The Brick Way: My TGIF Experience

We hear it all the time. "Thank goodness it's Friday!" I know some people substitute their religious higher power, but I am not writing this about that. This is what "TGIF" meant for me today.

First, it started with knowing I wasn't going to work. I made a plan to do the things I don't often have time for any other day of the week. Let me first say it's all possible because, even though it is the week before Thanksgiving, today had an abundance of sunshine and a temperature that hovered above 60 degrees by 10:30 this morning. Definitely a pro to living in South Georgia. I had it all planned out. I packed a couple of cigars, a couple packs of peanut butter crackers, my iPad, and a charger.

I grabbed my helmet and jacket, along with my gloves, and went outside. My motorcycle has been under cover, so I removed the cover and unplugged the trickle charger I use to keep the battery ready. The StreetBob cranked with one try. I backed out of the driveway and headed out.

Usually I don't have a destination in mind, but today I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I maneuvered through the neighborhood and got on the highway heading south. I took the exit I take twice a week to get to the country. I rode until I made it to Plains, Georgia and pulled into the Welcome Center on route 280, about 3 miles past Jimmy Carter's compound. I parked, applied the kickstand, and shut off the bike.

I unpacked my iPad, my hat, and my cigars and found a nice stone bench that sits right near the pond. The geese were sunbathing on the far side of the pond. I sat down and lit a cigar. Once I was confident it was properly lit, I opened the cover to my iPad and tapped on my kindle app.

I sat for about an hour reading and smoking while life was going on around me. I finished the page I was on and took the cigar to the nub and then put it out.

I noticed the geese were now on the same side of the pond with me. I took the opportunity to go inside the welcome center and make a pit stop.

Then I went to sit at a picnic table drenched with sunshine and snacked on my peanut butter crackers. Then I lit a second cigar.

I opened my iPad and continued reading. Time passed more quickly than I thought. I hurried to get everything packed up because I needed to head home. All packed and ready, I started the Harley and rode out to the main road. I noticed the bike was almost out of gas. I stopped and got fuel in Preston. The tank really was close to empty because I put 3.7 gallons in what I thought was a 3.5 gallon tank. Anyway, that finished I was on my way home.

I got home and parked the bike. I went inside and was greeted by Levi. He makes Friday afternoon exciting and always entertaining. We played and sang and made all kinds of strange noises. We watched television until he got tired.