Side’s having Skills, we find great Fried Chicken

We finally contrived to have us a Skills Sunday, and none too soon, for the sort of ridin’ that keeps a man alive has a powerful tendency to turn to rust when the weather turns mean. All winter long them good habits sit out in the shed like an old plow, and by spring they squeak, balk, and complain. But today we fetched ’em out, oiled ’em up, and knocked the rust off proper.

Eight Sandies showed, and between the skills practice and the wanderin’ about after in pursuit of food. We tallied up 125 miles. Now, mind you, two of those souls arrived doubled-up in a shiny Corvette Stingray instead of astride steel and rubber. Who might that be, you ask? Why, Tommy N and Sandy S, naturally—ought to have known from the sun glinting on that Vette.

The curiosity of the day was this: we had more two wheels than three. I know that sounds like something’ out of a tall tale, but there they were—three really nice two wheelers to complement the two three wheelers.

Bobby B turned up with a brand‑new, reddish 2025 Indian Pursuit—a contraption so pretty and slick it could have passed for a newborn at its christening, all wrapped in ribbons and admiration. Bobby will seize upon any excuse known to man, and a few not yet discovered, if it leads to a ride. JoeJoe, for his part, outdid himself lay’in’ out the course—just right for both the two‑legged and the three‑legged among the machines. Bobby, havin’ a brand‑new mount under him, commenced the day in cautious baby‑step fashion; but by lunch he had shed that timidity and was ridin’ in full‑grown, non‑baby mode.

Ken Christmas joined us on his new GoldWing, and that fellow can handle a motorcycle the way a steamboat captain handles a paddlewheel in tight water—calm and sure.

Another fine handler is JoeJoe himself. You know he’s been ailing some, puny in body if not in spirit, but today worked a kind of tonic on him. It drew the old Joe up out of the past, dusted him off, and set him on the exercise range where he was ridin’ like Joe of yore—easy, accurate, and lookin’ for the next challenge the way the my cats are always look’n for the next treat.

Speaking of treats we ate lunch at Eagles Nest at the Blackwater Golf Club. Outstanding food, the fried chicken choosers had nothing but high praise for the chicken. Southern fried chicken is easy but so very hard to get right. Well the folks at the Eagles Nest got it very right.

It was another beautiful day with the Sandies. Jackets in the morning and long sleeve shirts after lunch.

Next week is our Saturday adventure to Ralphs Cheeseburgers, simply outstanding.

Thanks to Sandy and JoeJoe for the pictures