zzzzip
Well-known member
So there I was, doing the regular Sunday morning coffee get together of friends (all not riders, except one) and wives, in world renowned Hannibal, Missouri (Mark Twain's boyhood home... and America's Hometown). We were at a (local) landmark restaurant...the "Mark Twain (what else) Dinette".
The SOP of the morning usually is watching overnighting Harley riders load up at the hotel across the street (Hotel Clemens, Mark's real name), while trying to tune out the talk of kids, grandkids, and up coming mamograms. Forget it guys..., these gals are in their 50s and 60s....
So my day perked up when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pulled into the parking lot on high dollar BMWs. I mean, that was my first thought, since all appeared to have matching BMW riding gear (except a different color), and aluminum boxes on the Adventures. Nicely tricked out with headsets, tank bags and NICE gear. I'm thinking, "Hey great, maybe I can have a talk with these guys while they wait for breakfast... Where you going, where you coming from, how do you like... etc."
Then a big RV with a ramp pulls in and fills up a big chunk of the parking lot, and I'm thinking "support vehicle". Man these guys know how to travel. I remark to the other rider, "Hey, maybe it's that Roadkill Chef guy from the Food Channel doing another tour. I read about him in Rider, but haven't seen his show on TV." We're so far out in the sticks, we get the Hong Kong flu in July. One of the Turtles goes over and checks out my FJR... eat your heart out, dude....
With the mention of "Food Channel", one lady turns her audio radar on me in mid sentence about the grandkid, and says, "Who you talking about?" Knowing a bass when I see one, I throw out, "Oh, that Alton Brown guy, the Roadkill guy on TV... his crew and support vehicle just pulled up outside." Let the bait settle a bit. She says, "Yeah, right. I watch him all the time....I just love his show!!"
In a minute I glance over my shoulder and see several guys sitting down at a couple of tables behind me. I give the bait a little blip... "That's him, Alton Brown..." "No it's not, I watch him all the time." A little twitch... "Yes, it is..."
"Ohmygawd!!! It IS him!!!", she squeals. Yesss, SET THE HOOK!!!! Now everybody within earshot (and that's a lot of people because this is a retired teacher, and you know how loud they can be) are turning to look. A quick glance over my shoulder to check my 6 before I start to reel this one in, and...
Ohmygawd!!! It IS Alton Brown!!!
Now she's grabbing a notebook from her purse (once a teacher, always a teacher) and heading his way to get an autograph. I look at her husband, who is a retired assassin for the CIA (at least that's what I tell people when he is out of hearing distance), and say, "How embarrassing. The poor guy just wants to eat his breakfast in peace. Can't you keep yo own personal female in check, bro'?" I just get a steely eyed CIA look from him as I hear, "I'm a big fan of yours." in the back ground.
Anyway, Alton Brown made one lady's day with an autograph, and I stopped by their tables for a second to talk to some of them about the bikes and the logistics. They gave me some pointers on where to ride in North Carolina , should I make it out there. Turns out they were doing a road trip feature on riding the Mississippi from New Orleans to Lake Itaska in Minn.
Nice fellows and a class act for a bunch of Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. I look forward to seeing their ride on TV... someday.
B)
The SOP of the morning usually is watching overnighting Harley riders load up at the hotel across the street (Hotel Clemens, Mark's real name), while trying to tune out the talk of kids, grandkids, and up coming mamograms. Forget it guys..., these gals are in their 50s and 60s....
So my day perked up when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pulled into the parking lot on high dollar BMWs. I mean, that was my first thought, since all appeared to have matching BMW riding gear (except a different color), and aluminum boxes on the Adventures. Nicely tricked out with headsets, tank bags and NICE gear. I'm thinking, "Hey great, maybe I can have a talk with these guys while they wait for breakfast... Where you going, where you coming from, how do you like... etc."
Then a big RV with a ramp pulls in and fills up a big chunk of the parking lot, and I'm thinking "support vehicle". Man these guys know how to travel. I remark to the other rider, "Hey, maybe it's that Roadkill Chef guy from the Food Channel doing another tour. I read about him in Rider, but haven't seen his show on TV." We're so far out in the sticks, we get the Hong Kong flu in July. One of the Turtles goes over and checks out my FJR... eat your heart out, dude....
With the mention of "Food Channel", one lady turns her audio radar on me in mid sentence about the grandkid, and says, "Who you talking about?" Knowing a bass when I see one, I throw out, "Oh, that Alton Brown guy, the Roadkill guy on TV... his crew and support vehicle just pulled up outside." Let the bait settle a bit. She says, "Yeah, right. I watch him all the time....I just love his show!!"
In a minute I glance over my shoulder and see several guys sitting down at a couple of tables behind me. I give the bait a little blip... "That's him, Alton Brown..." "No it's not, I watch him all the time." A little twitch... "Yes, it is..."
"Ohmygawd!!! It IS him!!!", she squeals. Yesss, SET THE HOOK!!!! Now everybody within earshot (and that's a lot of people because this is a retired teacher, and you know how loud they can be) are turning to look. A quick glance over my shoulder to check my 6 before I start to reel this one in, and...
Ohmygawd!!! It IS Alton Brown!!!
Now she's grabbing a notebook from her purse (once a teacher, always a teacher) and heading his way to get an autograph. I look at her husband, who is a retired assassin for the CIA (at least that's what I tell people when he is out of hearing distance), and say, "How embarrassing. The poor guy just wants to eat his breakfast in peace. Can't you keep yo own personal female in check, bro'?" I just get a steely eyed CIA look from him as I hear, "I'm a big fan of yours." in the back ground.
Anyway, Alton Brown made one lady's day with an autograph, and I stopped by their tables for a second to talk to some of them about the bikes and the logistics. They gave me some pointers on where to ride in North Carolina , should I make it out there. Turns out they were doing a road trip feature on riding the Mississippi from New Orleans to Lake Itaska in Minn.
Nice fellows and a class act for a bunch of Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. I look forward to seeing their ride on TV... someday.
B)
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