This weekend has been a good one.
It's a holiday weekend and so everyone on the road is nuts more than usual. Every where that I have gone I see it, they are nuts behind the wheel! I had a woman pull out in front of me at Oakland-Zion road. I started heading for the ditch and she finally saw me and swerved before I had to lay it down. (Bad close this time) She saw my wife on her bike and let her go by then just pulled out on top of me.
(Saturday)
I finally gave up and took my bike to the shop and took off the carburetors off and went through them with a pipe cleaner. I made an amazing discovery in one of them. A spider had made a nest in one of the ports for an air jet. I wouldn't have thought it possible but there it was. I really gave them a scrubbing and did all I could without rebuilding them. I told Luther that I was hoping for Divine intervention as I was at my end with them. As a result I fully believe that God intervened and put me back in a better shape. My bike is now almost back to a normal running and a much better rate of gas consumption. It even seems to ride a little less rough which makes sense. I got out after getting it all back together and put a few local miles on it to see how it was going to hold up and I'm really liking how it's running. A trip now seems in order.
(Sunday)
My wife left early to go to church and I just bummed around and tinkered with her ride and finally gave up to the fact that it needs a new battery. I had hopped that we could save it but it's apparent that we cant. It wont turn the engine over at all. You can still kick it and start it and it will run everything while your running but that's about all the battery has left. So that's next on my to do list.
We managed to do a couple of local trips this afternoon. We road down to Penguin Ed's for a bite of lunch and as we were leaving noticed a storm coming up. It looked like we would make it home without getting wet so we headed out. Man, did I misjudge. About half way it started to come down and since neither of us had brought any rain gear it seemed to beat into my hide like rocks. About a mile or two into the rain it started hailing and let me tell you a Tee shirt is no protection. The hail didn't last but the rain was hard and fast and I managed to get it under my glasses and reached a point where I literally couldn't see. I pointed to the side and jumped off the road at the first of the twin bridges and managed to make it under the bridge without crashing. The safety glasses I wear don't seal well at the top and without a helmet I had water running in. I got my helmet on and cinched my glasses down as tight as I could and headed back out. The rain had let up a little and completely stopped by the time I turned off Hwy 45. I went on up to the house and found that my wife had made it OK. Soaked to the bone and red whelps from the hail but otherwise OK.
A little later I asked my wife if she felt like another "adventure". I mean the rain was over. The sun was out and It was too nice not to ride as much as you could. We ended up just going to Harps and the "green-weenie" wal-mart. It was fun to ride with her again. Almost like old times.
I hope to have the strength next weekend for a trip. Just pack up and take off for a day or two and see where I end up. I really miss traveling.
...Hope to see ya on the road.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Another good weekend
Proud Member of The 365 Group
(I rode mine today)
Well here we go again. The Doctor called and My test results are back and I need to see him. Well OK I could use another ride down south so to speak.
It was foggy up here as I headed out for Jasper. Kind of on the cool side. I didn't really feel like fighting with my snowmobile suit so I dug out my chaps and figured that they would keep my legs warm enough. Boy was I right! Before I got to my place in Deer I was ready to get out of them. (I know why Buffalo don't seen to be bothered by winter) The traffic around here was insane for a late Friday morning. I haven't figured that one out yet. The last few Fridays have been like that.
The Doc said I have a blood condition that he thinks vitamins might take care of. So it's back to taking hand fulls of different things on a daily basics. I guess that is better than some of the other options we discussed.
My ride back out to my place was really one of those that you just cant get enough of. Warm, clear and not a whole lot of traffic. Funny how the traffic is always lighter when I get out and away from the Fayetteville/Springdale area. Really enjoyable.
At my moms house my brother came by and asked if I could help him with his bike. He has a 79 Suzuki 750 and it needed a little tweaking after setting all winter. So I went and we got all greasy and got him back on the road for summer and the high gas prices. Gas is at a crippling price all over now and it will help him on his job to be able to ride instead of drive. After working on the bike we just sat around like the old days and talked bikes and sipped a beer. If only I could go back to when neither of us had any pressure other than keeping our rides going. Those days were fun.
As things worked out I spent Saturday helping him get mowers,tillers and weed eaters going and
just rode around locally seeing how things had changed. There were lots and I do mean lots of bikes out on Saturday. I found one rider beside the road and pulled over to see if he needed any help. Turns out he was waiting on his wife and others to catch up. As we visited I found out that he was from the Springdale area and he semi knew me from seeing me riding the "Dodge". He and his group were out enjoying the weather and the curves. Looked as though they were having all the fun the law allows.
My cookout trip is getting closer and I'm trying to get the word out to everyone I know. A lazy slow ride of about 150 miles down there and a big cookout and spend the night and a lazy slow 150 or so miles back. Hopefully it'll all come off and all our riding friends can make it. My brother is all up for it and now we just need to pick a date that works for everyone.
This weekend trip totaled around 400 miles and was almost perfect. I think next weekend I may head for Texas and maybe a few more miles.
Hope to see ya on the road.
(I rode mine today)
Well here we go again. The Doctor called and My test results are back and I need to see him. Well OK I could use another ride down south so to speak.
It was foggy up here as I headed out for Jasper. Kind of on the cool side. I didn't really feel like fighting with my snowmobile suit so I dug out my chaps and figured that they would keep my legs warm enough. Boy was I right! Before I got to my place in Deer I was ready to get out of them. (I know why Buffalo don't seen to be bothered by winter) The traffic around here was insane for a late Friday morning. I haven't figured that one out yet. The last few Fridays have been like that.
The Doc said I have a blood condition that he thinks vitamins might take care of. So it's back to taking hand fulls of different things on a daily basics. I guess that is better than some of the other options we discussed.
My ride back out to my place was really one of those that you just cant get enough of. Warm, clear and not a whole lot of traffic. Funny how the traffic is always lighter when I get out and away from the Fayetteville/Springdale area. Really enjoyable.
At my moms house my brother came by and asked if I could help him with his bike. He has a 79 Suzuki 750 and it needed a little tweaking after setting all winter. So I went and we got all greasy and got him back on the road for summer and the high gas prices. Gas is at a crippling price all over now and it will help him on his job to be able to ride instead of drive. After working on the bike we just sat around like the old days and talked bikes and sipped a beer. If only I could go back to when neither of us had any pressure other than keeping our rides going. Those days were fun.
As things worked out I spent Saturday helping him get mowers,tillers and weed eaters going and
just rode around locally seeing how things had changed. There were lots and I do mean lots of bikes out on Saturday. I found one rider beside the road and pulled over to see if he needed any help. Turns out he was waiting on his wife and others to catch up. As we visited I found out that he was from the Springdale area and he semi knew me from seeing me riding the "Dodge". He and his group were out enjoying the weather and the curves. Looked as though they were having all the fun the law allows.
My cookout trip is getting closer and I'm trying to get the word out to everyone I know. A lazy slow ride of about 150 miles down there and a big cookout and spend the night and a lazy slow 150 or so miles back. Hopefully it'll all come off and all our riding friends can make it. My brother is all up for it and now we just need to pick a date that works for everyone.
This weekend trip totaled around 400 miles and was almost perfect. I think next weekend I may head for Texas and maybe a few more miles.
Hope to see ya on the road.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A stormy weekend
Proud member of the 365 group
I rode mine today
This weekend, for the most part, has been a great one for riding or just doing nothing at all. The weather was on again off again warm and rainy. Even had a few thunderstorms and a few tornado's reported. We opted out of the charity poker run as my wife had a funeral to attend. So I worked in the shop and had a pretty good time.
My Yamaha is giving me real fits in that I cant get any fire through the system. After checking the entire electrical system I am at a loss. Guess it's back to the books on it. Maybe I got in too much of a hurry to get it back on the road? But in my defence, it is a lot of fun to ride.
As the weather gets better I am planning several trips through the hills. Scenic rides with lunch or dinner at the end of the first part. Then back home on a different route or sleep over at a park or rec site and a different route home the next day. Maybe even a fishing trip? Nothing big. A couple of hundred miles or so. Sort of like the old "Club runs" of the 60's.
I have been talking to a lot of people that are looking for a good way to kill a weekend and just get away. This will do it. Just take off and leave the cooking to someone else. All you'd really need is a sleeping bag. With gas prices soaring it would be a good cheap vacation.
Well it's time to get back to the grind and go tighten the chain on my Kawasaki. I have began to hear it hit the case and since right now it's my main ride and all, that's not good. Another reason I'm in a hurry to get the Yamaha going. It's shaft drive and I'm getting lazier by the day.
Hope to see you on the road.
I rode mine today
This weekend, for the most part, has been a great one for riding or just doing nothing at all. The weather was on again off again warm and rainy. Even had a few thunderstorms and a few tornado's reported. We opted out of the charity poker run as my wife had a funeral to attend. So I worked in the shop and had a pretty good time.
My Yamaha is giving me real fits in that I cant get any fire through the system. After checking the entire electrical system I am at a loss. Guess it's back to the books on it. Maybe I got in too much of a hurry to get it back on the road? But in my defence, it is a lot of fun to ride.
As the weather gets better I am planning several trips through the hills. Scenic rides with lunch or dinner at the end of the first part. Then back home on a different route or sleep over at a park or rec site and a different route home the next day. Maybe even a fishing trip? Nothing big. A couple of hundred miles or so. Sort of like the old "Club runs" of the 60's.
I have been talking to a lot of people that are looking for a good way to kill a weekend and just get away. This will do it. Just take off and leave the cooking to someone else. All you'd really need is a sleeping bag. With gas prices soaring it would be a good cheap vacation.
Well it's time to get back to the grind and go tighten the chain on my Kawasaki. I have began to hear it hit the case and since right now it's my main ride and all, that's not good. Another reason I'm in a hurry to get the Yamaha going. It's shaft drive and I'm getting lazier by the day.
Hope to see you on the road.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Going back in time.
I had another Doctor appointment this weekend and it was great weather for a ride down. After several false starts I finally got into the right groove and it was great! I hit hwy 45 running hard and didn't let up until I got to the new curve the Highway department put in US 412 out buy Hindsville. One of the few straight parts of Arkansas roads and they go and put curve and stop sign in it. As some say "your tax dollars at work".
The traffic for late morning on a Friday was terrible. Reminded me of the traffic on game day at the university. It did thin out after I got passed Huntsville.
The trip over the mountain was better than the one last week. Everything is so much greener and looks so much more alive. I found myself just scooting along in no particular hurry. Just enjoying everything.
The Doctor said his usual and drew off another quart of blood and said I'll see ya.
I headed out for moms still in a pretty good mood. The ride out to moms place was just about as uneventful as one could be and was over before I really knew it.
I had planned on getting an early start back but for some reason I over slept badly and it just didn't happen. When I did get on the road I made a gas stop at Claiborn's grocery at Deer and met two young guys on rolling antiques. Mint condition middle 70's Honda's. A 550 Four and a F model 750. It was an oddity. These guys looked like they were more the sport bike type. But in talking with them it was clear that they had a certain feel for these old rides. It was so nice to chat with them that I killed even more time and made my day even later than I had planned. They were from Chicago and were trying to travel as much of the area as they could in a day. I showed them a couple of places on the map and explained the area some. As they rode off I found myself wishing I was able to go with them, remembering back to my early riding days on my old Honda "Four", Apes and baffles drilled out. Taking off and seeing how much country I could cram into a Saturday. Those early Honda's seemed to go the distance without any problem and even the major breakdowns seemed to be minor at the time. They had it all. Big,bulky and a good mid range speed that was all you really needed. (Ahhhh to go back) I really enjoyed meeting those guys and especially seeing those bikes being ridden the way they were made to be ridden.
My ride back up was a real good one. The weather was warmer and it just sorta clicked along. I met a few bikes and even stopped to take a coffee break (actually a pain pill break) on the Boxily Mountain.
As I was setting beside the road a couple of noisy newbies came flying by and waved real big. I packed up and started out and managed to catch up to them in about 10 minutes. I trailed them into Kingston and noticed how cool they were trying to look as they circled the square. Making lots of noise and putting on a good show.
The rest of my trip this week was just an average ride.
Next weekend is one of the charity poker runs we ride. The wife seems all up for it. Hope it's a good one.
Thanks Chris and Tom. Memories are worth a fortune and you guys showed me that I'm rich.
The traffic for late morning on a Friday was terrible. Reminded me of the traffic on game day at the university. It did thin out after I got passed Huntsville.
The trip over the mountain was better than the one last week. Everything is so much greener and looks so much more alive. I found myself just scooting along in no particular hurry. Just enjoying everything.
The Doctor said his usual and drew off another quart of blood and said I'll see ya.
I headed out for moms still in a pretty good mood. The ride out to moms place was just about as uneventful as one could be and was over before I really knew it.
I had planned on getting an early start back but for some reason I over slept badly and it just didn't happen. When I did get on the road I made a gas stop at Claiborn's grocery at Deer and met two young guys on rolling antiques. Mint condition middle 70's Honda's. A 550 Four and a F model 750. It was an oddity. These guys looked like they were more the sport bike type. But in talking with them it was clear that they had a certain feel for these old rides. It was so nice to chat with them that I killed even more time and made my day even later than I had planned. They were from Chicago and were trying to travel as much of the area as they could in a day. I showed them a couple of places on the map and explained the area some. As they rode off I found myself wishing I was able to go with them, remembering back to my early riding days on my old Honda "Four", Apes and baffles drilled out. Taking off and seeing how much country I could cram into a Saturday. Those early Honda's seemed to go the distance without any problem and even the major breakdowns seemed to be minor at the time. They had it all. Big,bulky and a good mid range speed that was all you really needed. (Ahhhh to go back) I really enjoyed meeting those guys and especially seeing those bikes being ridden the way they were made to be ridden.
My ride back up was a real good one. The weather was warmer and it just sorta clicked along. I met a few bikes and even stopped to take a coffee break (actually a pain pill break) on the Boxily Mountain.
As I was setting beside the road a couple of noisy newbies came flying by and waved real big. I packed up and started out and managed to catch up to them in about 10 minutes. I trailed them into Kingston and noticed how cool they were trying to look as they circled the square. Making lots of noise and putting on a good show.
The rest of my trip this week was just an average ride.
Next weekend is one of the charity poker runs we ride. The wife seems all up for it. Hope it's a good one.
Thanks Chris and Tom. Memories are worth a fortune and you guys showed me that I'm rich.
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