| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
-Was Crusty successful at the Registry on Wednesday? -Did Crusty hit the road as planned this morning? -Will the new Sporty engine work flawlessly, or grenade on a deserted dark road hundreds of miles from civilization? These and more questions will hopefully be answered in Crusty's next post- stay tuned!  | ||
| Crusty |
Q&A Time -Was Crusty successful at the Registry on Wednesday? -Did Crusty hit the road as planned this Morning? -Will the new Sportster engine work flawlessly, or grenade on a deserted dark road hundreds of miles from civilization? Hughlysses asked these questions on BadWeB, so I feel I should answer them. - Yes; the Roadster is now wearing my Handicap plate. The same plate she’s been wearing since I first got it. All it took was money, patience, a couple of phone calls to Liberty Mutual along with an RMV-3 form e-mailed to me and a couple of hours of my time. I sure am glad they streamlined the processes at the RMV. I’d probably still be there today, otherwise. Or somethin’. Dealing with the Registry is always a PITA. - No. I’m hitting the road early tomorrow morning. Google says it should take 10 hours and 26 minutes travel time from my driveway to Harrisville, WV. If I’m on the road before 6:00 AM, I should be there long before sunset. - I’m hoping it will work flawlessly. If it takes a dump out in the middle of nowhere, I’ll take that as a sign that I shouldn’t tour on a rubber mount Sportster. Right now, I’ve got the bike half packed. My clothes, tools and a few other items are in the bags. In a little while, I’ll bring the tent, sleeping bag and pad out and put them on. My laptop and toilet kit will go out in the morning and will be the last items packed. I really should get a pair of 30 Liter bags for short trips like this. The bike would look better, and everything would pack better, as well. As soon as I get ahead financially, I think I’ll buy a pair. … If I ever get ahead financially… Well; I might win the Lottery; ya never know. I’ve got the route planned out; it’s pretty simple I290 to 90 to 84 to 81 to 70 to 68 to 79 to US 50 to Rt. 16. Piece of cake. To be completely honest, I am a bit apprehensive. I’m listening for any unusual sounds coming from the engine, or any unusual behavior, in general. I believe that the engine will be fine, but I haven’t gotten over being stranded in the middle of Illinois. Hopefully, this trip will allay those worries. Now, on with the positive. I don’t have a cheap suit to wear for the wedding, but it’s not mandatory, so I’m not going to worry about it. I’m really looking forward to seeing everybody - Mark, Frank, Jim, Matthew, Joe and all the rest. I’m really sorry that Glitch, Ishai and Vern and Brad won’t be there, but I understand; I damn near didn’t go, either. And I don’t know if the bike will make it or not. By tomorrow night, that question will be answered. It will be nice to see Jack and Judy Gainer (Mark’s dad and step mom) and I’m really looking forward to the BBQ. I’m also looking forward to sitting around the campfire and stacking firewood up to skyscraper proportions and breakfast in the little restaurant in Cairo(?) where there was only one cook and one waitress last year, and we poured coffee for ourselves because the two ladies were slammed trying to take care of all of us. This should be a Great Time. I’ll probably be too excited to sleep much tonight. Maybe I’ll do like Froggy and head out earlier than planned. We’ll see. | ||
| Ishai |
So sorry I will miss this shindig and all you fine folks.. Crusty- good luck with your travels, I' positive everything is going to be fine. At my Theater in DC (the Warner Theater) we are making it tomorrow into a movie house so Saturday we will be having the Star Wars Trilogy, so not all is bad.. And to quote somebody famous,for you crusty- May the Force be With You... | ||
| Ourdee |
, but I haven’t gotten over being stranded in the middle of Illinois. I hear you brother. I've been stuck here for 10 years. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Happy trails Crusty, you're a braver man than me. The next few days are supposed to be high 90's with equally high humidity. I can't even look at the bike when it's like this. Might be better off getting an early start and use that extra space to pack water. Have a good time and keep us posted. | ||
| Etennuly |
 Go Crusty! I was really hoping you would get to make this trip! Glad to see it. Work here sucks. I am fenced in presently. | ||
| 86129squids |
"To be completely honest, I am a bit apprehensive. I’m listening for any unusual sounds coming from the engine, or any unusual behavior, in general. I believe that the engine will be fine, but I haven’t gotten over being stranded in the middle of Illinois. Hopefully, this trip will allay those worries." Grokkin' it John. But remember, you had the ability, chance, and grace to rebuild the RoadCrusted Sporty yourself, so you shouldn't worry too much. We have faith in you. Rock and Roll on! | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey! Just Google "goodwill", "habitat re-store", thrift stores on the way, there should be lots... you gotta be dressed to the Nines!  | ||
| Crusty |
Short and Sweet I’m in a Macca’s in Middletown, New York having my usual Sausage McMuffin & Senior Coffee. The WiFi still sucks, but I’m enjoying the breakfast. The roadster is running well, so far. I couldn’t believe how good the bike felt as I started out on this ride. I hope I have the stamina to make it to the Rally before sundown. I used to do 1200 mile rides straight through, back in the ‘70s. I think a 700 mile ride in a day is not an unreasonable goal. Well, it’s time to get back out there. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Take your time and be safe. 700 is doable, but it's hard, so pace yourself, and stop if you need too. | ||
| Greg_e |
It's also hot and muggy 'round here, not much fun working outside this week. | ||
| 86129squids |
+1000, Greg. HAD to mow the grass here in Mur-vil TN yesterday, it was MISERABLE in this heat! Gonna try to weedeat/blow today, can't wait for autumn to arrive. Go John GO!!!! Just remember, Mark's BBQ awaits you!!!  | ||
| Froggy |
If John makes it he wins an award for being the only person to ride to WV Trailer Rally | ||
| Prior |
WV Trailer Rally- great name! I did meet up with Ferris, CarLost, Kristi and Jim (on a KTM Adventure) this morning for breakfast in Fancy Gap, VA. W*rk had other plans for me late today, but did get a few miles in the wind before I headed back to the plant. CarLost is staying local to this area on his M2, Jim is headed to WV on this Adventure. I participated- kinda... | ||
| Crusty |
I'm in a Blubber King in Fairmont, WV. I should be at the rally in an hour or so. It's been an Interesting ride, today. The Roadster seems to be doing OK. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Awesome! I love to hear success. | ||
| Crusty |
Hot And Humid It’s hot and humid here. The humidity has to be close to 99% since there’s fog all around me and I don’t think the temperature fell much below 80º F during the night. My T shirt, which got soaked in the rain yesterday, didn’t dry out during the night. I feel like I should be growing gills to breathe. Everybody else is asleep. I don’t know how late they stayed up, I was in my tent at 10:00 and out cold. Yesterday’s ride exhausted me. The ride down was eventful. It took quite a bit longer to get here than I expected.Traffic was held up by three major accidents along the way. The first was the ugliest. It was a Semi that hit the median guardrail, then flipped on its side. It had also caught fire. All that was left of the tractor was a radiator, engine and frame. the trailer had also burned. I don’t know what the load was originally, but by the time I got there, it was just a pile of blackened rubble. That was on the Mass Pike on the eastbound side. Traffic was crawling on my (westbound) side, but traffic was backed up for something like 30 miles the other way. I was well into Connecticut on I-84 before the backup eased. I hope the driver got out, but, from the looks of the scene, that’s doubtful. The other two accidents were mostly cleared up before I got to the scene, but there were still 1/2 hour stretches when I sat with my engine off and steamed in the sun like a hot dog in a convenience store. Then there was the rain. It would pour like hell for five minutes, then five miles down the road, everything was bone dry. I got soaked by the first cloudburst before I got my rain gear on. Then, the rain gear kept all the moisture inside, so I didn’t dry out. After riding for an hour, the heat and lack of ventilation’s getting to me. I was zoning out pretty badly, so I stopped in a truck stop, took off the gear and I bought a can of Red Bull to revitalize me. I don’t usually drink energy drinks, so when I do, they work pretty well for me. The Red Bull did the trick, and I was awake and alert while I sat still on I-68 waiting for the police to clear the accident site and feeling like a very alert Frankfurter. Eventually, I made it to the Cokely Campground Overflow Area and rolled into the rally. The Roadster performed flawlessly all day. About three hours into the ride, I was hit with the realization that at this time in my life, it’s the perfect bike for me. It feels right. It’s not perfect (the suspension could use a lot of improvement), but the bike just works for me. Well, people are getting up; I think we’re going to the Log Cabin Restaurant for breakfast, so I’d better finish this up and get ready. Froggy says he can get me internet here. If so, this will be posted sooner than later. (Message edited by Crusty on August 13, 2016) | ||
| Pwnzor |
Awesome update! Keep them coming, and have a great time, I know you will. I sure do wish I could be there. | ||
| Griffmeister |
If anyone could get you internet it would be Froggy. Have a great day and try to stay out of that sun or you'll have to change your user name to "Hot Dog". | ||
| 86129squids |
Vern had mentioned how HAWTTT it could get out there at the campground... DO REMEMBER that there's a really nice swimming pool AND lake close by! I got to hit the pool for a while one day, and it was awesome! PICTURES OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!  | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I really like the HD Roadster. I almost bought one in 2005 but the dealer didn't want to give anything for my M2 Cyclone. The motorcycle is clean look with a comfortable riding position and it would be so much easier to do maintenance work on. They don't seem to have all the electrical problems that Buells seem to be known for either. They also hold their resale value really good! I saw a 2005 Roadster for sale at a dealer in Racine that was 5 years old at that time and their asking price was what I could have bought it for new in 2005! | ||
| Crusty |
I’ve Gotten Soft I had a rough ride home from the rally. I didn’t get enough sleep on Saturday night (Sunday morning, actually). It was 1:15 when I finally hit the sleeping bag, and I was awake at 6:00 AM. So I had to fight to keep from nodding most of the way home. This meant that I stopped a lot more often than I usually would. I drank a can of Red Bull around 10:00 AM, and it helped for an hour or so, but then it was back to dragging ass. I drank lots of Gatorade, because I tend to get drowsy when I’m not hydrated enough. Finally, about 30 miles east of Scranton, I bought a little bottle of 5 Hour Energy. I’ve never tried it before, but I know someone who really likes it. It was cheaper than a 12 oz. can of Red Bull (by all of .19 cents), so I chose a bottle of Pomegranate flavor, and drank it. It didn’t taste anything like pomegranate; it tasted like dung sweetened with saccharine. However, it worked. I was awake and reasonably alert for the last 250 miles, and I rolled into the garage a little after 10:00 PM. I didn’t bother to unpack the bike. I just took the bags off and brought them into the apartment. Right now, I’m doing a load of laundry. Once that’s done, I’ll go out to the bike and bring in the tent and sleeping bag and mesh jacket. Then, I’ll start on the day. I need to go over to the Quarter Car Wash. The rain I hit on Friday and yesterday did nothing for the beauty of the Roadster. She really needs some love, A thorough cleaning and a good bit of time with Armor All, Chrome Cleaner and Wax is in order. The bike performed flawlessly. I still haven’t gotten over the engine dying in Illinois, however. Last night, one of the lifters was sounding a little louder than it has been, and I immediately jumped into Paranoid mode. I don’t know if I’ll ever quite have the trust in the motor that I had. Selling the bike is not the solution, as I’d be just as edgy with any Sportster. Hopefully, time will heal that wound. I also need to go over to the Powder coater and pick up the piece to mount the highway pegs. The paint had flaked off, so I bead blasted it and brought it over to be coated. The e owner did it for no charge. He told me that it wouldn’t be fair to charge me the $100.00 minimum, so he just did it for free. So, I guess I should at least name them. It’s Central Mass Powder Coating in Clinton, MA. They did the brackets I made up when I put the hard bags on Terri’s Ss, and they did a good job. If you need to get something powder coated, and you’re in the area, I give then a strong recommendation. Last night, I told myself that I was just going to kick back and do nothing today. But this morning, I want to get a lot done. I can barely walk. My bad ankle is throbbing like all hell, and the toe I hurt in Canada is hurting. Both feet are not working like they should, and walking around the apartment is painful. I hope that it’s just a reaction from the weekend, and they’ll soon be back to normal. Otherwise, it will be a laid back day from necessity. I think the toe will get better pretty quickly, but the way the ankle feels, I might want to carry the cane with me today. Well, that’s enough for now. I could go on a rant about Elephant Racers, Truckers who think everyone should form a single lane two miles before the merge point, morons who travel 5 MPH below the Speed Limit in the passing lane, and won’t move over and, of course, the ubiquitous cell phone users who float all over their lane at varying speeds, but you all know that tune. (Message edited by Crusty on August 15, 2016) | ||
| Pwnzor |
Glad you made it home safely... I know something you can do that won't hurt your toe... POST SOME PICTURES. The new-to-you motor working out perfectly is exactly what I've been praying for. I can't wait to see where it will take you next. | ||
| Crusty |
I didn't take many pictures, and the ones I did take were all centered around the wedding and the really dignified suits everyone was sporting. Here are a few examples:    | ||
| Crusty |
More:  And then, there was Froggy  But the best suit was Jim's (Damnut)  What West Virginia wedding would be complete without a shotgun? (It's real) Also note the Darth Vader flower girl:  The Wedding  The Cake  | ||
| Court |
>>>The new-to-you motor working out perfectly is exactly what I've been praying for. I can't wait to see where it will take you next. Mark never misses . . . Man oh man . . what an event! Congratulations to the newly wed couple also . . . been a long time since I've seen a shotgun at a wedding and it warms my heart. Fashion statements . . .each and every one of youse! | ||
| Two_seasons |
This has got to be one of the best meet ups in the USA. Great looking bunch and the wedding looks perfect. Carry on my Buelling friends. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
This has got to be one of the best meet ups in the USA. Great looking bunch and the wedding looks perfect. It was a good time but the weather put a small turd in the punch bowl It rained like crazy Friday morning. Then the HEAT never let up. Its hard to put a smile on your face when a short walk has you looking like you ran a marathon. (and for me, being 50 lbs over weight doesn't help) It was so hot my S3 went into skip spark mode and ran like crap. I still had a good time and ate WAY to much! Glad you made it Crusty. You have put many smiles on Judy's face and I can't thank you enough. Hope to see you again next year. It will be back to its normal 3rd weekend of August. (17th-20th) | ||
| Crusty |
Gratitude I’ve been thinking about how lucky I’ve been. It started when I bought a Lottery ticket that didn’t even have one number that matched the winning draw, and I started grousing to myself about how crappy my luck is. Then I realized that while I don’t have the luck to win Lotteries, I’ve had some incredibly good luck in quite a few other areas of my life. Last year, I rode all over the western and midwestern States. When I came back to Massachusetts at the end of July, my belt snapped. When it snapped, I was right across the street from my Tax Accountant’s office, so I pushed the bike into his parking lot and that’s where I changed the belt. It didn’t snap while I was 50 miles from the nearest town in Montana, it waited until I was back in familiar territory with friends around me. When the engine on the Roadster let go in the middle of Illinois, I was fortunate enough that I had Towing as part of my Insurance coverage. The credit line on my credit card was increased in April, so I had enough room on the card to rent a U-Haul truck and get the bike to Cincinnati and my brother David’s house. Then, my luck really took off. While I was planning how I was going to get the bike back to Massachusetts, the members of BadWeb worked out a relay that got me home and even got me one hell of a damned good meal along the way. My brother David couldn’t get over the fact that a bunch of guys on a motorcycle forum would organize a relay to help me get home. He was amazed, to say the least. Then, when the damage to the Roadster’s engine proved to be catastrophic, I found an engine nearby for almost $1,000.00 less that it would have cost from Pinwall Cycle, and the guys at the shop let me use their lift and tools to make the engine swap. If I look back over my life, I can see a lot of occasions where I’ve been remarkably lucky in all sorts of ways. I just need to stop and look with the right attitude. I really am a Lucky Guy. | ||
| Alfau |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EI7p2p1QJI |
