We just had a long weekend, but I didn't get much riding in 'cause I had to babysit one of our problem children (soldiers), but finally, on Monday I handed his care and feeding off to his NCO (my man Big Man from the Keepin' it Real post), geared up and hit the road.

It didn't go far, just kinda putzing around downtown and in the foothills of the Franklin mountains, you know, real casual like.  I make a turn down a street that runs me right into a nice little park tucked into the shadows of the Franklin mountains and about two curves later the road turns into a parking lot that is JAMMED with cars and some kinda dangerous looking latin brothers, their lowriders, their women and kids, and some old folks sitting in the shade on the grass.

Some of them had T-shirts that read:  Los Santos.

Well I was stuck by then, 'cause this guy and his woman in a lime green metal flake lowrider rode right up behind me and hemmed me in.

And some of these dudes didn't look all that happy that I'd rolled into their party.

Okay, so now maybe I understand the trepidation my white friends feel when we roll through SE D.C. when I'm back home.  The fundamental difference is that I'm not in my car, so I can't very well lock the doors and hope for the best, and besides, I always look at people like they're stupid when they do that.  

So I have no choice but to stop the bike, and when it becomes apparent that the dude in the lowrider behind me is NOT paying me any attention and IS NOT gonna move his ride anytime soon, I figure I might as well kill the bike while I try to think of another way to get out of this freakin' parking lot.  So this big cat in  a wife-beater, bandanna pulled down low above his eyes and dark shades walks towards me and I'm trying to think of a good explanation for why I'm gate crashing his Memorial Day party.  He stops RIGHT in front of me and the dirtiest bike in the world and looks at me for a sec.

He: "Wassup?"
Me: "Took a wrong turn dude.  I didn't know this dead ended down here.  Didn't see any signs."
He:  "Don't too many people know about this place.  You hungry?"

I wasn't really sure if I should take that at face value or not.

Me: "No thanks, man, I'm good."
He: "C'mon my man, my Moms was up all last night cookin' and ain't no way we can finish it all."

There were like a ZILLION people there.  If his mom had cooked more than they could eat, we have found a solution to world hunger.

I took my lid off and looked around.  All of a sudden, they didn't look so scary.  They looked like a bunch of people having a Memorial Day cookout with their wives and kids and families.  And just like in the cartoons, for just a moment I looked (and felt) like a jackass.

Me:  "Cool man, thanks.  Can I trouble you for something cold to drink while you're at it?"

Sometimes... people are just good people.  

so how was the food

Cool.  :lol:
Friendliness is the last thing you expect.
Why is this world not as simple as this?
People are nice to other people. That's the way it should be.
Peace.

We should take a ride together when you come back home... always sounds like quite the adventure with you.  Just maybe not through S.E. though.  :lol:

"the eses was cool, though..."
--Caine in Menace II Society

About 10 years ago I spent most of a summer in Oregon.  People were always rolling down their window & yelling at me at stop lights.  I'm from Detroit--  when that happens here, I tend to pop the clutch & leave in a cloud of smoke.   (  :guns:  )
It took me a long time to realize that in Oregon, people were saying things like "I saw your Michigan plate.  Do you know so & so, he lives in Michigan."  

ChuckS

Quote from: ChuckSIt took me a long time to realize that in Oregon, people were saying things like "I saw your Michigan plate.  Do you know so & so, he lives in Michigan."  

ChuckS

:lol: I used to get that all the time when I moved to Virginia..."Oh, you're from Long Island? Do you know Billy Jones? He lives on Long Island!" It's a big island dude!! Funny stuff.

Quote from: nisus1We should take a ride together when you come back home... always sounds like quite the adventure with you.  Just maybe not through S.E. though.  :lol:

I LIVE IN BALTIMORE AND I AM ALLWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE WITH, EVEN IF IT IS IN S.E. DC.  

Quote from: Matso how was the food

x2

Yeah, I'm from Annapolis, MD originally, but I'll be stationed in D.C. for a while starting in a few days.  My mom lives there.  My dad lives in Glen Burnie MD, so I spend all my time on the B-W Parkway when I'm home.
But as for adventure:  I'm like Caine from Kung Fu on a bike.  I just wander around, get in adventures and meet people.  Which is odd really, 'cause my bike and my girlfriend are all that really stand between me and being a total recluse. :dunno:  

Quote from: nisus1We should take a ride together when you come back home... always sounds like quite the adventure with you.  Just maybe not through S.E. though.  :lol: