Monday, November 9, 2015

New ride

Every so often you run across a deal that just speaks to you.
  I had been interested in the 1100 V-Star for quite some time. Honestly don't know why, just was. I had been looking at Craigslist and other places, toying with the idea of buying one for a long time. As per my usual "wish book" method of operation I pulled up the local Craigslist. This time one of the ads jumped out at me. At a bike shop in a neighboring town was a V-Star. Looked like new. Low miles and a low price. Looking the ad over I decided it was at least worth a look.
 I rode over the next day and found it to be better that the ad described.
That started a lot of scheming in my mind and I started talking seriously with the shop guys about the bike. Seems they had had it for about a year with no one having any interest in it.
  Even though I had four motorcycles and really didnt need it, (thats what I said about Clementine) I bought it.
As it is it's just about good. It only has a couple of details that need a change. Smaller, less bulky fenders. Oil filter relocator and a different type of handle bars. It's big, heavy and a blast to ride. So far I'm happy.

"always seek the adventure."

catch ya on the road


Sunday, November 8, 2015

July 2015



 I had Suzy Q with me for a weekend and we decided to take a road trip and kill the weekend over at my mothers place.
 The trip started out like any good ride, bike, good looking girlfriend and a great destination. We pulled out and loosely planned on grabbing a bite to eat at a local place that us locals refer to as "Marble". Good food and handy as it's on the way to where we were going. When we pulled in they were having a free concert featuring a local band, so we ended up staying around after we eat... that's where it all went south.
 As we listened to the music I noticed that there was a storm lighting up the night sky between us and where we were going.  I gave it some though and as is my usual that qurkey gene I have that always tells me that it wont be that bad won out again.  When we finally got back on the road it was great cool riding for about seven or eight miles. The rain started and still it wasn't too bad as we pulled into the town of Kingston. Just outside of Kingston about a mile all that changed. Rain started coming down in a way that can only be described as "biblical." It was so hard that I literally could not see the road. I've rode through through lots of storms but that was a first for me. I told Suzy to get a grip and we turned around to head back to a gas station awning and wait it out.
  After about two hours at the gas station it was beginning to look like it wasn't going to let up. Another bad sign was when a guy pulled in and handed me a beer because the way he saw it, I looked like I could use it. I have a friend that's a doctor with an office in the town of Kingston so I called and woke him up and ask if I could break into his office and ride the storm out. After securing permission to crash at Dr. Steve's place we headed there to dry out some. Aside from not having a coffee pot, the place was perfect. DRY!  We managed to put together a bite to eat and just kicked back.
  About 4 AM the sky cleared and it looked like we were back in business. We pulled out and started trying to make up lost time. We only had about thirty five miles to go and I figured we could make it in about an hour. Things were good for about ten miles then the rain started again. Not as bad as before but a still a good hard down pour. Too far in my mind to turn around again we kept going. Along about the fifteen mile mark Suzy scared the she-ite out of me by screaming "MOOSE" in my ear. Seems an Elk was standing in the ditch and as we rode by it tried to kiss her or something?  She had a close encounter of some sort.
The rest of the trip was a slow soggy,  adventure. Suzy told me later that I blocked the most of the rain and she was in good shape. A little after 7 AM, right at day light we rolled in to moms place. I only took nine hours to make an hour and a half trip of sixty five miles. 
Yep! It started out to be a good, regular, trip over to my moms and ended up like the ones you read about in biker magazines.  In short I had a blast. Suzy Q didnt complain so I took the whole thing as a win.

"one should always seek the adventure"

catch ya on the road