Just so you know...

I have not died, fallen from the face of the earth or even abandoned my friends and family. I have been away looking for work, finding work, finding better work and then making as much time as possible for the wife and kids.

3 weeks and counting

Yes you read it right. Three weeks and counting until Peewee, Wooley, Billy, and I leave Greensboro for a ride lasting throughout the weekend. The Blistered Bottoms ride and camping trip will take us into and out of Virginia, Tennessee and of course North Carolina. In this inaugural year, I expect the road tripping to be very casual and informal. Much less organized than many big rides out there and that is at least part of the draw for me. It would be nice to see it turn into something bigger every year to a point but once you start having a large group of people things start to loose their intimacy. Comraderie and relaxation are the two biggest things this trip has the potential to give and I think as long as all major surprises are avoided we should find both of them.

Packing for the trip had already started many weeks ago but I had to unpack the tool roll to fix my generator. I still haven't decided what all to take but I do know both my saddle bags and my backpack will all be lined with plastic trash bags to ensure that all my clothes and belongings stay dry. As I repack the tool roll (ammo box really) I will inventory the tools with my checklist that I made the first time I did it. That way I don't leave out the one thing I will need should something go awry. I still need to acquire some sort of rain gear but finding something that won't melt to my pipes is proving to be a challenge. I think also I may just pack the clothing needed for the two days but throw in my sneakers in case the boots get a rain storm in them. Pants, T-shirts, socks, under garments will be the wardrobe I think since I want to be comfortable and T-shirts and jeans are where I live. I'm still considering throwing in a hoodie since we will be sleeping under the stars in the mountains even though it will be late June. Mountain weather, ya never know. The bed roll, sleeping bag or blanket? Probably the bag. If it gets cool I can get inside and if not I'll sleep on top of it. The pillow will probably not make the trip though. I can use my pack for that. Even though this trip will be about getting away, I still have to stay connected to the family because of the kids so the Blackberry will go as well. Good thing I installed that 12v power outlet under the seat.

Well that's enough dribble for now. 3 weeks and counting!!!!!

Stupid software incompatability issues

They say that computers are only as smart as the programmers. If that's true then the guy that wrote the software for this blog must be a "C" student. I finally figured out how to post comments again. For the last two weeks or more I just couldn't get my comments to post. I would type out what I wanted to say, hit post and it would just take me to the log in screen. I would log in again and the whole process would just start over. Well tonight, thanks to "Bacon" my daughter's pet Vietnamese potbellied pig, I had to sign back into my account instead of just clicking on the favorites link I had saved. Viola, I can now post comments. Apparently the "Remember me" option at sign in was causing a problem that was keeping the program from doing just that. Now if I could just remember my Photobucket password.

Q&A

Well for some reason I can't seem to respond to comments made on my blog.

So.....

Yes I fixed the generator. I just cleaned it up REAL good.

The motorcycle that you gave me the link to was one of three that were there. The only one not on a truck.

Yeah "Big Ticket" is a 77. If 35 years makes it antique then I can also be an "antique on an antique" LOL. 38 in December.

So Wooley, since we are doing Q&A, what is the confirmed head count on the ride now?

Some pics for the ones that missed it. (The Antique Motorcycles)

I didn't take many but here are the ones I did take. Don't ask 'cause I have no idea what they are now.

Here's a mid 60's Triumph you could ride home for $2500. (If you were completely clueless)

An old shovelhead with LOTS of moulding on the frame and tins. Kind of dated but still not a bad looking bike over all.

Sweet little BSA

U.S. Army Harleys

...and my favorite...

And "Big Ticket" just before I left and the rain started. Not quite an antique just yet but old enough.

What's in a name?

Shakespeare posed this question and though it has been repeated many time, how often do we really consider it?

What really is in a name? When I named my kids I had specific reasons for each of them. All of them different and all of them fitting, even now. I guess it could be luck that my children have somehow grown into the names they were given but it could be that my wife and I chose those names by some unspoken communication with our kids personalities, even before they were born. It depends on who you talk to I guess. Either way the names they have, now fit them the way they are. I couldn't imagine them being called anything else.

Anyway all that garbage was written to lead into this. I think I have finally decided on a name for my 77 Sportster. "Big Ticket". I chose that name because this thing is always costing me money or time, not that I mind it much but I have less money than time and here lately all she wants is money. So that's it, "Big Ticket" it is.

The powers that be.

Well the rapture didn't come this past weekend as predicted but there was some unexplained favors done. What really happened was the nut in Oakland is exactly that and I tore my generator apart AGAIN, and this time I took some 1500 grit sandpaper to the commutator to clean it up and then cleaned out the grooves real good so none of the copper dust or paper grit was stuck between them. Then I sprayed it all off with electrical contact cleaner and put it back together. Viola, it started working. Now if we can just keep things together at least until I get back from the BBR. 4 weeks, 3 days to go.

Oh and just for the record, the Rev. Camping says the rapture has now been rescheduled for Oct. 21st 2011.