Close Encounters of the Bovine Kind

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!