365 Group (f)
This morning I went out to a beautiful morning and a bald spot on my back tire.
Looking over my tire, it was definitely "showin cord". Not a good thing. I shifted my plans around for transportation to work and started looking for a new tire. Since it was early none of the shops would be open. I emailed a few of the places that I do business with, told them I needed a back tire "really fast, double quick and in a hurry".
Kind of bummed out I jumped in the pickup and headed out to work. One of the best riding days and I was having to drive. Thinking that this might not be so bad I pulled onto the street and was immediately held up letting a herd of bikes go by. Now depression is creeping in. I finally got moving and it seems everyone was riding this morning. Everyone but me. Oh well, I needed some four wheel time. Might forget how if I didn't drive every once in a while.
It was pretty much an uneventful trip in. I took a bunch of ribbing from the guys at work. They had all managed to ride in. I told them it was one of my bonus days that I had built up riding during the winter and went on in to start calling the local shops in the distant hope one of them might have a tire laying around.
By 10:30 I had called all the shops in the area and no one had anything that I could use. A couple said the could have me one by Friday so I ordered a tire while I wondered if I could make it till Friday on four wheels.
Sitting and thinking about my problem I remembered something from a couple of years back. Shoe Goo. This stuff is made to repair shoes and other rubber products. A couple of years ago I had a similar problem with a tire and as a joke had smeared this stuff on the spot. I couldn't remember how long I ran the tire with this Shoe Goo stuff on it but I did remember how when I finally changed the tire out, it was still on there. In fact I couldn't pull it off. Now I had a new mission, at least until my new tire came in, to find some Shoe Goo and "retread" my tire.
A quick call to a friend at the "Evil Empire" located what I needed. Now I'm all set. Who knows? Based on what I remember, this might work.
Since I have the truck, I think I'll just do a mini parts run this afternoon and pick up some things I have been putting off. A frame and a set of forks and some other odds and ends that were too big to carry on the bike. Winter projects actually.
Maybe today wasn't a total loss? One of them "Bikin" days.
Catch ya on the road
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
6/27-28/09 a two day trip...of sorts
365 Group (f)
This weekend was a hot couple of days. At times it seemed too hot to breathe. Air conditioning was a blessing.
I had volunteered to watch a couple of pups for the weekend and this sort of kept me in close. In fact, the majority of my riding was over to check on those "lil monsters" several times a day. My days started out being up early and feeding and fluffing my own "Republican Guard". Drink my first pot of coffee then fire up the bike and run the five miles over to the top of the mountain to feed and fluff the "lil monsters". Ride back to the cafe and have a little breakfast and visit with some of the local fixtures. Since I didn't know what their routine was during normal times I just ran back and forth several times each day. I'd let them out for a while till the heat brought them back in. Saddle up and head back toward the house or whatever errand I had. Lots of short rides.
To the majority of people, especially "Biker" types this probably doesn't sound like much fun. That's OK. These little guys are riders at heart. Really! Neither one peed on my tires.
These pups are a pleasure to be around. They aren't like most friendly critters,they actually love me and that's something since I haven't been around them all that much. It makes it all that much better.
I only got in about seventy five miles this weekend with the "pup sittin" and the heat. It was one of the most enjoyable seventy five mile two day trips I have ever had.
Catch ya on the road
Saturday, June 27, 2009
6/27/09 A great morning
365 Group (f)
Today I started out with a quick ride over to the top of the mountain, to check on a friends pups. They are out of town for the weekend and I "kinda sorta"volunteered to look after the little monsters as they needed someone real bad and the little monsters actually love me. I mean love me like I was kinfolk with money. When "little vermin" loves you it just makes your day I don't care who ya are. So I enjoy taking care of them.
There is something to be said for an early morning ride when the sun has just gotten up good and it's still a little cool. Jammin down the highway without any traffic to get in the way, makes that little five mile run something to look foreword to. Also there's just something about an old twin early in the morning, loudly rumbling down the road as people are trying to sleep in. Kind of makes up for the weeks close calls and other pressures. Hey, there not my neighbors.
I loved up the pup monsters and got a good lovin in return. I'm set for the day.
Heading back to the house I decided to stop off at the local gas station/cafe and grab a biscuit stuffed with bacon and tomatoes. Pulling in I saw one of those new Yamaha 1900's pulling up to the gas pump. That is one nice looking bike! The owner had nothing but good words for it, other than the price. I agreed. Seems he was going to something called "A Saturday Ride." I wasn't too sure about just what it was. This guy made it sound like a bunch of people that wanted to go for a ride but didn't know how to go about it. So they formed a committee to organized it so they could get in the wind. I found myself wondering, while he was telling me about it. why don't you just head out and see where you are when you stop for gas or lunch? Anyway, to each their own ride.
I got my biscuit stuffed with dead animal by products and garden fresh tomatoes, a cup of coffee and proceeded out to one of the picnic tables to enjoy the remainder of the morning cool.
Now that the biscuit is down and the coffee drank, time to get started on today's errands. Bank, Grocery store, mow the yard. Dinner this evening with the son. A light day with lots of short rides. And... the "little monsters". God has smiled upon me again.
catch ya on the road.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
6/25/09 Biker Puberty
365 Group (f)
Today would be a good day to go fishing. Clear and sunny. Not an offensive looking cloud in the sky. To my way of thinking a perfect day to ride over to the lake and do a little bank fishing from the shade. There is only one thing wrong with this plan. Work. Oh well, hopefully there will be other days.
I managed to get around early this morning and was on the road a good half hour ahead of normal. Thinking this amazing feat over I decided to make a run down some of the back roads. Maybe someone else had the fishing idea? I pulled on to Blue Springs Road with the thought in mind of riding down to the ramp area and seeing if there were any early risers wetting a worm. Along my way I came upon one of the local characters,a young guy I'll call Chuck, on his bike beside the road. Knowing that he didn't ride very much, I pulled up expecting to hear that something had gone "pop" instead of "bang". Shutting my engine off I asked what the trouble was. No trouble. Just taking a break. How far you coming from this morning. Just the house. Hummm, a whole three or four miles? Yep! Then it hit me he was serious. I asked him if he felt OK and he replied yeah. Just restin up for tonight. Tonight? Yeah, Bike Night is tonight. OK?? I couldn't help myself and asked, you don't ride a lot do ya? Nope, once in a while. That explained a lot about this situation. Bike Night you say? yeah it's a big deal every Thursday night over at Jose's in Fayetteville. Everyone rides over and shoots the breeze or a beer and something to eat. The bike nights we used to have had gotten kind of stale and I as well as some of the other riders in the area had stopped going. If he was needing to rest up this early for tonight's bike night, maybe there was something new and improved going on. I started to ask him about what all was happening now days when I got a look at the time and had to take off.
I couldn't help thinking about him needing to rest up. Guess I'm going to Bike Night tonight.
I pulled on to Hwy 412 from Blue Springs and headed East. Traffic was light and moving along really well. Before I knew it I was coming into town. Coming up on the Harps Grocery I noticed a couple of riders in the lot that I recognized. I pulled in and ask whats going on with bike night these days. They both said "same old same old." I quickly told them of my earlier conversation with Chuck and they both looked like I was conning them. They both couldn't remember anything special last week. Just a few beers and a little visiting.
I pulled back out and "pin balled" my way on up to work. It was kind of an odd way to start my morning.
As my day wore on I asked everyone at work that rode a bike if they knew of anything "special" about Bike Night lately. No one seemed to know anything more than I did. Finally I ask a line supervisor named Lynn and told him about Chuck. Lynn started grinning from ear to ear. "Chuck is the best part of the show at bike night". What? Seems Chuck discovered bike night sometime last year and hasn't missed one since. From what I gathered, it was the most exotic thing he's ever experienced. According to Lynn, Chuck acts like he has crawled inside one of the better issues of any of the old bike magazines from the seventies. He really "walks the walk and talks the talk." Lynn said I need to go and just watch the "Chuck show". If nothing more than to get set straight on the true meaning of "old school." The more I listened to Lynn about Chuck it dawned on me. Chuck was going through "biker puberty". I told Lynn my theory and he stopped and thought for a second. I never thought about it like that but that's what it is. Most of us in our circle of riders are older. Chuck is standing on the outside. Not in our group and not in the group his age. That's why he is so noticeable and comical. That was it!
Thinking, as I noticed Lynn doing the same, about "biker puberty". OUCH!!!!
I'm still going to Bike Night tonight. I've got a bunch of other "hard cases" lined up to go with me. Lynn said he and a couple of his riding brothers would be going too.
Who knows, we might be able to give Chuck a hand and nostalgically wax the fact we were all once young.
Catch ya on the road
Today would be a good day to go fishing. Clear and sunny. Not an offensive looking cloud in the sky. To my way of thinking a perfect day to ride over to the lake and do a little bank fishing from the shade. There is only one thing wrong with this plan. Work. Oh well, hopefully there will be other days.
I managed to get around early this morning and was on the road a good half hour ahead of normal. Thinking this amazing feat over I decided to make a run down some of the back roads. Maybe someone else had the fishing idea? I pulled on to Blue Springs Road with the thought in mind of riding down to the ramp area and seeing if there were any early risers wetting a worm. Along my way I came upon one of the local characters,a young guy I'll call Chuck, on his bike beside the road. Knowing that he didn't ride very much, I pulled up expecting to hear that something had gone "pop" instead of "bang". Shutting my engine off I asked what the trouble was. No trouble. Just taking a break. How far you coming from this morning. Just the house. Hummm, a whole three or four miles? Yep! Then it hit me he was serious. I asked him if he felt OK and he replied yeah. Just restin up for tonight. Tonight? Yeah, Bike Night is tonight. OK?? I couldn't help myself and asked, you don't ride a lot do ya? Nope, once in a while. That explained a lot about this situation. Bike Night you say? yeah it's a big deal every Thursday night over at Jose's in Fayetteville. Everyone rides over and shoots the breeze or a beer and something to eat. The bike nights we used to have had gotten kind of stale and I as well as some of the other riders in the area had stopped going. If he was needing to rest up this early for tonight's bike night, maybe there was something new and improved going on. I started to ask him about what all was happening now days when I got a look at the time and had to take off.
I couldn't help thinking about him needing to rest up. Guess I'm going to Bike Night tonight.
I pulled on to Hwy 412 from Blue Springs and headed East. Traffic was light and moving along really well. Before I knew it I was coming into town. Coming up on the Harps Grocery I noticed a couple of riders in the lot that I recognized. I pulled in and ask whats going on with bike night these days. They both said "same old same old." I quickly told them of my earlier conversation with Chuck and they both looked like I was conning them. They both couldn't remember anything special last week. Just a few beers and a little visiting.
I pulled back out and "pin balled" my way on up to work. It was kind of an odd way to start my morning.
As my day wore on I asked everyone at work that rode a bike if they knew of anything "special" about Bike Night lately. No one seemed to know anything more than I did. Finally I ask a line supervisor named Lynn and told him about Chuck. Lynn started grinning from ear to ear. "Chuck is the best part of the show at bike night". What? Seems Chuck discovered bike night sometime last year and hasn't missed one since. From what I gathered, it was the most exotic thing he's ever experienced. According to Lynn, Chuck acts like he has crawled inside one of the better issues of any of the old bike magazines from the seventies. He really "walks the walk and talks the talk." Lynn said I need to go and just watch the "Chuck show". If nothing more than to get set straight on the true meaning of "old school." The more I listened to Lynn about Chuck it dawned on me. Chuck was going through "biker puberty". I told Lynn my theory and he stopped and thought for a second. I never thought about it like that but that's what it is. Most of us in our circle of riders are older. Chuck is standing on the outside. Not in our group and not in the group his age. That's why he is so noticeable and comical. That was it!
Thinking, as I noticed Lynn doing the same, about "biker puberty". OUCH!!!!
I'm still going to Bike Night tonight. I've got a bunch of other "hard cases" lined up to go with me. Lynn said he and a couple of his riding brothers would be going too.
Who knows, we might be able to give Chuck a hand and nostalgically wax the fact we were all once young.
Catch ya on the road
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6/24/09 Bankers,Doctors and Lawyers, oh my.....
365 Group (f)
Today was a great day to be on the road. That is if you were out early.
I had another Doctor appointment today and since it's only seventy or so miles I kind of slept in a little. That was almost a big mistake. I got around and put the pups in check to behave themselves, loaded the bike for a day trip and had "just one more" cup of coffee.
As I was bouncing down the drive I remembered the Banker that I been dealing with on a project and how he needed some things from my Lawyer. Oh well, a little side trip into Fayetteville wouldn't hurt. I hit the Highway and there was little traffic so I opened the bike up and made a fast trip into town. Once there everything slowed down to a crawl. Traffic was really heavy for this time of the morning. After lots of "shortcut" taking I pulled up to the Lawyers office. I explained what I was after and was told to wait and the heard quite possibly the dumbest question I've ever heard. "would you like a cup of coffee while you wait" Duh! After a couple or three cups of coffee the paperwork was all ready to go and I headed out to the bike. The heat by this time was starting to really come up and I was glad to finally get out and moving.
Once I got out of town everything evened out and it wasn't too bad.I just kind of floated along. Going East there was very little traffic and I made good time to about Huntsville. Just passed the first turn to Huntsville a Trooper had a car pulled over and had caused what traffic there was to slow way down. Once all us "law biding citizens" got out of sight we all hammered down and really tried to make up some time.
It wasn't too long before I found myself pulling into Marble and my Hush puppie stop. I grabbed a dozen to go and got back out on the road. The last time I had to see this Doctor I had a real wait. This time I had filled my thermos and had a dozen Hush puppies to help me kill the time.
From Marble on I didn't have anything but a sweet ride. I just tooled along and listened to the glass packs. I really had a good time with them rolling off the Boxley mountain. I let the bike hold back and did my best impersonation of an old truck. Running through the valley it was cool yet. The heat hadn't come up as bad in the lower areas as it was up on top. Pulling the other side of the mountain it was still shady in places and really nice.
I made good time until I reached Mossville. I pulled over at the church to give mom a call and see if she was home. There were three other bikes there and I chatted a little with the riders. They were just "out riding around". Taking a break from the road. All four looked like they were having a good time. I said adios and headed back out.
At about 11:30 I pulled in to my mothers house to see how the relatives were doing.
My nephew was up from Texas for a while. as I hadn't seen him in what seems like forever, it was a good stop over. Before I knew it it was time to make the last seventeen miles to the Doctor. I got out in the killer heat and hit the bikes sweet spot at 70 and settled in for the short trip. Going down the mountain into Jasper is always fun. Lots of curves with just enough straight stretches to make for a good ride. Some things don't ever change. I remember enjoying this short ride as a kid growing up.
I pulled up to the Doctors office with about twenty minutes to spare. In fact, I didn't even have time to pull out the Hush puppies before they called me.
After the bad news and "payin" and "yackin", I pulled out heading for Hwy 7 North. I had a bunch of thinking to do and I needed a long ride to do it.
Just across on the North end of the bridge in Jasper I hooked a left on to 74 and made a loud run up to Mt. Sherman and Low gap. I stopped at the brake check area on the Boxley mountain and downed a cup of coffee and a couple of Hush puppies.
The rest of my ride back to the house was a nice smooth one. The only thing that broke my easy mood was I noticed that a Trooper had a car pulled over in the same spot as the one from the morning. Something to remember.
This was a great trip, heat and all considered. About two hundred miles. Hoping to do it again on Friday. Without the Doctor.
Catch ya on the road
Today was a great day to be on the road. That is if you were out early.
I had another Doctor appointment today and since it's only seventy or so miles I kind of slept in a little. That was almost a big mistake. I got around and put the pups in check to behave themselves, loaded the bike for a day trip and had "just one more" cup of coffee.
As I was bouncing down the drive I remembered the Banker that I been dealing with on a project and how he needed some things from my Lawyer. Oh well, a little side trip into Fayetteville wouldn't hurt. I hit the Highway and there was little traffic so I opened the bike up and made a fast trip into town. Once there everything slowed down to a crawl. Traffic was really heavy for this time of the morning. After lots of "shortcut" taking I pulled up to the Lawyers office. I explained what I was after and was told to wait and the heard quite possibly the dumbest question I've ever heard. "would you like a cup of coffee while you wait" Duh! After a couple or three cups of coffee the paperwork was all ready to go and I headed out to the bike. The heat by this time was starting to really come up and I was glad to finally get out and moving.
Once I got out of town everything evened out and it wasn't too bad.I just kind of floated along. Going East there was very little traffic and I made good time to about Huntsville. Just passed the first turn to Huntsville a Trooper had a car pulled over and had caused what traffic there was to slow way down. Once all us "law biding citizens" got out of sight we all hammered down and really tried to make up some time.
It wasn't too long before I found myself pulling into Marble and my Hush puppie stop. I grabbed a dozen to go and got back out on the road. The last time I had to see this Doctor I had a real wait. This time I had filled my thermos and had a dozen Hush puppies to help me kill the time.
From Marble on I didn't have anything but a sweet ride. I just tooled along and listened to the glass packs. I really had a good time with them rolling off the Boxley mountain. I let the bike hold back and did my best impersonation of an old truck. Running through the valley it was cool yet. The heat hadn't come up as bad in the lower areas as it was up on top. Pulling the other side of the mountain it was still shady in places and really nice.
I made good time until I reached Mossville. I pulled over at the church to give mom a call and see if she was home. There were three other bikes there and I chatted a little with the riders. They were just "out riding around". Taking a break from the road. All four looked like they were having a good time. I said adios and headed back out.
At about 11:30 I pulled in to my mothers house to see how the relatives were doing.
My nephew was up from Texas for a while. as I hadn't seen him in what seems like forever, it was a good stop over. Before I knew it it was time to make the last seventeen miles to the Doctor. I got out in the killer heat and hit the bikes sweet spot at 70 and settled in for the short trip. Going down the mountain into Jasper is always fun. Lots of curves with just enough straight stretches to make for a good ride. Some things don't ever change. I remember enjoying this short ride as a kid growing up.
I pulled up to the Doctors office with about twenty minutes to spare. In fact, I didn't even have time to pull out the Hush puppies before they called me.
After the bad news and "payin" and "yackin", I pulled out heading for Hwy 7 North. I had a bunch of thinking to do and I needed a long ride to do it.
Just across on the North end of the bridge in Jasper I hooked a left on to 74 and made a loud run up to Mt. Sherman and Low gap. I stopped at the brake check area on the Boxley mountain and downed a cup of coffee and a couple of Hush puppies.
The rest of my ride back to the house was a nice smooth one. The only thing that broke my easy mood was I noticed that a Trooper had a car pulled over in the same spot as the one from the morning. Something to remember.
This was a great trip, heat and all considered. About two hundred miles. Hoping to do it again on Friday. Without the Doctor.
Catch ya on the road
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
6/23/09 Daily
365 Group (f)
These last couple of days have been heck on my back. I more than less over did it over the weekend. I guess it was worth it. Anyway the Doctor is going to explain it all on Wednesday and let me know if it was.
This morning was almost a carbon copy of yesterday morning. I fired up the bike and let it warm up a little while thinking about how easy it would be to call in and tell work that I had the "woofle's" and wouldn't be in. Then again it's the start of the week and payroll needs to get turned in. Guess I'll go on in.
The ride down my driveway was a bumpy mess. I got to get it repaired soon. Once I got on to the pavement the "owing" & "ouching" eased up a bit and by the time I was up to highway speed I was feeling no pain. I pulled into the one stop to top off the tank and look over the morning traffic.
After gas and a quick cup of coffee I pulled on to the highway and made a run for the mountain. Traffic was light and it was a smooth, quick ride. I enjoy this part of my morning ride as it's a good place to open up and get the cobwebs all shook up. Before ya know it though the turn off is coming up and gotta start slowing down. Guess I cant have it all.
I had a fairly uneventful ride in to work. Even in town. Everything seemed to be put on slow speed this morning. I didn't notice that "pinball" feeling either. Now that has to be a bad sign.
Running up Hwy.412 I noticed several bikes on the road. Most were locals on their way to work. I have been seeing this more and more. Lots of them are new smaller bikes. I'm thinking that some are just learning to ride and some are finally getting the idea. Riding to work is the best way to go. I also noticed another group with that look of "I'm on vacation about them". Whenever I see these folks, I always get a big case of the "wanna's". " I wanna go". There is nothing that compares to vacationing on a bike.
Pulling into work I saw that everyone that works here that owns a bike had ridden in. That means today will be another lunch run. A lunch run by it's self is reason enough to ride in. All of us saddle up around noon and jump out into traffic to roar around town and converge on a fast food place. Quite a show.
I parked my bike next to a big old dressed out Harley that looked like it could use a little classing up and headed in.
Depending on the doc, catch ya on the road.
These last couple of days have been heck on my back. I more than less over did it over the weekend. I guess it was worth it. Anyway the Doctor is going to explain it all on Wednesday and let me know if it was.
This morning was almost a carbon copy of yesterday morning. I fired up the bike and let it warm up a little while thinking about how easy it would be to call in and tell work that I had the "woofle's" and wouldn't be in. Then again it's the start of the week and payroll needs to get turned in. Guess I'll go on in.
The ride down my driveway was a bumpy mess. I got to get it repaired soon. Once I got on to the pavement the "owing" & "ouching" eased up a bit and by the time I was up to highway speed I was feeling no pain. I pulled into the one stop to top off the tank and look over the morning traffic.
After gas and a quick cup of coffee I pulled on to the highway and made a run for the mountain. Traffic was light and it was a smooth, quick ride. I enjoy this part of my morning ride as it's a good place to open up and get the cobwebs all shook up. Before ya know it though the turn off is coming up and gotta start slowing down. Guess I cant have it all.
I had a fairly uneventful ride in to work. Even in town. Everything seemed to be put on slow speed this morning. I didn't notice that "pinball" feeling either. Now that has to be a bad sign.
Running up Hwy.412 I noticed several bikes on the road. Most were locals on their way to work. I have been seeing this more and more. Lots of them are new smaller bikes. I'm thinking that some are just learning to ride and some are finally getting the idea. Riding to work is the best way to go. I also noticed another group with that look of "I'm on vacation about them". Whenever I see these folks, I always get a big case of the "wanna's". " I wanna go". There is nothing that compares to vacationing on a bike.
Pulling into work I saw that everyone that works here that owns a bike had ridden in. That means today will be another lunch run. A lunch run by it's self is reason enough to ride in. All of us saddle up around noon and jump out into traffic to roar around town and converge on a fast food place. Quite a show.
I parked my bike next to a big old dressed out Harley that looked like it could use a little classing up and headed in.
Depending on the doc, catch ya on the road.
Monday, June 22, 2009
6/19-21/09 Bon Rally
365 Group (f)
This morning was absolutely beautiful a perfect morning for riding.
I had picked up something on the way home from work Thursday and as a result had a flat on the rear. My bike sat all Friday until I got in to change it. Since it was a tube tire I couldn't air it up and run to a shop. I grabbed a floor jack and started improvising. After about twenty minutes I had the tire off. I loaded it and the new tube and headed to a friends shop. I replaced the tube and had everything back together by around 9:30. It wasn't as bad as it has been in the past.
So this morning when I went out I was tickled to say the least that the tire was still up.
I grabbed my camera gear and headed out to put on some miles. Stopping at the One Stop in town I topped off and watched as several bikes headed East. Remembering the BON Rally this weekend I paid for my gas and also headed East.
My ride over to Eureka was a nice ride. The traffic was moderate and there were lots of bikes on the road. I had heard that there was also a poker run benefiting a children's organization going on at the same time. Since I was running a little late I figured that I was meeting the poker run riders.
I made good time over to the motel, Swiss Holiday Resort, no one tried to run me over this time. As I pulled up to the intersection I noticed several bikes around the motel. Looked as if most everyone was already out and going. I pulled in and chatted a bit with a couple of couples and learned that a lot of the riders were out looking the area over. I headed out for something to eat and just sort of made a slow lazy pass toward Berryville and back.
As I came back into town I pulled in to Planet Leather to look around. They usually have the best prices around on leather. I've been stopping in with them for so long now that it's almost a requirement that I go by when I'm in town. I really didn't see anything I needed and ended up just visiting a little.
After Planet Leather I loaded up and headed down town to try and find some lunch. Everything looked packed and I really didn't feel like waiting around so I opted to head back up and grab a burger at Micky D's. Normally I don't like to eat MacDonald's. I made an exception in this case as the bunch of riders I was running with pulled in there. I got a burger and settled in. As we ate they all seemed to be interested in going across the street to Shawbee's (think that's it's name) for a beer three. After eating we all made a pass on down toward the motel and the back to have a beer.
The group was kind of varied. A doctor, carpenter,truck driver and three
"internetsomethingorothers." While we talked I answered questions about the local area and gave them some directions as to making some of the local riding loops.
About 2:30 I headed back up to the motel to check on the time for the band that would be later on tonight, then headed back toward the house. A friend had ridden up from Mississippi to attend a wedding and I wanted to get back to kind of visit a little with him. I made it back to town in time to catch him before they left to go to Devils Den and the ceremony. Jim is a crazy character about my age. We made Bikes,Blues & BBQ a couple of times together and had a good time. He's always lots of fun to be around. I told him of the BON Rally and the live band/concert later that night. If the wedding didn't drag out he said he'd like to run over. I told him to call me when he knew what he was doing and I headed to the house.
I never did hear back from Jim and about 6:00 pm I pulled out for Fayetteville and something to eat. Hoping to catch them on the road. I pulled into a little Mexican place and ordered. While I was waiting a group of riders pulled in and announced that they were headed that way. I thought "what the heck". After we ate, I fell in with them and made a mad dash toward Eureka.
The people were great. The beer was cold and the band live. I was in "pup dog" heaven.
At about four thirty a m I said a few goodbyes to some newly made friends and kicked off toward the house. Worked out just right as I rolled in in time to feed the "little republicans".
Had a good time and met some new friends and a couple of really special people as well as got to see some old friends. I managed to get in about three hundred miles and just stayed in the local area. I hope next weekend is half as good.
Catch ya on the road
This morning was absolutely beautiful a perfect morning for riding.
I had picked up something on the way home from work Thursday and as a result had a flat on the rear. My bike sat all Friday until I got in to change it. Since it was a tube tire I couldn't air it up and run to a shop. I grabbed a floor jack and started improvising. After about twenty minutes I had the tire off. I loaded it and the new tube and headed to a friends shop. I replaced the tube and had everything back together by around 9:30. It wasn't as bad as it has been in the past.
So this morning when I went out I was tickled to say the least that the tire was still up.
I grabbed my camera gear and headed out to put on some miles. Stopping at the One Stop in town I topped off and watched as several bikes headed East. Remembering the BON Rally this weekend I paid for my gas and also headed East.
My ride over to Eureka was a nice ride. The traffic was moderate and there were lots of bikes on the road. I had heard that there was also a poker run benefiting a children's organization going on at the same time. Since I was running a little late I figured that I was meeting the poker run riders.
I made good time over to the motel, Swiss Holiday Resort, no one tried to run me over this time. As I pulled up to the intersection I noticed several bikes around the motel. Looked as if most everyone was already out and going. I pulled in and chatted a bit with a couple of couples and learned that a lot of the riders were out looking the area over. I headed out for something to eat and just sort of made a slow lazy pass toward Berryville and back.
As I came back into town I pulled in to Planet Leather to look around. They usually have the best prices around on leather. I've been stopping in with them for so long now that it's almost a requirement that I go by when I'm in town. I really didn't see anything I needed and ended up just visiting a little.
After Planet Leather I loaded up and headed down town to try and find some lunch. Everything looked packed and I really didn't feel like waiting around so I opted to head back up and grab a burger at Micky D's. Normally I don't like to eat MacDonald's. I made an exception in this case as the bunch of riders I was running with pulled in there. I got a burger and settled in. As we ate they all seemed to be interested in going across the street to Shawbee's (think that's it's name) for a beer three. After eating we all made a pass on down toward the motel and the back to have a beer.
The group was kind of varied. A doctor, carpenter,truck driver and three
"internetsomethingorothers." While we talked I answered questions about the local area and gave them some directions as to making some of the local riding loops.
About 2:30 I headed back up to the motel to check on the time for the band that would be later on tonight, then headed back toward the house. A friend had ridden up from Mississippi to attend a wedding and I wanted to get back to kind of visit a little with him. I made it back to town in time to catch him before they left to go to Devils Den and the ceremony. Jim is a crazy character about my age. We made Bikes,Blues & BBQ a couple of times together and had a good time. He's always lots of fun to be around. I told him of the BON Rally and the live band/concert later that night. If the wedding didn't drag out he said he'd like to run over. I told him to call me when he knew what he was doing and I headed to the house.
I never did hear back from Jim and about 6:00 pm I pulled out for Fayetteville and something to eat. Hoping to catch them on the road. I pulled into a little Mexican place and ordered. While I was waiting a group of riders pulled in and announced that they were headed that way. I thought "what the heck". After we ate, I fell in with them and made a mad dash toward Eureka.
The people were great. The beer was cold and the band live. I was in "pup dog" heaven.
At about four thirty a m I said a few goodbyes to some newly made friends and kicked off toward the house. Worked out just right as I rolled in in time to feed the "little republicans".
Had a good time and met some new friends and a couple of really special people as well as got to see some old friends. I managed to get in about three hundred miles and just stayed in the local area. I hope next weekend is half as good.
Catch ya on the road
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