As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my friend Greybeard calls time on a motorcycle “Two Wheeled Therapy.” Not sure that I was doing it correctly, he came all the way out to Arizona to conduct a one-on-one session. I borrowed Pastor’s Shadow, and he rode the BMW that he had originally given to his son (but recently swapped out with a Suzuki. Hmmm. You think maybe that was the reason for the trip? Naaaahhh ….)

Yesterday afternoon, after I had wrapped up my work, we met at the Flying J on the west side of Phoenix (I-10 and 67th Ave.). After the initial meeting-and-greeting, we got on the interstate and headed west, to exit 103 (or, as Greybeard puts it, “halfway to California”). We stopped at that station, so he could top off his tank, and we headed north, made a couple of jogs, and then started relaxing on a two-lane road winding it’s way through the desert south of Wickenburg. We actually ended up in Wickenburg, but not before getting to appreciate some great Arizona desert back country, a lot of cattle guards, and quite a few whoops through washes – the road didn’t bridge over the washes, it was paved right through them, normal for the area. We also saw a lot of fauna that he didn’t always get to see, being from back East and all. Saguaro, of course, Teddy Bear Cholla, Prickly Pear, Ocotillo, Mesquite, bunch grass, scrub pinyon, scrubbier oak. We stopped at the Burger King southeast of Wickenburg, he bought a round of sodas, and we just talked for a while. Since he retired a couple months ago, he’s just been relaxing, mostly.

We left Wickenburg and followed highway 60 to highway 74, and then rode east until it met up with I-17. We traveled south, and we parted ways at Bethany Homes Road.

Naturally, neither one of us remembered to take any pictures.

I gotta tell ya, the therapy session was very well received and I think I got a passing grade from The Master.

Chat ya later…

Thanks for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, and Wear Red on Fridays!

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This is the time of the year that we take a moment and pause to remember those who have expended their last breath in the defense of the Constitution of the United States. Traditionally on the 31st of May, it is held on the last Monday of May in order to make the last weekend of the month a three-day holiday.

If the People of the United States would stop right there, and simply remember the fallen, then the rest of this post would be superfluous.

Alas, that is not the case. Stores insist on “Celebrating” Memorial day by holding sales. Restaurants offer discounts for Veterans. Other inappropriate methods of celebration are displayed.

Veteran’s Day, in November, is the day to remember those of us who lived all the way through our enlistments. This weekend, Memorial Day, is to hold those who sacrificed themselves for this Country in our hearts and minds for a time of special remembrance.

Please, this weekend, stop while you are barbequing, or while sharing a time of friendship with others, or while spending time away from home, to thank God for the men and women of the Armed Forces who gave their all.

Blessed are those who have honored the check they wrote to the people, for the amount of “Up To and Including My Life” in the defense of our Constitution.

My friend Greybeard over at Pitchpull calls his time on a motorcycle “Two Wheel Therapy”. A long time ago, I used to ride often. I have had the opportunity to retune my chops on a street bike over the last four days, and I gotta tell ya that the phrase is truer now than before. It used to be a novelty transportation, something to bust out on the weekends. Using it to do my job yesterday and today, and getting used to it on Saturday and Sunday, woke something up inside me. I gotta get one of these for myself.

A big THANK YOU to my Pastor, Mike. He is letting me borrow his 750 Shadow to see if it will work for work. For the most part, it will. On the rare occasion that I have to carry a part to a job site, it may pose a problem. It’s not normally my job to take parts to a job site, but once in a while it’s been known to happen. Maybe a milk crate tied to the back rest …

The Road Rhino has been eating up a lot of the discretionary income lately. After the new distributor (computerized, thank you for asking) and finally (finally!) figuring out where all the water was going (not into the oil reservoir, in case you were guessing), it has come to a point where I’m looking at either sinking more money into it and hoping it lasts a while before having to sink MORE money into it, or cutting our losses now and biting the bullet to get another vehicle. (another besides a bike, I mean. that’s a given at this point. just finding the right one, at the right price is the question. if you happen to know of a sub-1000cc machine with most of the road gear already on it for under five grand, let me know)

At the same time, I’ve got to sell the Road Rhino. He’s been a good unit, but it’s time. Anyone interested, leave me a message. 205+ thousand miles and mostly trouble free. Needs to have a new water pump and timing chain. The leak that I’ve been chasing (and, as a result, ended up replacing everything BUT the water pump in the process, including the radiator and all the hosing) is in the water pump housing. The water pump covers the timing chain. Both should be done at the same time, according to the generally accepted wisdom around the cracker barrel.

I’m gonna miss the Rhino. But I’m not going to miss the mileage. (18 downhill out of gear with a stiff tailwind, 17 the rest of the time)

Chat ya later…

Thanks for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, and Wear Red on Fridays!

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