Here'a a Quick Gripe to start the New Year off right!

I don't have a Harley and I don't have a pet.....God bless those that do....

But here's a little gripe for you....

Have you ever been in a beautiful, quiet place like a state or national park or a scenic byway on a bluebird day just soaking up the sounds of nature.....and heard in the distance the rumbling of thunder..... only it's not thunder.... it's a pack.... a herd.... a group..... a gaggle or whatever the heck you call a number of Harley riders approaching ..... now don't get me wrong.... some of the Harleys I've heard are properly mufflered (if that's a word).... in other words they're not loud.... but the majority of them have to be over 120 db which is bad enough going down an urban street.....

But IMHO they have no business being in a state or national park.... they ought to have a freakin' decibel reading meter at the gate of every state and national park.... you pull up and your vehicle or whatever your mode of transportation is.... has a reading over a certain obtrusive and peace defying level..... they don't let you in.... it's that simple.

Oh and pets - dogs in particular - Don't bring them to the park!

The folks next campsite over to me left their dog in their motor home .... they left about 9:00 am.

The dog has been barking non-stop since 9:00 am and its 2:00 pm now - how does a dog bark without pause for 5 hours? Don't they get hoarse or something? Don't they lose their voice or their bark?

Is a dog's bark worse than his bite? I'd have rather been bitten by the son of a gun this morning and have him shut up than have to listen to 'em bark for 5 hours.

I can't even hardly think.... I'm loading up my Netbook and heading to the Park HQ and then into Mineral Wells to get something to eat and find a quiet place to do my blog..... it's too noisy at my campsite - Thanks Dog Owners!