Easy Rider route makes about.com article
Pretty cool. Thanks to everyone who helped me out with this one. I’m gonna watch the movie again tonight I think.
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The Road.
Riding means different things to different people. There’s no right or wrong in riding. 100 miles to some, means 1000 miles to another.
- Waking up in the morning, to see your bike is still outside your motel room. She’s ready to do some miles today, like an old friend.
- The smell of a pasture as you ride by it, knowing its different, and that its going to pass quickly.
- the chill of morning, knowing it will warm up every mile.
- The evening phone calls to your loved ones. Needing to know they are safe, but knowing you’ll come back to them a better man.
- The breaks out in the middle of nowhere.
- Driving through main streets of towns that have known better, but pride keeps them rolling on.
- The exploration of new roads, sometimes determined at intersections.
- sitting on your bike at midnight, hearing the world rushing by in distant cars, with your bedroll laid out 10 feet away.
- Sitting on your haunches with a map in your hand, while a biker you don’t even know pulls up and asks if you need help, and means it.
- seeing a B.A.C.A. patch of a chapter member you don’t even know, In a town you’ve never been to. Knowing you’re doing your part.
- Wondering if you’ll make it home by sunday night, 800 miles away and still riding.
- The worries of your life that are all yours, melting away and knowing it.
I can’t wait for what 2010 is gonna bring to me on my bike.
Good to be riding again
I’m not doing much. Mostly going to work and buzzing around town being conscious of my new engine and varying my speeds and RPM to break her in, but Damn… It feels so good to be riding again. Riding a bike is part of me.
Took some pictures while waiting for robyn today on the side of the road.
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Valley of Fire State Park
So my bike is back. I’m only 367 miles and one oil change so far into breaking her in. I need to have some mrzip time. I also realize that my kids need time too. They’ve been wanting to go camping.
So Saturday morning we loaded up the RV and headed out to the valley of fire in Nevada for some family time. I think I’ve driven through it, but to be honest I don’t totally remember.
We showed up around around noon, set camp and our friends the sunyiches showed up not too much later.
Ok, first off, I’m not a very social person. I usually don’t hang out with neighbors, go out of my way to make friends or quite honestly really care. I am who I am, and don’t usually give too much of a shit for what you’re doing. I do my own thing, in my own time. I’m fine with that.
But my friend shawn went and broke the ice with our neighbors in the next camp. It’s why I hang out with him sometimes, he’s a good guy. We had a few beers, drank some whiskey, shot the shit and by nighfall, we were huddled around the campfire with 3 familes and a couple guitars got busted out, and Neil Young songs were sung by the campfire. It was seriously cool. I’ve never done that. These were good people, just like us. Fighting their fight, making their way in the world, and doing as good a job as they can. It fired me up to press on with my fight, and they may not even know the impression they made.
We laughed, joked untill some punk from new york came over at 9:45 and told us to keep it down. I enjoyed the night. I think it made an impression on my daughter who is learning to play guitar. We all had a good time.
The next morning we woke up, did some hiking and headed home. Shawn had the hangover from hell. I don’t think I’ve personally ever been that sick as he was. He headed home and we took his kids home.
Was a good weekend. Something I’ll always remember.
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Small Grips do not suck
Ok, here’s my report.
Small grips do not suck. Granted, I was born with fat digits more designed to grip backhoe levers and rip out tree stumps rather than do detailed work like build watches, or play operation: the wacky doctors game. I ain’t bitching. That being said, I like the smaller grips. It makes a touring bike seem more nimble and precise. It’s the comfort of a street glide, with the grips of a sportster. I vote yes.
Hey, that reminds me of a joke.
Q: Do you know what you call a lesbian with fat fingers?
A: “well hung”
Ok, who cares. I’m starting to think now tho, that maybe I won’t do texas next weekend. I may ride to bisbee, and the OK Corral. I think perhaps an Arizona trip is in order. I so love AZ, and i’ve never been to to those places.
Anyone wanna go ride with me to the OK Corral?
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Getting ready.
Put my new unbusted grips on today. Had no clue that harley grips came in different diameters. I bought small. Not sure if I’ll like em or not. Huh… who knew.
Been watching some old route 66 travel videos I bought years ago. Getting ready to head to amarillo and back on a 4 day trip. Can’t wait. I’m gonna mozy, trip on every abandoned ghost town gas station and curio shop, eat at greasy spoons, and camp where I want to, when I want to. Hell, I might lie in the middle of the road, take some pictures just to get a new point of view.
I’ve missed riding. Man, its the only freedom I really know. Winter, eat a bag of hell.
Willie G Skull
My cruise thumbscrew fell out last year. I bought a new one the other day. Can’t wait for ghetto cruise control again. I can pick my nose, drink beer, pull my nuts away from my levis, and so much more with the little upside down asterisk that puts pressure on my throttle grip. It’s all fun and games till your willie G grips break, which mine did. Not from undue pressure mind you: Don’t judge me, you fucking fuck. I am careful with my bike, and I’m no bull in a china shop. I blame sun rot somehow. Thats right, sun rot. I ride my bike.
Tomorrow, I shall replace them. Which is honestly fine with me. New grips are like brand new socks right out of the package. they just feel good, and you end up looking good. Plus, the heat had boogered up the rubber on my grips.
I think willie G did great when he designed that skull. Yeah, its over done, but its for my viewing pleasure, and riding love, not for fashion. Much love to willie G.
Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots
Love this song. It’s one I put on the ipod for about every long ride I go on. It just always seems to fit wherever I’m riding.
Need new grips for my bike. The return cable no longer stays attached.
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Yucca Arizona Route 66
these are pictures I should probably post.
I ride route 66 at least several times a year, but theres a lot of alignments of the old road. One I’ve always wanted to see was Yucca Arizona, which was route 66 from 1952-1978 or so when interstate 40 opened.
Ghost town feel here. I took these with my brother on december 29 and never put them on the blog.
Ill probably never go back here. Oatman is too irresistible to pass up and that whole road between topock and Kingman. Even so, glad I finally got to see Yucca.
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First ride 2010
Funny thing, it was a ride that before my bike blew I wouldn’t even consider a ride. I think tho, to alot of my friends who ride it woulda been a ride they’d considered big. Either way, It felt good to me.
Yesterday robyn and I headed out at 8 to go check out a house we’re thinking about renting. Great big house, for the same price as what we pay here. It may or may not happen.
Then, we rode to the dealership, grabbed 4 quarts of oil and a filter, then boogied off to our BACA chapter child ride for the month. Child ride seemed like a good stretch to finish my break in on my engine: some freeway, some highway, some around town. We did that, and I went home and changed my oil.
Loco showed up right after and we rode to the firehouse, then over the utah hill. Had a few beers at the dam bar with a few friends, then I headed south. Love my brothers, but damn…. I needed and still need some solo time in the saddle with my bike.
Man, I’m looking for something in life right now. I’m looking for some peace to be honest. I’m looking to find my way again, my inspiration. I need a muse. I know where it is: its sitting in my garage right now. I don’t know shit from shinola, but the last 20 years have taught me one thing: great answers come from long rides. Its been the reset button for my life. It’s better than any religion or baptism that I’ve ever known. It’s been true, and its been proven to me. I love the open road.
I’m gonna put 500 miles on this bike so I know I can trust this engine, then I’m heading the hell out of town for a real ride. I need one. No doubt, I’ll come back a new man.