Larry is my best friend and riding buddy. My best friend after my wife that is…
I don’t know of many friendships that have lasted as long as Larry’s and mine. Many, many years and miles and miles apart.
Larry and I met when we were stationed at Brooks AFB in San Antonio, Texas in 1969. Yes, we are older than dirt. He and I both worked at the base dispensary. Larry worked in the flight surgeon’s office just down the hall and I worked as an x-ray technician. We soon became good friends when he became my roommate after his divorce from his first wife. We were two kindred spirits. While in the Air Force we spent our time spelunking (exploring caves), exploring the Texas Hill Country, camping, cliff diving, swimming daily, chasing girls (didn’t catch any thank goodness) and meeting some of the greatest people on and off base. It was a fun time with a lot of good memories.
My wife Janet thinks we could be brothers because we are so much alike. We like the same things, even think alike about most nearly everything and we have the same weird sense of humor.
Larry’s tour of duty was up in November of 1971 and mine was up in August 1972. Larry returned to his home in Georgia and I moved to Dallas, Texas to resume my job with Geophysical Service, Inc. Larry remarried and I married the love of my life in 1978. We kept in contact over the years but because we each had families and we lived so far apart it was difficult to get together.
Our first motorcycle ride in July 1978.
Our first motorcycle trip together was in July 1978. I rode a KZ400 and Larry rode a KZ900. I rode from Houston, Texas and met him and our other friend Larry T. midway. From there we rode back to Larry’s home in Bryant Alabama. The Larry’s have been friends since their childhood. It is fun introducing them… “Hello, this is my friend Larry and this is my other friend Larry…” I know it is confusing having two friends named Larry.
Soon after that first ride in 1978 we both stopped riding to start our families. In 2000 we both renewed our love of riding. We were both empty nesters, so we had more time and money to do the things we have longed to do for so long. We both bought 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomads. Our first trip together after laying off so long was the first leg of the “Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle Ride” in 2001. The following year we rode to the Big Bend area of Texas. Over the years we have done many rides together. You can read about many of those rides here. I haven’t added all of those rides to this blog yet. It is a work in progress so keep checking back for new post.
Many years later 2010 Larry T, Larry C & me
To date (2012), we have been friends for 43 years. Considering we live so far apart and have families it is amazing that we have been able to continue our friendship over the years. Our wives are good friends as well which has helped to keep the friendship going strong. I am very thankful for our friendship and look forward to more of our adventures riding motorcycles or otherwise…
