Backyard Ridin

Today I didn't have anything going on and decided to run the local back roads around home. I find it help full to keep up with the road conditions locally. Anyway, I took off around 9 am just puttin around.
About half way into my ride brought me back to an intersection in the middle of the town I live in. Since it was getting close to lunch I drifted up to a local gas station that has a decent cafe and ordered a burger. After giving my order to the girls at the cafe I wandered back outside to sit at the picnic table while I waited. Most of the morning it had been very hot and muggy feeling, like it was going to rain and just as I sat down it did. Man! It opened up and poured. Glad I was under the awning.
As I sat there watching the rain a big Yamaha cruiser pulled in and the rider looked very relieved to be out of the rain. Also, at this time two young guys walked out of the store and began talking to the Cruiser rider. After a few minutes of listening to them talk I noticed two sport bikes parked next to the building in the rain. Their conversation centered on the riding they had been doing and how bad it had been. I learned that the Cruiser rider had just left his home and had ridden a total of eight miles before he was forced off the road by the rain. The two sport bike riders had about 20 miles in when they noticed the sky getting dark and headed for cover. Absent mindedly I checked my trip meter and my total for the morning was 126 miles.
The conversation finally drifted my way with one of the sport riders asking what kind of bike I had. I told them all about my antique and one asked if it was a bobber as it looked like something was missing. I explained that compared to when it was new a lot was missing. That I striped off everything I didn't like. So, I guess you could call it a bobber. At hearing this the other sport rider began to show some interest and started asking questions. As we were talking one of them noticed my mileage and asked how long it had taken me to put 126 miles on it. When I told him a couples of hours or so this morning they both acted like they were hard of hearing and said "huh"? About this time, Mary, one of the girls from the cafe brought out my burger and started telling them how I always ride and junk like that. They were kind of caught short so to speak and said that they didn't ride much, just around town and that 20 or thirty miles was a big trip to them. I told them that I understood. Life sometimes gets in the way and you do what you gotta do.
Both of the sport riders were seriously giving thought to our conversation and looking over my bike and the big Yamaha as well as their own. They seemed to have a question on their minds but suddenly changed gears and went back to chatting about bikes in general.
I finished my lunch and offered to let Mary kick start my bike. She grinned and passed. The cruiser said you have a kick starter? Pointing it out I offered to let him start it. Mary started giggling and he got red faced and I guess thought better of the idea saying no. All three said that they had no experience with anything other than late models. None with a kick starter.
I couldn't resist and flipped out the pedal and kicked it to life. I let it idle a few minutes and switched off. About this time we all agreed on a couple of things. It was time to go and electric starters were sooo much easier.
All in all it was a good day totaling 207 miles. It's funny what you can get into just puttin around your on Back yard.

Proud Member Of the 365 Group
(i rode mine today)

Shake down ride.

29 August 2008

Today started out hot with a thunderstorm rolling in. A quick look at the sky suggested that I would be riding ahead of the storm. So I didn't get in too much of a hurry as I made last minute adjustments to my ride.

This was going to be a shake down run, not too far from home but enough to see if the repairs and modifications would hold up. I had been having a real rough running time the last couple of days and ended up putting everything back to original factory settings. I had built a new exhaust system and seemed to be experiencing a little vibration that I couldn't seen to locate a reason for. So this would be a short but thorough run over the mountains.

I topped off my tank at the one stop and left out the acetone. I figured to run a hundred or so miles on plain gas and see if I noticed any difference at the factory tune up setting.

I got out into traffic that was surprisingly heavy for a Friday morning and settled into a smooth 55 mph. It seemed to be purring perfectly for the first 10 miles. As I got on to Hwy 412 and headed east traffic thinned out and I had the opportunity to open the old twin up a little. I was pleased at the engines performance at a wide variety of speeds. I guess that maybe I was trying to get a little too much out of a stock ride. I was really beginning to like this new ride sensation. Factory settings, who'd of thought...? One of the best non factory parts of trip is the Glass packs. They are for a small car or truck. The sound is awesome and I really enjoyed it all throughout this ride. (I'm also sure everyone in earshot did too) That is also one of the best things about a twin, V or side by side, they always sound good.

About 30 miles down 412 a light raid started. I pulled over at a small gas station figuring to put on the pants for my rain suit as they are hard enough to put on when it isn't raining. As I rolled in I noticed a Vrod and slid up beside it. It's owner was coming out of the store and asked if the rain was any lighter behind me. His name was John and he seemed relieved when I told him I hadn't had any rain until I got to this store. John said he had ridden through heavy rains in a couple of places that was so hard that he couldn't see. John was from Houston TX and had been riding around Arkansas for the last week. Now, on his way back home he was hoping to go back through Oklahoma and miss the worst part of the storm. I got into my rain gear and wished him well and we took off. For the next 40 miles I rode through light rain and cool damp air. Man! It was nice.

Since I was close I stopped off and had a bite to eat with my mom and visited a couple of hours.

Before I pulled out I had looked over a website that had indicated a big bike rally at the Hub. So I headed in that general direction. The Hub is Is Bike oriented Motel and convention center with a really good restaurant called scooters. I rolled in to the Hub in the early afternoon and realized that I had either read the website wrong or someone had mixed up the dates. The big rally was no where in sight. However, the Free Masons were having their international ride in. There was about 70 or eighty bikes around the motel and the restaurant was full. These riders, The Free Masons, were a good bunch of people from several walks of like. Just about all of them I came in contact with stopped to talk a little and offer a handshake. This atmosphere made the wait for something to eat a pleasant wait. While waiting I had another nice surprise, my niece Katy came through and I found that she is working at the restaurant until she leaves for school.

The food was good, as always and the added plus of my niece sitting with me and of course a room full of bikers made this one of the better meals of my life.
After eating I visited with the Hubs owner and found out what was planned for the next couple of weekends and decided to head out. As I headed over the hill on Hwy 7 spur I couldn't resist, I let the engine hold back in third gear all the way down. Just to make sure everyone got to benefit from my nice old truck sound. I hit Hwy 7 and back to Jasper, topped off my tank and made a slow lazy climb up the mountain. The Newton County Fair was going on and I stopped in for a quick look around. I saw a few old friends that I hadn't seen in years and visited and caught up a little. I had planned on heading towards Clarksville to spend the night but I guess homesickness took over so I headed back to my place at Deer and visited with the family and got a good nights sleep.
30 August 2008
I had a quick breakfast with mom and visited with my brother and pulled out. There was NO traffic on hwy16 and that always amazes me. I let the hammer down on my old twin and started putting miles on. The bike was running better it seemed than it had yesterday. I floated down the road for about 20 miles and came up on a couple on a big Suzuki cruiser. They seemed to be slowly taking in the area and I zipped by with a wave. Over on the Boxley mountain I fell in behind a group of riders that were riding in the herd.Going along slowly. They were 10 of them riding all different kinds of big tourers and cruisers. I'm not knocking them but they would speed up for a mile or so and then slow down. This got old after 12 miles. When we got to Kingston I pulled over and let them get about 20 minutes ahead of me. That worked for a little while. I ended up following them to Huntsville where they headed for Eureka Springs. the rest of my little ride was nice and moved along smoothly. I got back home in time to help the son put new tires on his bike. Really, could it get any better?
Total of 284 miles. The repairs held nicely.
Next weekend if the Guard doesnt send the son to do Hurricane relief we are planning on hitting the big bike ralley at dogpatch @ The Hub.
Proud Member of the 365 Group.
(I rode mine today)

July 11,2008 Just tooling around

The late morning was clear and getting warm(hot!) fast. I got on the road about 10:30 and headed out for Harrison And Jasper and the usual visits with the Doctors. Traffic down 412 was light and the construction has progressed to a point that is not a problem. With out thinking about it I got on to 21 and was in Kingston before I knew it. I enjoy this stretch of the road a lot. All the curves and hills make it a lot of fun to ride.
As I came upon the intersection at the bottom of the Boxley mountain I thought About how long it had been since I had been over that side of the mountain to Jasper, through Low Gap and Mt. Sherman and decided that it had been too long and before I knew it was jamming up through the close curves twisting up the mountain. If you like riding curves these are some of the best in N.W. Arkansas and they have good sound bounce too. My pipes, I run glass packs, never sounded as good as they did going up the first set of curves, really sweet sounding.
Before I knew it I was at Jasper and at the Doctors. After some conferring with the doc I headed out for Harrison to see a bone specialist and another consultation. The ride over to Harrison was pretty much uneventful and even traffic seemed to be light. After the doc consult I headed back south again and traffic had picked up. Along Hwy 7 between Harrison and Jasper is the "Hub." Billed as a motorcycle resort. I decided to stop in and see what was happening up there. The last time I had been there was about two years ago and they had a good thing going. it's an out of the way place with a good restaurant and convention center and a decently priced motel. While there I had a very good burger and fries and visited with the folks there. They seem to be busy as all get out, especially on the weekends. Also, I met a couple that rolled in from the Texarcana area, Cull and Diane Smith. I believe that they said they were getting away for the weekend and were heading for the Iron Horse rally at Eureka Springs the next day.They were good folks and I hope that their weekend was a good and safe one.
From the Hub I headed south on Hwy 7 to my place in Deer. I had a really good ride down 7, not too much traffic and even a few other bikes on the road.
Once I got to Deer I spent a couple of days visiting with the folks and riding some with my brother. A thunderstorm blew up Friday night and soaked everything down so it turned into a lazy visit. But family is everything and it had been a long time since we just set around and caught up. Unfortunately I had to head back on Monday so the trip my brother and I had planned for the weekend didn't happen. But it's sort of rescheduled and everyone is still looking foreword to it.
This trip totaled almost 355 miles just around here close but it was lots of fun. I'm hoping to make it again this coming weekend. Maybe hit a couple of the park type areas in the country.
Hope to see ya on the road.

No particular place to go.

Saturday July 5. 08
This weekend was a real blast. I didn't have anything to do or anyone to do anything with so, I just took off.
The first 67 miles were good, then the rain stopped. It rained hard for the first 70 miles or so the off and on. I managed to make it to Russellville on hwy 7 before throwing in the wet towel. I got a room at the Motel 8, Or was it 9?? Anyway I watched TV until I conked out and slept through on heck of a storm.
Sunday morning I woke and checked the bike over and was totally happy with it's overall performance.(it was still together)
I got gas at a truck stop type station and had the only trouble I had on this trip while gassing up. I was about to add my fuel additive when a woman parked on the other side of the pump advised me that I could go to Federal Prison for adding things to my "motor fuel". I gave it some thought and offered to let her use my cell phone to call the police. Seriously, I wanted to hear her explain it to the cops. She huffed at me and drove off. (hope she paid for her gas)
After gas, I grabbed a cup of coffee and a biscuit and headed back north in a lazy round about manor. I did alot of small town detours and just killed the day looking over the country side and hitting what few tourist stops were open. I think I need to come back down through the week when some of these places are open. A couple of them had older motorcycles that interested me.
A quick stop at moms and visit with the family and then back up 21 to 412 and a lazy 327 miles. Again, not too bad on a 31 year old machine. I did have a little fun on the way back. A new Softail blew by me in passing a car and gave me a silly grin like I got a Hog and you don't. Now I don't have anything against a Harley, I've owned several over the years. But his attitude, well I couldn't resist and I pushed him up 412 from 21 to where you get off on 45. I do mean pushed. I could see in his mirror his expression and I think he got the message and I'm proud to say that my grin was even more silly.
Hope to catch ya all on the road next weekend.

Buell

2June2008

While on my way back home to Fayetteville I came upon this Buell laying in the ditch on a very minor curve about 1/4 mile east of the Mossville church. It looked as though they just rode straight off into the curve, there were no skid marks or any other signs. Just crashed The engine was still hot but no one was around. Myself and another rider touring through from Minnesota searched all over and checked with local EMS and found nothing. Hope that whoever was riding this is OK. (Sad note:) While we were searching for this rider several bikes came by and didn't even slow down. We were the only riders to stop.

The Anderson Brothers

1June2008

These two gentlemen are the Anderson brothers, Gary and Harold, from Texas, Waco and Austin. I met them at the end of my Tennessee trip. They were making a stop on Hwy 7 at the Green Thumb pull off.

I had a very nice visit with them and found that they reminded me of my brother and I. Just out on the road. I don't remember them mentioning a destination, just where the night caught them. That is the best way to ride. As I remember it they were at about 800 miles when I met them. I hope my slight info on the area didn't confuse or frighten them too bad.

Hopefully they made it safely and we can meet again on the road.

A long trip.

Proud member of the 365 group
( I rode mine today)
31May2008

This past weekend I got an invitation to ride with some people to Tennessee. After getting my bike back in sorta shape I thought a trip would be in order to see if it was going to hold up. I took off to meet them at Harrison. The trip over wasn't bad. The road construction is no where as intense as it has been and I made real good time.

From Harrison we headed down Hwy 65 and as I have said before it's not a bad road, seems like it's trying to be an interstate. As far as the roads went on this trip I didn't find any that were all that bad. Since I was just "following" it was even an almost stress free ride. We made good time and 5 hours give or take and 300 miles. Might have been better time but there was some stopping and dawdling here and there. After pulling into Jonesboro these hail and hearty bikers decided that Dyersburg would just have to wait till tomorrow. As they were patting themselves on the back I chuckled to myself. I keep forgetting that I ride everyday and that the road takes it out of some people more than it does me. Also these guys haven't been on a bike since this time last year. All in all it was a good half day ride and the traffic was moderate. Not even a close call...

Gina and Tom who were sorta running this show got us a room at the Holiday Inn and then an early dinner at the Western "somethingorother" steak house. (I kinda like being the guide/mechanic) After dinner everybody settled in for the night. "we'll get an early start in the morning". I wasn't nearly as done in and ended up tooling around Jonesboro a bit and watching TV most of the night.

At about 9:00 am people had started to get up and going. I had found a close place to gas up and we finally got on the road. Dyersburg was about 100 miles and at the state line rest area we said our goodbyes and all that. They were almost home and were getting happier by the moment. I told them the next time they made a trip my direction to drop a line and I would be happy to run along with them. I had planned to post some pictures from this little adventure but as my luck goes I haven't been able to locate the memory stick. So I guess I'll add them at a later date.

Sunday I headed back home and for the most part retraced my trip over. The roads were good and the weather was getting questionable with rain and thunder storms looking like they were going to be right in my way. My luck held and I only hit rain 3 or four times. I took my directions from Map quest and a current state road map. Try it sometime, take a map and plan a trip. I always end up having lots of fun.

Stopping only for gas and restroom and the occasional kindly state trooper I still managed to pull in to my mothers place in about 6 to 6 1/2 hours, just in time to eat a birthday dinner with her and my brothers family.

It was good to just visit with my mother and brother and relax and plan for the next ride.

For a spur of the moment trip this was a good one with a bunch of people with hearts of gold.

Hope to see y'all on the road.