I had plans to get a few things done today. Things I've been putting off for quite a while. Sometimes it just does me no good to plan. I headed out this morning in a cool 40 or so degrees to get some breakfast and get a mile or two in. I had a spur of the moment change of mind and had breakfast packed to go. Filled my thermos with coffee and headed east toward Hwy 412. I just figured to ride a while and stop some place along the way and eat breakfast off the tank.
After about ten miles I decided to run over to Boxley and see if I could get a couple of shots of the Elk.
I'm not sure what was up today but traffic on 412 was almost bumper to bumper. I cant ever remember traffic like this. It was kind of a 'high speed' slow going feeling. we were running along at speed but with all the traffic it seemed like I was just creeping along.
I eased through Marble and traffic seemed to thin a bit. Turning onto Hwy 21 I was able to open up a little and feel like I was getting some place. As I made the miles over to Kingston I was really starting to enjoy the ride. All except for the heavy cross winds. I fought a cross wind all day. Running through Kingston I met several bikes and it just made everything seem all that much better.
As I started down the mountain to the valley I let the old gal just roll letting the engine hold it back and listened to the pipes. I really enjoy how it sounds like an old truck more than it did a motorcycle. At the brake check area I saw four bikes so I eased in to say howdy. Three newer BMW's and a new LARGE Victory. They were headed to Kansas City on the return part of their trip. We visited a bit then headed on.
I ran through the valley and couldnt find any Elk. Since I was close I ran on out and had lunch with mom.
I headed back to try and make an appointment at my bike shop for a new front tube. The crosswind was still with me but it was a great ride. No Elk on the return trip either. I'm begining to think those Elk are union.
Droping down into Kingston a yellow motorcycle caught my eye and I pulled over to check it out. It was SHARP! I believe it was a stock 1970 Norton Comando. I visited with the owner, a cool guy name Steve. He lives in the Kingston area. We talked verticle twins for a few and about doing some riding one of these days.
Finally I headed out to the bike shop where I postponed my new tube for a week so they could have the bike for a while and get my fork seals put in at the same time.
Pulling back in at the house, I realized I didnt get a bunch done today. I did meet a cool guy on an old Norton and had a great ride of 168 miles.
catch ya on the road
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
another day in paradise
The thunder started about the time I got up this morning. Oh yeah. It's suppose to rain today.
Sipping my first cup of coffee I began to have thoughts of slipping over to the "dark side."
As I became more awake I remembered the situation with the tires on my car. No worries about the darkside. I have been putting off changing the tires out for this whole past summer. (ya never notice the hole in the roof till it rains) This coming weekend for sure.
I loaded up and headed out into the down pour. It had rained hard enough to wash the roads off and really, it wasnt too bad.
Traffic was light as I hit the hiway. got even lighter as pulled off and on running a few errands. By the time I finally got on the road to town I was pretty much by myself. It was a good ride, even with the rain and chill. I tried to just take it easy in the weather but still made about the same time I usually do.
Pulling in at the clinic I was surprised to see no other vehicles in the lot. Guess the rain kept everybody at home? The lady at the counter signed me in and asked if I was on my bike in the rain. We chatted a bit then I went in to see the Doctor. First thing he pointed out that I looked a little tired. I told him I had a late night texting with my "mail order bride." He couldnt come up with a reply so he did his doctoring stuff and said I'll see ya again in three months.
After the doctor I headed out to find some biscuts and gravy. Over a very late breakfast I figured It was going to be a good day for a ride and decided to run down and check on mom and the family. I was only a hundred miles or so away.
I pulled up to a red light, noticing all the people in all the cars around me. How really unhappy they looked. The light changed and I pulled away rather "briskly." Whatever was making them look so sour just migh rub off?
It's just not winter enough yet to give in to the allure of the darkside.
catch ya on the road
Sipping my first cup of coffee I began to have thoughts of slipping over to the "dark side."
As I became more awake I remembered the situation with the tires on my car. No worries about the darkside. I have been putting off changing the tires out for this whole past summer. (ya never notice the hole in the roof till it rains) This coming weekend for sure.
I loaded up and headed out into the down pour. It had rained hard enough to wash the roads off and really, it wasnt too bad.
Traffic was light as I hit the hiway. got even lighter as pulled off and on running a few errands. By the time I finally got on the road to town I was pretty much by myself. It was a good ride, even with the rain and chill. I tried to just take it easy in the weather but still made about the same time I usually do.
Pulling in at the clinic I was surprised to see no other vehicles in the lot. Guess the rain kept everybody at home? The lady at the counter signed me in and asked if I was on my bike in the rain. We chatted a bit then I went in to see the Doctor. First thing he pointed out that I looked a little tired. I told him I had a late night texting with my "mail order bride." He couldnt come up with a reply so he did his doctoring stuff and said I'll see ya again in three months.
After the doctor I headed out to find some biscuts and gravy. Over a very late breakfast I figured It was going to be a good day for a ride and decided to run down and check on mom and the family. I was only a hundred miles or so away.
I pulled up to a red light, noticing all the people in all the cars around me. How really unhappy they looked. The light changed and I pulled away rather "briskly." Whatever was making them look so sour just migh rub off?
It's just not winter enough yet to give in to the allure of the darkside.
catch ya on the road
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Travel light
There is something about a cool early morning when your starting a ride.
The sun has just started to come up and you can see just enough to keep from tripping as you walk to the bike. Carefully set that cup of coffee on the tank to cool a bit as your figuring out hows the best way to tie on all the junk you seem to have to have when you ride. Last night it was decided to take cell phone and charger. Clothes for at least a couple of day. Never know, might end up being more than just a quick day trip? Might actually need some of those 'cant live without' high dollar riding accessories.
As you sip on the coffee you start to think about trips in the past, the trip ahead and things like how the GPS lays it all out nice and neat. No need to buy a local roadmap at some little out of the way gas station or drink a cold coke while some good natured store keeper tells you three or four ways to get where your wanting to go.
The suns up pretty well as you finish the coffee. Looking over the interweb the weather channel shows the possibility of rain later in the day. That means you gotta change bags to the biger one so you'll have room for the Coast Guard approved Rain-Survival suit... A few more moments of thought about the past and about all these modern convienences. A couple of Squirrels are chattering overhead as you tie the small bag to the sissy bar. They are so used to everything that they dont even jump when you fire up. Bouncing down the driveway a thought passes through your mind. Hope those Squirrels dont gnaw their way into those high dollar bags and chew the wiring off the GPS.
From the movie Wild Hogs.. "think there'll be any trouble along the way?" "oh I hope so!"
Catch ya on the road
The sun has just started to come up and you can see just enough to keep from tripping as you walk to the bike. Carefully set that cup of coffee on the tank to cool a bit as your figuring out hows the best way to tie on all the junk you seem to have to have when you ride. Last night it was decided to take cell phone and charger. Clothes for at least a couple of day. Never know, might end up being more than just a quick day trip? Might actually need some of those 'cant live without' high dollar riding accessories.
As you sip on the coffee you start to think about trips in the past, the trip ahead and things like how the GPS lays it all out nice and neat. No need to buy a local roadmap at some little out of the way gas station or drink a cold coke while some good natured store keeper tells you three or four ways to get where your wanting to go.
The suns up pretty well as you finish the coffee. Looking over the interweb the weather channel shows the possibility of rain later in the day. That means you gotta change bags to the biger one so you'll have room for the Coast Guard approved Rain-Survival suit... A few more moments of thought about the past and about all these modern convienences. A couple of Squirrels are chattering overhead as you tie the small bag to the sissy bar. They are so used to everything that they dont even jump when you fire up. Bouncing down the driveway a thought passes through your mind. Hope those Squirrels dont gnaw their way into those high dollar bags and chew the wiring off the GPS.
From the movie Wild Hogs.. "think there'll be any trouble along the way?" "oh I hope so!"
Catch ya on the road
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Regular
One evening about three weeks ago I got a text message from one of my riding cohorts. (should never have gotten a cell phone) He was out and about and was wondering if I wanted to meet him at Huntsville, a neighboring town about 20 miles from home, and make an evening ride through the hills? Sounded good to me so I headed down Hwy 412 to Huntsville. It was a great ride over. The sun was going down and the evening temps. were just perfect.
I pulled in to the little gas station/cafe and found Louis stretched out beside his bike in the parking lot, just sorta enjoying the evening.
We visited a bit and decided to grab a snack at the cafe before getting on the road. While we were eating, I got a text message from another of my riding friends, Johnny. He was wanting to know where we were as he wanted us to run by and meet his girlfriend. THE GIRLFRIEND! The one we had heard about and had never so much as saw a picture of. The one that gave us untold amounts of fuel for good natured harrassment of "old riding bud" Johnny. I quickly sent him a message saying we were in the area and would be right over.
We fired up and headed toward home like we were hungry and someone had just yelled "supper".
The ride usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes during daylight and, depending on traffic, the odd Possum or Deer, can take up to an hour at night. We were in behind a line of cars and making really good time for most of the way. At about the halfway point we had let the cars get ahead of us quite a bit to where it was just Louis and I it seemed like. As we started down this long straight that ended in a curve I noticed I was running right at 65 and thought that wasnt too bad, just ten over. I leaned into the curve at about that same time and noticed that all the cars that we had been following were stopped dead in the road about half way through the curve.
I grabbed both brakes and started down shifting like I knew what I was doing. Trouble is there wasnt enough room to be doing anything. The car was coming up fast and Louis was on my butt. Then eveything went into slow motion. I could see a wide shoulder so I thought I'll run around on the shoulder. At least if I have to put it in the ditch I wont be running at highway speed. Like I said, everything was in slow motion, I was keenly aware of everything. The wide shoulder. My brakes locking up and my tires squalling. Louis's tires squalling and his transmitton screaming and him yelling at me to slide faster as he was about to slide over the top of me. Then it was over. I was setting about a foot and half from the back of the car in front of me. Louis managed to squall to a stop beside me and we both looked each other over to make sure we were still among the living. The seventh car ahead of us in this mess suddenly turned on it's left blinker and turned into the darkness.
We had barely gotten started moving when I heard tires squalling beind us. A pickup had came around the curve the same way we had and nearly got us. The rest of the trip was pretty normal. Not even so much as bump in the road.
We pulled up to Johnnies and met his lady friend Jennifer(she actually exists) and visited with them for about a hour.
After I got to the house I sat and thought about all the things that had happend and came to a couple of conclusions. one: God loves me and was looking out for me. Two: cellphones are evil. C: I got to find something new now to harrass Johnny about.
Catch ya on the road
I pulled in to the little gas station/cafe and found Louis stretched out beside his bike in the parking lot, just sorta enjoying the evening.
We visited a bit and decided to grab a snack at the cafe before getting on the road. While we were eating, I got a text message from another of my riding friends, Johnny. He was wanting to know where we were as he wanted us to run by and meet his girlfriend. THE GIRLFRIEND! The one we had heard about and had never so much as saw a picture of. The one that gave us untold amounts of fuel for good natured harrassment of "old riding bud" Johnny. I quickly sent him a message saying we were in the area and would be right over.
We fired up and headed toward home like we were hungry and someone had just yelled "supper".
The ride usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes during daylight and, depending on traffic, the odd Possum or Deer, can take up to an hour at night. We were in behind a line of cars and making really good time for most of the way. At about the halfway point we had let the cars get ahead of us quite a bit to where it was just Louis and I it seemed like. As we started down this long straight that ended in a curve I noticed I was running right at 65 and thought that wasnt too bad, just ten over. I leaned into the curve at about that same time and noticed that all the cars that we had been following were stopped dead in the road about half way through the curve.
I grabbed both brakes and started down shifting like I knew what I was doing. Trouble is there wasnt enough room to be doing anything. The car was coming up fast and Louis was on my butt. Then eveything went into slow motion. I could see a wide shoulder so I thought I'll run around on the shoulder. At least if I have to put it in the ditch I wont be running at highway speed. Like I said, everything was in slow motion, I was keenly aware of everything. The wide shoulder. My brakes locking up and my tires squalling. Louis's tires squalling and his transmitton screaming and him yelling at me to slide faster as he was about to slide over the top of me. Then it was over. I was setting about a foot and half from the back of the car in front of me. Louis managed to squall to a stop beside me and we both looked each other over to make sure we were still among the living. The seventh car ahead of us in this mess suddenly turned on it's left blinker and turned into the darkness.
We had barely gotten started moving when I heard tires squalling beind us. A pickup had came around the curve the same way we had and nearly got us. The rest of the trip was pretty normal. Not even so much as bump in the road.
We pulled up to Johnnies and met his lady friend Jennifer(she actually exists) and visited with them for about a hour.
After I got to the house I sat and thought about all the things that had happend and came to a couple of conclusions. one: God loves me and was looking out for me. Two: cellphones are evil. C: I got to find something new now to harrass Johnny about.
Catch ya on the road
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I have been making my usual rounds on my bike. Shops that I deal with people I ride with, places that are more often than not a regular destination. Since the temperature has dropped a little and the riding has gotten better I have been hearing a lot of talk about what I'm guessing is a new trend or fad or whatever in the motorcycle world. Can anybody tell me about this "winterizing" everyone is speaking of? All I've heard lately is " well it's time to winterize the bikes." I thought I stayed up to date on most of the things in the motorcycle world. At least my niche in it. Apparently I was asleep when this hit.
Anyway, I keep wondering if this is something of a fad like guys with their pants hanging below their butt or diet beer? you know, something that is cute but has no place in reality? If anyone has info that would help, I would appreciate hearing it.
Catch ya on the road
Anyway, I keep wondering if this is something of a fad like guys with their pants hanging below their butt or diet beer? you know, something that is cute but has no place in reality? If anyone has info that would help, I would appreciate hearing it.
Catch ya on the road
my ride
My ride is 35 years old.
It has progressed to being a striped down, oil weeping. kickstart only machine. Thats a far cry from it's flashy beginings of an electric start, turn signaled, plastic covered road burner. I was told it was one of the bikes that began the sport bike age. Well, it runs me up and down the road. Thats all it 'needs' to do.
A Couple of weeks ago I met a lady that I had gotten to know online. We had became pretty good friends online and since she rode as well we decide to meet at a roadside cafe. It would be a good ride for each and hopefully a good visit with a new friend.
The ride over was about as good as you could hope for. Warm with those little tinges of cool that sneak up on you. For 270 miles it was a good day.
The meeting was unusual to put it mildly. It appeared that I didnt have enough money or was polished enough to be friends. This point was made very clear when she walked out and saw my bike. "i wouldnt be caught even parked near that thing." at about the time she was talking a group of riders pulled in to the gas pumps. I over heard them say they were heading to the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ rally. we walked over to look over their bikes and visit. They were on a real collection of bikes from sportbikes to dressers to a couple of worn out old bobbers. when one asked what I was riding and I pointed out (rather proudly) my Miss Tilley, well, my roadside 'date' came crashing to an end.
I spent about 15 minutes listening to a fake and forced "how nice it was to meet and we should do it again real soon" kind of talk. After she took off on her shiny Honda I walked over to the riders and asked if they'd like a personal guide to Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally.
We flogged it all the way and those two old worn out bobbers would flat run!
I went on this little ride to make a friend. Turned out I made nine from Northern Kansas. The lady I went to meet. well, we use to talk a bunch on line...havent heard from her since that day. Guess my credit score wasnt high enough?
My ride is 35 years old...
Catch ya on the road
It has progressed to being a striped down, oil weeping. kickstart only machine. Thats a far cry from it's flashy beginings of an electric start, turn signaled, plastic covered road burner. I was told it was one of the bikes that began the sport bike age. Well, it runs me up and down the road. Thats all it 'needs' to do.
A Couple of weeks ago I met a lady that I had gotten to know online. We had became pretty good friends online and since she rode as well we decide to meet at a roadside cafe. It would be a good ride for each and hopefully a good visit with a new friend.
The ride over was about as good as you could hope for. Warm with those little tinges of cool that sneak up on you. For 270 miles it was a good day.
The meeting was unusual to put it mildly. It appeared that I didnt have enough money or was polished enough to be friends. This point was made very clear when she walked out and saw my bike. "i wouldnt be caught even parked near that thing." at about the time she was talking a group of riders pulled in to the gas pumps. I over heard them say they were heading to the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ rally. we walked over to look over their bikes and visit. They were on a real collection of bikes from sportbikes to dressers to a couple of worn out old bobbers. when one asked what I was riding and I pointed out (rather proudly) my Miss Tilley, well, my roadside 'date' came crashing to an end.
I spent about 15 minutes listening to a fake and forced "how nice it was to meet and we should do it again real soon" kind of talk. After she took off on her shiny Honda I walked over to the riders and asked if they'd like a personal guide to Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally.
We flogged it all the way and those two old worn out bobbers would flat run!
I went on this little ride to make a friend. Turned out I made nine from Northern Kansas. The lady I went to meet. well, we use to talk a bunch on line...havent heard from her since that day. Guess my credit score wasnt high enough?
My ride is 35 years old...
Catch ya on the road
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