The last couple of days were real good riding weather. The temperatures were in the 50 to high sixties range and the sky's were clear and sunny.
I had been having trouble keeping a muffler on and finally decided to just go and get it welded. That meant taking the whole half of the system off and carting it into town. Looking around I found an old set of pipes from another old bike of the same model that fit perfectly. I ended up taking off the one broken pipe and replacing it with the old spare. Looked a little odd but sounded and ran great.
Strapping on the busted pipe was a chore. With out a sissy bar I really have nothing to tie anything to. Like some one once said. Where there is a will there is a way. I finally got everything snugged down and ready to go. Looked a little on the strange side but it was there.
Pulling out from the house I headed down to the gas station and topped off my tank. I even got a cup of coffee and amazed the girl working there as I pulled out with it clenched in my teeth. It's not hard to do. Get a lid and a straw and go.
The traffic was moderate and moving nicely so I made good time to where I turn off on the back roads to skirt the mountain. These back roads are normally a pretty fair ride and usually I make up a lot of time when I go this way. Today however was a little different. The County in all it's wisdom piles out gravel along the road for people to use when it's icy. This is a good thing if your trying to get up or down one of the hills when its slick. These last few days it looks like the big trucks that run through here have kicked the gravel into the road. That translates into a mess when your on a bike and greatly reduces your speed. This morning was like that after I got a couple of miles down. Gravel all over the road. Some of it was left over from the big ice storm but the most looked like it had just been thrown out. So much for making good time. After finally getting back to clear road I opened up and let the bike run. I wanted to see how hard I'd have to run to get back on schedule. I blew passed cars and laid into curves and still I was about five minutes behind all the way.
Once I got into town I actually made good time for a change, for a little while. I went from real light traffic to a long line of traffic that was just inching along. When I finally made it up to the cause, it was a wreck in the center turn lane. From what it looked like to me a pickup truck was driving down the center turn lane at a pretty good speed and a car, trying to get across and go the other direction, pulled out in front of it. Almost a head on. That's another of the challenges you face in this part of the world. People here drive down the turn lanes like they were built just for them.
After getting around the accident I again made good time for this time of the morning. I didn't have to be at work for a little while and my plan was to drop off the pipes at a muffler shop and maybe still have time for a quick breakfast somewhere. As it turned out each of the three shops i tried had an excuse or reason as to why they couldn't do my pipe. This was about my luck anymore. So I headed back toward work and just settled for a biscuit and bacon from a fast food joint. At work I piled everything on the ground by the bike and headed in. Later in talking to some of the people that worked there I was told that one of the maintenance men could fix my pipe. Now that's an idea. I tore off looking for the maintenance guys and explained my troubles to them. they agreed to look at the pipe after work. I told them where it was and went on back to my grind. later, when quitting time came I noticed that my pipe was gone. Deciding to go look in the maint. shop I left and headed off in that general direction. At the shop I couldn't find anyone or didn't see my pipes. I gave it about ten minutes and headed back to the bike and to head home. When i got back to where I had parked the pipe was leaning against the bike. No one was around and it looked like that we had missed each other while I was hunting for them. the pipe looked really good. The work looked like a real factory job. Now I was faced with another little problem. Since it was all fixed the pipe was one piece, twice as long as when I brought it in. How to tie it on to get to the house. Looking the situation over I decided that I could tie it to the side of the bike and maybe make it that way. Back to maintenance and borrowing some wire I had it tied on in a few minutes. Looked good. I took off and realized that this would be a ride. With the pipe tied down I was getting all kinds of different and new vibrations. New vibes automatically cause you to wonder if something has broken.
I made it out of town and as I got up to speed I was seriously thinking about stopping and throwing the pipe in a ditch and coming back for it in the car. Finally, I decided to reduce my speed and just tough it out. Took me about twice as long to get home but I made it. Tomorrow is Saturday and I plan to put it on in the morning. Today was turning out to be alright.
Well here it is Saturday morning and it's 32 degrees and there is snow all over everything. Looks like the pipe will have to wait.
Hope to catch ya on the road.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Things that go bump on the road
365 Group
Friday 2/20/09
Today was nice and warm with snow in the overnight forecast.
I had the day off and rode up to Luther's and borrowed his shop. My chain had been all but sending up sparks from the pavement it was so loose.
I need to do a bit of maintenance on my bike but I just opted for tightening the chain. Other things could wait a bit longer.
Luther pitched in and gave me a hand and I was done before I realized that I had even started.
We visited for a while and I headed out to town,
Running down the mountain the bike seemed to ride some better and I didn't notice the chain vibration as bad.
Turning on to Highway 45 I headed east toward Fayetteville. My plan was to meet a guy from work for a sandwich and beer at Penguin Ed's.
Traffic was light and most of the brush had been cleaned off the shoulders of the road. Things were almost back to normal from the ice storm. I was making good time and figured that I would stop by the Grocery store and pick up some Carburetor cleaner and top off my tank.
I turned on my signal and pulled into the turn lane just before Highway 265 at The Bank of Fayetteville and Bizy's .
A couple of cars were coming and as I waited I was slowly rolling forward in anticipation of making my turn. This is probably what helped me the most. A small pickup truck came over the hill and punched me from behind. I had the front wheel cocked just enough for the turn I was going to make that it cause the bike to flip over. I now know how a rag doll feels when it's owner throws a tantrum and tosses it.
I got thrown off over the front of the bike and landed a few feet from it. The bike landed in oncoming traffic on it's side. Even though I knew I wasn't hurt I took my time getting up and made sure. I walked over to my bike and looked to see how bad it was broken. I got lucky in that it just had a few scratches and some new character marks. The crash bar/ cruising pegs took the impact and they had the clamp broken and were loose. A nice lady stopped and blocked traffic while I rocked it back up right. I put it on the stand and asked her to call the cops and then walked over to the truck that had hit me to see if they were OK. The guy driving was sort of freaking out saying he didnt see me. Finally I got him to clam a little and he said he was alright and asked what he needed to do. I told him to pull over into the parking lot and wait on the cops. Going back to my bike I noticed that traffic was piling up and told the woman that she could go on after I rolled my bike across the road. I got up enough speed that I coasted almost all the way up the drive to the bank and Bizys. The guy that hit me helped me push it on up out of the drive and we looked it over.
When the cops showed up the guy told them that he pulled over to turn in here and just didn't see me sitting there. The cop asked me if that's what happened. I told the cop that I believed the guy. He wasn't going all that fast when he hit me. After all the politics and back and forthing with the cop it worked out that If I didn't have to go to the Doctor and the trucks driver made good on repairs to my bike he would he wouldn't do an all out accident report. Basically we just exchanged information and let it go at that.
I didn't make it for the sandwich. It took what seemed like an hour to get the bike started and when I did I just headed back to the house.
Back home I looked over everything and really all I could find was the bent peg and broken clamp. About $3 dollars damage. I think I'll take it back to Luther's shop tomorrow and really look it over and then call the cop and give him the damage estimate.
Did you see me? I was on the road, literally.
Friday 2/20/09
Today was nice and warm with snow in the overnight forecast.
I had the day off and rode up to Luther's and borrowed his shop. My chain had been all but sending up sparks from the pavement it was so loose.
I need to do a bit of maintenance on my bike but I just opted for tightening the chain. Other things could wait a bit longer.
Luther pitched in and gave me a hand and I was done before I realized that I had even started.
We visited for a while and I headed out to town,
Running down the mountain the bike seemed to ride some better and I didn't notice the chain vibration as bad.
Turning on to Highway 45 I headed east toward Fayetteville. My plan was to meet a guy from work for a sandwich and beer at Penguin Ed's.
Traffic was light and most of the brush had been cleaned off the shoulders of the road. Things were almost back to normal from the ice storm. I was making good time and figured that I would stop by the Grocery store and pick up some Carburetor cleaner and top off my tank.
I turned on my signal and pulled into the turn lane just before Highway 265 at The Bank of Fayetteville and Bizy's .
A couple of cars were coming and as I waited I was slowly rolling forward in anticipation of making my turn. This is probably what helped me the most. A small pickup truck came over the hill and punched me from behind. I had the front wheel cocked just enough for the turn I was going to make that it cause the bike to flip over. I now know how a rag doll feels when it's owner throws a tantrum and tosses it.
I got thrown off over the front of the bike and landed a few feet from it. The bike landed in oncoming traffic on it's side. Even though I knew I wasn't hurt I took my time getting up and made sure. I walked over to my bike and looked to see how bad it was broken. I got lucky in that it just had a few scratches and some new character marks. The crash bar/ cruising pegs took the impact and they had the clamp broken and were loose. A nice lady stopped and blocked traffic while I rocked it back up right. I put it on the stand and asked her to call the cops and then walked over to the truck that had hit me to see if they were OK. The guy driving was sort of freaking out saying he didnt see me. Finally I got him to clam a little and he said he was alright and asked what he needed to do. I told him to pull over into the parking lot and wait on the cops. Going back to my bike I noticed that traffic was piling up and told the woman that she could go on after I rolled my bike across the road. I got up enough speed that I coasted almost all the way up the drive to the bank and Bizys. The guy that hit me helped me push it on up out of the drive and we looked it over.
When the cops showed up the guy told them that he pulled over to turn in here and just didn't see me sitting there. The cop asked me if that's what happened. I told the cop that I believed the guy. He wasn't going all that fast when he hit me. After all the politics and back and forthing with the cop it worked out that If I didn't have to go to the Doctor and the trucks driver made good on repairs to my bike he would he wouldn't do an all out accident report. Basically we just exchanged information and let it go at that.
I didn't make it for the sandwich. It took what seemed like an hour to get the bike started and when I did I just headed back to the house.
Back home I looked over everything and really all I could find was the bent peg and broken clamp. About $3 dollars damage. I think I'll take it back to Luther's shop tomorrow and really look it over and then call the cop and give him the damage estimate.
Did you see me? I was on the road, literally.
Inner Demons
365 Group
These last couple of days have been great riding weather. This always brings out the inner demons.
I have been trying to get in as many miles as I can during this time because I know North West Arkansas and the weather will change.
Riding to work on days like this are always a challenge. In addition to the usual everyday junk, rear view mirror makeup artists, cell phone - coffee- donut - cigarette puffers. There is the challenge to just go to work. The day is just right. I could get over to Branson or... moms or... I could just go. That's always been the trouble with me riding. Literally, I could just go.
It doesn't take much on a bike. Just a few bucks for gas and just what you can carry. Before ya know it your in a whole other country. This goes back to my earliest riding days and the wander lust that came from it. My first long distance ride to Ramsey Indiana. Seventeen and riding one of the baddest machines on the road, a 750/3 Water Buffalo. It's still fresh in my mind and the resulting feeling of restlessness of that trip. It isn't the trip folks,it's the riding.
This has surfaced again now that the kids are grown and a few other things have came about in my life. Seems like everyday there is less and less.
Turning at the foot of the mountain I opened the old girl up and let the pipes really howl. (seems that I still have the need to let the neighbors know I'm still on the road.) As I run through the twists and light curves I feel the rear end slide and realize that the tire design wasn't what I was hoping for for lightly damp pavement. They seemed to do OK on actual wet pavement but this was a sort of damp and I was sliding on each little curve. Next set of tires would be back to the old design. Coming out of the curves I twisted up to make the last straight stretch before turning off onto Guy Terry. At about seventy the bike just seemed to purr. Again making it hard to think about eight hours at work.
Guy Terry is a nice piece of road a couple of curves and a nice couple of big dips. One of the dips is a long shot on both sides and I'm always trying, without success to hit top gear before it's over. Today was no different. 100 mph and still hadn't wound out enough to honestly shift into high. Running the rest of Guy Terry Road was sort of relaxing, longer stretches between the curves and the curves are either wide and kind of sweeping or tight and hairpinish. There are a couple of people who live on this part of the road that I see almost every morning as they are out to feed their livestock. I normally slow down for them and it's kind of a ritual, we wave at each other.They always seem happy at that hour of the morning. Sounds silly but when I don't see them, it's kind of a downer.
Sliding up to the intersection of Butterfield Coach Road I'm sort of let down. This is one of those nice little roads that someone screwed up by putting a speed limit on. The couple of times That I actually tried it, top speed was easily achieved and thoroughly enjoyed. Ah well, the speed limit is there and I normally try and be a good little fellar when I'm out here on week days. There is a school zone out here and fines are nose bleed high for speeding in a school zone.
This morning a lot of the cars coming at me were flashing their lights and letting me know that there was a cop up ahead toward the school zone. Slowing down to the posted forty mph felt like I was walking. Thinking about it, at the last second I turned and hit the new Don Tyson parkway. A new road and not too much traffic on it at this hour. I was perfect for keeping me in my frame of mind for a little while longer. Buzzing down the parkway I again thought that I could go over and spend the day with mom and tool around some and see old friends that I don't see that much anymore. Then the traffic light brought me back to the reality of my situation and I leaned into a right turn and on up to work. As is normal for me I counted three women putting on makeup at traffic lights and two people trying, no joke, to eat a "Mc" something or other, drink a cup of coffee and try and talk on the phone. One guy I know was steering with his knees. This goes on each day and seems to be getting worse.
Pulling into work sort of got it out of my system and I began to think about the trip home and maybe....?
"I could so easily jump on the highway and be lost to the world."
Hope to catch ya on the road.
These last couple of days have been great riding weather. This always brings out the inner demons.
I have been trying to get in as many miles as I can during this time because I know North West Arkansas and the weather will change.
Riding to work on days like this are always a challenge. In addition to the usual everyday junk, rear view mirror makeup artists, cell phone - coffee- donut - cigarette puffers. There is the challenge to just go to work. The day is just right. I could get over to Branson or... moms or... I could just go. That's always been the trouble with me riding. Literally, I could just go.
It doesn't take much on a bike. Just a few bucks for gas and just what you can carry. Before ya know it your in a whole other country. This goes back to my earliest riding days and the wander lust that came from it. My first long distance ride to Ramsey Indiana. Seventeen and riding one of the baddest machines on the road, a 750/3 Water Buffalo. It's still fresh in my mind and the resulting feeling of restlessness of that trip. It isn't the trip folks,it's the riding.
This has surfaced again now that the kids are grown and a few other things have came about in my life. Seems like everyday there is less and less.
Turning at the foot of the mountain I opened the old girl up and let the pipes really howl. (seems that I still have the need to let the neighbors know I'm still on the road.) As I run through the twists and light curves I feel the rear end slide and realize that the tire design wasn't what I was hoping for for lightly damp pavement. They seemed to do OK on actual wet pavement but this was a sort of damp and I was sliding on each little curve. Next set of tires would be back to the old design. Coming out of the curves I twisted up to make the last straight stretch before turning off onto Guy Terry. At about seventy the bike just seemed to purr. Again making it hard to think about eight hours at work.
Guy Terry is a nice piece of road a couple of curves and a nice couple of big dips. One of the dips is a long shot on both sides and I'm always trying, without success to hit top gear before it's over. Today was no different. 100 mph and still hadn't wound out enough to honestly shift into high. Running the rest of Guy Terry Road was sort of relaxing, longer stretches between the curves and the curves are either wide and kind of sweeping or tight and hairpinish. There are a couple of people who live on this part of the road that I see almost every morning as they are out to feed their livestock. I normally slow down for them and it's kind of a ritual, we wave at each other.They always seem happy at that hour of the morning. Sounds silly but when I don't see them, it's kind of a downer.
Sliding up to the intersection of Butterfield Coach Road I'm sort of let down. This is one of those nice little roads that someone screwed up by putting a speed limit on. The couple of times That I actually tried it, top speed was easily achieved and thoroughly enjoyed. Ah well, the speed limit is there and I normally try and be a good little fellar when I'm out here on week days. There is a school zone out here and fines are nose bleed high for speeding in a school zone.
This morning a lot of the cars coming at me were flashing their lights and letting me know that there was a cop up ahead toward the school zone. Slowing down to the posted forty mph felt like I was walking. Thinking about it, at the last second I turned and hit the new Don Tyson parkway. A new road and not too much traffic on it at this hour. I was perfect for keeping me in my frame of mind for a little while longer. Buzzing down the parkway I again thought that I could go over and spend the day with mom and tool around some and see old friends that I don't see that much anymore. Then the traffic light brought me back to the reality of my situation and I leaned into a right turn and on up to work. As is normal for me I counted three women putting on makeup at traffic lights and two people trying, no joke, to eat a "Mc" something or other, drink a cup of coffee and try and talk on the phone. One guy I know was steering with his knees. This goes on each day and seems to be getting worse.
Pulling into work sort of got it out of my system and I began to think about the trip home and maybe....?
"I could so easily jump on the highway and be lost to the world."
Hope to catch ya on the road.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Todays thrilling episode...who was that masked man.
Today was another cold one. I got up late and the pups told me about it. As I let them out I noticed that it had rained last night. Glad the temperature hadn't gotten way down last night.
This was going to be a "real" morning. I discovered that I was out of coffee. Cold and no coffee... That wouldn't do. I finished dressing, got the pups in and headed out to the nearest store.
It really didn't seem too bad once I got out. There wasn't any wind and I figured what the heck, jumped on the bike and fired it up.
While I warmed up the bike I heard the sound of another bike coming and saw another bike down on the road go by. It was a couple and they seemed to be doing OK. Now convinced that it wasn't too cold to ride I plowed down my drive.
The first couple of hundred yards wasn't bad at all. As soon as I hit speed I began to change my mind and seriously thought about turning back. The wind chill had brought the temperature down to at least the middle teens. As I was starting to really decide to turn around I saw the big sign for the Conoco station pop up. I decided that I could tough it out and cranked on the throttle and hit 70 then let it just the bike wind itself down as I come into town. Pulling into the Conoco station I noticed that a couple of people looked me over real good. They had this look to them like they knew I wasn't playing with a full deck. Oh well, There was coffee inside and they could just live with it. Once inside I headed over and got a cup of hot coffee and sipped it continuously until it was gone. Now, slightly warmer I got another cup and took a little more time with it.
The girl at the counter has known me for years and just shook her head at me and with a little laugh said "who you tryin to impress"? I chuckle at hearing this and said "everybody".
After a couple or four cups of coffee and a cheese danish. I was ready to go and do battle once again. Filling up a couple of large cups with coffee for the road I settled up. Heading for the door I noticed the bike that I had seen earlier pull in. The riders were frozen! Thinking real fast I stepped out, nodded and handed a cup to each. Turning back to the store I got another couple of cups to go and told the girl to be easy on them when they come in. I walked out to my bike and tied on the coffee and gave her a gentle kick to life and eased out on to Highway45. Thinking that it was the same distance home no mater which way I went I opted to ride up through the Jay sub division and let some of my buddies see that I was out and riding. Also it would be a slower ride and therefore less cold.
Pulling back in at the house I noticed that my Little Republican Quartet were all in the window looking at me. I like them even more this morning as they didn't look at me like I had lost good sense. Setting the coffee in the microwave and thinking that I need to shower and all that I looked around at my pups and they all looked at me as if to say "ahemmm, you forgettin something?" I kind of laughed and fished them out a treat.
After getting all my normal morning routine back on schedule I thought I'd jump in the car and go get a few groceries. The Grocery store was it's usual and I loaded up and headed back to the house. As I came into town I noticed that I needed some gas and slid in to the Conoco station and topped off. When I went in to pay the girl at the counter started laughing. This was the same girl from earlier and my coffee run. Thinking I had left my zipper down or something else like that I asked here "what"?
She told me that the couple on the bike from earlier had finally gotten off their bike and came in to warm up and got another cup of coffee. She said that they were from Fayetteville and confessed that they weren't cold weather riders. They also said that they had seen me riding the other day, That they had followed me over to Springdale, and figured that if I could ride without a windshield then they could with one. According the clerk the woman said "boy was we wrong!"
They stood around for a while and finally started zipping back up and getting ready to head home when they both asked at the same time. Who was that guy on the bike that gave us the coffee? The clerk said it struck her as being too funny and she drew a blank. Finally, she told me that it just sorta popped into her head and she said nobody knows who he is. He's the "Lonesome stranger". She also said that a few of the locals were in there and it was all they could do to keep from cracking up as they laid a business card on the counter asking her to give it to me. She handed me their card and really busted up laughing. I paid for my gas and picked up the card and headed out.
At least they had the stuff to get out and try. Think Ill give it a few days and give them a call. Maybe on a warmer weekend?
Looks like I'm going to have to get some chrome head bolts to leave behind.
Hope to catch ya on the road
This was going to be a "real" morning. I discovered that I was out of coffee. Cold and no coffee... That wouldn't do. I finished dressing, got the pups in and headed out to the nearest store.
It really didn't seem too bad once I got out. There wasn't any wind and I figured what the heck, jumped on the bike and fired it up.
While I warmed up the bike I heard the sound of another bike coming and saw another bike down on the road go by. It was a couple and they seemed to be doing OK. Now convinced that it wasn't too cold to ride I plowed down my drive.
The first couple of hundred yards wasn't bad at all. As soon as I hit speed I began to change my mind and seriously thought about turning back. The wind chill had brought the temperature down to at least the middle teens. As I was starting to really decide to turn around I saw the big sign for the Conoco station pop up. I decided that I could tough it out and cranked on the throttle and hit 70 then let it just the bike wind itself down as I come into town. Pulling into the Conoco station I noticed that a couple of people looked me over real good. They had this look to them like they knew I wasn't playing with a full deck. Oh well, There was coffee inside and they could just live with it. Once inside I headed over and got a cup of hot coffee and sipped it continuously until it was gone. Now, slightly warmer I got another cup and took a little more time with it.
The girl at the counter has known me for years and just shook her head at me and with a little laugh said "who you tryin to impress"? I chuckle at hearing this and said "everybody".
After a couple or four cups of coffee and a cheese danish. I was ready to go and do battle once again. Filling up a couple of large cups with coffee for the road I settled up. Heading for the door I noticed the bike that I had seen earlier pull in. The riders were frozen! Thinking real fast I stepped out, nodded and handed a cup to each. Turning back to the store I got another couple of cups to go and told the girl to be easy on them when they come in. I walked out to my bike and tied on the coffee and gave her a gentle kick to life and eased out on to Highway45. Thinking that it was the same distance home no mater which way I went I opted to ride up through the Jay sub division and let some of my buddies see that I was out and riding. Also it would be a slower ride and therefore less cold.
Pulling back in at the house I noticed that my Little Republican Quartet were all in the window looking at me. I like them even more this morning as they didn't look at me like I had lost good sense. Setting the coffee in the microwave and thinking that I need to shower and all that I looked around at my pups and they all looked at me as if to say "ahemmm, you forgettin something?" I kind of laughed and fished them out a treat.
After getting all my normal morning routine back on schedule I thought I'd jump in the car and go get a few groceries. The Grocery store was it's usual and I loaded up and headed back to the house. As I came into town I noticed that I needed some gas and slid in to the Conoco station and topped off. When I went in to pay the girl at the counter started laughing. This was the same girl from earlier and my coffee run. Thinking I had left my zipper down or something else like that I asked here "what"?
She told me that the couple on the bike from earlier had finally gotten off their bike and came in to warm up and got another cup of coffee. She said that they were from Fayetteville and confessed that they weren't cold weather riders. They also said that they had seen me riding the other day, That they had followed me over to Springdale, and figured that if I could ride without a windshield then they could with one. According the clerk the woman said "boy was we wrong!"
They stood around for a while and finally started zipping back up and getting ready to head home when they both asked at the same time. Who was that guy on the bike that gave us the coffee? The clerk said it struck her as being too funny and she drew a blank. Finally, she told me that it just sorta popped into her head and she said nobody knows who he is. He's the "Lonesome stranger". She also said that a few of the locals were in there and it was all they could do to keep from cracking up as they laid a business card on the counter asking her to give it to me. She handed me their card and really busted up laughing. I paid for my gas and picked up the card and headed out.
At least they had the stuff to get out and try. Think Ill give it a few days and give them a call. Maybe on a warmer weekend?
Looks like I'm going to have to get some chrome head bolts to leave behind.
Hope to catch ya on the road
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ya know it's bad when.....
I have a couple of friends that are State Troopers. I don't knock law enforcement like some riders. These guys are stand up guys. Family men with what I consider a good out look as to their job. As a result of my friendship I don't do anything that would put them in a position to have to stop and write me when I'm in there area.
Now like I said, these are stand up guys and, well you know it's bad when.....
I was riding back from Huntsville the other day on Highway 412. I had fell in with a bunch of "hoodlums" in fast cars and was zipping along way above the posted limit. As I neared the bottom of what I refer to as the Huntsville bypass I noticed in my mirror blue lights seemed to just appear. I hadn't seen anyone as I screamed by. Thinking that surely they were after one of the cars in the line I was in I eased back on my speed and waited for him to slide around me. I noticed in my mirror the car coming up on us and then settle in behind me. After a couple of seconds for realization to set in I waved at him and pulled over. The Trooper, John, got out of his car and walked up to me with a real serious face and just sort of looked at me and said. Here, you lost your muffler and handed me one of the mufflers off my bike. Apparently I had been so into keeping up with the line of fast moving cars I hadn't noticed it fall off. Wearing ear plugs I hadn't even noticed the change in the sound of my bike. What made this so bad was the tone in John's voice and his general attitude was one like some one that was constantly having to pick up after a small child, having to take care of them.
I reached out and took the muffler and said a rather embarrassed thanks and John turned and walked back to his car. Got in and drove off.
Thinking it all over. I remembered not welding the muffler a few days earlier when it cracked. I had clamped it down and it felt solid. I guess the high speed vibration was more than it could handle.
Thinking about it as I strapped the muffler on the back and on the ride home. You know it's bad when your a big ole bad biker when the State police treat you like a patient mother with an errant child. I also realized how you can get a warning for speed with out a word being spoken.
I owe my friend a thanks and a cup of coffee someday. He could have written me a ticket for the 85 that I was doing.
Hope to catch ya on the road
Now like I said, these are stand up guys and, well you know it's bad when.....
I was riding back from Huntsville the other day on Highway 412. I had fell in with a bunch of "hoodlums" in fast cars and was zipping along way above the posted limit. As I neared the bottom of what I refer to as the Huntsville bypass I noticed in my mirror blue lights seemed to just appear. I hadn't seen anyone as I screamed by. Thinking that surely they were after one of the cars in the line I was in I eased back on my speed and waited for him to slide around me. I noticed in my mirror the car coming up on us and then settle in behind me. After a couple of seconds for realization to set in I waved at him and pulled over. The Trooper, John, got out of his car and walked up to me with a real serious face and just sort of looked at me and said. Here, you lost your muffler and handed me one of the mufflers off my bike. Apparently I had been so into keeping up with the line of fast moving cars I hadn't noticed it fall off. Wearing ear plugs I hadn't even noticed the change in the sound of my bike. What made this so bad was the tone in John's voice and his general attitude was one like some one that was constantly having to pick up after a small child, having to take care of them.
I reached out and took the muffler and said a rather embarrassed thanks and John turned and walked back to his car. Got in and drove off.
Thinking it all over. I remembered not welding the muffler a few days earlier when it cracked. I had clamped it down and it felt solid. I guess the high speed vibration was more than it could handle.
Thinking about it as I strapped the muffler on the back and on the ride home. You know it's bad when your a big ole bad biker when the State police treat you like a patient mother with an errant child. I also realized how you can get a warning for speed with out a word being spoken.
I owe my friend a thanks and a cup of coffee someday. He could have written me a ticket for the 85 that I was doing.
Hope to catch ya on the road
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A great day in the ozarks
365 Group
I rode mine today
Today was shaping up to be nice, weather wise. I loaded up a couple of cameras and a tripod and headed out for work. My intent was to take a couple of pictures of some old buildings that the company is going to tear down and then maybe get in a mile or two on the return trip.
The old guard shack where I work was "slapped" together back in 1958 or 59. It is still in use today and now there is a plan to build a new one. I find it kind of unique that it has lasted this long without being "upgraded". To me, these old buildings are kind of a Historical or "Hysterical" land mark.
After a couple of pictures and visiting with the Guard I loaded back up and pulled out onto Highway 412 and went east towards Huntsville. Just as I was coming to the eastern edge of town I had a couple of big bikes pull around me and roar down the road like they were in a hurry. I thought about keeping on there tail for a second. I decided that I wasn't in a hurry and watched them disappear over a slight hill. I was feeling good being out and my bike was running good. We seemed to just float down the road. Traffic was thin and I was making good time. The new highway makes it a quick trip anymore. I don't really like this as it takes away from the travel and you seem to bypass the small towns along the way. It also causes those little communities to just kind of dry up and disappear. I like the stops in the small towns.
Pulling up on the Huntsville turn off I had picked up a lot of traffic and so I headed down toward town and let some of the traffic get around me. Most people just don't realize how much they have lost in gaining a few minutes travel time.
My ride through Huntsville was a slow lazy one. Small towns and small town cops and all that.
Once through town I opened back up again and made for Highway 21 and a run back through Berryville and Eureka Springs. It had been a few days since I had been over this road and I thought I'd see if there was any construction or repairs going on. I didn't see anything going on on the road and pulled into Berryville and noticed how much it had changed, yet stayed the same. Lots of small towns in this area seem to be affected this way. They grow and change but always seem to stay the same. Running through Berryville I enjoyed the few miles to Eureka. The traffic was light and I made pretty good time.
In Eureka I stopped at Planet leather and looked around. This is one of the few leather shops I recommend in the area. Nice folks and easy to deal with. I have never had a problem with anything I have gotten from them. After my stop off I pulled across the street and got some gas and a coke. The ride home was a smooth one as again traffic was light at this time of day. Light all the way over to the highway 412 intersection. traffic always seems heavy on 412. One of those roads that is quickly getting onto my super slab list. Any road that has this much traffic just like and interstate, isn't much fun for me to ride.
Jumping across 412 I eased through Hindsville over to Highway 45 and as the old saying goes "Go west young man", I headed west. Nine miles later I pulled into town and opted for a quick burger at the little gas station - cafe before going home.
I had a good ride in really good weather for the season. I got some very good pictures of some old land marks and got to visit with some friends along the way. Seriously now, could you ask for more than that?
I'm hoping for better weekends coming up. More short area trips and maybe my partner will get back into riding.
I thank God for all I've been able to do. With his help I will be able to continue.
Hope to catch ya on the road.
I rode mine today
Today was shaping up to be nice, weather wise. I loaded up a couple of cameras and a tripod and headed out for work. My intent was to take a couple of pictures of some old buildings that the company is going to tear down and then maybe get in a mile or two on the return trip.
The old guard shack where I work was "slapped" together back in 1958 or 59. It is still in use today and now there is a plan to build a new one. I find it kind of unique that it has lasted this long without being "upgraded". To me, these old buildings are kind of a Historical or "Hysterical" land mark.
After a couple of pictures and visiting with the Guard I loaded back up and pulled out onto Highway 412 and went east towards Huntsville. Just as I was coming to the eastern edge of town I had a couple of big bikes pull around me and roar down the road like they were in a hurry. I thought about keeping on there tail for a second. I decided that I wasn't in a hurry and watched them disappear over a slight hill. I was feeling good being out and my bike was running good. We seemed to just float down the road. Traffic was thin and I was making good time. The new highway makes it a quick trip anymore. I don't really like this as it takes away from the travel and you seem to bypass the small towns along the way. It also causes those little communities to just kind of dry up and disappear. I like the stops in the small towns.
Pulling up on the Huntsville turn off I had picked up a lot of traffic and so I headed down toward town and let some of the traffic get around me. Most people just don't realize how much they have lost in gaining a few minutes travel time.
My ride through Huntsville was a slow lazy one. Small towns and small town cops and all that.
Once through town I opened back up again and made for Highway 21 and a run back through Berryville and Eureka Springs. It had been a few days since I had been over this road and I thought I'd see if there was any construction or repairs going on. I didn't see anything going on on the road and pulled into Berryville and noticed how much it had changed, yet stayed the same. Lots of small towns in this area seem to be affected this way. They grow and change but always seem to stay the same. Running through Berryville I enjoyed the few miles to Eureka. The traffic was light and I made pretty good time.
In Eureka I stopped at Planet leather and looked around. This is one of the few leather shops I recommend in the area. Nice folks and easy to deal with. I have never had a problem with anything I have gotten from them. After my stop off I pulled across the street and got some gas and a coke. The ride home was a smooth one as again traffic was light at this time of day. Light all the way over to the highway 412 intersection. traffic always seems heavy on 412. One of those roads that is quickly getting onto my super slab list. Any road that has this much traffic just like and interstate, isn't much fun for me to ride.
Jumping across 412 I eased through Hindsville over to Highway 45 and as the old saying goes "Go west young man", I headed west. Nine miles later I pulled into town and opted for a quick burger at the little gas station - cafe before going home.
I had a good ride in really good weather for the season. I got some very good pictures of some old land marks and got to visit with some friends along the way. Seriously now, could you ask for more than that?
I'm hoping for better weekends coming up. More short area trips and maybe my partner will get back into riding.
I thank God for all I've been able to do. With his help I will be able to continue.
Hope to catch ya on the road.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Bad weather
Today is kind of overcast and 61 degrees cool. Not real bad as far as riding goes.
Last night was about the same as I headed into Fayetteville to have dinner. Even after dinner and in full dark it was nice to be out on the road. There was a full moon and I really enjoyed the riding.
This is a stark difference to the first couple of days of the month. We had one of the worst Ice storms in any ones memory hit our part of the state. Power was out all over the northern part of the state and is still out in some areas. I managed to stay at home for the first two days without Power and heat. From all accounts it was going to be a long outage and on the third day I loaded up my Republican Ankle biting Security Team and took them to be boarded. I spent the night with my daughter in front of her fire place. She didn't have any power either but the fireplace was nice and warm.
My power came back on on the fourth day and I started trying to get back to normal.
I give thanks to God that none of my family were hurt during this Ice storm. All we suffered was a little inconvenience. There were others that were not as lucky. I heard of at least half a dozen fatalities due to the weather.
Today I am going to try and get in some riding and maybe work some on one of my other bikes. I have another beautiful old wreck that needs some attention. I would love to be riding it from time to time. Who knows, maybe I can make some head way on it today.
Catch ya on the road.
Last night was about the same as I headed into Fayetteville to have dinner. Even after dinner and in full dark it was nice to be out on the road. There was a full moon and I really enjoyed the riding.
This is a stark difference to the first couple of days of the month. We had one of the worst Ice storms in any ones memory hit our part of the state. Power was out all over the northern part of the state and is still out in some areas. I managed to stay at home for the first two days without Power and heat. From all accounts it was going to be a long outage and on the third day I loaded up my Republican Ankle biting Security Team and took them to be boarded. I spent the night with my daughter in front of her fire place. She didn't have any power either but the fireplace was nice and warm.
My power came back on on the fourth day and I started trying to get back to normal.
I give thanks to God that none of my family were hurt during this Ice storm. All we suffered was a little inconvenience. There were others that were not as lucky. I heard of at least half a dozen fatalities due to the weather.
Today I am going to try and get in some riding and maybe work some on one of my other bikes. I have another beautiful old wreck that needs some attention. I would love to be riding it from time to time. Who knows, maybe I can make some head way on it today.
Catch ya on the road.
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