I’m countin’ on you, to carry me through…

I love this song.     I have past memories, and future plans to listen to this as I wake up on the side of the road, find me some coffee as I shake the dew off my tent and look at a map at 7:30 in the morning.     Feeling the effects of a pint of somethin’ something’ I bought in a town 200 miles away, but looking forward to a new day of riding.   I’ll load that tent, roll up my sleeping bag that will serve as my back rest for the next 600 miles today, turn on my ignition and wonder what the song is in my stereo.    I’ll start my bike, turn down the volume from the night before, and point my bike toward a gas station since I’m in a town with gas and I’m not sure if the next town has any.   Once I’m out of town, I’ll tab down on my hand controls to find this song and realize how free I am today.     I’ll probably leave that town hungry, with the ambition to make miles today, and the expectation to find a diner or a 7-11 to find lunch at.   Hell, to be honest, I don’t know, and that’s what makes a good ride.

“Gimme the beat boys to free my soul, I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away”

You may or may not know the feeling.   I know I do.   It’s the feeling of adventure.   The feeling of  whats over the next rise, of riding the bike that you love across vast territory of nothing to hit the next town to find a gem of something good that will make you wonder.  To me, living in the openness of the west, that’s why I ride.   this song seems to hit that for me.

I have my daughters birthday this weekend.   I also have a B.A.C.A. car show I’ve done three times now this weekend.   I’ll do both, because I love both, but next weekend, I’m pointing my bike somewhere.   I gotta get lost in that rock and roll and drift away.   I gotta.

Day after day I’m more confused So I look for the light in the pouring rain You know that’s a game that I hate to lose I’m feelin’ the strain, ain’t it a shame

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away Beginning to think that I’m wastin’ time I don’t understand the things I do The world outside looks so unkind I’m countin’ on you to carry me through And when my mind is free You know a melody can move me And when I’m feelin’ blue The guitar’s comin’ through to soothe me Thanks for the joy that you’ve given me I want you to know I believe in your song Rhythm and rhyme and harmony You help me along makin’ me strong

Today, I had 12,000 hits on the MrZip66 blog. Kind of cool. Harley-Davidson featured me on their facebook page. Right on! I hope you guys ride the easy rider route and fill in my gaps.

So I’m moving this weekend. Next weekend is my daughters birthday. That means, in 3 weeks, if all goes right, I can get out into the wind, the open road, and get the hell out of dodge. I so need it. Looking forward to the first good ride since I rebuilt the street glide. I trust this engine. She’s got all new insides, but her heart is the same. She wants to ride, just like me. She wants to tour. She wants to see more. This is a good bike.

Had a good day today. B.A.C.A. brought back my mojo. Went to court with some of my brothers to help out a step mom and her daughter to support her abused daughter. The mother was visibly shaken as she asked me and my friends to escort her to her car, because her perp has been threatening her. I love these situations. I’ll walk that line, and so will my bros. I explained our mission, that will do WHATEVER it takes to keep her daughter safe. we mean it.

It brought back my fire. My fire, is that I’m a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse. Someone commented on my patch today, saying “who is against child abuse?”. I told him, “yeah, camp out in front of a scared kids house at 3 in the morning, go to court with scared kids and do it all the time and its more than just a statement patch”.

Don’t underestimate what we can, and will do.

We’re a sheild, not a sword. Make no mistake though: We will do whatever it takes. It’s your call perp. Like my tattoo says: Don’t tread on me. It’s all about the kids.

This is my road music for 2010.

Riding means different things to different people.    There’s no right or wrong in riding.   100 miles to some, means 1000 miles to another.

• Waking up in the morning, to see your bike is still outside your motel room.  She’s ready to do some miles today, like an old friend.
• The smell of a pasture as you ride by it, knowing its different, and that its going to pass quickly.
• the chill of morning, knowing it will  warm up every mile.
• The evening phone calls to your loved ones.   Needing to know they are safe, but knowing you’ll come back to them a better man.
• The breaks out in the middle of nowhere.
• Driving through main streets of towns that have known better, but pride keeps them rolling on.
• The exploration of new roads, sometimes determined at intersections.
• sitting on your bike at midnight, hearing the world rushing by in distant cars, with your bedroll laid out 10 feet away.
• Sitting on your haunches with a map in your hand, while a biker you don’t even know pulls up and asks if you need help, and means it.
• seeing a B.A.C.A. patch of a chapter member you don’t even know, In a town you’ve never been to.   Knowing you’re doing your part.
• Wondering if you’ll make it home by sunday night, 800 miles away and still riding.
• The worries of your life that are all yours, melting away and knowing it.

I can’t wait for what 2010 is gonna bring to me on my bike.

I’m not doing much.   Mostly going to work and buzzing around town being conscious of my new engine and varying my speeds and RPM to break her in, but Damn… It feels so good to be riding again.     Riding a bike is part of me.

Took some pictures while waiting for robyn today on the side of the road.

Ok, here’s my report.

Small grips do not suck.  Granted, I was born with fat digits more designed to grip backhoe levers and rip out tree stumps rather than do detailed work like build watches, or play operation: the wacky doctors game.     I ain’t bitching.     That being said, I like the smaller grips.  It makes a touring bike seem more nimble and precise.   It’s the comfort of a street glide, with the grips of a sportster.   I vote yes.

Hey, that reminds me of a joke.

Q: Do you know what you call a lesbian with fat fingers?

A:  “well hung”

Ok, who cares.   I’m starting to think now tho, that maybe I won’t do texas next weekend.  I may ride to bisbee, and the OK Corral.   I think perhaps an Arizona trip is in order.    I so love AZ, and i’ve never been to to those places.

Anyone wanna go ride with me to the OK Corral?