4-11-05

There hasn’t been a lot going on here since I got back off the road. I have been trying to get my mail, business and taxes in order which is never much fun. I also have been riding motorcycles quite a bit. One fine Sunday I stopped by Tuckers and taunted him into going for a ride in the country. I like going with Tucker as he isn’t’ afraid of getting rock chips on his bike and he knows some of the back roads.

Tucker and I were out crusing one of the back roads and finally got out to the pavement, when, in a burst of incredible speed, he went faster than he has ever gone before. The exhilaration of the moment was dampened by the sudden lack of power and as he coasted to the side of the road, I happily blasted by. A quick glance in my rearview mirror showed he was down for the count.

Glenna (Tucker's wife) said, ‘been here, done this’.

We fetched the bike ambulance or dare I say ‘bike hearse’.
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Lil Red in the process of getting her new (used) axle. This is the axel that I removed from the left side when I replaced it with a rebuilt one in Nevada. I am happy to report that the repair was a complete success.  Lil Red got a new oil filter and oil with a dose of vitamins and supplements (motor honey). Lil Red is getting old now and needs special care, like us human old timers.

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Wind turban parts coming through Miles City. There are two props on this trailer that must be well over 100 ft long. It was just coming out of the gas station and if it was any longer I don’t think it would have made it. He was completely across the highway and up on the sidewalk on the other side when he came out.

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The ‘Can Man’ that I met in Arizona with the huge can load on the little Toyota pickup sent me a couple of photos of the ocotillo in bloom. I asked him if he would, because I missed them last year as well as this year. I found a few in bud but left before they bloomed. When they bloom it looks like a survey crew has been through and flagged all the ends with red ribbons. Very cool.
 



They are in the area of Dripping Springs and  the Windspirit farm. His name is Gino and we have been writing back and forth some. I liked him when I met him and now I wish we had more time to visit when we met as he has some very similar experiences and interests as I have. I guess he is one of those people I was meant to meet out on the road. It is very interesting how luck, spirits, karma or what ever attracts or shapes events.
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The BMW R100GS/PD with its new traveling bags by Happy Trails. The smaller plastic ones that came on the bike just don’t hold enough for extended travel. My buddy Joe says that another method is to ‘Take half the gear and twice the money’.  With all the money I have spent on this bike I am going to have to take twice the gear and half the money. The left bag is smaller because the muffler is on that side. I also replaced the shock absorber and spring, which will allow me to carry a maximum load of almost 500 lbs. The bags aint pretty, but are designed to keep gear safe and dry which is most important out on the road.