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[Jock]

Chapter One – The Pickup

There are moments in a person’s life that they will always remember…their first touch, their first time holding hands, their first kiss, their first time on base but what can compare to the first time your motorsickle is picked up to be delivered to the opposite end of our country.  It seemed like a lifetime ago when I made my statement of intent to attend the 2010 Southwest GTG.  

[Jock]

Like most of us I would love to be in a position to attend as many get-togethers as possible and this one was certainly no exception.  The location, people, activities, opportunities, dates and everything was perfect.  However a long amount of time would pass from my attendance statement to my commitment with uncertainty during that time.  It would not be due to a lack of desire but other outside forces – work, funds, timing and all of the usual stuff that we call life.

[Jock]

Once the uncertainty was passed it was time to get serious and start making some real commitments – hotel reservations, rent a bike or ship one, saving funds, airline reservations.  The hotel reservations were challenging at first.  I began the process by attempting to speak with the contact person directly however with her being in sales it was difficult.  After a month had passed we finally had the opportunity to speak with each other.  Carol was very pleasant on the telephone and after a brief conversation I was turned over to the reservations department.  I made the decision to stay off site for my first night given the cost for that night.  Like most casinos Friday night can be the most expensive and that was the case here.  No issues for me, just an opportunity to see another location.

As to the other commitments, airline travel was not too bad.  Made a reservation at a time when air travel charges were not at their lowest but not at their highest either.  This one can always be a gamble unless you are less than 21 days out then you are at their mercy.  With regard to saving funds for the trip, I was recently fortunate to earn a healthy bonus at work and that certainly made it much easier for me to be in good shape.  I am thankful to be employed first and blessed to have an employer that provided me with the opportunity to earn additional revenue.

Now came one of the more important decisions for me regarding commitment.  I originally wanted to ride to the West Coast and back to my East Coast.  After careful consideration and other riding opportunities which would require time off from work I made the decision that I could not conduct this effort.  However now it became can I ride one way?  Can I only fly and rent and fly back?  What! 

Well I really wanted to ride but now what?  Are you going solo?  Is anyone else conducting this effort?  Like most of my decisions I do not allow a lot of outside influence since I am accountable for my actions in the first place.  I have no fear of conducting a long ride alone after all we are never alone are we? 

[Jock]

With that decision made time to check out shipping options and here there are as many of them as Planters has peanuts!  Talk about options!  I reviewed a number of them of which were provided by many members of the site.  I am certain that each of them present value to their clients and in the end I choose my shipper for a number of reasons – access, personnel, follow-up, willingness to be of true assistance, dates, specialty, price and pick up.

After making my decision to utilize Federal Companies , they swiftly followed up with the necessary written documentation for me to feel comfortable with my decision so far.  All of the information I was seeking was contained within this information. 

[Jock]

Referenced in this information was my pick up dates and it would be on this date that I received my ability to track my delivery via their service.  In addition I was contacted by their driver, Ron, who would be the person loading my motorsickle for delivery to its first stop in Atlanta, GA.

Ron indicated that he was in the area picking up a number of other motorsickles and mine would be picked up the following day.  One of the motorsickles was a service man’s out of Fort Stewart.  I was told that this gentleman who I do not know but am most grateful for his service to our country would be returning from Afghanistan soon and stationed at another post.  Upon arriving to this new post he would find his pride and joy awaiting his mounting.  As I thought of this moment I wanted to somehow thank him for his actions and the benefits we all enjoy because of his decision to make a difference.  More on that in a few moments.

[Jock]

I found myself unable to obtain much rest the night before my pick up in anticipation of this virgin event in my life.  My first time!  Yep!  The first time my motorsickle would be loaded onto another vehicle other than my own since I have owned it.  My emotions would run wide and deep.  Another person’s hands on my bike!  People I did not know viewing it naked!  Going from one person to another all in an attempt to get back to me!  Would she be scarred by this event?  Part of me felt sick!

[Jock]

Well on Friday I received a telephone call from Ron and he gave me a status report of what I should expect.  We discussed a number of matters prior to him arriving and was very helpful to me.  Ron arrived at the time he said he would and we have a wonderful conversation.

[Jock]

Ron has had this area for 15 + years so he knew what he was doing which was a comfort.  Here was a guy that was very grateful to be as busy as he was and understood the importance of return business and the meaning of taking care of the client’s possessions.

In speaking with him he has a number of regular clients that conduct trips each year and shared a number of great stories.  One of his clients takes three trips a year with at least two of them each year overseas.  He named places I have only dreamed of and this effort was conducted on a dual sport bike. 

As he loaded my bike onto the truck it was becoming a reality.  Up the platform it would go to be loaded onto a pallet.  He performed this task with such ease.

[Jock]

Once it was carefully loaded I was permitted to board the truck for inspection.

[Jock]

As he was loading the equipment that he had to take off to load my motorsickle he asked if he would be seeing me again for the return trip.  I indicated that I would be riding back from there but was certain he would see me again if my maiden voyage went as planned.

[Jock]

It was now time for him to head out and collect his other loads for the journey back to Atlanta.

[Jock]

Before he left I placed a token of my appreciation onto the soldier’s bike.  After being in another world for the past two years I knew his motorcycle could use some attention in some sort or another.  This appreciation would be given without a name or contact information…Only this statement – Thank You for your service to our nation and those that live in it.  A grateful US citizen.

[Jock]

As he departed my neighborhood I waved goodbye and prayed my motorsickle would be in good hands.  I knew that the pick up went well and that was a true comfort for my beginning.  The rest of the journey remains to be written and seen.

[Jock]

As the day concluded I started to reflect upon the timing.  You see this event began the clock for me!  24!  Yep!  But not 24 hours like the television series but 24 days!  From this time until I return to the East Coast it would be 24!  By the way, events occur in real time and reflect the actions of many and boredom of some!  Ha!  Perhaps I should rename this to Chapter One – The Pick Up / Day One-Two.  Perhaps not since most of the days will not be filled with explosions, gun fire, interrogations, confessions, betrayals, murder, security breaches and other exciting events such as the television series.  After all just look around, it’s already out there to take in!

Coming Soon – Chapter Two – The Arrival

[OhioDave]

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