Ride into the Wind

Pride runs deep on the bike!

Gathering of clan SSMC

So many bikes, such a little ferry!

Almost called it quits right here!

  Day 3 of the convention and the Silent Service MC is going on it's 1st national group ride. The local Old Dominion Chapter put together a poker run through what is known as Virginia's historic triangle. We are routed to go through Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg as we pick up cards for a poker hand. The weather was good as we gather at the local minor league ballpark. We take check out each others bikes, take pictures, and mount up for our ride. How cool was it to see 35 bikes all with submariners on them? Way cool! We roar out of Norfolk and into the Virginia countryside. It's tough keeping all those bikes together and in one group, but we manage quite well early on. Our 1st stop is a small 4 corners country store and then off for a ride on the Scotland-Jamestown ferry. Quite ironic that many of us who rode boomers spent many a day in Scotland where our subs were moored in Holy Loch. Other car passenges were very interested in who we were and where we were headed. Everybody was having a great time and it just seemed natural for so many sailors to be on the water once again. Pulling into the Jamestown landing I have to fight back the urge to abandon the ride and spent the rest of my day at the Jamestown Settlement. I am a history nut and it was killing me to be so close to such a historic site! After a quick break we are off to Williamsburg Harley-Davidson. Here the story gets interesting for Doc and I. we are told to enjoy shopping at the dealership and that we would leave at 13:00 hrs (1 pm for you civilians) sharp! Well Doc and I are buying some motor oil for the trip back home and look up to see the group wheeling out of the parking lot! I look at my watch and see we have a good 10 minutes before our "scheduled" departure time! we comlete our purchase and hoof it out to the bikes to see a large thunder cloud bearing down on our location. Imagine that, sailors afraid of the rain? We fire up the bikes and miss the making the traffic light in order to join the group. We have no idea where we are or what direction to take other than left. A couple of Dominion riders who were breaking off from the group tell us to just head straight to I-64 and we should catch up with the group. At one point while waiting at a light we could see the group going through a construction zone on the next hill up from us. We blast through the zone and the group is nowhere to been seen. Doc and I jump on the highway and high-tail it towards Norfolk hoping to catch up with the group. After crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel I stop on the shoulder to get our bearings and search for our next stop. While pulling out the iPhone Doc and I hear the rumble of bikes behind us on the bridge. What? It's our group  heading to the Fleet Reserve Post! How in the world did we get ahead of them?? Guess we were going so fast we passed thru some kind of vortex! A nice luncheon is waiting for us at the post and more importantly, more beer! Doc and I are one and done guys, so we head back to the hotel with a couple of Dominion Chapter guys. And guess what? Yup, it again starts to rain! A fitting end to another great day on the road!