This year has not been a good riding year for me. It seems everything has been going against me to be able to get out and ride.
The reasons have been positive mostly.
I was in the process of getting ready to sell my house. It needed a lot of work.
I was hoping to go to Rib Fest but I was not quite done with the packing and a business trip came up.
The house was now sold and I was officially homeless. (well not really, I moved in with my girlfriend)
I was hoping to go to West Va this year and it turns out I had a family commitment that weekend.
By this time I think I was on the bike 2 or 3 times.
I Finally got a chance to go on a small favorite ride with my girlfriend.
We went up the coast to Rockport.
There on the rocks of Rockport I proposed to her. She said Yes

So my story is I gave her a Rock on the Rocks in Rockport.
Unfortunately that is going to be my last ride for some time.
The following weekend I was going to take the bike in for service to get ready
for Maggie Valley.
I did something unnecessary. I took the tourpack and saddle bags off to make it easier for them to work on.
When I went to pick up the tourpack from the ground to move it, I felt a twinge in my back.
I thought that's not good....Then when I went to put it back down I felt what seemed like an explosion in my lower back. I could not stand up I couldn't sit down.
Been in pain for 2 weeks.
We did put in an offer on a house. It was accepted and later that same day I finally got in for an MRI and surgery is in my near future.
Guess I am going to miss Maggie Valley this year.
So my last ride was getting engaged. A memory I will think of every time I think about riding.
Hope to see you on the road next year!!!
Steve