Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort Anniversary Party 2008

A few images from the Rockland Resort, a little rain never hurt anybody, right? If you have not rolled over there, it is worth the trip. If you have any other resorts we need to know about, you should let us know.

Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort - a quick visit

On Saturday we had a quick stop at Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort, a relatively new addition to the biker stop circuit in Coosa county. The will be celebrating their 1st anniversary with a birthday party next weekend starting on Thursday the 27th, and ending on Sunday. They are expecting around 2,000 riders per day for the party, so we thought we would see what this place was all about.

It was a slow day on our visit (Easter weekend), but there was still around 40 riders, and everyone seemed real laid back. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and appeared to enjoy being there. The facilities were clean and comfortable, and the food looked delicious (we did not have time to eat). They do have a decent looking menu and good prices, so it might be worth exploring further.

The main facility is large, and housed several large tables, and two pool tables. Overall, I think it would certainly be worth another trip, and maybe even worth checking out the 1st Anniversary party.

Find out more here

Most Alabama Counties '08 Challenge - Tour Alabama on a motorcycle, and win

Do you travel all over the state on your bike every year? Do you think you might travel thru more counties than everyone else? If so you should enter the "Most Alabama Counties 2008 " Challenge to win a valuable prize, and recognition and admiration from bikers from all over the world. There are 67 counties in Alabama, but you may only need to travel to 20 or so, and take a picture to prove you were there. Are you up to the challenge?

Pictures we are looking for:

Good - notice the bike in the image, and a recognizable landmark, not the best, but it is OK and will qualify as one county

Better - much better subject, identifiable, and has a bike in the frame

Enter the MAC '08 Challenge today. Find out more details HERE

Daytona Bike Week 2008 - Bama Rides

The first part of the journey started out on a spectacular Birmingham day, leaving work early on a Thursday afternoon, sunny, and the prospect of a 1/2 day of questionable weather did not hamper our ride. We arrived in Troy, AL shortly after dark, and had Mexican, margaritas and a good conversation before retiring to the home of our first host and additional rider, Richard.

After waking the next morning, we rode out in the cool morning air all the way to Tallahassee, when we encountered our first drops of rain. It appeared that we might get wet, so I suggested that 11:30 might be a good time to find shelter and a burger while this little storm "blows over".

Well after an hour of eating and discussing the fact the weather had not blown over yet, we decided to get back on the road and get a bit closer, then determine what the weather would do.

What the weather would do

Well, that was the trick now. Weather is a funny thing, especially when you have to ride 10 hours in the rain.......funny. Notice the recreation of the actual view from a bike in the rain to the right. After several stops we wound up in Crystal River, home of large population of manatees. We found vacant covered flea market large enough to hold our bikes, gear, and soaking, prune-swollen carcasses. Of course we enjoyed the hour of dryer, motionless and safe tables the market provided.

Do Not Feed the Manatees

When we arrived in St. Cloud, as I predicted, the skies cleared as we came off the turnpike........10 hours of rain, and we pull in to nice weather as we get off the bikes.

I can't remember a shower ever feeling so good.

The ride over to Daytona

The next day was blue sky, and very windy gusts as we drove over to the coast. A fantastic day for a ride, down country roads, across pastures and flatlands. As we rolled into Daytona, you could feel the energy as the ratio of bikes to cars rose to 1:1. We rolled over the bridge in only 40 minutes, ready to get into something, mainly a beer.

We parked as soon as we got across the bridge to get into the mix, and keep the bikes from overheating. Got back out on Main St. and started looking for trouble. Lots of things to see, just ran out of time to capture it all. See the slideshow below.

It was still worth the ride down, even in the rain, and will do it again, maybe for BiketoberFest?


Tragically, the next morning, one of our group - William "Bill" Bills died in his sleep after the ride. I did not know Bill well, but I enjoyed his company that day, and I was glad to have shared his last ride with him. My condolences to his family.

More about Bill


Enjoy the pictures from Daytona Bike Week 2008

Weird Roadside Graveyard - Shannon, AL

I was out riding Sunday and caught a glimpse of an abandoned graveyard between Bessemer and Homewood, in Shannon. At first glance the headstones were SO CLOSE to the road, I thought I had mistaken them for something else, but there they were. I went back to get the camera because it was so weird, headstones less than 10 feet off the road. I wandered into the forgotten resting place assuming I would find a few 100-year old headstones, fascinated with the history behind the long dead residents of Shannon. I actually found many stones dating to the late 50s and 60s, and to my amazement, a 90 ft pine tree was growing out of the center of one grave.

So there I was, wondering around in thick woods, looking the sunken gravesites over as if it were a crime scene, awestruck how so many people could be abandoned.

Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.




View Larger Map

More graveyards in the Oxmoor-Shannon area here