| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
One of the folks over on the XL Forum (EXNAUTI) suggested that I start a thread and name it Crusty's Travels. I could include all the details about my traveling, motorcycle modifications and whatever else I put down in writing relating to being a Tramp. It would make it easier for me and for those folks who enjoy following my misadventures. The XL Forum has more designated areas than I can keep up with, and I wasn't sure where the appropriate place to post was. Here on Badweb, it's a lot easier; I just post on the Quick Board. However, I needed a title for the next phase of my Tramping about, so I decided to steal the title that EXNAUTI came up with. I'm not traveling yet, but I will be soon. Here's my latest snippet about it: Tramp or Townie? I’m kind of torn. I have an apartment that I’m sharing, and I want to make some improvements to it. Nothing major; a new (to me) used refrigerator that’s a bit bigger than the one that’s here and maybe some new carpeting for the living room and bedrooms. But… those take money, and I don’t have money to burn right now (do I ever?). Also, I’m going to be hitting the road soon. I’m making changes to the Roadster to make it a better bike for my needs, and that takes money as well. Part of me wants to travel, and part of me wants to settle in one place for a while. As much as I love going places on the bike, I also like having a home and sitting still for a while. I keep getting pulled from one side to the other. it’s like the old classic Devil on one shoulder and Angel on the other. The trouble is that I can’t tell which one is the Angel or which one is the Devil. When I first got back from Australia, settling down was really prominent in my thoughts. Now, however; it’s less than a month later and I’m getting pumped up about where I’m going this summer. In the meantime, I also need to look ahead a bit toward going back to Australia. I don’t know how it’s all going to happen; but then again, when I first decided I wanted to hit the road, I didn’t know how that was going to happen either. However, by keeping my focus on the goal, obstacles were overcome. I guess that if I’m meant to go, a way will present itself. Then again; it’s kind of nice to be sleeping in a bed and cooking my own meals. I enjoy cooking for myself, and can’t really do it when I’m on the road. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had 2” thick pork chops baked with Shake & bake, roasted split chicken breast (with bone and skin) with quartered Yukon Gold potatoes and baby peas baked in the dripping from the chicken and I think I’ll make a spaghetti sauce with sweet Italian sausage this week. I’ll save making meatballs until the next sauce. I’ve been drinking fresh ground Kenya coffee with Half and Half each morning when I first get up after my shower. That beats the hell out of Taster’s Choice instant with concentrated Coffee Mate. However, waking up in Utah to go pee and seeing so many stars it’s almost frightening, or riding up the Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National park are easily worth giving up some comforts for. Do I prefer to drink instant coffee in West Virginia surrounded by Buells? I don’t have to answer that. You already know. I love both aspects of what I’m being torn by. So I’m compromising. I probably won’t do all the things I’d like to do for the apartment, and I won’t be able to travel as much as I’d like to this year; but I will be able to do enough of each to keep both the Angel and Devil equally dissatisfied. | ||
| Etennuly |
Aaaaaahhhhh......damn it! I should not have read this.....now I'm positively hungry! Now I gotta go find something to eat. Thanks Crusty  Way to help a man on a diet!  | ||
| Zac4mac |
remember, sometimes your "raison d'être " is to be a bad example. | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Crusticle- keep your eyes peeled for CL ads listing "refrigerator for sale"... lots of times the wifey decides she wants the kitchen redone in stainless, or black, or whatever. Lots of times folks sell or even give away perfectly fine appliances, for no really good reason. Also, if you have a "Habitat For Humanity Restore" they will get a pretty good range of good, used appliances. One guy I sold a nice FLSTC to, once upon a time, runs a used appliance shop. I've bought from him several times. A good 'fridge, hopefully with an icemaker, should be had for easy $$$. SUPER easy if no ice. | ||
| Crusty |
Progress Toward Perfection The rear turn signals on the Roadster have been relocated. It was a Royal Pain in the Butt job. Partly because I was doing it for the first time, but mostly because the Official Turn Signal Relocation Kit from Harley was designed by a moron. I won’t describe the personal details of his shortcomings, but “talented engineer” is not one of the terms I used when being vocal. What should be one to two hour job took me about six hours. Of course, I could probably do it in less than half that time now, but I probably won’t ever have to do that job again. At least, I hope not. I could go into a real ranting diatribe about the kit, but all I’ll say is that if I had to do it over again, I’d get a kit from some other source. Tomorrow, I’m bringing the cast wheels over to the shop to pull the wheel bearings out and put new wheel bearings in. I’ll also pick up my belt and sprocket while I’m there. Dondi is giving me a ride to the shop. Well, kind of. She’s coming over to Hudson where we’ll load the wheels into her car, then I’ll drive over to Malden. She hates to drive in the city. If I can get the bearings changed out relatively quickly, I’ll treat Dondi to lunch at Nana’s Pizzeria. They make great pizza. The next item in the Transformation is to bring the bike and the H&B Mounts to the Fabricator. Hopefully, it won’t cost an arm and a leg to get the mounts modified to fit on the Roadster. Once that’s done, they’ll be off to the Powder Coater. I got my taxes done at the Accountant’s and I’m getting a refund from both the State and the Feds. That means that I’ll be able to order the 30 Liter Junior bags as soon as my refund is direct deposited into my Checking account. I might just have the hard bags on the bike before I set out for Vern’s in just a few weeks It’s all coming together! | ||
| Buellish |
Yeah!! | ||
| Pwnzor |
I Will be there to ogle your upgrades! | ||
| Ducley |
Dittos on the Habitat For Humanity Restore. All kinds of stuff. Some really great prices. | ||
| Crusty |
Step By Step It’s been warm the past couple of days, and it’s supposed to stay fairly warm (for March) right through the next ten days according to Intellicast. Wednesday, it almost hit 80º F, and there were hundreds of bikes out . It seemed like everybody who owned a bike left work early and went out for a ride. That was a truly beautiful sight. Yesterday, Dondi came by and we loaded up the cast wheels into her car and went over to the shop to use the blind hole bearing puller. Little Guy pulled the bearings for me, and I got new bearings and spacers to put in the wheels. We were actually out of there in less than an hour! I think that might be some sort of record. At any rate, it was high noon when we left the shop, so we went to Nana’s Pizza in Everett for lunch. I love their pizza. Then we came back to Hudson. It was raining for most of the day, so I didn’t really feel like going anywhere. Instead, I did something I rarely do. I took an afternoon nap. That actually worked out in my favor as last night was the opening round of the AMA Flat Track season at Daytona and I was wide awake and watched it live on Fans Choice TV. Today, I’m going over to the Garage and I’m going to bring back my Tire Irons as well as my bearing Installer tool and I’ll put the bearings and spacers in the hub and mount the tires. I’ll save balancing them for a later date. Part of me wants to install the brake rotors and belt sprocket on the wheels and put them on the bike, but it makes more sense to just leave the spoke wheels on until I wear down the tires that are on them. Tonight is round 2 of the AMA Flat track series. I’ll be in front of the Laptop for the evening. Don’t forget to set your clocks on Saturday night for Daylight Savings time. Spring Ahead! | ||
| Crusty |
Back And Forth I just went back and read a few Snippets from last Spring. I could feel the anticipation all over again. There is a magic to being on the road that permeates pretty much all my actions. Even when I feel like settling down, the road calls me. Watching the Short Track races from Daytona the past couple of nights didn’t help things. Sitting here in my room watching the races on my Laptop has made me want to attend one. There’s a Half Mile in Texas right by the Circuit of the Americas that’s going to run during the Moto GP weekend which is the weekend following Glitch Badness. I could make that. I checked ticket prices, and, they’re pretty high for a Flat Track race. 55 bucks is too high, in my opinion. Then again, I bet they’re really stuffing people for tickets to the Moto GP. (I didn’t check the prices). Still, it’s a track I’ve never been to, and it would probably be fun. It would destroy my budget, but it is doable. No; I think it would be better to stick to my original plan and return to Massachusetts after the rally (after a short visit in Fayetteville). I want to do a lunch (or breakfast) with the Badwebbers in the Northeast, and I want to finish the metamorphosis of the Roadster. If I blow the money for the hard bags on an overpriced race, I’ll regret it. Besides, I’m going to see the Springfield Mile on Memorial Day weekend. There’s no better venue in the world for close, action packed racing. Still, the excitement and anticipation is there in the background. It’s kind of a quiet hum. I’m pretty sure it will grow as I get closer to the end of May and my kick off for the West Coast. A while back, Dondi asked me if I was addicted to traveling. I am. I might want to settle down at times, but the Urge is always there. It ain’t a bad addiction to have. | ||
| Tootal |
It ain’t a bad addiction to have. Much better than most! See you in a couple of weeks! | ||
| Crusty |
Inch By Inch Well, the wheel bearings are in and the front tire is mounted on the cast wheels. The rear isn’t because I’m going to have to take the wheel over to Fitchburg and use the bead breaker on the NoMar to break the bead loose. I’ll bring my tire irons and mounting lube along, and maybe I’ll be able to mount the tire without having to kneel on a garage floor. My knees really don’t like that any more. I guess that the NoMar spoiled me. There are a few tire shops around, so I’ll stop by one of them to inflate the new tires. I have my compressor in the garage, but there’s no power there, so it doesn’t help a bit. Sometimes I really miss my garage at the house on Mill Street. (I miss the house, too, but I won’t get into that, right now ) I’ll bring the balancing stand back to Hudson and balance the wheels here. I’m not going to put the cast wheels on until I wear down the tires on the spoke wheels. That will probably be after my trip to Tennessee and Georgia. I’d like to put them on before; but tires are expensive, and I want to get my money’s worth out of the tires that are already mounted. people have been asking for pictures, but there really isn’t much to show. I could take a picture of the bike with the relocated Turn signals, I suppose; but that’s not much of a change. Maybe I will, anyhow. Then I could take a photo of the wheels sitting in the garage. I can’t take a picture of the tank yet ‘cause it’s in Tennessee. I will take pictures of the bike when everything is assembled on it. I promise. Next up will be bringing the bike over to the fabricator’s (welder’s) to see about getting the bag mounts set up for the bike. I’ll do that this week. I hope it won’t be too expensive. | ||
| Greg_e |
Some pictures of the old mounts and new mounts might help with ideas. In my mind it is take the bike side and weld it to the bag/box side, and fabricate a cross brace around the back. Would be nice to have the boxes, but not the most important thing. | ||
| Crusty |
Some Days Are Like That The day started with a plan. Dondi was going to come over and I was going to load up the rear wheel, new tire and some tools and go over to the storage garage in Fitchburg. One there, I’d pop the bead with the NoMar and remove the tire. Then, I’d mount the Michelin on the wheel. I also brought along the front wheel that had it’s new tire mounted, but it hadn’t had any air put in yet. We got to the garage and I rearranged things so that the NoMar was up front near the door. That way, I would have maximum light and a little more room for maneuvering. But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t get the bead to break I fought with it for a while, then decided to just take the wheel to a Tire shop and ask them to break the bead for me. I hit two tire shops and neither would do it. They were afraid of a motorcycle wheel. So, I took it over to Central Mass Powersports where the guy behind the Service Desk took the wheel out back and returned two minutes later with the bead on both sides broken. When I asked how much I owed him, he said, “No Charge” and wished me a nice day. So, I went back to the garage, took off the old tire and mounted the new one. Then we went to the closest tire shop and inflated both wheels. After that, we went to the Gold Bowl Chinese Restaurant, and we had a very tasty lunch. We had to kill a little time until 3:30 when I was supposed to meet Scotty and get a piece of dense foam to make kneeling pads from. I had asked him in an e-mail and he said no problem, so I told him I’d be there by the back door when he got off work. That all happened as planned. I got to talk with Brian and John Husar, who I used to work with for a few minutes, then Scott came out and gave me a 4 ft. square piece of 2-1/2” thick foam. I guess they’ve been busy the past couple of years and they’ve got a ton of it laying around. So; the old tire got removed, the new tire installed and both wheels were inflated to factory spec, Dondi and I went to the Loonie Noonie, we ate some (too much, actually) pretty good Chinese food and I got the foam to make kneeler pads from. It was a fairly successful day. | ||
| Pwnzor |
 | ||
| Crusty |
Hoo Boy! This is kind of weird. This morning, I just happened to stumble across a real estate listing for a house in Fitchburg, and as soon as I saw it, I got the same feeling that I got the first time I saw the listing for my old house in Leominster. It’s a feeling that I can only describe as this house looks like it should belong to me. Did you ever look at someone who just sat on a bike at a dealership, and you knew that was the right bike for him (or her)? That’s the way I felt when I saw the listing. So I did the reasonable thing; I drove by and looked it over from outside. It looks pretty nice. I looked through the windows; the house is empty, but I can see me living there. It just calls to me. I talked to a friend, Johnny Donut about it. He’s a good guy and knows a lot of people around Fitchburg. He turned me on to a Realtor who I called as soon as I got home. The Realtor, in turn turned me on to a Mortgage Broker. We spoke a bit on the phone, and I may just be able to buy a house! I have to go over to my storage garage and dig out some paperwork, and we’ll take it from there. If it all happens, it will drastically alter my plans. I won’t be going to nearly as many places as I thought. I won’t be doing much tramping. But I’ll have a Home. I will still be able to do some traveling, just not like I have been doing. If it doesn’t happen, then I’ll fall back on my plans for this summer. It’s looking like a win/win situation to me. If it all goes through, then I’ll have my home and garage, which will be pretty sweet. I really would like my own home. If it all falls apart, then I’ll get to see my brother Tony, who I haven’t seen for something like 12 years and the Canadian Rockies, which I’ve never seen. Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. I’ve been making plans, but this blind sided me. I’m just going to do the Next Right Thing and see where it takes me. | ||
| Crusty |
Details, Details Today was a gathering Paperwork kind of day. I had to e-mail copies of my last two tax returns, plus a copy of my Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and I also had to write a Letter of Explanation about why I filed for Bankruptcy. I got all the paperwork together, and got a very helpful Librarian to help me scan and attach 8 pages to an e-mail back to the Mortgage guy. We spoke a bit this morning, and he seems to think it will happen, but he’s not making any promises. He also went over what I can expect the mortgage to run on a monthly basis. I can pay it, but I’ll be looking for a room mate. If I have to live there alone, I won’t be doing very much traveling. In the meantime, I took pictures of the turn signals and the wheels with the tires mounted. I keep telling people that you can’t really see much change, yet they want pictures, so I’ll try to attach them. You can see the NoMar in the photo of the wheels. It doesn't work nearly as well when it's not bolted to the floor. but it's still better than having to kneel on concrete and levering tires on the rim. I’m still going to Tennessee and Georgia for the rally on April 1-3, and I’ll still visit with my Sister and Brother in law. What I’m doing after that depends on what the mortgage guy has to say after the underwriters look at my financial info. If it looks like a Go, then my travel will be severely curtailed for this year. If I get a thumbs down, then I’ll be looking at the best routes to all the places I want to see. As I said in my last Snippet, it’s a Win/Win kind of situation. If I get the mortgage, I win; but I won’t be doing many long rides. If I don’t get a mortgage, then I win and get to travel far and wide; but I won’t have my own home. At least for this year. Next year, my credit will be a bit better, and the probability of getting approved for a mortgage will be higher, but I’m not going to project too far into the future. On a more negative note, the weather forecast is for a foot of snow this Sunday night and Monday.   [ | ||
| Crusty |
A Bad Influence Revisited I’ve had a number of people tell me that they enjoy reading these Snippets. They get to see the world through my eyes as I stagger around and report my thoughts and impressions. Every time I start thinking that people on a particular forum must be getting tire of my posts, somebody will pop up and tell me how much he likes reading them. A while back, I wrote a Snippet about somebody’s spouse who was accusing me of leading him astray. After years of relaxing domesticity, my Snippets were causing him to spontaneously go hundreds of miles away for no particular reason, or at best, a trivial one. It really ticked me off. I am in no way, shape or form responsible for anybody else’s actions. This week, I was hit with quite a different reaction. I wrote about being smitten by a house that’s for sale, and that I might be able to buy it. I had someone come back and accuse me of all kinds of things. Being schitzy; not being realistic, that I was going to go broke trying to pay the mortgage, and a whole lot more. The basic thing was that he felt betrayed. I’m supposed to be a tramp, and to want to buy a house is contrary to that and I’m letting everybody down who reads these Snippets. If any of you feel that way, I’m sorry. For you. These little essays are reflections of what goes on in my head. Nowhere is it written that I can never try to do something different from what I’ve been doing. Before my Heart Valve Replacement surgery, I had a nice little ranch house with a wonderful garage. My wife and I separated just before the surgery, and between the loss of her income and my inability to work for months after the surgery, I fell way behind in my debts. Eventually, even though I went back to work and was working seven days a week, I couldn’t dig myself out of the financial hole I was in. The Mortgage company foreclosed and I had to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. It hurt me real bad. I felt that I’d had my one shot at having my dream home, and it was gone. Now, I have an opportunity to get another house. I don’t know if I can get a mortgage; it’s only been 3 years since I filed Chapter 7. I don’t know if I’ll get approved for enough to buy the house. And, I don’t know if I really even want that house. I haven’t been inside yet; it might be a nightmare that needs truckloads of money thrown at it to make it livable. But I’m going to try. I have nothing to lose by trying. And, Yes; if I get the house, my tramping will be on the back burner for a while. If this bothers you, I suggest that you just Deal with it. This is my life. I live by my own rules. I don’t hurt anybody intentionally, and I try to help people when I can. But I’ll be damned if I’ll live to satisfy somebody else’s expectations. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Oh my... that's nuts. Somebody actually complained to you that the entertainment you provide might be curtailed in some way? The nerve! I'd read about you mowing your lawn and trying to decide whether or not to mulch the clippings. | ||
| Buellish |
I think everyone is entitled to be happy,if buying that house will make you happy,then you should try to buy the house. | ||
| Greg_e |
Whoever that person might be, they are pretty damn selfish. Maybe they need to pay you to keep traveling so you can write about the things you do. How is the new bag brackets coming? | ||
| 86129squids |
??? HEYULL, John. I enjoy your noodling, but- I'd be pretty small if I harshed on you for LIVING YOUR LIFE differently, and as you like it. Good luck, friend! | ||
| Etennuly |
You do what you want to do because it is what you want to do when you do it. To do otherwise is not you. Interests change, abilities change, desires change, life changes. If you kicked back and swung in a hammock for the rest of your years, by gosh, you have accomplished so much after your heart thingy, it is truly amazing. Most people don't get up from that kind of stuff, a lot of them simply don't want to. You certainly give some of us with chronic health problems a lift. That is a big part of why some of us root for you on your travels. More than glad to know you John, I'm proud to know you. | ||
| 86129squids |
What Vern said. To have lived your life, and deal with major losses, not to mention cheating the Reaper... you're doing it right. Don't let anyone tell ya different, until Saint Pete lets you through them pearly gates. | ||
| Crusty |
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been On May 14 last year, I left my apartment around 8:00 AM, rode over to my Storage garage and left the last items that I was going to store there. I then climbed on my bike and set out in a direction I hadn’t been planning on to begin my Great Adventure. I look back to that start as significant. I had been planning on riding down to the Mass. Turnpike; instead, I spontaneously went west on the Mohawk Trail. I did not want any constraints placed on my traveling, other than those required for my health. That’s pretty much how the past 10 months have gone. I’ve seen indescribable beauty, I’ve visited old friends, made new friends, been disappointed and found unexpected joys. I traveled in 44 US states and flew to Australia for three months. I saw exciting races with photo finishes, ate some great meals and spent more time in McDonald’s than I care to admit (usually writing Snippets).I’ve had Big Horn Sheep walk beside me, deer almost walk into my tent and an armadillo ran through my campsite. I ate Beignets and drank Chicory coffee at the Cafe du Monde. I met a waitress in Iowa who captured my heart, and I don’t even know why. I’ve had friends that I didn’t know I had as well as some I did know cough up cash so I could go to Australia. I had people welcome me warmly and I wore out my welcome with a couple of other folks. I said Good Bye to a friend who’s drinking himself to death. I saw my old Sportster, that I’d lovingly built in the mid 90s as a rusted, corroded hulk after being left out in the salt air for ten years or so. I got it cleaned up to the point that I got it to start and run which was pretty neat. Now, I’m preparing to start out again. Next week, I’m heading out for Tennessee to see Vern and put my freshly painted Custom gas tank on the Roadster. From there, I’m heading for Suches, Georgia for Glitch Badness. After the rally, I’m going to visit with my sister and her husband in North Carolina, then head back up to Massachusetts. In May, the next phase will begin. I have more places to visit than I can possibly get to on the list, which is the way it should be. I hope to chalk off the four contiguous States that I didn’t get to last summer, and I plan to get up into Canada and see the Canadian Rockies and a bunch of other people and places. As far as the house I was smitten by goes, I got the word today that I can’t get a mortgage big enough to buy it. The most I’ll get is still 15 grand too little. Brian, the guy I was dealing with, said that the best plan is to save up for a year, then try again next year. My credit will be better, and my savings will be the down payment. That makes sense to me. It’s a bit of a disappointment, but it’s not a tragedy. In the meantime, yesterday was the first day of Spring. Summer’s Coming! | ||
| Crusty |
A Belt And A Burger I have to put the new belt and sprocket on the Roadster. I was hoping to wait until I got back from Georgia, but I think the prudent thing to do is take care of it now. The reason I was wanting to wait is because I don’t want to change the wheels yet. I want to wear the tires down that are on the spoke wheels, then put the cast wheels with the new tires on, along with the new sprocket and belt at the same time. However, yesterday was warm and I went by the quarter car wash and cleaned the bike. Since the temp was around 62º F (16 C), I spent some time going over the bike with an “Ultra Absorbent Drying Towel”. As I was cleaning the belt guard, I was also looking at the belt, and it’s looking pretty rough. The sprocket that’s on the bike really looks clapped out, so I can either change out the belt and sprocket now, and keep the steel wheels on until the tires wear down, or change out the wheels altogether. Since I’m going to be covering a lot of territory once I head out at the end of May, I want to start out with fresh tires and hopefully they’ll last until I get back here to Taxachusetts in late July or early August. So, I’m going to swap just the belt & sprocket for now. When I put the cast wheels on in May, I’ll take the sprocket off the steel wheel and put it on the cast wheel. It really isn’t that much more work. This weekend, I need to call Vern and find out which day next week would be best for me to arrive. It won’t take very long to swap the gas tanks over, and I know the BBQ is going to be on Thursday evening, but I’d also like to ride some of the good roads in the area. I don’t know if people are planning to ride to Suches in a group, or if we’re all on our own. I usually prefer to ride solo, but it might be fun to travel with a group for a change. I’ll give him a call and see how things look before making any concrete plans. That’s about it for now. I’m going to go by the Supermarket and get some Cheddar cheese, Potato rolls and an onion to saute’ in butter. A really good cheeseburger with onions fried in butter and seasoned roasted Yukon Gold spuds for supper sounds quite tasty to me. (Message edited by Crusty on March 24, 2016) | ||
| Crusty |
Oscillations, Vacillations and First off; I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Easter Sunday. Even if you’re not Christian, I hope the day is full of love and joy for you and your loved ones. The weather was nice today. It wasn’t that warm, only about 50º (F) or so, but it was nice in the sun. And there was plenty of sun. I started to change out the belt and sprocket, but once I had the exhaust and belt guard off, I got a good look at the belt, and I’ve decided to wait until after I get back from Georgia and then I’ll change the wheels as well as the belt and sprocket. I know that I’m tempting Fate, but I’m going to gamble that it’ll last that long. If it doesn’t, then I only have myself to blame. I retrieved the tent, pad and sleeping bag from storage. I stopped at a laundromat and washed the sleeping bag and pillow. Looking at the bike with the gear loaded kind of gave me a little thrill of anticipation. Even without bags on the bike, she looks like she’s ready to put on some miles. I stopped at an Auto Zone and bought three quarts of oil and a filter. Tomorrow, I’m going to the quarter car wash and change the oil. Then, I’ll wash the bike. There’s a place just up the street from the car wash that takes waste oil (they have a waste oil heater), so I’ll bring the jug of used oil there. After I’m done with that, I’ll come back to the apartment and broil a Rib Eye. I got a 12 oz beauty of a steak on my way home today, and it’s going to be my Easter Dinner. I am really looking forward to this trip. It should really be a fun time. Right now, I’m kind of glad that the house didn’t come through. I still want my own house, but I’m not quite ready to settle. I think. Aw hell; if the mortgage did come through, I’d be every bit as excited about that, and I’d be glad I wasn’t traveling. Maybe I’m just a bit schizophrenic. I want both things simultaneously. Well; I can’t have both, so I’ll just tramp around for the time being. If I’m meant to have a house, the right house will come along at the right time. This isn’t the right time; that’s all. Oh; Sam, whoever you are, Thank You once again. I will find out who you are eventually. I’m just biding my time. | ||
| Ourdee |
It is time for some adventures to begin already. I am envious of your prime rib! | ||
| Crusty |
Anticipation I spoke with Vern last night. Among other things, he said that it would probably be best if I arrived on Wednesday afternoon. So, I’m heading out tomorrow morning. That means that I’ve got a bit of stuff to get accomplished today. Not everything I was planning to do is going to happen. The weather is not going to be cooperative. Intellecast gives us a 100% chance of rain throughout the day. That means that I won’t be riding to the shop. I owe them money, so I’ll just mail them a check. I also wanted to catch the Noonie, as well as bring the old seat over to the garage, but I don’t want to ride to Fitchburg in the rain with a large cardboard box bungeed to the bike. The box would be a soggy mass of pulp by the time I got there. I have to do some laundry, pack my saddlebags and get the bags and camping gear on the bike, so it’ll be ready to go in the morning. I’m full of anticipation; I haven’t done any long distance riding in months. I feel a little rusty, I have to pack my bags. it probably won’t take me long, but I’m out of shape and all the stuff I normally have in them is scattered. I don’t want to forget anything. I’m only going to gone for two weeks, but I’m acting like I’m going to be on the road for months. It’s just pre-ride jitters. Everything will sort itself out. This ain’t my first Rodeo. I’ve been looking at Google maps. I think I’ll ride the Tail of the Dragon on my way from Vern’s to Two Wheels of Suches. It’s only a four hour ride if I go that way. It’s quicker if I go the way Google recommends, but I’ve never ridden the Tail of the Dragon. Last May, I rode the Back of the Dragon, and it was pretty nice, so I’m curious to ride the Tail. I wonder if there are any more anatomical Dragon parts that I don’t know about? I would think that riding the Dragon’s Intestines would be full of twists and turns. It might not smell so good, though. I’ll have to ask when I get down to Tennessee. I’m really looking forward to getting my new gas tank on the bike. Having that extra gallon of fuel will give me a more reasonable distance between gas stops. I think the bike will look pretty good with the new tank, as well. The classic Sportster tank looks good, but it just doesn’t hole enough gas for traveling. Four and a half gallons makes a lot more sense. I have to remember to take the camera. Also the cell phone charger. T shirts, shorts and socks for a week. A pair of blue jeans and two sweatshirts. My toilet kit. My daily drugs. I don’t think I’ll bring the camp stove or instant coffee. I won’t need it on this trip. I will bring the towel. I don’t like the way it feels, but it does dry me off and it packs up small. I think that’s about it for now. It’s after 6:00 AM. I think I’ll make a pot of coffee and start now. I’ll take a nap later on to make up for the sleep I lost while typing this I’m pumped! | ||
| Crusty |
Lunch Stop It’s windy and raw and I’m not used to it. The current temperature is 46º F (7.77º C) and I’m pretty chilled. I’m sitting in a McDonald’s in Dingman’s Ferry, PA drinking a Senior coffee and trying to warm up. The electric jacket helps, but my feet feel like hard lumps of clay. Make that Cold hard lumps of clay. Oh well; the lot of a Tramp is a difficult one. Or somethin’. I like McDonald’s. Yeah, I know all about how had they’re supposed to be. I heard all the negative propaganda from Super Size Me, but the food here tastes good, and it’s reasonably priced. I’m not advocating that anyone should eat three meals a day, every day here, but it’s nowhere near as bad as some would have you believe. This morning, I hit the Truck stop on Ruby Road in Connecticut. I like to stop there when I’m setting out on a trip. There’s a Dunkin Donuts and a Burger King there. I got a small coffee with cream from Dunkie’s and a Sausage, egg, and cheese Croissandwich from the Blubber King. It cost me almost six bucks. $1.79 for the coffee (no senior discount; sorry) and $4.03 for the sandwich. In comparison, a Sausage McMuffin and a Senior coffee at Macca’s costs less than two bucks. And the Senior coffee has endless refills. Plus, McDonald’s has free WiFi. The one time I tried to use my laptop in a Blubber King, I had to click on a sponsor’s ad before I could connect to their WiFi. Hmmmm; I wonder if I could get McDonald’s to Sponsor me? As I said, it’s cold and windy. There were signs on the Interstate warning about the high winds before crossing the Hudson River, but when I rode over the Hamilton Fish Beacon - Newburgh Bridge, they weren’t that bad. Maybe I just had good timing. The theme for today’s ride is poultry. First, I passed a truck carrying “High Quality Eggs” It was a 53 Ft. trailer, so it was carrying lots of eggs. Then I passed another Semi with a 53 ft. trailer carrying Poultry feeds. A short while later, I passed a Semi carrying cages full of chickens. I guess the Fowl weather brings them out. Well, I guess I’d better get back out there. I’m almost finished with my second coffee, and I’m only half way to tonight’s stopping point. I’m moteling it tonight. I’m really looking forward to a hot shower. |
