For those who didn't make the ride to Tn. here is a photo of the "Defenders Cabin In The Sky".   It was actually quite assessable (by helicopter and/or an all-wheel drive tank).  Getting to the cabin involved wet roads, which were also close to vertical in some places and had numerous abrupt and extremely sharp turns. Returning to the cabin at night (from the hotel where the party was) involved a good dozen miles on a 2 lane (very small lanes) highway with the longest straight-a-way being no more then a hundred yards or so; it also seemed like the entire ride was uphill. Each car coming towards you had you riding almost blind into their headlights and you fixated on the tail lights of the bike in front of you. I know some of the boys were quite excited about doing the "Dragon's Tail" and it has been maybe 8 years since I myself rode the "Dragon Tail"; however, you should feel more excited about the rides to and from the cabin. Yes even coming from the cabin (mostly downhill) could evoke some feelings of a rather stimulating and "wake your butt up" type of ride. This trip did test your skill and comfort level on two wheels. I really enjoyed and I thank all who went and always went out of their way looking out for each other. This is a damn good group and I'm proud to be a part of a motorcycle club that understands the first part of belonging to an MC club is riding your bike not dragging it behind a cage. Don't know about the rest of you guys - but I'm looking forward to riding to Boston.... Thanks again for making me feel at home.

Black Cloud      

THE RIDE TO TENN

IT WAS A COOL OCTOBER MORNING IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY. THE CLAN AKA CHARLOTTE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE DEFENDERS LE MC STARTED SHOWING UP. OUR VICE PRESIDENT WAS THE FIRST ONE WAITING FOR THE REST OF US. WILDMAN SHOWS UP WITH HE'S BRIDE SUNBIKER. SHORTLY AFTER THE WIZARD SHOWS UP WEARING A NEW PAIR OF STILETTO'S AKA RIDING BOOTS THAT HAD A HEEL OF ABOUT 4IN HIGH. OUR VERY OWN FREAKSHOW SHOWED UP JUST GETTING OFF OF WORK WITH A NEW GIRL. WANTED TO GIVE US A SEND OFF.
WELL AFTER A QUICK MEETING OF THE MINDS AND LETTING PPL KNOW OUR PLANS FOR THIS LONG TRIP WE SADDLED UP OUR HOGS. HONDAS, AND YAMAHA'S AND HEADED NORTH.

THE VOYAGE

AT THE FIRST GAS/COFFEE STOP EVERYONE WAS SO PLEASED TO SEE A FEW FRESH POTS OF JOE WAITING FOR US AT THE FLYING J. THE EYES WERE JUST STARTING TO OPEN WHEN THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAY CAME UPON US.
ITS TIME FOLKS TO PUT THOSE SHADES ON. AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS.

AS THE PACK EXITED THE PARKING LOT ALL 22 OF US, THE SUN SHINE SO BRIGHT
WE ALL KNEW WE HAD ONE HELL OF A TRIP AHEAD OF US.
AS THE ROAD CPT GAVE THE ORDERS TO THE REAR OF THE LINE WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE GA STATE LINE. O IF U COULD ONLY HEAR THE MOANS COMING FROM A FEW THAT HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS FAR.

FIRST NIGHT IN GA.

AS WE SEEN A BEST WESTERN HOTEL THE SMILES OF SORE ASS'S WERE AMONG US.O HOW SWEET A NICE COMFORTABLE BED.
AS WE AWOKE TO THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT BREAKFAST WAS BEING SERVED IN THE DINING AREA OF THE HOTEL. HALF CLOSED EYES GAZED AT WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO CHOW DOWN. AS MOST OF THEM LEFT THERE MAIDS (WIFE'S) HOME THEY SUDDENLY REALIZED THEY HAD TO FIX THERE OWN.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

SAYING GOOD BY TO GA AND HITTING THE TN STATE LINE WHAT A CHEERFUL SITE. GOING THRU SOME BACK ROADS WE CAME UPON A INDIAN FESTIVAL AS WE ALL ROAD BY THE PPL SEEMS TO LOOK AN STARE AS SO MANY MOTORCYCLES HAD PASSED THEM
AND AT LAST THE CABIN IN THE SKY. WITH A TRUE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN DRIVEWAY. UP ONE CURVE TO ANOTHER CURVE EACH BEING AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WITH A 180 DEGREE TURN. AS WE WAITING FOR A KEY WE REALIZED THAT WE ALL WERE AT THE WRONG CABIN. SO WITH THE MISERY OF JUST PARKING THE BIKES ON A HILL ENDED WE ALL REGROUPED AND HELPED EACH OTHER OUT TO DRIVE UP JUST ONE MORE HILL TO THE CORRECT CABIN. AND AWWR WHAT A SITE INSIDE, A STOVE TO FEED US. A FIREPLACE TO WARM US AND UMMMMM A NICE BED. LUXURY AT ITS BEST.

THE PARTY

WELL DURING THE TIME SPENT WE EACH WENT SEPARATE WAYS. SOME ROAD THE DRAGON AND EVENT THAT MOST HAD NOT EXPERIENCED OR HEARD OF.
A TRUE TEST OF EVERY RIDERS SKILLS.
ON A WET AND VERY COOL SATURDAY NIGHT WE HEADED TO A TOWN ON THE NEXT MOUNTAIN OVER FOR A PARTY WITH THE MEMBERS OF OTHER CHAPTERS.
THE BONFIRE WAS LIT AND THE BOOZE WAS POURED. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. BROTHERHOOD AT ITS BEST BUT AS WE REMEMBERED THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE CABIN ON THE HILL WAS TREACHEROUS AND AT NIGHT WAS EVEN MORE. SO OUR PPL HEADED BACK.

THE RIDE TO HOME
AT A TIME WHEN THE ROSTER'S ARE STILL SLEEPING MEMBERS LEFT THERE CABIN IN THE SKY AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE UP AND DOWN 2 MOUNTAINS IN THE SKY FOR A JOURNEY TO HOME SWEET HOME.

THE END

BY WILDMAN CHARLOTTE COUNTY CHAPTER
DEFENDERS LE MC
ROAD CPT.