365 Group (I rode mine today)
These last few days have been unusual weather wise. Warm, up to the middle seventies and cold down to twenty six. I have done quite a bit of riding this past week. It's just been one of those weeks when the bike seemed to out weigh a car.
Heading into town it was about cold. I had planned to get an Early start and be done with all my business by the time it had warmed up enough to shed the cold weather gear. As my luck goes I had to defrost my bike. Literally! There was a heavy frost on it and I used an old hair dryer to "defrost" it. Once I got everything thawed out I fired my old beast up and discovered that my throttle cables were frozen. For some reason this struck me as funny. Out with the hair dryer again and in no time everything was back to sort of normal operation. All this put me about half an hour behind schedule. So much for running around before everyone else.
Pulling up to the stop sign at the Highway I fall in at the tail of a line of cars. They were moving at the speed limit through the middle of town. As we came up on the twin bridges I had picked up a few behind me and found myself swept along with the whole herd and coming off the second bridge at a very cold seventy miles per hour. Apparently all these people had a good working heater and were all late for work. This was the fastest crowd I've been in since summer ended.
Coming up on my turn off at Habberton Road I had a car on my tail and was seriously wondering if I would be able to turn off without getting hit. Man they were close! I managed to ride the shoulder and make my turn without getting bumped. Once off the highway I put some distance between me and the line of traffic. My experience has been that there will be someone else turn off and then they will crowd you. Two vehicles turned after me but I had put enough distance between us that they never got to worry me.
As I made my turn to head into town I noticed that my bike was starting to chug. Looking at my speedometer I say that I was almost out of gas and hit the reserve. Looked like my first stop would be for gas instead of breakfast. Gas has taken another price upturn lately. It was irritating even riding a bike. A dollar thirty eight last week and now back up to one seventy four. I'm glad that my take only holds three gallons. I don't think I could take trying to fill up one of those large pickup s or even a small car.
All gassed up and hungry I headed for Hardees and got a couple of bacon biscuits for the ride. My plan was to run over to Pea Ridge and see if I could locate a friend of mine. He had invited me over back during Bikes,Blues and Barbecue. Since I had the day off and it was going to warm up and I knew he wasn't working, why not?
Funny, this whole area has almost grown together and is starting to resemble a small metro -plex. Running out of Springdale and into Lowell and then into Rogers you wouldn't have known you had ever left one if you hadn't seen the City Limit signs. The run on over to Pea Ridge was slow and poky. Morning traffic was bad with everyone trying to get to the job at the same time.
Between Rogers and Pea ridge is a nice little ride if your coming out of Rogers. It gives the impression of being more rural than it really is. I like the laid back scenery when I ride, even though I know it really isn't.
I pulled in to a gas station and filled up. While I was there I got a cup of coffee and tore into one of my Biscuit specials and wondered if I could really keep my "girlish figure" by eating these things. Ah, well, I'm sure a couple wouldn't hurt. After eating I called and asked for directions to Jim's place and got the answering machine. I left a message and started tooling in the general direction of Garfield and the area where he said he lived. About five miles down the road my phone went to screeching and buzzing and Jim had left me a message in answer to mine. Seems him and the wife had run off to Branson for the day. "must be nice". So with that bit of news I changed course and headed toward Eureka Springs and lunch.
I really don't remember much of the trip over to Eureka. I sometimes get into the road and just don't pay attention like your suppose to. Everything was clicking right and the road just took over. Pulling into town I headed down the hill to see what was open and might interest me. I made a couple of passes through and then headed back up to the highway and a burger. To me the big chain burger joints are all the same. just something to eat that's quicker than hunting for good food. Today's lunch was no different.
While I was pushing the burger down a group of bikes went by. It looked like I wasn't the only one that thought today was a great day for a ride. I finished my meal and walked back over to the bike and had a good laugh at my self. I caught myself reaching for a smoke. One of those after eating gotta do habits. I had quit smoking almost two years ago. When I say I smoked, I mean I burned em down. Four packs a day of the absolute best on the market. Non filtered Camels. I cant describe how good a Camel tasted to me. Anyway, back to real time. I was chuckling at my old habits and I noticed a couple in a car next to my bike and I'm sure they thought I was nuts. Firing up I decided to just head down the highway toward Berryville and maybe make a lazy loop through to Alpena and back to the house. I pulled out and wound up as I approached the first curve in the road and got into a good slingshot kind of lean around it. Everything was still clicking and I felt really good as I eased out of town.
About four or five miles down the road from Eureka is the Biker Joint Iron Horse Stable. I have been in there a couple of times but really don't know much about the place. It does a real good business during the summer as there always seems to be lots of bikes there. The bikes I had saw earlier were there as I went by. Not sure if they were having any trouble but they were all looking at one of the bikes and one of the women was rubbing here rear.
I headed on down the road and again got myself lost in the ride. Gassing up at Alpena, I made a fairly quick run back to the house. I had to let my "ankle biter security squad" out for a while and then on to dinner with Bud and the other assorted Riff Raff. The seventy or so miles up Highway 412 is a nice ride since the construction is over with. More so when traffic is light.
Pulling into my parking place at the house I revved up a couple of times to alert the "ankle biters" and thought today was a good ride. Even if I dint go anywhere.
About 5:30 I headed out to meet everyone for dinner at Chilli's on Milsap and the weather was still holding. Dinner was good and as usual with those guys a blast. we all said see ya about 7:30 and that's when I noticed how cool it had gotten. As I pulled on my face mask Bud said call if you have any trouble. (Later I almost did.)
I pulled out on to Milsap and headed back to Highway 71 and I noticed a thermometer on a bank that said it was twenty four degrees. From then on I noticed how the stiff cross winds had a wet feeling bite to them. I made it to a convenience store about three miles down from the restaurant and had to pull in and put on my snowmobile suit. The next seven miles to the house were absolutely pain full it was that cold. I finally pulled into the house and got out of my heavy clothes, turned on the blanket and jumped into a hot shower.
Now, today's ride was officially over and I was warm again. I find myself looking toward tomorrow and wondering if I'll have as much fun as I did today or will it just be cold.
catch ya on the road.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ridin and Duck Huntin
Today I had planned to take my car to work so I could take my camera equipment with me. As is my luck lately the car still needs some work on it to get it to run right for heavier traffic. I managed to get it back to the house and added a couple of other things to the to do list for it.
I strapped on my bags and fire the old bike up. While I was warming it up I slipped in the house and put on my cold weather gear. It was about 32 degrees when I first started out and I couldn't tell it had come up any. The weather man promised the middle 40's for today. Not too bad. It just put a damper on my after work photo's.
Heading down my drive I got set for a chilly ride in and I was surprised. It wasn't all that bad. I hit the highway and ran up to about 65mph and settled in to a nice ride. The cross winds hit just as I was about out of town and they were stiff and bone chilling. I made pretty good time to the mountain and after I turned off I noticed that I didn't have any crosswind. That was nice.
It looked like I would have the title all to myself this morning until I got to the second traffic light coming into town. Another bike was in one of the on coming lanes as I rolled up to a stop. He was all bundled up and looked absolutely miserable. He was riding a big Shadow and looked like he was frozen. I waved at him as the light changed and he kind of nodded and looked really cold. I hope I didn't look that bad. I didn't feel all that cold.
Pulling into work I noticed that no one else had braved the weather and ridden it. That made me feel even better. All day log I only saw one other bike go by. Must have been really bad out, worse than I thought. I didn't even see the usual locals that only live a block or two from their jobs.
Quitting time finally drags up and I have surprisingly good luck getting into traffic and even make good time out of town. My plan was to get over to a pond beside the road and get some pictures of a bunch of ducks that I had been seeing. There was about a dozen or more of them and they acted like they really enjoyed this colder weather we have been having.
As I pulled up to the pond the ducks were there. They were just on the far side from me and wouldn't even think of coming my way. I sat there in the wind for a while hoping that they would take pity on me but, Noooooooo... Finally I realized that I was cold and fired up and made a great run to the house. This cooler weather is apparently just the right conditions for my bike to run it's best. That old engine sounded so good. It seemed to run real even and smooth.
Pulling into the house I looked over at my car and wondered when the next warm spell was coming so I can finish tuning it up. I would have stayed with the ducks a little longer if I had been out of the wind. As it was I had a real good time. made good time both ways and as I unpacked, realized that it was another great day riding around North West Arkansas.
Still hoping to catch ya on the road.
I strapped on my bags and fire the old bike up. While I was warming it up I slipped in the house and put on my cold weather gear. It was about 32 degrees when I first started out and I couldn't tell it had come up any. The weather man promised the middle 40's for today. Not too bad. It just put a damper on my after work photo's.
Heading down my drive I got set for a chilly ride in and I was surprised. It wasn't all that bad. I hit the highway and ran up to about 65mph and settled in to a nice ride. The cross winds hit just as I was about out of town and they were stiff and bone chilling. I made pretty good time to the mountain and after I turned off I noticed that I didn't have any crosswind. That was nice.
It looked like I would have the title all to myself this morning until I got to the second traffic light coming into town. Another bike was in one of the on coming lanes as I rolled up to a stop. He was all bundled up and looked absolutely miserable. He was riding a big Shadow and looked like he was frozen. I waved at him as the light changed and he kind of nodded and looked really cold. I hope I didn't look that bad. I didn't feel all that cold.
Pulling into work I noticed that no one else had braved the weather and ridden it. That made me feel even better. All day log I only saw one other bike go by. Must have been really bad out, worse than I thought. I didn't even see the usual locals that only live a block or two from their jobs.
Quitting time finally drags up and I have surprisingly good luck getting into traffic and even make good time out of town. My plan was to get over to a pond beside the road and get some pictures of a bunch of ducks that I had been seeing. There was about a dozen or more of them and they acted like they really enjoyed this colder weather we have been having.
As I pulled up to the pond the ducks were there. They were just on the far side from me and wouldn't even think of coming my way. I sat there in the wind for a while hoping that they would take pity on me but, Noooooooo... Finally I realized that I was cold and fired up and made a great run to the house. This cooler weather is apparently just the right conditions for my bike to run it's best. That old engine sounded so good. It seemed to run real even and smooth.
Pulling into the house I looked over at my car and wondered when the next warm spell was coming so I can finish tuning it up. I would have stayed with the ducks a little longer if I had been out of the wind. As it was I had a real good time. made good time both ways and as I unpacked, realized that it was another great day riding around North West Arkansas.
Still hoping to catch ya on the road.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Just a nice ride. (it happens)
This morning when I went out to leave for work it was cool enough that I figured on driving my car. The weather channel said it would be warmer in the afternoon, but it was 29 degrees at the time I left.
I started out and got about a mile from the house when I developed a problem with my car. Every time I let off the gas it died. Thinking about the morning traffic ahead of me I decided on calling the child bride and catching a ride in with her. As is usual with her she didn't answer my call so I limped my "hover round" back to the house. I gave up on her help after the third unanswered call and looked over at my bike all covered up. Then I looked at my breath that looked like I was smoking a cigar. Oh well I've done worse.
I uncovered my bike and fired it up and headed to the house to put on some more clothes.
By the time I had gotten changed and back out to the bike I noticed that it had warmed up some. You know it's going to be a good day when you can actually notice a temperature change. I turned the bike around to head down the drive and just sat there letting it warm up and thought about how much fun this old ride has been and how dependable it is...So far.
Once I got out on the pavement I opened up a little and the initial chill over with. Traffic was thick from the start and it was slow going most of the way to the mountain. Seems a school bus was making it's appointed rounds and generally gumming up the works. Once I got off the highway for my run around the mountain it was nice and just me. About two miles down this part of my trip there is a little spot where someone has done some clearing and made like an over sized yard area beside the road. As I rounded the curve coming up to this clearing there stood a big Doe. Thinking that I should probably slow down as there might be more and they might try to hitch a ride with me I started gearing down and just came to an almost stop. The Deer just looked me over and kind of softly loped over a small brush pile. One of those times I wished I had may camera out.
Winding back up to Highway speed I tooled along down to Guy Terry road and made my turn. This little stretch of road is a lot of fun in that it's curvy and has a couple of big dips in it. Pulling the first hill and getting ready to blast through one of the short straight stretches I noticed a dog in the road. "Curses, foiled my fun". As I got up pretty close I could see that the dog was actually a very well fed coyote. He crawled through the fence beside the road and then turned to look me over. It was so funny. He looked like he was giving me the once over then kind of looked all around and acted like there wasn't anything of interest and trotted off kind of slowly. For some reason this just seemed funny as all get out to me and made the rest of my ride a lot more fun.
After Guy Terry I eased up to the new Don Tyson Express way and while waiting at the light a sport bike came flying by. Thinking about how much trouble these idiots have been causing with the cops and people that live out here, for anyone on a bike on this new road, I felt like throwing something at him. But that would have made me even later than what I was and an idiot will always be an idiot no matter how many times you hit him with a brick or whatever.
Tooling into work I discovered that I was only two whole minutes late.
Getting through work wasn't too bad today and at quitting time I figured on a ride down to Mission on the way home and grab a bite to eat at one of the places there. At this little intersection there are eight pretty decent eating places. So I usually make it down a couple or three times a week on my way home. Pulling out from work I decided on Pizza and headed for Tim's (<----shameless plug for Tim's Pizza) Tim's is not bad as Pizza joints go. It's always good. A little slow if you in a hurry.
While waiting on my food a couple of other riders came in and we visited some and that always makes any meal better. They were younger guys and riding a couple of the Honda 250 Rebels. They said they were just riding around town and killing time. After the pizza, we walked out and talked bikes for a few minutes and after all the see ya's I headed home. It had gotten up to about the middles 50's and it was a nice ride to the house.
Thinking back on the day. I'm glad I ended up riding. I'm not glad that I now have to work on my car. I'm also not to happy with the weather forecast for the next few days. Single digits. Almost enough to make me unsubscribe the weather channel.
If the weather permits, hope to catch ya on the road.
I started out and got about a mile from the house when I developed a problem with my car. Every time I let off the gas it died. Thinking about the morning traffic ahead of me I decided on calling the child bride and catching a ride in with her. As is usual with her she didn't answer my call so I limped my "hover round" back to the house. I gave up on her help after the third unanswered call and looked over at my bike all covered up. Then I looked at my breath that looked like I was smoking a cigar. Oh well I've done worse.
I uncovered my bike and fired it up and headed to the house to put on some more clothes.
By the time I had gotten changed and back out to the bike I noticed that it had warmed up some. You know it's going to be a good day when you can actually notice a temperature change. I turned the bike around to head down the drive and just sat there letting it warm up and thought about how much fun this old ride has been and how dependable it is...So far.
Once I got out on the pavement I opened up a little and the initial chill over with. Traffic was thick from the start and it was slow going most of the way to the mountain. Seems a school bus was making it's appointed rounds and generally gumming up the works. Once I got off the highway for my run around the mountain it was nice and just me. About two miles down this part of my trip there is a little spot where someone has done some clearing and made like an over sized yard area beside the road. As I rounded the curve coming up to this clearing there stood a big Doe. Thinking that I should probably slow down as there might be more and they might try to hitch a ride with me I started gearing down and just came to an almost stop. The Deer just looked me over and kind of softly loped over a small brush pile. One of those times I wished I had may camera out.
Winding back up to Highway speed I tooled along down to Guy Terry road and made my turn. This little stretch of road is a lot of fun in that it's curvy and has a couple of big dips in it. Pulling the first hill and getting ready to blast through one of the short straight stretches I noticed a dog in the road. "Curses, foiled my fun". As I got up pretty close I could see that the dog was actually a very well fed coyote. He crawled through the fence beside the road and then turned to look me over. It was so funny. He looked like he was giving me the once over then kind of looked all around and acted like there wasn't anything of interest and trotted off kind of slowly. For some reason this just seemed funny as all get out to me and made the rest of my ride a lot more fun.
After Guy Terry I eased up to the new Don Tyson Express way and while waiting at the light a sport bike came flying by. Thinking about how much trouble these idiots have been causing with the cops and people that live out here, for anyone on a bike on this new road, I felt like throwing something at him. But that would have made me even later than what I was and an idiot will always be an idiot no matter how many times you hit him with a brick or whatever.
Tooling into work I discovered that I was only two whole minutes late.
Getting through work wasn't too bad today and at quitting time I figured on a ride down to Mission on the way home and grab a bite to eat at one of the places there. At this little intersection there are eight pretty decent eating places. So I usually make it down a couple or three times a week on my way home. Pulling out from work I decided on Pizza and headed for Tim's (<----shameless plug for Tim's Pizza) Tim's is not bad as Pizza joints go. It's always good. A little slow if you in a hurry.
While waiting on my food a couple of other riders came in and we visited some and that always makes any meal better. They were younger guys and riding a couple of the Honda 250 Rebels. They said they were just riding around town and killing time. After the pizza, we walked out and talked bikes for a few minutes and after all the see ya's I headed home. It had gotten up to about the middles 50's and it was a nice ride to the house.
Thinking back on the day. I'm glad I ended up riding. I'm not glad that I now have to work on my car. I'm also not to happy with the weather forecast for the next few days. Single digits. Almost enough to make me unsubscribe the weather channel.
If the weather permits, hope to catch ya on the road.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Young, Dumb and much later, Fun
Today was raw cold when I got up and I decided that it would be the best if I stayed inside and did something constructive, like pestering the pups. They didn't want to go out either and we all settled into the TV.
About 9:00 I got a call from an old friend. When I answered the phone he began by saying "lets go for a ride". My reply was lets not and tell everyone that we did. He laughed and agreed. He was working on an old Honda and was looking for parts. We visited for about an hour about his project, the weather and the "good old days". He reminded me of some of the trips we took together and some of the silliness we got into. It was a good visit and we hung up promising that we'd get together on a warmer day for a ride.
His call reminded me of a lot of good ridin times as I was growing up. One in particular stuck out for him as it does me and since it's too cold for me to be out doing something...
When I was about 15 I had an old Triumph-Harley-Honda cross breed that I was riding around. For some reason I had some money and after talking with a couple of friends I was decided that I should head for Beer. Now living in a rural area and in a dry county that meant a "Bootlegger".
There were several people in the county that were known to sell beer and one of them, a woman, named Jean lived six or 7 miles from me. She was pretty easy going in that she knew my parents and if I ever got too far out of line, well, it always kept me in line.
As I remember the ride over was mostly back roads to keep off the highway and reduce the chance of running into the Trooper. The Trooper we had in our area was an alright guy. He was never too hard on any of us that I remember. He would make you pour out your beer though and that always hurt. Especially when you didn't have a job and money was always tight.
Anyway, I made it over to Jeans place in one piece and made a purchase. "Old Milwaukee in the 14 oz cans". That was our thing, two extra ounces for the same price. I got it all rolled up in my sleeping bag and tied on. And was chatting a little when the world as I knew it ended. The County Sheriff and a Deputy and the afore mentioned Trooper pulled into Jeans driveway. They had another man with them that I didn't know. The Sheriff got out and looked over at me and said "just set still a minute". (I never will forget those words.) He walked Jean over towards the house and they got into a conversation and it got heated real fast. She was cusin and hollering and pointing at the man in the car. Finally she calmed down her and the Sheriff, Deputy and Trooper all went into the house. Figuring I was going to Jail I started to think up stories to tell my parents and ways to get the beer off my bike without getting caught. Just about the time I had my nerve up, the Deputy came out and over to me. He asked me my name and I told him. He knew my folks and I knew then that it was all over. Then, he says, "Jean says your broke down","You need to make a call to your folks or something"? Thinking the fastest I have ever had a though in my life, I said no, I think that I can limp it home if I don't get it too hot. He asked what was wrong with my ride. I lied like a dog in the sunshine and told him I was low on oil. Guess I'd pushed it too hard coming back from Russellville. He asked what kind of oil I took and I said Quaker 30. He though for a second and turned and went over to his car and opened the trunk. Couple of seconds later he handed me a quart of Quaker 30 and said maybe this will help. If your not too low. Again, thinking pretty quick, I said thanks and went about "overfilling" my bike. Just as I was finishing pouring in the oil the Sheriff and Trooper and Jean walked out. Jean wasn't looking any too happy and got into the Deputies car. This seemed to make the guy in the Sheriffs car happy. The Sheriff came over to me and said "you going to be able to get that wreck home"? I said I think so if I take slow. He nodded and said be careful and started back to his car. The trooper came up to me and asked how old I was. When I told him 15, he looked hard at me and said, "Hit the back roads and don't let me catch you on the Highway again"!
I fired up and bounced down Jeans driveway to the pavement and headed out like I was on fire.
A couple of weeks later I found out that the man in the Sheriffs car had had a run in with Jean and she wouldn't sell him any beer and he had gone to the law. They caught her with 24 cases of beer and several bottles of hard liquor. She was fined heavily and didn't do any Jail time.
I also found out several years later that the Law knew what I was really doing there. At the time I found this out it was a joke to them. They were laughing about how scared I was as at the time. They were even having a pretty good time all these years later while they were telling me about it. Seems at the time they just didn't want to have to mess with me and my folks and all that it took to charge a Juvenile.
I don't remember much other than being sure that I was going to Jail and, later, how good that "old Milwaukee" tasted as I drained out a quart of oil from my bike. My buddies thought it was a pretty cool deal, my close brush with the law. They also agreed that it would probably be best if we all laid low for a while. I stayed off the highway until I got my license and still kept a pretty it low for a while. Jean moved out of our area and I haven't seen her in several years. I never forgot her taking care of a customer and if shes still alive, hope shes doing well.
It's kind of funny the things you get into as a kid. Especially when you find out that people, like the Sheriff, Deputy and Trooper had all, Been there, done that, long before you ever thought about it.
Hope to catch ya on a warmer day on the road
About 9:00 I got a call from an old friend. When I answered the phone he began by saying "lets go for a ride". My reply was lets not and tell everyone that we did. He laughed and agreed. He was working on an old Honda and was looking for parts. We visited for about an hour about his project, the weather and the "good old days". He reminded me of some of the trips we took together and some of the silliness we got into. It was a good visit and we hung up promising that we'd get together on a warmer day for a ride.
His call reminded me of a lot of good ridin times as I was growing up. One in particular stuck out for him as it does me and since it's too cold for me to be out doing something...
When I was about 15 I had an old Triumph-Harley-Honda cross breed that I was riding around. For some reason I had some money and after talking with a couple of friends I was decided that I should head for Beer. Now living in a rural area and in a dry county that meant a "Bootlegger".
There were several people in the county that were known to sell beer and one of them, a woman, named Jean lived six or 7 miles from me. She was pretty easy going in that she knew my parents and if I ever got too far out of line, well, it always kept me in line.
As I remember the ride over was mostly back roads to keep off the highway and reduce the chance of running into the Trooper. The Trooper we had in our area was an alright guy. He was never too hard on any of us that I remember. He would make you pour out your beer though and that always hurt. Especially when you didn't have a job and money was always tight.
Anyway, I made it over to Jeans place in one piece and made a purchase. "Old Milwaukee in the 14 oz cans". That was our thing, two extra ounces for the same price. I got it all rolled up in my sleeping bag and tied on. And was chatting a little when the world as I knew it ended. The County Sheriff and a Deputy and the afore mentioned Trooper pulled into Jeans driveway. They had another man with them that I didn't know. The Sheriff got out and looked over at me and said "just set still a minute". (I never will forget those words.) He walked Jean over towards the house and they got into a conversation and it got heated real fast. She was cusin and hollering and pointing at the man in the car. Finally she calmed down her and the Sheriff, Deputy and Trooper all went into the house. Figuring I was going to Jail I started to think up stories to tell my parents and ways to get the beer off my bike without getting caught. Just about the time I had my nerve up, the Deputy came out and over to me. He asked me my name and I told him. He knew my folks and I knew then that it was all over. Then, he says, "Jean says your broke down","You need to make a call to your folks or something"? Thinking the fastest I have ever had a though in my life, I said no, I think that I can limp it home if I don't get it too hot. He asked what was wrong with my ride. I lied like a dog in the sunshine and told him I was low on oil. Guess I'd pushed it too hard coming back from Russellville. He asked what kind of oil I took and I said Quaker 30. He though for a second and turned and went over to his car and opened the trunk. Couple of seconds later he handed me a quart of Quaker 30 and said maybe this will help. If your not too low. Again, thinking pretty quick, I said thanks and went about "overfilling" my bike. Just as I was finishing pouring in the oil the Sheriff and Trooper and Jean walked out. Jean wasn't looking any too happy and got into the Deputies car. This seemed to make the guy in the Sheriffs car happy. The Sheriff came over to me and said "you going to be able to get that wreck home"? I said I think so if I take slow. He nodded and said be careful and started back to his car. The trooper came up to me and asked how old I was. When I told him 15, he looked hard at me and said, "Hit the back roads and don't let me catch you on the Highway again"!
I fired up and bounced down Jeans driveway to the pavement and headed out like I was on fire.
A couple of weeks later I found out that the man in the Sheriffs car had had a run in with Jean and she wouldn't sell him any beer and he had gone to the law. They caught her with 24 cases of beer and several bottles of hard liquor. She was fined heavily and didn't do any Jail time.
I also found out several years later that the Law knew what I was really doing there. At the time I found this out it was a joke to them. They were laughing about how scared I was as at the time. They were even having a pretty good time all these years later while they were telling me about it. Seems at the time they just didn't want to have to mess with me and my folks and all that it took to charge a Juvenile.
I don't remember much other than being sure that I was going to Jail and, later, how good that "old Milwaukee" tasted as I drained out a quart of oil from my bike. My buddies thought it was a pretty cool deal, my close brush with the law. They also agreed that it would probably be best if we all laid low for a while. I stayed off the highway until I got my license and still kept a pretty it low for a while. Jean moved out of our area and I haven't seen her in several years. I never forgot her taking care of a customer and if shes still alive, hope shes doing well.
It's kind of funny the things you get into as a kid. Especially when you find out that people, like the Sheriff, Deputy and Trooper had all, Been there, done that, long before you ever thought about it.
Hope to catch ya on a warmer day on the road
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Warm weather and Flashbacks
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Yesterday the forecast was for a warm afternoon. I fired up in 40ish degree weather and headed toward work. There wasn't a whole lot of traffic on my stretch of Hwy 45 and I made real good time to the foot of the mountain. The down side of this was my back and the arthritis. With the weather changing daily I have been in a constant state of pain. So I got to become well acquainted with every little bump and jiggle. Other than that little draw back it was a great ride. I had decided to ride in and maybe get some welding done on my bike so I was thinking about that and was able to get kind of lost. Funny how I always seem to get found when I get close to work.
The day progressed to a warm one and I saw several bikes go by on the four lane by work. Thinking that I might have made a mistake and should have taken the day off to get in some riding, I sat there and toughed it out till quitting time. Let me tell you that was hard to do. Days like this I'd rather be out on the road. Finally headed home It was just right. cool but not cold and the perfect weather, air mixture for my old bike. It ran like it was new and I just seemed to float along. Even the bumps and jiggles didn't seem to be there. I had an absolute blast on the trip home! Pulling in at the house I rushed around and got the "Republican Quartet" fed and out the door for a little while. I had a dinner planned at the local Pizza place with the son and other assorted rif raf so I hurried and change clothes. Getting those little Republicans rounded back up was a chore in it's self. It was warm out and they wanted to chase something. Finally after lots of bribing the were back in and I took off for town.
The Pizza joint is about eight or nine miles from the house and mostly a straight shot. Everything was clicking along so good that I could just kick back and set the throttle and "look ma, no hands". Think I may have even spooked a couple of drivers as I waved at them with both hands. Ah well, like the song says, "I still feel 25 most of the time."
At the intersection coming into town the light was with me and I laid down into a right turn and headed for the ATM just up the street. A few minutes doing battle with the money box and I was back out zig zaging through traffic. Most of these people are trying to get home on a Friday afternoon and as I split lanes and even white line up to the light, I don't think a few of them were much happy for me and my two wheeled ability. As I approached the light It changed and I down shifted and jumped out in a right hand turn, ahead of the traffic that had been held by the light. man! It was such a great evening for a ride. A couple of blocks and I pulled in to the Pizza place.
Bud and his squeeze showed up and a few minutes my bride showed up and we all chowed on pizza and pickles. After some light visiting and eating, everyone decided that it was time to leave. We had been there about two hours and I figured that the temperature had dropped. Bracing for what I knew would be a cool ride I headed outside. Man, the air was warm and it really felt like early spring. I fired up and as I idled across the parking lot I had one of those intense flashbacks. Back to when I was a teenager and riding the hills of home. I really don't know how to describe it other than I was brought back to something really good.
Pulling out of the lot I got caught up in some poke along traffic and began to think. Thinking back about thirty five or forty years, riding, seemed I was always alone and running through the mountains. (Hills as I called them) Anywhere I went there was a mountain and a decent ride. Harrison 34 miles to the north or Clarksville about 40 miles or so to the east. Russellville, about 40 miles to the south and Fayetteville/Springdale 65 miles to the west. It seemed that I lived in the saddle of my bike. Sleeping bag tied on the back and at that time it seemed, not a care in the world.
The traffic bunched up at the light and when it changed I eased out and even though your not really suppose to, used a wide spot and managed to get ahead of everyone. The moon was full and the clouds were light and I settled into a smooth 65 mph and before I knew it I was pulling into the house. (hate it when that happens)
It was really too bad that I wasn't making a trip someplace. Last night would have been the night to go. Perfect weather for riding. Especially when your on an older air cooled machine.
It was great!!
Hope to run into ya on the road.
The day progressed to a warm one and I saw several bikes go by on the four lane by work. Thinking that I might have made a mistake and should have taken the day off to get in some riding, I sat there and toughed it out till quitting time. Let me tell you that was hard to do. Days like this I'd rather be out on the road. Finally headed home It was just right. cool but not cold and the perfect weather, air mixture for my old bike. It ran like it was new and I just seemed to float along. Even the bumps and jiggles didn't seem to be there. I had an absolute blast on the trip home! Pulling in at the house I rushed around and got the "Republican Quartet" fed and out the door for a little while. I had a dinner planned at the local Pizza place with the son and other assorted rif raf so I hurried and change clothes. Getting those little Republicans rounded back up was a chore in it's self. It was warm out and they wanted to chase something. Finally after lots of bribing the were back in and I took off for town.
The Pizza joint is about eight or nine miles from the house and mostly a straight shot. Everything was clicking along so good that I could just kick back and set the throttle and "look ma, no hands". Think I may have even spooked a couple of drivers as I waved at them with both hands. Ah well, like the song says, "I still feel 25 most of the time."
At the intersection coming into town the light was with me and I laid down into a right turn and headed for the ATM just up the street. A few minutes doing battle with the money box and I was back out zig zaging through traffic. Most of these people are trying to get home on a Friday afternoon and as I split lanes and even white line up to the light, I don't think a few of them were much happy for me and my two wheeled ability. As I approached the light It changed and I down shifted and jumped out in a right hand turn, ahead of the traffic that had been held by the light. man! It was such a great evening for a ride. A couple of blocks and I pulled in to the Pizza place.
Bud and his squeeze showed up and a few minutes my bride showed up and we all chowed on pizza and pickles. After some light visiting and eating, everyone decided that it was time to leave. We had been there about two hours and I figured that the temperature had dropped. Bracing for what I knew would be a cool ride I headed outside. Man, the air was warm and it really felt like early spring. I fired up and as I idled across the parking lot I had one of those intense flashbacks. Back to when I was a teenager and riding the hills of home. I really don't know how to describe it other than I was brought back to something really good.
Pulling out of the lot I got caught up in some poke along traffic and began to think. Thinking back about thirty five or forty years, riding, seemed I was always alone and running through the mountains. (Hills as I called them) Anywhere I went there was a mountain and a decent ride. Harrison 34 miles to the north or Clarksville about 40 miles or so to the east. Russellville, about 40 miles to the south and Fayetteville/Springdale 65 miles to the west. It seemed that I lived in the saddle of my bike. Sleeping bag tied on the back and at that time it seemed, not a care in the world.
The traffic bunched up at the light and when it changed I eased out and even though your not really suppose to, used a wide spot and managed to get ahead of everyone. The moon was full and the clouds were light and I settled into a smooth 65 mph and before I knew it I was pulling into the house. (hate it when that happens)
It was really too bad that I wasn't making a trip someplace. Last night would have been the night to go. Perfect weather for riding. Especially when your on an older air cooled machine.
It was great!!
Hope to run into ya on the road.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Ice
I ride in all kinds of weather. I do draw the line on riding when it is icy. I have a real aversion to spending months with my leg or some other important body part in a cast. The last two days have been icy. Not too bad for car travel but bad enough that my bikes are all covered up. Guess that's the best way to say it. Last year I only remember one or two times that we had enough ice that I couldn't go. So far this winter we've had ice twice and winter is just getting started.
I don't like days like this as I would prefer to ride to work. I watch people go by on their bikes and it makes me feel a little cheated. They have an edge that I don't have. They start to work later than I do so it has a chance to warm up and clear off. They also live in town just a few blocks from their jobs. However if it weren't for days like this occasionally I wouldn't get anything done with my bike or the new accessories I have built and haven't had the time to put on. So I guess I'll not complain too much.
Hopefully the end of the week is going to be warmer and I can get back in the saddle as it were.
But I have been busy trying and retrying different camera mounts and tie down junk for the trip I have planned back to the Buffalo River. The first warm weekend I'm off for the river and a photo shoot. Hopefully it will all come together and I can get some decent shots of the area and the points of interest. Also, hopefully, I can include them in here.
Hope to catch ya on the road (when it isn't icy)
I don't like days like this as I would prefer to ride to work. I watch people go by on their bikes and it makes me feel a little cheated. They have an edge that I don't have. They start to work later than I do so it has a chance to warm up and clear off. They also live in town just a few blocks from their jobs. However if it weren't for days like this occasionally I wouldn't get anything done with my bike or the new accessories I have built and haven't had the time to put on. So I guess I'll not complain too much.
Hopefully the end of the week is going to be warmer and I can get back in the saddle as it were.
But I have been busy trying and retrying different camera mounts and tie down junk for the trip I have planned back to the Buffalo River. The first warm weekend I'm off for the river and a photo shoot. Hopefully it will all come together and I can get some decent shots of the area and the points of interest. Also, hopefully, I can include them in here.
Hope to catch ya on the road (when it isn't icy)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
...it's all part of the game
Today finally hit a whopping 30 degrees before I took off. Cool, but I had planned to make it a short ride and the temperature wouldn't matter so much. Figuring I'd just run down to Mission and maybe grab a sandwich at Penguin Ed"s. I pulled out onto Highway 45 and headed west. Traffic was slight at this hour as I figured most people were either still at church or still in bed. It was really enjoyable being out in the crisp air and listening to the unique roar my pipes make. Not a Harley sound. Not loud, not really anything like I usually associate with a bike. Just kind of a rumbly roar. Some people run Screamin Eagle Systems. I run "Cluckin Chickens". To be exact The "Roosters loose edition".
Anyway, as I topped Slaughter mountain and came along by the Chapel I hit a warm air pocket and it felt so good that I began to think that maybe I might make a bit longer trip and just tool around the area a bit. On the spur of the moment I hit Gulley road and went blasting down the hill like I was a whole lot younger and had less brains. The wind was back to being cool again and I slowed down. Coming out on Butterfeild Coach road I saw a bike go by . Thinking there goes today's title I tried to catch up and see if I knew the rider. But they were doing some moving and by the time I got out they were just a speck. Ahhh well, I was just going for a short ride anyway. Turning back in the general direction of Ed's I started thinking about all the small connecting back roads that eventually would lead back over to '45 and remembered how we'd take these little roads and streets just for fun.
Turning down one side road led to another and before long it was like being in a maze. Short stretches with right angle curves. None really long enough to get up any speed. In about 45 minutes I managed to come back out to Highway 45. Only about a half hour longer than if I had taken the direct route. Yes, It was still lots of fun. Even by myself.
I rode on down to get my sandwich and thought again about maybe doing a longer ride today.
After eating I got back out and realized that it was wayyy cool. I fired up and figured that maybe I'd just head back to the house and do something inside today. I still had that Camera mount that I was wanting to get together. So with that in mind I headed to the house and a hot cup of coffee.
Today's ride wasn't much by Biker Magazine standards. It was however a ride. It was a lot of fun and it was in 30 degree weather. Something I don't read about much in Biker magazines.
Anyway, as I topped Slaughter mountain and came along by the Chapel I hit a warm air pocket and it felt so good that I began to think that maybe I might make a bit longer trip and just tool around the area a bit. On the spur of the moment I hit Gulley road and went blasting down the hill like I was a whole lot younger and had less brains. The wind was back to being cool again and I slowed down. Coming out on Butterfeild Coach road I saw a bike go by . Thinking there goes today's title I tried to catch up and see if I knew the rider. But they were doing some moving and by the time I got out they were just a speck. Ahhh well, I was just going for a short ride anyway. Turning back in the general direction of Ed's I started thinking about all the small connecting back roads that eventually would lead back over to '45 and remembered how we'd take these little roads and streets just for fun.
Turning down one side road led to another and before long it was like being in a maze. Short stretches with right angle curves. None really long enough to get up any speed. In about 45 minutes I managed to come back out to Highway 45. Only about a half hour longer than if I had taken the direct route. Yes, It was still lots of fun. Even by myself.
I rode on down to get my sandwich and thought again about maybe doing a longer ride today.
After eating I got back out and realized that it was wayyy cool. I fired up and figured that maybe I'd just head back to the house and do something inside today. I still had that Camera mount that I was wanting to get together. So with that in mind I headed to the house and a hot cup of coffee.
Today's ride wasn't much by Biker Magazine standards. It was however a ride. It was a lot of fun and it was in 30 degree weather. Something I don't read about much in Biker magazines.
28 Degrees and it's all part of the game.
Today is a cool one for sure. My pups didn't even want to go out.
I try to ride some everyday. On days like today I usually let it get a little warmer if it's going to before I get out. Also on days like today I usually do some of the "bike related stuff" that I don't always have time for when it's warmer. Like yesterday I went over to the Buffalo River and took some pictures. (see masterpieces above) In looking around over there I came up with a great ride and a way to kill the whole day and maybe the weekend. I have spent most of this morning planning a ride that will take in all that I got to see yesterday. There was one place that will take a little in getting to as it is all down the mountain on a good but, very steep, dirt road.
There is a couple of other things along the river that require a little walking to get over to see. All in all it will make for a great trip and will combine a couple of the things I like doing.
Also today I am planning on doing a little modification to my bike and rig a camera mount that will allow me to do more while I'm riding. I see some of the best pictures as I'm buzzing along and I'm going to see if I can maybe fix that so there wont be so many of those missed "did you see that's"?.
I have been getting more in to the idea of camping out on some of my trips in the warmer months. I have a couple of ideas kicking around for carrying gear with out having to put a sissy bar back on my bike. As I'm old and arthritic now I think I'd like to take more in the way of creature comforts that are designed to keep the pain at a minimum. Saddle bags are OK but they limit all that you can do. I'm working on a new bed roll design that will allow me to tie on what I cant put in my bags and would be a solid tying platform like you get with a sissy bar but not as high or in the way. I guess the carefree"tie it on with bailing wire days" are like some of the other heady things of youth, slipping from my daily grasp. I find that I'm more and more at this stage in my getting around of being into a solid and trim lined ride.
I use days like today to just take a hot cup of coffee and go out and look over my bike. Kind of a pre maintenance walk around. Just to slow down and see what has worn and worked loose. Check all those little things that I should be checking on a daily basics. Cause, everyone knows that if it's warm enough to ride, well, you ride.
It's gotten about as warm as it's going to today and I'm about ready to take off. If you've made it this far. Remember, It's all part of the game.
Hope to catch ya on the road
Friday, January 2, 2009
Today - unconnected and loosely folded
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Polar Bear Ride 2009
Congratulations goes out to Stan. He gets the "Hale and Hearty" pat on the back for riding his 72 Iron Head Sportster the most miles about 32 as close as we can figure.
This years Polar Bear Ride came off with out a hitch. We had a great turn out of four bikes and riders. Compared to last year (just me last year)
We started this when we realized that there weren't too many of the bikers in the area that rode in the cooler weather. And since it's normally agreed on that January 1st is one of the coldest days of the year. We figured that it would be a good way to see who all was still riding. Just a chance, if you weren't working or other wise preoccupied, to get out and ride on a crisp day and be counted.
We promote this event by word of mouth only and most people that I talk to about it cant seem to get the fact that it isn't a poker run or some other kind of organized event. It's real simple. You ride from your home to the Restaurant ( a minimum of 2 miles)and have lunch then go where ever, back home, to the mother in laws. Where ever. No rules or door prizes.
In years past it has been unseasonably warm and we have had some good turn outs. But as the seasons get cooler the attendance slacks.
This year (morning) it was in the high 30's when we left my house and really wasn't a bad ride. By the time we left to head back home it was a whopping 40 something degrees and made for a really nice ride
Cat and Stan
Cat and Luther
The Restaurant is one of the better ones in the area. Back a few years ago they used to hold bike night here and most everyone that rides knows where it is.
Hopefully next years ride will bring more people out and most of all will be as much fun as this one was.
This years Polar Bear Ride came off with out a hitch. We had a great turn out of four bikes and riders. Compared to last year (just me last year)
We started this when we realized that there weren't too many of the bikers in the area that rode in the cooler weather. And since it's normally agreed on that January 1st is one of the coldest days of the year. We figured that it would be a good way to see who all was still riding. Just a chance, if you weren't working or other wise preoccupied, to get out and ride on a crisp day and be counted.
We promote this event by word of mouth only and most people that I talk to about it cant seem to get the fact that it isn't a poker run or some other kind of organized event. It's real simple. You ride from your home to the Restaurant ( a minimum of 2 miles)and have lunch then go where ever, back home, to the mother in laws. Where ever. No rules or door prizes.
In years past it has been unseasonably warm and we have had some good turn outs. But as the seasons get cooler the attendance slacks.
This year (morning) it was in the high 30's when we left my house and really wasn't a bad ride. By the time we left to head back home it was a whopping 40 something degrees and made for a really nice ride
Cat and Stan
Cat and Luther
The Restaurant is one of the better ones in the area. Back a few years ago they used to hold bike night here and most everyone that rides knows where it is.
Hopefully next years ride will bring more people out and most of all will be as much fun as this one was.
Well, Thats my story and I guess I'll stick with it.
Catch ya on the road
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