Cool morning 12/27/10

365 Group (f)

This morning was around 15 degrees when I got up around 5 a m. Way too cool for a ride but the weather channel showed promise for mid day and late afternoon.




I had started out to work when the body went south on me and I had to make some adjustments and take the day off. This back and forth in the weather plays with my body and it aint pretty. So kicking around the house I got started on a couple of small projects in preparation for the Polar Bear ride. The passenger side carburetor seems to need a good scrubbing "AAAAAgain". As it warms up I'm hitting on that.
I'm hoping that a good washing out will take care of the carburetors and get me by till a lot warmer weather. Anyway, I started washing out the carbs with spray cleaner and thought that I was doing a real good job. A friend called me and while we chatted he casually told me to try warming the carbs as I hosed them out. One of those "what the heck" deals that sort of made sense as he rattled it off. I went and got and old hair dryer and have it propped up to warm things up while I set inside and force myself to look out the window over another cup of coffee at the whole thing. I'm hoping that the warm metal hit by the cool spray will cause more trash to break loose and wash out. If not, well at least I'll have it warm enough to fool with. Who knows? I might even be able to limp it up to the Cline Motor Works world headquarters and beg for help.






catch ya on the road

12/11/10 short ride

After feeding the hounds I decided to go out for breakfast. The thermometer showed a whopping 54 degrees and I could live with that.

I messed around a little getting ready and all that and never saw the clouds roll in. By the time I got out it was getting dark and cooling off. A light drizzle had started as well. Looking at the clouds I started rethinking things. I decided to just run down to the local cafe for a bite instead of running into town.
The bike fired up like champ. I'm either getting better or it's getting broken in finally. I'm always amazed at how the bike sounds with those glass packs on a cool still morning. This morning I just let it idle and listened.
I bounced down to the street and eased on out for breakfast. The early morning mist had made the roads wet and with my skinny back tire they were mildly slick. That made for a relaxed ride.
Breakfast hit the spot and after I sat around and listened to the locals shoot the breeze. I'm always amazed at how I"m able to live without knowing all the local gossip. It's quite apparent that I was not in the know.
Just as I was about to leave I got a message from sidekick asking if I'd like a jug of eggnog. Well, yep. So I sat around drinking coffee until she showed up. We visited for a few and she gave me a Delicious jug of eggnog. She headed out to work and I tooled back to the house.
Was a real short ride...but it was still better than driving the car or worse, no ride at all. I'm hoping the tomorrow is a little dryer and I can get on down the road.
catch ya on the road

12/9/10 early morning ride

365 Group (f)


31 degrees this morning.

I had a feeling that today's ride in would be a good one even at the temperature. I wasn't wrong. I did have to thaw out my bike a little but hey, that's all part of it around here. Took about ten minutes to get everything warmed up and running. In the early morning still the old bike sounded like it was really ready to go.
I suited up and hit the road. I was leaving out a lot earlier than normal so there was no traffic to speak of. It was great!
As I eased my way out of town I blasted a right away trimming crew that were gathered at the station. They all just stared as I rode by.
I made my little run to the mountain in what seemed like "double quick" time. the air just didn't seem all that cold and I just kept it wound up.
Running around the lake it got a little nippy but not anything you couldn't deal with.
Tooling along thinking that I surely had the title for today I just generally had a good time all the way over to the Parkway. Once I got on the Parkway I picked up a little traffic. Other than a few cars it was a great straight shot across town to work.
Rolling up to the first light I saw my shot at the title crumble... a crazy on a Victory went slithering by to the North. Well I was still in good spirits. It's always good to know that your not the only one. All total I saw three other bikes on the road. Not bad for the temperatures and especially in this area.
My run up the parkway was nice. The bike just seemed to float along. Hope this continues. It's always better to ride than herd the car.
Pulling into work I found myself already ready to be back on the road home.

catch ya on the road

last few days 12-4-10

365 Group (f)


These last few days have really been fickle weather wise. Thursday was 28 degrees when I headed out. Friday was 26. Saturday was 47. Now today is 25 at 7:15. I'm telling you, winter is almost here in North Arkansas.
This past Friday peaked out around 60 degrees and made for some good riding. I managed to get out in a gap in the traffic after work and made it across the little metro area without getting splattered. It was even a good ride in the sparse traffic. I had some hungry dogs at the "housey-enda" so I detoured and picked up a bag of chunks. At the Grocery store I gathered a few sideways looks as I strapped on the bag. (People...what can you do with em?) The ride on to the house was good and smooth. I pulled into the drive just as that old feeling of "lets keep going" was just settling in.
Saturday morning I headed out into some pretty decent morning weather. I had a couple of errands to run. The bike jumped to life on the first kick. Again I am amazed that with it's age and my mechanical ability it fires up on one kick. Whatever the reason I'll take it.
The morning was clear and sunny bright,just a real pleasure to be out in. Riding was just a major plus. I tooled down and hit all the local spots and got everything mailed and topped off. After all that I figured it was time for a little breakfast. I ordered breakfast at the little cafe and while I was waiting on it I was joined by a lady friend of mine, "sidekick". I invited her to join me and we had a pretty nice meal and good conversation for quite a while.
After all the eating and socializing I fired up and ran over to work to look over some construction. The ride was just about perfect. I found myself really longing after summer as I went through the cool shady spots. Ah well, it's only about three months away.
Heading back to the house I took my time and ran some of the back roads I hadn't been on in a while. It's good to just slow down and get out of the normal routine sometimes. Especially when you run out of road and kind of figure out you might be lost.

catch ya on the road

Winter is inching up 12-2-10

365 Group (f)


Today was a good riding day.
It started out a little cool at 28 degrees but it worked out really well.
I headed out in the morning chill to the bank and gas station. I figured that if I made it that far without freezing up then I could make the rest of the way. At the bank I hit the ATM and grabbed some gas money. A short hop over to the station to top off and grab a biscuit.
The lady working the counter said "that's sad" as I paid for everything. When I ask what was sad she said that everyone knows you and they've quit asking you if your cold. Yep! I've hit a milestone.
I pulled out on the highway and wound up. In the cold air the old bike ran really well. Before I knew it I was hitting 70 and really not out of town. At that speed my nose went numb pretty quick so I pulled over and dug out my mask. Ahhhhh...Warm!
The rest of the way over to the mountain was a smooth keeping up with traffic kind of thing.
Running around the lake wasn't as bad as I figured it would be. Actually the temp stayed about the same. I made really good time even with all my stops.
I pulled onto the parkway ahead of some crazy acting traffic and began my run toward work. All along the parkway I saw crazy people. Cell phoning, coffee drinking, makeup applying crazies. Every one of them looked at me like I had a bulls eye on my back. But today I wasn't having none of it. Every traffic light was in my favor and at about 15 over they just couldn't seem to get me.
Sadly, I had to stop playing games with the early morning traffic as my turn off for work came up. I putted into the mill and gave thanks for a great ride.
I guess, as bad as I don't want it to be...winter is upon us. However, that don't slow down the riding. As "Charlie" says gitchya some!"

catch ya on the road

Friends a blessing from God

Ten 9 Twelve


3





365 Group (f)



38 degrees this morning. Felt good as I bounced down the drive way.

This morning I had a side trip to make that got me out just as the sun was starting to peak out. I hit the highway and headed East for a quick run over to Harrison.

Traffic at this hour was sparce and that was nice. I wound the old gal up once I got on 412 and managed to keep it at about 75 most of the way down, making for a quick run over.

A friend had found an old Royal Enfield for sale. The price sounded right so I had to go and check it out.

By the time I pulled into Harrison it was starting to warm some making for a better ride. I tooled through town and found a fast food place to kill a few minutes as I was badly in need of coffee and was just a little early.

After many cups of pretty good coffee and a couple of trips to the restroom I was tanked enough to get out and find this diamond in the rough.

After about 45 minutes of side streets with no luck I flagged down a sleepy looking cop and asked him where I needed to be.

Finally I pulled into the driveway of where my next treasure lay just waiting for me.

I cut the engine and sat for a second looking the place over and then went and knocked on the door. I'm here about the motorcycle you have for sale...

The guy, Lenny, looked a little surprised. "I ain't got no motorcycle, just a bunch of parts that was here when we moved in". OK, a basket case, that'll work.

He led me around to the back of the house and opened the doors to the basement.

There it lay, Two boxes of parts. Mostly bicycle parts. Altho there was a tank off a Honda Q 50 in the mess.

Thinking that I had maybe heard wrong I told him the story I had been told and he replied buy rummaging through one of the boxes and coming out with a neck badge from a bicycle that said Royal Flyer on it.

I kind of stood for a minute and thought that I maybe need to get a hearing aid.

Finally Lenny just couldn't take it any more and started laughing. He told me that David had set me up. He in fact had an Enfield but had seriously found out what shape it was in and what it was worth. He'd sent it to a place in Eureka Springs for an estimate to get it back on the road.

Now that I knew I didn't need hearing help we discussed what would possess such a nice feller like him to throw in with the seedy likes of my (use the term loosely) friend David to pull something like this on an obviously nice feller such as me. It seems that my buddy David thought this would be funny and would remind me of when we were younger. After a few minutes, it did. Lenny also said that David told him that I would need that tank. Well, OK, yeah, I can use the tank.

It was a good start to my day. 196 miles. If the tank doesn't leak too bad it'll look good on my kz at bike night or somewhere equally important. Lenny took my name and number in case the Enfield went higher than he could afford. So, there's still a chance...

Now the really fun part...figuring out how long to wait before leaving a message on my buddies machine about a barn fresh something or other that he just cant live with out.



catch ya on the road

Pizza

Ten 9 Twelve 3
Polarbear


365 Group (f)

Today I got a call from the boy. He was wanting to get together for lunch at a new Pizza place he'd found. Sounded good to me.
It had been a whole 8 to 10 hours since I had a ride and the weather was just about perfect. So I jumped on the kicker and headed out to gas up. Once I got out and moving I noticed how windy it was. Really if there hadn't been all that cross wind it would have been perfect.
I killed a little time at the gas station and when I finally pulled out I managed to fall in behind a bunch of bikes. We tooled along at about 40 for a couple of miles. It finally dawned on me that they were operating at the max end of their comfort zone. As much as I enjoyed poking along, I had lunch waiting on me a few miles down the road. As I leaned out and went around I noticed that the whole bunch seemed to be one family. Grandparents down to the youngins. That was just too cool.
I would have liked to visit with them some if I'd had the time.
The ride on down to the Pizza joint was smooth even with the wind. Just about like early summer.
I finally located the place on Dickson Street and realized that I'd passed it several times and never gave it much thought. It sets back off the street and is kind of easy to pass on by.
After finding a parking place I managed to get in ahead of a bunch of very young giggling college girls and located the boy.
We had an excellant meal. (I highly recommend the Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Pizza)Afterward we visited a bunch about his bike and made arrangement to get out to me for repairs. He kind of let it go in a couple of areas while he was in Irac. That out of the way he roared off to homework and I headed back toward the house.
With a little luck I'll have his bike back on the road in a day. The biggest problem is getting it out here. Neither of us have a truck or trailer. But it's all good. It'll come together.
It was a short ride only managed 27 miles. But I had fun.

catch ya on the road

Rallys and ridin around

ten 9 Twelve
3


365 group (f)


Since the Bikes,Blues and Bar B Que rally I have been doing lots of riding. Several miles and going really nowhere. Usually I would start out to work with a great early morning ride in cool weather. The end of the day was usually a little warmer and made for some of the best riding. A lot of days there were errands to run, parts to pick up and things like that. Then there were little side trips that were only going to be a few miles to be able to say that I had actually had a ride somewhere. These are the evenings that turned into getting home in the middle of the night. Add all of those little trips up and it came to just a little over 1700 miles in a large trip of several days that really did go no where. But it was the end of summer and the weather was about the best for riding that we have here. It really was great. One evening it was a quick seventy miles to show a friend the Natural bridge at Alum Cove National forest recreational area.

Other times it was a breakneck run to the barbecue joint. Ya know how it goes, last one there buys.
All of this is a preparation for the really big event in the riding year in NW Arkansas...






the Polar Bear Ride.
January 1. With only one cancelling factor, ice on the road, for a select few this is the one event that defines the year for a rider. For others it's "just too cold" to get out. (as in the year the temps hit the lower 50's)


It's not much. Not a poker run or anything organised. You just saddle up and head out to a local restaurant to be counted as one who rode. You even get to buy your own lunch. However you do get to stand in any crowd and puff your chest out and say "yep! I'm a polar bear."
catch ya on the road

Another run through the hills

365 Group (f)



Everything had settled down around here for the most part. That meant it was time for another run through the hills.
At about 8 am on Saturday 10/09/10 I sent a message to some friends and relatives that said they wanted to go for an over night trip the next time I went. I put it pretty plainly "the herd is leaving and if your not part of it your still standing at the trough". No one showed.
I pulled out around eight thirty and headed toward Hwy 412. I had another witch doctor appointment at the clinic in Harrison to have my blood boiled at ten and after that I didn't have any real plan. With no one with me I decided to just wander.
After the ceremonial rattling of bones, grunting and all that went with it, they finally told my chaperon that I could go with the warning that I probably shouldn't drive. That's DRIVE....no where at any time did anyone say one word about riding. Seriously I was doing pretty good as I slept through most of the deal.
Now the trip actually began and as everyone knows a trip can be measured by the food you find along the way. This one was going to be a good one.

I left Harrison and headed down hwy 7 South. The day was just perfect for riding. Even the car traffic seemed behaved. I didnt have a plan in mind and no one along to help me make one so I just ambled here and there.
I managed to stop here and there and visit old friends. I even got to take a few pictures of the country side.

At about the 300 mile mark I found myself pulling into my place at Deer. I had been a few months since I had been down and visited with family and friends. I managed to catch us some and had a really good dinner with mom. When I woke up the next morning I felt like I had been on a battery charger all night. After visiting a bit over breakfast I decided to head straight back to the house and work some on my other bike.
I was making great time. The bike was running good...like it was firing on both cylinders. I was doing so good I pulled off at a rest area to drink some water and wave at the tourists that were riding through. Thats when this trip went south as they say.


I looked at a cord spot on a fairly new back tire. This was not a good thing as I was still about 75 miles from the house. I was also about that far from anywhere else. To top everything off I was in a cell phone dead spot for several miles. Finally as I sipped water I decided to make a run toward the house. I fired up and hit the road taking it easy for about 20 miles. Thats when it hit me, The shop is open today. I began to feel better as I thought about all the other things that had broken on trips and I managed to "get on down the road".
I pulled into the shop and checked on when I had bought the tire, Doing a little figuring, all I has on the tire was about six thousand miles. Phil at Majestic Power Sports looked for me another tire and found that he didnt have one in stock. We kicked things around and finally found a front tire for a sport bike that would work. And work it did. It even looked kind of cute on there.
I settled up with Phil and eased out on the highway. I decided to run it down the highway for a while so I could get used to how it rode before I got into any curves. I was surprised. That skinny tire held the road good and did real well in the cures.


I pulled into the house and noted 478 miles. It had been a good trip even with the tire.

catch ya on the road

Bikes, Blues & Bar B Que 2010

Bikes, Blues & Bar B Que...Arkansas answer to Sturgis. At least that's how one fellow explained it to me outside a pub on Dickson street at the height of this years rally. Take into consideration that he had, by his own admission, had one too many shots of "Makers Mark".
This years rally was for me a lot more fun than years past as it seemd to be less crowded. Dickson Street is about half a mile long where the rally is held and to have several thousand people tramping back and forth is an experience.
I had met a group of folks at last years rally that liked my photographs and my explanation of them so this year they asked if I would shoot the whole thing for them. As many as I could or wanted to. Heck! They were even paying me. So I dusted off my trusty sony and rounded up several spare memory sticks.
All in all I came away with a bunch of new friends from various parts of the country and around 400 shots of the get together.




Along the street were just about every kind of bike you could have ask for. As they say "something for everyone". Mostly it seemed that the baggers were the prefered ride of the masses but there were a few unique and unusual rides sprinkled through out.






to be continued...once I finish getting my duckies in a row.

Old Friends

365 Group (f)
Just ridin around


These last couple of mornings have been on the real cool side . Low to mid sixties as I head out to work. Compared to leaving out in the high seventies where within a few miles your riding in the 80’s and 90’s, they are keepers.
The triple digit days have been killer with the humidity . Just sitting at a traffic light hurt.
8/27/10
I pulled out for work wearing an extra wind breaker and some gloves. With the lower temperatures welcome they do seem play hell with the Arthritis.
It was going to be a short day today and I headed in a little early with my plan being to get payroll over with as soon as possible and make the day even shorter. I was heading down to the Pig Trail for a quick ride down to Ozark to meet a friend that was riding through on 40.
Finally work was over and I headed out. I made good time at that hour running across the city to Hwy 16. Once I got on Hwy 16 I rolled out to Elkins and even managed to make it through town with out getting stopped. Once out of Elkins I opened up and really enjoyed the ride over to Hwy 23.
I really enjoy this ride through this area. Especially the Pig Trail. Some of the best riding in my area with the tight curves on the mountain. Today was exceptionally good as there wasn’t any real traffic this early in the day.
I made good time down to Ozark and only had to wait about forty five minutes on Matt. Matt and I have known each other for a bunch of years. It had been a couple of years since we’d been able to get together so this trip worked out really well. He was taking part of the summer traveling the country, blacking out a few more states on the map.
I was into my third cup of time killing coffee when I herd a low rumble coming up the access road to the Gas station. Matt pulled up on a big new shiny Yamaha Road liner or whatever their biggest model is called. He had a million dollar grin on his face and what looked like everything you could imagine tied on the bike. The first thought that came to my mind was, “son…why didn’t you just rent an RV?” He laughed and said “I did give it some thought.” Turned out it was all camping gear as he’d been hitting the campgrounds instead of motels.
We gassed up and rolled up to the square to a little café that usually has good food and spent the next couple of hours catching up.
Finally it was time to get out and walk around some and we headed out to the bikes. Matt was in rare form saying “hey isn’t that the bike you had in high school?” I had to counter with “what’s it like running all over the country in a Winnebago pretending to be a biker?” We both busted up laughing and I think we gave the small town cop cause to give us a second look.
Matt was planning on making some campground around Memphis by evening so it was time to head out. I told him that since I was older now days I had more compassion for people than I used to. Due to this fact I was prepared to ride along with him for a few miles and class up his act. Just in case anyone saw him. I also pointed out that I hadn’t saw anyone as in need of “classin up” as bad as he was in years. He got an all serious look on his face and dropped his voice an octave and said “ hey, will that thing run interstate speed?”
We pulled out on 40 and headed toward Russellville. It was like we were kids again. We played chase for several miles and just had a blast.
Finally we settled into a seventy MPH sweet spot and just cursed along.

At the Hwy 7 exit we pulled in at a gas station to top off and say goodbye. Matt And I talked a bit over a cup of coffee and he said he was thinking about coming to the Bikes, Blues & Barbeque Rally at the end of the month. I kicked over the bike and told him he had a place to stay if he made it and pulled out on to Hwy 7 and headed North.
The ride up 7 was a good one as always. Crooked and steep and made for a bike.
I finally rolled into the house as the sun was just down. Matt made his campground about the same time.

I got in about 430 miles give or take a few. Got to spend some time with and old friend and generally had one of the best days I’ve had this summer.

Catch ya on the road

"Monkey Wards"

365 Group (f)

8-20-10
I had another appointment to keep the Doctors kids tuition shored up so I saddled up an headed out. Since it was an afternoon appointment and only 80 miles I got a very lazy start.
The traffic on the road down, Highway 412, was light. Also the temperature was a lot cooler than it had been. Felt like the mid 70’s. Just an overall good day for riding.
My trip down went rather quickly and before I knew it I was rolling in to Harrison for phase one. After leaving a “half gallon” of blood with the nice folks at the Hospital I pulled out for phase two at my doctor. He’s a pretty cool guy and it wasn’t so bad dealing with him. (he only wanted a pint) With all the “doctorin” done I headed out to grab a burger.
I got a burger to go and started up the mountain out of Jasper. The sign said 7 percent grade, five miles of it. It was nice. A couple of real tight curves at the bottom that trucks have a lot of trouble with if they don’t get their speed in check at the beginning.
I made the mountain and decided on a stop at the Green Thumb over look to have lunch.
It was still fairly cool when I pulled in and the burger, after not being allowed to eat anything for almost 24 hours, was GREAT!!!! A pepper jack cheese burger with everything…umm…umm!
Pulling back out I made the eight miles on over to my place in Deer and decided to crash for the night.
Pulling into my lil old home town I noticed nothing had changed in the three months since my last visit. That was a good thing.
8-21-10
I had a good visit with the family. Ate some real food and generally felt like I always do when I’m here. (that I should move back)
Firing the bike up I pulled out for the Gas station to top off. I visited a bit with the station folks and got the nutshell version of what all was going on in the area. Man it was hard to head back out.
On the road I didn’t see another vehicle for twenty six miles. Just me and yes, it was very nice. The only other life form I saw was a deer. He ran along beside me for a ways until I explained that I didn’t pick up hitch hikers.
The temperature had been holding to the mild side until I dropped off the mountain into the Boxley valley. It felt like it jumped up 20 degrees. But still the bike was running nicely and I was on it so it was all good.
As I started down the last hill into Kingston I caught a glimpse of a bike behind one of the Antique shops. Turning around to get a better look at it I saw a man out with it. Rolling up to the fence I saw that it was the guy that had helped me when my throttle cable had went south on me on my last trip through. We chatted for a few and he invited me in to look over his 125 cc “Monkey – Wards” flier. He’s putting it back together to make a ridable display for his shop. So far it was looking good. He kicked it to life and it didn’t sound too bad. It’s a 1966 125 with a Benelli 2 stroke engine.
Seems like this guy has ridden for years and was now getting into the restoring of small machines.
I made a list of things he was looking for to finish out the little bike and headed out toward the house.
I made the last forty miles to the house in somewhat heavy traffic without getting splattered. Saturday evenings on 412 can be a pain.
Pulling into the house all the critters seemed to be happy to see me. Guess it really doesn’t get any better that this.
Just a short ride, around 250 miles.

Catch ya on the road

365 Group (f)

8/15/10

Today I managed to get in around 30 miles just running errands locally. The heat wave that has hit the country makes it uncomfortable to ride anywhere.
In between my little local stuff I managed to get my Clementine out to the “Vet”. Hope that in a few days the weather will have broken and I can get out for a road test on her. It’s been nearly two years since she and I tore up the road and I’m kind of getting a “bigger bore” riding itch.
I have a couple of “scout” rides of places that the “ustawaz” and I had planned on riding to before she became a ustawaz. Just as soon as the temps drop some I hope to roll to a couple of them. Also, I’m hoping that will be before I go loopy from the AC. Conditioned air is good, but I seem to have a better tolerance for the fragrance of nature.
While riding today I had several people look over my old bike. That always tickles me. For one they cant believe how old it is and that its still running or that you can ride it with having to stop at every carwash you come to. The kick starter always impresses people. Mostly, its younger sport bike riders that give me the biggest chuckle. Especially when I get it across to them that there is more to riding than going fast. I tried to explain that this bike is a Japanese rip off of the English Twins from the 40’s through the early 70’s. Usually I have to say something like “Google British Motorcycles”. That seems to make sense to most of them. Today, I had one kid ask, due to my age and my old bike I’m sure, if I ever road with any of the famous clubs. Me, being me, couldn’t resist. “Yes, I rode with the Goshen Rat Riders”. “I’m a founding member, current officer and all around member in good standing”. He seemed to ponder it over a minute and then acted like he knew who the GRR were and seemed all impressed. I’m still chuckling about that one. (I’m sure that since there are only two of us, my one and only Rat rider brother Luther will find it amusing as well.)
Speaking of Luther. Since the bottom has fallen out of my world these last few months he has been the greatest friend and biggest help to me. He is a true friend and I thank God daily for him.

I met a young lady at a White Oak while I was gasing up that had actually read some of my stuff on Blogspot. She pointed out that I needed more pictures in my work to be a real “Blogger”. Seems all her friends blogs are all pictures. As a result of this informed conversation with an expert thirty five years my junior. I have decided that I don’t too much care for the term “Blogger” , as apparently I’m too old for the position, so I done some real mind bending thinking and come up with this…if John Wayne was a “Shootest”, well pilgrim, I think that makes me a “Blogest”. I believe that way it will make it easier for people, like they lady at the White Oak gas station, to understand why my stuff isn’t all modern cell phone pictures like someone they knows blog. Mine is an attempt to write about a particular subject. I think pictures should enhance what you have to say, not be all encompassing. I’m not knocking any ones work on a blog or whatever they want to call it, everybody needs to do there own thing. People either get your stuff or they don’t.
Tomorrow is at least a decent ride into work in the morning. Before the heat comes up its really nice to burn up a few morning miles. Especially if you can get out before the “heading to work crowd.” Its sort of licensed lunacy if you don’t. But still its fun. So I have that to look forward to as I put the finishing touches on today.

Catch ya on the road

8/14/10

365 Group (f)

This morning the heat was down some and I was able to get out without feeling like I was in a toaster oven.
I loaded up my laptop and headed up to my friends shop. I wanted to do some work and also get the Virago ready for its trip to the “Vet”. After a couple of years I’m hoping it’s close to getting back on the road. Again, I’m hoping that a little carburetor work and a new set of fork seals will get me to the point that I can at least start rolling back and forth to work on it.
At the shop I couldn’t get a connection off the wireless system so that got put on hold. Besides its Saturday and nobody really wants to work on the weekend…do they??
After a little visiting I started tinkering the Virago. The battery was down so Luther suggested that we jump it from his truck. While he was maneuvering the truck in place I noticed gas dripping out of the front pipe. The front cylinder had flooded. We pulled the plug out and Luther turned the engine over to clear the gas out. I was a good six to eight feet away and got soaked with gas. Apparently it was full and I have a pretty fair amount of compression in my front cylinder. Everyone has one and MY opinion is that this 82 920 is the best mid size or single person road bike Yamaha has ever built. I’ve put it through its paces. Long and short trips. Rain sleet and snow. Never a let down.
After cleaning the plug with a torch, it fired up and sounded pretty good for a 28 year old with breathing problems. It had just over forty nine thousand miles when it quit me. Now I’m hoping to put at least that many more on it before something else takes it out of action.
We loaded the old gal in his truck and pretty much called it a day as the heat and humidity had risen noticeably. It even has an award winning Ford Escort Solenoid. A roadside design that in addition to providing tons and tons of class it actually works pretty well. One of those road side fixes that saved a bunch of bucks.
I reloaded Miss Tilley and headed down the hill toward the house to let my vermin out for a while. They always seem to appreciate it when I think of them.
Think that when the evening cool come around I'll ride down to the land of the big Cheese Burger and Wi Fi hotspot and try the work thing again.

“oh yeah, Bobbie, girl…your lips are moving as you read this.”

catch ya on the road

8/7/10 Piled up

365 group (f)
I piled mine up on the road today


Yesterday I was out of the picture most of the day due to health complications. Spending a good riding day in bed just sort of sucks.

I did managed to get out later in the day and headed to the grocery store. It was starting to cool a bit. Just for grins and giggles I hit the electric starter and the old gal fired up. I was amazed since the starter hadn’t worked in years. One of those pesky little things I’ve been meaning to get to. But hey, the kicker works and at the time this was my back up ride, so it really wasn’t pressing. The traffic was light and as I got up to speed I actually started to feel a bit better.
Even under the weather the ten miles to the store was really a quick ride. By the time I got there I was feeling good enough to think about tacking on a few extra miles.
I did my “Chicken Soup” shopping and headed back out. It hit me how bad off I was when I went to jump on the kick starter.
I decided against tacking on a few miles and headed back to the house. It was a good easy ride back to the house. Almost…
Pulling to my drive I managed to do everything wrong as best I can tell. I managed to hit a large bed rock that as far as I can remember had never been unfriendly toward me in the past. Once I hit the rock the front tire bounced and the frame slammed the rock then I slammed the ground. That in itself wasn’t such a bad thing for me or the bike as far as any major damage. Kind of like one of those low speed “parking lot” or turning around “off balance drops”, embarrassing, more than anything else. Really embarrassing since I didn’t have the strength to pick it back up. I was about a hundred feet or so from my normal parking spot. Yep, really embarrassing.
I called a close friend and got the old gal righted. Looking it over and thinking I’d need to let it set for a while before I tried starting it, I walked to the house and called it a day. (if I was lucky someone would drive by and steal it)
This morning I got out late after the meds took hold. (the bike was still there, guess I’m not all that lucky.) I fired up and brought it on to the house to do damage assessment. Not too bad. Cracked signal light lens, bent cruse peg. I headed up to the shop and with a little help hammered it all back together.
Now I’m heading out for another med run and repair shake down. Little luck and it’ll all hold together.
Catch ya on the road

8/6/10 Dogfight Daze

365 Group (f)
up and down the road again


Today was a blast. Work actually went by pretty mooth and was really over quickly. At least it seemed that way and I guess thats all that counts.

I had had a pretty fair ride in. Temps. were in I guess the mid 70's and apparently too cold for everyone else to ride as I didnt see any one else on a bike. I live in an area where most of the riders I know look for those perfect conditions to ride. I guess it's so their ride will be most memorable?
I had such a good time at work that I planned an evening ride to burn up a few miles and make the trip to the house a wee bit more fun.
Pulling out from work I hit an open spot in traffic and started the stop light shuffle. Coming up to the third light as it turned green I was attacked and found myself in a rather serious dog fight with a onry female on a GSXR. It was intense! Traffic light to traffic light as fast as I could. I knew that once we got out of the lights I was toast but hey, still had three left to go so I was doing what I could to make the best showing my 33 year old ride could. I was also having a great time and wondering why I wasnt being pulled over by the local "big hats." Never one to dwell on such I powered on.
Finally we rolled up to the last light and gearing down it changed to green. Luck was with me and I was in second which gave me the take off I needed. She was still running in a higher gear and didnt see the light until I was gone. "yippie ki yea"
She caught me as I hit 80 and insultingly rode along with me till it was over. Just as I hit the "ton" she, like all the firery ladies in my life, waved bye bye and was gone.
The rest of my ride home was just about perfect. Kind of really relaxing.
After pulling in at the house I inspected my machine for damage from this "dog fight" seems she shot off the driverside nose cone on my glass pack. Ah well. Something for tomorrows tinkering.

catch ya on the road

7/31/10 A lazy day

365 Group (f)
Herding up and down the road...again

Today was a great day for riding so I did. Not too far mind you but it was a good one.
I fired up the bike and headed out to the Cline Motor Works World Headquarters.
It was a quick ride and as I started getting into it it was time to pull in.
I made my way to the R&D section to get a look at what was new on the block. This trip it was a Dual Sport Goldwing. I for one was impressed! It looked like the best of both worlds. After all the work is done I should be able to get a few pictures of it. Right now, since it's still in the development stages, it's best that I don't.
After chatting up their lead designer, Luther, for a while I tinkered my old Virago a bit and finally gave up as the humidity was in a killer mode. I am hoping to finish it off soon and get to herding it around some.
Before I knew it it was time to get back on the road again. I got the dates for the annual polishing of the chrome for this year. (The polishing of the chrome is an annual event that to the hale and hearty among us rates up there with Daytona and that bagger fest in South Dakota.) Thinking to myself it should be a good one this year, I headed out.
Leaving Clines I headed east and logged a few miles looking over some minor bone yards and check with a few of the local riders in my quest for parts to finish off the Virago. Parts are coming slowly but they are coming together.
Now as I pursue a cup of coffee at a White Oak Station I'm using the other hand to type this and, hey, it's all good.
I got a 10 mile pud run ahead of me so......
catch ya on the road

7-11-10 Ridin around

365 Group (f)
Still herding mine around



I started out in a big wait this morning. An acquaintance said that she had bought a tasty older triumph and all that. I was planning to end this weekends festivities at Eureka Springs and invited her to ride over. She didn't make it and it was getting hotter so I pulled out.

The traffic was unusually heavy for this hour of a Sunday morning so I had more of an intense ride over than normal. Seems like the heat has brought out the "idjits." Most of them seemed to be pulling a boat, texting and in my lane. I finally made it over to Eureka ant the traffic was worse than the ride over. I made my way down through town and figured that I'd have to fight my way around, decided to give it up and go find a quick burger. The burger place wasn't too crowded and I got in and out pretty quick. I got it to go so I could get out of town and back toward the house as it was now really hot. With all the recent rains, humidity is killer today.

On my way out of town I found some riders beside the road looking over a map. I pulled in and found out that they werent lost, "just looking over their options". They were looking to run over toward Harrison and then up to Branson for Silver Dollar City and all that. I ate my burger and put them on the Hwy 62 fast track. No sense trying to "un lost" them any more than they were.

Running back toward the house I met several bikes and everything looked like they were trying to get back to a shady spot. I ambled along stopping here and there for a couple of pictures.

Since this morning really didn't go like I wanted with the heat, I plan to get back out later this afternoon. Maybe get in a few miles and have a good something or other for dinner?

The Richland creek bridge coming into town. The water looked low when I went through. I walked out and, yep! it was low alright. Normally it has a bunch more water in it. It's been so hot around here lately that even this little dab of wet looks sooo good.

Around 760 very quick miles. Maybe more?

Catch ya on the road

7-8-10 Another day in Gods country

365 Group (f)
Yep! I rode mine today



Today was a great day! The ride into work was about as good as a ride into work could be. Cool and light traffic, all too short.



I had a couple of old friends from my Texas days call out of the blue and ask if I wanted to get together. Seems that they had been riding a little and been promising their wives a trip. They wondered if I'd like to ride South and meet up with them? I thought it all over and since they twisted my arm and I cant take the pain, I "reluctantly" agreed to meet them. It sounded like the old days before everyone got all famous and started wearing a big hat when they "crooned" . We would just start and ride until we ran into each other. Should be all kinds of fun. So my weekend should be a good one.



The rain started for real a couple of hours before I left work. Good and slow. The area needed it so I cant complain. I pulled on my rain gear and plowed out into the after work rush. I'm here to tell ya, I had fun. Almost as much fun as that"kid that was shooting my face with a bb gun". Seriously, It was a good ride, even with the rain. I met a couple on a Harley and they were soaked to the bone and beyond. As we sat, waiting on a green light, they did say that "as miserable as it was, they were having a blast. They were from Springfeild, Mo and had been over killing the day at Eureka Springs.
My ride home was pretty uneventful and kind of soggy by the time I got to the house. I did notice that on days like this, I really enjoy the looks I get from people. Ya know. The "that boy ain't got good sense" looks.



(Alright Gary, I'll be heading your way tomorrow evening. See ya about Texarkana.)

So all in all, today was a good riding day I don't care who ya are.



Catch ya on the road

7-3-10 Bikes, Babes& Bling

365 Group (f)

I herded mine up and down the road today

This year is the first year for a new rally in my back yard. "Bikes, Babes and Bling," is geared toward the female rider.

Since it was so close to the house and I actually knew a couple of females that ride I figured that I could safely get away with showing up and taking a few pictures.

The morning started out really good for such a gathering. Warm and sunny. I grabbed up a couple of cameras and headed toward Fayetteville.

My ride over was a good one as I saw several bikes on the road and traffic was light.

Dickson street wasn't too congested when I got down there. There were several bikes parked along the streets. I found a space to park about midway of the block. Looking over the bikes, One kind of jumped out at me. I'm not too sure but this guy might be a spokesman for "John Deere".

The crowd was very small. I figured that it was probably due to the poker runs that were going on. As I made my way around I saw several vendors that covered most everything you could ask for in bike accessories. A bike show was going on and I wandered around taking a few pictures and finally I saw some locals that I knew. They told me that the threat of rain had send most of the local riders home. That plus the Rodeo of the Ozarks and two other organizations holding poker runs explained the very light turn out.

I managed to get some really good food at one of the local Mexican places and visited with a couple of locals and several riders from Kansas and Missouri.

The rain,mostly light, seemed to keep everyone away. It really wasn't that bad. Most of the people I saw were getting around in it with out too much trouble. I think this would have been a lot better if there hadn't been so much going on for it to compete with.

After talking top some of the event organizers I'm looking foreword to next years. I have a feeling that it will be like the "Bikes, Blues & Bar B Que" rally. It'll just keep growing and getting better.

These two young girls rode up from the Dallas area on a very nice looking Road King and a Slick newer Star. They made the Rally and didn't seem to be fazed by the weather or the light turnout. In the rush of the soggy moment they introduced themselves and I sadly say that I cannot remember their names. ("old age...old age" anyway that's the excuse I'm using) They had the Riders spirit more than most that I ran in to and seemed to be one heck of a lot of fun. The were looking for directions and since it was on my way I rode along with them for a few miles and pointed them in the direction they needed to go. I hope they had a safe trip.

This new rally was a fun one even with the light turn out. I hope more people see it as one to attend next year.

catch ya on the road.

6/26/10 A sweet ride.

365 Group (f)
I herded mine up and down the road today


Today was a great day for a ride. Clear and sunny.

A neighbor and I had planned to ride over to the Buffalo River and get fabulously wealthy treasure hunting with metal detectors.

The ride over was about as good as it gets. not too much traffic and the most of what traffic there was was other bikes. The only down side to the ride over was the metal detector catching wind on Lewis's handle bar and slapping him up side the head each time he got up to speed. We had only planned to spend a couple of hours on the river due to the heat and after about a couple of hours we were ready to go. The heat and humidity was killer. I snapped a few pictures and we saddled up for a short ride back to Kingston to gas up then on to Marble to eat lunch.

The ride back up the mountain was sweet. Lewis's Sportster and my Tilley were purring right along. In no time we were on top of the mountain and lining out the rest of the run to Kingston. Falling in behind about a dozen or so bikes, I noticed that there were about twice as many as there were on our trip down. Pulling into Kingston we snaked our way around the other bikes as they tried to sort out which way they needed to go. As I leaned back onto hwy 21 to the gas station I had a strange sensation hit my right hand. An odd kind of tingling mixed with a dose of "oh crap". I rolled on the throttle and the grip twisted but the engine stayed at an idle. Now I'm no expert but this cant be good. I coasted across the road and into the parking lot of the Post Office in greater downtown Kingston, Arkansas. A post office with an asphalt parking lot and no shade in what felt like 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity.
For the next couple of hours we tried several things to get me a throttle. All we really managed to do was burn. Finally after the fishing sinker trick failed, we decided to check out an Antique/Junk shop next door to cool off and maybe find something that would get me back on the road. As we looked around we were checking our cell phones for a signal. Both of us said at the same time "no signal" when Lewis's phone rang. I hollered "hang up and call this number"!! He did and we got the Calvary on the way. I kept looking around while Lewis went to call his sister back. As I was looking at tools Lewis hollered for me to come back outside. He had a pair of vice grip pliers and wanted to know what I thought. He had gotten the pliers from the guy at the post office. This guy even produced a few large zip ties. I tied the cable end to the master cylinder and clamped the pliers to the broken cable end. Thumb drive.

It worked. We pulled out and headed on to the gas station. After topping off we ordered burgers and decided to wait on my rescue party in the air conditioning.

About the time we finished the burgers my friend Luther arrived with tools and my cables. I showed him what we had come up with and after much discussion I decided to try and make it back home with the pliers rather than try and change it out in the heat.

The next thirty seven miles were a blast! About a mile or so on the road the rain started. Heat showers. Cool and wet and felt great. It would rain for a mile or so then stop and the wind would dry you out. It did this five or six times before finally riding out of it. In addition to the rain the pliers would hit the kill switch when I got a little too carried away. I finally got it all sorted out and wound the old gal up and no moss grew under my backside.

As we pulled into town, Lewis headed to his house and I headed for Luther's shop to put my cables on.

Today was a good day. I had a good time, a good ride , and realised (again) that God has blessed me with great friends.

110 miles. Several bottles of "sparking spring water" and generally a good time. Oh yeah! One rusty looking penny. One 1/8 ounce lead sinker and one gold tone cross ink pen.

catch ya on the road

6/8/10 Girl, you know who you are.

365 Group (f)
I herded mine up and down the road today.


These last few days have been a lot of hurry up and get no where. I have a lot to do around the place and what have you. Just seems like I cant get into a groove with anything. Sort of a big lack of interest.

One of my really bright spots has been the ride to and from work each day. But, if I don't find a way to tack on a few extra, that's only a short lived twenty six miles, round trip. I'm not complaining, a ride is a ride. Even if it's just turning around in your drive way with the motor idling, it's a ride.
Maybe it's early summer fever or the recent illness or that there is a democrat in the white house or....
Anyway. Each morning I head out and by the time I get to work I'm in a state of mind to just keep going.
Today was no different. I managed to dodge all the morning madness and rolled into work a little early. After the start up "hoopin" and "hollerin" everything settled into the usual crawl. I pretty much deal with the same people day after day and let me tell you they can be a real drag. I know, everybody cant ride. But still...
Today was one of those days up till about noon. There is a lady that comes to deal with the company(you know who you are) that just brightens the day. Never really dawned on me till today while talking with her. Shes one of those people you cant help liking and enjoy being around. Always seems to be upbeat and it seems to rub off. A great personality and a real sense of humor and "drop dead gorgeous!"
So now after careful consideration, some days are worth something after all. I mean, there's the ride in and out and all the people that really make the day.
Today, my trip home was, well...I fudged a little and added thirty five miles, a real good one.
Catch ya on the road

5/29/10 A humorous stab at exorcise

365 Group (f)
"Yep! I'm part of the herd."





Recently I hit upon a weight loss program that really does work. However, I do not recommend it to any one for any reason!! On this program I did lose almost 43 pounds in just under a month.

This morning the local radio station said at 10 am that it was already 80 degrees and no rain in sight. I headed out to do some of the doctoring stuff the Doc's told me to do and as a result of the above mentioned weight loss program, I really felt it. Lately my body is still a lot under powered so to speak. I even had a hard time lifting the bike off the stand. I did manage to get in about 70 miles in all this required running around. I thought about what the doctors said about finding some type of exorcise to rebuild my strength. I think that I may have hit on something. Like the weight loss program, I don't recommend it. I think it's going to be the ticket for me though.

There is about two acres and the grass is a little over three feet in some places thanks to all the rain we've had. The mower (see picture) is a genuine push mower that seems to never run out of gas. It just don't get better than that...lol
It's funny. I never thought that mowing the yard would help keep me on the road.

Catch ya on the road

5/20/10 Another trip on the Long Road.

Herd 365 (f)
I herded mine up and down the road today...




This morning I had another "Long Road" trip to make. The weather has been lots of rain for the last few days but this morning was sunny.

When I went out the sky was clearing and the sun was coming out. Looked like a good morning to start a ride.

I bounced down to the highway and headed east on 45. The road was damp in places but over all was in good shape. I ran up to about seventy and settled in behind some small car traffic and watched the scenery slip by. As I came up on the Huntsville turn off I noticed the traffic was stacked up and moving rather slowly for that hour of the morning. I figured either a wreck or a cop up ahead as people were starting to flash their lights. About 2 1/2 miles up there was a Highway Cop setting beside the road. We all behaved as we went by and he seemed kind of appreciative. It was early.

After passing the cop I was able to get back up to speed and the traffic starting thinning out. I was having a blast just tooling along.

I turned onto Hwy 21 and started the twenty five miles or so of curves. As I came close to the sprawling metropolis of Kingston, Arkansas I noticed blue lights flashing in the distance. As I got closer I saw that there were Fire and Rescue vehicles there as well. I slowed way down and saw that the Sheriff himself and a couple of his deputies as well as several fire people, Rubberneckers and the odd nose picker were all looking at a low water crossing. After all the rains the small creek was way out of it's banks. I figure some one got washed off the crossing. I also noticed that the trees were all torn up on both sides of the road. It looked like a tornado had gone through.

Pulling the hill out of Kingston I actually kept it at the speed limit as there is a first time for everything. The wind started picking up as I went over the mountains. I fought some serious crosswinds in the valleys. Sliding down into the Boxley valley I saw young Elk every where. They were standing in fields along the road as well as standing in the road in a couple of places. I counted twenty as I rolled through. They weren't there on my way back when I had the time to take a few pics.

After pulled the mountain out of Boxley I began to hit sporadic rain. I managed to get pulled over and get my rain gear on before the down pour started. The rain wasn't too bad by itself. But the fog set in with visibility at times something along the lines of absolutely zero. Then the cross winds started back up. I was at a point that usually too me about 15 minutes to make the last eleven miles to my place. This morning it was closer to forty five.

I pulled into my place and parked in a tractor shed. Time to dry off before going on in to see the doc's.

Yep! This morning was a good ride. With all the weather I still made pretty good time.

The doctors gave me some good news for a change and the weather had broken. It was edging up close to eighty degrees as I left the cancer center.

My ride back was a good one the temps were just perfect. The wind was still there but not continuous. I made good time back to the house.
Today was just shy of 210 miles according to my LSI. I had a good time. Now really, could you ask for more?
catch ya on the road

5/18/10

Herd 365 (f)

This morning was cool but a lot dryer than yesterday.

Looked to be another good day to be riding. I loaded up my junk wondering if I was going to have to hire someone to tow me up and down the road to get started this morning. After cinching everything down I pulled the strangler about half way up and hit the kicker and the old gal fired right up. I was still puzzled. Maybe yesterday was just a case of the bike wanting to sleep a little longer? I know I wanted to stay in bed. The street was dry this morning and I really opened up and got some distance quick. It was one of those "idjit" moves that just felt right. At the highway I hit a hole in traffic and was out of town before I had time to think about it. The run over to the mountain was sweet. My GFM said 75 most of the way and that was pretty good for my bike and where I was at. At the foot of the mountain I headed North and had a good run around the lake. Nice and cool and all by myself.
I ran through the ups and downs and twisties all too soon as far as it was going this morning. I could have used a few more miles of that kind of ride.
Traffic started picking up as I got closer to town. Pulling onto the parkway I almost got tagged by a grinning Mexican in a Neon. After getting passed him I figured that a ticket would be a small price compared and I let the hammer down. After putting several hundred yards between me and all the idiocy I eased off and settled into a smooth ride the rest of the way to work.
After work I took a lazy approach to going home. The pain has been coming back these last few days. This afternoon it was back with a sharp "pointy gougey" thing. I decided that I would just tool around and end up either in the ditch or back home. Rolling down Hwy 265 was a good ride as I was ahead of most of the traffic. The trip to the house was semi smooth and I actually felt like I would survive another day. Pulling into the house I decided to load up on pain meds and later make a real ride some place for dinner.
catch ya on the road.

5/17/10

Herd 365 (f)





This morning it was foggy and damp with no rain in sight! Just about a perfect morning for a ride.

I remember thinking as I headed out to the bike that this was going to be a great ride, even if it was only in to work. As it turned out it was a great ride. Just a real rough start to it. First, after all the kicking I could muster for a good twenty minutes didn't produce anything more than a cough now and then, I decided to roll start down my driveway. When that didn't work I decided that a roll down the street was in order.

Sitting beside the street in the drive of the church next door I slowly began to consider the possibility...something might be amiss. Checking everything over again and finding nothing wrong I was really scratching my head. I decide on one last kick before walking back and getting the car. About half way through the kick she fired up and rumbled like always. Now I'm really puzzled.
Anyway, I jumped out into the street and headed for work. The bike was running as good as it always does and before I got into traffic I ran it up to the top a couple of times and had a blast.
I made over to the turn off at the foot of the mountain and headed along the lake. Thinking that this would be a good morning to skip work and ride around some I had to fight to keep heading to work. Bills to pay and all that won out.
Sitting at a stop sign I noticed that I had made it about half way to work and hadn't saw another bike. Not even the usual regulars. On a morning like this I should have seen several. Man! People don't know what they are missing.
Traffic was light in town and I made really good time and didn't even have a single close call. All the way to work. Now that, I think, is an indicator of what the day would have been like if I had just headed off somewhere.
The day moved along and I finally got to the end of it. The bike fired up without too much trouble and I headed back toward the house.
Both ways, it was all too short. But it was a great ride. And the day was just perfect for it.
Catch ya on the road

5/15/10 Monsoon

365 Group (f)

May 15, Today it rained, RAINED I tell ya!, like a big dog!

I managed to putter around the house, reading and pestering friends on line till late afternoon when the down pour finally ended. Heading out I decided to take the bar off the back of the bike until the next installment of the long road. Once I got that done it was road test time. Got to make sure it still runs OK without that major piece of equipment. Sloshing down the driveway I noticed that someone really should mow some grass around here. At the street I decided to head up to my friends shop and check on his Gold Wing project. It's coming along really nicely. He's made a real sharp bobber out of it. After looking over the bike and visiting a while I headed toward town and the Bank. It was a nice ride, all fresh and green after the monsoon. The sun was out and it felt warm. Traffic was light, the bike was running like a new one and I was riding it, doesn't get much better. I really had a real blast tearing down the road. Pulling into town I dodged a little traffic and pulled into the bank and the ATM. After the usual disappointment of banking I pulled out and headed to my favorite Bar B Que joint to eat and see if the girlfriend was working. She was and the grub was pretty good as is usual. After eating I visited with the gal a little and made a dinner date for the future. I got a goodbye hug and headed out. I didn't feel much up to a long ride but it was so nice out after the rains that I didn't feel like just heading back to the house either. I just rode around the area on side roads for a while. Finally the sky started looking dark again so I pointed back toward the house. Pulling back into my parking space at the house I noticed my pups, all noses and slobbers, at the window and couldn't help but grin. For a wet lazy afternoon life wasn't bad. I'm hoping tomorrow is dryer and I can make a better/longer ride.
53 miles and each and everyone of them a keeper.
Catch ya on the road

Long Road

365 Group (f)

This shot is along Hwy 21. I was on my way back from the long road and pulled over to take a break from sixty five miles of cross winds and have a cup of coffee. It is a quiet place and for about forty five minutes I didn't see a vehicle of any kind. It was great!

I headed out Wednesday afternoon on another phase of the long road with the doctors.
The weather couldn't have been better. Traffic was like, well traffic. But it wasn't too bad. I was ahead of the getting off work crowd and made good time, even with all the stopping to take pictures and eat hush puppies and so forth.
The first hundred miles kind of clicked by and was really a comfortable ride. One of those deals that went so good you don't remember anything about it.
Pulling into Harrison I took the back streets over to the "Horse-pistol" and got the check in stuff taken care for the next day. Heading over to the motel I fell in with a couple of hooligans on a Harley dresser and a big Yamaha cruiser. We raced from traffic light to traffic light. My "tilley" could wax em between lights but they had me on top end. All was good.
I crashed at the motel with a pizza that I bought having forgotten that I wasn't suppose to eat anything and watched a rerun of a documentary on Motorcycles and ATVs. Let me tell ya, watching late night TV with a large meat lovers pizza sitting next to you and not being able to eat it just sucks!!
Morning came way too soon and I headed out to the biopsies, tests and other junk designed to remove the excess growth from ones pocket book. After four hours of medical stuff they said I was done for this round. Cool!! I fired up "tilley" and tooled around town some to see how much it had changed. Hard to believe that 30 years ago I was a cop in this little town. Any way, it was a lot of fun just running the streets and all.
Settling up with the lady at the motel I picked up a map and plotted a trip through the hills that started out on secondary roads and ended up on "fifth-endary" roads ending back on hwy 7 south almost to Dover and Russellville. It was a good ride. Twisty and up and down. Back on hwy 7 I made good time the forty some odd miles back to my place at Deer.
After a couple of days of recouping I fired up and headed back toward the house.
The ride back up was windy to put it mildly. I was constantly fighting to stay in the lane and sometimes...on the road. A couple of times the wind seemed to stall the bike. It was a strange and tiring experience. All together it was 428 miles and, all in all, it was great trip. In a strange way, I'm really looking foreword to the next one.

Catch ya on the road

Doctors

365 Group (f)

Monday 4/19/10
Well it was a nice day as I started out to go over the hump to the doctors and all that. The temps were hovering around 60 and it was just about as perfect a day for riding as there ever was.

I pulled out from the gas station at home all loaded down for an extended stay. I was caring about 40 pounds extra and that made for a real solid balanced feeling in the ride. Once I got out away from town a little I opened the old twin up and we literally "howled" down the road. The bike was running like a top and I pinned back the ears and surprisingly made pretty good time.
At about eighteen miles in I got into some traffic that forced a slow down and behave some.
Once I got out of traffic I just floated along for about twenty five miles. With only the occasional chicken truck to give me concern, it was about as good as it gets up here.
Pulling into greater downtown Kingston Arkansas I slowly made the loop around town center and grabbed the Hwy 21 exit for a run up the hill and see just how fast I could tag at the top. Today was a good day as I bested my personal best on this bike by 15 MPH. Topped out at what I read on my LSI as 92 MPH. Not too shabby for a 10 mph rolling start on serious uphill climb on a bike that's 33 years old.
The ride through the hills was every bit as good as it ever was. Thirty five miles of two lane ups and downs. Switch backs and long sweepers. God really smiled on this part of the world as far as riding a Motor Sickle goes!! (Chessie, you should come ride these hills.)
Finally I pulled into my place at Deer and dropped off the baggage. Visited a few with Mom and headed out to the CTCA and the doc's.
The Doc's didn't seem to be able to tell me much with out some super serious testing that we're going to do next month. Seems that they suspected something but always stopped short of telling me. Finally I said "lets just cut the she-ite. Answer one simple question. Can I keep riding or is it THAT bad?" All three looked at each other the made the greatest dumb ass remark I've ever heard... "a motorcycle?" No a Goat. Duh, yeah, a motorcycle. That prompted one of them to ask me all kinds of questions. He definitely came up on my "cool O meter". He's from India and really not a bad guy. After about a dozen questions I finally said come on and took him to the lot and showed him Miss Tilley. He kept saying "so you rode all this way over here?" Seems in his youth he had wanted a Royal Enfield..."many many years ago." Finally I got the sawbones three to issue forth the following statement.
"Ride as long as it doesn't hurt and you feel comfortable doing it".
So now this has opened a whole new can of something or other. As I was thinking from their first comments that I'd cease up riding along and crash into a bus of touring seniors from East Patterson New Jersey killing everyone aboard making headlines for days or something like that. Finally I was in a good mood and I thank God for that.
After making all the necessary upcoming appointments I walked out to the lot and noticed that I had a pretty good crowd. I mounted Miss Tilley and pulled out the kicker. Yelling "fire in the whole" at the top of my lungs I fired up. After that kind of settled down I turned on my "genuine forklift back up alarm" and backed out of the parking space. Now that I had a real crowd...I couldn't help myself and laid the bike over and left them a donut to remember me.
The ride back out to the house is only a pud run as some call it, only 34 miles. I had a blast and just took my time side roading and what have you till I had to switch on reserve.
Looks like you just might see me on the road