vrrooooomvrooomm

2012-01-23T18:11:00.001-05:00

here is a favorite video of mine from yesteryear.
"http://www.youtube.com/embed/YuCM_qD4oMI?rel=0"

2012-01-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

http://youtu.be/rkw2nWIqmKM

this is the you tube link to give you a hint about the ride.
these guys are just too much fun...

2012-01-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

greeeetings keyboard. long time no talk... i am in the fourth room, high whispy clouds, 68 degrees, wind out of the south at 7 mph. I am in the shade on lindas new swing, but my view is of the the conservation area bathed in sunlight. Not used to haveing saturday mornings off with out a pressing to do list. on to bike stuff... went to Meet and Greet last night at the Green Parrot with SHCOG's. Good crowd, about 50 or so. Turnedin our sold raffle tickets for the upcoming Get Your Heart On Ride.

laura lee is our top dog this yearhttp://youtu.be/rkw2nWIqmKM

gfgh

2011-11-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

fgasfgagf

What is A Real Biker...

2011-05-29T11:42:00.007-04:00

I love that question. What is A real biker? Almost no other line will get the crowd going like that one. I am partial to the "anyone who works on his own bike" is a real biker, attitude myself. but thats just me.
i would like to introduce here the stories behind the bikers. I just watched Burt Lancaster deliver the line "There's always a story", in From Here To Eternity, and am taking that as an omen to proceed with these stories.
This first story is about a Real Biker. His name is Eric Dahl. When i joined SCHOG, some five years ago, he was Chapter Assistant Director. He is my go to man, when i have a motorcylce question. For example, during 2011 Daytona Bike Week edition of Old Skook Chopper Show at Tropical Willies Tattoo Parlor, i asked Eric, "why is there a hinge on the back fender on the older model bikes?" He very patientlly amongst all the rumbling, rocking rambunctious partying engulfing us, proceeds to explain in great detail the timeline, history and simple functionallity of the hinge. Patience. I think is a required quality for a Real Biker. Now to the event that most recently Eric Dahl, a real biker, stepped up. Last month, 60 plus motorcycles of SCHOG rolled north to New Smyrna, Florida Harley Dealership for a challenge and free food. We Schog's are not shy around free food. I get a call from my, still living at home 22 year old, sport bike riding, son explaining that his rear tire has a large nail and is flat. Oyyvaa. is it always something?? I quickly think of the best way to solve this, with only half assed solutions. Finally the light bulb flickered on, "Ask Eric"... "No. You don't want to pump it up with a bicylcle pump and risk riding it to the shop. What if the offending object comes out? You've got a flat and you are out in the road. What i like to refer to as "Toast". Best thing to do is trailer the bike to the shop." I agree. My good neighbor has a trailer, so i tell the son to wait, we'll figure this out. Eric then steps up and says "If your neighbor doesn't work out,you can use my truck/trailer". Just like that he offers me the use of his equiptment, to transport a sport bike to the shop. Not just any equiptment, but equiptment that is vital to his daily requirements. And he offered with no strings attached, just wanting to step up and do what he could for the cause. Eric Dahl is a real man and a real biker.
he is also one of the best tile men i've ever known. If you need custom quality tile work, contact Eric Dahl...

Dahl Tile-HandyMan-Services

don't want to be here...

2011-05-13T13:45:00.002-04:00

Howz dat for a play on words. "I don't want to be here" The curse of April dragged its feet this year and landed instead on Friday the 13th. of May, this year. You know i love being here and tellin tales, as much as the next man, but i'm here now because my corporate slave owner has figured out a way to squeeze the system a little more. Is he taking a cut? OhhhhhNoooo. Don't be silly. I'm taking the cut. But of course. But really. I mean really now. Can i write the truth??? Be carefull now, the truth is a foreigner in these here parts...tobecontinued

what?

2010-11-27T10:19:00.014-05:00

wtf. it's been how long since i've scribbled here??? can't be. well, yes it can be. now what motorcycle tall tales have rolled around since...

Lost Weekend doesn't count because we, (altho we do have motorcycle oil in our veins) didn't ride up to Daytona Beach (home of speed and motorcycles), but it was still an interesting adventure and we played the game as best we could. Linda snatched a ring side position for the main event of Bubba Whoop A... Wilson versus Tony Rage, to play with her camera and she actually lost her car keys. but the view from our 14th floor getaway and the "reality not allowed" attitude and finally finding her keys made everything ok. our early saturday morning sunrise ish leisurely, and by leisurely, i mean strollingly cruise north with no real destination or time constraints.we came along this treat...

then the rock and rollin saturday nite party chased away any last resemblance to normalcy, after a beack work out of course...

going up?

2010-10-02T17:30:00.002-04:00

agenda

2010-09-09T19:59:00.002-04:00

ok. here's what our short term future looks like
18th Annual Zoo Run , 9/12/2010, Sanford, Fla.

Lost Weekend, Plaza Resort in Daytona, Fla, 9/17-19

Old Skool Chopper Show, 10/14/2010, Meet for breakfast at 8am at the Osteen Diner.

Linda's Birthday at the Downtown Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, 2/12/2010

Motorcycle ride north along the Dragons Tail and the Blue Ridge Parkway to Lorton Va. and the AutoTrain home., 4/30/2010

Howz dat?

Monster Militia Summer BBQ 2010

2010-08-29T13:08:00.004-04:00

here is our short version of one day filled with too much fun...

2010-08-29T11:31:00.004-04:00

too much fun was the treat for the day. This was my third annual Supreme Leather Customer Appreciation Day. Roy Thurston,more commonly known as, "Captain Supreme", makes this day his own and at the same time provides for local artists to show off their goodies...

Pink in Sanford

2010-08-12T20:12:00.001-04:00

What a fun way to spend a Saturday in Sanford. The Ribbon Riders strike again...

hey now

2010-08-03T20:33:00.003-04:00

well, another day NOT in the saddle, not the good saddle anyhooo. the one on Snoop-Skoot... you never knew we have Cabin Fever here in the jungles did ya? Well, it's here and it's wearin on us all.Hmmmmm. I know what will cheer us all up. howz 'bout another pic?

Now there are two smiling faces that reveal that "vacation" attitude, that we work so hard the rest of the year for.

Too Bloody Hot

2010-08-01T13:51:00.003-04:00

I know, i know, we are supposed to tell tourists "Hot?. This ain't hot". just to see that look on their faces of such disbelief. but damn. it is HOT. too bloody hot for me to voooormvrooooom around here in the jungle today... gives me a chance to catch up here a bit. been working lots of overtime lately, in fact i could come up with lots of excuses, but none of them worthy, so what say we just move along.Let me spruce up the scenery here and pop in a new pic from our last adventure...
Oh yas, there is your author and co-pilot aobut 2 thousand miles from home and lovin it.

2010-05-09T12:12:00.003-04:00

2010-05-09T11:29:00.000-04:00

Reveille

2010-05-09T11:28:00.001-04:00

its a new day...

2009-12-20T11:01:00.002-05:00

a nice little diversion down memory lane and bikes we love...

Party before the Party

2009-12-16T19:00:00.002-05:00

It was late Friday nite and the party had begun...

hsr 09 bits

2009-11-28T18:10:00.002-05:00

2009-11-13T19:30:00.003-05:00

Man o man, was that just a little too much fun or what? Now you know i can only show, so much here, but let your mind go as to what is not being shown. You need to sign up and raise your sail with, in the words of Roy. "the ANDERSONS"!!!! In order to truly understand the quality of this adventure... stay tuned...

day 40

2009-10-30T07:53:00.002-04:00

wowwie zowwwie. i've been working too much,,, but today the work ends and the party begins... here is a pic of my best friend, all scrub a dub'd and ready for the dance...

July 18, 2009

2009-07-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

Just getting back from Daytona Beach and man are my arms tired. No. Seriously, it was Daytona's HOG Chapter annual "Christmas in July" run and of course the SCHOG'S had to represent. Also, it's Saturday and after a long week of working in the office all bloody day, i just needed to get out and about and go for a putt. Lindinski just had some more skin cancer cut out Friday, so she was in no mood for a ride. About 25 bikes motor out of the shop and roll north at 8:45 am with Bruce and his Trike (that his old lady now rides. He just rides it on club rides to do his "radio" thing) leading the way up 17-92 to the north side of Lake Monroe, then east to Osteen and then 415 north. We pull into Daytona Harley, the old location on Beach St. around 10:30 am. I call my big brother and find him with his lovey at her tennis tournament out on LPGA. I say my goodby's to my club mates and head west on Dunn, then under 95, then north on LPGA for 3 miles to the huge tennis complex. Larry see's hear's me roll in and shows me the upclose parking spot for SnoopSkoot in the grass. He is there with his whole Brevard contingent who are banging balls all over the place. Pat and her new team mate are holding their own. I haven't seen Larry since before Leesburg. Huge dark clouds build, then pop, a strong stick of lighting spikes earthward and i say "i'm going", thinking i could roll south ahead of the incoming storm. Just as i roll out of the tennis parking lot a few big drops say how do you do, but i am out in front and leave them behind... I slip onto I-4 and motor towards home. Clear skies till Deltona, then all hell breaks loose. I am glad to see a overpass ahead and for my first time ever, seek shelter. Whew...

2009-06-07T16:58:00.000-04:00

River of Beer

II rides again

2009-03-16T07:55:00.000-04:00

II rides and drums again

2009-03-14T09:04:00.002-04:00

Old Skooool

2009-03-14T09:04:00.001-04:00

Old Skooool

2009-03-13T08:19:00.000-04:00

Old Skooool

2009-03-13T08:18:00.000-04:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=53988826

2009-03-11T11:09:00.002-04:00

deland bike fest part 2

deland part 2

2009-03-11T08:25:00.002-04:00

and so we went to the Pirates Pub in Paisley after downtown Deland and then out to the world famous Trader Jacks for a hoot...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=53893545

day 39

2009-03-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

as much as i like my blogger, the video's look much better over at my space...
well, now... i've imported the my space video here to blogger and it ain't so bad...hmmm.
i'll try some more...

deland bike fest 09

2009-01-25T19:47:00.002-05:00

day 38

2008-12-30T18:48:00.003-05:00

i just got back from a nice 25 mile ride around the hood. after a day at the office my best friend snoop-skoot and i can hardly wait to twist it wide open. had to have one last go at it for 2008. so much has happened and so much needs to be done...
here is a pic i want Bear to use for my next tat. it will go on the outside of my right forearm, so when we are slammin down the highway, we will be slammin down the highway...
ridesafe
lovetorideridetolove

schogs show respect

2008-12-18T22:56:00.002-05:00

this was one gooood day...
lovetorideridetolove

brl

day 37

2008-11-09T08:44:00.002-05:00

greeetings all
another sunny sunday in the jungle and another day for a ride or riding story... it's been awhile since i've had time to scribble here so i have lots of stories... how'd you like those last two video's of the Doom Brothers?

a new day

2008-10-21T19:55:00.000-04:00

it was late on a monday and i was not in the mood, but my boys were...

2008-09-25T19:59:00.003-04:00

Another beautiful day in the jungle and another Schog run up the road...I got a chance to visit Cross Creek last year and when my good buddy Dan Shay told me that Marjorie K. Rollins was a strange bird, well i just had to read her stuff. I had never read her, so went right to the top and found a copy of Cross Creek. Wow, she is/was goooood. My kind of observations. So when Matt suggested taking the Schogs up river, i signed on right away.

day 36

2008-04-24T12:20:00.003-04:00

Free at last. Free at last. Thank god almighty, I'm free at last.
That was the first thing i heard on the tv that afternoon after riding home early that first wed. in April. All the stations were remembering Dr. King and that quote seems to be the most popular. The phrase is supposed to mean one thing, but this day it meant something completely different to me, and it's not good. But being as this is a site about motorcycles i will now direct you to another site for more info...
Ridetolovelovetoride...
http://ellopez.blogspot.com/

day35

2008-03-15T14:37:00.001-04:00

greeeetings keyboard.
just getting back from our SCHOG "Traveling Hog" festivities. We all landed at the TGIF's in Altamonte Springs where they had to call in extra staffl. we packed the joint. there will be pictures, videos, exposes, gossip, short stories and finally a full feature movie eventually made of this party.But for now here is another teaser of day 2 of bikeweek daytona style 08...

day34

2008-03-10T17:00:00.009-04:00

greeeeetings keyboard.
wow, what a great bike week it has been. And to top it all off, about noonish the phone rings and a man asks "Is this the Tahoe Taco?"...The stun began to set in instantly. "WTF". i'm thinkin.... to myself, "no one knows that name. at least no one in my circle for 30 some years now. the brain is doing a double time sprint back thru the voices from yester-year and then it pops... SKI. Wow. I cant's say wow enough. You, dear keyboard were not even a glint in your makers great grandmothers eyes way back then...Way back then are some good tales which may or may not be true, but Terry Dyksinski was always real and true. Then he says "hey. i got someone here who wants to talk to you." "ok" i questionably answer. "hello." Who is this". i'm thinkin, then pop, its David freakin Gilstrap...wow and his wifey Eddie. Now my Sunday has turned into something really special, because these three people were the true definition of "friends". Now a days, you, my lovely keyboard, you of course and my journals are my best friends. and of course my special Snoop Skoot. Speaking of which man o man what a great bike week i had. Only met up with some Schog's on Sat. nite at the Patch, but that was a hoot. The Thong Pulls bring whole new visions now of competition at the Patch.

www.sopotnickscabbagepatch.com/

Sorry, i cant' get that link thingy to worky...No pictures of the thong pulls here yet. I'm still editing day two which was to Deland Bike Show, Daytona International Speedway, Main Street, then cruised south on Hwy. 1 to the best Chili-Cheese Steak Sammy in da world, then 40ish miles south to 46 turnoff and to say goodbye to my bruder Larry. Let me see if i can find a teaster photo... while i edit...

day33

2008-03-09T13:29:00.003-04:00

ok. let bike week begin proper. here are some impressions from the thursday before the official start of bw.
brl

day 32

2008-03-08T15:42:00.001-05:00

can this be the last of bike week 08 already???
here is a teaser pic...

day31

2008-02-24T16:23:00.003-05:00

lets run to flagler beach florida, thru the world famous loop with some of the best bikers around...

3. 2. 1 blastoff of the shuttle Atlantis... just another day at the beach...

day 30

2008-02-18T09:33:00.008-05:00

greeetings keyboard. oh yas what a long strange trip its ben. so very much has come between your author and his available time to talk to you. c' la vie., but i'm back now?

this pic says it all...

now how would that be for a novels first line? This is a pic i took yesterday with our new cannon and lovey with the bestest of a smile on. Course, who doesn't smile when straddling my hog? lol

anyhoooo. I must confess that i've been writing more in my journal with pen. I just like the way Mercury tells the pen what to write...i also like not having to think about what i write. here, is another story. i want folks to enjoy my journey, but not necessiarlily know everything, and when i get to tappin away here, well? am i responsible for my blurgs or is Mercury? hmmm? Thankfully the ones that know of this site are friends and family so that makes it easier and harder at the same time... i must admit that i've been very distracted lately with the Monsters. I've never writtenabout them, but then i'ts been like a long cruise, you know, too busy doing to write about it... not a real good excuse but there it is...

i found jtv what seems like eons ago when justin was first experimenting with his dream and wearing the cam on his baseball cap, taking us to picnics in the park in san francisco, then across the Bay Bridge into Berzerkly to the UC Business School and their American Business Idol production and to countless parties with movers and shakers and he let us eavesdrop in on his progress. he would speak of it being a platform, yadayayayada, etc. then all of a sudden, bam pow explosive time after Justine flew into the city and took over for a day. One of the first contributors was this dentist from the midwest who took us 24/7 along to the baseball all star game in essf. Nowadays, its a whole different place. No one wears a cam on their baseball caps. no one. all the cams are pointed at them. Just the opposite of original angle, but it seems to have worked. Their are worlds and realities unseen or unimagined heretofore. And so, the local radio station has a personality,Daniel Dennis, and he is an official lifecaster now and has quite a following. Many of his "peeps", hang out there even when he isnt' broadcasting to shoot the chat. and they are a most intriguing crowd called, "the Militia". last post has a pic i tink. and now that work is picking back up i have less and less time to chit during the morning and have been stepping away from that addiction, which of course makes one re consider. i've a link on my jtv page to here, but i dont think they've found it yet...they are a pretty busy bunch. altho i've been busy, my two cents are only about that...precious to me and mine. get it? mine... is such a perfect word, becasue the mine is where the gold lives. I also am very dissapointed my project to try and raise funds and awareness for the vets didin't get off the ground. Never heard back from national or other local organizers. I saw Monk at Jonny's a few weekends ago during OJ.'s Mission Impossible Run

Theres WideOpen Brian and Angelic Angie having too too much fun with OJ. and so anyway, I spoke with Monk, who was all for the idea and told him of not hearing back from National and he understood. He's not been 100 percent but is doing betta. He's one good man. And now of course theres Real American Biker TV
Wayne Gonzo is one good man and i'm glad that this thing is off the ground for him. He has four shows airing on Channel 21 now and is taking a break before the next four. He realizes that he's a lot to learn, but is riding bravely forward, learing, growing and enjoying his dream. Which has resparked my dream of a bike show... i have to go low budget for now, but think i have a vision. so we've been gathering lots of footage and now just have to do some editing which is time intensive as heck... i'll be bak...

do the monstermilitia party?

2007-12-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

Friday nite we took over the Cricketeer's Arms back room and Beautiful Barb lead the way towards a grand evening.
This was my first outing with these most excellent fans of the Monsters and they made me feel right at home instantly. I'm looking forward to hearing the stories from last nite and to the next gathering of my new found amigoes.

2007-12-14T00:12:00.000-05:00

wow, this isn't a motorcycle.

and so the world has changed. altho the constellations laughingly blink down on us mere mortals the same, the world has changed...

Get your own "I'm watching" Justin.tv widget

Watch live video from jungleking on Justin.tv

Motorcycle Community

2007-09-24T07:17:00.000-04:00

i am now hooked on the "honor flight" http://www.honorflight.org/ concept and want the local central florida motorcycle community to sponsor said flights for our local war heroes. Towards that end i am comprising a list of ALL local bike clubs. If you know of any i missed, please speak up.

AMERICAN LEGION:
The American Legion Post 53Campbell–lossing P.o. Box 53 Sanford , FL 32772

CENTRAL FLORIDA VETERANS, INC. :

http://www.floridaveterans.com/

CENTRAL FLORIDA VFW INFO:
Although there are not web pages for the following, there are phone numbers and addresses.

Orange County
2093(3rd Tues.)
4444 Edgewater Dr.Orlando, FL. 32804
(407) 296-2553
Yes

A-E-M
4287(3rd Mon.)
3500 S. Goldenrod Rd.Orlando, FL. 32822
P.O. Box 720100Orlando, FL. 32801
(407) 273-6581
Yes

West Orange
4305(3rd Mon.)
1170 E. Plant St.
Winter Garden, FL. 34787
P.O. Box 770456Winter Garden, FL. 34777
(407) 656-3078
Yes

Fairways
5046(2nd Fri.)
2149 Pebble Beach Blvd.Orlando, FL. 32826
2149 Pebble Beach Blvd.Orlando, FL. 32826
(None)
Yes

Winter Springs
5405(3rd Wed.)
420 N. Edgemon Ave.Winter Springs, FL. 32708
420 N. Edgemon Ave.Winter Springs, FL. 32708
(407) 327-3151
Yes

Pine Hills
8152(3rd Wed.)
4711 N. Pine Hills RoadOrlando, FL. 32808
4711 N. Pine Hills Rd.
Orlando, FL. 32808
(407) 295-8870
Yes

S. Seminole County
8207(3rd Tues.)
1520 N. Ronald Regan Blvd
Longwood, FL. 32750
P.O. Box 521284Longwood, FL. 32750
(407) 339-6016
Yes

Sanford
10108(2nd Wed)
(Chamber of Commerce Bldg.) 400 E 1st St.
Sanford, FL. 32771
P.O. Box 1081
Sanford, FL. 32772
(None)
No

Oviedo
10139(2nd Tues.)
300 Lake Mills Ave.Chuluota, FL. 32766
P.O. Box 623214
Oviedo, FL. 32762-3214
(407) 365-3524
No

Apopka/Alt. Springs
10147(2nd Thurs.)
519 S. Central Ave.
Apopka, FL. 32703
P.O. Box 912Apopka, FL. 32704
(407) 889-8266
No

WP/Mainland/
FP
10180(2nd Tues.)
2706 Wells Ave.Fern Park, FL. 32730
2706 Wells Ave.Fern Park, FL. 32730
(407) 831-8004
Yes

Now, those last addresses are the starting point to find our heroes. And these next addresses are the Americans who will help pay to show our heroes their respect.

HOG CHAPTERS:
Seminole County Harley Owners Group:
http://www.seminolehog.com/

Orange County HOG:
http://www.orlandohog.com/

Daytona Beach HOG:
http://daytonahog.com/

Lakeland Florida HOG:
http://www.hdlakeland.com/

Clermont Florida HOG:
http://www.clermonthog.com/

Ocala Florida HOG:
http://www.ocalahogchapter.com/

Space Coast HOG:
http://www.spacecoast-hog.com/

DRILL TEAMS:
http://www.centralfldrillteam.com/

Harley Davidson STORES:
Gainesville Florida:
http://www.gainesvilleharley.com/splash.html

Orlando Florida:
http://www.orlandoharley.com/

Lake Wales Florida:
http://www.ridgehd.com/

Leesburg Florida:
http://www.gatorharley.com/

New Smyrna Florida:
http://www.newsmyrnaharley.com/

Bruce Rossmeyers:
http://www.brucerossmeyer.com/

Sanford Florida:
http://www.seminoleharley.com/

All other Stores:
http://www.seminolepowersports.com/

http://www.cycleriders.com/

http://www.orlandoyk.com/

Clubs:

http://www.nkorlando.org/

http://www.abatesemco.com/

http://www.centralfloridacruisers.com/

http://www.blueknightsfl21.com/

http://home.cfl.rr.com/lawdogscfl/

http://daytona.americancruisers.us/

http://cocoamotorcycleriders.myeweb.net/

http://www.fullthrottledivas.com/smf/

http://home.earthlink.net/~womenridersorlando/

http://allstarriders.com/Home.html

http://www.cflglbtmotorcycleclub.com/

http://fireandiron15.com/

http://www.central-florida-cycle.com/smf/

http://motorcycle.meetup.com/150/?gj=sj17

http://www.bsmccentralflorida.com/

http://www.bikerkiss.com/

http://www.cobrasmc.com/

http://www.ladycycleriders.com/

http://www.cfscrc.com/

http://www.centralfloridatrailriders.com/

http://www.daytona200mc.com/

http://www.central-florida-cycle.com/smf/

http://cruiserbike.meetup.com/48/

MOTORCYCLE SHOPS:

http://www.guiltycustoms.com/

ATTORNEYS:

http://www.fighteratheart.com/

atthegaptherebedragons

2007-09-03T14:47:00.000-04:00

what a long, strange trip it's been.

and this is another glimpse into my reality. all music of course is joey's writing and recording. he is the skinny young man with too long hair and i am the rollypolly one. My son joe said "nah, dad, that motor home camping is not real camping. i'd just as well not go", when we suggested renting one to camp out with the whole fam damily one last time before both boys spread out to all corners of the world. So, finally the circumstances and our stars aligned for us to spend 5 days on the road (totally 1865 miles) and 4 nights sleeping under the stars. At our first campsite Joey said "hey dad. i think there's something in the woods. A light keeps snapping on and off. Over there. Watch". Well i did for a few moments and caught the familiar yet ancent view of some lightning bugs lovin life. I had not seen them since my early west virginia days, many moons ago.

hey? who is riding the Snoop Skoot?

2007-08-30T17:53:00.000-04:00

gap anyone?

2007-08-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

here is a little experiment that has been dying to be uploaded...

more catch up?

2007-08-04T09:33:00.000-04:00

greetings key board.
what a long strange trip its been as of late... and now on top of that blogger has opened up the editing genie in the bottle and added new toys to explore. but this the time and place for motorcycle stories... can i catch up from last november? as is the case, when one is busy doing, its hard to write, especially when i have this speeding ticket to work off, but that story is for another time.
i dont' see any mention here of Harold's Annual Veteran's Day Run, so that's where i'll start. Hmmm. I have no pics, so there that is.

i do have this kewl pic, but lets hold on to that story for a sec.
Harold leads about 30 roaring happy and free riders out of the new shop on the second sunday in november out east on 46 to 415 north to rrrrrr, i cant remember the name of the joint, but know that it is a "no colors" bar next to Skips Boots, with a large enough gravel parking lot to hold a hundred or so bikes and is usually half full every weekend. On and off during the day, you know how bikers live to ride in, wet the whistle then ride on. any hoo we pick up another 30 club member bikes there, then saddle up, start up and claim the road as ours, with our excellent road captains blocking all cages from our united pack.

day ?

2007-02-22T18:17:00.001-05:00

testing123

day 29

2007-01-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

greetings keyboard. remember me. the one who just couldn't live with out you, yes the same one who hasn't stopped by to visit for 2 months. No more guilt please, i have enough. Guilt and excuses. Like those two ever did anyone any favor. Today it is breezy and and cool 62 degrees with high puffy and only slightly forebodding clouds. The wild birds are singing in the conservation easement and all his as it is here in Lopezville.

Here is your author and lovey heading out downtown.

day 28

2006-11-18T19:27:00.000-05:00

these movies are as addictive as writing/riding...
I was supposed to ride with Larry and his gang from Melbourne that friday of Daytona's Annual Biketoberfest, but my boss decided to fire one of my two man staff, and so consequently my work load quickly zoomed up a third. It would mean leaving david alone for the day and altho he could handle it, well i figured it wasn't the right thing to do. Larry got to ride up there Thursday with Cary. They rode up 1 to "Destination Daytona" (and you know how i feel about Bruce Almighty and his raping of our credo "It's not about the destination. It's about the Ride.", so i won't dribble on here anymore. But, he does put on a good show, so Larry tells me. Lots of music, vendors and builders. Even our own Billy Lane. The last cop (Steve, who is a Schog) i spoke to about Billy's case said "I don't care how many lawyers he brought to court to be charged. He's going away for a long long time." In dispute is the throwing out the BAC evidence because Bill refused to surrender that and it was taken against his request. Steve said, rather grumpily "I don't care. Now they may have to do without some of the evidence, they still have enough to prove their case and this bum is going away for a long time." I've never shaken Billy's hand, but he is a local legend so the tails exist about his wild life style, but now being someone who while recklessly driving killed a biker, now that is different. I've heard of Billy showing up now at the Boggy Creek Run ($50) per rider and now Biketoberfest. Bikers now have their own "OJ". How sad.
I'm glad i didn't run into his side show and have to deal with the feeling of wanting to Booooooooooo and Hisssssss him in amongst his most ardent supporters. But the only reason and way we can enjoy our rides is by preaching safe riding, for all including the super stars. Now i'm sure during the seconds just before the head on collision Bill was in heaven with his new nice young things mouth all over his lap, after whooping it up in three different bars all day (you know that each time Bill walks into a different bar there are those that will say "Hey. Your Billy Lane, let me buy you a shot. Yahoo.") at each joint, but now we have a dead mans grieveing and lonely family and Billy living? in a cage forever and ever. And what do you think the nice new young thing dreams about at night now? Sorry about scribbling on so, but thats just the way it happens when i don't commune with Mercury for a while.
Now, for some words about Biketoberfest. Like i was saying Larry went on Thursday, and after Destanation Daytona, they motored south to Main Street for the required crawl thru the crowds to see bottoms and bikes filling the street and sidewalks, hear the thumping rock and roll bands and let the tourists take your picture. Then they went to the RaceTrack, home of the Daytona 500, and actually got to ride their bikes thru the tunnell under the track and onto the main infield. The tunnell is only 200 yards long and small two lanes wide so the sounds of thundering freedom crackling out of the pipes, make me smile just thinking about them. Well, thats what they did. This movie is about what i did and saw. The video is a little shaky, sorry about that, i tried out some new pads for the camera mount. We met Randy, Mary, PJ, Mike and Karen out on 46 and 415 where while yakkin and gassin, Randy spies one, out of lots of bikes zooming by and remarks "Look. thats the first time i've ever seen that. a black chick, with gloves and short shorts on a huge crotch rocket with a white boy with blond dreadlocks clinging on as her bitch." Hmmm. "Nope" we all laugh. "Us neither." It's a perfectly cloud free cool day with motorcycle just written all over it, so we saddle for the 60 mile trek north with the other pilgrims biking to mecca.
Well, if you enjoy the video, i'll come back and fill in the stories...

day 27

2006-11-12T08:46:00.000-05:00

greeetings keyboard. remember me. I've been thinking of visiting you for a while. You know how it is.
Our next adventure was the annual Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, Fl. This is an excellent pic of lovey surrounded by iron galore at the Iron Horse in Ormond, just a couple of tiks north of DB. They serve a world famous steak sandwich that we tested and approved of. While standing in line we spied the most interesting t-shirt wearing mom and daughter team ever witnessed.

their errie eyes matched only by the statement being made my their t-shirts made me wonder what the home life was like. they appeared totally content with themselves and posed willingly and happily to lots of requests for pictures.

newday

2006-10-29T07:45:00.000-05:00

testing...

Sanford Bike Fest 06

2006-10-19T09:18:00.000-04:00

ye old 'puter is in the shop again, so here is a short vid of our weekend in the park. The cops on choppers was the best...

bhr12

2006-10-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

this is just an experiment...

bhr11

2006-10-08T08:49:00.000-04:00

wow, have i really been gone that long? Sorry keyboard. i know, i know, you want attention too. Glad your medication is my fingers and not a drug. Anyhooo. Good to feel you again. I promise, no more of the "i dont have enough hours in the day" bullshit. Zo. It is now 8:46am on a quiet sunday morning,blue skies, light breez and a lucious sweeet 68 degrees, and the progress on lovey's homepage, Dream-Walls is coming along nicely, but is soooo time intensive. I tell ya, every creature in this house is attention defecit, oyyvaaaaa. sorry about all this side scribbles, you know how i dribble on when i don't get to touch you often enough. Now. on with the show.

Here is the last video of the first day. Yes. San to say that i've only related the first real day of our riding adventure so far. This thing could drag on for a while. I've been to a few other sites to read their excellent versions of the Black Hills Rally 06 advetures, and have found them short, well written and to the point, where as my recollections tend to go on and on and on. lol. So here are those links for reference, The first and best of course is "the big mutha", yes, his tall tales are the best, then there is "the "dixie biker" stories and excellent pics of their Lake County HOG chapters trip, and also, although it is not tales of the black hills, these people are in my book, "real bikers", this husband/wife team ride around the world on their bike . Also, my sweet sister has sent me some more notes from my Grandmother. She writes about her grandmother's life in 1870's in Hawaii. wow. Found a family tree in there too that takes me back to 1690 in N. Ireland to Archibald Thompson...ok ok ok now, really. lol here is that last video...
I gotta tell ya, i'm getting to like building these little videos as much as ridin/writin.

Well, they passed the Smith coal mine on Hiway 308, past BearCreek and wind up one grand day of puttin. Our camp guide highly recomended the Bridge Creek for the best grub in town, so as they roll back onto the main street of Red Lodge feeling like they have just conquered the new world, they spot the joint and park right in front. "I didn't expect it to be such a fanzy joint" Q remarked. You see, V had graciously offered to buy us all our dinner that night. They made a rowdy entrance acting like the kings of the world, which is what they felt like after finally riding the mountains of Montana. V introduced Tina, the cute young waitress to the Alphabet Gang and we all had a good chuckle. Then when she came back with our adult beverages Q asked "Lets, just say for example folks come here, order and eat then don't have the money to pay. What do you all do about that?" Then while Tina was stuttering over her answer Q asks also "Where is the closest bank in town and is it well guarded?" Then after a long pregnant pause, we all had a good belly laugh, even tho Tina walked away not really sure what to make of these three out of town bikers...

bhr10

2006-09-14T16:27:00.000-04:00

continued:
twisting, swerving, down shifting, leaning in, fading out, climbing, dropping (not the bike, just the altitude, and then the long long straightaway of hiway 72 thru the high desertish landscape north to 308 then westerly thru the BearCreek.

oooops. before they leave the top of the BearTooth of course the silly video had to be made...

bhr9

2006-09-12T19:19:00.000-04:00

continued...

"Theair there is so clean. And why shouldn't it be? It's the same air the angels breathe!" I know, i know that's a quote from Sam Clemens about the Sierra Nevadas but the attitude is the same. Wow, what a nice rest stop at 10 thousand feet. Wonder what it looks like covered in snow? Also, John Denver's "RockyMountainHigh' comes to mind. You see, this rag tag gang from the jungles of florida haven't been out of the swamps in way too too long. "America the Beautiful" comes to mind also.

The A. Gang headed up the Chief Joseph Highway full of vim and vigor because the rains had let up and life was good. They rode a Honda, Yamaha and Harley and reveled in the saying. "it doesn't matter what you ride. Just as long as you ride." These highways, mountains and lakes could not care less who made our cycles.

Chief Joseph took us up to another pass.

and another spectacular view and another history lesson about the good Chief tricking the american soldiers and escaping over the pass.

These bronze pieces of art helped transport your author back to a more rugged time in our american west.

bhr 8

2006-09-07T17:13:00.000-04:00

While being overwhelmed by the majesty of the Bear Tooth Mountains Z remembered his assignmnet from lovey to get lots of artsy pics for her to draw.Here is the humble attempts...

Amazing, just amazing. A view that could have been drunk in all day, no question. But the call of the road and the thrill of actually puttin these mountains was stronger than the desire to stand and stare. So, click, click, click and they saddled up for more fun...

V.'s sled pointing Northwest.

Next stop up they cross the border and V. has a big chuckle while straddling the state line.

They enjoyed and left Custer NF and were excited and looking forward to the Shoshone NF.
the next stop is actually named "The Top of the World" and it ain't lying. It is a cozy log souvenier shop with cold beer and the hang out porch up front. Z bought his pin while they started to gear up for the nex leg a cruiser with his old lady on the back roll in. Just as he stops he looses it in the gravel and 10 rough tough biker dudes run over to help before he totally lost it. One of their group that didn't run over remarked loudly "Holy shit tommy, i never knew you could run that fast!" they all had a good chuckle as soon as they saw the lady and the bike were ok. they had nothing to say to the pilot cause he was a dumb shit not to handle his bike any better than that. Escially with his lady on board.
Their are lots of dark clouds now swirling around and just as they get back on the road its rain time. No worries mate. all part of the adventure...here is a little video...

bhr7

2006-09-04T08:25:00.000-04:00

continued:
the entrance on 212 to sleepy, quite, old west feeling burg of Red Lodge is just a couple of clicks west. This 7 year old statue honoring Crow Chief Many Coups. Now i am a news junkie, thru and thru. I am hooked to the 6 oclock local, then 6:3o national for many many moons now, but this adventure changed all that. Z got to relive American history and walk/ride the very grounds that a cosmic culture loved. Here is a pic of the plaque under the Chief. His words on war still ring loud and clear.

Hope you can read this. Z felt magic here at the foot of the Bear Tooth and this plaque confirms that is was magic to the Crow also.
They stopped in at the local bike shop, Bone Daddys http://www.bonedaddyscustomcycle.com just across the stree from BearTooth Harley and found a nice "at home" feelin shop, just like the burg. Z just had to score a patch, pin and pic.

Of course you know Z's thing about all things black and white. The excellent colors of SS. so this front window art work for BD's caught his camera. The blue sky in the background is just a tease. The A. Gang score some required t's and swapped realities with the usual crowd that gathered around V.'s sled with the usual question "What is it?"

And off south they rode with Z wearing only his vest. The first turnoff, just 3 miles up the road a pull out gave him the welcome chance to put on his jacket and snap this most excellent shot of V checking in while at the foot of one of the most majestice awesome rides ever. Your humble author has neither the skills or vocabulary to do justice to the reality of the Bear Tooth. The climbing, the slow turns creeping and crawling back and forth across the face of the pass, the ultimate drop offs outside and rock for days on the inside of the twisties just have motorcycle written all over them. They laugh and vroom vroom up to the first lookout at 9 thousand feet.

and of course your humble author had to have a pic for evidence. Your honor, freakin a, i was higher than a kite on the day in question. Actually, 9 thousand feet high with my head in the clouds.
Speaking of clouds, notice the change? KOA's camp leader told me this morning "Those mountains make our weather, so keep an eye on them" when i asked him "whats the weather going to be like today?". In fact ridin SS in these magic mountains felt better than any high producing drug i'm sure. Cept maybe, rrr, well, thats for another story.
here are the Alphabet Gang.
Z,Q and V.

They are facing northeast and the camera is pointing southwest with the Yellowstone off in the far distance. Lovey like this pic so much it was the first one she painted.

bhr6

2006-09-03T08:06:00.000-04:00

Its' currently 8am. sunday morning and i can visit here for a bit while the homestead is quiet. Picked up the "repaired" computer from the new local shop. Built a quick 30 minute film and set the software Pinnacle to "create dvd" and then had to leave to pick up Joey and Marti. On the way home, lovey calls to say "your computer is making that sound again". i could hear in the background the most hatefull sound ever of the puters alarms going off, just like before going into the shop. So now i'm down 200 plus bones and still can not create my movies.rrrrrrrrrrrrrr. "I'm sorry" says lovey. "It'll probably mean a new motherboard" i guess out loud.rrrrrrrrrr. Which reminds me. "Talk Like a Pirate Day" is fast upon us. Sept. 19http://www.talklikeapirate.com/. I think that bikers are pirates deep down, so expect some interesting stories.
It's always something. Missed destination daytona's bike night last nite due to lovey not wanting to rided in the rain. spoke with d and n and heard that they would ride over there and gives us the low down. They only live 10 minutes away. Which also means that during biketoberfest http://www.biketoberfest.org/ and bike week http://www.officialbikeweek.com/ one constantly hears the vibrating vroooom vrooooom of freedom.
now for a few pieces of items not mentioned in bh5. V reminded me of some points:
continued...When V. jumped out of the home in industrial billings montana to run into the Casino for directions, Z jumped out with a flashlight and stood behind the trailer with the motorcyles in it to direct traffic around us. Flash, flash, wave it here and there. "Hope this can be seen. Man it sure is quiet out here" Z thinks to himself. V. rolls out of the club and laughs heartily asking "how many cars came by?" he knew the answer was zero and laughed all the more.
Next. Now they were all used to people stopping, staring and askinglots of questions about V. sled. One of my favorite answers so far is "Well, it started out as a vtx." and this adventure had its share of those, but as they were leaving the SuperWalMart (after being checked out by a sweet cross-eyed, tooth challenged, chuncky girl who remarked at them" i used to think they were bad, but now gray haired bikers are so sexy". Z had his usual hat on altho his long gray beard was all a scraggle, so they all turned to V and had a good laugh) was a group of teenagers going in the store and the loud mouth boy holllers out across the lot. "Hey. Nice bike man. Is that a v-8 in it?" V. was at a loss for words.
continued...
a good nites sllep was followed by a glorious sunrise with t shirt weather and high clouds. i walked up to the front office to register after finding a ticket on the windshield reminding us to, even tho i had filled out the paperwork last night or more correctly at 4 am.Anyhoo the good old boy Luke who ran the place recommended "i think you'll like the Bear Tooth Pass and the Chief Joseph Highway for a nice motorcycle ride" Z. relates this to the others, they scout it out on the map and agree. Z determines from his Magellean GPS that we are at 5 thousand some feet at the camp. Yikes, they live at 25 feet, this really isn't Kansas anymore Toto.

bhr5

2006-08-24T16:33:00.000-04:00

continued...
Z and Q putted over to the local NAPA store and scored the new plugs and wires that showed up on the scan as being weak and Q set to work for the next 2 hours replacing them. He had to wear his biking gloves because the engine compartment was hot hot hot. He finally started up the home and Z was glad it started till Q said "That ain't rite". It was missing a bit. Just enough to be not right. Z's confidence in Q was dwindling and he wished we had coughed up the couple of hundred dollars and have the dealership mechanic get er done right, but it was too late because they had closed up for the day. Then out of the blue the mechanic appears. He helps Q and in 15 minutes all was correcto. V. gave him a 20 dollar tip and learned that this kid had been to many many Sturgis Rally's, but this was going to be his first on his own Harley Davidson. They finally zoom west out of Rapid City around 5:30ish and damn glad to be on the road again, even if it was in the home instead of the sleds.
At 2isham they finally roll into Billings Montana. Z calls to find the local SuperWal-Mart so the gang can load up on groceries for the next few days. Z screws up the directions and V, finding themselves lost in a quiet chemical factory part of town stops dead in the road outside a very small Casino. V tells Z "go inside and ask directions." for some reason Z wasn't into it an was protesting "you can't just stop in the middle of the road" "Says who?" was V.'s powerful response. Z jumped out with flashlight to guide traffic away from our home in the middle of the road. V came out and said "Fuck it. we should be in there partying" he told of the toothless skinny old girl up on stage singing "Lonely". He had gotten directions and in 10 minutes we pull into the correct parking lot. The perimeter of the lot was full of motorhomes with trailers. Looked like a polish koa.
V. also gets confirmation that we are on the right trail and Red Lodge Montana is our next stop about 60 miles south. It's totally dark and so they do not see the magnificent mountain ranges surrounding them. On the small two lane hiway212 they pass a KOA, but then make a slow turn around up the road and come back to it. The night time sign in sheet said they had a space available. V. the excellent trucker invented a set of flashlight signals to help guide the home home.Walla. perfecto. Rack time. Finally a chance to sleep without the constant road thumpity thumps under the pillow.

bhr4

2006-08-20T08:10:00.000-04:00

continued:
here is the correct, trip beginning vid: It's a little dark, but what adventure doesn't begin in the dark? V and Z
had grabbed a couple of hours of sack time on Q's couch and floor altho the floor was not as comfortable as Z remembered from his earlier days and so tried to watch a movie on tv to zone out to. V woke me up around 1:30 saying "he's here. lets go." Z groggyly rolled over and truly did not want to go. "You guys go ahead. I've changed my mind and do not want to go." He really didn't, deaths cousin was too enchanting just then. But up popped Z finally realizing there was no backing out now. It was Q's girlfriend's birthday the next day and so we thought he was in giving her a going away present. He tells us "No" later, but you know what a gentleman Q is. Anyhoo they all load up and start the start clock at 2:26 a.m. e.s.t. V. is quite the driver, heas a cdl, etc. and has lots of stories about driving long distances, so he grabbed the wheel first and drove till 2ish pm sunday all the way to north georgia. Here is a pic of the first gas stop and our chance to donate 150 dollars to those poor suffering oil barons.
I took over the wheel and lasted only 4 hrs before i just couldn't keep awake any longer.

Up thru Chattanooga, then Kentucky then calling it good for my shift somewhere in Illinois. Q takes over after getting some good sleep time.
In this pic two of the bike covers are still intact. Altho they will both be gone zoon. A major truck was backing way off from behind us and a passerby hollered out about something "flapping in the wind" behind them, so they stopped and removed the remaining threads of the covers. It was grand to finally be on foreign roads and this adventure was finally becoming a reality. Actually, these 45 hours of continous driving was so surreal they called it a time/reality warp that was used to escape the day to day same old same old reality.

finally St. Louis is in sight after spending the night rolling thru Kentucky and Illionois. wow what a bunch of Gambling Casinos are camped out along the Lewis and Clark route. Q is all afire that co-pilot/navigator V and Z snap some good pics of the "Arch". So much so that he misses the correct turn off and they end up down-town. Now, I'm sure St. Louis is a fine burg, but this neighborhood's age was not hiding. There is one jewel tho and of course it's the baseball park.

Monday around noonish they finally roll just outside of Wall Drug and pull over to feel the intense winds in person. "This would be a catagory 2 backhome" Z laughs. The motorhome was running rough and the next fill up confirmed they were only getting 4.5 mpg as opposed to the usual 7.5 mpg average. They jump on the celly and find the location of the closest dealer and make an appointment for a scan. Q, who is an expert mechanic theorizes "its a sensor. maybe a heat/fuel sensor and hell i can change that myself". "while the dealer is scanning the home we can unload the sleds and go find something to eat!" "Nah." V. states, "I'm going to stay with the bikes" They meet with the shop foreman and he tells them they are next on the list and should be looked at in one hour. "ok, then! Lets ride" exclaims V. After 34ish hours of continous motorhome confinement the freedom of being on the bike where they belonged was fine freakin tastic. Found a Mexican joint for Q and for a chain, it was acceptable. But now for the good stuff. They saddled up and beat it back across the super slab to the Rapid City Harley shop that was chockablock full of activity. They rolled in only to find nothing really happening yet and so decided to ride. "Turn right and lets see what we can see" shouted Z and away they zoomed. It felt like being a kid in a candy store. Finally riding the bike on way foreign roads. Roads with turns and hills. Yahoooooo. They zoomed this way and that being totally lost and lovin it. around here and there Z kept turing right whenever the roads climbed up, "Up", what a concept for boys from the 50 feet altitudes.

bhr3

2006-08-19T08:27:00.000-04:00

greeeetings keyboard. you know you are who i want to write to, but these last three weeks have been very needy.
The Alphabet Gang, V, Z and Q rode back thru the reverse portal of reality and landed at 46 and I95 right on schedule at 7:30am last Friday, 8-11 and i got to ride the last 30 straight miles back to Lopezville, just like this adventure began two weeks ago. And these are my first few quite moments and the chance to file a report. Sat. morning there was a SCHOG upscale (35 bones) seafood buffett dinner ride leaving the shop at 3 that Big Dave reminded me of and so he and his BadAssBikerBitchBarb roared here and off to the shop we zoomed. It had been a while since i got to putt with the Schog's so this ride on the Lake county back roads is just what the doctored ordered for me and my lovely, specially with me and the Snoop-Skoot being gone for the last 2 weeks. Dinner was spectacular at an old country inn and so while the gang continued on makeing stops at the local watering holes on our Annual Poker Run list, lovely and i were ready to be home and so rode back alone. Only one wrong turn and altho lovely thought i was totally lost, we did roll into our garage just before our regular afternoon thunderboomers arrived. Both of our boys computers funkyfied up during that storm and so it took the puter shop this whole week to repair them. I've still lots on my list of "to do's", like updating lovelys web page with all her new and improved achievments and copying all my pics for da A Gang, but i really do have to lay down this last adventure while it is still fresh and not repeated over and over to workmates who keep asking "what was it like?". The more i talk about it, the less i will write about it. anyhoooo, you know the drill.
Now, i shouldn't have to repeat this, but i will. Memory is a tricky thing and so this report will be laced with some truth. Some is the key word.
On with the tale:
I sleep anxiously Friday nite, knowing that in afew hours the adventure that has been in the works for 365 days will begin in earnest. I jump up early and start to load up old Snoop-Skoot. There are a few more items than on the practice run and the bungies just didn't seem to remember their jobs. With big hugs from lovely and our ruffians and one last pic for her celly background, away i roll. I get all the way to our front gate when this new load decides to shift off the right side of SS, yikes, "what is this?" I make my first highly embarrising stop to re-bungy and re-take off slowly.

Here is a pic of your author and the bikes loaded at around 3pm Sat. V and Z now zoom back V's crib to shower up and skat over to a nice Italian joint for dinner with our sister K.

Here is that gathering. We thouroughly enjoy our last real meal as we will be camping out for the next two weeks.here are V,K and Z.

After enjoying that fantastico meal that K paid for for my bd.She is the best and i am most blessed to be able to call her sis. she also gave me a framed retouched ancient photo of me at age 4 with my most beautiful mother. Tear up? you bet i did. wow. i had never seen that pic before. Anyhooo , thanks sis.

Now V and i said our final goodbyes to all and to P and then zoomed over to Tony's to wait for him to come home from his wedding party so we can zoom out and start this show. Here is a video of V getting ready. Oooops wrong video, but a fun tease of things to come...

bhr2

2006-08-03T14:51:00.000-04:00

wow. found a wireless connection here in Hardin Montana at atruck stop. i only have time for afew pics... I am listening to wtks, our local radio in orlando, while the rest of the Alphabet Gang, Q and V are across the street at Taco Johns. These pics are of Q and V cruising the Bear Tooth Pass.

BlackHillsRally06

2006-07-28T17:43:00.000-04:00

Finally the day has arrived and it's time to pack up and head to Sturgis. This trip has been in the works since Aug. of 05 and i can't believe its finally here. I picked up some motorcycle luggage and here is a pic of SS loaded up. I had to see if i could get everything on board for my ride over to Rockledge 90 miles away to the motorhome.

It just so happens that this is my BD also. Here is the perfect card that my lovely made all by herself for me.

day 26

2006-07-28T17:17:00.000-04:00

Well, old SS finally made it out of the shop in time for RideYourBikeToWork Day and oohh what a treat it was to be back in the saddle again. The new handle bars are mini Angel Wings and so felt like the old days on old Black Betty. Swell.
Last Friday was a dodadoo at JZ Riders so my lovely and i jumped on SS and went for a visit. They had aband and free wings.and of course lots of cool bikes to see. We hung out for a bit and chatted with the bike friendly crowd. Being close to home, we then saddled up and beat it back to the homestead for an early evening and a movie. "The Worlds Fastest Indian" is definetely one to enjoy.//http://www.worldsfastestindian.com/ I have it on DVD and will be taking it out west to enjoy around the campsite one night.

day 25

2006-07-16T08:26:00.000-04:00

greeetings keyboard.
the month of Hammuz, Hebrew for July, has always been eventfull says history and July 06 is shaping up to be one of the most. Where is Rodney King when we need him? "Why can't we all just get along?" Frustration at the madness in the middle east is tempered by the LoveIn in Berlin. Who'd a thunk that? http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/15/060715172659.jl1j62tn.html
Well, hooray for Deutschland. Reminds me of the good old days. In fact speaking of the good old days. Howz 'bout this link in honor of the late great Bill Graham? I've been listening to the "radio vault" here for a week now and what a time machine it is.http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/ My very first concerts were in Fillmore West and Winterland back in the late 60's when Bill was giving music a real platform. Wolfgang was Bill's real name.
Now on to motorcyling. Old Snoop-Skoot went into Ace's Wed. the 5th after hitting the 10k mark for it's once over and some more comfortable handlebars. Scott called me yesterday afternoon to say that "those bars you picked out don't work. Why don't you come down to the shop and try out some other ones?" rrrrrrrrrrr. well ok. i understand "best laid plans" etc. All last nite i fretted over what was originally a 50 dollar upgrade will now move into the multiple HD's (Harley Davidson for Hundred Dollars) because i'll probably need new braided cables because the new bars are longer and wider. rrrrrrr.
I drove the old blue cage over to Rockledge yesterday morning to meet with Larry and Toni and go over the last minute details for our BlackHills 06 Trip, which is now only 13 days away. We went over the timeline, route, things to bring and things we want to do out west and then borrowed Ronnies bike to go and see how three bikes fit in the new 6x16 foot trailer Toni just bought to transport our sleds out west.Wheww weee it was hot, but nothing compared to the 111 degrees registered in Rapid City. L and T are supposed to drive up to Ga. this afternoon to pick up the motorhome donated to us for the trip, so all the parts are falling into place. Larry's pipes new and exotic are due in this coming Wed. , so he is ultra jazzed.

day 24

2006-07-08T13:24:00.000-04:00

here is one more experiment
ahh memories of a putt long past. riding with the pack adds an extra rush to the feelings of freedom. this video doesn't really capture it yet, but the experiments will continue. it is too bloody hot outside right now and because the old Snoop-Skoot is in Ace's getting it's 10k once over and new handlebars, and the fact that i spent a good two hours pulling weeds and dead grass. what a sad statement that your author, a child of the 60's and san francisco, now hates grass so much. lol.

day 23

2006-07-03T15:48:00.000-04:00

So now. test number 5. Is this one going to work?

ahh.Hahh. this seems to work, so i'll tap out some notes relative to this beginners video.
When i get back from Rockledge, i call BigDaveCassens to ask if he knows anyone with a trailer that will fit three bikes. "I saw a "forsale" sign on a trailer down in southwest orange county. A 7x16 enclosed for 2k. It's about 30 minutes from my house." he tells me. "Ok. Lets go have a look." i answer, then go ask my boss if i can go. She of course says "ok", knowing how important a chore i have. I putt into BDC's yard, after a few phone calls while only 1/4 mile from his house. U-Turns are legall, right? I hate getting lost, so close to the destination. We load up, fire up and practice our "go slow" manuevers down the dirt roadway leaving their house, all the while just digging the roaring rumble of 3 harleydavidsons singing their happy tunes of vrroooom vrooooomm. The "go slow" race is one i've always wanted to participate in, but haven't yet. There is one girl here that wins everytime and i mean everytime. All the guys are looking around while practicing to see if she's going to show up this time and when she does and a hurrahhh goes up from her lady fans, a slow quiet rrrrrrr is sighed from the men. http://www.baroutback.com/
This is the link to Johnny Rottens Bar Out Back where most local games go on. As you can see the place is quiet a hoot.
So, we make our way to sw orange. BDC knows these roads better than anyone and soon we pull into the storage company where the "forsale" trailer is . RRRR. the "for sale" sign is gone. "I think it's been sold" growls BDC. I take some pics of it to show Larry.
It is a 98 and with some tlc could be a deal for 2k. but alas too late it appears. there is a phone number for the storage facility, but theres still no answer, even these few days later.
So, BDC and his wifey Bad AssBiker Barb decide to putt thru gorgeous Lake County over to see his motorcycle riding brother, while the skies are fair and before our regular afternoon thunderboomers set in. I'm jonesin' to ride and so go with them. We are sitting in the first position in a left hand turn lane at a major intersection with two lanes to our right. Cars sit in the far lane waiting to turn right, when all of a sudden we hear a cars tires begin their loud screeching sliding sounds. I spot the red older chevy's wheels smokin as he is only 30 yards behind us and holler "here we go!" I then turn my head to watch this lunitic to see if he's going to stop or slide into us or what. BABB has her ipod on and doesnt' yet live in her rear view mirrors like me and so didn't spot the slider till he was 15 yards behind. Somehow, thanks to our three guardian angels at the stoplight with us, this yahoo stayed in his lane sliding, screeching and smokin all the way into the intersection and somehow turned his wreck right, still sliding, avoiding the crossing traffic and missed everyone. The cross traffic was turning left in front of us, so if this nut had drifted our way there was no place for us to go. This happened a week ago and i still cant stop thinking about it. if i've learned anything, its to live in the rear view mirror, be more aware ALWAYS and DO NOT piss off your guardian angel.
we finally get out into the countryside and this is when i tried out the new camera mount's video abilities. BABB is descending our own Florida mountain, Sugarloaf, and flirting with death on her terms as she plays "look mom. no hands". lol
well, the rains are coming and now would be a good time for some outside chores. i will be back.

discovery day 21

2006-07-01T14:50:00.000-04:00

"t-minus 17 minutes and counting". is the last transmision so far.
It's now 2:47 and one h0ur ish in real time till the launch of Shuttle Discovery. I'm just out of the shower and cooled down from doing my 150 miler this morning. Out east on 46 for 30 miles thru the jungles and over Puzzle River and into Brevard County. Home of launch pad 39b. "T-minus 14 minutes and counting" I am watching via 'puter on NasaTV. "The white room is clear and their are not technical issues being addressed at this time". "T-minus 9 minutes and holding" Mission Control from Houston, tells us. Our local channel 9 on the tv is showing the real time behind the scene for the launch also. This is such a complicated vehicle and so so many engineers involved to light this candle. A good half of my putt east this morning (kickstand up at 7ish am), I could not see a vehicle in front of me nor behind me. Perfect putt conditions, 75 degrees, high clouds with no noticable winds. Hiway 46 is a county road, but in excellent two lane condition and zooms thru deep bush filled lands opening up to fields that are home to cattle and palm trees. Thru mims then stop at the gas station, next to the I95 onramp, where i first showed Larry old Black Betty for a quick smoke before hitting the slab. Where as 46 is a treat, 95 is a chore. 70mph is the limit and if you go 70 you will be in the way. "So far we are in a no go due to weather" "T-Minus 9 minutes and holding". Now i actually like the slab sometimes. The rush of just getting on down the road without too much concern for cross traffic, like on the surface roads. So many accidents i hear about are from cross traffic, people turning left in front of the bike, or entering the roadway from a side street. "It's goin to be close, but we'll give it a shot" Nasa tells us over the air. There is a small cell 30 miles west of the pad that is a concern. ..But since my last encounter with getting airborne at 45ish mph over that wood pallet in in the middle of my lane on my way to work last week has me still a bit skiddish, expecially when following semi's with full loads at 70mph on the slab. "Observed and forcast no go, for thunder storm anvils, I don't hold a lot of hope at this point." "We copy" and so it goes.About 20 minutes real time till launch, but it doesnt look good. .. So i make it to Rockledge and find Larrys crib on the golf course. Pat, his wife is across the street playing in a 4some tennis match as we roll out north heading to Ronnies house. They call Tonnie and he lives only 5 minutes from the yard and will meet us there so we can see if the bikes will fit in the trailer that is supposed to carry our sleds to the BlackHills. It's an enclosed 6x12 and too small for 3 bikes. So there. We are 30 days to go and no trailer. Hmmm? Off to a good start. Tonnie thinks he can find one at the AutoAuction, even tho he hasn't seen one lately. We need it to be 7x16 at least.
"We've got anvils within 20 miles. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not a good day to launch. We'll try again tomorrow." "We are going ahead to scrub for today." We hear from Shuttle Launch Control. Well, it's off to a party now. ill be back...

day 20

2006-06-28T19:40:00.000-04:00

greeeetings keyboard. it's7:37 and i'm just back from SkyKing Fireworks in Daytona Beach. Was going to take The Snoop but our normal summer afternoon thunder boomers were gathering for their evening barrages and so took Old Blue, the 89Corolla. Good thing too because on the way home it was the Perfect Storm . At least i did score 48 Excalliber Cannister Shells with assorted effects from Jumbo Red Dahlia's to Silver Waves and Red Whrilwinds. sounds good. we'll see come this weekend. Got some smoke bombs because my Joey had so much fun with them last year. Anyhoo, i booked it out of SK and with the gas gauge flirting seriously with "e" and some thick clouds marching rapidly my way i made it to the back side of the Daytona Racetrack, that is prepping big time for a major race this weekend, before the PF began its show. I coasted along at15 mph and fourways workin strong as the ws wipers were doing the two step in double time. At the intersection with Williamson one could not see 30 feet ahead. Here comes a Medic Alert fan with lights and horns making a statement. I slowly creep across the intersection wondering if i get smacked by someone who can't see either, will the trunkload of fireworks ignite? Yikes. Whew. Well it got stronger and stronger, wires down, tree limbs blowing across the road, then the hailstorm begings. Good size balls of ice bouncing off ofold blue, but press on thankfully behind some other brave souls and now the little gas reminder light is glowing brighter than ever. "Will the power be on?" i wonder, anticipatting the Citgo just two miles ahead. Ahha. Just ahead of the front and their power is on. They don't know whats coming their way. I hop out quickly, gas up and zip back south on 415 outraceing what i just drove thru. Ahh. clearing skies, but a glance in the rear view reveals black clouds and zero visibility. Whew...

day 19

2006-06-25T11:19:00.000-04:00

greeetings keyboard. long time no talk. too many this and thats and dat ain't rite. WritetoLive is as important to me as RidetoLive. So please excuse my dribble if it isn't exclusively about motorcyling. your author is at this very moment in his backyard under the arbor and cloudy skies deep in the jungle, scribbling on his new lap top wirelessly connected to cyberspace. I now want to take a pic a see how that works...

Wowwie zowwie. that works. Now this may be simple and old hat technology to most of you, but well you know that Pink Floyd line "ten years have passed you by. You missed the starting gun. No one told you when to run." Well, that line was written to me. I'm a little late to the laptop/wireless game but just in time for me. Because i hope to file a play by play while in Sturgis South Dakota for the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally.http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/ and yes we are virgins to this show, so hope to b e able to provide another perspective. http://rally.sturgis.sd.us/You know how you can anticipate something too much and when you finally are experiencing that thing, then theres whatz her face singing "So, thats all there is? If thats all there is then i'll just keep on dancing...". My brother Larry and i have been anticipating this so much, reading all the web forums and web cams, reading the Rapid City Journal, which provides a great web blog during the celebration of the motorcycle. http://www.sturgisrallydaily.com/, getting in our miles and bikes prepped, and just plain talking about all the details everytime we talk., i hope we arent a victim of the "Now What" disease. Thats a whole 'nuther story to it self and zoon to follow.
But for now, todays experiment is to see if i could post and zip current pics just like that and lo and behold i think i've crossed that frontier. Can now just relax and enjoy the fun part of banging away on these keys to see what happens next. OOops. just one more thing. Now i've got to find out how topost videos. I just bought a "camera clamp" that is a basic modified c clamp that attaches to the handlebars with a "foot" for the digital cameras. I'm just not too comfortable yet with the setup, fearing that one jolt or bump in the road could dis lodge the clamp and lead to the loss of said camera. It's worked well at slower speeds so may use it during a main street putt. But i am buying the "Hel-Cam" like the one KT has, altho we haven't see evidence of that yet, lol. also. I dont want to travel these 6k miles and not have evidence to help jog my memories so i write about them.
Got to ride 100 ish miles yesterday because it was supposed to rain hard all day today. Went thru one downpour and after sliding sideways on slippery roads to avoid a low mileage but costly smack up, i decided to call it good. Lots of clouds today, but no rain so far. I've got to run and do chores now and so will dribble here later...

anothernewday?

2006-06-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

i'ts one of htose mornings when one is so glad to be alive. No near misses or anything like that, but news that friends are suffering trials and tribulations with their teenage boy. Very sad that young people just don't get it. Not just for them but for the whole family and circle of friends. Life is so precious and they just dont understand that just one thoughtless moment and reaction and your whole world can melt away before your very eyes. No one here knows these people so i guess it's ok to divulge the known facts, but i'd rather speak of a new and exciting find for me and the family.

While in Sabastopol CA. visiting with Uncle Bruce and Aunt Annaliesa he let us read my Granny's Journal. Now it is well known in the family that she kept one but this is my first actuall seeing, reading and copying it. Turns out it is Volume IV: 1936-1941. She was born in 1907 and will be 99 next month. This volume starts when she is 29 years old. It is AMAZING. It's like the great american novel. Chokablok full of life, personal and public. I may try an experiment and try to take a picture of a page and see if it will post. While snooping around in another new found program i'm also trying this experiment. lets see if this works...
brb

well, well, well. that seems to work. but now while i have time, back to the real work and not that playing around. lol
Grannys journal is most inspirational and as i read it i realize it is a Blog. She just wrote down daily all the ends and outs of this and that. Guess i have blogging in my genes. i wonder if other bloggers have family history of keeping journals? these have a differnt attitude because others may or may not read them, while the key for real journal keeping is to write as if no one is going to read it, that way you can let it flow and let the letters and stories fall where they may. Kick that little critic off your shoulder and let the great god of muese Hermes in for a chat.
it's all really just blah, blah blah, but i'ts my blah...
Like i said a lot has happened since my last time spewing here and i'm not sure where to start because i still have some motorcycle tales to share and that is the key to my spewing here. Maybe i should make another page for Granny's Journal?

day 18

2006-05-23T17:24:00.000-04:00

i'm going to rattle on about Dola's Last Tour 'de Sore Butt to Lake Ockeechobee in a minute but first, i've found some pics and road tales that i've skipped and have been meaning to add...
another sat. morning and another SCHOG ride. This one is led by Lisa Dye and the Ladies of Harley and they invited us lowly men to play with them too. So, show up for play time we did.
April weather is perfect for puttin around the jungle , so after some group riding reminders and a lay out of the route, we saddled up and rode. Out east from the new shop on Hwy. 46 thru Sorrento and winding thru Zellwood, home of the famous Corn Festival http://www.zellwoodcornfestival.com/ and then around the lake in Clermont to the Rusty Fox.
Lunch was perfect and a time to chat with clubbers about all things motorcycle.

Lunch time over and time to saddle up again and head for LakeRidge Winery and do some serious wine tasting. The woman with the red and white hat is 67 years old and rides her Harley with pride. In the "on the road" photo thats ChainSaw in the red shirt and his wife on her sportser to his right. He calls her WeedWhacker. Some day i hope to hear the stories of where those names came from. When i asked him initially he just kinda sighed, laughed and said "that was a long time ago and quite a night." anyhoo he is the one who sets his cruise control and takes rolling pics. here's one he tok of me. i think it's the only pic of me hoggin it that i have.
Thats his wifey in the background with a shit eating grin on her mug. You know. the kind we all get when puttin in the country side with friends.

day 17

2006-05-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

just a note about these three new links i've just added. I know that July is way down the road, but it looks like it is time again for Ride To Work day. I see parking lots full of motorcycles during rallys etc. but very few on the roads for the morning commute. This day could be just the opposite. Hmmm?
http://www.ridetowork.org/
also, this looks like neat idea and a great sticker

http://www.bikerfriend.org/
ridesafe
brl

day 17

2006-05-13T22:07:00.000-04:00

another sat. another ride. praise the lord. can i get an amen? thank you.
it's time for the "REAL RIDE", a local radio station http://wtks.com sopnsered ride in conjunction with Big Bad One and Only, BRUCE ROSSMEYER and Destation Daytona. I registered online , 53 bones for me and my Joey, (youngest, 15, son, who loves to ride with me and is anxious for his own sled.) It was 130 bones to ride "VIP"", which was too much for me. We pack up cameras and cigars and hit the slab at 10am and rolled into the radio station parking lot to sign in.
now, i've been on a few rides, but this one was extremely organized. From the entering of the parking lot to the, waiver, sign in and t-shirt line, all went smooth as a purring shift into the right gear at the right time.
We had 90 minutes till jiffys up, so we wandered around and found some Schog's.
thats rick, karen, sandy, bonnie, oj, cant' remember and Ron. just a few of the Schogs that wanted to enjoy and good ride and help a good cause. all the proceeds went to Bruce's favorite institution, the Boggy Creek Gang. http://www.boggycreek.org/2006/home.asp a truly good cause . Last year my Joey and i rode on another of their sponsered rides. 2thousand bikes at a 100 dollar buy in for a police escorted 60 miler to the camp. The most i've ever paid to ride my bike and the largest pack. today was supposed to be a 1000 bikes, but i dont even think there were 700. and as far as the police escort today. well, what the f, if i cant say what i think here, where can i say it. of course i've had a shot of brown wine and some budwiser to wash it down, but the fuzz today did a half ass job. but more on that later.
here is a pic of Shannon on the Real Bike at the front of the vip pack
here is a pic of the king himself Bruce Almighty on his custom Hog. we all laughed and commented "of course. if you were him wouldn't you? Look. he owns the largest harley shop in the world".
my only beef with him, besides crankcases full of jealousy, is his motto.
"It's the Destination."
in an effort to advertise "his" places of interest and spending. and we all know, and thats the reason we ride, is that "It's the Ride NOT the Destination" that is our golden rule. and here's this hog on a hog turning our love of the road into his dollars. now brucealmighty is a giver and donates mega dollars to his causes, but as you can see, he ain't lackin for grub on his table... tobecontinued. need some sleep because tomorrow is Dolas' 400 mile Ockeechobee run...

day 16

2006-05-07T17:06:00.000-04:00

"just a nice easy ride while it's cool this morning?" i tell Linda "OK? Dave and Barb are going?" and so todays adventure began. they rode over here and we all left to meet up with Ron and Marine Dave at the new Harley shop. It is after all right across the street from JZ's and the start of this trip. So around 11:20 ish we pull into JZ's lot and find some guys and the "RealRadio" bike already there. It's all about the advertising and if JZ's makes a deal with local radio and garners word of mouth for it, then good for them.
They seem like good people. We talked with Mrs J. after a tour of their spic and span, busy but clean and organized shop, and she said "Thanks. But it's a lot of work and money. Thank goodness we have the lawn maintenance business to make the real money while JZ's gets going. They are good hard working people and i think their dream will survive. Shannon said "alright. lets ride" finally around 11:55. we were already in our saddles and chompin at the bit to ride.
"I-4. I guess." when asked "which way big guy?" as so we were off. seemed like a lot more than 60 bikes. I was glad to be surrounded by Schog's. Riding with unknown riders in a freeway pack can be nerve wracking. Turns out, lots of riders in this pack know how to get out and stop cross traffic, no matter what color the cross traffic lights are. It's a tricky manuver, yes, but truly it is the bes way to get a pack thru town. The Schog's used to do that, but Mother Hog frowns heavily on that. A few cages wandered in and out of our peleton but all in all in was quite a rush to be in charge of the center lane in th center of a 60 bike 70mph rolling party down the florida super slab.
heere is some evidence of our safe, sound, thirsty and hungry arival at "Johnnies Fillin Station". Linda grabs a table as we re one of the first in the door after showing our comp. ticket from JZ's. They also gave us a comp for one adult beverage. Zalloooo.
Here is the ever bubbly one Shannon.
http://shannon.wtks.com/
he is a pip and a good guy. does his best to promote motorcycling and knows the best places for food, drink and motorcylce parking in town. This is our second ride with him and his crew, the first being Ms. Monster where we stopped in at the Parliment Houst to party, but that is a story for another time.

this is a great shot of Shannon having fun with his lovely and prego roommate. they seem to really enjoy each and life because of each other and that is all that counts.

the girls were lining up for their fun paint job and i'm sure they are going to have a fine party tonight, but it was time for us old folks to make room the wild ones. lol...
50 miles on the odo, but the 91 degrees knocked us out.
ridesafe...

day 15

2006-05-07T08:22:00.000-04:00

worked late thurs. nite due to both my staff having time off, how dare they? lol anyhoo i make it by 7pm to the monthly SCHOG meeting and here is some evidence.
I enjoy taking the windscreen off for short rides, 10 miles to the VFW. A lot of Ultra's in this club as you can see.

Da guys like to hang out by the front door before the official meeting whistle is blown. I've been coming to these meetings now for almost a year and a half and have gotten to know some of the characters. and so i must again say that all transcribed here stays here. it may be a pack of lies, it may be the gods honest truth, but it's a proven fact that there is no better way to piss off your friends than to start writing the truth about them. That's just a writer's cross to bear. I'd have to change my name and move far far freakin away. Also. I came to this space in computerville as a place to practice my wordsmithing with no editors. so that i can let the muses take over and let the fingers fly, ever so anxious to see what comes out. We need some good motorcycle novels. in fact what is your favorite motorcycle novel? Not many out there. Hmmm? well. i saw ChainSaw and told him "man, i've never seen anyone handle his bike so smoothly and to be taking pictures at the same time. I can't shoot with my left hand. How do you do that?" i had already figured out my questions since our last ride to the Winery and now seeing him at the meeting, i was ready. Turns out that it is a wild and full of tricks cruise control that allows him to shoot with his right hand. He went on with each and every detail of each and every button for each and every situation, first the left side, then the right side so fast that all i could do was shake my head and say "wow", every moment or so. i have only one pic of me riding and he took it. I told him "ya. man that is a great picture, thanks for taking it. Of course your good looking wife in the background with that wide motorcycle smile on her mug, didn't hurt the pic either." and we both laughed. he then flashed one of those far away looks as if his mouth was getting ready to say something he maybe shouldn't, but was going to anyhoo. "Ya, when she's happy she's smiling. And that is good, BUT when she isn't!" then, all the men standing around bobbled their heads with grunts of understanding completely.

karen, the dirty blonde just right of center,won the 200 dollar pot in the 50/50 tonight. a hurahh from the gang with the usual "Karen buys the beer tonight!" rumbled from the crowd. She is also a ChromeAngel and rides a Deluxe too.

another gooood meeting with all giving the best hurrahhh to Ron/Karen for their BikerBash...ooops my time window just closed...

day 14

2006-05-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

in an effort to get more regular, here are some more notes on my adventures in motorcycleworld.
It's friday afternoon and i just gotta ride, so it's a good excuse to putt down to Ace's on the river. Here is PeeWee who runs this place like a top. He is also part owner of Ground Zero the race team.
here is their link
http://www.groundzroracing.com/
PeeWee and OJ make a great team as you can see.
I am still waiting for one more braided throttle cable to come in. It has been back ordered again.

Then Sat. morning Linda and I ride back down to Aces', this time to give Roy, the leather man, another sketch of Larry's desired custom patch. and wowwie zowwie, roy shows us his new toy. It's computerized and "doesn't show up late or take breaks", roy proudly exclaims. He says he's not getting much else done, "I've got a seat over there for days i haven't touched, because i just want to watch this machine sew." I have Linda give roy the fianl colors and we double check the size requirements before leaving. he is such a good guy, i hope this new tool really helps him. There is no limit to what he can create now as a patch. In fact i've got to get to work on a "Z" idea. Hmmm? Hey what about a patch with the kinross gold symbol? why not?
On our way out i see this kid sanding down some bike fairing parts in the parking lot. I ask him if that was his car in the lot with the hot paint job. "Yes sir." he politely replys. Turns out he is Nick's boy. how proud Nick must be to have his son working with him. http://www.viciouscycles.org/

anyhoo,
here is one of Ace's Ace Mechanix, Mike. He is from boston and has the accent to prove it. Now i''ve not had such good luck with bostonions, but Mike is his own man and a good one. he loves what he does and does it well.now it is time to head south to the jaialai fronton to lay down some money on the Kentucky Derby. the race is in two and 1/2 hrs. I sure would like to come back here with some yahoooo stories. Of course i put 12 bucks on the long shot and linda picked the 8:5 boxed exacta. come on 16 i say, "would it spoil some all important plan?" we have a chuckle then head north to Beto's. Probably the best soul food joint i've ever been to. I think it may be the original Mexican music on constantly playing or the 5 pound burritoes for breakfast.
and so for now thats another installment of fun in lopezville for a hot saturday. tomorrow we plan to ride with Shannon from JZ's down to Johnnies Fillin' Station's big party. stay tuned...

day 13b

2006-05-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

so finally we all are together and saddle up to leave. and now for that lesson learned about leaving a good parking space. get to your bike, get on your bike and leave, all just as quickly as possible. While we were just getting in the saddle some cruiser bikes pulled up in front of us waiting to take over then a pack of choppers behind us. we let them hash it out and we headed east on a side street becasue Main was too packed. We finally meet up with the Schog's who were patiently waiting for us, and so now a pack of about 20 bikes all head east for Ron/Karens "BradyBikerBash. We had to turn off of 441 and wait for two lights for a police escorted funeral procession. a quick left then a quicker right and some of us got caught up in the procession. Hey, if it isn't a biker that understands and respects death then no one does. we ride with death daily. So, we roll past the Gator Harley, that has bikes parking two blocks away, and up the hill to the bash. I did not take a single pic, but here is a web site where some pics are.
http://www.seminolehog.com/2006_leesburg_brady_bash.htm

It was the best of times. karen/ron know how to throw a party. I'm just glad they are Schog's. Living in Leesburg, they could just as easily belong to lake county chapter, in fact the shop is just down the road from their home on the lake. Linda got a tour of the inside and just oooh'd and ahhhh'd all the way home. They had tents set up outside for the food and the tables for our hog butts. they also have a deck on their dock. It doesn't get any better than that. Mike, the last pres. and Dolla were the first one's i see as i round the corner to the back yard. I introduce Larry to some club members, like Leslie and tell him "once we all rode up to Gainsville and then Leslie here says " Well, guess i'm going to ride up to Georgia today."" She laughs upon remembering that day and said "Oh ya. that was a great ride. We spent the night and rode home the next day." Then a guy next to her says "Well, i remember riding all the way back from Sturgis, with her once. Yep, 2 thousand miles and 5 days." "Wow", my brother and I reply. I knew she liked to ride, but didn't know she liked it "that" much. It turns out that Mike and Eric are riding out west just before Sturgis this year also and supposedly they have a campground paid for and won't be using it. They are going early and will ride the Tetons and Yellowstone before the Rally, just like us. Then all the Sturgis tales started swirling. I'm quite amazed at how many Schog's are going this year. So, we ate, drank and talked motorcycles till 5 then said our thank you's and farewell's and ride safe's then saddled up for home. Strong head winds that day. with 129 on the finish odometer.

The End.

day 13a

2006-05-03T17:42:00.000-04:00

it was now time to visit the rest of main street. i ran into some shogs and found out that everyone was meeting up at the parking lot at 1:30 to ride up to Ron/Karen's. the schogs were parked in the "last parking lot on main street. next to a pink building." big dave tells me. larry's gang and i continue walking up main street going with the flow of what seemed like millions of people in leather, most with beards of one shape or another. it was around 80 degrees by now, but not bad. i lost the guys when i had to find a portopotty. What do those people do who man the cans when not manning the cans? thats one gig i just don't get. anyway i get cell phone calls that everyone is circling up back at our bikes. I learned a valuable lesson about leaving a good motorcycle parking spot. We were at the bikes getting organized, with hot leathers off and cool shirts on and goodies packed, etc. when bikes started lining up to zoom into our spots as we zoomed out. But wait, "we aren't leaving yet!" i holler out to the bikes holding up traffic waiting for us. i hate being rushed anyway, but we had one more couple walking back to wait for.
larry and i stood on the sidewalk watching the bikes and he and i decided that next year we would just be "standing on the corner, watching all the bikes go by" and save all that walking about seeing the same patches and pins that swamp every rally, because for me really its the bikes and the people watching that hypnotizes me at rallys. Each character and iron horse is one of a kind, all with one singular important trait and love. Riding, riding and then riding some more. altho the rats hole show was more than worth the walk.
Now, this is a bird of a different color. We do "fly" on our horses so yes, i see the bird analogy. Check out the winged tank and point on the birds bill. sorry i didn't get the foot pegs and jiffy stand in the shot, because they were birds legs and claws. I think that if you find a web site of leesburg bikefest pics, you'll surely find lots of shots of this bike.

day13

2006-04-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

finally the day arrived and here is a pic of your humble author and his lovey on Main St. in quiet, hahahaha not today, Leesburg, Florida. The traffic was so thick that while being stopped Linda gave the camera to Darlene next to us "take a picture of us, please " linda asks and then "ooooops. let me take my helmet off first." She looks fantastic with or without helmet to me, just as long as she is with me.

We had a grand ride out there after meeting up with Dan/Cheri and then Larry, Ronnie/Darlene, Doug, Bruce and one more couple at the 7/11 at 46a and airport blvd. in Sanford. I would like to add a map, but havent figured that one out yet. I passed out the maps i made up to the groupo and gave some pointers on the roads ahead as well as a review of signals and pack riding basics, just to make sure we are all on the same page. When riding with different groups its a must to be on the same page, especially when bound for a major rally. And now it is a major no doubt. We saw more motorcycles than ever before anywhere and it was only 10:30 am when we rolled onto Main Street.

Here we are giving you the Dixie Salute, before saddling up for our 67 mile jaunt thru the jungles of florida to Leesburg. Thats SS and Larrys custom nose to nose in front of the humans. It's 9:15am and we are 15 minutes late.

Here is doug on the left and Dan/Cheri on the right crusin' into old sleepy town Leesburg on this one saturday afternoon a year that motorcyles rule the day. doug owns a fleet of trucks and dan is a building contractor and most talented. He finally passed the driving test to get his motorcycle endorsement, so now Cheri is much more comfortable riding legally with him. He went ahead and spent the money he saved by not having to take the State School program, (280 bucks) and bought new tires, which his Honda was sorely in need of. my linda is taking the photos. Old SS gets a lot more attention and i get some good pics when my lovey putts with me.

Crusin east and still 4 blocks from the center of town. we are starting to look for a parking space, watching for someone saddling up to leave, but not too seriously yet. The rumble and roar of heavy metal is awesome and rising rapidly. The business parking lots on both sides of Main St. are slowly filling up with bike lovers. Unlike Daytona i don't see "5$ parking" signs all over the place. The signs did appear closer to town tho. In DB you'll not find an empty space, lawn, alley or lot without a "5$ bikes; 10$ car" signage.
Closer to the center of this belly of the beast and the roar of thousands of iron horses is music to my ears and making this adventure worth all the work.

ron/darlene and dan/cheri follow us into a perfect parking spot in the center of Main st. just one short block from the absolute center of this Rally. We unpack and the girls go quickly to shop and eat, while i head over to the RatHole Show with the guys. following are some of the eye candy we enjoyed that afternoon...

this next shot doesn't do this bike justice. It is named "DoinTime" and is by a local personality that we've ridden with for the Chrome Angels'Breast Awareness Ride. and you know how bikers appreciate breastesses. The builer is now a preacher and he performs the "blessings of the bikes" before the groupo departures. It has among the many custom features a sissy bar cross made out of prison bar, a night stick for the suicide shift lever and hand cuffs supporting the frame to the rear fender. and of course "Death Trap" was showing off today to the delight of OLD skool bikers.
Most skulls on a bike award goes to...

Now this paint design stopped us in our tracks. Not so detailed, but works. a real iron horse.
and of course the RealRadio bike was there for the raffle ticket option to own. Nick, down at Aces Shop has a biz called viscious cycles... //www.viciouscycles.org/
did the paint job. JayZRider is the shop that designed and built the bike. They are in a small warehouse that just happened to have the brand new Seminole Harley Dealership built a monster size outlet right across the street. I asked the JZ rep. how'd they like the new business and he gave me the victorious thumbs up sign along with the dollar signs twinkle in his eyes... to be continued

practice

2006-04-25T18:41:00.000-04:00

7:03pm. here and i've just finished my nightly news fix. I tell ya, your author is jumpin at the bit for Leesburg.
good web site also with a live web cam. http://209.208.13.215/home/homeJ.html
I did the pre ride yesterday. what a great excuse to get out and ride. 109 miles by the end of the day. Only one mile stretch with grooved, work in progress, roadway. And today i spent giving SS the loving wash job so overdue and deserved. Joey helped a little. For some reason the floor jack was a little more wobbley than usuall. So we reset it and of course i had to relearn how to work those confounded tie down mini wenches. Now some winches i like, but these, well. speaking of winches. Mine just came in and gave me a nice smackerooo. She's in an excellent mood because her mural is coming out better than anticipated.

I sent her out to the garage to snap an artstyfartsy pic of SS.So anyway, today was the wash job and tomorrow will be the wax job. I could get lost out there doing it all today, but then i'd have no time to scribble. and truthfully, i dig scribbling almost as much as i do puttin. In fact, it's sad to report that i took the cage all week to work this week, but yesterday's jaunt thru the jungle made up for it. Sometimes being off for a few days makes the subsequent adventure that much more superior.
We are meeting up with my brother and some of his hoods from brevard county. We've all been invited to Ron and Karen's Meet n Greet around 1ish. i'llbeback...

day12a

2006-04-23T17:24:00.000-04:00

It's 9:14am and my lovely and i have just road 67 miles west on highway 46, then south on the super slab 95 to meet up with these ruffians in Rockledge. My brother Larry, is on the far left, the only one with a Honda, but his friends have good taste. lol. Thats Bob, retired ex motorcycle cop from new england area and his riding buddy Dan. It''s grand to ride with Bob, his oneness with his bike when he's in the lead is a thing to behold. He has lots of good stories, once he told us that "Daytona is nice but it's not like it was in the old days. Things have calmed down." He told us of being on duty during Laconia riding four officers to a car all carrying ready to fire shotguns. "Oh ya, we had some long nights, back then." he calmy told us. Years since those days have had their affect on those adventures of his. Both Bob and Dan are active members of the 250 strong Space Coast HOG's that is sponsoring todays main course.
The Moving Wall Memorial. http://www.themovingwall.org/
It is a replica of the real thing in DC. But wowwie zowwie. There's controversy afoot. and maybe some events given some light. After reviewing their web page i find that the event i attended today is a "copy"... Yikes? What? Well, the info is all on their page so it must be true. Politics is one thing, but copywrite enfringement is another. Now, i'm most assuredly not here to say who or what is a copy. But i want to report the facts of the day as i saw them. In order if possible...
After leaving Rockledge we putt 10 miles north to Brevard Community College parking lot to find 2k bikers ready to pay tribute. Here is a good pic of Larry with his new air filter sparkling in the perfect florida sun, on his clean metric on the way to the bcc parking area. he tells me "for the toys-for-tots run we had 15k bikes last year and filled up the whole park". Todays crowd was the largest my lovely and i have ever been in.

day 11a

2006-04-23T16:52:00.000-04:00

It's 10:30am and we've arrived at the Ocala Shop. Thats Rick, the club historian on the left and i forget the name of the lovely shaded lady who "rides like a guy", I'm told that is the highest compliment one can give a lady rider. She likes to ride with Chopper Joe. What ever the case may be no one was in the mood to do the poker run. Rick said that if we were going to sign in to represent SCHOG, then we would have to pay the ride price. No one was in the mood to part with 15 that easily either. I was there with out my best copilot so i just wanted to ride, so off we went to breakfast... lol.

we slipped on up the road to a little home grown local joint where Sam knew everyone and they served us coffee on the sidewalk while waiting for table space for 12 hungry motorcycle lovin friends. Speaking of wash or ride. Here is BadAssBikerBrother Ron parking his ultra "just right". He just got it back form it's bi-annual "detail" job. "Ya. She takes her a q tip and gets up in all those impossible to reach areas. About 8-9 hrs. worth of time she says." he tells us proudly as we stand around just looking for a blemish, but see nothing but a "like new" finish staring back. and i think if you look real close at his center headlamp, it is smiling. It's happy to be so squeeky clean too...

day 11

2006-04-22T15:06:00.000-04:00

yaazzz sir. the SS is home and all is well, except it is in serious need of a good washing after sitting in the busy Ace's garage. This mornings club ride left at 7:30 am., so there has not been time to scrub it yet. you know. the usual question. To Wash or To Ride? That is the question. This picture is of your author and his beautiful bitch of 26 years in New Smyrna Beach, Florida for their monthly Bike Night. We clocked 180 miles by sunset that day.Soooo, at 5:45am the radio starts rockin and hey, it's show time.
Here we are at the first stop of the day, about 50 miles north. we have a sportster with a 2.3 gallon tank that needs a top off and actually we wanted to double check the map for our 90 mile quest to Ocala Haley.

Here is Johanna who of course rides her own sled and the lady that rides that thirsty sporster. You know that next year is the last year they'll make the Sportster? History is written.
Here are Chopper Joe and his good bud Sam checking out Sam's new exhaust system. It blows flames " 3 feet out the back. Haaa." Sam exclaims. "When they get up on and ride my ass. I BACK THEM OFF real quick!" he says confidently and with a slight smile. and here of course is the "in the mirror" shot. A small groupo, but good motorcycle lovin attitudes all 'round and that made it all good. more later...

day10

2006-04-18T18:06:00.000-04:00

another sad day here. old Snoop-Skoot is in Ace's Motorcycle Shop, but at least it's for "beautification" work and not "fixafication". I must write a hardy hail and welcome home to our wandering and now famous BikerDiaries and a huge thank you for the kind words on my scribble and dribble. You are my inspiration and have opened the door to so many writer/riders that truly my cup overflows. Yikes, it's late and time for the news then my Homeowner's ARC meeting. If these samll minded cage rats would ride a motorcylce then maybe the rest of the world would make sense to them and they would'nt be so mean, cheap, silly and small. I'll be back. also i've posted a new link to some more
bikerblogers. enjoy. ride safe...
brl

day 9

2006-04-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

And that Theresa turned out to be the friendliest person ever and welcomed me to the group showing my how to fill out the application. That first meeting i just stood in the doorway and observed. The room was abosoutely packed with men and women wearing leather, mostly vests with all the patches from various runs and making personal statements.Lots of DILIGAF's and what really caught my eye on the more well worn vests were the "in memoreom for" patches. The more of them signaled the longer the wearer had been in the club, i figured. Everyone hugged and laughed outloud, like they had been the best of budds for ever. It turned out they were getting ready for officer elections and the shop owner had just gotten back from the HOG State Rally, with a frown from Mother Hog. "Mother Hog"?? what da fuck? I was about to learn more of the real "family" of Harley.

day 8

2006-04-12T17:46:00.000-04:00

here is part of my story (lies?) This first pic is of the Snoop-Skoot in front of the old shop on 17-92 in Fern Park, Florida. That is where i wandered in November 2004 with enough cash finally to make my lifetime dream come true. I was going to buy my first harleyfreakindavidson. I walked up to my neighbor (Randy's) house last month when i saw him washing his Harley and drooled over it a while why introducing myself to him. I told him "you are one lucky man. to have a Harley". he agreed., Duh! Well, finally came my turn to stroll into the shop and be serious. I met Mark, could have been anyone, but glad it was Mark. he is sharp. "Look. I've got "X dollars", what can i have?" We discussed my riding level and wants. "i know a Harley when i hear one, and i want one thats black and sounds like a hog." We wander around the store, out back and finally up front and found her. Old Black Betty became her honest name, but thats a story for another day. "Sit on it!" Mark commanded, as if i needed the encouragement. "Start it up." he continued. She was a 2000 Super Glide Sport and Piano Black with 11k miles on her. When i finally worked thru my nervousness and got the key to the right position then pressed the starter, then screwed it on to let those vance/hines shorties roar. "I can see the smile in your eyes." commented Mark and he knew he had a sale. and the resst is another story. I started this piece with another issue in mind tho.
Old versus New. Now versus Then...I joined SCHOG and no that doesnt' stand for South Carolina Harley Owners Group, within the next couple of weeks. I didn';t know the shop paid for my national automatically and so i joined that too. I discovered later that membership in national is a requirement for membership in local. They meet on the first thursday of the month and here it was the first of Nov. so i drive because it's raining. The VFW in winter springs is their "clubhouse" and the parking lot if full, more of cars than bikes, but still lots of bikes. I walk right in while there are men milling about under the entrance awning smoking fat cigars and slappin each other on the back while laughing strongly. "Ah." "Real Bikers" i think to myself. What a freakin newbie i am. Being a newbie at 54 aint' rite. Rite? But right away i met Terri, Bob's wife and she made me feel right at home and took me around to introduce me to Theresa the current chapter secretary and i filled out the paperwork to become official.

day 7

2006-04-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

I like taking the inside track away from on coming traffic. Just a habit i've fallen into after being advised to do so by Linda. "If you want me to ride with you!" she explained seriously. I started out beside jamal and his silver street rod and rode the first leg behind a young lady on a black sportster. Out of 30 bikes there were maybe 10 ladies puttin their own way to salvation. And here is a pic of one of them. thats big dave c.'s bad ass biker wife, Barb. She's been riding
her own sled now for well over 9 months and is most competent on the road. Thats Ron/Venus' motorcycle in the forground. Those Ultra's are cruisin machines. We had clear skies, light breeze and almost83 degrees by 1 pm. We had travelled southwest out of seminole county over to Astatulla, Monteverd, Minneola, Clermont, Lake Louisa State Park, Zephyrvhills then finally just 17 miles from Tampa, we pull in to the shaded parking lot and it was kickstand down time. Most folks could not wait to saddle up to the feeding trough, because of the 3 hrs and the 120 miles or so putt to get there. it was surely pushing 90 by now, in fact three of the men took off their shirts and rode topeless. the one guy in front of me took his off while he was riding. he'd be going down the road at 45-50, reach around into his saddlebags and pull out a pack of cig's and fire it up while not missing a beat. the first i noticed his riding skills was when all of a sudden he was to my left in the oncoming lane and taking my picture while riding 40 plus mph. he'd zoom over when it was clear and snap away at the riders including his wifey, that woman on the black sportster. she took off her shirt to and just rode in a red sports bra type thingy on the freeway ride home. there were 4 of them not staying to eat either and so i followed them on I-4 till the took off around International Drive. i was home in80 minutes. the end odometer says 199 miles...

SCHOGs at the RanchBranch

2006-04-08T18:27:00.000-04:00

sat. morning 11:30ish am at the new shop, when can i stop calling it the new shop?, and about 28 members are ready to roll. we are getting our last minute directions and pack riding rules, from road capt'n Mark. we are leaving late because we are waiting for big Dave C. to get his ultra out of the service department. I've always had good to adequate service there but big dave didn't get that today. the shop had already installed parts and did it half assed and now when they had to do it right, they wanted to charge him again. "bullshit" his bad ass biking wife Barb said. She's a pip. she doesn't mind speaking up with her assessment of the situation.

and so finally we have to leave without dave, because service now tells him "it'll be another 30-40 minutes". Steve, who is the leader and designer of this ride, gives big dave the print out of the road by road agenda for the day and tips on how to catch up to us.
I'm lined up behind Ron and Venus...to be continued.

imagine

2006-04-08T09:22:00.000-04:00

ok, here is the word.
kt found this and it is worthy of thinking about...

http://thedreamride.blogspot.com/
truthfully, the idea just boggles the mind. It will take getting high profile public figures to front it and the participation of elected suits to truly become the event it could...

day 6

2006-04-07T16:51:00.000-04:00

ya, freaking hoooooo. it's Friday. pay the lady.

This pic. represents a real biker. You've read all the arguments over "what is a real biker"? enought to wear ones treads out, well, me too. here to me is a real biker. One who is loving riding. You can see it in their faces. Of course the fact that it was a day that had motorcycle written all over it helped. we were with the schog pack of about 17 bikes thru the backroads of Seminole County...

These men on choppers are new members and enjoyed the putt of 50ish miles to the Orlando Harley Shop for their Hogs for Paws Ride. I like the morning ride with the group and to earn my superschog point, but i was not interested in spending the day on Orlando's run, altho, yes its a good cause, there all good causes and its a day meant to ride, i really just wanted to ride home, so we got up with big dave c., his bad ass biker wife Barb, Road Capt'n Ron and his nurse wife, who just got her own bike and is now bad ass Venus...

more4206

2006-04-03T20:06:00.000-04:00

It's early sunday morning and while the new shop is not officially opened for the day, Linda and Venus help me set up a custom shot of the Snoop-Skoot (SS). It's a shot that i've worked on in my imagination, but when it came to actually shooting it, well, it lost some in the translation, but you get the idea. During working hours this front deck is loaded with motorcycles for sale. Now it's used to capture a moment in history. We, old Black Betty and i were there for the groundbreaking. Let me see if i can find the pic... oooops, dag nabit.rrrrrrrrrr. now the old pic is on top. ok, then. That was with big Mike from my new gang the Seminole County HOG's. I was standing around taking close up pics of the shovel, which is chrome of course, when the shop owner's wife comes up and asks if we want to take a picture breaking ground. "Duh!" i respond in my best motorcycle dialect and so big mike and i shoveled it and she shot it. Then of course the second pic is now 18 months later and selling motorcycles faster than they can get them in. Da Boss (Linda Ann, my superior wife of 22 years and bad ass biker bitch of these last two years) and i took SS over to the new shop this afternoon. I'm enhancing ss's look and needed to talk to corey english about some parts i bought and didn't get. he found a receipt, but with out the buttons on it, so i told him "thanks for checking man, but i've got one with them on it and so i'll be back tomorrow." i'm going to order the parts thru PeeWee at Ace's, but if i've already paid for them at Seminole, i might as well get them... now. can i write here with these new pics? this is such a test, but now i've worked in the html portion and moved some things around and somethings working, just not sure what...

4206

2006-04-02T16:25:00.000-04:00

april fools day was out of the way, it was a sunday morning that had "motorcycle" written alllllll over it, an the SCHOG's were ready to rumble...and so as 9ish am rolled around sunday morning with clear skies and almost 70 degrees already, away we went.