The Art of Vintage Patina
I love vintage motorcycles. I saw this article over at BikerNet.com and thought I would bring it back over here for all to read.
It's a fine article, I hope y'all enjoy it.
Save the dogs
I was over at Life At Perewitz's blog, and read about this.
No use rewriting what was already there. For the most part I just copied an pasted.
Please help spread the word, and do your part.
Change (in the life of animals) we can all participate in.
Please tell ten friends to tell ten today!
The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.
It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box "Click here to give" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned or neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS !!!
No use rewriting what was already there. For the most part I just copied an pasted.
Please help spread the word, and do your part.
Change (in the life of animals) we can all participate in.
Please tell ten friends to tell ten today!
The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.
It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box "Click here to give" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned or neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS !!!
Put what ever it is you may be drinking down before reading this.
This is the funniest thing I've read in a long while. I've never had a colonoscopy, but I knw my time will come.
This is from newshound Dave Barry's colonoscopy journal:
I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis . Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, quote, 'HE'S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!'
I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called 'MoviPrep,' which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America 's enemies.
I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor. Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.
The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, 'a loose, watery bowel movement may result.' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off
your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.
MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but: Have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep , at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.
After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep. The next morning my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Andy?' How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.
At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked.
Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep. At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this is, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.
When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, 'Dancing Queen' had to be the least appropriate.
'You want me to turn it up?' said Andy, from somewhere behind me. 'Ha ha,' I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.
I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling 'Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine,' and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that It was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist for the Miami Herald.
On the subject of Colonoscopies...
Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous.... A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:
1. 'Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!
2. 'Find Amelia Earhart yet?'
3. 'Can you hear me NOW?'
4. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'
5. 'You know, in Arkansas , we're now legally married.'
6. 'Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?'
7. 'You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out...'
8. 'Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!'
9. 'If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!
10. 'Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.'
11. 'You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?'
12. 'God, now I know why I am not gay.'
And the best one of all.
13. 'Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?'
WIN A TP ENGINEERING ENGINE
WIN A TP ENGINEERING ENGINE--Win a $7,500 value TP Engineering 121ci engine just by attending the V-Twin Expo EASYRIDERS Events and TP Engineering have come together to offer one lucky dealer the opportunity to walk away from the show with one of TP Engineering's award-winning 121ci v-twin engines.
Worth some $7,500, the engine will be awarded to one lucky attending dealer at the event's Saturday evening industry reception (February 7th).
"Simply by registering and attending the Expo, this engine could be yours", Show Manager Jim Betlach told AMD Magazine. "The engine will be on display at the show and dealers will automatically be entered into the draw when they pick up their badge holder at one of the Expo hotels or at the Convention Center", Betlach explained.
"We are also again running our FREE lodging draw whereby some lucky dealers will have their hotel room 'comped'. If a dealer registers in advance, then he or she could be the lucky one selected."
The 9th annual V-Twin Expo will be the premier industry event this year for the custom v-twin and Harley-Davidson parts and accessory aftermarket. It will see dealers, custom v-twin builders and parts and accessory vendors from all around the world gather to see the year's new products, take advantage of show special offers from exhibitors, and attend highly relevant and perfectly timed seminars featuring a selection of industry experts.
The event opens at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday February 7th and runs through 1:00 p.m. on Monday February 9th at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
To register in advance for the event visit: www.vtwin-expo.com
Tel: 952 443 4168
Fax: 952 443 3678
E-mail: vtwin-expo@reactionmanagement.com
(From the pages of Bikernet)
I'll tell you honestly, what I think of the New 883.
Well, my weekend is over. Yes, I call Wednesday and Thursday MY weekend! Those are the days Jeff is home from work. They are his refresher days…and I am his refresher, as he is mine. So, it’s Friday, and my weekend is over.
I’ve gathered a few items from around the internet and news sites to chat about today. So grab yourself a cuppa tea, coffee, or what blows you boat across the pond…and let’s see what you all have to think and say about what I want to discuss today!
I want to start with what everyone seems to be discussing at this point, and perhaps the discussion is old now. It’s been a couple of days now since HD put out the news regarding the “New Blacked out Sportster.” That’s OK…what I have to say, I’ve said on other blogs and forums, so perhaps you guys have all seen it…perhaps not.
1. Nothing new about a blacked out Sportster. IE the Café Racer of 1978 and 1979. A handsome bike, although we couldn’t sell it to save our lives back in 1978 & ’79, when I worked at the dealership. It was finally given to me to ride as a demo bike…me and the owner shared the bike. He really liked it, except the complained that it “clunked” hard into gear…duh…that’s what Sportsters did back then…this bike was a really fast bike, and I enjoyed it for what it was at the time.
2.I like the big 3.3 gallon tank. Although, I really feel as if that’s overkill for this small bike. I’m old fashioned I guess. I like the peanut tanks, I like the tanks that hold 2.3 gallons, it’s a Sportster. Although, it does make riding with the big boys…you know, the ones with big twins… one hell of a lot easier. For some reason, the big twins become annoyed at having to stop every 80 miles or so for gas. Funny thing, they don’t seem to mind to stop that often for smoke breaks, ass breaks, or piss breaks, but tell em ya need gas for your Sportster, you will sometimes get that feeling they are internally rolling their eyes at you. Well I don’t care. I like keeping to tradition as much as I can. It just seems right to me…so I honor the Sportster by keeping her the way she has been for many, many decades before the big boys came to town!
3.What is it with these license tag holders? Why do the designers have to put them on the side of the bike? It looks like a clothes line to me. A place to hang my wet clothing to dry for the day…night…. It’s annoying to me to have that thing hanging off the side of the bike like that. I just feel as if the designer who puts it there just don’t have any real imagination when it comes to placing that piece of governmental required piece of shit…somewhere on the damn bike… I just feel that it don’t belong hanging off the side. I know many of you disagree…but it really does appear to me like an unfinished and hastily attached piece of crap. They have done things such as add bullet type turn signals on this bike…so why do they detract from the streamline by hanging this shit off the side of the bike?
4.I do like the bullet type turn signals on this bike. I love anything that streamlines this bike. Quite nice ain’t it? I haven’t seen what they have done for the front of the bike in this regard, so I suppose I am going to have to make a trip down to the HD shop and see for myself what’s been done there on this bike.
5.I am not a big fan of solid spoke wheels. They have such a dated look to them. Not to mention, you lose the stream line look there. I get such a contradiction of first impressions when I see this bike. On one hand, they seem to want it to remind us of the old time 900cc flat trackers. At the same time though they put on these strange clunky wheels….I mean, yeah on the back…I don’t have a problem with adding some weight there…but it just looks way out of place on the front of a Sportster! Sportsters are supposed to have a lean hungry look to them…which is another reason I don’t like the big 3 gallon tank I suppose.
6. The stock seat looks like it’s hard, slick and impossible to keep your ass planted firmly in it. Don’t you agree? I just get that slip slidey feeling just looking at it. I guess I will have to go sit on this bike…just to see if it performs the way it looks.
7.I hate the exhaust on this bike. It just doesn’t have the Sporty look. You know what I mean? It looks so freakin tame! It really takes away the feeling of adventure, of speed, of danger. It reminds me of bagger pipes. Another contradiction to the looks of this bike.
8.The lower legs of this bike…will the black out stay put there? Or…if you live near the beach, or the desert…is that stuff gonna be sand blasted off? I dunno…but I would like to have an answer to that one.
So tell me, do you think I’m nuts? Do you not see what is wrong with this bike? Sportsters should be bikes designed to appear lean and mean. They should not have any clunkiness in their design aspect. They should be streamlined, clean, without shit hanging off the side of them. I just feel as if the designers of this 883 didn’t have a clear image of what they wanted to design. They couldn’t decide if they wanted to make this bike fast and mean, or if they wanted it to have some of the appearances of a larger V-Twin. I hate that. It’s an 883. It has no business trying to be anything other than a Sportster.
Tires, those round rubber things that suck the money right out from underneath of ya.
Regarding tires, I have some background for you on my choices, and a question for you.
I use the Dunlop Harley factory tires. I'm sick of putting on new rubber so often. I'm switching to Metzler this time to try it out, based on a recommendation by a fellow rider, who swears that they aren't quite as soft, and they get more life out of them than the Dunlops.
I've recently had another one of my friends tell me they thought the Metzlers were even softer than the Dunlops, and won't last as long. He said I'm going to be disappointed. Since I already paid for them, and had the shop special order them in for me, I can only hope he's wrong.
Anyone know who's right? Or does anyone else have any other suggestions?
I'm willing to try darn near anything at this point. I don't let my back end loose and do burnouts deliberately, but the rear end does let loose from time to time on wet pavement, or over those wide painted white squares at intersections, etc. Noting this, I would not expect to have to replace tires as often as I do, and It's beginning to suck, and piss me off.
Any comments or suggestions from the peanut gallery would be most appreciated.
Help!
I use the Dunlop Harley factory tires. I'm sick of putting on new rubber so often. I'm switching to Metzler this time to try it out, based on a recommendation by a fellow rider, who swears that they aren't quite as soft, and they get more life out of them than the Dunlops.
I've recently had another one of my friends tell me they thought the Metzlers were even softer than the Dunlops, and won't last as long. He said I'm going to be disappointed. Since I already paid for them, and had the shop special order them in for me, I can only hope he's wrong.
Anyone know who's right? Or does anyone else have any other suggestions?
I'm willing to try darn near anything at this point. I don't let my back end loose and do burnouts deliberately, but the rear end does let loose from time to time on wet pavement, or over those wide painted white squares at intersections, etc. Noting this, I would not expect to have to replace tires as often as I do, and It's beginning to suck, and piss me off.
Any comments or suggestions from the peanut gallery would be most appreciated.
Help!
2.5 really damn ass cold miles
I rode my bike to the bike shop on Monday. The day was supposed to top out at 5 degrees F.. When I got a ride home from the shop, the thermometer read 0 degrees F.
Now mind you in Celsius Zero is Freezing cold (Literally). But in Fahrenheit Zero is 31 degrees below freezing, and then lets add some windchill factor just for kicks. I think topped out at about 40 MPH and got a wee bit cold.
I only wore my half shell with a mask and shades. The exposed area around the eyes was screaming for me to stop. I trudged on. I want that new tire on before it's riding time dammit! The shop had an opening, and my friend the owner of the shop was telling me it was picking up, and if I did not get my bike in quick, I'd be in line waiting come springtime to have the work done, and missing out on riding time.
I should have listened to my wife ages ago when she hounded me to get it in before the trailer was buried in snow in the back yard, but I wanted to milk out every last day of riding, and now I had to pay for my greed. I asked to use several friends and family's covered trailers, but all had the same story as me, or else they were full of shit. (The trailers that is, not my friends or family) Well maybe both. Who knows.
Oh well, such is life. My bike's at the shop now, and will be ready for me come springtime. I'll be ready to roll then.
Now mind you in Celsius Zero is Freezing cold (Literally). But in Fahrenheit Zero is 31 degrees below freezing, and then lets add some windchill factor just for kicks. I think topped out at about 40 MPH and got a wee bit cold.
I only wore my half shell with a mask and shades. The exposed area around the eyes was screaming for me to stop. I trudged on. I want that new tire on before it's riding time dammit! The shop had an opening, and my friend the owner of the shop was telling me it was picking up, and if I did not get my bike in quick, I'd be in line waiting come springtime to have the work done, and missing out on riding time.
I should have listened to my wife ages ago when she hounded me to get it in before the trailer was buried in snow in the back yard, but I wanted to milk out every last day of riding, and now I had to pay for my greed. I asked to use several friends and family's covered trailers, but all had the same story as me, or else they were full of shit. (The trailers that is, not my friends or family) Well maybe both. Who knows.
Oh well, such is life. My bike's at the shop now, and will be ready for me come springtime. I'll be ready to roll then.
2008 collection of mailboxes that I've photographed while riding.
Mail boxes, lots and lots of mail boxes.
I know, it sounds silly, but when you ride, you are "on the road" "in the wind", and out in the open. Your senses heighten, and you begin to notice "everything". You see things many times missed by the casual passerby in a car. That to me is one of the greatest joys of riding a motorcycle.
I've taken the time to create a collection of some of the more memorable mailboxes that I've ridden by while on my two wheeled travels. Unfortunately, some of my favorites I've had to pass by, due to either not having a camera, or riding with a group, etc.
Here are some of the ones that I've captured when not riding in a group, and having someone wonder why the hell we all have to stop riding so Mwa can take a picture of a damn mailbox.
For those of you who know me, by now, you know I'm artsy fartsy, so this kind of shit is right up my ally. How could I not notice this great little piece of Americana? I'm quite certain I'm not the only biker who notices these. Hopefully anyway, or I guess that makes me quite kooky. Maybe the fact that I actually took the time to make a photo collection of them for the blog is kooky. I'll give you that.
Anyway...
I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I did collecting it.
We have a patriotic mail box.
.
.
.
We have sculpture in stainless steel.
.
.
.
We have sports lovers.
.
.
.
We have the numbers painted nicely, or differently theme.
.
.
.
.
We've got the John Deere theme.
.
.
Love this one with the little farmer in the tractor!
.
.
.
.
We've got competition for John Deere with Case Tractors.
.
.
.
Then there's pigs and dogs.
.
.
.
.
And a bit of racing.
.
Don't know why, rust and all, I particularly liked this flamed mailbox.
.
Nice scallops.
.
.
.
One of my favorites... Air mail.
.
.
This last one, I borrowed from a fellow blogger Ann Nelson.
I know, it sounds silly, but when you ride, you are "on the road" "in the wind", and out in the open. Your senses heighten, and you begin to notice "everything". You see things many times missed by the casual passerby in a car. That to me is one of the greatest joys of riding a motorcycle.
I've taken the time to create a collection of some of the more memorable mailboxes that I've ridden by while on my two wheeled travels. Unfortunately, some of my favorites I've had to pass by, due to either not having a camera, or riding with a group, etc.
Here are some of the ones that I've captured when not riding in a group, and having someone wonder why the hell we all have to stop riding so Mwa can take a picture of a damn mailbox.
For those of you who know me, by now, you know I'm artsy fartsy, so this kind of shit is right up my ally. How could I not notice this great little piece of Americana? I'm quite certain I'm not the only biker who notices these. Hopefully anyway, or I guess that makes me quite kooky. Maybe the fact that I actually took the time to make a photo collection of them for the blog is kooky. I'll give you that.
Anyway...
I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I did collecting it.
We have a patriotic mail box.
.
.
.
We have sculpture in stainless steel.
.
.
.
We have sports lovers.
.
.
.
We have the numbers painted nicely, or differently theme.
.
.
.
.
We've got the John Deere theme.
.
.
Love this one with the little farmer in the tractor!
.
.
.
.
We've got competition for John Deere with Case Tractors.
.
.
.
Then there's pigs and dogs.
.
.
.
.
And a bit of racing.
.
Don't know why, rust and all, I particularly liked this flamed mailbox.
.
Nice scallops.
.
.
.
One of my favorites... Air mail.
.
.
This last one, I borrowed from a fellow blogger Ann Nelson.
Knucklehead Antique Motorcycle Club of America
I came across something I feel is quite interesting today.
Have you ever heard of the Knucklehead Antique Motorcycle Club of America Youth Program? No? Me either, that is to say until just a few moments ago.
I get up pretty early in the morning, this morning I was up and sitting at my computer by 3.15 AM. What I do is cruise the internet looking for news or information about the motorcycle industry that is of unique interest. I often find it…but then so do about a half million of you other people out here…which means (as far as I’m concerned) the information is not that unique.
It’s for this reason, I like to peruse BikerNet.com.
Bandit (Keith Ball), owner, publisher, editor, and supreme being at Biker Net Interplanetary Headquarters, has been heading this singularly unique biker e-zine for many years. I remember him from Easy Riders Magazine…circa 1978…through the early 80’s. After that, I didn’t buy magazines…just got too busy…and too poor to afford them.
It’s thanks to Bandit that a lot of otherwise obscure information gets out to the public and read. It’s because of Bandit that I now have heard of the Knucklehead Antique Motorcycle Club of America Youth Program, and I now would like to pass on what I’ve learned to you!
This new youth program is run by a guy by the name of Matt Olsen. He tells Bandit in a press statement: “To me, it seems like the biggest problems with antique motorcycles, is people not knowing enough about them, and being intimidated by them.” Olsen further states: “I am amazed by the amount of people my age who love the way bikes look and sound, but have no clue about the old bikes or how they work. I figured that if people in my age group were confused about the details of starting and operating ‘40’s era bikes, then there were probably more people that would benefit form some grass roost motorcycle promoting!”
According to the article in BikerNet…Matt’s objective is to run a two pronged promotion. First…an essay contest. The winner of this contest will find himself in a booth at the Limpnickie Lot in Daytona Beach in Spring of 2009…here the winner will find him/her self involved in a restoration build, hands on, learning what goes on in a restoration project of an antique HD.
The second outreach will be aimed at the crowd…Matt plans to introduce young people to “vintage kickstart motorcycles.” In other words darlin’, Matt plans to have several vintage motorcycles on stage or nearby…rear wheels propped up off the ground, and the entire bike stabilized, so that intrepid youngsters can learn how to kick an early Panhead or Knucklehead without fear of gravity and the physics of natural selection and the thinning of the species coming into play as they learn what we “oldsters” learned the hard way.
So, according to the news release, there will be two people manning the booth during it’s open hours, teaching people how to kickstart a 1948 Indian Chief and a 1946 Harley Davidson Knucklehead. You know what? As I was coming up, I remember how rare it was to see an Indian Chief…much less find someone willing to let you stand on it’s kick starter. And a 1946 Knucklehead?...well I know people who would kill for the chance to simply sit on one…never dreamed of really being able to kick start the machine! Granted…it isn’t the same when it’s propped up in a sling, being supported from dropping to the ground. The person doing the kicking isn’t sure about balancing his weight as they cling to the handlebars, right foot on the kicker pedal, left foot hanging out somewhere behind him…or where ever it happens to dangle until the actual attempt at throwing one's weight into the effort of kicking a big V-Twin to life! Ouch, you guys remember...your friend didn't tell you about retarding the timeing...so when you kicked...your knee bounced up into your chin...or the engine would throw you over the handle bars...naaaa these kids will not know these joys...and in later years...their knee replacements will NOT be because of their time kickstarting a V-Twin. Kids today...they have everything so easy! (I say that with tongue in cheek...they just have a different handful of anguish to deal with...that's all.)
So if you would like to learn to kick start a V-twin motorcycle…or perhaps you have a kid you like to have this very unique experience…head on down to Limpnickie’s lot in Daytona…but not before March 4th…and wait your turn for this really cool opportunity… Learn how to kickstart a big antique V-Twin…
Chessie
Have you ever heard of the Knucklehead Antique Motorcycle Club of America Youth Program? No? Me either, that is to say until just a few moments ago.
I get up pretty early in the morning, this morning I was up and sitting at my computer by 3.15 AM. What I do is cruise the internet looking for news or information about the motorcycle industry that is of unique interest. I often find it…but then so do about a half million of you other people out here…which means (as far as I’m concerned) the information is not that unique.
It’s for this reason, I like to peruse BikerNet.com.
Bandit (Keith Ball), owner, publisher, editor, and supreme being at Biker Net Interplanetary Headquarters, has been heading this singularly unique biker e-zine for many years. I remember him from Easy Riders Magazine…circa 1978…through the early 80’s. After that, I didn’t buy magazines…just got too busy…and too poor to afford them.
It’s thanks to Bandit that a lot of otherwise obscure information gets out to the public and read. It’s because of Bandit that I now have heard of the Knucklehead Antique Motorcycle Club of America Youth Program, and I now would like to pass on what I’ve learned to you!
This new youth program is run by a guy by the name of Matt Olsen. He tells Bandit in a press statement: “To me, it seems like the biggest problems with antique motorcycles, is people not knowing enough about them, and being intimidated by them.” Olsen further states: “I am amazed by the amount of people my age who love the way bikes look and sound, but have no clue about the old bikes or how they work. I figured that if people in my age group were confused about the details of starting and operating ‘40’s era bikes, then there were probably more people that would benefit form some grass roost motorcycle promoting!”
According to the article in BikerNet…Matt’s objective is to run a two pronged promotion. First…an essay contest. The winner of this contest will find himself in a booth at the Limpnickie Lot in Daytona Beach in Spring of 2009…here the winner will find him/her self involved in a restoration build, hands on, learning what goes on in a restoration project of an antique HD.
The second outreach will be aimed at the crowd…Matt plans to introduce young people to “vintage kickstart motorcycles.” In other words darlin’, Matt plans to have several vintage motorcycles on stage or nearby…rear wheels propped up off the ground, and the entire bike stabilized, so that intrepid youngsters can learn how to kick an early Panhead or Knucklehead without fear of gravity and the physics of natural selection and the thinning of the species coming into play as they learn what we “oldsters” learned the hard way.
So, according to the news release, there will be two people manning the booth during it’s open hours, teaching people how to kickstart a 1948 Indian Chief and a 1946 Harley Davidson Knucklehead. You know what? As I was coming up, I remember how rare it was to see an Indian Chief…much less find someone willing to let you stand on it’s kick starter. And a 1946 Knucklehead?...well I know people who would kill for the chance to simply sit on one…never dreamed of really being able to kick start the machine! Granted…it isn’t the same when it’s propped up in a sling, being supported from dropping to the ground. The person doing the kicking isn’t sure about balancing his weight as they cling to the handlebars, right foot on the kicker pedal, left foot hanging out somewhere behind him…or where ever it happens to dangle until the actual attempt at throwing one's weight into the effort of kicking a big V-Twin to life! Ouch, you guys remember...your friend didn't tell you about retarding the timeing...so when you kicked...your knee bounced up into your chin...or the engine would throw you over the handle bars...naaaa these kids will not know these joys...and in later years...their knee replacements will NOT be because of their time kickstarting a V-Twin. Kids today...they have everything so easy! (I say that with tongue in cheek...they just have a different handful of anguish to deal with...that's all.)
So if you would like to learn to kick start a V-twin motorcycle…or perhaps you have a kid you like to have this very unique experience…head on down to Limpnickie’s lot in Daytona…but not before March 4th…and wait your turn for this really cool opportunity… Learn how to kickstart a big antique V-Twin…
Chessie
NE TN to KC MO, summer of '08
Riding from Johnson City Tn. to Kansas City MO.
The ride was fairly uneventful, of course there are some Small adjustments that had to be made, but...after a thousand miles, I can honestly say I hadn't had any problems with inattentive drivers, or with drivers who just didn't give a rats ass. I rarely do though once on the road proper. In fact, it's rare I have problems with bad drivers....once in a blue moon. How often do they come around anyway?
Jumping on I-81 and heading west towards Nashville....by the time I got to Knoxville I was bored out of my mind. I stopped and consulted the map for an alternate route north for my foray into KY. It was the interstate I-75 turn to bore me to death now....that continued until I got to the state line of KY.
I pulled off the road into a truck stop in KY, sat down to consult the map once more, when I realized the weather channel was on TV. I heard them talking about Indiana. WHAT was that about FLOODING? OH yeah they were talking about the INDY area...that's where I was heading to get to 2-Guns and Clem and Peaches....I-70 Closed...I-65 closed...due to flooding.
Both roads were instrumental for me getting to as well as away from the INDY area. I look at my cell phone and there was a call from Peaches...yuppers, she verifies the storms in that area and suggests I try getting there another time...GOOD IDEA! I go to call My friend 2GUNS and realize, I must have had another blond moment before I left; because when I programed his phone number into my phone, it didn't take...no 2Guns in my phone book. OPPS...sorry guy!
SOOOO....I go back to the atlas...and check out other routes for Kansas City MO. I'm bored off my rocker with the Interstate systems...looking for some good local twisty roads that will get me off the four lanes and onto some good state and county maintained roads. I found em! I jumped on 25 North for about 18 miles until it intersected with KY-92 West. Cool move there slick...nice road, two lane, well maintained, a few nice twists...nothing drastic....it even came with a few farm tractors, taking to the road as they moved from one field to another... I loved it!
Most all the farmers were out cutting hay that Sat. morning and the smell of freshly cut grass, (much different than lawn mowing cut grass smell) was in the air...I fell in love with the small farming towns I passed through in KY...
It appears to be legal to smoke in some public buildings! It was 94 degrees in the shade and I was dehydrating quickly. I wanted a smoke and some Ice Tea....I was looking desperately for a bar so I could smoke and enjoy my ice tea with air conditioning....none to be had in small town KY....so I stopped at a little country store that had a gas station. I went inside and my nostrils were assaulted with that ghastly smell of stale cigarette smoke! How wonderful? There was a small dining area and there were ASHTRAYS at every table! YEAH! So I retrieved a tall water from the coolers, paid for it, sat at a table and lit up a smoke.
As I was settling in, I noticed a small boy watching me. After a time his Dad noticed me as well and started talking to me... good guy ...not real talkative, but just enough to break up the boredom for both of us. I was wearing my leather chaps...they are oil soaked on the left leg....and bug encrusted on both legs...the kid was fascinated with the bugs...he kept telling me about this dragon fly or that small unidentifiable mess that was on this leg or the other... I find travels and kids to be of small wonders!
Well, time to move on....KY-92 eventually joined up with KY-90 West, and I moved on that road for about 15 miles until I found the Cumberland Highway. I found myself heading west once again. This turned out to be another interstate type road, but time was getting on and I needed to make some tracks towards I-65 North.
It was all quite uneventful...nothing of particular interest to stop and photograph...so I just kept heading north from Bowling Green on I-65 until I hit Louisville in KY. There I picked up I-64 West...taking that into ST. LOUIS.
I stopped and stayed the night after crossing into Indiana.
I was beat up by the sun, the heat, and the road. It was 7.30 PM and I was just looking for that air conditioned comfort and a gallon of Ice Tea. I found both at the Super Eight that night...my room even had a Jacuzzi in it. I had a good night, and sleep fitfully until 2 am....where I wondered through the halls looking for the stupid snack machine...I found it on the main floor, in my PJ's....where one could buy a regular sized candy bar for 1.50 cents....YOUR SHITTIN me right? I needed a chocolate fix...I paid for the fricken candy bar...stupid! 
Finally fell asleep at five am...woke again at 7.30. Went down stairs for continental breakfast...went back upstairs and grabbed all my gear. Got packed and back on the road by 9.15.
Another uneventful day on the road, I hit ST.LOUIS in a bored way...I couldn't believe it...there was no fricken traffic on the highway...none! It was heaven...if I wasn't on an interstate in ST. LOUIS...it runs through the poorest parts of that town, and ya really don't wanna stop there for a breakdown or anything...so keep on trucking though old girl...keep on trucking through.
I've spent some time in ST.LOUIS before, so stopping there didn't quite blow my dress up...moving along the interstate 64 You can watch the great ARCH of the Gateway to the West come into sharp focus on your left...it's a true wonder of the modern world. I recommend stopping in to visit if you've never seen it up close before. Yes It's worth braving downtown ST. Louis for...better at night though!
After leaving ST. Louis, the Interstate merges with I-70 west and you travel the rest of the trip into Kansas City on that Interstate.Once again, moving along that road wasn't bad, there was light traffic all the way. I could see the Missouri River flooding over it's banks as I passed above it and around it in several areas, as well as all the other local and smaller waterways. I'm so glad I don't live here...I hate floods.
I'm now 50 miles east of Kansas City, and I call my daughter for directions into her house. No I've never been here before. She hands the phone over to her husband...my daughter gets lost trying to get her hand out of a paper bag....good thing she has this good man to get her around KC.
I get the directions, then I get a warning...more rain. Severe threats they say...I look in the general direction....I don't see nuthin....keep on moving on!
OK, I'm in Kansas and the skies look real bad...nasty black roiling clouds above me, the temps have dipped a bit...I'm just crossing fingers hoping I will get to my daughter's house before the rain comes down.
NOPE...get on the 435 by pass and down comes the rain, the temps dropped even more...it was cold as shit. No problem...really, I like riding in the rain. Oh no....now come the winds. I'm riding on grooved cement....rain, wind, and grooved cement make for lethal combinations. I kept riding...then I came across a bridge and the crosswinds were the nastiest things I have ever encountered. I have encountered what I thought were severe cross winds before, after all, I've traveled throughout the West, over mountain passes and gorges but this scared me.
I could feel the tires of my bike losing contact with the slippery road surface as the bike and I drifted over towards the wall of the bridge...we drifted over a full lane and a half! 2 Feet from the wall...I was shitting myself by that time...couldn't wait to get off the bridge and find an exit....whew...there''s one...hey, it says there are casinos here! Whoo hoo! I don't gamble, but I know they have good security in their garages, I can unpack my shit, call my daughter to come get me...lock the bike, and leave it there for the evening, which is what I did.
I slept like a baby that night...felt good to lie down....
Now I wonder what's gonna happen next?
Chessie
The ride was fairly uneventful, of course there are some Small adjustments that had to be made, but...after a thousand miles, I can honestly say I hadn't had any problems with inattentive drivers, or with drivers who just didn't give a rats ass. I rarely do though once on the road proper. In fact, it's rare I have problems with bad drivers....once in a blue moon. How often do they come around anyway?
Jumping on I-81 and heading west towards Nashville....by the time I got to Knoxville I was bored out of my mind. I stopped and consulted the map for an alternate route north for my foray into KY. It was the interstate I-75 turn to bore me to death now....that continued until I got to the state line of KY.
I pulled off the road into a truck stop in KY, sat down to consult the map once more, when I realized the weather channel was on TV. I heard them talking about Indiana. WHAT was that about FLOODING? OH yeah they were talking about the INDY area...that's where I was heading to get to 2-Guns and Clem and Peaches....I-70 Closed...I-65 closed...due to flooding.
Both roads were instrumental for me getting to as well as away from the INDY area. I look at my cell phone and there was a call from Peaches...yuppers, she verifies the storms in that area and suggests I try getting there another time...GOOD IDEA! I go to call My friend 2GUNS and realize, I must have had another blond moment before I left; because when I programed his phone number into my phone, it didn't take...no 2Guns in my phone book. OPPS...sorry guy!SOOOO....I go back to the atlas...and check out other routes for Kansas City MO. I'm bored off my rocker with the Interstate systems...looking for some good local twisty roads that will get me off the four lanes and onto some good state and county maintained roads. I found em! I jumped on 25 North for about 18 miles until it intersected with KY-92 West. Cool move there slick...nice road, two lane, well maintained, a few nice twists...nothing drastic....it even came with a few farm tractors, taking to the road as they moved from one field to another... I loved it!
Most all the farmers were out cutting hay that Sat. morning and the smell of freshly cut grass, (much different than lawn mowing cut grass smell) was in the air...I fell in love with the small farming towns I passed through in KY...
It appears to be legal to smoke in some public buildings! It was 94 degrees in the shade and I was dehydrating quickly. I wanted a smoke and some Ice Tea....I was looking desperately for a bar so I could smoke and enjoy my ice tea with air conditioning....none to be had in small town KY....so I stopped at a little country store that had a gas station. I went inside and my nostrils were assaulted with that ghastly smell of stale cigarette smoke! How wonderful? There was a small dining area and there were ASHTRAYS at every table! YEAH! So I retrieved a tall water from the coolers, paid for it, sat at a table and lit up a smoke.
As I was settling in, I noticed a small boy watching me. After a time his Dad noticed me as well and started talking to me... good guy ...not real talkative, but just enough to break up the boredom for both of us. I was wearing my leather chaps...they are oil soaked on the left leg....and bug encrusted on both legs...the kid was fascinated with the bugs...he kept telling me about this dragon fly or that small unidentifiable mess that was on this leg or the other... I find travels and kids to be of small wonders!
Well, time to move on....KY-92 eventually joined up with KY-90 West, and I moved on that road for about 15 miles until I found the Cumberland Highway. I found myself heading west once again. This turned out to be another interstate type road, but time was getting on and I needed to make some tracks towards I-65 North.
It was all quite uneventful...nothing of particular interest to stop and photograph...so I just kept heading north from Bowling Green on I-65 until I hit Louisville in KY. There I picked up I-64 West...taking that into ST. LOUIS.
I stopped and stayed the night after crossing into Indiana.
I was beat up by the sun, the heat, and the road. It was 7.30 PM and I was just looking for that air conditioned comfort and a gallon of Ice Tea. I found both at the Super Eight that night...my room even had a Jacuzzi in it. I had a good night, and sleep fitfully until 2 am....where I wondered through the halls looking for the stupid snack machine...I found it on the main floor, in my PJ's....where one could buy a regular sized candy bar for 1.50 cents....YOUR SHITTIN me right? I needed a chocolate fix...I paid for the fricken candy bar...stupid! 
Finally fell asleep at five am...woke again at 7.30. Went down stairs for continental breakfast...went back upstairs and grabbed all my gear. Got packed and back on the road by 9.15.
Another uneventful day on the road, I hit ST.LOUIS in a bored way...I couldn't believe it...there was no fricken traffic on the highway...none! It was heaven...if I wasn't on an interstate in ST. LOUIS...it runs through the poorest parts of that town, and ya really don't wanna stop there for a breakdown or anything...so keep on trucking though old girl...keep on trucking through.
I've spent some time in ST.LOUIS before, so stopping there didn't quite blow my dress up...moving along the interstate 64 You can watch the great ARCH of the Gateway to the West come into sharp focus on your left...it's a true wonder of the modern world. I recommend stopping in to visit if you've never seen it up close before. Yes It's worth braving downtown ST. Louis for...better at night though!
After leaving ST. Louis, the Interstate merges with I-70 west and you travel the rest of the trip into Kansas City on that Interstate.Once again, moving along that road wasn't bad, there was light traffic all the way. I could see the Missouri River flooding over it's banks as I passed above it and around it in several areas, as well as all the other local and smaller waterways. I'm so glad I don't live here...I hate floods.
I'm now 50 miles east of Kansas City, and I call my daughter for directions into her house. No I've never been here before. She hands the phone over to her husband...my daughter gets lost trying to get her hand out of a paper bag....good thing she has this good man to get her around KC.
I get the directions, then I get a warning...more rain. Severe threats they say...I look in the general direction....I don't see nuthin....keep on moving on!
OK, I'm in Kansas and the skies look real bad...nasty black roiling clouds above me, the temps have dipped a bit...I'm just crossing fingers hoping I will get to my daughter's house before the rain comes down.
NOPE...get on the 435 by pass and down comes the rain, the temps dropped even more...it was cold as shit. No problem...really, I like riding in the rain. Oh no....now come the winds. I'm riding on grooved cement....rain, wind, and grooved cement make for lethal combinations. I kept riding...then I came across a bridge and the crosswinds were the nastiest things I have ever encountered. I have encountered what I thought were severe cross winds before, after all, I've traveled throughout the West, over mountain passes and gorges but this scared me.
I could feel the tires of my bike losing contact with the slippery road surface as the bike and I drifted over towards the wall of the bridge...we drifted over a full lane and a half! 2 Feet from the wall...I was shitting myself by that time...couldn't wait to get off the bridge and find an exit....whew...there''s one...hey, it says there are casinos here! Whoo hoo! I don't gamble, but I know they have good security in their garages, I can unpack my shit, call my daughter to come get me...lock the bike, and leave it there for the evening, which is what I did.
I slept like a baby that night...felt good to lie down....
Now I wonder what's gonna happen next?
Chessie
Redneck humor has been going rampant around the biker blogs lately.
Why not add to it.
You might be a Redneck...
if'n yer local drag strip looks anythn like this un here.
You might be a Redneck...
if'n yer local drag strip looks anythn like this un here.
It sure blows in KC
NOOOO, I don't mean it sucks....I just mean there is a lot of wind around here!
My son in law took his bike out, got my grandson dressed in his gear, and the two of them rode the Buel, while I rode the Sportster. The skies were clear, temps were startin' to cook, and this was to be my grandson's first "long distance" ride!
We headed north out of KC up towards Leavenworth into KS. But as we rode further north...the clouds became dark and menacing, lots of lighting and just wasn't one of those great "cool us down and go away" type of showers. Fact is, the front of the system coming towards us had high headers....and it was black as coal and was moving very quickly.
We got to Leavenworth, pulled over to discuss our course of action and my grandson is watching the storm system come at us...he's not real happy with the prospect of getting wet...and was starting to get real unhappy about us sitting there discussing the weather instead of trying to get out ahead of it. Could see, there would be no out running it, and suggested we at least wait till the front passed over...I, am not a fond lover of the high winds that I experienced coming into KC when I got here a week ago. Turns out to have been a very good and wise choice. The winds were very turbulent...and even after waiting front of the clouds to pass, going back over the MO. River still sucked...cross winds were heavy, and the rain was coming down large as marbles.
Now of course, every one else had jackets and full helmets with face shields. Me with my pipes not heat shielded elected not to bring rain gear, I don't wear but a 1/2 helmet...actually less than a 1/2...and I didn't wear a jacket because it got blown off the bike somewhere in Indiana, and got picked up by a semi that was on my ass...I let him keep it on his grill...figured he would need it in case he hit freezing weather once he got to ID. or something....
So these huge arsed rain drops are bustin down around me, I have my t shirt up around my nose and cheeks, my son in law on his fricken Buel is riding at sixty mph on these two lane roads with pot holes as large as a taxi....and I am lost as hell...no idea of what direction I'm heading in as the sun is obliterated by the storm....I just keep on keepin on...
It was a really good ride for my grandson to experience the kind of weather and what to expect or not expect when it comes to the elements and motorcycle riding...we got around the worst of the weather...and pulled into the garage at the home twenty just as the heavy stuff started coming down...we all were laughing and having a great time...pulling off our clothes in the garage...as my son in law is a real pain in the ass about allowing drippage and such on his carpets...LOL anyway...it was a good ride all the same...didn't get the couple of hours in as we wanted...but my grandson got to experience motorcycling at it's finest...and he loved it!
My son in law took his bike out, got my grandson dressed in his gear, and the two of them rode the Buel, while I rode the Sportster. The skies were clear, temps were startin' to cook, and this was to be my grandson's first "long distance" ride!
We headed north out of KC up towards Leavenworth into KS. But as we rode further north...the clouds became dark and menacing, lots of lighting and just wasn't one of those great "cool us down and go away" type of showers. Fact is, the front of the system coming towards us had high headers....and it was black as coal and was moving very quickly.
We got to Leavenworth, pulled over to discuss our course of action and my grandson is watching the storm system come at us...he's not real happy with the prospect of getting wet...and was starting to get real unhappy about us sitting there discussing the weather instead of trying to get out ahead of it. Could see, there would be no out running it, and suggested we at least wait till the front passed over...I, am not a fond lover of the high winds that I experienced coming into KC when I got here a week ago. Turns out to have been a very good and wise choice. The winds were very turbulent...and even after waiting front of the clouds to pass, going back over the MO. River still sucked...cross winds were heavy, and the rain was coming down large as marbles.
Now of course, every one else had jackets and full helmets with face shields. Me with my pipes not heat shielded elected not to bring rain gear, I don't wear but a 1/2 helmet...actually less than a 1/2...and I didn't wear a jacket because it got blown off the bike somewhere in Indiana, and got picked up by a semi that was on my ass...I let him keep it on his grill...figured he would need it in case he hit freezing weather once he got to ID. or something....
So these huge arsed rain drops are bustin down around me, I have my t shirt up around my nose and cheeks, my son in law on his fricken Buel is riding at sixty mph on these two lane roads with pot holes as large as a taxi....and I am lost as hell...no idea of what direction I'm heading in as the sun is obliterated by the storm....I just keep on keepin on...
It was a really good ride for my grandson to experience the kind of weather and what to expect or not expect when it comes to the elements and motorcycle riding...we got around the worst of the weather...and pulled into the garage at the home twenty just as the heavy stuff started coming down...we all were laughing and having a great time...pulling off our clothes in the garage...as my son in law is a real pain in the ass about allowing drippage and such on his carpets...LOL anyway...it was a good ride all the same...didn't get the couple of hours in as we wanted...but my grandson got to experience motorcycling at it's finest...and he loved it!
Old Ride revisited...something I wrote a while back
Hey folks. I am doing some revisting old blogs on other sites. Posting here, now, cuz it's too frickin cold to ride...14 degrees...and I'm in trouble with my jonesing....So, I'll relive the past and hope that keeps me satisfied for a while. I'll add pictures later...Jeff wants to drive to Kingsport...OK...anything to get the heck out of this house...can't ride bike, I'll take a ride in my boyfriend's truck!
Shady Valley and about
Off I go again...I left out of the house for Johnson City to do some work at the library. Got it done in an hour and twenty mins. and realized, it was still early. So I head back toward Elizibethton and jump on 91 North. This road will take you through the little borough of Stony Creek and beyond. God, I can't remember all the little unincorporated little towns you pass...but after about 12 miles, you come into the hills and the Cherokee National Forest.
91 winds up the hills with the cool twists and turns, switchbacks, steep drops to the edge of the road...and forest all around. It's late in the year for the greenery of the forests, the trees are wearing their finery, but it is becoming faded and worn. Ahhh but the aromas of the forest is still fresh and new, with honey suckle and other late blooming vines and flowers wafting their fragrance past my nose. It's a nice ride through the Cherokee National Forest.
Up to the pinnacle of the little mountain...back down once more into the valley...it's another three miles or so to Shady Valley General Store, and US421 and onto the section of The Snake.
Stopping at the General Store, I order a burger and onion rings, a Mountain Dew...and watch the parade of bikers going in and out...some watching me as I watch them...yes, we bikers are generally a watchful bunch.
Finishing my meal, I go out to the bike...light a smoke, drag on that till it's to the butt, then knock the cherry off it and deposit the butt in my pocket. Insert the key, hit the switch and she jumps alive once more. Leaving out of the parking lot...turning west toward Mountain City, I'm off.
Before I left, a large group of riders pulled out. I gave them about five minutes before heading out, as I knew they would be moving a tad bit slower than I like to ride. I guess, I didn't give them enough time, because I came upon them in about ten minutes time. Sigh...so I ride behind the group...and yawn...brake and yawn...I have never taken The Snake on the weekend...and I won't again. Too much traffic, and while I am not a knee dragger...I do enjoy just a little more speed than I got behind the bagger draggers! (No, I'm not giving you guys a bunch of shit...I like baggers, and if I was riding one on the Snake...I would be slowing down a bit too...)
On the other side of the Mountain, the state troopers were in action, they had pulled over a speed junkie from the group who left just before my bagger dragger group had...guess the little metric biker didn't know where the trooper Sits...he's there often, at any day of the week...Everyone slows down at that turn...sigh, bet he knows now!
Getting into Mountain City I decide to take US 421 toward Boone. The Bagger Draggers were from VA. and turned North onto CR 167 from US421...that is when I decided "heck, time to get lost again." I make a left, south onto CR167. This turned out to be a real good thing. I followed the Doe River to and fro...up and down little hills around rock bluffs, and down this holler and up that dale...it was a very good road. CR 167 dumps out right into SR 67 and Watuga Lake. The lake is up from the last time I saw it, but not enough for it to look beautiful. That would take another twenty feet of bank to give it the natural beauty of a healthy lake. But all the same at the altitude of this lake...it's amazing it holds any water at all, dam or no dam.
Now that I am on SR 67...I am back in familiar territory...it junctions into SR 321 and home to Elizibethton. It was a three hour ride, and only fifty five miles. But again, it was a good meandering path...used to take my mind away from the crap of daily living.
Another good day down.
Shady Valley and about
Off I go again...I left out of the house for Johnson City to do some work at the library. Got it done in an hour and twenty mins. and realized, it was still early. So I head back toward Elizibethton and jump on 91 North. This road will take you through the little borough of Stony Creek and beyond. God, I can't remember all the little unincorporated little towns you pass...but after about 12 miles, you come into the hills and the Cherokee National Forest.
91 winds up the hills with the cool twists and turns, switchbacks, steep drops to the edge of the road...and forest all around. It's late in the year for the greenery of the forests, the trees are wearing their finery, but it is becoming faded and worn. Ahhh but the aromas of the forest is still fresh and new, with honey suckle and other late blooming vines and flowers wafting their fragrance past my nose. It's a nice ride through the Cherokee National Forest.
Up to the pinnacle of the little mountain...back down once more into the valley...it's another three miles or so to Shady Valley General Store, and US421 and onto the section of The Snake.
Stopping at the General Store, I order a burger and onion rings, a Mountain Dew...and watch the parade of bikers going in and out...some watching me as I watch them...yes, we bikers are generally a watchful bunch.
Finishing my meal, I go out to the bike...light a smoke, drag on that till it's to the butt, then knock the cherry off it and deposit the butt in my pocket. Insert the key, hit the switch and she jumps alive once more. Leaving out of the parking lot...turning west toward Mountain City, I'm off.
Before I left, a large group of riders pulled out. I gave them about five minutes before heading out, as I knew they would be moving a tad bit slower than I like to ride. I guess, I didn't give them enough time, because I came upon them in about ten minutes time. Sigh...so I ride behind the group...and yawn...brake and yawn...I have never taken The Snake on the weekend...and I won't again. Too much traffic, and while I am not a knee dragger...I do enjoy just a little more speed than I got behind the bagger draggers! (No, I'm not giving you guys a bunch of shit...I like baggers, and if I was riding one on the Snake...I would be slowing down a bit too...)
On the other side of the Mountain, the state troopers were in action, they had pulled over a speed junkie from the group who left just before my bagger dragger group had...guess the little metric biker didn't know where the trooper Sits...he's there often, at any day of the week...Everyone slows down at that turn...sigh, bet he knows now!
Getting into Mountain City I decide to take US 421 toward Boone. The Bagger Draggers were from VA. and turned North onto CR 167 from US421...that is when I decided "heck, time to get lost again." I make a left, south onto CR167. This turned out to be a real good thing. I followed the Doe River to and fro...up and down little hills around rock bluffs, and down this holler and up that dale...it was a very good road. CR 167 dumps out right into SR 67 and Watuga Lake. The lake is up from the last time I saw it, but not enough for it to look beautiful. That would take another twenty feet of bank to give it the natural beauty of a healthy lake. But all the same at the altitude of this lake...it's amazing it holds any water at all, dam or no dam.
Now that I am on SR 67...I am back in familiar territory...it junctions into SR 321 and home to Elizibethton. It was a three hour ride, and only fifty five miles. But again, it was a good meandering path...used to take my mind away from the crap of daily living.
Another good day down.
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