Woodsy's Situation Thread

Hey Don - Sounds like you had the PERFECT day!! Riding with your child plus having the chance to see how the 250x adapted to an MX track - what a way to spend a Friday!!
Thanks for making us part of it!
Woodsy

I dont think it would be "deceptive" as long as you didnt build a resturant on the section to make money off some poor lost souls. On the other hand that may not be a bad idea.. hmmmmm. INCAS ALL YOU CAN EAT BURNT SQUIRREL SPECIAL!!
Hey Terry, GREAT talking to you today!! Thanks for the words of encouragement and I PROMISE, some day we shall meet and ride together!!!
Keep RIPPEN guys!!
Woodsy

This essay that I have titled “A Visit Report” could most certainly be retitled – “Angels on My Shoulders” of perhaps even, “A Testament of True Love and Compassion”. As I try to explain why this is so please keep in mind that I am not a man of few words. In fact, just the opposite is true. My good friend 70marlin reminded of this fact recently as he and I were in a phone conversation concerning his intent to “get in on” one of my “Monday rides” as soon as I am back on my feet. He made NO bones about making sure that I understood that it was the “bench racing” he was looking forward to almost as much as the riding!! Hey Pat, I CANT WAIT BROTHER!!! Pats reminder of my ability to “rattle on” was taken serious by me. Of course, not serious enough that I am going to shorten the length of this report, but serious none the less!
Anyway, this “Visit Report” is written covering the grand total of 1 days time and what a GRAND day it was!! Let’s go back to where it all began….
Woodsy (that’s me) is soundly sleeping on the twin size bed that my wife and son moved into our living room. The house is totally quiet (everyone was gone) and I was sleeping off one of my prescribed doses of Vicodin, Flexeril, Neurontin, and Blood Pressure medicine when I was awakened by a “thump thump” on the sliding glass door at the rear of our house. I don’t know whether I called out come in or if the people just came in (either way don’t matter around here) but I was surprised to see Young Ted and his pretty bride Connie standing there looking at me. I said hi guys and they flipped off their shoes and came around for hugs. I had never had the wonderful opportunity to meet Connie and been looking forward to this occasion since Ted had told me the last time he came up to visit that he was bringing his precious wife along on this occasion. WHAT A SWEET PERSON (she lacked some of the rough edges that her husband had developed over the years – like flipping me off for no apparent reason)!! We hugged (Ted’s fist didn’t even double up – sheesh Ted, you’ll knock me out if I poke fun of INCA or throw a little roost on ya but I can hug your pretty wife and you didn’t even clinch your fist!!) and I could instantly tell that Connie has the same sweetness about her that Ted holds in his heart – A PERFECT COUPLE!!
Ted pulled my computer chair over for Connie to sit on and then pulled a kitchen chair up for himself – then the stories began!!!
We talked about great times, about my progress in the area of rehab and mostly about our shared love of covering the planet with dirt bike tracks! We all had a marvelous time reliving Young Ted’s 4 day outing on his beloved Penton 250, the very trip that, by chance or by destiny, he and I had our first encounter. This “ride”, named “Ted’s Dream of a Lifetime” by his wife Connie or “The Great Adventure” by his son Bruce or “Go For It Dad” by his daughter Linda and finally named “Timers Moments – a Penton on the MCCCT” by the Master himself, has undoubtedly become a cross road in my life! Having had the honor to get to know these two wonderful friends so deeply has been nothing short of WONDERFUL!! As we worked through our conversation about Ted’s “ride” it suddenly occurred to me that had it not been for Connie’s willingness to not only go along with Ted’s outing but to serve as “trail support”, Ted and I would NEVER have met! You see, the person that just happen to mention Ted’s “ride” to me while my group of riders was having a trail break at Carrieville, most certainly had to have heard about it thru one of Connie’s stops with the van while doing trail support. Having figured that out, I thanked her for not only being so willing to encourage “timers” love for bikes but to be so willing to “stand by her man”!! She is certainly 1st class!!
We continued for a short while chatting and my wife came home (she may have been there all the time but when your flying on drugs things get all messed up – correct me if I am wrong Ted!!). She and Connie hit it off at first chat! The three of them formed a half circle (better then a half Nelson ANY DAY!!) by my bed and we had a BLAST!! I thought the laughter was going to wake up the neighborhood as those two ladies started to compare how much alike Ted and I are! They figured out that Ted and Connie are six months apart just like Cheryl (my wife) and I are – not only that but the SAME 6 months!! April was blessed with Young Ted’s birth and October was blessed with Connie – exactly those same months as my wife and mine!! Connie and I looked at each other and she said – THAT IS ALMOMST WEIRD!! Now she knows how I felt when I pulled into the 32nd Street trailhead last year and there was Ted – BANGO – our 2nd chance encounter!!
My son comes home and announces that he is ready to start his “brake job” on his car. Dad being confined to his bed, Young Ted jumps up and heads out the door to help my son! This mans kindness and gentleness NEVER ends!! The 2 ladies and I continue our barrage of tales while Ted periodically comes in to ask questions about the brakes on my son’s car. Jay (my son) and Ted did a marvelous job of getting the job done – even though they got lost (runs in the family) a couple times and I had to rescue them!!
Later Ted disappears again (you gotta watch this guy all the time – you never know what he is up to!!) and reappears with a big box all gift wrapped beautifully. My heart started melting cause every time Young Ted does something like this I have a hard time holding back tears! I opened the box and this is what I found.. LOOK VERY CLOSELY BEFORE READING ON AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIQURE OUT WHAT IT IS!!

Come to find out, Connie has the same tendency of HUGE compassion as Ted and Young Ted didn’t have to even ask for her help in doing this project. What you are looking at is an ABSOULUTE work of art!! They started with a flat piece of steel that Ted painstakingly soldered 2 upright bushing onto so 2 wooden dowels could be placed upright into them. Upon this they placed a double layered Rum cake (OH MY GOSH, YOU SHOULD HAVE SMELLED THAT WONDERFUL CAKE!!) and then proceeded to create this piece! There is a miniature of my bike “KADIE” on a stand sitting on the right hand corner of the cake (come to find out, Connie had carefully painted the bike green – and the detail is so fine that “KADIE” is even found written on the number plate just like it should be – WOW!!). Behind my bike is a small “trail sign” that says BOON on it. Beside the bike lies a helmet painted like mine and I am no where to be found, obviously, I am off using l of my “Woodsy’s Emergency Kits”, I say this because on the left hand side rear of the scene is found another trail sign that reads LOST!! In between all this mounted on the two dowels is a Squirrel on rotisserie hahahahahahahahah! Now the reason that I say that I am off some where using one of my “KITS” is that Ted knows that I ALWAYS give the kit one last try BEFORE I eat that Squirrel!!! If you look real close you will notice that there is a fire already going beneath the Squirrel (Connie spent NO small amount of time “curling” that red plastic to look like flames) so I am REALLY lost and am getting ready to spend another night in the woods – but I am not going to starve!!
First I laughed liked I have never laughed before when I pulled the lid off the box and saw what they had done. Then I wept as the thoughts of what this finely detailed project represented. THANKS YOU TWO – YOU HAVE TOUCHED MY HEART BEYOND WORDS!!!
More conversation and then we watch a portion of a Video tape that one of my new “cyber friends”, Al Stover, had sent to me. Al was reading about my situation here on DRN and responded with an e-mail of encouragement and wanted to send me a tape to watch – THANKS AGAIN AL!! Ted, Connie, Cheryl and I watched the portion of the tape about the first Jack Pine Enduro! Ted and Connie REALLY enjoyed it – I could tell that there were a lot of memories that the tape brought up! As I pushed start on the VCR the announcer came on and Ted said “I know him” – I stopped the tape and said – you know the announcer? Ted said yea, he was the President of the AMA for years.. GOOD NIGHT TED, IS THERE ANYONE YOU DON’T KNOW???
We finished watching the tape and the phone rang. It was 70Marlin who wanted to rattle my cage about working on Husenbergs. Actually, he wanted to brag to me that he is getting to ride so much that he had a pinched tube on his outing up at Wolverine.. We chatted briefly and then I told him Young Ted and Connie were at my house. He told me to say hi and I handed Ted the phone instead! Ted chatted with Pat for a while and then gave me the phone back and I said good bye to Pat. WHAT A RIOT!!! Here I am, FLAT ON MY BACK and still having a ball bench racing with the greatest people on the planet!!!
Ted got the chance to go on one of my “rehab walks” with me. I told him how I have been slowly but surely making progress in my steps to keep the scar lesions from attaching to the sciatic nerve. We talked about my progress – when I started it was teeeneee little steps and now I am almost at full stride!! Later I mentioned that I have a pair of TTR225’s (electric start) that I have purposely kept from selling just to use them as “rehab bikes”. I told him that as soon as I am able, I was going to invite folks over to “rehab” with me and his face lit right up!! I said, “I don’t think thats looking to far down the road do you?” and he said “NO – actually you need to look even farther!!” I said I am, a couple nights ago I was on E-Bay looking for a Kick Starter for KADIE – just planning ahead because that day is coming!!! He an I both agreed that looking far enough forward to me ripping the woods on my KX was indeed, looking far enough into the future!!
All in all, it is the encouragement from EVERYONE of you who have in a VERY positive way responded to, taken the time to read about, prayed for, sent cards and notes and ON AND ON that I think about while I am working thru this mess! You people are some of the GREATEST people on earth and I mean it!!!
Ted and Connie said there good byes and headed out so I could go back to resting. I snapped up some more video before they did and here are a couple shots of these two GENUINE gems!!
Well, back to sleep for Woodsy.
Ya'll ride when ya can!

Sounds like you hade a great visit.

Now for the important stuff. I heard a rumour (a little bird told me) that you were spotted on the side of the road this weekend with a broken down veichle! Is this true?

Sounds like you're in fine spirits Woodsy - love the cake!!!

What a great report Woodsy! You and Ted, now with Connie and your wife Cheryl, and forming a wonderful friendship that'll last a lifetime.

That cake is an absolute riot! I couldn't eat the rum cake out of guilt for such a lovely piece of work.

I'm hoping to get up to see you soon!

Shoooot Nelson, she (the FAT lady) never got on the stage!! I can see right now that I have some 'splaining to do!! Be back soon....
I AM AT 20 minute intervuls on my walking right now!! we can rebuild him,,,,, FASTER, STRONGER and better looking (if you like scars), thats what Woodsy is going to be :thumb:
I may have to buy one of those ATK 700 2 smokers!!
Feeling groovy
Woodsy

Woodsy, You should see the UPS truck at your door on Thursday. I put a little something special in there for you.

Napper

OK guys, where do I begin….

YZMAN – You have an AWESOME network setup there dude!! Here is what happened.. Young Ted and my son did a brake job on my sons car while Ted and his wife were visiting. I “waddled” out there to see how things were going but did not have a chance to do a “final inspection” of the work. I laid in bed that night and worried that something small may have been missed by my son as he put it back together. The next morning I woke up to find my wife gone to church (NO ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON ME!!) and my son asleep (worked until 3 am). I put on my brace and wandered out to his car, sliddddd into the drivers seat and took off for a 5 minute “test” drive just to check the brakes. As I headed around the block with the thing it slowly slowed down kinda like someone was pressing on the break peddle. At first I thought, yep gotta be a pad out of place or something. It slowed to about 30 from 55 before I realized that it was SEIZING!!! Of course, I shut the car off IMMEDIATLEY once I realized what was happening!! I no sooner got stopped then a real good friend of mine, Bruce Macpherson, pulled up on his new EXC525 (WOW what a beautiful bike!!). He helped me get going again (poured water in so I wouldn’t have to) and I drove it home.. Sad part of this story is I RUINED my boys car!! He had overheated it on his way home from work and was planning on putting water in it that morning – I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN BED WHERE I BELONGED!! Anyway, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS??? This is the 2nd, no, make that 3rd time this type of stunt on me you did– what are you – psycic??
Nice thing about it Don, it seems that everywhere I go I have people who are either watching out for me or trying to get back at me :yikes: (sometimes its hard to tell the difference!).. Sometimes I am so stupid I surprise myself!! :(

MWEISSEN – I AGREE WITH YOU 100% about not eating that cake!! You ask Young Ted or Connie and they will tell you that the first thing I said was, THAT IS ONE CAKE THAT WILL NEVER BE EATEN!! However (usually when you see the word “however” you better pay attention cause it means the direction of the subject is going to change), I found a way to “HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO”. I had my wife carefully remove the dowels holding the squirrel over the fire and then separate the top layer of the cake from the bottom. Thusly giving Woodsy the PLEASURE of indulging into the RICHEST, MOISTEST rum cake that taste buds have EVER tasted while at the same time, saving the entire top layer, intact, for the purpose of coating it with clear polyurethane thereby sealing it FOREVER in the realm of THE BROTHERHOOD of DIRTBIKE RIDER HISTORY! Sometimes I am so close to absoulute GENIUS that I scare myself!! :thumb:

cont..

KIWIBIRD – THANK YOU FOR THE PHONE CALL!!! You REALLY made my evening here at the Woodsy home in Michigan!! It was a riot conversing with you about bikes, dusty desert and riding!!! Some day I hope to meet that 83 year old named George that you know that is still riding his CR500 and HILL CLIMBING NON THE LESS – I would be HONORED to introduce you to Michigan’s own DIRT BIKE ICON and personal friend of mine – Young Ted (I know he would denie being a friend of mine but the way I fiqure it is that if you spend even ONE evening “lost on the Boon Trail with Woodsy” and ride with him again , you are either good friends or CRAZY :) !! I also hope that your hip problem gets solved in the near future – you are talking to someone who knows from experience how pain can really take away from the fun!! A word of advice from ol Woodsy – don’t be afraid to make mention of your injury here on DRN!! I know that Mweissen did and he got hooked up with another person that encouraged him a lot and words cant even tell how much encouragement this site has been to me – I would be still waiting for a second opinion if it wouldn’t have been for this site!!! You are correct about attitude KIWI – your attitude sets your altitude!! I HOPE AND PRAY that real soon you guys in California get some RAIN so you can ride DUST FREE my friend!!

KADIE CALLING INCA – do you read me over?? Concerning my boss and that beautiful bride of your bosses… I am told that she wandered to close to my bosses “play pen” and got scooped in when a sleeping Woodsy suddenly woke up, sprang out and grabbed her!! She protected herself by screaming, WAKE UP WOODSY, ITS ME, FATHER NELSON’S WIFE. Just the thought of such a thing as someone with Father Nelson’s off colored character flaws having a wife that is so precious caused a tremor within my boss that he instantly freed that Damsel in distress.. Anyway, that’s what I heard… Nice talking to you, I am getting mighty tired of sitting in the garage under this cover!!

YOUNG TED AND CONNIE: All throughout my life I have been told that the number “13” is suppose to be associated with things “not so good”. As usual, you two have shown the light on another “myth” by finding that “burnt squirrel” at the 13th store and it being the last one!! EVERYONE I show that cake to is absolutely awestruck!! Of course, as I pointed out to you in a recent Email Ted, very few really understand the true meaning of it because they don’t have the VIVID memories of “being lost on the Boon trail” that we single trackers share!! Maybe someday they will my friend, maybe someday they will… :thumb:

ROB: Thanks for the email I received from you tonight! I REALLY appreciate the well wish for a speedy recovery!! RIDE ON BROTHER!!

NAPPER: THANKS A MILLION my dirt tossing, log jumping, corner straightening, trail cutting (I didn’t forget that move you pulled on me and Freddy :) ) trail ripping, KTM riding, suspention fixen, east side living, west side riding, enduro winning, fun loving friend!!! I will be looking for that UPS Truck and can’t wait to enjoy!!

RIDE ON BROTHERS!!
Woodsy

"HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS??? This is the 2nd, no, make that 3rd time this type of stunt on me you did– what are you – psychic??"

This is a small world we live in and you are such a big part of it. How could I not hear about your mishaps.....errr adventures :) Even broken down (your body that is) you still find ways to get into mischief.

Did you ever figure out how Rene knows Ted?? Its still eatin at you ain't it??? :rotfl: :rotfl:

NO Don, I still dont have that fiqured out!! And to add fuel to that fire dig this.. I have received MANY get well wishes in many different forms from all over the country. Today I received a card from a very "special" person who waits tables at a restaurant North of Baldwin. She said in her well wish that “a little birdy told her about my surgery..” Below is a pic of her Signature, take a look and see if you our any other of you yahoos know anything about this… Don’t be afraid to fess up to the truth!! You know that ol Woodsy never gets mad so its ok to come forth and admit you told her and GAVE HER my address… Don?? Young Ted? (you aint gonna tell cause I still don’t know how she knew you..) Mark? Larry? Rudy? Little Jimmy? anybody??????

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That is too funny. I wonder who did that ;)

Did she write ya another poem??

It wasn't me, but like any good judge, I can be bought! Just ask Ted! :nener:

"Just trying to help you get better,
Young Ted"

oh yea, hahahahahahahahaha, like I buy into that last minute plea bargain hahahaha.. Something smells funny here and it aint my dirty socks this time :) I am VERY much aware of the many "under currents" taking place while I am "out of the picture". It is little notes like the one I recieved from Renie and little comments like "a little birdie told me that you were seen stranded on the side of the road" that are PROOF POSITIVE that these under currents are very STRONG!!!
Tell you what Ted, you tell me the TRUTH about how the heck Renie knew your name was Ted and I will take your name off the roost list hahahahaha but I know that will NEVER happen cause it aint your style hahahaha that 76 year young mind is just as sharp as ever, just as sharp as the nail in the tip of that quick triggered middle finger of yours!! hahahahaha
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THIS MUCH FUN RECOVERING FROM MAJOR SURGERY!!! :)

And the funny thing Woodsy is that once you figure out how all these little concidences have been happening your just gonna go DOH!

Why of course I will Don, but that is how life always works...
Say, as long as I have your attention would you mind telling me how you knew about my "stranded situtation? Of course not, cause you and Young Ted and Mweissen and Larry and Chris (well, maybe not Chris) are all out of the same "game playing mold".... Suckers :)
By the way, I have gotten a couple messages that you have challenged me to a game of "asteroids". I want you to know that my machine wont handle the "game", I cant load it up.. It aint that I am afraid of getting whooped!!!

Hey Don, yes she did write me another poem.. Pretty creative that little Renie is! The poem is a little of colored so I chose not to post it but it is VERY funny and VERY well done!!! She invited me to stop in for coffee when I get back to the "trails". I may take her up on the offer and see if she will relinkuish the name of the "TRAITOR" that gave up my address... I might suggest that who ever did it fess up now before I get better and make a trip up to Baldwin hahahahah

"Say, as long as I have your attention would you mind telling me how you knew about my "stranded situtation?"

Allright I will let ya in on a few of my secrets....

You said someone called Bruce stopped to help ya?

I know Bruce also. But he didn't tell me.

Were was Bruce going when he stoped to help?

Bridgeton. They had a 2 day event weekend.

Who else is a member of the MMC???

Keith. I talked to Keith Sunday night and he mentioned that Bruce told him about your mishap.

Romors fly in this small town we live in. Ya cant fart around here without someone getting wind of it.

See everyone, now Don is being very nice fellow dirt biker.. That is AWESOME how that all pieced together Don!! I was REALLY glad to see Bruce when that happened!!! Now that you mention it he did say that he was on his way out to the track... and yep your right, this is certainly a small world...
Of course, I can still manage to get lost no matter how small it gets :)
Thanks for filling me in on a cople of your secrets Don, I will sleep better tonight :thumb:
Woodsy