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
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
"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
Monday, August 16, 2010
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
8/15/10
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
Saturday, August 14, 2010
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
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
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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
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
Friday, August 6, 2010
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
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
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