At around 2am, I was awoken (sort of, never really fell asleep) by quite a bit of noise. There was cussing, threats of bodily harm... followed by some very loud thumping and cries of "No Travis, Stop!". When I peeked through the window, I was surprised (based on the racial epithets thrown about) to see a doughy redneck with a 6-inch gash on his shoulder, bleeding quite profusely and looking/sounding very agitated. The others' attention was focused on someone else who by their reports "wasn't moving". Travis disappeared shortly before the police appeared, but I had heard in the morning he was apprehended. From what I gathered Travis had thrown the other guy through a window. I didn't hear of any deaths so the other one must have been OK. I know, some report I've gathered. What can I say? The Herding Cats drowned my investigative instincts. I did get this the next morning
Travis' Calling Card
I can honestly say I was glad to shake the dust of Cambridge, MD off my shoes. I was to meet some friends in Alexandria, but didn't feel like sleeping in, so I had some spare time to spend. My grandmother grew up in Annapolis, and I had some vague plan of trying to find her home. But instead I found the WWII Memorial
Technically my step-father, the man I called "Dad" (and always will) was a WWII vet himself, in the Italian campaign. He ran a half-track outfit out of Sicily. Truly a solid, stand-up guy. I didn't appreciate him when he was around (punk a** teenagers!) and miss him now. That man could choke down the most god-awful dishes and ask for more. He had no patience for my picky eating habits. "Do you know what we had to eat in the Army? Let me tell you what S.O.S. meant..." It didn't happen often, but I knew my mother had served up a real clunker when my dad, offered seconds, said "No thanks Carol, I had a big lunch".
Anyway, I salute you Al!
I meandered back to my bike when this older couple showed up on a pair of Sportsters. The lady was maybe only an inch shorter than me, and the guy was CycleRob height. She was just starting out riding, and had taken a BRC just about a month prior. I had a great time shooting the breeze with them. I mentioned that I was on my way to Bob's BMW and he described a beautiful black LT with custom pin striping there, that he was lusting after. I will reel in the slack on that detail in a bit.
So I made my way over to Alexandria, to visit some friends I had seen only a few weeks prior. They are the parents of a friend I knew from high school. It's likely that I hadn't seen them in 16 years, maybe longer. Then in the space of a month I see them twice, and will likely visit with them again this month.
It was getting steamy in the DC area, so it was nice to stop and get a bit of A/C and some home-made food. I also returned Angels and Demons, which they had lent me when I visited last. After this, I rode up one of the many interstates and it was getting hot. A brief downpour really refreshed me. Then I made it to the last destination on the Rally
Couldn't resist trying out the new tripod I purchased, because the $.59 part I needed for my system case didn't satisfy enough. Of course one of these was begging for me to try out
I managed to resist the urge to purchase this bike. But the urges still persisted... Perhaps some barbecue will distract me
While poking around the dealership, I found the black LT the folks in Annapolis were raving about. It did indeed look beautiful. There was a couple nearby, looking it over. I mentioned my conversation I had earlier to them, and it turned out they were local. They had lived in Maryland most of their lives. When I mentioned that I was at the WWII memorial I got blank stares from them. They had no idea it was there, but were amused by that omission. "Leave it to a guy from New Jersey to tell us about a new destination in our own state!"
Bob Henig took us for a tour of annex, across the street, where he had a large collection of bikes he is in the midst of restoring.
Well, I was still a bit dehydrated and tired from poking around the DC hinterlands, so I gratefully puttered back to my comfortable, not-the-least-bit-sketchy hotel for a last night of comfort, before continuing to the next leg of my tour.
3200 miles for me. This was after CycleRob put me up for 3 nights with some great riding in Northern GA and wiring up 2 acc sockets (with switch) for me. You guys are both the BEST! 
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