SPORT 50 - purchased new in 1965 when Elwood was 17 years old. This was his first real motorcycle and you can see how he showed off! It was purchased at the Western Auto store in Shelbyville and he wrecked it within minutes of driving away(No Damage). But he rode it for over a year.
305 SCRAMBLER – purchased new in 1966
When Elwood and Shirley met, she had only seen him on this bike and didn’t even know if he had a car! But he showed up in a car for their first date and her parents wouldn’t allow her to ride the bike anyway. It was a nice little bike but he got a couple of speeding tickets with it. After their December, 1968 wedding, Shirley started riding but they didn’t have much time because Elwood left for Viet Nam in July, 1969. This picture was taken when he was on leave. Two weeks later he was in the jungles of southeast Asia carrying an M-16. Unfortunately, we made the wrong decision to sell the bike when he left. Live and learn.
1968 CB 350 – purchased in mid-1970.
We bought this bike after Elwood got out of the Army and started attending U of L. We had a lot of good times on it and thought we were really the cat’s pajamas on our “big bad bike”! We took this bike to Las Vegas with us in August 1972, in a home-built trailer. Pulling the trailer ruined the transmission in our 1969 Mustang fastback but it was a great trip anyway. This is our German shepherd, Robin, who loved riding and would bark until bystanders looked at her!
1971 CB 450 - purchased in late 1972
In May 1973, we wrecked this bike on I-65 and Shirley was laid up for two months with all the skin gone from the back of one leg. There was a fake sissy bar that flipped her right off onto the pavement. The first paycheck after she returned to work was spent on getting the bike fixed and customized (not her idea). We sold the bike in 1976 and didn't ride for 25 years.
1981 650 Custom - Jesse purchased in 2000
This is the bike that got us riding again, and we have Jesse to thank for it. He was turning out to be a responsible young man so we helped him get this bike. On Good Friday in 2001, he called his Mom and asked her what she was doing the next day. He "forced" her to ride with him on the Bunny Run and since she didn't fall off the bike or faint, she was hooked. Jesse bought his 1995 Intruder later that spring and gave us the 650 so we could ride together
1983 GL1100 - purchased in 2001
This was our first "big" bike. Unfortunately, it had a lot of mechanical and electrical problems. We were able to sell it to someone who wanted a bike to tinker with in his spare time.
1983 VENTURE - purchased in 2001
After trying out a couple of other bikes, we found this beautiful Venture.
It's actually Shirley's favorite bike we've had but was difficult for Elwood to drive because it was so top heavy.
We used to ride over to the nursing home to visit Shirley's mom, who never let us forget about how she took care of her after the wreck!
This bike went on several trips including Pine Mountain State Park in a thunderstorm. That was quite an adventure!
1987 Gold Wing GL1200 - purchased in 2002
This was the Gold Wing that made us realize how great Wings really are and got us involved with the GWRRA. The day after Jesse and Kristen's wedding on May 14, 2005, we took off on our first grand adventure to the Smokies, South Carolina, and across Tennessee to Lake Barkley. Almost 2,000 miles in a week was quite tiring but a trip we'll never forget. This photo of our grandson, Trevor, was taken in 2002 when he was five years old.
1983 GL1100 - purchased in 2003
We got a great deal on this one so we got it as a second bike for other riders. A good friend of ours wanted to get back into riding and convinced us this would be the perfect bike for that. He was right!
1988 Gold Wing GL 1500 - purchased in 2005
Our current bike has taken us over 40,000 miles and the trailer has allowed us to take several trips that wouldn't have been possible otherwise, including the campouts at Mount Vernon and E'town with Chapter A. Although we can't be gone for more than a week at a time due to Elwood's work schedule and health, we don't hesitate to take off and it's not unusual for us to ride 150 to 250 miles in one day. Riding together has also brought us closer as a family. Our daughter Charlotte and her family have joined us at various times and our grandson, Trevor, is a real biker dude. Jesse and Kristen have ridden with us for many miles and hours.
