55 Degrees of Seperation

As you're probably realizing by now, I lead a very busy life. I have a full time job (that I'm actually working at again), I am going to college (perpetually chasing a better life. Hey, you're never too old to learn, right?), and I'm trying like hell to raise two boys in a positive lifestyle. Add to that, my wife wants to spend time with me for some reason (What's She thinking?). Just for the record, I bitch & whine about her a lot but it really says something that she's put up with all of my antics & shit for as long as she has. I should give her more credit for that.
ANYWAY, (sorry, I got off topic). The fact is, I usually only get time to myself for things like, oh, I don't know, Say, riding a Harley or writing a blog, for instance, Late at night or early in the morning, when everyone else is asleep. Sometimes my schedule gets even worse and it will take me some time to get back. Don't think I've forgotten ya'all, ok?
For these same reasons I try to combine things I have to do with things I want to do. It may be the only way to do what I want. For instance, I HAVE to go to work... at least until my career as a lottery winner takes off. I WANT to ride...(almost) anytime, anywhere., so when I got Kate, I bought saddlebags so I can haul my tools & stuff for work. Now I ride to work. This actually works out very well. Except this last week.
I was working at a Casino on a Native American reservation about 50 miles from my house. Every morning before work I get up & get online to check the weather at the job site. Monday through Wednesday, It looked very cold at that time of the morning, so I drove the car. When I got to work it felt much warmer than the temperature said it was and I ended up regretting not riding. Finally, on Thursday I looked at the temps. It said that at that zip code the temp was 54 degrees. NO PROBLEM!
Yeah, right.
The casino I work at is at the bottom of a canyon. That 54 degrees... yeah, that was at the top of the mountain. Had I looked at a few of the surrounding localities I would have found that the actual temperature at work was 37 bone chilling, finger frosting degrees. Holy Hell, I thought my fingers were going to fall off. It was about an hour after I got there before I could pick up my tools with any dexterity.
Granted, the temperature raised significantly before the day was done, to a high of about 92 degrees. Which provided a new problem.
Working in the desert, I filled the free space in my saddlebag with a small lunch (A protein bar & a banana), and bottled water. I did not save room for my vest, and if I had, I wouldn't have had room for my leather jacket for the ride home. So, for the ride home I went to the opposite extreme and wore my leather jacket, with the vents open (I'm not STUPID) and the sleeves sticking to my arms from the mixture of sweat & sunscreen (I think I've discovered the formula for superglue!).
But, you know what? I loved every second of the ride, both ways. There are very few things that can take a person's mind off of southern California traffic, But the ride, combined with the pinpoint focus brought on by extreme temperatures managed to make the traffic disappear. Although on the ride home, I saw something that set my mind to wandering, So, I had to share.
Vacation Anyone?
Please forgive the picture quality, I took this with my cell phone & I couldn't really see the screen due to the glare of the sunlight.
This place is just about a mile down the road from th Casino.
And, For the record, No, I did not climb the wall to look inside. (I've already been asked). I would be afraid to. I know the thoughts that come to mind feature beautiful young naked women playing volleyball (or tennis according to the sign... Hmmm. Don't trip...) but the fantasy is probably better than the actuality, so, I'll just hang on to the mental images & not take the risk.
What do you think?

Oh, and for the record, I drove the car on Friday... I'll make it up to Kate by giving her a bath & taking her for a ride to buy a new cover... Does anyone else ever feel guilty for not riding or taking care of their bike as often as they should?

In The Rain... In The Dark...

This week has been a blur. I went to work every day (not complaining) in fact this is the first week since Feb 11 That that has been the case. Monday & Tuesday, I was working right down the street from my house. On Wednesday, I was switched to a job site 50 miles away. I had already arranged to leave work early that day for an appointment in West LA (more about that when it is approved for release), So I decided that the only way I was going to make it from that far away was to ride Kate to work. Great, like I need an excuse, right?
Well, overnight Tuesday, it was raining...or at least what passes for raining in southern California. And work started at 6:30 am so I was leaving my house at about 4:30 to make sure I got there on time, grumbling the whole time about riding in the rain, in the dark.
I got pretty lucky and didn't run into any real rain... in fact , in the whole 51.5 mile trip, I only hit a couple of small patches of sprinkling... but for my glasses that's worse. The drops were very small, like a mist and there was a lot of sediment in the rain so that even small drops did a horrible number on getting Kate and my glasses dirty. Ever tried to ride with water spots on your glasses?
Then later in the morning it started raining again, while I was at work. All I could do was work & watch as Kate stood helpless against the water in the parking lot. You should see her now. I swear, she looks polka-dotted. Unfortunately, I don't have time to clean her... or to ride her, today.
The ride home was cool, I tried a different route that some coworkers were swearing was shorter. It was different, and it was very windy, lots of open valleys for the wind to pick up some speed in, but distance actually turned out to be about the same or maybe a little longer.
My wife & kids come home, tomorrow & I'm trying to earn a few points by getting some rather undesirable work done around the house before they get back (Joker, I may be calling on you for some technical advice). I'm hoping I can wrap it up early & break out for a scoot, it really looks to be a beautiful day & the forecast is calling for major heat.
Well, I better get started ... Wish me luck.
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Thanks to all of you for your encouragement on my content warning post. Granted I don't have anything very revealing to post, right now, but at some point I may. That actually came about because someone who read it asked if my readers knew how much of a pro-vert I am, so I figured I'd better tell you for purposes of disclosure.
I was, however, reminded that when I wrote that I really like boobies, I may have used a term that some might take an exception to. So in the interest of making sure everyone understands what I meant, I give you this...



I hope this clears up any misunderstanding on this issue.

I'll catch you on the road...

House Keeping And Other Mindless Jabber.

First off, My New template. A friend of mine found the template on Finalsense.com, And then changed the code so that the background color of the boxes would be black, then she edited the photo & put it in the code. A massive thanks goes out to her. I hope you all like it, as I think it fits the theme of the site better.
Second. I wanted to make clear that there may come a time when this site will have some range of adult content. I like Women, I really like boobies, I say "Fuck", occasionally I even say "cunt" but only in the good way. This is just who I am, take it or leave it.
It won't happen a lot, but from time to time I will probably post photos of women in various states of undress. I'm telling you now, so it doesn't come as a shock when it happens. I know I have a fair amount of Good Christian readers and I don't want to offend any. God knows, I have a great respect for those who find their faith, but I don't want anyone to think I'm something I'm not.
I'm not saying this will ever be an adult site, quite the opposite, it will forever be a Biker Blog. That's why there is no adult content warning. But most of the bikers I know like women (even the female bikers) and I hope when they run across someone special they'll share with us, so they may show up here.

That having been said...

I'm on my own for the next week. My wife and children are out of town for spring break. I dropped them off at the airport before work on Friday, and I'll pick them up next Sunday. In the mean time, I"M FREE! ! ! !
After work on Friday, I went for a short ride. I had some errands to run and I needed food. Dropped by a couple of old hang-outs to see if anyone I know was still there. Nope.
That's ok, I went for a little night ride... Just putted around for a bit before coming home for sleep.
Saturday, I got up & had some coffee, then went to San Diego H-D's Parking lot sale/ Party. Just like Ebay, it was hit and miss. I'm looking for a new set of sheet metal for Kate, So I can get a custom paint job without losing her too long. No luck. I did sit on an Ultra Classic. I can see why the Old guys like them so much lol. I think I'll get one when I grow up. It can be Kate's playmate.
The food was decent, the music was good. But alas, no parts I couldn't live without, so I got back on the road.
Again, I didn't really go anywhere special, But knowing I didn't have a curfew or anything pressing to come home to made it a very relaxing ride. Even when splitting lanes in SoCal traffic (Makes my ass pucker every time!)
Now, I'm just sitting here, slowly waking up... Looking at the house that I should probably be cleaning up, But I'll probably wait until next Saturday. It's not that bad, and I'm the only one here, so it won't get much worse... Especially if I'm not here much... Maybe I should go for a ride so I don't make any messes... Yeah, That's a plan!
Ride safe Folks, I'll catch you on the road...