Sometimes I get on the Grinner and nothing really happens. I just don't get the thrill of riding. Yes, I feel the wind in my face, the power of Milwaukee Iron, even the flow of the road beneath my tires bringing me to nirvana…kinda. Yet the thrill, the energy just does not envelop me. I’ll feel refreshed, a little, yet not rejuvenated.

Yesterday was an example of this syndrome. I hopped on the bike and went to the places I wanted. However, I felt nothing extraordinary. It was more like a chore instead of a pleasure. The bike handled well, the roads were open enough for me to have a little fun, but I asked myself, “Why am I out here, what's the purpose of this ride?” I got home feeling better than when I had left, yet kinda unfulfilled. I felt like I had wasted a couple hours even though I had spent them riding. It was all good though—I got a really good night's sleep.

Today though, it was all paid up in full. The Runtyun was not feeling so well, but I asked her if she wanted to ride—to go anyhow. The couch was more important to her than riding on the back of the Grinner. I guess I can understand, she was sick with a sore throat and recovering from a night at the State Fair.

I went anyhow.

I had a plan too. There is a road I have been wondering about. I wanted to see where it was going to take me. Like so many avenues in life it went around and about taking me on a circuitous route back to the main road, yet going no place further than I started. I began to wonder if this ride was going to end the same was as yesterdays...satisfied yet unsatiated. 

I decided to stop at Dugan's Pub in Brevard and put some food in my gullet. Sometimes food will help to elevate my mood (something about low blood sugar levels). I left that place feeling the adventure ahead, and the road was my vehicle to an adrenaline rush.

To get home, I could go the straight forward  way which would take about 45 minutes, or I could go up the Blueridge Parkway and see what the foliage was like, not to mention I would take rt. 276 up there.

Now this access road to the Parkway, which is a dream for any one who has ever ridden a bike was in front of me, and waiting. It is about 5 or 6 miles long and when there are few cars on it the riding is FUN! 

It has been awhile since I have ridden my Sportster the way it was designed to go, but the waiting was over. on this ride she rode like a 14 years' midnight dream...fast and uncontrolled. It slipped into and out of curves and twits with the thrill of long awaited kisses.

The few four wheeled cages ahead of us slipped behind us like a hand caressing a discarded lovers behind. Cast away while looking for the next conquest.

I have ridden this road numerous times and have always enjoyed it…every single time. This time though may have been the best ever. Maybe it was the combination of the first time out, few cars and something I just cannot define...a feeling of unity with the bike…the road and maybe a feeling of satisfaction knowing I had finally gotten the bike going and roaring her satisfaction.

The bike slid into turns, and flew out. It pushed me back off the saddle leaving switchback turns, and pulled from the handle bars all the while breaking into the next. I was able to look around, a little, and enjoy the river and some waterfalls. Mostly though, I felt the wind in my face and saw the clouds and blue sky above…my destination.

As all things in life though, this part of the journey had to end. The entrance to the Parkway came alone a little sooner than I wanted. I knew it was inevitable though and accepted the end of this part of the journey. 

The Parkway is always beautiful even though I knew that the colors were not at peak. I really wanted to feel the flow of the nature and the road while enjoying whatever she had to offer. The open sky above and landscape below filled my eyes with beauty and grandeur only Mother Nature can create. The greens of the trees speckled with orange, yellow and the bright reds of maples filled part of my vision. While the deep blue sky and pure white cumulus clouds distracted me from the road ahead.

I quickly found it again though, the road that is, but cars began to slow me down. They were a mere flick of the throttle—away and gone. I began to let the excitement of the ride up here slip away. Above me was an eagle, or hawk, soaring. Another car slowed my progress, I pulled in the clutch and felt the momentum slide away. A tunnel ahead and the car and I flowed through it. 

A dropped gear and a flick of the wrist and the car was in my mirror…where it belonged. The Grinner knew where to go and I began to soar with the bird above.

Miles later, I came back to the Grinner, a grin on my face the likes of which rivaled the flaming sun. My friend, the hawk, had drifted away and I had to pay attention to the cars in front.

Bikes were going up up toward…Mount Pisgah I guess, and I wondered if they were going to the same magical place I had just been through.

olc

Aw Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was awesome! It started out with a laundry session and got better and better! Truly, this may sound weird, but it worked for me. Then I played around with some photos on the computer. Well, actually I tried to install and start using Lightroom. But I ran into some problems there, Not such a great thing, but it's OK. Then I went to a car show just down the road and got some really good pictures of a few cars.

Back home again, and a couple final touches on the Grinner. I wanted to use a jig to make sure the rear wheel was aligned properly. I did it withe a bent out of shape clothes hanger!  

And I wanted to have a look at some of the pics of the car show. I think with minimal work, there are some very good shots. One guy I talked with did his own pin-striping. I have one of his T-bird insignia with the pin-striping above it. Nice!

(A little later)

Yeah, there are some nice shots, I just worked on some of them. Have a look and check out my other shots at: http://thewonderinglenzofolc.blogspot.com

In my mind, I had planned on doing something with the Runtyun, but she had other plans, So I was free again tonight! The Grinner was sitting around looking lonely. Well, I just could not have that.

The Grinner and I skidded out of the gravel driveway soon after. I have tried to explain in many posts the thrill of riding, but they are merely words and words don't translate well into visceral emotions. In time and with more experience, I hope to do better.

When riding, I always look around at everything and see the expressions of other riders. A lot of the time their faces are hidden behind helmets so no one can see their emotions. However, many riders like to feel the wind, and eat bugs too. I see a lot of grimacing faces, yet I know that these people would not be riding if they were not getting some kind of fulfillment from it. Perhaps they are just experiencing the sour taste of the latest insect that got caught in their teeth!

During this ride, I could have ingested a whole swarm of angry Killer Honey Bees and the biggest grin I held would not have left my face. It has been a long road the Grinner and I have been down, to get to this point. The bike itself is in pretty good shape. It is just the accessories like tires and turning signals that have been causing bumps in the road.

The Grinner is an older bike and I am finally getting comfortable with it, but as with any custom anything, it is a work in progress. It is rolling now though. And the feel of power and control I get totally overruns the feeling of personal control lacking in my everyday life.

Riding out to Lake Lure on the back roads of Arden, Fletcher and Hendersonville may not sound like the most inspiring of rides. Yet, the familiarity of those roads makes them more fun to me. I know the course, when to slow for a sharp corner, how much to push for speed and when to just enjoy what is ahead. 

The pent up frustrations of life and work washed off my back in mere moments of starting the engine and feeling the bikes’ vibration and power. Even using the turning signal was a joy! The frustrations involved in getting the bike to working order took a moment longer, yet they washed away and flew into the wind like a huge wasp bouncing off the faceplate of a full helmet.

I stayed around The Tiki bar for a minute and then went to another place, the Straightaway Cafe, which is down the road a minute. The band, The Mutt, (I am still working on my skills with Photoshop, for pleas forgive the graininess of this image.)

was so good and animated the seat I was sitting on was dancing.

I had the company of a very nice lady to enjoy this moment with. Finally, I headed home exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I slept the sleep of a contented man, finally getting out of bed 2 hours later than usual, so well rested I felt that sleep would not be necessary for a very long time.

After getting up and having a cup, I started working some of the pictures from the day before. There are a few that are pretty nice. Go have a look at my photo blog: http://thewonderinglenzofolc.blogspot.com I'm working on more images all the time, so please have a look. More importantly, if you have any comments, even if they are merely comments in your brain, leave them on my site!

This past weekend has ended, but the memories and people I enjoyed, will last a long time.

olc

bikes, repairs and memories

It is funny how some things in life,  relatively minor in some cases, can over shadow one's whole outlook.

All of my life I have had a love of motorcycles and riding. My first vehicle was a Honda 175 Scrambler. It looked something like this:

 It set the tone of my life, or maybe it merely reflected the trend it was going toward. Is there a real difference? Back in the day, riding that bike was everything that freedom meant to a loner teenager. I never wanted to be a "Biker." I still don't understand why a hobby that professes individualism, one that celebrates the loner, seems to attract such tribalism. Nor did I really understand why those who rode in gangs found it so appealing. Back in those days of high school glory I liked to ride, ride to no where, I still do. As I got older, that love of riding only grew in intensity. I felt free, unencumbered. I could feel the world flying by. I had control of where I was going.

I played around with the engine on that bike a little, mostly just to see what would happen if I turned a screw here or there. Yet, I never really got into the guts, I never really saw myself as a mechanic. I just wanted to see what would happen.

Well four bikes and way too many years later, I now ride a Harley-Davidson Sportster. When I got on this bike for the first time, it was like the first time on that little Scrambler---the first time I knew how to really ride that thing, I mean.

I have been riding the Grinner for some time now and feel very comfortable on it, but like any high performance machine, even that old Honda, it needs to be maintained. I get to work on the Grinner in order to keep to on the road. Again with the whole mechanic thing getting in the way of riding. 

There are many guys and I suppose gals too, that enjoy working on their bikes I however, find it an impediment to the real reason for having a motorcycle...RIDING THE DARN THING!

Awhile ago, I decided to put new turning signals on the Grinner. Going to the local HD dealer I purchased a nice set to replace the old. They were on sale and seemed simple enough to replace. I got home and shit hit the fan just about from the start. Let's remember that I am a challenged back yard/shadetree mechanic on my best days---they are long past. I ended up having do a lot more than expected. Also, I suspect that I got the wrong part from the start. After two weeks and many calls back to the dealer, I finally got the rear signals working and got the bike put back together. But am still trying to figure out how to install the front.

Yes I did feel a certain sense of accomplishment in completing the task, but I still had the front ones to install and I had a nagging feeling that something was not right. I went on and cut the old signal cables anyhow and proceeded to figure out that the old mount was not compatible with the new equipment. It is a good thing that I did not cut the cables as close to as I could have...

I spliced the old signal back on and remounted it.

At least I was able to ride the grinner to the the shop. I'm Riding Again!

Again, I felt the thrill of riding a powerful machine. I have to admit it was a little muted, my exhilaration that is, by all the crap I had to go through to get to this point, but still...

Now I get to wait 'til Tuesday to figure out what we can do to fix this new issue. At least I can ride now. She is smooth and happy to run for me. The road ahead is long and full of adventure. Even now I feel the pent up frustration leaving, even though the Grinner still needs a little work, it is ready to go and find some fun.

Aw, the life on two wheels.

olc