85. Good versus Evil!

Charles and Joyce, Ruthie putting on her new buff.



January 2, 2014 The flight from  Minneapolis to Atlanta turned bumpy as we started the descent, it would descend, level off, now climb, tilt left, tilt right, then repeat enough times that it was getting a little disconcerting, I for one was very happy when we were on the ground.  Another plane train ride across the airport to catch a shuttle back to Midland.  Could not believe how cold it was, I heard 16 with a bitter wind, we were not dressed for this.  The shuttle was almost full but two very nice young servicemen gave up their seats so we could both get in the same van, saying they would ride with their buddies.  The van ride home was almost as rough as the flight.  Charles and Joyce had the patio lights on for us.    

I'll huff and I'll puff!

     The next morning I tested the trike and the battery was dead, I'm thinking the LED tech was wrong about the amplifier not drawing any current when the lights were off.  No problem Charles has a good charger so we should be ready to pull out on the fifth, something I will have to watch and modify when time permits.     The weather channel was warning of colder weather moving in to the area.  It was time to start our migration South.  We never know what lays ahead of us.

     Sunday we loaded up and left Charles and Joyce's.  She picks on me but I think she is going to miss me, she even sent some of her wonderful home made fudge along for the trip.   So what is she doing in the picture?  Of course with Joyce I'm never quite sure, it could have been her impression of a terrorist or a way to inflate my

riding outfit.  She grabbed the cord from my helmet and pretended she was blowing in it. (I think I feel a draft) Three goals today Plains GA, Andersonville and The Hogg farm. 

     Charles had gave us some excellent information on roads and routes.  However with the GPS set on shortest route within a mile of their house we were heading down a wonderful Georgia back road.  Ruthie says I just don't listen.  

campaign headquarters

     Around 10:30 we arrived in Plains, a very small but important town in our history.  Jimmy Carter's birth place.   I was surprised to learn he was the first president born in a hospital, although it was a mental sanitarium.  The school he and Rosalyn attended was now a museum to honor both of them, it also pays homage to another important influence in his life, Miss Julia Coleman was his teacher.  Along with an education she managed to introduce art and literature into the students lives.  Jimmy thought she treated him special because he was a gifted student, she didn't, he wasn't, he found out later that she had a way of making all her students feel extraordinary, have you made someone feel that way today?  "You could be president someday!"    They say he knew he wanted to go to the Naval academy when he was eight years old, how does that happen?  Who thinks that far ahead?   His goal came true and he was well on his way to a successful Navy career.  When his father passed away his life changed, he was needed to run the family farming business and he couldn't stop thinking about the people that paid their respect at his passing, here was a man that had never left Plains Georgia and still had influenced so many lives in a positive way, he

Can anyone tell me what this machine is?

started thinking what his legacy would be.  "If I died today what would people say about me?"  I'm starting to like this guy, he seemed to be a man of high standards.  His wife Rosalyn said she pouted for about a year after they left their comfortable military life and moved back to Plains.  The first year they cleared about 300 dollars and lived in public assisted housing while he learned agriculture and she studied accounting to run the family business.  Quite a start to where he ended up.  In a speech following his election to the Governorship.  "I've traveled the state more than any other person in history and I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over. Never again should a black child be deprived of an equal right to health care, education, or the other privileges of society." Probably an attitude derived from seeing the way his childhood friends were treated.   It was fun pushing a information button at his birthplace and "his" voice giving the answer.  He said he didn't think he ever ate a meal without being interrupted to wait on someone in the family store.

Store on the Carter farm,

     We then traveled to the Andersonville prison and Prisoner of war museum.  We did a quick tour of the museum while waiting for two documentary films, one on Prisoners of War and their treatment, the other on Andersonville.   The tour and films had taken their toll, The suffering, loneliness and feeling of isolation endured by prisoners of war left us feeling depressed.  Your first thought is to think those foreign b------- and then you have to remember this prison was our own imprisoning our own on their own soil.  Think about it.  

      Andersonville was the site of the confederate prison housing the Union civil war prisoners of war, it was named Camp Sumter and was built by local slaves, (how ironic) 16 acres to house around 10,000 prisoners.  For some time the North and South did prisoner exchanges to keep the population in check however when Confederates massacred black union prisoners and their white officers.  Lincoln demanded that black prisoners of war be treated the same as whites.  When the Confederates refused the prisoner exchange was stopped.  This resulted in the prison swelling to over 20,000 prisoners, they increased the size of the stockade and it grew to 33,000 prisoners.  A literal wall of pine poles, with no view of the outside world, a dead zone to keep prisoners a distance from the wall, cross and be shot, a creek down stream from their captors and livestock.  To make it worse, a group of prisoners known as the "Raiders" preyed on the

other prisoners.  I guess you have to look on it as just a mini society.  whether it is a Country, a City or a Prison, people are guided by the same principals they grew to hold. To help, grow, defend or take what they can, they follow their own  inner compass.   Malnutrition, disease, the harsh elements and corporal punishment led to a mortality rate of 3000 deaths a month, buried in mass graves outside the prison walls.  Over 13,700 died within thirteen months.  The graves of these men would never be known except for the bravery of one man.  Dorence Atwater was one of the first group of prisoners brought to the stockade.  Eighteen years old, hospitalized, it was discovered he could write well he was ordered to keep a list of the dead, supposedly to be given to the federal government at the end of the war.  At risk to his own life he kept a secret copy and working with Clara Barton marked the graves of many of the deceased soldiers.  Heard her name before?  That's right founder of the American Red Cross.   Adversity brings out the true nature of a human being there are those that prey on the weak and those that come to their aid, the heros that live amongst us.  I recently heard about this angel.  Irena Sendler , I encourage you to consider her life and contributions, click on the links.  Life in a jar project  

     Trying to clear our thoughts so we could be alert and enjoy the rest of the day we rode to Cordell Georgia, on the way we passed several pecan groves.  It was interesting to see the way the trees had been planted so they were in a row when viewed from any direction.   The Plan:  A good meal at Capt' D"s, back on the trike and we should be okay.  Wrong!  One of us made eye contact, I'm going to blame Ruthie.  The first couple exchanged a couple of pleasantries about their day and where we were from and what we were doing in the area.  The other couple must have overheard, the husband, I would like to say he got up on his soap box but no he sat down at our table and started berating Abraham Lincoln, he didn't take a breath, I couldn't handle it and I was in no mood to talk about it, I got up from the table without saying a word, called our next stop to confirm directions and time.  Cleared the table and Ruthie followed me out.  I don't know how he got this old with his demeanor.   Felt sorry for his wife, she followed him to our table, seemed uncomfortable and like myself never said a word, difference, she went with him and we were on the trike riding, this will clear our mind.

     We headed down interstate 75 on our way to Valdosta and Rat.  Background:  I have introduced you to our friend and sometimes trike builder Tom, Rat is his cousin.  Many times when we are working together on a trike I will hear of the escapades of Rat.  Sounded like a fun guy.  (this is better written or it comes out bacteria).  

You didn't expect a Gold Wing night light here, did you?

     Evidently Tom had mentioned about our upcoming trip to the South East.  "Tell them to stop by on their way down and they can camp here."  Enough said, we were on our way.  Thanks to his good directions we found "the Hogg Farm,  It was a little South of Valdosta and set a ways back off the road.  It was close to six PM as we rode in.  We seen lights on in what we thought was the garage and thought Rat was working in the shop.  He has a busy motorcycle shop and as you can tell by the name of the farm his priority is Harley's.  He came out to meet us and took us into the garage.  As it turned out the working shop was a much bigger building. 

This was the ultimate man cave, neon bar lights, beer signs, Christmas lights, memorabilia from road trips, a refrigerator, crock pot, pool table, bar stools, beverages of all kinds, condiments and a model "Harley"



 MIA-POW "Yes, I will NEVER FORGET!

train that traveled around the ceiling.   A stint as an over the road trucker, motorcycle road trips had allowed the opportunity to add to his collection.   I can only imagine the stories that have been shared here.   I got the hint that he might be a bit of a rebel when in telling us of some of his adventures he would mention an incident involving a buddy and add "his wife doesn't like me very much."   We met Elaine and since the weather was turning colder they invited us to spend the night in their home, grateful we had a bowl of Chili before heading to bed.  A unique nightlight kept us company.