Spent the week on Miami Beach. Is all of Miami a giant money sucking machine designed to rip off tourist?
March 2, 2010
January 26, 2010
Longer days
Today it was light until after 5:30 pm. I’m loving it. Spent the weekend at the coast, Naval resort in Pacific Beach. It rained, was cold and windy. Just the way I love it!
January 4, 2010
Starting the new year
Monday, 4 Jan. Most of my patients are still on leave. It was daylight when I left tonight. I love the sunlight. Los Angeles next week, sun, beaches and warm weather. I’m digging it.
December 27, 2009
New project
Time for a winter project. I scored a used Ohline shock for the airhead GS and after getting the bike up on the lift decided it needs to be stripped and cleaned. Time to build the bike for the trip to India.
Tonight, subframe off, making plans. More to come tomorrow.
December 13, 2009
Cold outside
It’s cold outside. For the first time in years I’m driving the truck to work. Need to shim the final drive and change the fluids and haven’t wanted to mess with it.
December 6, 2009
Back from Mexico
Arrived back from Mexico on Saturday night. I came back up on Hwy 93 from Tucson. It was cold, really cold. In Ely, NV it was -3 when I left the hotel. The speedometer broke on the bike from the cold. My nose froze and blistered. I’ve ridden in cold before, esp in Europe, but don’t remember ever being that cold before. I was wearing the Gerbing jacket which kept me at about 70 degrees then froze my arse off when I stopped.
I went down Baja to Santa Rosalia then ferried over to the mainland. I made Creel in two days and had the final drive fail 40 Km from Batopilas. I replaced the ring gear bearing on the side of the mountain, using a jet boil stove and a chisel to remove the old bearing. I only had 20-50 motor oil, but it made it to Batopilas. It was leaking when I got there, and I ended up getting a truck out of the canyons for $1600Mx (about 140.00 US$) back up to Creel. From Creel I trucked the bike to Hermosillo which is about 500 Km away to a trusted shop. We removed the seal and reinstalled it and I made it home.
Total milage was about 5200 by the GPS unit. 21 days on the road and I’m glad to be back at home. Having said that, I must admit I spent the day planning my next trip, shipping the Airhead to India next year.
Pics follow, more to come. See my location tags at spot: http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=183194
Report about changing the bearing here at ADVRIDER:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87214&page=16
Update 13 Dec, Wordpress isn’t liking the photos. I’ve tried to upload about a dozen times. Most of the pics are at the spot page.
I’ll keep working on it when I have the time to spare.
For Sale: 1981 R65. Runs great, new heads. approx 67k miles. $1200.00.
October 18, 2009
Copper Canyon
Arrival in Creel, Mexico
Ok, it’s official. Depart mid Nov, should make the canyon by the holiday. Weather is great too, according to noaa that area gets an average of 2.5 inches of rain durning November. I’ll be taking the pig.
If you are on Advrider, you’ll see my posts for a partner. Plng me back on GV if you’re interested in going.
October 10, 2009
Over a month!
Hello, did I really think I would be posting any more frequently? Over the past month I’ve been to Horizons Unlimited meeting in Northern Ca., and been to the showing of One Crazy Ride in Seattle. My current preoccupations are with my iphone tech stuff, and the new Meetup groups I’ve joined. Oh yes, the little guy too!
At Petrolia, I met up with RTW Doug after seeing him a few days before at the ADVRIDER meeting in Seattle.
While in Oregon, I met a traveler from Ireland, he went to HU meeting also.
September 8, 2009
Wait a minute, don’t I need one of them??
She wrenchs too!
Tanks on, ready to go.
Coming around the exit off Fort Lewis tonight I see a rider leaning against her bike on the I-5 ramp. Thumbs up, thumbs down. Down it was.
Last year, I dropped the pig on the interstate in Wyoming. It was mid afternoon, warm and sunny. I had stopped to check the GPS and a large gust from a semi knocked me over as I was stepping off. The bike slid down a small embankment with the tires sticking up in the air, pointing out to the road surface. Traffic was moderately heavy so I thought, I’ll drop the helmet and try to get someone to help me pick it up. No such luck. I waived at several pickup trucks, motioning for help, and they waived back.
Heck I think, am I the only one in the US who knows that a helmet on the ground is the international sign of distress??
After a few minutes I see a headlight of a large Honda Goldwing coming. He is one-up, slows a bit as I motion thumbs down. He waves, and leaves. WTF I think, then I see another bike coming at me. Same thing. Holy Cow, I’ve been riding daily for almost 35 years and I’ve never once left a bike rider down. But, here I am, two in a row, slow see the bike laying on the ground and take off. Over the next five minutes or so, I counted six bikes pass me by, all Goldwings and sports bikes. I started to unpack the bike hoping I could spin it and drag it down the hill to get it upright.
As I am pulling the top case off a truck stops. Out comes a tall bearded bloke wearing a torn Harley tee-shirt. He helps me right the bike, stays until I’ve started it and takes off . Thank-you, I say to him, and he says back, “I’d never leave a rider stranded.”
I don’t believe in leaving anyone stranded, not my children, not fellow Soldiers, not fellow riders.
About five minutes after I’m back on the road tonight it occurs to me. Wait a minute, didn’t she say she was an unemployed electrician? Don’t I need one of them to install the jetted tub and upgrade some duplexs?? Holy cow. I never asked you your name, but your mom’s got my number if you’re interested. Or click Google Voice below. And good luck with the job search. Doesn’t seem like electricians would be out of work too long.
Horizon Unlimited is having their gathering in Northern Calif Sept 24 to the 27th. I’m going. Hope to see you all there too. Mike, the guy riding the world on a ‘48 Harley pan-head is arriving from Japan on the 20th and will stay in Seattle for a few days, then head down for the HU meeting on his way to the Right Coast.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/California2009.php
I’m leaving mid day on the 24th and returning Sunday. Hope it rains all the way!
September 7, 2009
First post!
My girlfriend is a little stiff!
Highway 106, the elderly people crossing. Dana and I were returning from Vancouver Island August 21 through the 23rd. We had a great time, Dana decided to buy himself one of those “your GS is a piece of shit” beemers. Good luck with that! Remember BMW stands for Bring more wrenches!
Hey Bro, shipped your stuff back today, text on the tracking number.
Spot trip report here: www.tinyurl.com/mgdu20