Oz and Mrs. Oz want to wish you a Happy New Year!
2023 has been a fun and active year for us. Here is a few things we did along the way.
January - We attended the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) South Central leadership conference in Mena, Arkansas and partnered with Jimmy A. to conduct a NETX CMA officer training for 10 chapters in Leonard, Texas
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Chapter officer training in Leonard, TX
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February - Enjoyed a great trip to Lexington, KY to see our daughter. While there we attended a University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball game ,which they won (I coached girls basketball for 18 years before becoming an assistant princial). Also stopped by Bardstown, KY just to look at some of the enormous rickhouses.
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| During my years of coaching girls basketball I always enjoyed watching well coached teams |
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One of many Bardstown Bourbon Company rickhouses - that is a lot of barrels!
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March - We took a second exploratory trip to Middle Tennessee, stepped down as CMA Area Reps in NETX since we would be moving in the upcoming months. I also began hosting the 2023 MotoGP race watching meetups at a local Rudy's BBQ for the sixth year. Link to the best race finishes of 2023
Side note - If you haven't watched MotoGP or World Super Bikes or MotoAmerica racing - try it. The racing is fun to watch and once you get to know some of the racers and a little history it is very entertaining. The over-the-top self promotion and "prima donna's" of so many sports is NOT there. Yes racers are confident, but they are much more relatable and personable. You can find a lot of previous races on YouTube.
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| A large group watching the opening round of MotoGP races at Rudy's |
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April - I had a great first trip to Big Bend, TX with friends and yes, I have lived in Texas for 60 years, but had never visited Telingua or that part of Texas. Also volunteered for the 5th time as a track marshal at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for the MotoGP races. Always a fun time and this time I met two of the world's greatest riders, Johann Zarco and World Champion Francesco Bagnaia.
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Great scenery and fun roads in Big Bend NP.
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The sunsets in BBNP were beautiful.
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May - Enjoyed the great weather of May and tried to put some miles on the Indian. Enjoyed breakfast with friends on various days and took time to soak in scenes that are very much "Texas" before all the growth and construction eliminates many of them.
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The first Third Wednesday biker breakfast at Bebo's, Pilot Point, TX
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The icon Longhorn is a pretty beast. This one relaxing in North Texas
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June - This was a busy month as Mrs. Oz had to work out of town (what started as a couple of weeks ending up going 4 months!). We had a family wedding, a family reunion, trips to see Mrs. Oz in Arkansas and a trip to see the in-laws in Mississippi with a stop for BBQ at the historic Blues Crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
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Staying of the interstate on my way to Little Rock to see Mrs. Oz, so I stopped by CMA headquarters
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The historic crossroads where the legend has it Robert Johnson met the Devil
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| Abe's BBQ sits on the corner at the crossroads and serves good BBQ |
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The mural on the side of Abe's BBQ depicts the infamous "deal with the devil."
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July - Mrs. Oz and I prepped, packed, traveled and hosted our annual Beat The Heat Tour. This year we staged out of Durango, Colorado with 10 biker friends joined us for a week of fun, laughter, great rides and awesome home cooked food (Thanks to Mrs. Oz). Later in the month Mrs Oz and I enjoyed a weekend in Arkansas where we visited Eureka Springs and the Thorncrown Chapel.
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The Rocky Mountains make us smile. Molass Pass Overlook with the group.
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We stopped by the Jack Dempsey birthplace in Manessa, CO.
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The Durango Train - one day we rode the train to Cascade Canyon. Awesome views!
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North Clear Creek Falls off of CO 149 (aka The Silver Thread) between Creede and Lake City
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The last full day of riding took us to Silverton and Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway!
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Thorncrown Chapel just outside Eureka Springs, Arkansa is so beautiful and peaceful
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| The chapel is designed to draw the outdoors in and be part of the surroundings of the mountains. |
August - I attended the 46th National Biker Roundup which was held in Memphis, TN (the rally changes locations each year).
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While at the rally with brothers from New Boston, TX we visited longtime friend Kerry in Mississippi
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September - Attended and worked as a track marshal at my first MotoAmerica races. It was the first time MotoAmerica hosted a full round at COTA in Austin, Texas. All the races were exciting but watching the King of the Baggers live was great! Towards the end of the month Mrs. Oz got word that September would be her last month to work in Little Rock!
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Factory Indian Motorcycles King of the Baggers
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| Those Baggers have great brakes to shut it down to make the sharp turn 11 at COTA. |
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| Being close to the action and seeing the skill is awesome. |
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October - This was a packed and packing month. After a lot of talk, prayers and planning Mrs. Oz and I were moving to Tennessee and it would begin the first of November. October was busy! I visited our son in Meredith, New Hampshire and a dear couple met me and rode with us one day. (Thank you Laconia Harley Davidson for providing a Roadglide for me to ride). Held a garage sale, sold items of FB marketplace, rode in a big escort for the Chris Kyle statue to Waxahachie, Texas. The rest of the time was spent packing, storing and cleaning as we prepared for our move.
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New Hampshire country in the fall is so colorful
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Friends Claud and Beverly joined us on a ride through the White Mountains.
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A nice morning at Lake Winnisquam
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Escorting the Chris Kyle statue was a great honor. Just five of us out of 100+ who rode.
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November - After an active and stressful last weeks of October we moved into a vacation rental outside Iuka, MS temporarily while we began our hunt for a house in the southern part of Middle Tennessee. The month included house shopping, job hunting for Mrs. Oz (after an abrupt elimination of her position), driving on the Natchez Trace, visiting an Amish community and Thanksgiving with family in Mississippi. A house near Pulaski, TN found, offer made and accepted with a January closing (who wants to be moving during the holidays)!
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One of the colorful sunsets we have seen in Tennessee
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Country road to where we are staying near Iuka, Mississippi
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Memorial Spring Bridge in Iuka, MS. Neat town, worth a visit.
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Fall foliage on the Natchez Trace in Tennessee
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Amish farm in Ethridge, TN
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Historic tobacco barn on the Natchez Trace
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| Homemade donuts made with "whomp biscuits" - can biscuits. Mother-in-law made them |
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December - Met for lunch at High On the Hog with a friend I hadn't seen in about 7-9 years, a family gathering in Texas, Mrs. Oz secures a great job, more exploring, a quick trip to Chattanooga and Gatlinburg, TN to see Christmas lights and a little shopping followed by a few days around Christmas in Mississippi with family.
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It was great meeting up with Stan
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| Old church in Cade's Cove - Smoky Mountain National Park |
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We saw a lot of wild turkeys in Cade's Cove
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Plenty of deer were scattered around Cade's Cove
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The park is a great place. Looking forward to riding the Indian and hiking in the park
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Christmas spirit could be found in Chattanooga in a lot of neighborhoods
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We really enjoyed driving around and seeing the lights
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| More Christmas cheer |
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Here is a little video from the trip to enjoy nature and Christmas lights
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| Florence, Alabama at the Honda shop for maintence on Mrs. Oz's Honda Passport - interesting |
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Family time on Christmas Eve
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How was your 2023? What was your favorite trip, adventure or event? Let me know with a comment below.
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We have a lot of new advertures, roads and fun ahead of us in 2024. Stay tuned for future posts!
I hope and pray your 2024 will be blessed richly.
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