I bought my first street bike in 1988. I rode it cross country till it finally gave out in 1994. Bought a wrecked bike, swapped the engine and rode till 1998. From 1998 to 2006 I was without a bike. Now again, I’m without a ride.
Bike is in the shop. A cam bearing failed and sucked through the engine. Need new pistons, Oil pump, cylinder bored and other things. My friend Jerry Fishel at vicious Cycles is doing a good job. I don’t trust many mechanics, but jerry is a good man. I trust him. Gimme 4 weeks and I’ll be back on the road when the temperatures start to turn again. By the time I break her in, I’ll be touring again on a rebuilt engine.
Street Glide on the rack.
Just a note to my friends and family. I get that this isn’t life and death situation, its not even close. But I’ve got good friends and family. My brother Pat offered his trailer to get me home, and let me ride his bike to get to work. My brother Mike offered his bike to let me ride, as well as a new twin cam 88 in his garage for free. I’ve had calls from my BACA president, friends and others who have called me offering help and suggestions. I’ll get this figured out, and its going to cost me alot of money I don’t have, but your friendship to me is priceless. Thank you for offering your help. I’m a rich man that way.
Its been cold for the desert. More cold than i’m used to, or want.
Not cold enough to ride to vegas to finish my tattoo tho. It was 33 degrees this morning when I left, and thermals and a few extra layers were more than enough. It was nice riding. It was actually perfect. On the road again, heading toward my goal. I found that riding in freezing temperatures, riding was no big deal. In fact, it was pretty damn nice. Its alot better than NOT riding.
then around the border I noticed I had low oil pressure. not long afterward, I noticed I had a problem pulling hills. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed that I was blowing smoke 2 lanes wide. My heart sunk as I pulled over, just a little past mesquite.
As I pulled over, my bike made a few knock noises but to be honest I don’t know what they are or mean. My mind was in other places. I knew I had a problem and my mind was in other places. This is the first time the street glide has let me down. It’s not a good feeling.
I sat on the side of the freeway for a minute and weighed my situation. I called Robyn and told her to bring my brother Pat’s trailer who luckily left it in front of my house. I noticed a little oil on my floorboard, then looked down at my chaps and noticed it was covered in oil.
The Street Glide is blowing oil.
I got off the bike, and made the call to robyn, then to SHOTs, who is my good friend and BACA president. I woke him up, but he rushed out to help me out. Thats how Shots is. He is a good, good friend and a great guy. So is my wife. She is not afraid of doing what she has to do.
I sat by the side of the freeway, and realized the street glide was sick. she only has 40,000 miles but for the first time had let me down. I contemplated repair, engine swapping and a new bike. I can’t fail her, I’ve got to get her fixed. Problem is, I have no money. I also can’t let that get in my way. I’m resourceful when I need to be. this is one of those times.
She’s in a trailer now, and my friend who’s also a certified harley mechanic is out of town till after christmas. When he gets back, I’ll tow her up to his shop, split her open and see what the damage is. I’ve got a few ideas, and my worse fear is that the oil pump went out and sucked metal through my engine and my top end is out. Had a few BACA brothers tell me it could be as simple as the oil pump, but I have my doubts as I was blowing oil out the exhaust as well as the intake. That to me sounds like bad rings or a bad valve. I hope i’m wrong, and I got a cheaper education about v twin engines than I’d like to have.
I gotta tell you, I’m really bummed about it. I’m trying to be optimistic and tell myself that if theres any time to be without a bike, its in the coldest part of the winter. Right now I don’t have any money, and all I know is, no matter what, I can’t and WONT be without a bike.
My brother Pat immediately told me I could ride his bike, followed by my brother Mike who said the same thing. Both are in the garage. Both are extremely generous gestures by 2 men who love riding and it keeps me in the game for a couple of months until I get the street glide back on track. I gotta get her back on the road. Pat, if you’re reading this, thank you for being not only my brother, but my friend. I’ll whip her into shape and we’ll be cruising some old desolate route 66 road in may for sure. In the meantime, thanks for letting me ride your bike. I’ll take care of her like she was my own.
If this isn’t one of the best songs ever, I don’t know what is.
You say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don’t understand
You said you loved me and that’s a fact
and then you left me, said you felt trapped
Well some things you can’t explain away
But the heartache’s in me till this day
CHORUS
You didn’t you stand by me
No, not at all
You didn’t stand by me
No way
All the times
When we were close
I’ll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I can’t be happy without you round
So alone I keep the wolves at bay
and there is only one thing that I can say
CHORUS
You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Now I got a job
But it don’t pay
I need new clothes
I need somewhere to stay
But without all of these things I can do
But without your love I won’t make it through
But you don’t understand my point of view
I suppose there’s nothing I can do
CHORUS X 2
You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me
Did you stand by me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
man, I’m not ready for winter. it was 20 degrees this morning when I woke up. I’m having visions of riding, but I’m not doing long trips in this crap. I hate winters. I need to move to Phoenix.
Lots has happened here in our chapter the last few months. I got nominated and elected for VP of our B.A.C.A. Chapter here, and I’m excited for the next 2 years. I trust my president. He always seems to make the best decisions and will err on the side of the kids. He’s ambitious, and doesnt have a huge ego. the next 2 years might be epic. I keep thinking I need to enjoy them, roll up my sleeves and get to work, because they may be my best 2 years in BACA.
In fact, my whole chapter is awesome. from the supporters to the long timers, we have strength here. Everyone pitches in. Everyone is about these kids. Everyone is together. I’m no fool, I know thats a rare thing in ANY organization. We have the ability to do whatever we need to do. You can’t run faster than you have strength, and our chapter is strong.
Phoenix will have to wait. I love everything…. EVERYTHING about Arizona, but there’s work here to do now.
We’re having our christmas party this saturday for our BACA kids. These kids need us.
Man, it’s snowing outside. These are the worst times for a guy who rides. I’m going to power it out and ride my bike to work in the morning very carefully, and by the afternoon I’m hoping the snow melts because I can’t take not riding for another day. I pussed out this morning and Robyn took me to work in the rain. I shoulda rode.
I’m planning my spring run. Next spring, like I did last year, I’m going to take a run to glenrio texas and sleep amidst the abandoned gas stations, hotels with the freeway an 1/8 of a mile away. Ill pull up tired, take the bungee chords off of my tour pak that hold my bed roll, get situated, have a nip of 12 year old scotch, and stare at the stars. I’ll think about the day before, my life ahead, and wonder what my wife and kids are doing. I’ll find my place in the universe, and it’ll be rock solid, yet again. I’ll sleep in my sleeping bag, with a loaded gun under my pillow, because I won’t risk my place in the universe and getting home to my family. In the morning, ill stir a bit, wonder where I’m going to get a cup of coffee and see what I hadn’t seen the night before because of the cover of night. I’ll walk around, fully realizing that Ive got to make 500 miles that day to make it home in 2 days. I’ll take a bunch of pictures, wishing I’d had made it closer to adrian texas, and miss things that 10 miles down the road will make me realize I’ll have to come this way again.
I’ll head the 41 miles into Tucumcari, knowing I’ve got a full day to make 500 miles, and eat breakfast. I’ll check out the blue swallow motel, stop and take some pictures and maybe even say hello to the proprietors, and shoot the bull about route 66 and try and get a feeling how hard it is to turn a dollar on a historic route, and wishing I was them. I won’t care so much, how many miles I’ll make that day. After all, it will be saturday, and I’ll know that push comes to shove I can Iron butt it back to utah. I won’t let anything get in the way of this perfect saturday. It Will be perfect.
I’ll ride through santa Rosa NM, looking for the places I’ve seen in books a hundred times before. Clines Corners. Moriarty, looking for a gem, because I’d crammed for this test days before. I’ll more than likely bypass Albuqurque to make time, and yet again take alternate routes through Grants and Thoreau, looking for places that have been ignored, and wondering about how they relate to me. Ill love this section of route. It’ll be colder that I want, and I won’t care. I’m seeing places that I’m passionate about and that I know only a few care about.
Ill spend the night in Holbrook KOA because its familar, and because I know that I can be home by 3PM sunday.
I can’t wait to go.
I just checked, its still snowing outside. WTF, I don’t want to wait that long
Season Finale tonight. Fridge is full of beer, and my bro’s from my chapter are en route. Love the show, and love the guys I ride with. I’ve been involved with my failr share of social groups and had more than a few good friends in my life, but nothing like B.A.C.A., and especially my chapter.
Since I discovered facebook, its had my attention. I think I’ve been a bit addicted to it, but it’s not nearly as thought provoking as dumping my thoughts into this blog. I think it’s time to choke back on Facebook, and take some time to post more here. Thats my thoughts anyway. lets see how it turns out.
Thanksgiving this year was pretty good. We met up with robyns family in Ogden, met up with my family in provo, and had some good times in between. Went to the shooting star saloon with my father in law and brother, and later went to Hal Hudsons, an old friend of my brother and had a great time. I’m not going to go into the details of any of these things, because it was more than likely the same type of thanksgiving you had with your family: Reuniting with family, eating turkey, and enjoying old company. You have yours, and I have mine.
Fuckit. I’m just going to make bullet points:
Was great to see my 3 year old nephew who only a few weeks ago was diagnosed with cancer. He’s gonna beat it. Thats my official call. He’s going to live a long and prosperous life, and his malady is going to bring his whole family together and they’ll be stronger because of it. He’s going to learn to drive a car, have his first date, get married to a beautiful girl someday and die in his sleep at 93 years of age with his loved ones around him.
My father in law telling me that my older brother was a “good role model for me”. While I don’t disagree that my brother is a stud and a fine example to anyone, I’m still scratching my head about that one. Truth be told, i’m in no way looking for a role model at 42 years of age.
The shooting star saloon with my father in law is a fine tradition. we’re on year 2.
Hal Hudsons garage is the coolest place I’ve seen short of the snow cap drive in on route 66. He upped the ante with that one.
My wife, as always, is the shit.
I ate like crazy all weekend and monday morning, actually lost 1 pound. go figure.
Glad thanksgiving is over. Time to get back to work.
Riding my bike after 4 days of not riding was pretty sweet. Longest I’ve gone for a year or more.
Dont you feel it growin, day by day
People gettin ready for the news
Some are happy, some are sad
Oh, we got to let the music play
What the people need
Is a way to make em smile
It aint so hard to do if you know how
Gotta get a message
Get it on through
Oh now mama, dont you ask me why
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time
Well I know, you know better
Everything I say
Meet me in the country for a day
Well be happy
And well dance
Oh, were gonna dance our blues away
And if Im feelin good to you
And youre feelin good to me
There aint nothin we cant do or say
Feelin good, feeling fine
Oh, baby, let the music play
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time
Like a lazy flowing river
Surrounding castles in the sky
And the crowd is growing bigger
Listnin for the happy sounds
And I got to let them fly
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time
