This is the only "Topless" he saw

 

Leave it to a GM Retiree to find a motorcycle that looks like a Corvette.

126 days & Daytona

Must admit, I really wanted to go, but with all the weather patterns flying around yesterday just about had to be the day. Funny how close Daytona looks on a map and 166 miles doesn't sound like much when you compare it to 2600 miles so off I went. It really was a good day about 63 degrees to start the ride and 55 to finish it.
They have all the vendors in one place, in the side yard of Daytona Raceway-pretty cool all in itself. Went there for a sissy bar, in particular a J&P Cycle Sissy Bar. Would you believe they hadn't shown up yet? The Harley Spot wasn't even officially open but there was a near riot from the inmates about getting their pins, so they opened enough to do that.
There were probably at least six custom bike makers that would make you anything you wanted, a gear box mfg. doing changes while you waited, a food court worth killing for but very pricey. $4 for a bottle of water, I guess they thought everybody owned a Harley!
Well, shopped until I found there was no one going to give me the deal I wanted and left for the beach for some eye candy. I found lots of people but only one wet t-shirt contest and one young lass who had forgotten to dress completely, the no shirt no shoes rule had been compromised. There were, I'm thinking more Floridians were there than them crazy Yankees because there were way more coats & sweaters showing than the desired candy.
The thing to do is stay overnight, because as I was leaving town, a herd (many) of the "real" bikers were heading into town. I have a feeling things were going to heat up.
Surprised that when I got up this morning nothing hurt out of the ordinary and I didn't even use my sheep hide seat cover. Had a great time, learned more about Suzi and other than getting there a bit early enjoyed Daytona-it was a great day to ride!

There are places in this country where no snow exists

 

The roar of the engines; the glow of the shiny paint. Bike Week in Daytona. Thanks Jim; nice to see areas of the country where snow is non-existent.

Snow in Michigan in front of my house

 

128 more days and this stuff in front of my house will all be a memory. Actually it better melt before that because once we start riding the only ice I want to see is in my glass at the end of the day. If you look closely at the photo you will notice it is still snowing. Why didn't it get all this out of the way while I was in Africa?

For all you southern boys (even you transplants) this is how real men spend the winter.

129 days to the Ride

The snow just keeps piling up and my desire to escape it and go riding is reaching new heights. I never knew just how much I'm growing to despise winter. The local forecast is for 1-2 inches of the white crap each day for the foreseeable future.

I think I'll go survey my camping gear again and try on my new helmet; just so I can pretend that I'm riding. Now all I have to do is find a big fan to give me that wind in the face feeling.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I'm tired of this stuff.

Let's ride.

131 days to the Ride

So much for "harbingers of spring". We are now getting a winter storm that is predicted to give us up to 6 inches of new snow. All those guys who got to ride over the weekend will now have to put the bikes away. I've got to admit I was envious of those I saw out there.
On more of a planning note Ralph and I have been communicating what camping equipment we have and it looks like we're pretty well set for any nights we decide to sleep outside. Ralph seems to have just about anything we need for cooking and even has extra tents or is it a tent big enough to accomodate more than himself. If he gets Blue in there he better leave the food tied up in a tree or he'll think there's a bear in the tent when Blue gets one of his late night hunger pangs.

I spoke with our Air Force "rider" yesterday and he has dropped out of the trip. Roy, is having trouble with his legs and after taking a 400 mile round trip ride in Florida a few days ago he decided that he didn't want to take the chance of not being physically able to make it. I'm sorry he won't be going because he is a good friend, fellow RVN Vet and has plenty of stories of "derring do" to share with us. He's Air Force but he can give as well as take plenty of pings.

134 days to the Ride

Saw my first harbinger of spring today. Temps got into the low 40'sF today and I saw a guy out on a Rice Rocket. Still too many icy patches and snow for us "Harley" guys but I figure it's about 4 weeks until it comes out of storage and the final prep for the Ride begins. I've been surveying my gear and stacking it in a way that is representative of how it will fit on the bike. Still have a few things to get and then a few things to test. After that it is just counting down the days and practicing all the riding maneuvers that will get us safely out west and back home.
I heard from the Silent Service Motorcycle Club president and they held their monthly meeting and we are on the agenda for July. We should have a great time riding, and sharing NTINS, with them. I know many of them through the BBS and e-mail and it is going to be a real treat to meet them personally, especially Don Gentry. Don and I share a Detroit area heritage and a USS Cero SS 225 introduction to the submarine service. My lifelong dream trip to the west coast on a Harley, coupled with the opportunity to meet Don has been one of the key driving factors in all of this. I'm really getting the "itch" to saddle up and Ride.

139 days to the Ride

Starting to really get the itch to start the riding season. Temps have gone up into the 30's and the snow is starting to melt off the roads and lanes. Hard to believe that in about 4 weeks I'll be taking the bike out of storage, cleaning it up and heading off to some of my favorite roads to get in more practice. I'll also do some Interstate Highway riding to get a feel for how "cruise control" is going to work. Never used it before and I want to be comfortable with it before we head out west.
I've been watching the news and so far I haven't seen any reports of "two short bald guys getting arrested in Daytona". But, bike week isn't over yet so keep the coffee can out there to collect donations for bail money. When those two get together you never know what kind of mischief will occur. I'm still waiting to see that "sissy bar" that could only be obtained in Daytona.

Daytona & 143 days til the Big One

Soon it will be time for Bike Week In Daytona. Now there are those among you who may think that I will be a participant just because of the drinking and on occasion a semi or totally nude specimens of the opposite sex, but that just isn't true. I eat at Hooter's because of the delicious wings, I read Playboy because of the splendid articles within, when I enter an establishment that have young ladies without reservations that may dance upon your table, it is solely due to the fact that an excellent lunch is served & it's cheap. So the only reason Darlene is aware of for me to attend Bike Week is to pick up a sissy bar & luggage rack for Suzi. I have shown her the list of vendors that will be there and because I will be attending the event with a gentleman that used to be one of my assistant hockey coaches, who is also going for the explicit reason just to check out parts also. I guess I could take a camera and get some shots of all the parts, but not all of you are interested in front & rear ends, sissy bars, leathers & such - are you?

 

This photo is my nephew in Montana when he rode his Harley SuperGlide out there. He used to let me ride this bike and his trip and this bike is what rekindled the flame for me to finally get my own bike and make a similar ride.
Thanks, AJ.

144 days to the Ride

For some reason the number of days left seems significant. But, there really is a deeper reason for writing today. In the last 30 days I have lost 3 very close friends; all military, two I actually served with. All 3 had cancer. Why am I writing this on a blog that was designed to be fun? Because it reinforces for me the reason for bonding together to have an adventure that will live in our memories for the rest of our days. Too many times I have regretted not doing something that was important, or fun, or a little risky. Too many times I haven't taken the time to contact someone I hadn't talked to in a while and then learned they were gone forever. I've been dreaming of this trip for most of my life and in the last year it has taken on a life of it's own and the fact that it will be shared with each of you just makes it that more special. We'll have fun, we'll have laughs, we'll tell outrageous stories, we'll meet up with guys we have yakked with on the various BBS and we'll do something that others will enjoy reading about.
I always envied the guys who were able to make it to the BASH at the Ranch. I couldn't make it for a variety of reasons but Cowboy was kind enough to send me the video so I could experience it vicariously. When we meet up with Sue in Washougal it will feel like I finally made it to the party.
Call somebody you haven't spoken to in a while and find out how they're doing.
Be well, shipmates.
Doc

Rice for the Harleys

 

This is a photo of our USMC rider's "pseudo Harley" He is in for a big surprise when he learns that "Mountain" is not French for "flat lands and warm temps"

149 days to the Ride

Seems like Ralph and I are getting all our medical conditions fixed before we embark on our journey. My final (I hope) esophageal surgery is tomorrow and this one should be easy as they are just cleaning up the remnants left over from the first two. When this one heals up I'm good as new. I can taste those hot dogs and chili now.
Hey Ralph; make sure those quacks put all the parts back in the right spot; remember "the leg bone is connected to the hip bone, etc"
Don't worry about your voice changing; at your age it can only get better; and you can make Blue do all the heavy lifting.

152 days to the Ride

Tear another month off the calendar and whammo; it's February. Seems like only yesterday it was still 2009 and the ride was a long way off. I love "milestones" because it keeps my head into what we are planning to do and keeps me excited to get started. In about 6 weeks I'll be able to get the bike out of storage and do some practice riding again. I plan on putting another 1,000 miles on the bike before we go, getting the oil changed and any last minute adjustments done and then getting it packed for the big day.
There's not been updates from Ralph so I don't think he has finished scouting out the areas where we will stay/camp each night. But, I have faith that he will get it all done by the time we shove off.
The next five months of "anticipation" are going to be a combination of the shortest and longest I've ever spent.