11/28/09 Holiday rides, good food and all that.

365 Group (f)

I looked over the weather channel and thought it looked like a good day for a ride through the hills. Ya know, a settling of the Turkey as it were. I figured on a quick 150 miles of twisties and in the process drop in on some relatives and "mooch" a meal (or several) of leftovers.

Pulling out from the house I eased down to the highway and drifted east. Thinking that I would just take my time and not be in any hurry I planned for traffic that is normally pretty hectic in this area around a holiday. Once on highway 412 I noticed that there wasn't any traffic. An occasional bit of local traffic was all. I found this odd for a few miles then it came to me. "Global Warming". That must be it. Man! All that mental preparation for the traffic on my part for nothing.

As I came into Huntsville I happened to look in my mirror and saw a neatly worded sign that read "Kenworth" . I gave this sign some thought and decided that I needed to get over on the shoulder and ponder it further. It was funny after the fact. I didn't hear the big rig come up on me. If I had I might not have gained more gray hair than I had when I started. After I got settled back down I pulled back over into the lane and opened up. Really it was shaping up to be a nice ride.

Coming into Marble I toyed with the idea of an order of hush puppies. But decided to pass in favor of some leftover dressing. Hammering on I hit 21 and ran over to Kingston got in behind some locals and was slowed down some. Once out of Kingston I had a real leisurely ride down to the Buffalo River. There weren't too many holiday weekend floaters out so I had the chance to stop and look over the Elk herd. There were a couple that I had heard about that were suppose to have massive racks. I wanted to get a couple of pictures of these guys. Looked like about forty of them were grazing in the field next to the road. The big ones I had been hearing about were with a smaller bunch across the field from me. Too far for a decent picture, but even at that distance I could see what all the talk was about. They truly were impressive. Next time I'll bring a bigger rig and maybe get my shot.

Leaving the Elk to do what ever it is that professional tourist attractions do I headed across the valley and up the mountain. As I climbed out of the valley I could feel the temperature change and ran through several pockets of warmer air which always seemed like a surprise treat.

Pulling into my place I saw several family member sort of lounging around the front of the house. Holiday dinners with my family usually last for a couple or three days. This was the start of day two. After a great lunch, most of the afternoon was spent nibbling and visiting and tinkering with the bikes. When it came time to leave I really felt stuffed. I said goodbyes all around and packed up a doggie bag, kicked the old bike to life and headed out wondering why it seems we only do this at holidays. Everyone was saying the same thing "we should get together like this more often". I agree, but then again, I'm always hungry.

The ride back up was a little more traffic filled and a lot of cross winds. It was like an 18 wheeler was passing you every few minutes. The kind of riding that wears you out.

Finally I pulled into the house and unsaddled. Radar came trotting over and gave me the once over sniff and decided that I was a keeper. I gave him and my little guys some of the glazed ham and cemented my position around here for a little while yet.

Ended up being one hundred eighty four miles and three dinners. Not a big ride. But not too shabby either.

This little "brat" is my niece She wanted a picture to remember the "moment"...?

It's always the ornery ones that get to your heart.

Catch ya on the road

11/22/09 pos. stage two...but the jury's still out

365 Group (f)


This weekend was about as good as it was going to get for a while. Daily highs were forecast for the upper forties to maybe mid fifties.

Since it had been 15 months, my Dr. hinted that I needed to get around to some tests that he had told me about ...well, fifteen months ago.Since it was fairly warm and all, I saddled up Miss Tilley and headed toward the sprawling metropolis of Jasper, Arkansas. Hopefully this trip would keep my Doctor at bay for another year or so. The ride started out good and crisp. I mean it was a great start. Bike running great and me on it. I tooled over and jumped on highway 412 and thought what the heck. I opened up. Deciding that a ticket wouldn't be such a bad thing at this particular point in my life, I peaked a hundred and stayed there for a few miles. Feeling the cool air and the vibrations and all that goes with it. I ran up behind a small car loaded with kids and was forced to slow some. It was good while it lasted. I had ran this stretch of road many times over the last thirty years. Sometimes with friends, mostly by myself. It's always a great ride for clearing out the cobwebs of Doctors, Lawyers, livin and dyin, vermin of that lk. There was a bright spot on the horizon. After the Doctor there was a family get together. All the remaining family was getting together. So this should be good. After my run down 412 I peeled off on to 21 and headed towards Kingston and the ride over the mountains to the valley. I pulled the hill out of Kingston and had a good run up.Topping 80mph. That is one of the places I check the condition of my ride. How fast it will top that half mile long hill from a dead stop take off. Today was a good climb.
In all this foolin around I had worked up a chill and decided the after the short ride over to the Valley I would pull over and have a cup of coffee. The ride over to the valley was all too short. I pulled in to the brake check area and poured a cup. Several people blew by and waved shaking their heads as it dawned on them that I was riding in this weather. As I waited around for the coffee to cool I looked around a little. This is a real out of the way place, on the side of the mountain and people use it as a dump when they are in the area. I noticed lots of beer cans, a couple of old TVs and an old refrigerator. Standing there looking around I also noticed a critter.
This guy was sleeping on an old rusty refrigerator door. I first thought he was a recent road kill till he opened one eye and looked at me as if to say "hey! I'm sleepin here".
Firing back up I tooled down the mountain and made and easy ride of the remaining thirty miles to my place at Deer.
I stored my junk at the house then headed off to hear out the Doctor.
There isn't anything like living in the hills. "Upppp one side and then downnnnn the other" with lots of great curves all over.
The pow wow with the Doc went more or less OK, kind of like I had planned for. I headed back up the mountain to see the kinfolks and do a little visiting (eat a lot of great food) with the family.
Maybe with a little luck I'll find a half nekkid Mermaid or something just as cool on the return trip tomorrow.
catch ya on the road

11/14/09 Slacking

365 Group (f)



Today was a nice day to do just nothing. So, being an expert at nothing...

I figured to get in a little riding and a little maintenance on the bike today and generally just be a slacker.

I managed to get out around nine A M. With cup of coffee in hand I did a walk around of the bike to see if anything jumped out screaming "fix me". Nothing did. I had been having a lot of vibration noise lately. I figured a good snugging up of bolts and screws would take care of the aggravation and wouldn't take all day.

As I got into it I didn't find too many loose anything. I did find a couple of things that had just worn out. The signal light on the left front. The stem is a pressed together two piece unit and it was drooping like a bloodhounds ears. I guess age had finally gotten into the joint as it was really floppy. I had noticed it at some point apparently. There were a bunch of rubber bands and some electrical tape on it. They too had given up.

Looking through my small salvage yard I found a new pair of those Harley style clip on signal lights. They were still in the package. I must have had them for a really long time as the price on them was $4.99 . I spent the next couple of hours trying to sort out the wiring harness. It is old, dried out and after all these years molded into position. It took a while but I managed to get the wires routed and everything insulated. They really only had one real problem with these clip on types. Handle bar sizes. I had to make a spacer of sorts to get them solid on the bars. They work good and if I do say so myself, don't look half bad.

By the time I finished with the lights it was well past lunch time. Not being one to turn down an excuse to take a ride or eat a meal, I fired the bike up and announced to which ever governmental agency was watching me by satellite, "shake down" and headed down the drive.

I figured to make it quick and so I headed toward my favorite Bar B Que place. It's a quick seven to eight mile trip and a good straight stretch for twisting the grip. On the way down I remembered one of my last visits there where I had a lovely young lady tell me how things were fixing to shape up. This produced a good chuckle and made the ride all that much better.

As I neared town the traffic started picking up. People were acting like they were totally lost to their world of cell phones and associated junk. Plus they were acting as though they hadn't noticed I was sporting new cool looking signal lights. I guess there really isn't any accounting for some people?

I eased up to the traffic light on Mission just in time to see a herd of sport bikes blast by like they were late for something. This is the second time I've see these guys and I'm still not thinking much of them. I like to go fast. But I'm not too interested to tearing down narrow city streets in heavy traffic at a hundred miles per plus.

Finally my light changed and I pulled into the B.B.Q. place. As I walked through the door my little honey looked up and smiled real big. I made my order and grabbed a seat. A few minutes later "Honey" brought my food and sat down with me. While I ate we chatted about a little bit of everything then she brought up the bike rally at the end of the month. I couldn't help it and started to chuckle. When she wanted to know what was so funny I almost couldn't tell her. Finally I got it out about her giving orders and how funny it struck me. After her face returned to it's normal color she said "would you please take me to the party"? Seems that her current boyfriend is motorcycle challenged. In several areas. Seems that he's even challenged walking and chewing gum.
After everything settled down And we had a real chat about the whole thing, Well, I got roped into going to a bike show and following party. I still think I was hosed on the deal but it aint the first time. I didn't come away empty handed though. My meal was on the house.
I fired up the bike and decided to make a few errands and circle back to the house. The temperature was starting to drop a bit and it was definitely jacket time.
As I was getting back on the highway for the house I noticed a real lack of evening traffic. Thinking it over it came to me. It's game night at the University. One of the best times to be out around this area on a bike. Everyone is out in a parking lot "tail gating". That means no traffic.
I had a good ride back to the house. Although it was just too short it was fun. I also did a pretty fair job of slacking. So, over all, today was a keeper.
Catch ya on the road

11/11/09 I blame Amanda (ha ha ha)

365 Group (f)

Today was a rather good day for riding, after the fog burned off. Temperature got up to the low 60's and was just all around nice.

I got an early jump on the morning traffic and headed toward Fayetteville to the bank. My plan was a simple one. Go to the bank and get money. I had forgotten to get gas or money the day before and it was getting really down there on the reserve.
I roared into the bank and up to the ATM and that's when it happened. I was headed to work and would have made it had it not been for the bikes that roared by. The last bike had the wife of a friend of mine on it and she turned around and rode up to me.
Apparently they were all playing hooky from work and she said I might as well too. Try as hard as I could to resist, well, I caved.
Barb told me where they were heading and I agreed to meet up with them in a few.
Today was payroll day and I at least had to go and make sure everyone got paid. So I pulled out and made a mad dash down Old Missouri Road toward a gas station and then work. Not once did I give thought to how silly this was. Others did and told me as much, but not me.
I pulled into work and rushed the payroll through. Once I had the confirmation in hand. I left "sick" and headed north on Highway 71 towards Bella Vista. Once I got over to the little community of Bella Vista I caught up with everyone and we all roared out for a day of back road riding that was just what the doctor ordered. Well, If he'd been there he would have ordered it.
We tooled around Benton county and wound up on hwy 62 and made a lazy circle up into Missouri. Not really headed anywhere or doing anything other than just riding around. A bike version of follow the leader. We road back roads that I didn't see a sign or number or anything on. Finally we dipped back down and tooled through Carrol County to a point between Green Forest and Berryville. Everyone agreed that it was about lunch time so we headed for Eureka Springs and lunch.
After lunch, it just seemed that the day was done. Everyone had a full belly and the laziness that comes with a good meal settled in. We all stood around and shot the breeze for a while then started drifting off to where ever.
Keeping a slower pace I headed out for the house. I just tooled along enjoying things. The way the bike was humming along, the way the sun was shining and kind of warming me, it was all good.
Pulling into my little town I looked down at my trip counter. 258 miles and didn't go anywhere that I could really remember. Nor could I tell you how to get there. But I'm making plans to go back soon.
Catch ya on the road

11/4/09

365 Group (f)

This morning was another good bright and sunny start. The 48 degrees was another plus.


Yesterday I was saddled with a must appear at work but still managed to have great morning ride in. This morning wasn’t as intense as yesterday so I was able to over sleep and get back into my routine. Up and going. I started early looking for my gloves, keys and junk. The little bandits had snatched them again. Funny but the longer we play this game the more creative the little one gets in hiding things.
After lovin everybody up I grabbed my helmet and headed out to burn up some road.
The bike fired up and purred like a content little kitten. I ambled down toward the road and watched a couple of bikes slide by. Seems everyone was making the most of this nicer weather. There was no truck this morning to use as an excuse to twist the throttle but I did anyway, making good time down to the highway.
I had apparently timed things just right as there was no traffic allowing me to do one of those “evil old California stops”. Blasting onto the highway I kept everything more or less civilized till I hit the edge of town. As I cleared town I saw a local on a sport bike coming up on a side road and the race was on. He rolled the stop and jumped out just ahead of me and took off. Crossing the twin bridges I was climbing on ninety five and starting to really gain on this guy when he decides to shut it down and run respectable. Well, it was fun while it lasted.
We tooled along for a couple of miles to my turn off, he waved and I headed on towards work.
I ran the curves down Habberton and decided to run on out to 412 and make it a little more of a ride. This is such a nice stretch of road with hills and curves that it’s at times a treat to ride, especially at this time of year with the cooler temperatures.
Pulling up to 412 I see several bikes out headed toward town. Another indicator that today was going to be a good day.
The traffic was flowing nicely at about sixty five to seventy with no one acting like they were in a life and death struggle to get someplace. It was just a nice ride all the way around.
As I pulled up to the first light coming into town things really bogged down. Apparently there was an accident ahead and the cops were holding everyone up. I eased over on the shoulder and started slowly walking the bike up the shoulder. Before long I had managed to get ahead of most of the backed up traffic to the point where when the cops started moving everybody along again I was first in line. I really don’t think anyone realized that I had jumped them while they sat there. Anyway, no one tried to run me down.
The rest of my ride was just traffic light to traffic light all the way to work. Lots of starting and stopping. As I pulled up to the Security Gate I noticed that several people didn’t ride this morning. The Security guy pointed out that it was a whole two degrees cooler this morning than it was yesterday. Yep. That must have been it. Pulling on in I parked and made my way to the break room and coffee. I was also curious as to what today’s excuses for not riding were.
This morning was just another ride to work but it was a keeper. If they were all like this last couple of days, well, maybe work wouldn’t be such a bad thing?

11/3/09 The Amanda & Kim Chronicles

365 Group (f)

This morning was a riders dream. Sun was shining. Temperature was right around fifty. It was a most beautiful start to the day.

Yesterday afternoon had been great. The ride was a keeper. I even got to spend a little time with one of my favorite female types over dinner who casually informed me that there was a poker run and bike show coming up at one of the local watering holes. She also pointed out in a matter of fact fashion that she was going and I was taking her. This should be good. She’s roughly half my age and already giving orders. After dinner I had a good ride and an even better laugh all the way home.

Since this was a mandatory day at work I couldn’t really get out and enjoy this morning like I wanted but I was going to make the most and best of what I had.
As I packed up my junk for work the pups looked a little on edge. Duhhhh! I hadn’t given them their morning treats. They are pretty much little junkies. They just got to have their morning fix. Now that I had them back on track they settled in to helping me get ready. The little one hid my gloves and my little “bear” was sitting on my keys while I raced around looking for them. The two males just stayed pleasantly under foot. And, Woodrow, my bird finally woke up and felt that he had to give a dissertation on all the ills of this world at the top of his lungs. Yep! They love me.
I finally got it all together and headed out. I strapped everything on and jumped on the starter. Rumbling to life the old gal seemed like she was ready to go. On these cooler mornings the old bike really seems to run great. I warmed the engine a couple of minutes and took off bouncing down my drive. One of these days I’m going to have to fix my drive or maybe buy a dual sport?
At the street I jumped out ahead of a pickup truck and hammered it for about a quarter. The truck really wasn’t that close but any excuse to wind up is a good excuse. I made good time down to the highway. Traffic was light and I was able to ease out and over to the Post Office without too much trouble. With no more errands, it was time to settle in and enjoy the ride.
Pulling back on the highway I noticed the Marshal was sitting at the gas station driveway. Since I consider him a friend and he usually doesn’t hassle riders, I eased my way out of town at a respectable speed. Soon as he was good and out of sight and I was good and out of town I opened up. Running along at about seventy I was feeling good and really beginning to enjoy the ride. Every morning should be like this.
Everyone must have had corn flakes with honey or something for breakfast this morning? They all seemed to be feeling pretty good. Two cars passed me at just slightly under warp speed. I had thought about making them work for it but what the heck, my turn off was coming up and there just wasn’t enough road to really make it interesting.
I made my turn at the mountain and leveled out down the center line. No traffic meant I could fudge a little and before I knew it I was through the curves and pulling the hill at the half way point. Man it goes by fast when it’s good. Running up to Guy Terry Road I toyed with the idea of jumping across and doing the back roads for as long as I could. I thought better of it and decided to get on in and hopefully get the day done early so I could take the long way back home.
At the first light traffic was really piled up. They all seemed to be soaking in muddy molasses. I finally got tired of messing around and as soon as everything started moving I jumped the turn lane and managed to get ahead of it. Everyone and was poking along and each light seemed worse than the last. I guess it’s better than that pinball feeling I normally get, but I still don’t care for poke along driving. It’s funny, in this small metro type are it’s either everyone pokes along or every ones drag racing from light to light. There never seems to be a middle ground.
Pulling up to the Security gate at work I noticed that about everyone that works here that owns a bike had ridden to work. I stopped and chatted with the Security Officer for a minute and watched several of the areas regular riders scrambling down the four lane towards work.
This was a good morning ride even if it was way too short. Only thing I can think of that would have made it better is if I were heading out on a trip.
Catch ya on the road