Author Archives: Matthew

End of a Long Pause

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End of a Long Pause

Posted on October 18, 2026

Today, October 18th, 2026, Tristan and I went on a short recreational ride on Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. This was the first motorcycle recreational ride since I briefly rode Scarlett on July 4th, 2026.

On June 26th, 2026, I was informed that my job unexpectedly was ending on June 30th, 2026. The client did not renew several IT support and project contracts to include the contract I was employed under. The job market this year is the most brutal and unforgiving one I have personally experienced since I started working in IT in 1996. I have always been blessed that I have never been out of work involuntarily prior to this for more than 3 weeks in my adult life. This time it was 3 months, which from what I have read is still below the nightmare some are experiencing.

There Will Be No Unauthorized Happiness

Because I was unemployed, I had crazy amount of free time per say (and no money lol). Other than the 4th of July small ride from Douglasville to Villa Rica and back, I did not do any recreational riding (or anything recreational for that matter) while unemployed, I could not justify having fun while financial doom was looming. it is just the way my brain works. LOL.

Today’s Ride

And now that I started working again (September 28th, 2026) this was the first weekend that the weather was not complete garbage. Funny how that works, the weather was perfect during the week for these last 3 weeks, but weekends were terrible to include a hurricane last weekend…..Good Grief LOL. So today, Tristan and I went out for a small afternoon fall ride here in western Georgia of about 90 miles in total, a very small but enjoyable afternoon ride and late lunch at Burger King.

We rode west on GA Highway 166 onto GA Highway 5 to just east of Roopville, GA and angled North and turned onto US Highway 27 and headed North through Carrollton, GA to Interstate 20 East to Villa Rica, GA and then proceeded East on US Highway 78 to Douglasville, GA where we ate our late lunch at Burger King.

On the ride home, we stopped and helped a lady change out her flat tire and put the spare tire on, so we got our good deed for the day as well :).

Goofing Off at Burger King

Two Wheels of Suches Georgia – Drone Videos

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR DRONE VIDEO OF TWO WHEELS OF SUCHES

Two Wheels of Suches, Georgia

Tristan and I rode Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America, from Douglasville, Georgia to Two Wheels of Suches, Georgia and stayed in a cabin at the motorcycle resort for the weekend. We did some riding on Georgia Highway 60, Checked out a cool HO Scale Model Railroad in Mineral Bluffs, Georgia, and played around with the drone.

Two Wheels of Suches had a great vibe, and it was great chatting and hanging out with fellow motorcycle riders. Food was not bad at the Two Wheels of Suches Restaurant either.

This video captures some of the beautiful scenery and mountain views around Suches. I wish I had flown a little higher and taken slower, sweeping shots of the mountains. I’m still learning to use my HoverAir X1 ProMax drone, and I didn’t want to fly too high while controlling it with my Samsung Galaxy S20 over Wi-Fi. I was worried I might lose control and be forced to recover the drone from the heavily wooded mountain area.

Photos from Our Stay at Two Wheels of Suches, Georgia

Camping with Tristan – West Point Lake Georgia Part 2

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR PART TWO VIDEO

Memorial Day Weekend 2026

Memorial Day Weekend 2026, Tristan and I ride Bruce to Holiday Campground on West Point Lake, Georgia.

This is the first camping trip Tristan will remember (Mom and I took him camping in California when he was only 2).

We had some rain on the way there and some during camp, but we had a great time, despite the fact we didn’t catch any fish (it would appear that I have forgotten how to fish LOL).

This video is Part 2 of 2 of our weekend camping trip and the ride there.

Camping With Tristan – West Point Lake Georgia Part 1

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR PART ONE VIDEO

Memorial Day Weekend 2026

Tristan and I ride Bruce to Holiday Campground on West Point Lake, Georgia.

This is the first camping trip Tristan will remember (Mom and I took him camping in California when he was only 2).

We had some rain on the way there and some during camp, but we had a great time, despite the fact we didn’t catch any fish (it would appear that I have forgotten how to fish LOL).

This video is Part 1 of 2 of our weekend camping trip and the ride there.

Scarlett Homecoming – Griffin, GA to Douglasville, GA

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CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR SCARLETT HOMECOMING DAY 2 PART 2 VIDEO

Scarlett Homecoming Conclusion – Day 2 Part 2 – May 10th, 2026

In this video, I bring Scarlett, my 2006 Honda VTX 1300C, home. The video resumes my ride northward starting near Griffin, Georiga on Georgia Highway 92 and roll through Fayetteville, Fairburn. Then through Campbellton, Georgia on Georgia Higway 154, cross the Chattahoochee River into Douglas County and Georgia Highway 166 to home.

The weather on day 2 was perfect motorcycling weather and a dramatic contrast to the weather I encountered on Day 1. I was truly grateful for the weather on Day 2.

Total Miles for Scarlett Homecoming from DeLand, Florida to Douglasville, Georgia = 486 Miles

Scarlett Homecoming Day 2 Part 2 Map

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Scarlett Homecoming – Perry, GA to Griffin, GA

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR SCARELETT HOMECOMING DAY 2 PART 1 VIDEO

Scarlett Homecoming Day 2 Part 1 – May 10th, 2026

Day 2 starts off with a pleasant sunny, partly cloudy day and the temperature was mild (70’s & 80’s). This was a much welcomed contrast to Day 1 and all that rain.

This video covers my a portion of my Day 2 ride from Perry, Georiga to Griffin, Georgia.

Day 2 Part 1 Map

A few photos during while taking a break

Scarlett Homecoming – Homerville to Perry, Georgia

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR SCARLETT HOMECOMING DAY 1 PART 4 VIDEO

Scarlett Homecoming Day 1 Part 4 – May 9th, 2026

This video covers Day 1 Part 4 of 4 of my Scarlett Homecoming motorcycle tour from DeLand, Florida to Douglasville, Georgia.

After riding most of the day in rain, I finally start to ride out of the rain bands as I approach Perry, Georgia. Soaked and now a little cold with the air temperture at 65 degrees Farienhiet (Temp was 91 degrees farenheit when the ride started in DeLand, Florida). I put on some warmer long sleve riding gear and swaped out my gloves for my cooler weather Harley-Davidson gloves.

I rolled into my hotel in Perry, Georgia right at sunset, perfect timing! After getting checked into the hotel and gear stowed in my hotel room, I peeled off my riding gear and dumped out about a cup of water out of each boot!

My Daytona Road Star GTX boots are waterproof, however I was wearing motorcyle jeans (Iron Workers) which were soaked, I think the water entered the top of the boot and collected inside the boot, being trapped inside the boot due to the waterproofing. I had rain gear (pants and jacket) packed but I delayed putting them on incorrectly thinking I was only going to encounter scattered showers and thunderstorms.

By the time I realized it was going to be a most of the day rain event, I was already very wet and thus, no point in putting on the rain gear at that point. I packed gear that I didn’t use for the joy of lugging it through airports, taking up my limitied luggage space on the bike, and extra weight….good job! LOL.

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Scarlett Homecoming – Green Cove Springs to Lawtey, Florida

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CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE FOR SCARLETT HOMECOMING DAY 1 PART 3 VIDEO

Scarlett Homecoming Day 1 Part 3 – May 9th, 2026

This video is part 3 of 4 of Day 1 of 2 of the maiden voyage of Scarlett, my 2006 Honda VTX 1300C from DeLand, Florida to Douglasville, Georgia. This video is shorter (for my videos anyways) running for 15minutes and 39 seconds and covers the ride from the rural area west of Green Cove Springs, Florida to Lawtey, Florida via 2 lane highways and county roads.

Map of Day 1 Part 3

Scarlett Homecoming – Palatka to Green Cove Springs, Florida

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CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR SCARLETT HOMECOMING DAY 1 PART 2 VIDEO

Scarlett Homecoming Day 1 Part 2 – May 9th, 2026

Scarlett Homecoming Motorcycle Trip from DeLand, Florida to Douglasville, Georgia continues with my ride from Palatka, Florida to Grandin, Florida and finally the rural area near Green Cove Springs, Florida. Late in this video I encountered my first rain, which would be often throughout the remainder of the day.

Day1 Part 2 Map