Close Encounters of the Bovine Kind

Saturday, November 10, 2012

What a wonderful day for a toy ride, or in this case, toy parade. Sponsored by our local Harley Dealer, Boswell's in Cookeville, we arrived about 30 minutes before kickstands up. TIme enough to register, grab a cup of coffee and a few donut holes.




I don't know how many bike there were, but there were a lot. Every bike paid $10 and donated a toy. Needless to say, many donated more than one toy. Promptly at noon we all headed out, lead by local police officers who, along with several H.O.G. Chapter Road Captains, did a wonderful job of keeping us moving and traffic stopped.


I lived in neighboring Sparta for three years and took many trips into Cookeville but today we rode through areas I'd never seen. Most cars were courteous and pulled over to watch the procession. Lots of waves from spectators, especially the kids.

We arrived at Boswell's about an hour later, some parked at the dealership, some across the street in another bike dealer's lot and some in Applebee's, beside the dealer (this was us). There was a band playing, bit hard and loud for us (heavy metal), wings were offered up by the new-in-town Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and lots of perfect weather to enjoy. Inside one rider had brought his 87 year old mother along and presented her with her birthday cake.














For me the only disappointment of the day was turning in our toy donations at the registration point. Any previous toy run I've been on has seen bikes well decked out with holiday decorations, carrying their toys. Maybe next year they'll try that...

Stu tried the wings but I opted for a late lunch at Applebee's. Then it was time to head home, hoping to get there before the cold and dark set in. We took a back route, one we'd been on before but not in this direction, at least not on the bikes. Lots of twisties mixed in with rolling countryside.

Then it happened...our close encounter of the bovine kind. A young cow had gotten out of his fence and was startled by the sound of the motorcycles. He jumped up and ran towards the road, missing Stu but forcing me to slam on the brakes. The truck behind me evidently didn't see the cow and started to pull around me then pulled back in behind me. The cow kept running alongside the road and I paced myself just behind him. Eventually it slowed, went to the fence and I got pass.

Right after that was a dog on the side of the road...thank goodness it stayed put. The final encounter was a gorgeous red fox, unfortunately seen only as roadkill. All in all, a wonderful day of riding!

12 comments:

  1. I had a friend hit a cow on a motorcycle, the friend was on the motorcycle not the cow. It wasn't pretty for either of them. When we were out west in open range I always had that in the back of my mind.
    We have a toy ride here the first of December that I plan to go on. Hope to see you guys down this way this winter. Ride safe..

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    1. Have a great time on the toy run. We should be down there in mid-December. Probably starting out at the Clermont Thousand Trails.

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  2. Wonderful story and pictures Donna. Glad you and Stu made it safely around the cow and dog. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Bobbie. It was a perfect day with a few blips, can't ask for more than that!

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  3. Bovine encounters on a bike - your kind or mine - are always "exciting." On a charity ride with a friend one year, a herd of cows had escaped the field and were all over the road. Friend and I stopped and kinda "hid" behind one of the ranchers' trucks while the unruly bovines were herded back into the field. Yep, interesting! :) Glad you kept the rubber side down!

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    1. Even worse are the buffalo out west....I had a close encounter of the buffalo kind in 2005 on my ride. If we ever meet in person (and we HAVE to), remind me to tell you about it. LOL!

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  4. Glad you and Stu both missed 'Bossy' and even happier the truck behind you missed you! It looks like the toy run was a success; bikers are a generous breed!
    When will you head for Bee's? TM and I checked them out last June when in FL for 3 weeks. We're 'scoping' future FL winter spots!

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    1. We will be in that area around mid-December through sometime in March I think. Bee's is great, got some other riding RVing friends staying there all winter for the first time. We're looking forward to meeting and riding!!! C'mon down...

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  5. I don't even like bovine encounters when we're in the truck - let alone on a bike. Always went to see the bike toy run in Billings and I loved seeing all the toys they had so I agree, they need to let you ride with the toys and collect them at the end.

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    1. Haven't had time to reply on your blog, but glad Jim is doing okay. Looking forward to meeting up on the road again..hope it's sooner than later!

      Yeah, animals on the road are scary. You kind of expect it out west in open range areas, but not here in the east.

      I posted this blog on the webpage for the toy run, hoping they'll consider the toy issue, too.

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  6. Being on 2 wheels make life considerably more exciting when encountering a loose cow on the road...Glad you maneuvered around him!

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  7. Critters are best viewed from a distance...makes the heart beat too fast when they become a close encounter of the worst kind ! Glad you guys had a great ride and fun day. Be safe...

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