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