| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Non Sequiturs I just re-read the classic 1934 Science Fiction story, A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum. It’s one of the great short stories, and I hadn’t read it in years. If you’re into Science Fiction, and even if you’re not, I recommend it. For me, it has the same “Feel” as the original King Kong (but not the remakes). I found a site from the Wikipedia article on the story that had the short story in its entirety for free. I’ve already started my Christmas shopping. I have to be extremely frugal this year, so I have a very short list of friends and family that I’ll buy gifts for and I won’t be spending much, so I have to put some effort into finding good gifts for short money. Roadgear is going out of business, and they’re selling off their remaining inventory for 65% off list. I found an item for one friend that I think is a good choice, so I bought it. Road gear made the soft saddlebags that I used on the Roadster, and they were extremely tough and withstood a lot of abuse for over a year. Definitely Quality bags. I think that the item I bought will also be of similar quality. I have ideas on what to get for some people, but there are some that continue to make think. I have a battle going on in my head about whether to buy Christmas cards this year or not. They’re getting expensive. The price is up to $25.00 or $26.00 for a box of 25 cards. That’s a buck a card. Last year, I sent out 40 cards, and I know that I can add another 10 people to my list, so that’s at least Fifty bucks plus another $25.00 or so for postage (a bit more for the Foreign addresses). I’m flip flopping quite a bit about it. However, being that I really get into Christmas, I’ll probably go for them. I’ll spend more than I want buying gifts and I’ll blow my budget all to hell, and I won’t regret it a bit until January, when I look at my credit card balance. Hey; it’s Christmas. It’s a time for giving and sharing. I really care about my friends and family, and I enjoy the season. Four weeks from right now, I hope to be in Suches, Georgia at Buellvemberfest. I’m planning to be there and I’ll do what I can to be there, but Life sometimes gets in the way. I’m really looking forward to seeing everybody, going to Jim’s Smoking’ Q and watching the final Moto GP race of the year surrounded by other Moto GP enthusiasts in the big room in the Lodge. Last year at Buelltoberfest, I really got a charge out of it. And it was a damned good race, to boot! I’ll probably head down via Vern’s place and try to influence him to ride down. He wants to, I know. He’s got the Uly, and that’s as comfortable and good handling as a bike can get, and he’s a Rider, so it won’t take much of a push to influence him. Ooh, ooh! (in my best Gunther Toody imitation), I just got an idea. If Mark and Brad and I all show up at Vern’s place at about the same time, that will probably push him into going even if he has all the excuses in the world for missing the rally. It probably won’t be necessary, but it also won’t hurt anything, either. I know that I’ve been really heavy into describing the foliage this year, but it’s one of the more spectacular years. I’ve been into Autumn and the Foliage colors for years, but it is just so beautiful this year that most of the other years pale in comparison. Maybe it’s just because I’m now in the Autumn Years of my life, but it’s really assaulting my senses. It’s not just me, either; a few other people have commented on it as well. This week, the weather is supposed to be up into the 70s. I guess I should change my front tire then. I hate changing tires in the cold; if I do it sooner rather than later , then I won’t be out in the cold with stiff hands and stiff tires trying to do the job. Well; I have to go visit a friend who broke her leg. Later. | ||
| Court |
Crusty . . . that was an absolute hoot ! ! It was so good to see you. I am still laughing about looking out, seeing the rain and both our jackets laying on the seals of our bikes . . . mine with the lining pointed skyward. It is a gorgeous area and one of America's well kept secrets. I was up there last night playing some music and the fill moon was spectacular. Let's hit a place up in MA or VT soon . . . | ||
| Crusty |
Preparing for Winter I just ordered a powerless socket and an adaptor plug. I’m going to put the socket in the side cover of the Roadster. The adaptor will let me plug my electric jacket into the bike. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and now that the weather is getting cold (the temperature was right at the freezing mark when I got up this morning), I’ve decided to just do it. The sad part is that I’m pretty sure that I have a socket and an adapter packed away somewhere in Storage, but I’m not sure what bin it would be in. For that matter, I’m not positive I have both the socket and adaptor, so I just decided to get them both. Maybe, when they come in, I’ll get off my duff and install the Ear Cannon at the same time, since I’ll be fiddling with the wiring anyway. Every winter I tell myself that this is the last year that I won’t have a car or truck to get around in; that I’m getting too old for this shit. But every fall, I don’t have the available cash to buy a shitbox. I’m still one of those nut cases that believes that I will always have a motorcycle. Cars are nice for some things, like getting around in the winter, but a motorcycle is an absolute necessity. What good is a car if I’m a gibbering idiot because I haven’t been on a bike? I guess I could drive myself to the Cracker Factory where they could fill me up with psychotropic medication; then I could stare at the wall and drool all day long. Ehhh; maybe when I get too old to ride anymore. That ain’t happening yet. I’m going to need to find some warm and waterproof footwear. My Chippewas aren’t even the least bit waterproof, so I need to find some decent winter boots that aren’t too bulky. I think I’m OK on gloves, and the rest of the gear should be OK. One way or another, I’ll figure out how to get by. I’m good at that. I tried to find the 3 digit rain covers last week, and was unsuccessful. I’ve got two pairs of them (one belonged to my ex), but I spent almost an hour in the Storage garage and came up dry. I do have the mitten rain covers that fit over my old winter gloves, and that’s what I’m using for the time being. Unless I get really lucky, they’ll be my rain covers for the entire winter. Of course, I could always just buy another pair from Aerostich; that would insure that I’d find the ones I already have. Doesn’t it always work that way? Well; Intellicast says that the high temperatures are supposed to be around 70º (F) for the next three or four days, so I’d better make hay while I have the opportunity. | ||
| Damnut |
John, if you're interested in a shitbox I may have what you're looking for. 98 civic 5 speed, needs either a clutch master or slave. It is my old commuter car, not pretty but runs well. 600 bucks. I can help with the repairs. | ||
| Court |
John: To jog your memory . . . .here are some shots of where we were the other day . . . . I'm going to start trying some towns in MA. Thanks again for making the trip to my "home turf" . . . that was a total hoot. By the way . . . you are spot on about finding stuff in storage . . . the ONLY way to find it quickly is to buy a replacement. Court From just north of where we were . . . The town where we had lunch . . . shot during dinner last night with the Hunter's Moon Supposed to be lovely and record high temps on Tuesday . . . . | ||
| Pwnzor |
98 civic 5 speed That sounds like just the thing. Solid, reliable, holds a bunch of groceries. | ||
| Damnut |
If it wasn't for picking up a jetta diesel that gets 50mpg on the cheap, I'd still be driving it. | ||
| Crusty |
Jim; that's a nice offer, but I'll have to pass on it . I've worked out a budget that will allow me to get my credit card paid off by next summer. If I buy a car, then I have to come up with the purchase price. Then there's Sales Tax, Title fee, Registration fee, Excise tax and Insurance. I can't afford it this year. Next year, though will be a different story. (I've been saying that for a few years, now...) | ||
| Crusty |
Crazy Dreams, Crazy Weather I woke up from a really bizarre dream that centered around wolves, Indians and Airborne Rangers. It wasn’t quite a nightmare, but my subconscious was busily emptying the garbage; or somethin’. I’m not going to try to explain it, but it sure was strange. Anyhow, I got up and went pee, then I couldn’t sleep, so I got up again and got a bottle of water from the fridge. It’s pretty warm tonight. Outside, it’s 61º F (16º C). It’s supposed to be in the 80s today. Last Saturday morning, it was 32º F (0º) when I woke up. Next week, they’re predicting a high of 50. Screwy weather , for sure, but I’ll take the warm while it lasts. I had hoped to sleep all night. In a few hours, I’m going over to Fitchburg and putting a front tire on the Roadster. The tire on it is down to the wear bars, and though that means that I’ve got another 1000 miles of life in it, I really don’t want to be changing tires in cold weather. Especially since I have to do all my maintenance outside. The other reason I want to change the tire is so the Roadster will be ready to go to Georgia in a few weeks. I have a Powerlet socket coming (I hope), I need to get it installed as well. I hope it arrives soon; I don’t enjoy working on the bike in really cold temperatures. I don’t even know if it’s shipped out, yet. Powerlet acknowledged my order, but I that’s all. I hope it shipped out and they just didn’t inform me. It would be nice if it arrived today. Then I could install it tomorrow. We’ll see. I spent a pleasant half hour before I started this Snippet over on ADV Rider reading about the Dust to Dawson thing. (The folks there get upset if you call it a Rally. Don’t ask me why) It looks like a good time. it’s right around the Summer Solstice and I hope to attend it this coming June on my way to the Arctic Circle. When I camped in Jasper National Park last June, it was light until 11:00 at night, and got light at 3:30 in the morning. To experience Midnight Sun will really be pretty neat. I’d also like to experience dark at Noon, but I don’t want to put up with the bitter cold that accompanies it, so I guess I’ll probably miss that experience. Well; I drank a bottle of water, and I’ve relaxed from that truly strange dream. I think I’ll go pee again and try to get some more sleep. | ||
| Crusty |
The Return Of Otis Elevator “Baby, Ah gots my ups and downs” from Cheech & Chong’s first album.Today has been that kind of day. I bungeed my new front tire to the bike and rode over to Fitchburg. It was cloudy and misty when I set out, but it was supposed to burn off and the sun was supposed to come out and the temperatures were supposed to go up to around 80º F (26º C). It never happened. It was cool and raw all day long. However, I did get the tire mounted and balanced. That’s the up. I also discovered that my brake pads were worn to the point that the left brake rotor was galled and needs replacement. I also noticed that the tire had shifted on my way over to the Garage and popped off one of my turn signal lenses and loosened the other turn signal so that it was pointed at the ground. My bottle of Ru Glide (Tire mounting lube) had developed some sort of fungus and turned an ugly grey/brown color from the blue it once was. Of course, it’s about a decade old, so it’s not that big of a deal, but it added to the day. However, I rode by American H-D in Leominster after the bike was back together and bought a new turn signal lens. While I was there, I priced brake rotors. Ouch. I came home and was feeling OK about the tire change until I started thinking about the brakes; so I went online and ordered new pads and new rotors. I don’t want to use the credit card, but brakes are critical. Dennis Kirk had EBC rotors for my bike for a Hundred bucks each, so I bought two. I also bought a full set of pads (two front pairs and single rear pair) from D2 Moto. That done, I was surfing the web and reading about the ugliest Presidential Race I’ve ever seen, and I noticed that the Election is only three weeks away. I looked at my calendar, and saw that my next Cystoscopy is on November 10 at 2:45 PM; two days after the election. Then I realized that Buellvemberfest starts on the 11th. There’s no way in hell that I can do both. Either I go get my Cystoscopy or I head for Georgia. Shit. When I bought the rotors and pads, I was thinking that the financial bite might be too big, and I wouldn’t be able to go, but I just pushed that worry aside. I figured that it might delay my card payoff, but not that much. However, I have to get the Cystoscopy. If the cancer is coming back, it’s critical to detect it early. I really don’t want to lose my bladder and kidneys. It’s feeling like I’m just not meant to go. I’ll call the Hospital tomorrow and see if I can get my appointment shifted, but if not, then the Rally is out. Well, I’m not going to hatchet my Counts before they chicken out. I don’t have enough information right now. Tomorrow, I’ll know more and will be able to make a more rational decision based on better data. I’m a little concerned, but I’ll see how things shake out. The good news is that the Roadster now has tires with good tread. And the weather is supposed to be sunny with temps in the mid to upper 70s tomorrow. | ||
| Crusty |
I just got off the phone with the Horse-pital. I was able to move the appointment. I can still make Buellvemberfest! YAH-HOO!!! | ||
| 86129squids |
...surely they can shift that date a bit for ya? So far the weather down here has been awesome! I'm still hoping to make it to Suches too... had a day ride down to Tellico Plains on Sunday. Went with a bunch of buddies, all typical HD riders- ride, stop for BS and beer, repeat... Didn't get the mileage in that I'd have liked, but my GF was kind enough to ride with, and her sweet tushie had had enuf. | ||
| Tootal |
How's that go? Harley riders can't pass up a bar and a Gold Wing rider can't pass up a Dairy Queen! Glad your plan worked out Crusty. You might have been able to save a buck if there was a machine shop nearby with a blanchard grinder. Local guy here does motorcycle brake rotors all the time. Even did my dad's bike many years ago. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Crusty, Court sends his regards. The big tease.  | ||
| Pwnzor |
Woohoo!!!!! I can smell Jim's Smokin' Que already! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
this weather is tricking us! As soon as I say I'm headed to TWO the snow will fly! | ||
| Crusty |
Good Lord! That looks heavenly! I hope it tastes as good as it looks. Yeah; Jim's Smokin' Q is really looking good to me, right now. | ||
| Court |
Crusty: I pulled into Big W's and the lot was full of bikes. I asked a fellow on a Ducati ...... "where were you guys when it was raining?" Had brisket ...... predictably excellent. Missed you. | ||
| 86129squids |
 LOL! I've yet to fix dinner- spinach and ricotta tortellini, with sautéed shrimp and an alfredo sauce, gotta doctor that a bit... Reep, I almost smashed my face through the computer, looking at the 'cue.   | ||
| Reepicheep |
You and me both. Court sent it to me to post. I had just finished lunch and was stuffed, but my mouth was still watering by the time I finished posting it. Every time I look at it, I feel it's somehow unjust that I can't at least smell it. | ||
| Crusty |
It's from Big Ws BBQ in Wingdale, NY. I met Court there for lunch the other day and I had really good ribs. if that Brisket is on a par with the ribs I had, then it will be delightful. Maybe I should try to get a group of Northeast Buell freaks to meet up for lunch there one of these weekends. | ||
| Court |
Ever curious about what they do with all those scrapes of meat . . . . when the cut ribs, pork and so forth in a BBQ joint? Well . . . at one place makes chili that is to freakin' die for . . . Just sayin . . . .  | ||
| Crusty |
Damn! That looks good. Now, I don't know if I'm going to try the Brisket or the Chili. They both look really good. | ||
| Crusty |
Thunderstorms and Emergency Alerts It’s been raining here. There have been Water Bans in effect all around here for a couple of months. Yesterday, a lot of that worry was alleviated. It flat poured yesterday and last night. Last night was the heaviest. We had almost constant thunder for a couple of hours and I could hear the rain hitting the side of the house. Somewhere around 9:30, my cell phone emitted the tone that you hear on the radio when “This is only a test”. I got an Emergency Alert that flash flooding was occurring in my area. The funny part was that when I looked at the Doppler Radar, there was a band of severe rain traveling due north that was only thirty or so miles wide, but easily a hundred miles long. I bet that 20 miles east of here, the most they got was a light shower. Crazy weather, for sure. I think I’ll ride over to Fitchburg and check out my favorite Man Made waterfall. I bet the trickle that was coming over the top is now a torrent. I went looking on ADV Rider and found a picture I had posted over there of my Ulysses XT in front of the waterfall back in April, 2009. I’ll attach it at the end. It’s not raining now, so I think Maybe I’ll ride over to American Harley and pick up the bracket so I can mount the Ear Cannon (I love that name!). It’s a Stebel Nautilus, and I had put one on my ’06 Uly. They really are loud. Tomorrow, I hope to put the rear brake pads in the bike, and maybe I’ll drill a hole in my side cover for the Powerlet jack and wire it in. I won’t get the new brake rotors until Monday afternoon, so I won’t do the front brakes until Tuesday. On Tuesday, Intellicast says the high temp is going to be 48º F (9º C). Monday’s high is supposed to be 54º F (12º C). Those 6 degrees make a big difference when it comes to turning wrenches on the street; so hopefully, the rotors will get delivered early enough in the afternoon that I’ll be able to take them over to Fitchburg and pull the wheel and put them on as well as put the new pads on, at the same time. It’s a lot of work to get done in a short amount of time, but I’m nothing, if not determined. Anyway, that where I’m at as of this morning. Buellvemberfest will be here sooner than I expect. Cool!  | ||
| Crusty |
I took this photo this afternoon. Quite a few changes since April, 2009  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Hey Crusty, I have a place I think you should make a point to stop at during your travels http://lakehopelodge.com/ http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/lakehope The shower house is pretty nice and the camping spots aren't half bad. I camped there a couple of years ago during the "Hanging Rock 200". The Hanging Rock is a 2 day event for dual sport bikes that is a ton of fun. The main reason you should stop in.... BBQ! The original lodge burned down 3 or 4 years ago. When they rebuilt the new lodge, they decide smoked meats were going to be their specialty. A full rack of ribs or at least a half rack should be on your short list. They are by far the best ribs I have ever had. The ribs are only available Friday and Saturday after 5 but are worth the trip. Let me know if you decide to make it sometime and I will meet you there! May even have to get the tent out and tell some lies around the camp fire | ||
| Crusty |
Pre-Rally Thoughts It’s funny how psyched up I’m getting about going to Buellvemberfest. It’s only a trip to northern Georgia for a three day Rally, but I’m acting like it’s a totally new and exciting thing. It’s probably because I haven’t really gone anywhere for a while. Well; I did go to the WVBR in August, but that was months ago. And yeah, I’ve done a few 300 mile day trips around New England, but they’re only day trips. (I’m doing another one this Saturday!) The run to Suches will encompass going to the rally at my favorite campground, seeing old friends and making new friends, riding the wonderful roads in the area, eating good BBQ and watching the final Moto GP race of the year with a group of enthusiasts in the lodge. It sounds like a wonderful way to wrap up the season. I won’t be camping in the tent; I’m going to stay in a cabin. That’s OK; when I was there last year in October, the temps fell to the freezing mark during the night. I expect it will be even colder in November. It should be warm enough during the day that I won’t need to turn on the electric jacket liner. After the rally, I’m heading for Fayetteville to visit with Steve and Grace for a day or two, then back North to Hudson. I’ll be gone a little over a week. By rights, I shouldn’t go at all. I should just stay home and keep a low profile like I’ve been doing, and work on paying down the credit card debt. Christmas is coming, and I want to buy gifts for the people close to me. That’s also going to cut into my budget. However; lately, I’ve been thinking about my mortality, and I want to enjoy my life to the end. If I don’t get the card paid off as fast as I want, but do interesting and rewarding things, then that will be a positive thing. If I have to put my trip to Alaska off for one more year because I bought the right gifts for people close to me that made their lives a tiny bit better, then it’ll be worth it. If I have to wait an extra year to take the long ride because I thought it important to do short trips, that’s OK too. I’m living my life to the best of my ability. I’m not just sitting around waiting to die. Tomorrow, I get my Social Security. I made it through the past month with a little room to spare, in spite of paying a big chunk on the plastic. One way or another, I’ll get by and accomplish my goals. And I’ll live my life to the fullest, as I see fit. | ||
| Pwnzor |
John, if it will help matters at all, I would be honored to buy you lunch at Jim's. I'll also make sure we have Pepsi in the fridge for you when you arrive. | ||
| Crusty |
BBQ And Buells Three years ago, there was a Northeast Gathering at the Stamford Dinosaur. I was really looking forward to going, but on the morning of the gathering, I was sick as a dog and couldn’t make it. A year later, another gathering was scheduled at the same location, and once again, I was really ill and didn’t go. Last spring, I finally got to go to the Stamford Dinosaur and meet up with everybody. The food was good, and the conversation lively and I had a great time. It was what a Buell (and EBR) gathering should be. Tomorrow, we’re meeting at Big Ws BBQ in Wingdale, NY, and I’ve been really looking forward to it. HOWEVER, there’s one small problem. This morning, I woke up with a fever. It’s not a high fever, but I ache all over and my head feels like a Stay-Puffed Marshmallow. There is a good side to it, though; my feet are warm. That’s not usually the case. As I said, it’s not a high fever, so I’m hoping it will be gone by the morning. The timing had me thinking that maybe I’m just not meant to go to NY for BBQ, but I’ve met with people in Troy, Harlem and Syracuse and never had a problem and I met with Court a couple of weeks ago at Big Ws and didn’t get sick then (though I got poured on for most of the ride home). I’ve also met with folks at other eateries, over the years. There was the time we all met up for lunch in Danbury at 5 Guys, we went to that Texas style BBQ joint near Bear Mountain (that time, Froggy had to rescue me ‘cause I ran out of gas on I-84), we all met at a little BBQ joint that I’ve forgotten the name of in Connecticut, to the place near New Haven that made those steamed burgers and we even met up at the Hitching Post Cafe in New Lebanon for lunch once. So, I don’t think I’m jinxed. It’s quite possible that my being sick today means that in the morning, I’ll feel fine, and that it’s a positive thing. I sure hope so. | ||
| Njloco |
Go to a good health food store, get some Echinacea Goldenseal, for boosting the immune system, and also pick up some Colloidal Silver, natural antibiotic, these will help a lot ! I was going to try and make this but, I have to install new tires on my explorer at a friend's house, have fun and feel better. |
