the day and did an abbreviated twisty mountain ride, returning to the Inn before dinner at the Quentin Tavern.  Dinner was the only thing that went off as planned, but here's where the fun started.

You see, I'd been in touch with Gloria via cell phone, and she and Bob wanted to come to dinner with the group 'to get over the embarrassment!'  Woodie got a good bill of health, escaping with bruises and muscle pains.  So, off to dinner, where all generally had a good time, until...

Seems this girl, obviously tipsy, came in from the deck area of the tavern (we were inside) and was bubbling over that she had a day off, etc.  Now, someone like this plays into this group in a manner like holding up raw meat to a tiger!  We just kept playing along, and eventually, this complete stranger was giving Bob hugs!  It didn't end there!  She came in as we were leaving, announced that she had just met a wonderful man, and took me by the hand to see him.  With camera in hand, I met the 'lucky' guy and took their picture!

    .....and make my drink a double!                    All enjoyed dinner at the QT

    Bob has a new found friend....                        & here's the lucky guy!

Bob & Gloria then headed for Ohio to a shop Jeannie knows for Wing repairs, then back home.  However, today Gloria has some pain in the rib area.  She felt fine after the crash but was not checked out at the hospital, so let's all hope & pray that her pains are just minor after the excitement wore off.  Bob has his computer & cell phone, so I know that he'll call for help if Gloria needs it.

Now that the excitement is over, we have already decided that September 9, 2006 will be the first annual 'Flying Woodpecker Run' in PA.  Might as well use the same route, as we never got to it!  Between now & then, I'll see if I can add or modify the attractions.  Bob & Gloria assured me that they will return.

That's the spirit!