I have come across something unusual in my daily riding. This morning my thermometer, the dial up weather line and the interweb all said it was around 27 degrees. It's been this cold or colder when I headed out a few mornings lately. Now the thing I dont understand is, why it doesnt feel cold like it has in years past as I rode to work or where ever. I head out as I have in the past and it feels more like I'm riding in early spring weather. This morning at about 65 MPH I was fairly comfortable. More so than I was last winter riding everyday. I've tried to explain this to people lately and they just blow it off as I'm just braging (as, I'm told, although I just cant imagine it, 'bikers' are sometimes known to do). I'm not complaining but I truly am puzzled. {Could this be "Global warming"?}
This morning, as I mentioned, I had a good ride. However it was real short as my old machine was tying all the knots and it was only thirteen miles. Traffic was with me all the way. Even the traffic lights in town were on my side for a change. The day got up fairly warm and it just made me want to get out on the road. Seems that always happens when I absolutely cant take the day off.
My ride in this afternoon was as good if not better than my morning one. Traffic was with me all the way. (Funny. As warm as it was I still didnt see any other bikes though.) The only Cop I saw was going the same way and was way ahead of me. I wish all my riding days were like this.
I have a few more minor corrections, like maybe some brakes,(jury's still out on that one though) to make on my old bike. I'm begining to believe that, finally, after much time and lots of head scratching and prayer it'll be back to a dependable daily condition. Not too bad on an old ride thats just turned 30.
To quote a five year boy that is much wiser than his years. Standing in a crowd with his dad listening to their conversation about motorcycles he was heard to say " old iron is best because it's just gooder."
catch ya on the road
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
rant
Theres something about people in this area...kind of a narrow mindedness. This morning it was 41 dregrees with a light mist falling. I rode my bike in. People I've never met before have been coming up all morning saying "how come you didnt drive your truck like you did yesterday?" I have to then explain that yesterday I drove because a friend asked me to deliver a canoe for him. Then I have to go through the same old tired nonsence I hear if the weather is less than perfect for THEM. I would love to always have perfect weather to ride in but hey, we are in North Arkansas, we're lucky we got weather the way it changes. If I were to wait on good weather 1. I wouldnt ever get in any riding 2. I'd be like most people around this area...own a ten year old bike that is still brand new and only has 2700 miles on it. So I ride. Anytime I have the chance.
This mornings ride was a real good one. The actual rain had stopped before I got on the road. I did get a few sideways glances from people. I had an air rifle strapped on for a friend of mine. Seems weapons,any kind, always gets attention. There wasnt any traffic to speak of just a great time motoring along. I delivered the "bull-mouse-alo" shooter and tooled on over to work.
Late in the morning I had a couple of people tell me they had saw me a few days ago and ask about the new lady in my life. One even said he'd heard that I was running with a fast woman. I'm not saying anything just yet, telling everyone that it's a private matter. Nobodies business and it's more fun to watch them lose a crop watching mine.
All in all, today,so far, was a good day for riding and I thank the Lord for it. Now if the evening is as good...well I may be late getting home.
catch ya on the road
This mornings ride was a real good one. The actual rain had stopped before I got on the road. I did get a few sideways glances from people. I had an air rifle strapped on for a friend of mine. Seems weapons,any kind, always gets attention. There wasnt any traffic to speak of just a great time motoring along. I delivered the "bull-mouse-alo" shooter and tooled on over to work.
Late in the morning I had a couple of people tell me they had saw me a few days ago and ask about the new lady in my life. One even said he'd heard that I was running with a fast woman. I'm not saying anything just yet, telling everyone that it's a private matter. Nobodies business and it's more fun to watch them lose a crop watching mine.
All in all, today,so far, was a good day for riding and I thank the Lord for it. Now if the evening is as good...well I may be late getting home.
catch ya on the road
Monday, January 23, 2012
Remembering a true 'wild one.'
Today I made a chilly 70 mile ride back to my home town. A life long member of the community had past away and I was headed back to go to the funeral.
I had a good ride over and all but I had kind of a sadness over me the whole trip.
This old man was 82 when he passed. For the last twenty or twentyfive years he had a very long snow white "mountain man" beard. Top that off with a pair of overalls and you kind of get a picture of what he looked like.
He knew me all of my life and at times we were very close. I remember what first made him seem so different from everyone else in town...he and his wife had moved to California for a few years. When he moved back, well...he didnt just settle in to the local lifestyle like all of his brothers and others in town. One day I saw him blasting down the road on a fairly new looking Yamaha 305 scrambler. Seems a friend from out west brought it down and ended up leaving it with him to 'take care of.' The way he ripped around and the way people talked about his rippin (that was something my dad and others that age wouldnt do) made him 'too cool' to an eleven year old.
Now flash forward about ten years. I was home from school and he comes driving up to my house. He wanted me to go test ride a little motorcycle he was thinking of buying. I jumped in and the little bike turned out to be a Yamaha RD 350. I rode it around some and laid out what I thought for him. He paid up and we loaded it. As he dropped me off I warned him that the RD was one fast bike. To this day I remember his grin as he headed home.
A couple of years later he laid it down and got pretty "road rashed." Enough to make him stop riding the way he told it.
A couple of years after that it came up that he still had the bike. He'd had it fixed and parked it in his basement. I was between rides and had met a beautiful girl...who liked to ride around on a little Yamaha street bike. I asked if he'd sell it, just making conversation as I had heard he'd turned down several offers for it. When I told him why I wanted he grinned and got me the title. I rode it around for a while chasing around after and ended up giving it to my future wife as a present.
Yes my uncle Conley was one of the originals. A wild one before it was fashonable. He showed me a side of life that I'm just pretty sure only uncles are suppose to. I am so proud he took the time.
On the ride home I offered my prayers for my uncle and hoped someday I'd have a grin like that plasterd all over my face.
catch ya on the road
I had a good ride over and all but I had kind of a sadness over me the whole trip.
This old man was 82 when he passed. For the last twenty or twentyfive years he had a very long snow white "mountain man" beard. Top that off with a pair of overalls and you kind of get a picture of what he looked like.
He knew me all of my life and at times we were very close. I remember what first made him seem so different from everyone else in town...he and his wife had moved to California for a few years. When he moved back, well...he didnt just settle in to the local lifestyle like all of his brothers and others in town. One day I saw him blasting down the road on a fairly new looking Yamaha 305 scrambler. Seems a friend from out west brought it down and ended up leaving it with him to 'take care of.' The way he ripped around and the way people talked about his rippin (that was something my dad and others that age wouldnt do) made him 'too cool' to an eleven year old.
Now flash forward about ten years. I was home from school and he comes driving up to my house. He wanted me to go test ride a little motorcycle he was thinking of buying. I jumped in and the little bike turned out to be a Yamaha RD 350. I rode it around some and laid out what I thought for him. He paid up and we loaded it. As he dropped me off I warned him that the RD was one fast bike. To this day I remember his grin as he headed home.
A couple of years later he laid it down and got pretty "road rashed." Enough to make him stop riding the way he told it.
A couple of years after that it came up that he still had the bike. He'd had it fixed and parked it in his basement. I was between rides and had met a beautiful girl...who liked to ride around on a little Yamaha street bike. I asked if he'd sell it, just making conversation as I had heard he'd turned down several offers for it. When I told him why I wanted he grinned and got me the title. I rode it around for a while chasing around after and ended up giving it to my future wife as a present.
Yes my uncle Conley was one of the originals. A wild one before it was fashonable. He showed me a side of life that I'm just pretty sure only uncles are suppose to. I am so proud he took the time.
On the ride home I offered my prayers for my uncle and hoped someday I'd have a grin like that plasterd all over my face.
catch ya on the road
Monday, January 2, 2012
mixed emotions
A group of my friends and I gathered together to say goodbye to a riding companion. It was sad occasion even though the group acted more like they were at a party. Something a kin to an Irish wake. In their own way each remember things and places visited, further cementing memories of their time spent with the departed.
With this years Polar Bear Ride we sadly said goodbye to the 2011 riding season.
On a happy note. The same group welcomed in the 2012 riding season with much 'pomp and circumstance.' (everybody seemed pompy & circumstancy to me)
We had a good lunch and a great ride after just to kick 2012 to a decent start.
Luther, Louis,Emily,Steve,Johnny,Zack & Wes all made the cut and are Polar Bears.
With the Lords blessing the coming years riding is going to be great.
catch ya on the road
With this years Polar Bear Ride we sadly said goodbye to the 2011 riding season.
On a happy note. The same group welcomed in the 2012 riding season with much 'pomp and circumstance.' (everybody seemed pompy & circumstancy to me)
We had a good lunch and a great ride after just to kick 2012 to a decent start.
Luther, Louis,Emily,Steve,Johnny,Zack & Wes all made the cut and are Polar Bears.
With the Lords blessing the coming years riding is going to be great.
catch ya on the road
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