Food

I have been on a sort of vacation since Christmas day. Spending my time working on some new back strengthening exercises. I haven't ridden much in the way of distance. Mostly just down to the local gas station and back. Just enough to move the oil around.

Yesterday had been warm and I got out and managed to develop a sinus infection. I had a really lousy night and today felt like death warmed over. Today was also another warm one and I decided to take a ride. Hoping that the fresh air and the antibiotics would knock the infection. I had saw a couple of bikes go by and they didn't look as if they were freezing so I though I'd risk it and make a quick 20 or thirty miles. I stopped at the one stop and topped off the tank and headed across Blue Springs Road to to Highway 412. Blue Springs Road is a lot of fun if your one of those that like riding the curves. There aren't many of them so to speak, but they are fun.

After hitting 412 I headed east and run toward Hindsville and then on over to Huntsville. Making the loop through Huntsville and back out to 412 I figured that that was enough and headed back toward home. Traffic was light around the area and the spot that I refer to as the Huntsville Bypass was coming up pretty quick. This is the place that I like to road test my rides when I get them. Nice long semi straight dip in the road. Great for getting up to top speed quickly. Also this is one of the places that Troopers run Radar in. I was making pretty good time even though I was keeping my speed down in anticipation of a trooper I had some luck and I made it in with a pack of cars that seemed to be content with slow lazy driving.
For the next 12 miles or so I just sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a little cool in the shady spots and it made the warm air pockets and coming back into the sunshine all the more nice.
After I got off Highway 412 and back on to 45 I opened up again a little and eased on back towards the house. Just outside of the Mayfield community I came up behind a Roadking with a couple on it going really slow. As we came up to the old Mayfield store we both pulled over and I asked if they were having trouble. No trouble. They had been discussing getting something to eat and had just slowed down as they were talking. We visited a few minutes and I found out that they were Don and Helen from over by Harrison. As we were talking the subject of food came up again and as I noticed that they were about my age I recommended that they try Penguin Ed's. After explaining what kind of place and how, from where they were now, easy it was to get to, they said they'd think about it. They had a place in mind that they had eat at before and were kind of looking forward to eating there again.
We pulled back on the road and took off. I got up to speed and made the last few miles back to the house with enough time to shut mine off and hear them going through town. Yep, they were going slow and looking things over.
Back at the house I tinkered with a couple of small projects that I have been designing and then it hit me...Hey! I'm hungry. Looking around for something to eat just seemed to make it worse as nothing looked good to me. Finally it dawned on me that my sales pitch earlier for Penguin Ed"s had made me hungry for an Ed's meal. Well, it has always been my experience that you cant fight some things. death, taxes and the call of really good food, I made up my mind and went back out and looked at my bike and then looked at my car. I had finally managed to get tags and insurance on my "hover round" and thought that I really should put a few miles on it to get it back into shape. I was going to drive to work in bad weather and all that. Then another of those "lightning Bolt thoughts" came to me. It wasn't bad weather and I crawled back on my bike.
The trip down to Ed's was nice as the temperature was still up in the high 50's. as I pulled in the lot was almost empty and parked next to the door. Makes for an easier getaway when one has over eaten if you don't have to walk across the lot. While ordering I explained about the couple from the road and asked Ellen if they had been in to eat. She said "kinda sorta". They had come in and looked things over and said that they had already eaten but the place was so well recommended that they thought they'd stop in and see where it was for another time. Ellen said that they stood around looking at the menu and everything and as they were leaving came back and made an order to go. Saying something about dinner later.
I got my food and sat back to eat and thought about how the days ride had gone and hoped that sinus infection had been chased away and thought about how I need to run over to Harrison and see what they have for eating places. It's only about 80 miles over there. That would make for a quick trip on those days when I was hungry and wanting a short ride.
Hope to catch ya on the road.

Continuing the Thanksgiving Fiasco

Saturday 11/29/08
Today a friend and I made the trip down to moms to get my bike.
I had wanted to ride it back up but the front tire was flat again and the temperature was raw cold feeling. Since I had no way of fixing the tire and it was so cold, we loaded it in the truck and hauled it back. I hate hauling my bike. I'd rather ride anytime.
I turned out to be a better thing that I hauled it home. Once we got back to the shop and unloaded it I aired the tire and planned to take the truck back to the house and come get the bike the next morning. The next day I found the tire flat again, pretty much ruling out anything other than something in the tire. I could see me laying into a curve at about 65 and having the tire go "whoosh" on me.
My buddy broke the tire down for me and we checked the tire and patched the tube and put it all back together. The next day I went up and found it flat again. Thinking that there had to be something we were missing he tore it all down again and this time found 5 more holes in it.
Deciding that maybe we had pinched the tube going back in or that there was some rust around the spoke heads, I bought a new tube and we took a polishing wheel and cleaned up the spoke track in the wheel. I even made a new liner for the wheel. Now if it went flat. I didn't know what we were going to do.
This time we double checked everything as we went along and got it back together and aired up. So far sooooo good. I fired up and roared down the road for a few miles and it seemed to be fixed.
I headed home and settled in for the night wondering what the morning would bring. The next morning I grabbed both sets of keys, just in case and went out to head for work. Well, it was still up. I jumped on and made my usual all too quick run to work and then That evening I went in a round about way home and everything was holding.
In talking with my friend about this tire problem we decided that, maybe the tube although sold new to me may have been on the warehouse shelf for years (New, old stock)and had started to dry rot. That Thanksgiving ride was just the time everything started giving out.
Dampers like this are part of the down side to riding a bike...if there is a down side?
Anyway. I'm back on the road thanks to a new tube for about $10. and a friendship that I cant even begin to put a price on.
Hope to catch ya on the road.

More of the last few days

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I managed to spend it with my mom and family.

We had a great time. My sister and nephew came up from Texas and spent the week. I had planned to spend the night and head out the next morning. Sometimes the best plans get revamped. I ended up staying most of the week and just visiting and relaxing. It was a good time.
Toward the end of the week when I was thinking about heading back home we got a light dusting of snow and the temperature dropped and with my luck holding it's usual course the roads iced up. I ride a lot, in all kinds of weather. I draw the line at ice. as a result I ended up staying an extra day and finally had to have my brother take me back home.
At home everything had pretty much melted and gone. The roads were all dry and it was just cold.
I have another ride stored at a friends garage and so I headed there. I needed transportation and with my car out of license and insurance, well I went and began the process of un winterizing the bike. The bike was a 1978 KZ 650 that my wife used to ride. It's a sweet machine. Mostly stock. Looking it over I tried to remember if there was anything wrong with it since it had been several months since it was ridden last. The only thing that came to mind was the speedometer cable. It wasn't working and that mean you couldn't tell how fast you were going. Not a biggie as I mostly ride by feel. It turned out that the battery was shot as well and would only hold enough charge to run the lights for a few minutes. Again, not a biggie. It has a kick starter. So, some fresh gas and the kicking began. After several kicks and the general movement of oil I got some starting fluid and it fired up on the third kick. This bike has always been cold natured and took several minutes to warm up. Today was no exception. Once I had it warmed up I pulled out for a shakedown run to see if would be dependable. About 20 miles down the road all was looking good and I headed to the house to get ready for the next day and settle in for the night.
The morning temp was around 39 and after a little kicking I was mobile again. Riding to work was nice and clear. The air was coldly fresh and I had a great ride in.
The folks at work that ride didn't try it so I was still the title holder. How ever, as the morning wore on I did see some of the regulars buzz by so I wasn't the only one.
When quitting time came I pulled out and made a detour to the Pizza place to have dinner with the boy and some of his friends and then fast trip home. It was cooling down real quick.
Today was a good riding day. I had a blast even though my bones, especially my back was telling me that I shouldn't be doing this.
Hope the week goes by quick. My butt cant take this soft ride.
Hope to catch ya on the road.

Last few days. (part one of several)

Well, I thought I put down a few lines today as I'm finally back at a computer for more than just a few minutes.

I had been planning a last trip of the year back around Thanksgiving and was looking to get in around six hundred miles. But things don't always go as planned. Thanksgiving morning I loaded up the bike and started backing around to head down the drive way when I noticed that my front tire was flat. This was not a good thing. I had promised my mother and all the rest of my family that I would be there for dinner with them. The weather was good and I was all loaded, on time even. Looking over the tire I couldn't see anything that would cause a flat, like a nail or whatever, so I pondered and decided that I had hopefully lost the air due to the cold weather we had been having. Now what to do to get it aired back up. Thinking that I might limp the quarter mile to the station I started down the drive. After about 30 feet I realized that this wasn't going to get it and I looked at my air tank and as usual it was empty. Wondering who I could call at this hour to haul me to the station I noticed my car. Now my car is one of my pride and joys. Always setting there looking regal. Sure, I'd just hop in the car, haul the tank to the station and get some air.
Now here is where the fun begins. My car hasn't been driven in probably two years. I wasn't even sure where the keys were. But it was a shot. Besides that's what we all keep a car around for, isn't it? Emergencies. This, I'm fairly sure qualified as an emergency.
After finding the key and loading the tank up I was struck with the thought, "2 years, wonder if it'll start?" Yep! my "hover round" fired right up. I let it warm up a little and bounced down the drive. This was too cool. A feeling I always get when I drive my little car. Kind of like being about 12 or thirteen and tearing around the country on a go cart. Anyway, I made it to the store and opened the back hatch. Turning to get the air hose and put the money in the machine and being in a hurry I didn't notice that the hatch wasn't all the way open and walked into the corner of it. tearing a gash about an inch long in the top of my head. After stopping the bleeding and inspecting the damage I finally got some air and headed back to the house.
Thinking that this was starting out to be an absolute golden day I put the air in the tire. I half way expected that I'd hear air hissing out but I didn't and I still couldn't find any thing that would cause a flat. After some more thought I remembered that I had ridden the day before and the night didn't really get all that cold. This started to concern me. I started to think from all appearances that someone had let the air out of my tire. Who and why would have to wait till I got back. It did look a lot like the air had been let out.
I gave the tire about ten minutes or so as I called mom and told her what was going on and to send the Marines if I didn't get there in a reasonable amount of time.
Heading down the drive I got that old familiar feeling of tearing loose. Dropping into gear I eased out and since it was Thanksgiving morning the traffic was next to non existent. When I got on the highway it was like I was all alone. There must have been a total of two or three cars for about 20 miles. Man it was sweet. If I'd known ahead of time I'd have really shown my hinie... As it was I hit a groove at about 70 mph and just floated along. All the way to the Highway 21 turnoff I kept thinking that any minute now the traffic will pick up and this little day dream will come to an end. It never did and I am still amazed. From highway 412 through Kingston there was light local traffic. After Kingston there wasn't a single vehicle for 37 miles. If you ride you'll understand what this is like. You can almost stop worrying and really get into the ride. In the Northwest Arkansas area you hardly ever get to do this and when you do, well it's hard to describe. Lets just say it's GREAT!!

Coming off the mountain into the Boxley valley I decided to take a look around for the Elk and rode over as far as Lost Valley. Apparently the Elk weren't interested in being seen and that ruled out and photos.

Running back through the valley I let the hammer down and really blew out the cob webs. All loaded down the old gal still hit the high marks without too much strain. I backed off after a few minutes of over 100. I woke up and realized that I was running out of road and remembered the curve at the foot of the mountain heading back up. I had a pretty good load on and climbing the mountain was a lot of fun. With the extra weight I could seem to really lay into the curves and it felt like the bike had a real grip on the road. I made really good time going up. Actually better than the last time I was through there. (ahhh the little things)

As I rolled past the US Forest Service Boundary sign on Highway 21 I developed a chug. It was like I was out of gas. I had gassed up the night before and so the only thing I could figure is I had some water in the gas. I chugged along for three or four miles and it worked it's self out. I didn't have any more problems with it so I'm pretty sure that it was water. The stations around my area seem to be having water in their gas quite often. Might have even be that that new "corn squeezin gas stuff". The pumps all have a little sign saying that there is a certain percentage of it in the gas and lots of people have been saying that their bikes don't run too well on it. I hadn't had any problems with it yet. But that could have been my trouble.

At the Junction of Highways 16 & 21 I stopped and looked down the Valley. Someone has logged out that spot across the road at the intersection and with all the leaves off it's quite a view. I poured a cup of coffee and just looked it over. I had always been in too much of a hurry in the past and now that there wasn't any traffic or anything to get in my way, I just sat there in the middle of the road and drank my coffee and looked everything over like I owned the place.

Jumping on the starter the old gal fired up about half way through the kick and as I toed into gear I made a note to myself to next time bring a tripod and get a real good shot of the valley.

Running down 16 toward Deer I saw several Deer off on the side of the road and several Hound Dogs just out looking things over as Hound Dogs are known to do. That always makes for me a better ride. It's kind of like everything is OK.

Pulling into Mom's place I gave my prayer of thanks for a great ride and headed in to the "Groceries".

This mornings ride was a good one. One of those you rarely get to have. Hopefully tomorrows will be as good.

("to the tune of Shameless") ungrounded

365 Group

When last we left our hero he had been grounded by the wife...

All this past weekend, in one form or another I worked on the wiring of my bike. It was badly worn and I haven't seen a mess like this in years. It was all still factory but years had taken their toll. Most of the insulation had simply dried out and began to fall apart. So little by little, with a whole lot of electrical tape and even some duct tape, I put it all back together. The thing about the wiring on one of these old bikes from the 70's is, it's usually short runs and crammed into some very tight places. If your fingers are slow to maneuver like mine well it takes a whole weekend and a couple of forceps. Looking it over, I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. Even being outside in the cold. I had the charger going on the battery all along and when I got it all back together I thought I'd fire it up and see if anything went to smoking. However, it turned out that I needed a new battery as well. After checking around I found one at the "evil empire" for just under $40.00.
After letting it charge Saturday night, it did the trick and my old antique fired off and I wasn't grounded any more.
I rode around my local area to road test my repairs and after satisfying myself that I had everything all patched up I topped my tank off and settled in for the night.
This morning was a nice 40 degrees or so and I loaded all my work junk, fired up, checked over the lights and everything and headed for work. The ride was a nice but real quick one. Still haven't figured that out. Seemed over before it started. Traffic in town was it's usual looney self. With the Monday morning makeup artists and coffee drinking cell phoners and all those school buses that tend to sneak up on ya.
The morning turned out really nice and not too cold. I pointed this out to everyone at work while I listened to why they hadn't ridden theirs in. there were lots of excuses. Every one did say that they were glad my wife had saw fit to un ground me.
The ride home was a nice lazy little trip and I sent my time planning my last trip of the year. I'm pulling out Wednesday evening and heading to my moms for Thanksgiving dinner then on down south to maybe Mena and the park.
I've even talked to a couple of people that say their interested in making the trip. So we'll see if anyone shows up. Usually I do this trip by myself so it wont be too upsetting if they don't make it.
Hopefully this will go off with out a hitch and I'll end this riding year on a happy note.

Now that I'm not grounded again I got to remember to behave myself. The annual Polar Bear ride is coming up.
Hope to catch ya on the road

Grounded

365 Group

Hump day… Wednesday morning.
The morning was cool, about 30 degrees or so, but it promised to warm up and be an acceptable afternoon. I had planned to work today and head for Deer this afternoon and visit the folks and get a therapeutic ride in. My back has been giving me lots of problems since the weather has started becoming cooler. Usually a nice long ride helps me to acclimate and makes the pain at least tolerable.
Like I was saying it was a gorgeous morning as I bounced down the driveway. The traffic was about average, not too heavy. I ran along to the foot of slaughter mountain in an early morning fog that kind of put me in mind of flying, like when you go through the clouds. It was so nice and if some “idjot” didn’t plow into me it would make one of those nice daily memories to think back on.
All the way across to town it was intermittingly foggy and really nice.
Coming into town and traffic I made the light and roared up 412 to try and put some distance between me and the traffic that was held up by the light. The bike was running like a dream and I made the next two lights just as they changed and was really able to put some space between me and traffic. (That’s always a good feeling) I hadn’t seen another bike all morning and as I came up to the light at Powell street there was a bike waiting at the light. I wondered who the rider was and as I slowed up to a stop I recognized the bike as one I saw most everyday. I never have found out who rides it. It’s a female. I have never saw her with out her leathers and full helmet so It’s safer to say “it’s female” and not have to worry if I’ve erred in relation to age and all that. Anyway as I stopped I eased up along side her and was very aware of the stares from “saner” people in cars. Looking around I noticed that she was experiencing the same thing. I kind of laughed and as the light was starting to change she turned and we slapped hands and then the light turned and we roared off. Still don’t have a clue as to who she is. People looked at us as if we were kind of “simple” and that made it that much better.
Just before my turn off at work I have to go over the Railroad tracks. This is definitely a bump in the road. I usually kind of stand up on the pegs as I cross it it’s that bad at about 45 mph. This morning when I hit the tracks My bike just shut off. No warning or anything. Like you just turned off the key. I had enough speed that I was able to roll on into work and park. I got the shift change done and went out to see if I could figure out what broke. Thinking back I remembered that there had been a problem with the head light wiring and so I started with that. Tinkering with the wiring I managed to figure out what was wrong and even got it to start. I had called my buddy Luther for his input as he had helped me with the earlier headlight problem. Luther was going to come and follow me home and if needed we’d load the bike into his truck.
All through out the day I kept tinkering with the bikes wiring but with out any tools I wasn’t able to do much.
Finally quitting time came and Luther pulled in and I showed him what I had discovered as far as bad wiring and described what I had in mind as far as repairs.
The bike started up and I got out into traffic and headed toward home. I will say that I felt a real comfort each time I looked in my mirror and saw Luthers truck behind me. Friends like him are a truly a gift from God.
A couple of miles from home I pulled over feeling bad about having Luther interrupt his afternoon to help me as the bike wasn’t giving me any problems. I explained that I had an order called in at the café in Goshen and would be stopping there and that the bike was acting like a new one and thanked him for all his help so he could get on back to what ever he had to do. Luther said ok and to holler if I had any more trouble.
I headed into town thinking about a Cheese Burger with everything and a quick fix for my bike and a prayer of thanks for Luther friendship. At the gas station/café I went in and got my burger and when I got back out my bike was broke again. I went over everything that I had done earlier in the day and nothing.
Again, I gave Luther a call and he came to my rescue. He brought some tools and we took the critter apart and got into what had gone wrong. After much tinkering I got it started. However there wasn’t any lights. By this time I was cold and it didn’t matter. Luther said he would follow me and I could use his head lights. I loaded up and took off. The moon was out early and was full against a very clear sky and in addition to quite a view, provided me with a lot of light. Like I said I had gotten mad at myself for being such a bother and when I got on the road I let the Hammer down so to speak. Not too much speed. Just that I didn’t wait around. Luther followed me and I made it to the house without any further trouble. I thanked Luther with a feeling that it was no where near the payment he disserved for the help he had been. As I said before he is truly a gift from God in his friendship.
I figured to catch a ride to work tomorrow and Friday and start on the bike sometime this coming weekend. That sounds like a plan, now don’t it?
I caught a ride to work with my wife the next morning and ended up having a barrel of fun with the guys at work. The all came out and asked where the bike was or why I was being brought to work. I just couldn’t resist and told each that I had messed up and my wife grounded me. Took my bike away until she felt that I had learned my lesson. The truly funny part of it all is, everyone just accepted that my wife had gotten involved and that she was the reason I hadn’t rode to work for the first time in a very long time. No one even asked any questions or anything, just accepted it. Thinking about it now, I’m still chuckling. It’s just too funny to me.
Well tomorrow is Saturday and I hope to get the repairs made and finish this little story.
Sooooo, as someone once said “that’s my story and I’m sticking to it”.

Hope to let everyone know how this story ends real soon so I can catch ya on the road.

A good day

365 Group

November 10, 2008
This morning was a cool one.

Reports varied as to the actual temperature with rain in the forecast. Safe to say it was somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees.
I decided to have another cup of coffee and let the sun get a little more up. My headlight has developed a habit of working when it wants to. When I finally got out it felt like about 35 to me. After much kicking and fussing about my old bike fired to life and I looked once again toward making a quick run to work before the rain started.
Bouncing down the driveway I realized that I could probably ride down my drive to the street in my sleep. It’s like I have every rock and bump memorized. Funny how you come to know things that well. Waiting at the street for traffic to pass I had another thought about my chain and sprockets and how I need to replace them. I keep hoping that things will improve and I can devote some time to fixing all the little stuff.
Easing out between vehicles I get that rush I always get when I take off each morning. That feeling of being alive. (If I could bottle it I wouldn’t ever have to work again.)
As I slid up to the highway I saw that everyone in northwest Arkansas had overslept. Traffic is almost literally bumper to bumper. This should make for a “great” ride. Once I finally got out and moving it wasn’t so bad. I found a niche at about 65 mph and everyone just sort of floated along. Nobody really seemed to be in too much of a hurry and the idiocy of the morning road was noticeably lacking.
My run around the foot of the mountain was pretty much over before I had a chance to think it over. The only thing really notable about it was three deer were running across a field toward me as I road by. I remember doing a quick scan of both sides of the road to see if there were others and then just watching them run. It was one of those things that you really don’t often see when you have the time to just watch and enjoy.
As I pulled up to Butterfield Coach Road I had to wait again to get an opening in traffic. Most everyone that went buy looked like they were a card carrying member of the Zombie nation. Just going through the motions of a Monday morning. A few looked at me with disbelief and waved. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. They’ll just never know.
As I eased into main traffic in town I couldn’t help but be surprised at how well everyone was behaving. There wasn’t anyone along my route jumping stop signs or tearing down the center turn lane… I even made all the traffic lights. (This has got to mean something!!) This morning was truly one for the record books. I didn’t see any of the usual bike crowd that I normally see on my way to work and I wondered if I had the record again.
As I turned off at work I noticed that there was a crowd standing on the dock like something was going on. Looking around as I pulled in I didn’t see anything that would draw a crowd. I figured everyone decided to go smoke at the same time and let it go. Later I found out that they were waiting to see if I would ride in or come by car. That tickled me. Most of them ride a bike and actually live within a few blocks of work.
I got my morning paper work done and looked out at my bike and decided to take the rest of the day off. Sounds kind of frivolous but I hadn’t done something like that just because I wanted to in a long time.
My relief showed up and I kicked “tilley” to life and pulled out to see if the traffic was still behaving.
I started out of town and the next thing I knew I was running down Hwy 412 toward Huntsville. It was such a nice ride that I toyed with the idea of running over to Eureka Springs and grabbing lunch then heading home. But as my luck goes I passed a pickup that was running his windshield wipers and that brought me back to reality. It was cold and rain was in the forecast. As I have gotten older I still don’t mind riding in the cold or the rain or both. However, If I don’t have to, I don’t. So I headed toward the house.
If the threat of rain hadn’t been in the picture today would have been a good day for riding. I really enjoyed running down the back roads toward the house. As I came into town it was really getting dark and I figure I timed it just about right to not get wet.
Stopping at the café in town I got a Biscuit and sausage and a coke and headed on to the house. My luck held. I made it home with enough time to unload my junk and take it in and put my charger on the battery and cover everything up before the rain started.
As I sat munching on the biscuit I thought about the morning and how much I would have loved riding over to Eureka and having lunch. I thought about the Deer and the traffic and just how much fun it all had been. I guess that’s one of the main reasons I ride. It’s fun!
Right at 60 miles
Hope to see ya on the road

Pickle

365 group



I have been planning my “last trip of the year” for a few days. Trying to figure out where to go and keep with in my self imposed guide lines is getting harder and harder to do.
I usually try for someplace in my part of the state that I haven’t been in a while. One that has lots of good roads to ride and when possible, a place that one or more of my old friends lives.
This trip was shaping up to be an “I don’t know?” kind of run. As I have pointed out before it is getting cooler and that’s one of the reasons I confine these trips to my part of the state. Should I have trouble, well lets just say that I don’t want to set in the cold beside the road any longer than I have too. (I think that’s called getting older.)
So anyway, I’m working out the details and should be heading out soon. The next couple of weekends maybe?
I have to get in the shop real soon and do some much needed minor maintenance on my bike. Seems the head light has gotten almost as lazy as I am. I need to grease the greasy places and oil the oily spots and just generally look the bike over. Kind of hate to get about 300 miles down the road and have the discombooberator rod come apart. That’d be embarrassing.
The good lord has allowed me to make it this far on two wheels. I’m hoping that he sees fit to keep me riding for sometime to come.
So with that all said I’m heading out to the shop and visit some with my friend Luther and see if I cant get all ready for my last trip of the year.
One last thing, Keep in mind some wise motorcycle words of wisdom that I heard long ago that still fits today.

“I don’t want no pickle…I just want to ride my motor sickle!” Arlo Guthrie
Hope to be back on with my trip before too long. Maybe even a picture or two.

Cooler weather

365 Group


These last few days of October have turned off major cold in the mornings. 25 degrees on one.
Looking at the weather channel on T V gave me a good grasp of how silly one would be to ride a motorcycle in weather like this.

Speaking of silly and stuff like that. A couple of years ago a friend of mine had bought an old Shovel Head and was itching to get it on the road. It was in the dead of winter and I really felt for him. A new toy and he couldn’t play with it. At work I teased him about it, Pointing out that he lived in town and could always ride it the mile and a half to work, that he could bundle up and take it for a run around the block, Things like that. One Saturday morning he calls and says I got to go to Huntsville, lets go for a ride. I remember asking him what time it was and what the temperature was. About 5:30am and around 25 or 26 degrees, why? Knowing he didn’t ride much in cooler weather I suggested that we wait until the sun came up and took the chill off and then get out for a ride. Ok he replied and I hung up and rolled over and went back to sleep.
My nap was short lived as at about 6:15 he calls back and says “I’m at Hindsville waiting on ya.” Finally becoming awake I asked him if he was joking and what happened to waiting on the sun and all that. His reply was simple. The sun will be up by the time you get here…unless it’s too cold for you? With a chuckle and a loss of all common sense I uttered the phrase “don’t move I’ll be there in a few minutes”. Slipping into my road gear I was racked with the giggles and actually looking forward to getting out and tearing down the road. If for nothing else to see if he had really ridden over or was joking me.
I fired “Miss Tilley” up and bounced down the driveway. I turned onto Hwy 45 and like the truckers say, “let the hammer down on it”. It’s only seven miles to Hindsville and I was in a hurry to see if he’d ridden or was just yanking my chain. Sliding into Hindsville I have to admit I was a little surprised. There he set, big grin and all on that Shovel Head. I pulled up beside him and asked what had gotten into him and all. His reply was to the point. I wanted to ride. Thinking about it as he fired up I said ok. He didn’t hear me and said what? Again the giggles hit and I shouted “catch me if you can” and pulled out. The trip over to Huntsville was only twelve miles, and I pushed my bike so he’d have to work at keeping pace, so it was a quick trip.
After we finished his business he asked if I had anything planned for the day.
The only thing I had going on was a trip to the Animal Shelter to look at a pup my wife had fell in love with. I mentioned this and he said well, lets go.
We made good time back to Springdale and the Shelter. People at traffic lights were pointing at us and shaking their heads or grinning. (It was a blast.)
After looking at the newest addition to my family and playing with her for a few minutes it was time to leave. In the parking lot Stan said that he better head back to the house and go pick up his boys. He pulled out and headed toward home and I headed toward a café for a biscuit and a cup of coffee.
As a result I don’t pick on my friend about his riding as much as I did. Now It More than ever.


Anyway… I slipped into my snowmobile suit and put all my work junk in a bag and out the door I went. The air didn’t feel too bad cold as I was strapping everything in place and even as I kicked the old gal to life. Thinking to myself this might not be as bad as a few of the days last winter, I took off down my driveway. The ride was cool but not actually uncomfortable. My hands were the only thing that really got cold. I did have an experience that I’ve never had before on this trip. My twist grip froze or something and I only had about a quarter of turn in it. I found this out as I leaned out to pass a car. I run in my lower gears and worked with it all the way to work. Thinking that if I get too rough with it the cable might break I worked it back and forth and did everything I could think of to get it back to normal. Nothing helped. I have a good mid range to my transmition so I just tooled along in 3rd gear and made it to work. Later in the day as it warmed up I went out and checked on it and the grip worked just fine. Either it froze or something had gotten in the system and then fell out. Either way, we’re back to normal for the ride home.
Where I work a lot of people ride a bike. Usually there is about 11 parked around the jobsite when I get there. Today mine was the only one. Man, was I going to have some fun ribbing those guys about them being “Bad Assed” bikers.
Today was a good day. The ride in was a good one and the temp came up and made the ride home a better one.
Riding in cooler weather isn’t for everyone. I really don’t knock a person that feels it’s too cold to ride. A person should always ride the bike for themselves. However for those riders who do…we know. We are truly a legend. Mostly it’s in our own minds but, we’re a legend.
Hope to see ya on the road

Morning Commute

This morning was one of those mornings that you'd rather be doing anything but going to work.
The temperature was about 65 or so. the sky was clear with just a hint of clouds. i strapped on my stuff for work and wiped the bike down as the early morning dew can cause for a damp butt. Looking around I was thinking how I would love to just take a ride today. Ah well, gotta pay the bills I told myself as I pulled out the kick starter. Fired on the second kick,nice. After a few minutes to warm the old beast up I headed down the driveway and out to do battle with the morning traffic.
Pulling on to the highway it looked like I had hit an in between moment. There wasn't a vehicle in sight. It wasn't long before I had found myself tooling along at about a smooth 70 mph and had to make myself slow down. A couple of times I needed to remind myself that I needed to stay close to the speed limit. At least until I got out of town. The City Marshall is a good guy and doesn't bother us when we ride. Most of us tend to keep things under control while we're in town. At least the resident riders do.
As i got close to the foot of the mountain I was seriously trying to think of a way to justify being bad late for work. Since I really couldn't think of anything I decided on the next best thing. I headed down Habberton to make a run over to 412. baring getting behind accident or a school bus I'd be at work right on the dot.
Clearing the city limits I opened the old bike up and made a pretty quick run through the curves along the lake. before I knew it I was coming up on 412. Turning back west I fell in behind some trucks that were running along pretty good. I stayed back behind them just enough to keep out of their back draft and not be bounced around. Coming across the white river bridge I noticed that I was running 75 mph and the trucks were pulling away from me like I was pushing my bike instead of riding it. I would estimate their speed at around 100. Thinking things over I slowed down to about 60 and figured I'd see either a truck wreck or a Trooper writing a ticket before I got to work.
I rolled through Nob Hill and Senora and the local morning traffic started picking up. As we eased into one of the last curves coming into town I saw blue lights up ahead of me. Thinking that those trucks had been nailed I slowed a little and got over into the inside lane.As I went by i was surprised. Troopers had a car pulled over. No trucks anywhere in sight. Looks like they got by with out getting caught. Lucky.
Pulling back into the outside lane as I started into town I had to slow down for the side road traffic. It's easier to just slow down most times at this hour than to try and change lanes for my turn off. Traffic is so heavy at times with people running late for work that I've been pushed passed my turn off and had to go turn around and try it again. Mornings like this have shown me what a ball in a pinball machine feels like. Every other car is a flipper and every other one is a bumper and there is a drunk playing.
Today was actually pretty good and I managed to get to work in one chunk and I was actually two minutes early. It was only about 25 miles but it was fun. Now I'm wondering which way to head home.
Hope to see ya on the road.

Miles traveled

365 Group

Anytime I make a run or an event I find that I usually spend a good deal of time looking for a souvenir. I have noticed that I seem to do this unconsciously. It dawned on me at a rally I was at. This years Bikes, Blues and BBQ. I found myself hunting through one of the trinket vendors. The guy running the shop started talking to me and asked if I rode mine to the rally. I kind of chuckled to myself and said yep!, all the way. I didn’t bother to tell him that I lived ten miles away. He seemed to give me a look as if he’d known all along and showed me a box of pins that all said “I RODE MINE- FAYETTEVILLE 2008”. Still chuckling to myself I bought one.



I've never been too interested in the clothing you find for sale at these events. Guess it just wasn't my style. Apparently I am interested in things like the Angel on a motorcycle


from last years bikes , blues and BBQ. Or...

the switchblade knife from the Dogpatch rally. Or the small flask with route 66 on it from an event at Eureka springs that I just happened on.

It’s funny but I can tell you without hesitation where each item was picked up at. There is a bunch of colored wrist bands like you get at the city pool or a hospital. Handbills and other printed material. Mustard smeared napkins from lunch here and there. Gas receipts and a small assortment of tools. Looking over this mess I’m reminded of a ride someplace. The friends and relatives that rode there with me. It’s friends I made along the way and friends I made after I got there. Good meals at out of the way places and just kicking back and listening to good music. Each has a lot of good things rolled into it.
I have a three year old grand son and I’m hoping he wants to ride and in that I see each piece of my junk, time I can spend with him telling him about the fun I’ve had, riding through these hills.

Lots and lots of mile today...

Hope to see ya on the road

A great bunch of people.

365 Group


10/11/08
Today was a great day for riding!
I rode over to Springdale to take some pictures of the local are Special Olympics softball tournament. My daughter Jen is a member of the team, Cobras, and they were at the top of the pile waiting on their playoff game.
After some serious riding through the “Saturday go to town crowd” I finally got to the sports complex. Not real sure what time they played I grabbed the first parking space I could see and took off walking to the back side of the complex where they were playing. Jen and a couple of her team mates met me as I walked up and promptly informed me that they were just one game away from the trophy and that the “hotdogs were over there” and the “other concessions were in that building there.” In a few short minutes I knew where all the food was and who was who and where they were at. They also pointed out that Country Music star Joe Nichols was in the stands.
After being told about two dozen times about the food, I managed to eat a hotdog and a couple of brownies and seemed to make everyone happy. All the members of the team made their way around to me and pointed out that they were just one game away from being #1 and real close to the “trophy”.
I took pictures of everything I could. Players, the field and even Joe Nichols. By far the best picture I took that afternoon was the team with THE TROPHY!!! Yep, they pulled it off…12 to 10. After trying for 6 years they finally captured it. Talk about a bunch of happy campers… the Area 3 Cobras were happy. Now it’s off to Cabot and the state tournament. Lets everyone keep their Rabbits foot handy.
I made a fast ride back to the house and copied the pictures off for some of the team and emailed them to some of their family members that weren’t able to make it to the game.
It was a great day for a short ride and a softball game. If you haven’t ever taken in a Special Olympics sports event. You should.
40 miles give or take.
Hope to catch ya at the next game.

Another ride through the hills

365 Group

This morning’s weather was nice and cool. About 65 degrees and clear.
The weather channel said to expect light rain and a warm afternoon. I made it a whole four miles before the rain started. Riding in the rain really isn’t a big deal as long as you keep your head. Especially if the rain has just started. Roads with a light film of water on them are as slick as a politician. If it’s been coming down a while it has usually washed all the oil off to the point you can do pretty good as long as you don’t end up hydroplaning. Anyway, I eased over on to the rougher pavement and continued on hoping to ride out of it or find a place to get in the dry and put my rain gear on. Just about the time I started to look for a wide spot to pull off, it started to lighten up. Thinking that I’d get lucky I rode on. About two miles from Highway 412 I hit dry pavement. (Lucky)
Today was going to be a short ride through the hills to the US Forest Service recreation area Alum Cove or as the locals call it “Natural Bridge”. I had met Jim Dimacco and some other retirees and their wives from Michigan at Bikes, Blues & Barbeque and they had asked about the local areas and I had told them of the Natural bridge area and the roads and all. They were all excited at the time and to be honest I didn’t think I’d ever hear from them again. Proved wrong again here I was heading to meet up with them and lead them through the hills. From what I understood they were staying at The Hub or in the Harrison area and I had explained to them how to find Deer and I would meet them there and show them the area.
Traffic on 412 was light and I was seemly making good time until I got to the Marble area. For some reason I happened to look at my left boot and saw that it was covered with oil. Wet and dripping oil. Thinking that this cant be a good thing I pulled into a gas station at Marble. Looking everything over I saw that the oil was coming out of the front “D” seal at the top of the head. Thinking the worst I went in and got a cup of coffee and a can of carburetor cleaner. As I drank the coffee I washed the oil off with the carb cleaner and got a good look at nothing…everything looked normal. I took a rag and really scrubbed the “D” ring and surrounding area and couldn’t see anything that would explain the leak. I even took a wrench and checked for lose top end bolts. All were tight. Puzzled, I finished my coffee and ate a few Hushpuppies and let everything really cool down. NOTE: this little gas station along Hwy 412 has some of the best Hushpuppies I’ve eaten. I have found that anytime I’m in the area it never hurts to eat a dozen or so.
By the time I’d downed a d half dozen hushpuppies and a couple of cups of coffee my engine was cool enough that I could do some serious tinkering. Again I washed everything down and still couldn’t find anything that would explain the oil leak. After checking everything I could think of I checked the mail oil level. It showed to be full. Out of anything else to check I got prepared for the worst and fired the engine up. I let it idle for a good 5 minutes without seeing any oil. I revved the engine several times and still nothing. Now, really puzzled, I left it running and went for another cup of coffee. I let it idle and revved it up while I drank my coffee and couldn’t get it to leak any. I jumped on and tore around the building a couple of times and still nothing. After all this I gave up and went and bought a quart of oil just in case and took off again to meet the others for some sight seeing. As this oil leak to me was the makings of a bad thing. I stopped often and looked things over. I never had any more problems and am still wondering what caused this leak. Somehow I guess the leaking seal sealed itself??
The rest of my ride over to Deer was pretty much as usual…a great one.
I topped off my tank at Clayborns and waited on everyone to show up.
I didn’t have long to wait before I heard the “thump” of a road king approaching. Seven bikes showed up for this ride. As they topped off their tanks I explained where we were going and what the roads were like and what all I had sort of planned. As this was a bunch of retirees I didn’t plan on too much until I got a feel of their riding abilities.
At about ten we pulled out and headed down to the Natural Bridge. Once there I explained the walking involved and let them decide if they wanted to take the tour. All took off wandering around, leaving me with the bikes. Since it was close to noon I had planned a quick lunch. A couple of phone calls and I had everything going. Hot dogs and hamburgers and cokes. About 3 hours later they all huffed and puffed back to the parking lot and appeared to be in good sprits and seemed to be surprised to find lunch waiting. This really appeared to tickle everyone as breakfast was several hours ago and so no one turned it down. As we ate I asked if they thought they would be up for some riding through the hills on the back roads. All seemed to be up for it. After lunch and everyone had hit the restrooms we saddled up and rode back out to highway 16 and then over to Highway 7 and went south. Through Cowell and down to Lurton. At Lurton we took highway123 down all the twisty and curvy roads to Mt.Judea. Stopping at Sam’s Throne for some picture taking and general site seeing and then hit all the little spots like Vender and Hasty and finally took 74 back over to Jasper.
As we gassed up at Bob’s I noticed that everyone was starting to look a bit tired and that their talk centered around the motel. After everyone had topped off I pointed them down Highway 7 north and back to the Hub.
After all the exchanging of numbers and mailing addresses and thank you’s they headed out and I doubled back to Highway 74 and headed toward Lowgap and made my way back home. Later that evening I got a couple of calls from Jim and from Trudi, the wife of another of the group letting me know that they had made it back to the Hub and to tell me again that they had a great time and were already talking about coming back next year. Maybe spending more time. I told them to come on back anytime and we’d have lunch.
Hope to see ya on the road
Roughly 230 miles.

Just ridin around

October 4 & 5 2008
These last few days have been cooler with the temperatures at night dipping down into the 40’s. This mornings 39 degrees really wasn’t a big surprise. That according to the weather channel would give way to upper 70’s later on.
It was about 6:15 when I finally got through with coffee and all that and headed out in a the general direction of work. I noticed that it really wasn’t that bad out once I got to moving and my bike got warmed up. I remember thinking that it was pretty nice. Right before Riding into the fog. Thick and fluffy and most of all wet fog. Seven miles of it according to my trip meter. Now when your riding there are a few things that are most uncomfortable and a wet fog is one of them. Usually it’s cold and wet.
I finally rode out of the fog at the edge of town and decided that I was a wimp as I pulled over for a cup of coffee at the first “quicke mart” that I came to. As I was drinking a most good and above all else warm cup of coffee another rider, a young woman, riding a newer Honda Shadow, pulled in and appeared to be suffering from the same “wimpidice” that gotten me. As she sat there shivering a little she noticed me and I held up my cup and gave the coffee my highest recommendation.
After a few sips of coffee and a little warming up we began to chat about bikes and the weather. She had ridden down from the Branson Mo. Area to meet up with her husband. He had ridden down earlier in the week for his job. They were going to make a long weekend, riding the area and staying in Eureka Springs. Her name was Donna and her husband was Jim. While I went and refilled my cup, Jim came roaring up on a VTX 1800
We all visited for a few more minutes and I gave them my numbers in case they had trouble, wished them a good trip and I went on to work. The rest of my morning ride was like all the others, way too short.
4pm finally arrived, I had brought my camera to try and get a shot of some Eagles that I had heard were down by the 412 bridge, With that in mind I headed out. It was a nice run down 412. Traffic was still light and it was in the upper 70’s. The Eagles weren’t to be found and I packed up my camera and decided to go on to Hindsville and then back to the house.
As I came out of one of the little valley’s a bike pulled up on my right side and just kind of waved a little. This is a problem that I have occasionally. Riders that are use to riding beside another bike will pull along side. Since I normally don’t ride this way it’s kind of spooky when it happens. Just as I was about to drop back another bike pulled up on my left. Then I recognized the bikes and Donna and Jim from this morning at the gas station. At Hindsville we pulled over in the valley café parking lot and visited for a while. The both said they were having a great time on all the back roads in the area. But at the same time they sheepishly admitted that they weren’t paying attention and asked what was the number of the highway they needed to get back to Eureka. I kind of chuckled a little and pointed back the way we came in and the sign that said Eureka Springs. Both got a little red faced at the realization. I told them that it was always happening to me and the could join the club.
Jim told me they had met some other locals and if I didn’t have anything to do on Saturday to come over to Eureka and join them for lunch. Not this sounded good. A good ride and a free meal with some really nice people. I told them I’d try to make it and made a mental note to not have anything else to do on Saturday.
Friday came and went like most Fridays do. An all to short, cool ride to work and a short warm ride home. I woke Saturday to the pups and birds arguing and with nothing else going on I settled down to some quality TV. About 10:30 I had a nagging feeling creep over me like I was forgetting something real important. After looking around and checking with work I decided that It was just a case of being cooped up on a Saturday. Then it hit me…Lunch in Eureka. A quick shower and all that and I hit the road. Gas at the one stop and Eureka here I came. As I came into the actual city of Eureka I had a thought and then a chuckle come over me. I had no Idea where they were staying or where to meet them for lunch. Ahhh well, it’s Saturday and I’m here. There were lots of bikes in town and I wondered if I had missed hearing about a meet or something. I stopped a an intersection and pulled up beside a couple on a Road King and asked them if anything was going on. They hadn’t heard of anything. They were just weekending.
I headed down town and thought I cruse around some and just look around and see what was going on and maybe run into Jim and Donna. After making a couple of passes through town I pulled into a parking lot and made an all day donation to the boy-girl squirts or whatever it was and walked down to the little café my wife likes to eat at, I think it’s called Main Street Café.
As I was eating several riders came in and we visited making the meal that much better. After lunch I hit a few of the shops and started back to my bike. When I got back to the lot I noticed something on my tank, it was a note, from Donna and Jim. (Sure after I had already eaten.) They were doing lunch at the biker stable on the outskirts of town. I fired up and headed that way to see if they were still there. As I slid in to the Iron Horse stables I noticed quite a few Vtwins and nothing that resembled my old double barrel. Oh well they’d get over it. I met up with Jim and Donna and visited with them for a little while. They had had a good time from the way they talked about the roads they had traveled and the previous night in Eureka. After they finished eating we all headed out for a ride over to Holiday Island so the could look at some property and killed a little time just tooling the narrow back roads.
As I had to leave to get back and take care of my pups I said goodbye at the edge of Eureka and reminded both that they still owed me lunch sometime. They got a chuckle out of that and we all roared off in different directions.
It was a good day, riding wise. Good roads. Great people to run with and the though of doing it again sometime.
All in all I got in about 180 miles and never really got out of my backyard. Made a couple of new riding friends and have a free lunch coming someday.
Hpoe to catch ya on the road.

Bikes, Blues & Barbeque 08

Proud Member Of The 365 Group
(I rode mine today)


The 9th annual Bikes, Blues and Bar b que officially started today.
From all over towns in North West Arkansas people rolled out of jobs, schools and other assorted interests early to be a part of the biggest party of the year.
Dickson street in Fayetteville was host to a bike rally along the lines of Laconia and Sturgis. It has been said that this particular rally was the 5th major Motorcycle Rally in the United States.

As I headed out toward Dickson street I was impressed by the number of motorcycles I saw on the road. At every little stop I was having to wait to get out into traffic. Group after group of bikes were thundering in to the point that even rural two lane roads had taken on the look and feel of crowded city traffic. I finally got on the road and hammered toward Fayetteville falling in with a group with Texas tags. Most of these bikes were loaded down with camping gear and it looked like they were just getting to the area. I had an easy ten miles into town and left the Texas bikes at North street, where map quest had told them to turn and hit Highway 71, and ran on up to Dickson. Since this was the first day there wasn’t as much going on as I had hoped there would be. I rode down and found a parking space just across the tracks and felt real lucky. Last year I couldn’t get this close at anytime. Looking down Dickson street I estimated that there a Thousand or more bikes. Parked and running around. The rumble of big v twins filled the air like smoke in a closed room. Everywhere you looked there was a bike, mostly Harleys, and most of them were making some noise. The riders were taking the opportunity to rap em off legally and that’s what you heard. Even the sport bike riders were winding theirs up. Several times I expected to here one go thump from being over taxed. Before the weekend was over I would witness a couple do just that..
I started down the street with the intention of photographing as many bikes and riders as I could. This was compounded by the sheer numbers of people that were on the street. Most appeared to be local and they jammed the side walks to the point I couldn’t even stop and take a picture. I tried walking in the street and doing it that way until a cop ahead of me told some people they had to stay on the sidewalk. Not wanting to start off with an argument with the cops I looked for other ways to get a few shots. Most of the

pictures I took were quick snaps so they aren’t as good as they could be.
Most of the venders had their tents set up or were putting the finish on them as I made my way through the different areas. I saw lots of leather, jewelry and patches. Most every tent had similar stuff to sell. One tent that I stopped at was operated by an oriental man that razzed me about carrying two cell phones. He said “your as important as me”. We chatted for a few minutes and when he found out that I lived in the area and had just ridden up he showed me a box of pins that he was selling that said “I RODE MINE FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS RALLY 2008”. I bought one. Since I really didn’t need anything The vender tents were fun to look through but that was about all. Lots of people were buying and that’s what they are there for.

I crossed the street and started making my way back to my bike. I figured I’d make an early night and hit it again tomorrow when things were running a little better. Everything reminded me of a Carnival that had just opened in a big hurry before the customers got away. As I eased down the street I saw that each of the clubs that I passed had live entertainment and a few of these guys were really good. It took me a lot longer to make my way back as I found that I was stopping and listening to some really good blues and southern rock. At what used to be our hang out during this rally there were a couple of guys that really were worth just hanging around and listening to. One of the bouncers that knew me told me that they usually put on a good show . I think these guys would be worth going back on a normal weekend to see.
For all the hype about Barbeque I didn’t find any at any of the food trailers. But as I said earlier a lot of them were just getting set up. Being hungry for some barbeque I decided to go and get some real GOOD barbeque and when I finally got to my bike Penguin Ed’s was on my mind. This is a total plug for Ed’s!! Best barbeque in town. While I was getting my camera stowed away a couple of couples came by and asked if I was leaving as the party according to them was just getting started. I told them that I was a local and I was hungry for some barbeque and going to the best in town. After a few seconds of discussion they asked how to get there. I told them and they moved on. Finally I was able to get into traffic and while sitting and waiting on the light to change everyone started reving their engines up. It started like a wave and continued to grow. Most had rev limiters on them but one poor soul kept taxing his shovel head and then it happened. A loud THUMP! Smoke and what looked like oil started coming out the pipes. When the light changed and we started up Dickson St. his bike seemed to be out of power. I went on up into residential Dickson St. as fast as the cops, crowds and other bikes would allow, heading to mission and Penguin Ed’s

As I pulled into Ed’s I saw a few bikes in the lot and that the place was packed. Seems everybody else had the same idea. I got my order and had a great, as usual, meal. just as I was finishing I heard the thumping of a Harley pulling in. One of the couples I had talked to earlier about Ed’s had decided to try it. About half way through their meal the wife called over a thanks for telling them about the place. Hey! It’s the best barbeque in town. My ride home was great! Not too much traffic and cool. The only draw back was after coming off the mountain. Wet ground fog. By the time I got home I was cold and wet. All in all it was still a great ride.

This year I noticed a lot more women riding in by themselves a few that I spoke with said things like their husband-boyfriend wanted to check out something else and was meeting them later for b, b & bbq later that afternoon or in the week. I also noticed through out the entire event that women were doing more by themselves riding and the men were either riding along or absent altogether. Quite a change from years past as heard several people say. Another thing that caught my attention was what appeared to be new riders. There has been a rumor around that people were renting Harleys for area dealers just for this event. From the looks of several that I saw it looked as if the rumor might be true. Brand new still creased leathers and a bright shiny new looking Harley . Most looked like 883 sportsters. The riders were out in traffic with an unsuredness of someone just starting out. I think that if I were going to try something like that I would pick lighter traffic routes. But they were out in the heaviest traffic of the day. Also there were more and more late running strays. People with a motor home and a trailer with there bike. The few that I spoke to said that they had taken their vacation and due to time constraints this was their only option as motels had filled up quick.

Thursday…
I had wanted to get an early start but as usual it didn’t happen. I had wanted to take a few roadside shots along the way in but there weren’t any and I ended up just riding around and ended up just outside Joplin Mo. As I was gassing up it donned on me that I had gotten comfortable and had been following the “herd“. As I chuckled to myself I noticed another “herd” heading back toward home. So I fell in and had a good ride back

Dickson St. was lively when I got there. I couldn’t shake how this year it reminded me more of a state fair midway than a bike rally. People were everywhere and all were crowding for space. Mostly the crowds looked like locals that had come down to be part of the action. Since I didn’t have anyone to party with, I just spent my time hopping from club to club and checking out the live music. Some of these had hired groups that were very good. Others were kind of middle of the road. I did notice at each of these clubs people would come in and drink and whoop and holler for a few minutes then they would pick up and leave. Another group would move in and they would whoop and holler. Just like shift work at a large factory. As I crossed by one of the small bars there was a man with a loud speaker, preaching about the sinning that was going on during this rally. He made some points and I was reminded of the Hank Williams Jr. song “a country boy can survive”. The lines “the preacher man says it’s the end of time”. and “you only get mugged if you go down town”. I didn’t see anyone get mugged but I did see the local police take a man out of the crowds and put him into a patrol car and head him to jail. No one seemed to know what he had done.
As I walked around through this entire event, all four nights, but especially on Friday night. I saw several prime specimens of IDKW’s (I don’t know what) Purple hair, Butt cracks and a guy that I heard someone call Elmer that was wearing a full length evening gown. It was just an assortment of oddities. Seemed like each crowd that came through had some. Wondering about this and how it was so out of theme for a bike rally it suddenly fell into place. Nothing new for some. This was the only drag on a Friday night in a small college town. The hundreds of bikes were just an added extra. Spice as it were to an average Friday night.

For all the hype about Barbeque I couldn’t find any on the street. Lots of the lunch wagons were selling all kinds of fast food but I didn’t see anything that I considered barbeque. I wasn’t able to get over to the Big Barbeque contest so I looked for someone selling it on Dickson St. More than likely there were some selling barbeque…I just found only Turkey legs and Hot dogs and Hamburgers. All of which were moving at an alarming pace. For a while Bud spent some time with me and as we walked around we only found Nacho’s. They were good as I was hungry and getting into one of the bars or small cafés or Beer gardens was out of the question due to the crowds. So it’s NACHO’S that got my vote. During most of the time I spent on Dickson St. I walked around and looked over the bikes. That was my main interest and I could really indulge myself. If you like to see what’s out there I highly recommend that you take an afternoon at one of these rally’s and get out and look. I saw every imaginable kind of motorcycle from Harley - Davidson to homemade customs. Some were the very high dollar customs and some were obviously put together without harming bank accounts or credit cards or car washes utilizing duct tape and rattle can paint jobs. Those are my particular favorites. They appear to be daily riders. Ones that you don’t worry about getting dirty or scratched or whatever. Nothing against the high dollar customs but deep down I thing you have a little nagging fear of something happening to that $10,000.00 paint job. Some people call them Rats. Others call them Dailies. I could be a little biased as mine fit’s the Daily category. But, I ride mine everyday. It was such an experience that at times I found myself forgetting to take pictures. Like I said, it’s something every person that is interested in Motorcycles should do. This Rally got my vote. It’s a time for the gathering of the all those with a kinsmen like interest in motorcycles. A time to meet old friends and make new ones. To see new products and pick up new ideas. I’m looking forward to next year and number 10. I hope to do a better job getting pictures and seeing all that there is. I’ll note here that I didn’t see any of the famous bike clubs or any trouble of any kind that people always associate with these gathering. It was a big party where everyone I saw was having a good time.
Total mileage 310
Hope to see ya on the road

Dogpatch Biker bash 2008

Dogpatch Biker bash. September 5-7
It was billed as one of the biggest bike Rallies in North West Arkansas. It was to be held at the Hub and there was suppose to be lots of venders and shows and all that. Since I had never been to one of their gatherings I decided that I would go.
Planning a run has gotten to the point of telling people that I am going and what time and where I’m leaving from. I told everyone about the rally and everyone seemed interested in going. So I pulled out from my local one stop around 9:30 am and ended up going by myself.
The trip down was a good one. The recent storms passing through left it cool and fresh out and traffic was light on 412. Didn’t even see a state trooper anywhere. Since I was all on my on I took hwy 21 and went toward Kingston . There was always a few riders down that way and I hoped to catch up with some of them and get their take on this gathering. My luck was still holding and I didn’t see a soul anywhere.
At the foot of the Boxley mountain I took a left and headed to the river and hwy 74. 74 is a lot of fun for me to ride especially the ride up the mountain. I tell people that other states have their Dragons Tail, we have the “Possums Shank“. Short tight curves and some of the best scenery in the world. The only thing wrong with it is, it ends all too soon.
I pulled into Jasper and several bikes went by me heading north on hwy 7 toward the Hub. I fell in behind them and we all held to a leisurely pace all the way.
When I pulled the hill, hwy7 spur, to the Hub I noticed several bikes parked all over. I pulled in and visited with Randal, the owner. Randal told me that he was all sold out at the motel and was letting people pitch tents all over. He also gave me the run down on what all was going on.
After talking with Randal I started to go to the main Rally site at the other end of the parking lot and noticed a bikini clad girl with a garden hose. She was washing bikes for a donation.

From the looks of things she and a couple of other girls were doing a bang up business. There were several bikes around them and as they finished one would move on to another. For a fleeting moment I thought about having them wash mine. But in all reality it would probably do more harm than good. Mine might fall apart if all the grit and grime were washed off.

The Rally was a short walk across the parking lot. $10.00 got you an all day pass and access to everything. The first thing that I noticed was a live band that was doing a good job of bluesy southern rock that made for a good back ground as you walked around. The vender area reminded me of a carnival midway. Lots of fast food type trailers and plenty of people selling Tee shirts and leather goods, Pins and patches. A couple of people were selling light kits and super polish for your bike. The swap meet type of parts vendors were absent from what I could see. There was a man selling Suzuki Boulevard parts and that was about it.
The games were going on as I made my way around. I stopped to watch the tire toss and had a good time. The girl that that won looked less like a biker than anyone I have ever saw. She had on a nice dress and “sensible shoes”. She looked like she was headed to the grocery store or was on her way home from work in an office somewhere. As the tire toss was ending the Sport Bike Stunt Rider Team was gearing up. Those guys put on a good show. Watching them reminded me of my age.

My stomach reminded me that it was lunch time and I walked back to the Hub and Scooters restaurant. The place was pretty busy and the food was good, like always. The Bikini girls were still hard at it and provided a floor show for lunch. After eating I moved out to the patio and had coffee. While I was sitting there one of the best home grown rat bikes pulled in. It was a Kawasaki Vulcan 700 and it was painted military green camo. This bike had lots of custom touches. Like the hand shift made from half of an old harness hame. The brass knob serving as the handle. The pipes were wrapped and the mufflers were tail pipe tips off of a 70’s Chevy Chevelle. The seat was a wide solo like it was from and old 40’s Indian. The passenger seat was a true work of art. It was made from an army boonie hat. Stuffed full of foam and held to the rear fender by a cargo bungee. There was so much to this bike that I cant describe it all. It was just a real pleasure to look at. While I was looking it over the owner was bolting on an oogah horn. Showing that adding class just never ends. I stood around talking with the rat owner and visited with people from all over. Once they figured out that I was a local of sorts, they had lots of questions about the area and it’s history. Most agreed that it was some of the best riding in the world. Before I realized I had spent most of the afternoon visiting. About 5 I headed back down to the rally to see if anything new had came in. sadly it hadn’t. That was kind of a let down for me as I love the parts / swap meet type of get together.
All in all this was a great get together. Very relaxed and everyone that I saw seemed to be having a good time. I met people from several different states and all over Arkansas. I’m not sure and haven’t heard anyone comment on how many people were there. The motel was sold out and there were lots of tents. Some speculated that since last year it had rained all weekend, some of the vendors were a little gun shy this year. This turned out to be a great run. I had a good time. Met lots of good people and am looking forward to next year. Hope to see you on the road.
I totaled 172 miles of this “back yard“ride.
Proud Member Of The 365 Group
( I rode mine today)

Backyard Ridin

Today I didn't have anything going on and decided to run the local back roads around home. I find it help full to keep up with the road conditions locally. Anyway, I took off around 9 am just puttin around.
About half way into my ride brought me back to an intersection in the middle of the town I live in. Since it was getting close to lunch I drifted up to a local gas station that has a decent cafe and ordered a burger. After giving my order to the girls at the cafe I wandered back outside to sit at the picnic table while I waited. Most of the morning it had been very hot and muggy feeling, like it was going to rain and just as I sat down it did. Man! It opened up and poured. Glad I was under the awning.
As I sat there watching the rain a big Yamaha cruiser pulled in and the rider looked very relieved to be out of the rain. Also, at this time two young guys walked out of the store and began talking to the Cruiser rider. After a few minutes of listening to them talk I noticed two sport bikes parked next to the building in the rain. Their conversation centered on the riding they had been doing and how bad it had been. I learned that the Cruiser rider had just left his home and had ridden a total of eight miles before he was forced off the road by the rain. The two sport bike riders had about 20 miles in when they noticed the sky getting dark and headed for cover. Absent mindedly I checked my trip meter and my total for the morning was 126 miles.
The conversation finally drifted my way with one of the sport riders asking what kind of bike I had. I told them all about my antique and one asked if it was a bobber as it looked like something was missing. I explained that compared to when it was new a lot was missing. That I striped off everything I didn't like. So, I guess you could call it a bobber. At hearing this the other sport rider began to show some interest and started asking questions. As we were talking one of them noticed my mileage and asked how long it had taken me to put 126 miles on it. When I told him a couples of hours or so this morning they both acted like they were hard of hearing and said "huh"? About this time, Mary, one of the girls from the cafe brought out my burger and started telling them how I always ride and junk like that. They were kind of caught short so to speak and said that they didn't ride much, just around town and that 20 or thirty miles was a big trip to them. I told them that I understood. Life sometimes gets in the way and you do what you gotta do.
Both of the sport riders were seriously giving thought to our conversation and looking over my bike and the big Yamaha as well as their own. They seemed to have a question on their minds but suddenly changed gears and went back to chatting about bikes in general.
I finished my lunch and offered to let Mary kick start my bike. She grinned and passed. The cruiser said you have a kick starter? Pointing it out I offered to let him start it. Mary started giggling and he got red faced and I guess thought better of the idea saying no. All three said that they had no experience with anything other than late models. None with a kick starter.
I couldn't resist and flipped out the pedal and kicked it to life. I let it idle a few minutes and switched off. About this time we all agreed on a couple of things. It was time to go and electric starters were sooo much easier.
All in all it was a good day totaling 207 miles. It's funny what you can get into just puttin around your on Back yard.

Proud Member Of the 365 Group
(i rode mine today)

Shake down ride.

29 August 2008

Today started out hot with a thunderstorm rolling in. A quick look at the sky suggested that I would be riding ahead of the storm. So I didn't get in too much of a hurry as I made last minute adjustments to my ride.

This was going to be a shake down run, not too far from home but enough to see if the repairs and modifications would hold up. I had been having a real rough running time the last couple of days and ended up putting everything back to original factory settings. I had built a new exhaust system and seemed to be experiencing a little vibration that I couldn't seen to locate a reason for. So this would be a short but thorough run over the mountains.

I topped off my tank at the one stop and left out the acetone. I figured to run a hundred or so miles on plain gas and see if I noticed any difference at the factory tune up setting.

I got out into traffic that was surprisingly heavy for a Friday morning and settled into a smooth 55 mph. It seemed to be purring perfectly for the first 10 miles. As I got on to Hwy 412 and headed east traffic thinned out and I had the opportunity to open the old twin up a little. I was pleased at the engines performance at a wide variety of speeds. I guess that maybe I was trying to get a little too much out of a stock ride. I was really beginning to like this new ride sensation. Factory settings, who'd of thought...? One of the best non factory parts of trip is the Glass packs. They are for a small car or truck. The sound is awesome and I really enjoyed it all throughout this ride. (I'm also sure everyone in earshot did too) That is also one of the best things about a twin, V or side by side, they always sound good.

About 30 miles down 412 a light raid started. I pulled over at a small gas station figuring to put on the pants for my rain suit as they are hard enough to put on when it isn't raining. As I rolled in I noticed a Vrod and slid up beside it. It's owner was coming out of the store and asked if the rain was any lighter behind me. His name was John and he seemed relieved when I told him I hadn't had any rain until I got to this store. John said he had ridden through heavy rains in a couple of places that was so hard that he couldn't see. John was from Houston TX and had been riding around Arkansas for the last week. Now, on his way back home he was hoping to go back through Oklahoma and miss the worst part of the storm. I got into my rain gear and wished him well and we took off. For the next 40 miles I rode through light rain and cool damp air. Man! It was nice.

Since I was close I stopped off and had a bite to eat with my mom and visited a couple of hours.

Before I pulled out I had looked over a website that had indicated a big bike rally at the Hub. So I headed in that general direction. The Hub is Is Bike oriented Motel and convention center with a really good restaurant called scooters. I rolled in to the Hub in the early afternoon and realized that I had either read the website wrong or someone had mixed up the dates. The big rally was no where in sight. However, the Free Masons were having their international ride in. There was about 70 or eighty bikes around the motel and the restaurant was full. These riders, The Free Masons, were a good bunch of people from several walks of like. Just about all of them I came in contact with stopped to talk a little and offer a handshake. This atmosphere made the wait for something to eat a pleasant wait. While waiting I had another nice surprise, my niece Katy came through and I found that she is working at the restaurant until she leaves for school.

The food was good, as always and the added plus of my niece sitting with me and of course a room full of bikers made this one of the better meals of my life.
After eating I visited with the Hubs owner and found out what was planned for the next couple of weekends and decided to head out. As I headed over the hill on Hwy 7 spur I couldn't resist, I let the engine hold back in third gear all the way down. Just to make sure everyone got to benefit from my nice old truck sound. I hit Hwy 7 and back to Jasper, topped off my tank and made a slow lazy climb up the mountain. The Newton County Fair was going on and I stopped in for a quick look around. I saw a few old friends that I hadn't seen in years and visited and caught up a little. I had planned on heading towards Clarksville to spend the night but I guess homesickness took over so I headed back to my place at Deer and visited with the family and got a good nights sleep.
30 August 2008
I had a quick breakfast with mom and visited with my brother and pulled out. There was NO traffic on hwy16 and that always amazes me. I let the hammer down on my old twin and started putting miles on. The bike was running better it seemed than it had yesterday. I floated down the road for about 20 miles and came up on a couple on a big Suzuki cruiser. They seemed to be slowly taking in the area and I zipped by with a wave. Over on the Boxley mountain I fell in behind a group of riders that were riding in the herd.Going along slowly. They were 10 of them riding all different kinds of big tourers and cruisers. I'm not knocking them but they would speed up for a mile or so and then slow down. This got old after 12 miles. When we got to Kingston I pulled over and let them get about 20 minutes ahead of me. That worked for a little while. I ended up following them to Huntsville where they headed for Eureka Springs. the rest of my little ride was nice and moved along smoothly. I got back home in time to help the son put new tires on his bike. Really, could it get any better?
Total of 284 miles. The repairs held nicely.
Next weekend if the Guard doesnt send the son to do Hurricane relief we are planning on hitting the big bike ralley at dogpatch @ The Hub.
Proud Member of the 365 Group.
(I rode mine today)