| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Southern Ohio Heat It’s hot. Since I have no tree services coming by today, I decided that it would be a good day for a ride. After looking at a map for a while, I worked out a route that took me along the Ohio River North and East. Then I went North and eventually turned West, making a circle of roughly 150 miles. That doesn’t seem like much, but it took me four hours to complete it, and the scenery was well worth it. Some of the more noteworthy things I noticed were the Birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, a Tow Boat pushing a full 15 barge Tow upstream and Belterra Park & Casino. I didn’t stop for any of those attractions, though I was sorely tempted to. I don’t know a lot about U.S. Grant and I know I would learn quite a bit if I stopped, but it was hot and I didn’t want to feel even hotter by getting out of the wind. I would have stopped to watch the Tow Boat, but there was no safe place to do so for a few miles. I figure it was probably making less than 10 MPH pushing roughly 1,000 Tons against the current, so I’d have to wait for a long time in the heat. Once again, I didn’t want to sit and broil. As for Belterra Park, there was too much traffic. I went to the casino there for dinner with David and Jack a while back and I checked out the 1 Mile Horse Track then. I thought then and still think that it would be a good place to hold a National Flat Track Race. After going to the Red Mile down in Lexington, KY, I’m even more convinced. It’s a shame I don’t know the first thing about promoting a race, I bet it would be a successful money maker. The Red Mile had a sellout crowd; I think a Cincinnati Mile would also be a sellout. There were a sh*tload of bikes out. I saw several hundred as least. Riding along a Scenic River Route must be a popular Sunday ride. There were cruisers, adventure bikes, tourers, standards, choppers, trikes, sport bikes, you name it. And all different brands, as well. That’s pretty neat. I knew that I was hot, but it wasn’t until I passed a bank that showed 97° . The next bank I went by said 100° ; I don’t think it was quite that hot, but a little while later I saw another bank that said 96°, so I think that first bank was right. Plus, Intellicast says that it’s 95° here in Cincinnati at present, with a heat index of 101° (I just looked). In any event, I decided that a long lingering ride wasn’t the best thing I could be doing today, so I made my way back to Chez Crusty. I think I’m going to just kick back and enjoy my new Carrier Air Conditioner and maybe watch a movie. | ||
| Zac4mac |
A/C is a good thing. <edit> Saw a Blue Heron today, 30 feet up in a dead cottonwood. weird (Message edited by zac4mac on June 17, 2018) | ||
| Ourdee |
I put the vacuum on my jeep's AC system today. Then fed it some fresh 134. I about froze on the way home tonight. | ||
| Crusty |
Thoughts From The Twilight Zone I’m becoming mentally constipated; I need to dump all the crap building up in my head. I have a busy few weeks ahead of me. I have a Tree Service coming to take down the tree in the back yard. I had to shop around, but I found one that was significantly cheaper than the original bid. I told the guy over the phone that any time after Monday was good. I get my Social Security on Monday, so I’ll have enough to pay him. Next Saturday is the Lima ½ Mile. That’s another race that will have me home and in my own bed that night. It really is nice to be living more toward the center of the country. The following week is the New York Short Track in Weedsport. Judging from the picture on the AFT site, the track is very much improved from the last time I was there; that was in 1997. I rode my BMW out from Massachusetts. I wasn’t supposed to be riding as I had just had the cast taken off my leg, but I figured that if the doctor didn’t know, it wouldn’t hurt him. I remember that getting dressed in my tent was really difficult because I couldn’t put much weight on my ankle. After I get back from New York, I’ll be heading down to the Iron Horse Lodge for the Sportster Meet & Greet which is July 13 – 15. I guess I’ll just have to ride those roads around the Anus of the Dragon, or whatever it’s called. From what I’ve heard, the campground is really nice. I don’t know any of the people from the XL Forum who are going to be there, but, they seem like pretty good folks. I’m looking forward to it. So basically, I’m emptying my savings account to pay Richey Tree Service, doing the Lima race as cheap as possible (I already bought the ticket last winter) and the Weedsport race will be another “as cheap as possible” run (I bought the tickets to that race last winter, as well). Still, it'll be expensive. I'm going to have to pay tolls, and New York loves to make money. They tax everything. I’m a little concerned about the Meet & Greet, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got that covered. If not, I can always use my credit card. It'll be OK. In other news; if you’re cruising through Fleabay looking at gas caps for a Sportster, don’t buy the $11.00 pop up cap. It doesn’t screw all the way down into the tank and looks really ugly. Plus, it’s a pain in the ass to get the “Pop Up” center to actually pop up. Chinesium at its finest. Or somethin’. Hey; it was only $11.00; I’ve spent more than that on bad Chinese food, so it didn’t hurt me that much. Oh; speaking of The Twilight Zone, a friend in my e-mail joke circle sent me a link to the Top 50 TV shows from the 60s. As is usually the case, I liked some of the shows, and some I thought were real duds. However, The Twilight Zone wasn’t in the list. AS usual MSN has its head firmly planted where the sun don’t shine. Oh, Well. | ||
| Canario |
Hi Crusty, This is Jose (met in DB, FL). I was in Dayton and Athens yesterday. Back at home now in Chicago. My daughter is going to start at OU, so I will be kind of passing near by, some times a year. I will let you know. | ||
| Crusty |
TANSTAAFL In the novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein coined the word Tanstaafl. It’s an acronym for There Ain’t No Such Thing As a Free Lunch. It’s the term that’s running through my head this morning. I got an e-mail from an old friend telling me how lucky I am after my last Snippet. Basically, I get to ride my bike around and go to all these interesting places and events, while he has to work to make enough money to get by. He has to make his mortgage payment and he doesn’t even have a bike any more, while I have a house and motorcycles (as in several) and I’m free to travel. Yes; I am lucky. I know that, but it’s not all luck. I’ve made some serious compromises to live the life I’m living. I’ve learned to live on a shoestring budget. This house that I own costs me a sizeable chunk of my monthly income. I had to borrow money to buy it, which will take me 15 (now 14) years to pay back. Taxes on the house are almost as much per month as my loan payment, then there’s insurance. In the meantime, I’ll be paying off the new Furnace and A/C over the next three years. That eats up my entire monthly pension from the Union. My Social Security is enough to pay my monthly bills and expenses like food and gasoline for the Roadster; it also goes toward paying down the credit card. I had to run my balance up when I bought the house to make the house livable, and Capital One is more than happy to charge me 24 ½% interest on the balance. That works out to almost $100.00/month before touching the principle. I’ve also got a couple of health issues that cost me money. I have to see a Cardiologist and a Urologist on a regular basis. That’s without needing to see a doctor for anything else. And Medicare doesn’t cover all of it. Each time I see one of them, I’m paying an extra 50 or 100 bucks a month out for a few months. As far as my vast collection of motorcycles, I have the Roadster, which is my transportation and I have Bill’s ‘78 XLH which I can’t afford to get running. It’s sitting in the garage waiting for me to start on it. That probably won’t be for a while. I don’t own a car. I couldn’t afford one even if it were given to me. The insurance and licensing fees would put me in the red. I don’t have cable TV. I have an antenna that’s stuck to the inside of my front window. That lets me watch the broadcast local stations. I seldom go out to eat. It’s a lot cheaper to cook at home. If I go out once a month, that’s a lot. My budget is so tight that I can only afford a gallon of paint every couple of months. The house is getting transformed, but it’s a slow process. Almost all my furniture was given to me, as far as my yard tools, the mower was a gift and nearly everything else is on loan. I did buy a snow shovel last winter and a plastic leaf rake last fall. Then there’s the biggest difference. I don’t have a wife who loves me and would care for me if I got sick. I live alone. I tend to not let people get too close to me, so I have to pay the price for that. You can look at me and see all the things I’ve got that you don’t have, but I look at you and see what you’ve got that I don’t have. The grass is always greener in the other fellow’s yard. I’ve been very lucky along the way. I’ve had a lot of friends and family help me out. I’ve also had some really painful things happen. Life is like that. Just as your life isn’t quite a bowl of cherries, neither is mine. But I’m living life the way I see fit. I do my best to not hurt anyone and I glean what happiness I can find from what I’ve been given. I have my goals, dreams and hopes and I live to try to achieve all of them. (Message edited by Crusty on June 23, 2018) | ||
| 86129squids |
Crusticle!! Thanks my friend for the valve stem caps- if you're passing through to make the Sportster rally, we're having a neighborhood picnic right next to my property, and we're having our own picnic to celebrate 2 birthdays, all on the 30th. Stop by if you can, good buddy. | ||
| Crusty |
The Tramp Awakens About a month ago, I got a call from Susan, my ex first wife. We’re on good terms for being exes, and I’ve visited with her in Colorado a couple of times while I was Tramping. She wants to pay my expenses to ride out and visit for my birthday. The band she’s in has a gig on my birthday, and the other guys in the band and I get along well and it would be a good time for everybody. I gave it a lot of thought. My initial reaction was to say no. It seems like an excessively high priced birthday present. We’re friends, but not that close. I discussed it with her over the phone a couple of times, and, while I haven’t made up my mind for certain, the appeal of riding US Rt. 50 from Cincinnati to Montrose, Colorado is very enticing. To be honest about it, I want to do it. I have a few reservations in the back of my mind, but the odds are over 90% that I’ll go. Considering that when she first brought it up, the odds were less than 10%, it’s taken a lot of thought and the Tramp side of me has been very persuasive. Now, the kicker. Melia is going to be back in the USA for a month. Her father’s health is not good and she wants to visit with him and her mom. She’ll be in the Idaho Panhandle from mid-September to mid-October. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back to Australia, so I’d love to ride up and visit with her and her folks. I just found out about this a couple of days ago, and my head has been going flat out trying to figure out how I can do it. I’ll be more than half way to Priest Lake in Montrose, so all I need to come up with for money is the same amount it’ll take to do the ride to Montrose. Now, I’m nothing if not resourceful, and I think I’ve found a way to juggle my finances to allow me do it. It’s not certain; I have to take a hard and honest look at my money, but I think it’s doable. And boy, is my mind racing. I’ve got more “What ifs”, “Why can’t I’s” and “How abouts” running through my head than I can keep track of. And the Tramp is wide awake and champing at the bit. I think it’s time to put a few more miles on. (Message edited by Crusty on June 27, 2018) | ||
| Buellish |
That sounds like a fantastic trip John,I hope you can make it. | ||
| Airbozo |
Sounds like a great trip. Montrose brings back so many memories... I also love HWY 50, the loneliest highway in America. Wave at my relatives for me in Las Animas and La Junta as you pass by... They own some of the largest farms and ranches in that area. | ||
| Tootal |
John, Hwy 50 runs 15 minutes away from me. I rode it all the way to the West Virginia Buell Ride a few years ago and I've ridden it to Colorado several times. Even rode it from California to Colorado once. Definitely the loneliest rode in America! Let me know the dates you're passing through and I can save you a camp ground or hotel fee. My turn to buy BBQ too! | ||
| Court |
>>>>I also love HWY 50, the loneliest highway in America. One of my absolute favorites . . . . flat for 80 miles . . . then uuuuuuuup . . . . doooooooown . . . flat for 80 and repeat. | ||
| Airbozo |
I've made the trek from California to Colorado on HWY 50 many times. Still one of my favorites. Got buzzed by fighter jets during a bombing run practice twice. Shook the truck like a hurricane. As you crest a hill, you can see the peak of the next hill and the cars coming at you(if any), that you will pass in about an hour. | ||
| Ourdee |
Go John, GO! | ||
| Pwnzor |
John. You are being sent a message. Colorado gets you close, it's just a little farther. You can make it. I think I speak for BadWeB when I say that any gaps in financing the trip can be filled pretty easily. We all love reading about your journeys, especially those of us who don't get out nearly enough. Go boldly. | ||
| Court |
I enjoy hanging a stopwatch from the mirror and timing the intervals between seeing other cars . . . . generally about 37 minutes. Cars are so infrequent that one scared the hell out of me. . . . I was on the way from doing photoshoots in California with Motociclisimo magazine to ferry an S3 to Philadelphia . . . . I am bopping along about 90mph totally in space and suddenly a damn minivan blows by me doing about 110mph . . . scared the crap out of me. You just don't EXPECT other cars . . | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I would wager the ride in that minivan was a bit more exciting than you on your bike. That must have been the top speed of the damn thing. I wonder what the engine sounded like? | ||
| Crusty |
Give That Boy a Kewpee…Burger? Yesterday, I rode up to Lima (Ohio) for two reasons; to see the Half Mile and to check out Kewpee Hamburgers. I’m not sure if it’s the onset of early Alzheimer’s, or if I’m just becoming a forgetful old fart, but I forgot to bring sunglasses, or a hat, or the camera, or my cane. I would regret not having all of them as the day progressed. The ride up to Lima was pretty uneventful. I got on I-75 here in Cincinnati and got off about a ¼ mile away from Kewpee Burgers. Two hours of running the slab in 90+ degree heat. I found Kewpee pretty easily and went in for lunch. I had heard about Kewpee in one of those almost always wrong slide shows that msn.com loves to put up. This one was the best hamburger in each state. I’ve only lived here in Ohio for a year and even though I disagree with MSNs choices in states I do know, I figured it would probably be decent. It turned out to be a pretty good burger. Kewpee is a three location chain with all three locations in Lima. It was started in the 1930s and it still retains that atmosphere. It feels like a 30s burger joint, and the burgers look and taste like they come from a 30s burger joint. It was definitely worth stopping at. I doubt that it’s the best burger in Ohio, but it’s way ahead of any of the big chains (Macca’s, Blubber King, Blandy’s, etc.) while being priced about the same. If you’re ever in Lima, stop and get a burger there. I’ll eat there again. After I finished my burger and a cup of Pepsi that would be illegal in New York, I rode over to the Fairgrounds. I was one of the early arrivals, and there were hundreds there ahead of me. The race must have been a sellout. The stands were full by the time the racing started, and the parking lots were packed with motorcycles after the last race ended. The track surface at Lima is different from any other track I’ve been to. The dirt is a mixture of very fine stones (most were less than 1/3 of an inch is size) and a brownish dirt that wasn’t as tacky as clay. Even so, anyone behind the leader had their front number plate covered after only one lap. The track was ideal for full lock high speed broadslides. Another virtue of the track was there was no one perfect line. Some riders were riding high through the turns, some were low. Some came in high and came out low, some others did the opposite. Some took one line in turns 1&2 and then took a completely different line in turns 3&4. The different riders changed lines constantly throughout the races looking for better and faster ways to get around the track. And they all were fast. Shayna Texter dominated the singles class and gave Husqvarna their first ever AFT win. She rode like a woman possessed and her win was extremely popular with the spectators. In the twins class, Jeffrey Carver set fast time and won the Dash for Cash, but Jared Mees got the holeshot and it took Carver too long to get into second, so he never was able to catch him. I had a front row seat. I was literally 10 feet from the outside of the front straight and at the same level, and I was pelted by little rocks the whole time I was there. Now I know where I want to sit next time. Next time I go, I want to sit up in the stands. While I tend to be a railbird, I couldn’t see the back straight and so I missed a good bit of the action. I really wish I had brought my sunglasses and my hat. My hair is thinning and it was soaked from sweat, and I got a bit of sunburn on my head and face. And my eyes feel like I was too close to a welder. It’s not quite a Flash, but they feel like there’s grit in them. Of course, with all the dust, that might be the case, but I know that I would have been more comfortable from 2:30 to Sundown at 9:00 if I’d had them. The toe I dislocated up in Canada two years ago started aching midway through the event and by the time I got home, I could barely walk. I don’t know why it started, but between it and my ankle (which wasn’t too happy), I had a tough time walking back to the Roadster. S&S had a display tent showing their gear drive setup for twin cams and a few different exhausts. I was parked fairly near to them, so I went over and talked with a Rep there about Sportsters. S&S is not going to make a set of cases for rubber mount Sportsters. That was a bit of disappointing news I’ve been hoping that either they or someone else would make a set of cases with a trap door for the transmission. The Rep also acknowledged that there were a number of Sportsters around the time mine was made that had Crankshaft problems. He said that the design was robust and the lower end should last 200,000 miles, so now I’m wondering if I should rebuild the engine in the Roadster before I head for the Arctic, or if maybe it would be a better idea to just buy a new Roadster. Both choices have their virtues, and it gives me lots to think about and weigh my choices. As a little bonus, the rep gave me an S&S T-shirt. Anyhow, I made it home before 12:30 this morning, I took a long shower to get all the dust and dirt and little rocks off and went to bed. Next week; the Weedsport Short Track. | ||
| Crusty |
Tires, Again The Ups truck just dropped off my new tires. I’m not sure when I’m going to put them on the Roadster. I know there’s enough tread left on the current tires to last to the race in Weedsport and back, but I don’t know if there’s enough to last to the Meet & Greet and back after that. I’ll look at them closely when I get back from New York and decide then. I’m trying the new Continental Conti Tours. While I’ve run Michelin Commander 2s since July of 2015 and I mostly like them, I always want more from my tires. I want them to stick better in the rain, or when I corner hard or I want more life before I need to change them. So far, I’ve run the original tires that were on the bike when I got it, but only for a very short while; 10 year old tires do not instill confidence. I replaced them with Dunlop American Elites. I didn’t like the Dunlops at all. So I decided to try the Commander 2s. I liked them a lot after the Elites, and I’ve gone through several sets. But now the itch is back and when I saw the Conti Tours in a magazine, I decided to give them a shot. Tires are a touchy subject on any internet forum; kinda like oil is. Everybody has their favorites and they want you to accept their opinion as gospel. The best tires, or the best oil or even the best seat are all personal. To make matters even more confusing, the tires that worked so well on one bike worked like shit on another. I had Avon AV45/46s on my Buell M2 and really liked them. I put a pair on my Ulysses and they sucked. I’ve had tires on my bikes that I loved, and friends whose opinion I trust hated them and vice versa. I really didn’t like the American Elites, yet I’ve met a few people who love them. Sportster people seem to like the Commander 2s, but the people on the Concours forum have nothing good to say about them. In any case, I’ve decided to try the Contis. I hope they stick like rubber cement and last like the rock of Gibraltar. I don’t expect them to do either, but they may be a better tire for me and the Roadster. I’m hoping so, anyhow. In the meantime, I went by Wasser Meats and got a nice 13 oz. Rib Eye steak for tomorrow’s dinner. I have some asparagus and a Yukon Gold potato that weighs about the same as the steak. For desert, I bought some Strawberry ice cream. I will eat well on our Nation’s Birthday! I hope everybody has a Monumental Fourth of July! | ||
| Etennuly |
That's a big ol piece of steak! I'm now running a matched set of Conti 3s. Haul butt in the rain no problem. Cornering reminds me of the Perelli Scorpion sync. This is a single compound rear. I got it on a trip in a need it now situation. Bought the front to match recently. The rear looks like it will be done by about 4,000 miles. On par with the Michelin Pilot Road 1. I plan to go to the Pilot Road V next round. My favorite thus far were the Pilot Road II. | ||
| Crusty |
That's a big ol piece of steak! I weighed the potato a short while ago. it weighs 14.3 oz. That's a big spud! I won't go to bed hungry tomorrow night. | ||
| Etennuly |
Yeah! Better keep the bathroom light on! Wholly crap! | ||
| Zac4mac |
I just pulled the wheels off my Uly and replaced the 3 year old TKC80 knobbys with the Scorpion Trails on the OEM wheels. VERY impressed with the TKCs. I will get another set before the Pirellis wear out. Nice to have an extra set of wheels. Z <edit> The TKCs are run-flats too, only sign that there was NO pressure in the rear was the increased difficulty rolling, Even cornered well.... (Message edited by zac4mac on July 04, 2018) | ||
| Damnut |
Just picked up a set of Michelin Road 5. I have the Pilot Road 4 on my S3T and love them. I can't wait to get the 5's mounted on the EBR and see how they handle.   | ||
| 86129squids |
I always appreciate anyone's input on tires... you'll spend significant $$$ on one of the most important items on any MC. I've been really impressed by the Avons on my Beemer, not had a chance to test them in the rain yet... We've been offering a 28 oz. T-bone at work lately, DANG if that cut isn't just pretty! Hoping to do a July 5th picnic at Metcalf Bottoms up in the park, on the river tomorrow, gonna have some prime victuals of several sorts...    | ||
| Crusty |
On The Road Again I’m eating my standard breakfast in a Golden Starches; a Sausage McMuffin and a Senior Coffee. It cost me a buck sixty nine. It should hold me until this afternoon. It’s funny how I have feelings that I really shouldn’t go right up until I climb on the bike; then, riding up the highway feels remarkably good. I was noticing that this morning and I realize that that’s been the way I’ve reacted to traveling for the past few trips. I love to travel, but there’s a side of me that’s a little apprehensive until I actually hit the road. But the Roadster is feeling really good to me this morning and the only reason I stopped is because my bladder was making me aware that it wanted to be drained. It’s going to be a long day. It’s another 500 miles to Weedsport and I don’t dare speed. It’s a Holiday Weekend and the Revenue Enhancers are out in force. It should be OK, though. The sun doesn’t set until late and the temps have come down. It’s been in the 90s for a couple of weeks, but the next few days are supposed to be in the high 70s and low 80s. Lows are supposed to be in the 50s, so I should sleep well. Well, I need to make some time. I’ll report more later. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Be safe, John. | ||
| Crusty |
Lunch Break I found another Mickey Ds with crappy internet access. It’s a newer building, but they don’t offer Senior discounts and even the McDouble is about half a buck more than at other Locations. Oh, well. It cost me $3.07 for lunch $2.00 for a burger and $1.00 for the soda. Tax was only .07. I’m about halfway. Traffic has been heavy and the heavy enforcement has been directed at trucks. I’ve seen at least half a dozen trucks pulled over. There were a couple of Speed Traps, but I was in traffic heavy enough that I couldn’t speed even if I wanted to, so that wasn’t a problem. I didn’t sleep well last night and my ass is dragging. I think when I gas up I’ll buy a bottle of 5 Hour Energy. That really helped me on my way back to Massachusetts after the West Virginia Buell Rally a couple of years ago. I also think I’ll put the highway pegs back on the Roadster when I get back. It would be good to be able to move my legs a bit more than just the mid pegs and passenger pegs. Well; time to push on a bit more. In The Morning It’s Saturday. I’m sitting in the local Drunkin Donuts. They have a flat screen TV with the talking heads of CNN blathering about the latest “evidence” against Trump. Then, they even say it has nothing to do with Trump, but it might make it possible to… Yibble, yibble, yibble. I hate News networks. And before anybody gets bent out of shape, that goes for all of them. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR… they all suck. They all have an agenda and they’ll twist things around to try and convince their audience that what they present is Truth. I won’t get started on the Mags (Time, Newsweek, etc.) or Newspapers; the same applies to them, also. Anyway, back to reality (as I see it). I got to the track around 6:30 last night. I found the tent area and set up my tent and went in to see the pre-race party. Some of the stunt riders were skillful. The guy who had his FXR straight up and dragging his rear fender was impressive. I walked away when all three were doing a smoke show. The smoke was so thick I literally couldn’t see five feet away. There were a couple of competent local bands playing while I was there. I walked over to the edge of the track and checked it out. There was a road grader working on the surface. I guess Jared Mees and the Modified Dirt Car racer weren’t going to swap rides. It looks like it’s a clay track, so it’ll be fast. Hopefully, there’ll be more than one line so there’ll be some opportunities for passing. The track is not what I consider a short track. It’s a little shorter than a Half Mile, but it’s still a good sized track. I think it’s 3/8 of a Mile in length. They’ve made quite a few improvements to the whole facility since I was here 21 years ago. The Camping area is nice and the stands and associated vendor areas are new Actually, I think that pretty much everything is new other than the track. I think it’s come a long way. Sandriana Shipman was there selling shirts and signing autographs. Considering how badly she was hurt in Texas, it’s a miracle she’s up and around. I guess she’s working hard to get back to Racing. I have to give her credit; she’s one tough lady. There was a display of Sportster based Hooligan bikes. I get the impression that there’s going to be a Harley Hooligans race tonight. One of the Hooligan bikes was a Yamaha Bolt. I’ll be watching to see how it does. I personally don’t care for the Bolt, but it just might be competitive. We’ll see. One of the Sportsters had a gas tank off a Honda 100 or 125 on it. It even had the Honda wing logo. One thing that they announced was that both the bands and the Stunt Show will be back today. Oh joy. That’s why I go to motorcycle races; to listen to local bands and to breathe tire smoke. I guess they’re trying to get more spectators to show up. From my point of view, I go to see the races in spite of that crap. And since I’m bitching; what ever happened to playing a recording of a good quality band doing The Star Spangled Banner? I’ve really gotten tired of listening to cute little Sally Soapsuds, pride of the third grade singing it badly or Reba McSwineheart, Star singer of Sleezy’s Country Emporium warbling through it while adding extra notes where the score has only one. I called to Don and told him about the brilliant realization I had while rolling down the Throughway. We’re less than 20 miles from Syracuse. Since Practice doesn’t start until 2:30, we could ride to the Dinosaur for lunch! The Syracuse Dinosaur is the original location and it’s still my favorite. So Don is going to get here around 11:00 or so and we can ride over to a Great lunch. Of course, I’ll have to go a block over and look at the Mohawk Power and Light Building and say hi to Iron Mike. That building is Art Deco at its most Magnificent. I wish I had the photography skills of Court or Mike so I could take some photos that do justice to such wonderful Architecture. Well; time to end this. The girl at the track told me that the Will Call window opens at 8:00. I want to be there then. Oh; and the quality of Drunkin Donuts baked items continues to deteriorate. The Blueberry Muffin I got tasted like dung. | ||
| Ourdee |
Try taking a few pictures with the camera leaning forward or backward. Then crop the picture to what you wanted in the scene. I've been craving some Jim's Smokin' Que. | ||
| Crusty |
Back In Chevy- Ut I got home around 5:30 yesterday afternoon. I brought my gear up from the garage and spread the tent out in the sunroom so it will dry. Drank a cold Gatorade to rehydrate a bit and unpacked my saddlebags, leaving things close so that I can re-pack them on Wednesday night. Then I took a much needed shower and started a load of laundry. It wasn’t easy, as my back was still not right, but let me back up a bit. Don arrived at the Speedway around noon on Saturday, and the two of us went to the Syracuse Dinosaur for lunch. I got ribs & brisket with a double order of beans and thoroughly enjoyed them. Then we went by the Niagara Mohawk building. I love that building. It is almost stereotypical of New York and Art Deco. It screams 1930s. It’s beautiful. Then, we went back to Weedsport and watched Practice and Qualifying. I commented in my last Snippet on how much the facilities in Weedsport were improved since I last visited there in 1997, it was even better than I thought. They had food vendors who had good quality food. I was stuffed from pigging out at the Dinosaur, but I could smell the different items and they all smelled good. And they had a fairly large variety of foods. From burgers, chicken, BBQ and other sandwiches to hard and soft serve ice cream, all kinds of beverages, beer, soda, Powerade, water, fresh coffee with ½ & ½ (and not that powdered crap), soft pretzels, popcorn, and probably many other items I missed. And the prices weren't exorbitant, like track food often is. It was a sellout. And the racing was good enough to warrant it. Many different lines and opportunities to pass. It’s a good track. Jared Mees ran away with the Main, but the race for second went down to the wire with Kenny Coolbeth edging Brad Baker by .057 second. Then there were the Fireworks. They put on a display of Fireworks that puts many cities to shame. In all, it was a very good time. Well worth going to. I’d had a few reservations before I went, but now, I’m glad I did. It was good enough that I’ll go back in the future. After the race, Don and I sat in the parking lot and shot the bull and waited for the crowd to leave; then he headed off to Buffalo and I went back to my tent. Weedsport is farther east than Cincinnati, so the sun comes up earlier. It’s fully light at 5:30 AM, so I woke up and started packing the gear for the trip home. The dew was so heavy that I think everything would have been less wet if it had poured. I noticed at every gas stop on the way home that water would drip from my tent sack, so I figured that I’d have to unpack the tent and let it, the fly and the footprint dry out when I got home. I wasn’t looking forward to that as I’d managed to do too much first thing in the morning and threw my back out. My back was fine as long as I was riding, but when I stopped to get coffee or go to the can, I was walking very slowly and hunched over. My back hurt. So did my ankle. But, as the day wore on, the pain seemed a little less. Anyhow, I got home and unpacked and got the tent drying, drank a few bottles of Gatorade, then fell asleep in the recliner somewhere around 9:30. I got up around 1:00 or so and went to bed and slept until 5:30. This morning, my back is feeling a lot better. It was a good trip. (Message edited by Crusty on July 09, 2018) |
