Harley Davidson Museum

Yesterday my two sisters and I embarked on a Father's Day Mission....  Take the Pops to the museum and out for lunch.  Pops is not a museum kinda guy.  Or a lunch kinda guy.  You can usually find him wielding his chainsaw in the woods or trashing something with his tractor.  Pops likes his grime and sweat.  Dirt is part of his uniform!  His wife, G,  battling cancer and starting the worse day of her post-chemo routine, simply begged, "Take him away."
So where to go with Pops?  We've never embarked on such a Father/Daughter mission.  At least, not one that didn't bore either him or us to the point where we want to pluck our eyebrows out strand by strand just for something stimulating to do.
K2 decided the Harley Davidson Museum and lunch would be the best bet.  She was right!  Pops has a  H-D, two in fact.  His 'rough' appearance would fit right in.  Off we went.
I had my reservations.  I like museums, hell, I think Harley-Davidson is the only thing we got in Wisconsin worth anything.  I mean, we are best known for beer, cheese, and well,  one of these....

Ugh.

But a motorcycle museum?  Not really my thing, but I'd be with my sisters and my Dad. Not so surprisingly, we all had a great time (!!!)

I've snapped some of my favorite parts to share with you.....

I loved the very industrial feel to the architecture.

K1 and my Pops.  I don't know why I started calling him Pops.  I think it happened when the he asked the kids to call him Papa.  And then one day he was Pops.

If anyone does not like shiny things..... you are clearly insane.

The Evel Knievel exhibit opens in July.  I look pretty striking in polyester!

Not your grandmother's bicycle, or is it?  Tee hee.

Original seats were designed after tractor seats.  Looks a lot more comfy to me than the sliver of a seat on my current bicycle- of which I refuse to ride because it hurts my lady parts.  Sorry for saying lady parts.

Early maketing geared toward the family.  Oh, how times have changed!  I imagine the conversation went something like this:  (In a proper English accent, if you will, although these are Americans.  I never said my hallucinatory imagination made sense)
"Oh, my dear Martha, let us travel on the motorbike and bring these flowers to my dear mother!"
"Good show, Hale, that's the spirit!"
"Oh, but Mummy and Daddy, can we stop for a soda water on the way home?  I do crave it so!"
"Why, of course, my love, anything for you!"    *giggle, giggle, snicker*

H-D even made bicycles at one time.  Here is a woman's model (note the extra cage atop the wheel so their dresses would not get caught in the wheel.  And part of the children's model.  The hope was to get women and children familiar with the H-D name.  GENIUS!  Marketing towards women and children in a time when they were considered second-class citizens!!  These guys were WAAAY ahead of their time.  Some current marketing executives could learn a few lessons from them.  I was totally impressed. GO HARLEY DAVIDSON!!

Early biker wear.  Tweed/wool herringbone jumpsuit, leather cap and sheepskin lined gauntlet gloves.  We've come a long way, baby!

And this one belongs to...... Elton John?  Liberace?  Elvis?  Sorry to disappoint.  This specimen was owned by Peg, who must have had a secret love affair with her Bedazzler.

This sexy little jewel is actually a close up of a bike kickstand.  Complete with fishnet stocking, siren-red toenails and a naughty little set of handcuffs used as an anklet.  Wow.  I think for the first time in my life, I am speechless.

Ok, The Buell.  Motorcycles are not really my thing but THIS one makes my bottom tingle. I want to own it, ride it, and then I want to lick it.  If only it were electric green and purple....... *sigh*  I just found my mid-life crisis purchase......

What museum tour would be complete without a simulation ride? K1 and K2 demonstrate with ferocity!

Pops cleans up pretty nicely, don't ya think?

The last stop of our tour. "Daddy, would you be so kind as to take us out for a soda water?"

"Huh?"

Love you Pops, Happy Father's Day!