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
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