11/25/07 - The Ironbowl Challenge

The last couple of years the Southern Cruisers did a ride the day after the Ironbowl, If Auburn won they went to Opelika for lunch, If Alabama won they went to Tuscaloosa. Since the club is only a few years old I assume everyone is just tired of going to Opelika, even the Auburn fans, I showed up on a cold morning at the Chevron in Trussville. JR showed up, I was telling him how I needed only 55 miles to break my personal record and how this was the last day to get it in so he called Rodney and finally Brown showed up. We really didn't want to go to Opelika and since no Auburn fans felt the victory deserved their attention we went to Pell City instead. We unfortunately found that the Western Sizzlin in Pell City which used to have a great breakfast bar is now closed (most likely due to the new Cracker Barrell) and nothing else was open on a Sunday morning. We eventually stopped at the Big Bull down 231, Mental note, don't eat there. Definitely not good food. We circled down 231 and up 25 by 29 dreams to say hello to Tim and his staff, It was cold so the place was empty but it was certainly a great day to ride, once you put your jacket on you don't really need to take it off. It was a short ride but I got my 55 miles to make 2007 my highest mileage year with the SCRC at 5655 miles. I rode far more than that of course but these miles were recorded at club events. It was possibly the last trip of the calendar year as well. It was another fine year in the saddle, only one little spill on an oily spot to blemish my record, but no harm done, the Royal Star is officially deceased, the engine failed at just over 98,000 miles and I am looking to either sell it for scrap or buy a motor out of a wrecked bike. I'm sad to see Papa Dan go but unfortunately, like Dan, all good things must come to and end. Rest in peace my friend, perhaps your name sake will sail the asphalt sea again one day.