Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wrestling with Disability.
My plans keep getting put on hold as I haven't been out of my house since last Saturday. Not really, I mean I've rambled around the courtyard and down the patio, been to the garage, I even managed to mount the lowers on the Ural a few nights ago in prep for an intended trip to SJ to deliver some books for Kyle D to his brother Ian. Never made it. I have either been wracked with pain or asleep. I was supposed to meet up with Ian on Wed, then Thur, then Friday... all fell through, basically stood him up 2 out of 3 times because I was unconscious the first and last time.
What drives me crazy about this is there was a time when if I said I was going to be someplace, I got their 15 minutes early every damned time. I haven't quite grown accustomed to the idea that I can now commit to something and then twenty minutes before leaving my body will crash and I'll be out for the count.
You'd think this would be something I'd be used to. I spent a year in bed when I was 19 or 20. I spent last year in bed. I have lost the use of my legs (twice in the past for about a week each time). I've crashed physically more times than I can count. Even still... I find this whole experience incredibly frustrating.
How does one grow accustomed to the idea, to the realization that they are disabled? How does someone who is 26 reconcile the fact that this just might be as good as it gets? That the best years of my life may have been 6 years ago? How do I keep myself from growing bitter?
From an early age we are taught that we should grow up, get a full education, get a job, get a house, get a wife, have some kids, and as men - support them. That isn't necessarily exactly how I was raised, but Society no matter how progressive we might be, it is none the less engrained into us. To not do so reeks of failure, of personal failure. No matter how much I tell myself that I haven't failed, that this isn't my fault. Had things been different I probably wouldn't have a wife, but I'd have a job, and I'd have my own place.
So I wrestle with this. I continue to wrestle with it as I watch my friends moving forward in all these different directions and I find myself at home relying heavily both on my mother and the state to take care of me. When I am feeling good I feel like I am somehow cheating the system, and when I feel like I do right now I wonder what the hell I did in my last life to deserve this?
This isn't self pity, don't mistake it as such. I live very well, I am better off than a lot of people - disabled or not. I have support from family, friends, and doctors. I have my motorcycle, I have a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes, and I'm not dying. This just my vocalizing some of the thoughts of someone who is 26 who is faced with disabling syndromes and a debilitating disorder.
I tagged everyone in this, because right now I feel like standing on a soap box, because I'm not alone in this, there are a ton of people in my situation, and I think that it goes unthought of by a lot of people - god knows I didn't used to think about it. I'll probably regret tagging everyone in an hour because I don't like to make these sort of thoughts public, but I figure it never hurts if it makes a few extra people think about those less fortunate for a couple minutes - not me specifically.
My point I guess to end this, is if you can get out of bed every day, if you can move around without pain, if you can work, if you are capable of being independent - just take a moment every so often to appreciate it and realize how lucky you are.
What drives me crazy about this is there was a time when if I said I was going to be someplace, I got their 15 minutes early every damned time. I haven't quite grown accustomed to the idea that I can now commit to something and then twenty minutes before leaving my body will crash and I'll be out for the count.
You'd think this would be something I'd be used to. I spent a year in bed when I was 19 or 20. I spent last year in bed. I have lost the use of my legs (twice in the past for about a week each time). I've crashed physically more times than I can count. Even still... I find this whole experience incredibly frustrating.
How does one grow accustomed to the idea, to the realization that they are disabled? How does someone who is 26 reconcile the fact that this just might be as good as it gets? That the best years of my life may have been 6 years ago? How do I keep myself from growing bitter?
From an early age we are taught that we should grow up, get a full education, get a job, get a house, get a wife, have some kids, and as men - support them. That isn't necessarily exactly how I was raised, but Society no matter how progressive we might be, it is none the less engrained into us. To not do so reeks of failure, of personal failure. No matter how much I tell myself that I haven't failed, that this isn't my fault. Had things been different I probably wouldn't have a wife, but I'd have a job, and I'd have my own place.
So I wrestle with this. I continue to wrestle with it as I watch my friends moving forward in all these different directions and I find myself at home relying heavily both on my mother and the state to take care of me. When I am feeling good I feel like I am somehow cheating the system, and when I feel like I do right now I wonder what the hell I did in my last life to deserve this?
This isn't self pity, don't mistake it as such. I live very well, I am better off than a lot of people - disabled or not. I have support from family, friends, and doctors. I have my motorcycle, I have a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes, and I'm not dying. This just my vocalizing some of the thoughts of someone who is 26 who is faced with disabling syndromes and a debilitating disorder.
I tagged everyone in this, because right now I feel like standing on a soap box, because I'm not alone in this, there are a ton of people in my situation, and I think that it goes unthought of by a lot of people - god knows I didn't used to think about it. I'll probably regret tagging everyone in an hour because I don't like to make these sort of thoughts public, but I figure it never hurts if it makes a few extra people think about those less fortunate for a couple minutes - not me specifically.
My point I guess to end this, is if you can get out of bed every day, if you can move around without pain, if you can work, if you are capable of being independent - just take a moment every so often to appreciate it and realize how lucky you are.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
BOOTS!
Well there is a pare of boots that I have been wearing since I was 15. They are Redwing 1178's which from the factory look like this:
Yes yes, I know, Cowboy boots. They are also ace for motorcycling, which granted I wasn't doing at 15, but they are the same exact style boot that my father wore when he was living with and racing motorcycles, and thus he owned exactly 3 pair from when he was 20 till he died at 59, his last set lasted him 23 years, and they are still in a closet downstairs.
These boots are hand made in the USA, this specific type has a cork inner and outer sole. Single layer leather boots.
Mine have been through a great deal through the years. Countless theater productions (tech side), a slew of road trips including the trip I took to Mexico with dad when I was 17. They saw California when Steve and I drove cross country together fairly fresh out of high school. They went cross the country again with me on motorcycle, a motorcycle that poured a quart of oil a day out on the left one. They then saw 6 months in Phoenix, all on motorcycles - often with a foot down sliding around corners to combat sand. They have seen 9 New England winters, and probably 10 Summers, often running full duty for my feet's survival.
The nifty thing about buying a single pair of Redwing boots for $250 is the quality you get. They can take one hell of a beating and the only regular work is to get them re-soled every year or two for about $40, as well as saddle soaping and oiling them yourself every few months to keep them soft and water proof.
I am afraid over the last few years I have neglected them poorly. The neglect started on my ride to Phoenix when the oil caused two holes to develop in that left boot that was getting drenched in hot oil. One by the ball of the foot, and the other up in fron by the toe. I knew I needed to get them fixed, and yet somehow I let 2 years slide by without tending to these issues. The same went for the soles of the boots, which due to my sliding around corners on my 73 Triumph had a much shortened life span.
So a couple of weeks ago when my left boot was looking pretty gnarly with its 2 holes and a sole that was practically falling off, and my right boot which not only looked quite rough but also had the sole held on with electrical tape...
I was ordered by my mother to go and buy a new pair of boots. Same boots, but the stipulation was they had to be new. I insisted mine were fixable, but she demanded new ones! Now mind you, I am grateful, but I also tend to hate new things. I grow accustomed to wearing the same old battered clothes, and develop an affection for them. I have shirts that date back over 13 years that I still wear regularly.
I went to the local Redwing shop dead set on buying exactly what I already had, but discovered that they no longer make the exact model I have always worn. Sure its still the same number, but they don't make the inner pad out of cork any longer, AND the price has gone up. But fear not, Matt of Matt's Shoes suggested a compromise. I could get the same style boot made by H&H (another American company) which he had in stock for about $150, and then send my old battered Redwings off to be rebuilt for $90. So that's what I did.
My H&H boots are quite comfortable, supple leather - though far lighter than I am used to. They are excellent boots, and I will wear them quite often for motorcycling and when I have to look decent. But today my Redwings came back freshly saddle soaped, with new boot oil, new double toes stitched in on both boots (to match) which repairs the damage done before, as well as an oval on either boot repairing the one hole, and the other where it was wearing thin - which you can see in the rough picture of my boot. They have new cork soles, and some damage done to the cork lining on the right boot was repaired.
So by all spec they are like new, they don't look it to most people, but they look pretty damned sharp all things considered. These I will wear in weather, in the winter, and while working on my bike.
So now I quite comfortably have a pair of dress boots and work boots, both from long standing companies, both made in the USA, both the same style I am used to. I am quite pleased.
In other news tomorrow should prove to be a solid day. I will be filling the motorcycle with fuel, going to a doctor's apt, then meeting Ian to give him some books to give to his older brother. From there where it goes, nobody knows.
Yes yes, I know, Cowboy boots. They are also ace for motorcycling, which granted I wasn't doing at 15, but they are the same exact style boot that my father wore when he was living with and racing motorcycles, and thus he owned exactly 3 pair from when he was 20 till he died at 59, his last set lasted him 23 years, and they are still in a closet downstairs.
These boots are hand made in the USA, this specific type has a cork inner and outer sole. Single layer leather boots.
Mine have been through a great deal through the years. Countless theater productions (tech side), a slew of road trips including the trip I took to Mexico with dad when I was 17. They saw California when Steve and I drove cross country together fairly fresh out of high school. They went cross the country again with me on motorcycle, a motorcycle that poured a quart of oil a day out on the left one. They then saw 6 months in Phoenix, all on motorcycles - often with a foot down sliding around corners to combat sand. They have seen 9 New England winters, and probably 10 Summers, often running full duty for my feet's survival.
The nifty thing about buying a single pair of Redwing boots for $250 is the quality you get. They can take one hell of a beating and the only regular work is to get them re-soled every year or two for about $40, as well as saddle soaping and oiling them yourself every few months to keep them soft and water proof.
I am afraid over the last few years I have neglected them poorly. The neglect started on my ride to Phoenix when the oil caused two holes to develop in that left boot that was getting drenched in hot oil. One by the ball of the foot, and the other up in fron by the toe. I knew I needed to get them fixed, and yet somehow I let 2 years slide by without tending to these issues. The same went for the soles of the boots, which due to my sliding around corners on my 73 Triumph had a much shortened life span.
So a couple of weeks ago when my left boot was looking pretty gnarly with its 2 holes and a sole that was practically falling off, and my right boot which not only looked quite rough but also had the sole held on with electrical tape...
I was ordered by my mother to go and buy a new pair of boots. Same boots, but the stipulation was they had to be new. I insisted mine were fixable, but she demanded new ones! Now mind you, I am grateful, but I also tend to hate new things. I grow accustomed to wearing the same old battered clothes, and develop an affection for them. I have shirts that date back over 13 years that I still wear regularly.
I went to the local Redwing shop dead set on buying exactly what I already had, but discovered that they no longer make the exact model I have always worn. Sure its still the same number, but they don't make the inner pad out of cork any longer, AND the price has gone up. But fear not, Matt of Matt's Shoes suggested a compromise. I could get the same style boot made by H&H (another American company) which he had in stock for about $150, and then send my old battered Redwings off to be rebuilt for $90. So that's what I did.
My H&H boots are quite comfortable, supple leather - though far lighter than I am used to. They are excellent boots, and I will wear them quite often for motorcycling and when I have to look decent. But today my Redwings came back freshly saddle soaped, with new boot oil, new double toes stitched in on both boots (to match) which repairs the damage done before, as well as an oval on either boot repairing the one hole, and the other where it was wearing thin - which you can see in the rough picture of my boot. They have new cork soles, and some damage done to the cork lining on the right boot was repaired.
So by all spec they are like new, they don't look it to most people, but they look pretty damned sharp all things considered. These I will wear in weather, in the winter, and while working on my bike.
So now I quite comfortably have a pair of dress boots and work boots, both from long standing companies, both made in the USA, both the same style I am used to. I am quite pleased.
In other news tomorrow should prove to be a solid day. I will be filling the motorcycle with fuel, going to a doctor's apt, then meeting Ian to give him some books to give to his older brother. From there where it goes, nobody knows.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ural
First up we have the "leg guards" which are either plastic or metal depending on the company. I ordered a pair, and I have no idea if I bought plastic or metal ones, so we'll see. It's not the best picture of them, but it gives a decent idea of what you get, they'll do a half ass job of blocking the cold but they will for sure block any shit that gets thrown up in the wet.
^ You can also see one example of a spare gas tank mounted on the sidecar. Here's a better view of a tank mounted in the same place:
Now Brent has what he thinks is a 5 gallon can which we'll make mounting brackets for. I am thinking about mounting it off the rear instead of up front.
^ As you can see from that picture I think that mounting it in the back can provide a nice added weight for holding down the frame and the wheel in right hand turns.
The last thing to do before the weather really turns will be to get a Russian made windshield. Its not the same style that I wish I could have, ie something that bolts onto the frame instead of the handlebars, but its a simple design that will keep the weather off.
^ You can also see one example of a spare gas tank mounted on the sidecar. Here's a better view of a tank mounted in the same place:
Now Brent has what he thinks is a 5 gallon can which we'll make mounting brackets for. I am thinking about mounting it off the rear instead of up front.
^ As you can see from that picture I think that mounting it in the back can provide a nice added weight for holding down the frame and the wheel in right hand turns.
The last thing to do before the weather really turns will be to get a Russian made windshield. Its not the same style that I wish I could have, ie something that bolts onto the frame instead of the handlebars, but its a simple design that will keep the weather off.
This picture which shows a better view of the fairing (might get a different style, depends what is cheapest). The other thing I like about this picture, well its pretty obvious. You can also see the leg guards in this one.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Hospital
I don't know how coherent this is going to be, I haven't gotten very much sleep in the last few days, and I'm kind of medicated right now - more heavily than normal, but you'll note more or less proper spelling and grammar - and that is what you get when you combine narcotic pain killers with someone who is actually in pain. God know I should be asleep, I had a hell of a day yesterday.
I guess you could say it started Wed sometime, thats when I began to feel pretty hammered, couldn't get much sleep, couldn't move around all that much. That persisted through Thursday night. Then Friday morning came along and I was doing a little better, which worked because a friend needed a ride to work at 7:30am - which I provided, that is after all what friends are for, and he had no one else he could call. Then I picked him up from work at 4:30pm, and while doing so discovered some serious changes in the school I once knew (he's a teacher at my old high school). I also got to see a couple of guys I've known these last 3 years, and got to see his sister in law, who was picking up his nephew who just started as a freshman, I sort of think of him as the little brother I never had - so that was nice.
That also drained me pretty good, it used up my replenished reserves as it were. So Friday night sucked. I decided to go to bed around 2am, but the pain was up and I couldn't sleep. The pain spiked to a 10 at about 3am, temporarily knocking me out for a while (I pass out at a 10). The pain oddly was focusing more on the left side of my body than anywhere else. So I came back round about 4am, but couldn't move much, and couldn't get to my cell phone to wake anyone up. So I rode it out till 4:45ish and then got myself up and dressed.
I went across the hall to mom's room and woke her up telling her we had to go to the hospital. This was about 5am Saturday morning. Mom in true style got right up, dressed, and was collecting the last couple things she needed to go when the pain spiked again, this time (as it had already happened once earlier) I had absolutely nothing left, as it was I had barely been mobile, so I crumpled right there in the hallway. Told mom to call an ambulance. She handled it quite well, this stuff always flips her out a bit. I lay there curled up in a ball on my left side, face down on the floor waiting for the ambulance.
Fire department showed up first, they tried to prop me up but I ended up collapsing to my right, but they put down some pillows to wedge me up and gave me oxogen which was a new experience for me. Thats when the paramedics arrived, and they had to use a rolling chair to get me out of the house, so I got hauled into that, couldn't support myself, and they strapped me into this chair. Now mind you I am normally very adversed to being touched, lifted, or strapped down. But at this point I was in too much pain to care. The ride down the stairs in this chair scared the shit out of me.
But they got me out of the house, onto a gurney and into the ambulance. I happily live basically a straight shot to Memorial which is where they took me. I got a shot of some relief on the ride to Memorial, but even with it, the pain overrode the drug for a while and I was sobbing pretty good even when they had me in the room at the ER. But eventually the drug took full effect and I went all tingly and it dropped the pain down to about a 7 on my left and a 6 on my right. I promptly IV in arm turned over and passed out for a couple hours.
Around noon or a little after Brent showed up and kept mom and I company. Just prior to his showing up the pain killer they'd given me wore off and they had to inject me with something else, I have no idea what it was, but it sure as hell took the edge off (its getting hard to type). After maybe an hour or so they ran some more tests, and then discharged me with two scripts for pills, one an anti-inflamatory drug, and the other a narcotic pain killer. Brent went his way (after a handshake) and mom led me back to our car.
It was a 9 hour day at the ER and then another hour to get home including picking up the meds at Walgreens. Promptly went up to bed, and have been here more or less ever since.
OK the pain killer is kicking in, and no matter how much I like the song Shelter from the STorm by Dylan I am about to pass out. Peace fellas, really hard to type now.
I guess you could say it started Wed sometime, thats when I began to feel pretty hammered, couldn't get much sleep, couldn't move around all that much. That persisted through Thursday night. Then Friday morning came along and I was doing a little better, which worked because a friend needed a ride to work at 7:30am - which I provided, that is after all what friends are for, and he had no one else he could call. Then I picked him up from work at 4:30pm, and while doing so discovered some serious changes in the school I once knew (he's a teacher at my old high school). I also got to see a couple of guys I've known these last 3 years, and got to see his sister in law, who was picking up his nephew who just started as a freshman, I sort of think of him as the little brother I never had - so that was nice.
That also drained me pretty good, it used up my replenished reserves as it were. So Friday night sucked. I decided to go to bed around 2am, but the pain was up and I couldn't sleep. The pain spiked to a 10 at about 3am, temporarily knocking me out for a while (I pass out at a 10). The pain oddly was focusing more on the left side of my body than anywhere else. So I came back round about 4am, but couldn't move much, and couldn't get to my cell phone to wake anyone up. So I rode it out till 4:45ish and then got myself up and dressed.
I went across the hall to mom's room and woke her up telling her we had to go to the hospital. This was about 5am Saturday morning. Mom in true style got right up, dressed, and was collecting the last couple things she needed to go when the pain spiked again, this time (as it had already happened once earlier) I had absolutely nothing left, as it was I had barely been mobile, so I crumpled right there in the hallway. Told mom to call an ambulance. She handled it quite well, this stuff always flips her out a bit. I lay there curled up in a ball on my left side, face down on the floor waiting for the ambulance.
Fire department showed up first, they tried to prop me up but I ended up collapsing to my right, but they put down some pillows to wedge me up and gave me oxogen which was a new experience for me. Thats when the paramedics arrived, and they had to use a rolling chair to get me out of the house, so I got hauled into that, couldn't support myself, and they strapped me into this chair. Now mind you I am normally very adversed to being touched, lifted, or strapped down. But at this point I was in too much pain to care. The ride down the stairs in this chair scared the shit out of me.
But they got me out of the house, onto a gurney and into the ambulance. I happily live basically a straight shot to Memorial which is where they took me. I got a shot of some relief on the ride to Memorial, but even with it, the pain overrode the drug for a while and I was sobbing pretty good even when they had me in the room at the ER. But eventually the drug took full effect and I went all tingly and it dropped the pain down to about a 7 on my left and a 6 on my right. I promptly IV in arm turned over and passed out for a couple hours.
Around noon or a little after Brent showed up and kept mom and I company. Just prior to his showing up the pain killer they'd given me wore off and they had to inject me with something else, I have no idea what it was, but it sure as hell took the edge off (its getting hard to type). After maybe an hour or so they ran some more tests, and then discharged me with two scripts for pills, one an anti-inflamatory drug, and the other a narcotic pain killer. Brent went his way (after a handshake) and mom led me back to our car.
It was a 9 hour day at the ER and then another hour to get home including picking up the meds at Walgreens. Promptly went up to bed, and have been here more or less ever since.
OK the pain killer is kicking in, and no matter how much I like the song Shelter from the STorm by Dylan I am about to pass out. Peace fellas, really hard to type now.
Friday, September 10, 2010
House, Pepsi, Pipe Tobacco, Pills, and Boots?
Watching House MD, one of my favorite episodes from last season. This is the episode with one of the best death scenes I have ever seen on a TV show, and the music for the scene is Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, an excellent instramental piece.
So I got some new tobacco stuffs:
The Tobaccos are the favorite blends that I can't get from the Owl Shop.
Vintage Syrian which I discovered in California when I was living out in Phoenix:
Bombay Extra which was my father's favorite blend.
Presbyterian which I discovered IN Phoenix and just flat out enjoy.
I also got a "new" pipe which isn't all that new, but was in fact made in London. For $40, not a bad deal.
Pills are fucking with my head. Hasn't been a pleasant last few days. New boots are nice, same style as the old boots but I miss my old boots.
Anyways, more later I guess. I'm too fucked up to think that far ahead.
So I got some new tobacco stuffs:
The Tobaccos are the favorite blends that I can't get from the Owl Shop.
Vintage Syrian which I discovered in California when I was living out in Phoenix:
Bombay Extra which was my father's favorite blend.
Presbyterian which I discovered IN Phoenix and just flat out enjoy.
I also got a "new" pipe which isn't all that new, but was in fact made in London. For $40, not a bad deal.
Pills are fucking with my head. Hasn't been a pleasant last few days. New boots are nice, same style as the old boots but I miss my old boots.
Anyways, more later I guess. I'm too fucked up to think that far ahead.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Life
So it's been a solid last few days. The Ural is now totally legal. We mounted (we being Brent and I) the Windjammer II fairing on her a couple days ago, which gives it an interesting look. I have also begun to make Lowers. When you ask why didn't you buy the Ural fairing and Ural lowers, well fairing = $180+ and lowers = $40+ and I = Broke. So you get what you get. I need to paint the fairing red, and re-adjust the mounting bracket a little as it tilts to the right.
I am listening to what I would call an Amazing version of Josh Ritter's Thin Blue Flame at the moment:
I was looking through my cell phone earlier, and checking the "note pad" and the list reads as follows:
1. Its Complicated.
2. Wet dog. Vampire. Werewolf. Wizard. Warlock. Witch.
3. Methadone
4. Smart Water
5. Don't Stop Believing
6. Social Network
Now 1 is a total loss on me. 2 is as well, but I have a theory behind it. 3... I have no idea why thats in there, but the irony of having a Hunter S Thompson biography next to me right now isn't lost on me. 4 was a recommendation from a friend who knows I don't have an appetite due to the pills I take. 5 is a song that I actually kinda like but Totally forgot existed till I heard it last night. 6 is a movie I want to watch because I have a crush on Jesse Eisenburg hahaha.
Speaking of crushes, I am looking at the most adorable picture of this guy I like which I saw tagged on FB the other day. Good god... Its almost cruel, because he is another guy I can't have, so looking at the picture makes me both smile and it actually hurts a bit.
Anyways. I got new boots today, and I have sent my old Redwing's off to get repaired, The boots I got are the same style as the Redwings, but the leather isn't as nice, they were $70 cheeper than what a new pair of my old boots would cost, and I am getting my old boots rebuilt for $70. So for the price of one pair of new Redwings I am getting these H&H boots that are made in Tenn, and also getting back the Redwing boots I have been wearing for over 10 years, including to Mexico with Dad, and I rode cross country by myself wearing them - they'll get new soles, a couple holes patched, and leather toe covers to repair the split open seam on the front left toe. They'll also be oiled and saddle soaped.
I think I'll wear my Redwings in the winter time, and wear these H&H boots the nicer seasons, mostly because they do look Good right now, but also because they aren't as well made as the Redwings (they are still VERY well made) but I know what the Redwings can take, and I don't know what these can take.
I just took a short break to look up heated hunting socks which I will have to wear in the winter. I found a pair of cheap chinese ones that will work and only cost $30. I also just found a pair of slip on ice cleats for $14. I'll water proof the boots the regular way, and that will help quite a bit.
The Lowers I'm making (one down one to go) will protect my legs from the wind & wet. The Windjammer of course protects ME from the wind & wet, and you can get neoprene covers to go around your hands to protect THEM from the wind & wet. So all things considered, plus my brother's full face helmet, and I will be good to ride year round. Only thing left is to outfit the bike with Kenda Ice Racing tires - studded of course, and I'm solid.
Anyways, I'm gonna go take a shower, sitting down cause I'm like an 80 year old man hahaha. Peace!
I am listening to what I would call an Amazing version of Josh Ritter's Thin Blue Flame at the moment:
I was looking through my cell phone earlier, and checking the "note pad" and the list reads as follows:
1. Its Complicated.
2. Wet dog. Vampire. Werewolf. Wizard. Warlock. Witch.
3. Methadone
4. Smart Water
5. Don't Stop Believing
6. Social Network
Now 1 is a total loss on me. 2 is as well, but I have a theory behind it. 3... I have no idea why thats in there, but the irony of having a Hunter S Thompson biography next to me right now isn't lost on me. 4 was a recommendation from a friend who knows I don't have an appetite due to the pills I take. 5 is a song that I actually kinda like but Totally forgot existed till I heard it last night. 6 is a movie I want to watch because I have a crush on Jesse Eisenburg hahaha.
Speaking of crushes, I am looking at the most adorable picture of this guy I like which I saw tagged on FB the other day. Good god... Its almost cruel, because he is another guy I can't have, so looking at the picture makes me both smile and it actually hurts a bit.
Anyways. I got new boots today, and I have sent my old Redwing's off to get repaired, The boots I got are the same style as the Redwings, but the leather isn't as nice, they were $70 cheeper than what a new pair of my old boots would cost, and I am getting my old boots rebuilt for $70. So for the price of one pair of new Redwings I am getting these H&H boots that are made in Tenn, and also getting back the Redwing boots I have been wearing for over 10 years, including to Mexico with Dad, and I rode cross country by myself wearing them - they'll get new soles, a couple holes patched, and leather toe covers to repair the split open seam on the front left toe. They'll also be oiled and saddle soaped.
I think I'll wear my Redwings in the winter time, and wear these H&H boots the nicer seasons, mostly because they do look Good right now, but also because they aren't as well made as the Redwings (they are still VERY well made) but I know what the Redwings can take, and I don't know what these can take.
I just took a short break to look up heated hunting socks which I will have to wear in the winter. I found a pair of cheap chinese ones that will work and only cost $30. I also just found a pair of slip on ice cleats for $14. I'll water proof the boots the regular way, and that will help quite a bit.
The Lowers I'm making (one down one to go) will protect my legs from the wind & wet. The Windjammer of course protects ME from the wind & wet, and you can get neoprene covers to go around your hands to protect THEM from the wind & wet. So all things considered, plus my brother's full face helmet, and I will be good to ride year round. Only thing left is to outfit the bike with Kenda Ice Racing tires - studded of course, and I'm solid.
Anyways, I'm gonna go take a shower, sitting down cause I'm like an 80 year old man hahaha. Peace!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Adventures
Come Saturday another full fledged motorcycle flight is in the planning stages. Its odd, up until last year I haven't been in NH more than twice in the last 5 years. Now I am planning my 3rd excursion into the state in 4 weeks.
I spoke to Liam today, who is quite possibly one of my favorite people. He had a couple days ago commented on my FB that he would be happy to be the guy in the sidecar when ever time chose it. Well it seems we have a time to test this theory come Saturday. His motorcycle is back in Richmond NH, and he is currently at UNH. He has no other means of transportation beyond that motorcycle. So getting it from Richmond is a bit of an issue for him. He offered me a free meal, which in my eyes is plenty. When I think of all the hours I put into sets at Saint John's in the name of a free t-shirt, 6 hours on a bike is simple work for a free meal.
So early(ish) Saturday morning I will set out heading North on state highways that will bring me up to UNH, and then from there I will collect Liam, probably stop for some Pepsi and a smoke, then he'll hop in the sidecar and off we'll go west. Once we reach Richmond we'll collect his bike, he'll buy me dinner - or rather lunch - then I'll split South East and arrive back in Worcester around 2pm.
My trip in this order will take me through: Clinton MA, Townsend MA, Nashua NH, Londonberry NH, Derry NH, Raymond NH, Lee NH, Durham NH, Concord NH, Henniker NH, Stoddard NH, Keene NH, West Swanzey NH, Richmond NH, Royalston MA, Athol MA, Barre MA, Rutland MA, Worcester MA.
There is a minor temptation to double back the way I came with Liam in tow back down to Nashau to show him that bike shop I discovered last weekend, and then head west from there. In theory (according to google) that would only tack half an hour onto the trip - so I'll have to run that by Liam. It is all in all a rather tempting idea, as I am almost dying inside to get back there, and really this is the best excuse to go there again.
Although there is also the home coming of Jon from Korea for 2 weeks soon, and when that happens - he and I shall be heading BACK into Northern NH to go for a ride up Mt Washington (I am tempted to invite Liam, maybe Paul, Chris, and perhaps Jack along on that, but have to ask Jon). I have informed Jon that he has no real choice, on the way back from THAT adventure we WILL be stopping at the motorcycle shop on Rt 111 NH.
So 6 hours on the bike this weekend, 2 tanks of gas for sure, maybe two and a half. Free dinner. Hanging out with Liam for 2-3 hours, granted about 2 of those hours will be limited to possibly shouting at each other over the winds.
Tomorrow at this time the motorcycle will be all but inspected. We got her insured today, and she will be getting the plate tomorrow. I am tempted to see if I can get a Handicap plate, actually MORE than tempted as I do have a placard for my car, and my car IS going away. Sooooo yeah. I mean I don't use it all the time, when I am feeling good I don't need it, but when I'm not and walking is such a challenge I can barely think straight, well... for those times a handicap plate on the bike will be down right necessary. The joy of the sidecar is there is really no reason they can't give me one. I mean when you look at it, you never put your feet down, you really mostly use your arms.
I am listening to one of my favorite Josh Ritter songs, its desperately simple, but I sang the lyrics I knew all the way home from NH on Saturday.
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Paul killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands.
Eight miles high, I saw you wearing a royal blue shirt,
Eight miles high, I saw you wearing a royal blue shirt,
Hiding in a hole in the blue from the world of hurt.
Well Mississippi mighty, oh and it's eight miles wide,
Mississippi mighty, oh and it's eight miles wide,
Standing on the edge, I saw your face from the other side.
And Even on the phone you're eight hours from my time,
Even on the phone you're eight hours from my time,
Wish I could hold you in my arms like I hold you in my mind.
'Cause i'm standing on a rooftop wondering if it's true,
I'm looking over rooftops hoping that it ain't true,
God could give or take away, well who would make such an awful rule?
God could give or take away, well who would make such an awful rule?
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Paul killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands.
When I was singing it, I only knew the first 3 lines... so naturally singing it for the next... 2 hours meant I had to improvise a little bit, and boy did I improvise! I actually was unaware that it was actually a full song until I looked it up on Amazon. Ritter has a habit of randomly inserting little bits of this or that into his live shows. He inserted a whole chunk of Mr Trooper by Springsteen into Harrisburg in one of his shows, and man did it sound fantastic! In the version of Peter Killed the Dragon that I am listening to now (which is also live) he must be in Columbia because he switched out Mississippi with Columbia.
Josh Ritter as far as I am concerned is our generation's Bob Dylan. He has been a long time coming. He is young, and god what talent. He has other songs, here are the lyrics to one which I find to be the best political song since Desolation Row (and its damned near the same length, and played just as gently.
I will bold the section that I find to be most political, and then I'll let you go, but oh my god the imagery!
I became a thin blue flame
Polished on a mountain range
And over hills and fields I flew
Wrapped up in a royal blue
I flew over Royal City last night
A bullfighter on the horns of a new moons light
Caesar's ghost I saw the war-time tides
The prince of Denmark's father still and quiet
And the whole world was looking to get drowned
Trees were a fist shaking themselves at the clouds
I looked over curtains and it was then that I knew
Only a full house gonna make it through
I became a thin blue wire
That held the world above the fire
And so it was I saw behind
Heaven's just a thin blue line
If God's up there he's in a cold dark room
The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons
He bent down and made the world in seven days
And ever since he's been walking away
Mixing with nitrogen in lonely holes
Where neither seraphim or raindrops go
I see an old man wandering the halls alone
But only a full house gonna make a home
I became a thin blue stream
The smoke between asleep and dreams
And in that clear blue undertow
I saw Royal City far below
Borders soft with refugees
Streets swimming with amputees
It's a Bible or a bullet they put over your heart
It's getting harder and harder to tell them apart
Days are nights and the nights are long
Beating hearts blossom into walking bombs
And those still looking in the clear blue sky for a sign
Get missiles from so high they might as well be divine
Now the dogs are howling at your door
Singing bout vengeance like it's the joy of the Lord
Bringing justice to the enemies not the other way round
They're guilty when killed and they're killed where they're found
If what's loosed on earth will be loosed up on high
It's a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die
Where even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance please
The fat man is crying on his hands and his knees
Back in the peacetime he caught roses on the stage
Now he twists indecision takes bourbon for rage
Lead pellets peppering aluminum
Halcyon, laudanum and Opium
Sings kiss thee hardy this poisoned cup
His winding sheet is busy winding up
In darkness he looks for the light that has died
We need faith for the same reasons that it's so hard to find
And this whole thing is headed for a terrible wreck
And like a tragedy it's what we expect
At night I make plans for a city laid down
Like the hips of a girl on the spring covered ground
Spirals and capitals like the twist of a script
Streets named for heroes that could almost exist
The fruit trees of Eden and the gardens that seem
To float like the smoke from a lithium dream
Cedar trees growing in the cool of the squares
The young women walking in the portals of prayer
And the future glass buildings and the past an address
And the weddings in pollen and the wine bottomless
And all wrongs forgotten and all vengeance made right
The suffering verbs put to sleep in the night
The future descending like a bright chandelier
And the world just beginning and the guests in good cheer
In Royal City I fell into a trance
Oh it's hell to believe there ain't a hell of a chance
I woke beneath a clear blue sky
The sun a shout the breeze a sigh
My old hometown and the streets I knew
Were wrapped up in a royal blue
I heard my friends laughing out across the fields
The girls in the gloaming and the birds on the wheel
The raw smell of horses and the warm smell of hay
Cicadas electric in the heat of the day
A run of Three Sisters and the flush of the land
And the lake was a diamond in the valley's hand
The straight of the highway and the scattered out hearts
They were coming together they pulling apart
And angels everywhere were in my midst
In the ones that I loved in the ones that I kissed
I wondered what it was I'd been looking for up above
Heaven is so big there ain't no need to look up
So I stopped looking for royal cities in the air
Only a full house gonna have a prayer
Only a full house
I spoke to Liam today, who is quite possibly one of my favorite people. He had a couple days ago commented on my FB that he would be happy to be the guy in the sidecar when ever time chose it. Well it seems we have a time to test this theory come Saturday. His motorcycle is back in Richmond NH, and he is currently at UNH. He has no other means of transportation beyond that motorcycle. So getting it from Richmond is a bit of an issue for him. He offered me a free meal, which in my eyes is plenty. When I think of all the hours I put into sets at Saint John's in the name of a free t-shirt, 6 hours on a bike is simple work for a free meal.
So early(ish) Saturday morning I will set out heading North on state highways that will bring me up to UNH, and then from there I will collect Liam, probably stop for some Pepsi and a smoke, then he'll hop in the sidecar and off we'll go west. Once we reach Richmond we'll collect his bike, he'll buy me dinner - or rather lunch - then I'll split South East and arrive back in Worcester around 2pm.
My trip in this order will take me through: Clinton MA, Townsend MA, Nashua NH, Londonberry NH, Derry NH, Raymond NH, Lee NH, Durham NH, Concord NH, Henniker NH, Stoddard NH, Keene NH, West Swanzey NH, Richmond NH, Royalston MA, Athol MA, Barre MA, Rutland MA, Worcester MA.
There is a minor temptation to double back the way I came with Liam in tow back down to Nashau to show him that bike shop I discovered last weekend, and then head west from there. In theory (according to google) that would only tack half an hour onto the trip - so I'll have to run that by Liam. It is all in all a rather tempting idea, as I am almost dying inside to get back there, and really this is the best excuse to go there again.
Although there is also the home coming of Jon from Korea for 2 weeks soon, and when that happens - he and I shall be heading BACK into Northern NH to go for a ride up Mt Washington (I am tempted to invite Liam, maybe Paul, Chris, and perhaps Jack along on that, but have to ask Jon). I have informed Jon that he has no real choice, on the way back from THAT adventure we WILL be stopping at the motorcycle shop on Rt 111 NH.
So 6 hours on the bike this weekend, 2 tanks of gas for sure, maybe two and a half. Free dinner. Hanging out with Liam for 2-3 hours, granted about 2 of those hours will be limited to possibly shouting at each other over the winds.
Tomorrow at this time the motorcycle will be all but inspected. We got her insured today, and she will be getting the plate tomorrow. I am tempted to see if I can get a Handicap plate, actually MORE than tempted as I do have a placard for my car, and my car IS going away. Sooooo yeah. I mean I don't use it all the time, when I am feeling good I don't need it, but when I'm not and walking is such a challenge I can barely think straight, well... for those times a handicap plate on the bike will be down right necessary. The joy of the sidecar is there is really no reason they can't give me one. I mean when you look at it, you never put your feet down, you really mostly use your arms.
I am listening to one of my favorite Josh Ritter songs, its desperately simple, but I sang the lyrics I knew all the way home from NH on Saturday.
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Paul killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands.
Eight miles high, I saw you wearing a royal blue shirt,
Eight miles high, I saw you wearing a royal blue shirt,
Hiding in a hole in the blue from the world of hurt.
Well Mississippi mighty, oh and it's eight miles wide,
Mississippi mighty, oh and it's eight miles wide,
Standing on the edge, I saw your face from the other side.
And Even on the phone you're eight hours from my time,
Even on the phone you're eight hours from my time,
Wish I could hold you in my arms like I hold you in my mind.
'Cause i'm standing on a rooftop wondering if it's true,
I'm looking over rooftops hoping that it ain't true,
God could give or take away, well who would make such an awful rule?
God could give or take away, well who would make such an awful rule?
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Peter killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands,
Paul killed the dragon and he did it with his bare hands.
When I was singing it, I only knew the first 3 lines... so naturally singing it for the next... 2 hours meant I had to improvise a little bit, and boy did I improvise! I actually was unaware that it was actually a full song until I looked it up on Amazon. Ritter has a habit of randomly inserting little bits of this or that into his live shows. He inserted a whole chunk of Mr Trooper by Springsteen into Harrisburg in one of his shows, and man did it sound fantastic! In the version of Peter Killed the Dragon that I am listening to now (which is also live) he must be in Columbia because he switched out Mississippi with Columbia.
Josh Ritter as far as I am concerned is our generation's Bob Dylan. He has been a long time coming. He is young, and god what talent. He has other songs, here are the lyrics to one which I find to be the best political song since Desolation Row (and its damned near the same length, and played just as gently.
I will bold the section that I find to be most political, and then I'll let you go, but oh my god the imagery!
I became a thin blue flame
Polished on a mountain range
And over hills and fields I flew
Wrapped up in a royal blue
I flew over Royal City last night
A bullfighter on the horns of a new moons light
Caesar's ghost I saw the war-time tides
The prince of Denmark's father still and quiet
And the whole world was looking to get drowned
Trees were a fist shaking themselves at the clouds
I looked over curtains and it was then that I knew
Only a full house gonna make it through
I became a thin blue wire
That held the world above the fire
And so it was I saw behind
Heaven's just a thin blue line
If God's up there he's in a cold dark room
The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons
He bent down and made the world in seven days
And ever since he's been walking away
Mixing with nitrogen in lonely holes
Where neither seraphim or raindrops go
I see an old man wandering the halls alone
But only a full house gonna make a home
I became a thin blue stream
The smoke between asleep and dreams
And in that clear blue undertow
I saw Royal City far below
Borders soft with refugees
Streets swimming with amputees
It's a Bible or a bullet they put over your heart
It's getting harder and harder to tell them apart
Days are nights and the nights are long
Beating hearts blossom into walking bombs
And those still looking in the clear blue sky for a sign
Get missiles from so high they might as well be divine
Now the dogs are howling at your door
Singing bout vengeance like it's the joy of the Lord
Bringing justice to the enemies not the other way round
They're guilty when killed and they're killed where they're found
If what's loosed on earth will be loosed up on high
It's a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die
Where even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance please
The fat man is crying on his hands and his knees
Back in the peacetime he caught roses on the stage
Now he twists indecision takes bourbon for rage
Lead pellets peppering aluminum
Halcyon, laudanum and Opium
Sings kiss thee hardy this poisoned cup
His winding sheet is busy winding up
In darkness he looks for the light that has died
We need faith for the same reasons that it's so hard to find
And this whole thing is headed for a terrible wreck
And like a tragedy it's what we expect
At night I make plans for a city laid down
Like the hips of a girl on the spring covered ground
Spirals and capitals like the twist of a script
Streets named for heroes that could almost exist
The fruit trees of Eden and the gardens that seem
To float like the smoke from a lithium dream
Cedar trees growing in the cool of the squares
The young women walking in the portals of prayer
And the future glass buildings and the past an address
And the weddings in pollen and the wine bottomless
And all wrongs forgotten and all vengeance made right
The suffering verbs put to sleep in the night
The future descending like a bright chandelier
And the world just beginning and the guests in good cheer
In Royal City I fell into a trance
Oh it's hell to believe there ain't a hell of a chance
I woke beneath a clear blue sky
The sun a shout the breeze a sigh
My old hometown and the streets I knew
Were wrapped up in a royal blue
I heard my friends laughing out across the fields
The girls in the gloaming and the birds on the wheel
The raw smell of horses and the warm smell of hay
Cicadas electric in the heat of the day
A run of Three Sisters and the flush of the land
And the lake was a diamond in the valley's hand
The straight of the highway and the scattered out hearts
They were coming together they pulling apart
And angels everywhere were in my midst
In the ones that I loved in the ones that I kissed
I wondered what it was I'd been looking for up above
Heaven is so big there ain't no need to look up
So I stopped looking for royal cities in the air
Only a full house gonna have a prayer
Only a full house
Monday, August 30, 2010
Ural, Today, Whatever.
Well... I found a company out of Denmark that does a lot of parts for the Ural 650cc - sort of like the company for Royal Enfield parts out of England, but with less in mind for completely re-working things. What does please me is it is (if you ignore S&H) a good place to get reasonable priced spares that can't be had from the local/US companies.
In the list of Eventual stuff are two minor things, the first is really simple and really cheap.
^ This is the original headlight that was changed in the mid 90s. The current system works pretty good, but has its minor faults. The speedo, electrics, and everything else of the sort is in a plastic dash that is apparently prone to cracking over time. Oh you can get a chrome dash - but it costs the same as the above headlight. Now Brent don't go flipping out, I'm thinking about things that are a good 2-3 years out. I just.. like to think.
The other such item, which will be before any other major changes, probably next summer sometime, or a little further down the road, it all depends on money, and paying back those I owe it to, and so on.
^ If you remember I'd mentioned that I'd like to get a Russian made crank new, then rebuild it with good bearings, and replace the connecting pins with good quality, and such. Well the above does all that, but also has the fly wheels and con rods made out of proper metals. The pistons are of a higher quality too, and of course there is the benefit of more power, less gas use.
Then I was sitting outside, and I randomly took this:
Then later I was fiddling with the camera and this was a field test to see if I'd sorted the issue I was having with it (the built in cam on the laptop) and just as it was going off a local college men's track team ran by... thus the distracted look as I'm not at all paying attention to the camera.
ANYWAYS, gotta clean my room up a bit, and then later Mom & I are going out to the insurance company then the registry to get the Ural legal. Then tomorrow I shall ride the Harley back to Jon's house and drive my car back. Which will probably please the hell out of his old man. Should be an interesting day as I have gotten used to steering, braking in corners, and of course I haven't driven a car in a couple months!
In the list of Eventual stuff are two minor things, the first is really simple and really cheap.
^ This is the original headlight that was changed in the mid 90s. The current system works pretty good, but has its minor faults. The speedo, electrics, and everything else of the sort is in a plastic dash that is apparently prone to cracking over time. Oh you can get a chrome dash - but it costs the same as the above headlight. Now Brent don't go flipping out, I'm thinking about things that are a good 2-3 years out. I just.. like to think.
The other such item, which will be before any other major changes, probably next summer sometime, or a little further down the road, it all depends on money, and paying back those I owe it to, and so on.
^ If you remember I'd mentioned that I'd like to get a Russian made crank new, then rebuild it with good bearings, and replace the connecting pins with good quality, and such. Well the above does all that, but also has the fly wheels and con rods made out of proper metals. The pistons are of a higher quality too, and of course there is the benefit of more power, less gas use.
Then I was sitting outside, and I randomly took this:
Then later I was fiddling with the camera and this was a field test to see if I'd sorted the issue I was having with it (the built in cam on the laptop) and just as it was going off a local college men's track team ran by... thus the distracted look as I'm not at all paying attention to the camera.
ANYWAYS, gotta clean my room up a bit, and then later Mom & I are going out to the insurance company then the registry to get the Ural legal. Then tomorrow I shall ride the Harley back to Jon's house and drive my car back. Which will probably please the hell out of his old man. Should be an interesting day as I have gotten used to steering, braking in corners, and of course I haven't driven a car in a couple months!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Weekend?
So in true Greenman style I have no pictures of the airshow, the campsite, the ride up, nor the ride down. But I did ride up to Portsmouth on Thurs for an air show on Friday. Took 4 hours to get there, camped, went to the show, baked in the heat, back to the camp site, then Saturday headed home.
On the way home on Rt 111 NH I passed Triumph shop from the 50s with 2 BSAs, a Norton, and 2 Triumphs out front. Swung around and went back. There I saw 2 bikes I have never before seen in person, the Triumph Hurricane designed (body) by Craig Vetter:
And the Matchless G80 by Harris - a bike my father dreamed of buying for 20 years, but never found one in good shape. This one had 15 miles on it and was $5,000 - I could have wept, had I not been in a shop that was like heaven, surrounded by guys twice my age - all with equal mind sets on bikes.
I spent over an hour there just soaking it all in, bought new grips for the Ural for $10 and headed on my way. Arrived in Boylston around 5:30PM and waited for Brent to come back in the Ambulance from a call. We got dinner at the Pub, and then as I kicked the bike over to head home I discovered I had no lights. So I rode the bike to the nearest friends house (that had street lights) and set up there for the night.
Today, worn and weary I got her home, unpacked, relaxed, then when the temp dipped I started routing out the issue. All the fuses were good so i checked, and the headlight was blown, easy swap and I have lights again. On my bike when you loose the headlight you also loose the running lights. Good to know.
Snapped this picture after installing the new light but with the factory tools splayed out on the sidecar.
Its been a grand last few days. I am beat to hell, but sometimes you just got to get the hell out of town. I am pleased with the Ural. In one week I rode the bike from Northern Vermont to Worcester, then back up deep into New Hampshire, with a lot of miles in between trips.
The bike loves 4th gear at about 45-50mph. God I am on top of the world, I almost feel my age.
On the way home on Rt 111 NH I passed Triumph shop from the 50s with 2 BSAs, a Norton, and 2 Triumphs out front. Swung around and went back. There I saw 2 bikes I have never before seen in person, the Triumph Hurricane designed (body) by Craig Vetter:
And the Matchless G80 by Harris - a bike my father dreamed of buying for 20 years, but never found one in good shape. This one had 15 miles on it and was $5,000 - I could have wept, had I not been in a shop that was like heaven, surrounded by guys twice my age - all with equal mind sets on bikes.
I spent over an hour there just soaking it all in, bought new grips for the Ural for $10 and headed on my way. Arrived in Boylston around 5:30PM and waited for Brent to come back in the Ambulance from a call. We got dinner at the Pub, and then as I kicked the bike over to head home I discovered I had no lights. So I rode the bike to the nearest friends house (that had street lights) and set up there for the night.
Today, worn and weary I got her home, unpacked, relaxed, then when the temp dipped I started routing out the issue. All the fuses were good so i checked, and the headlight was blown, easy swap and I have lights again. On my bike when you loose the headlight you also loose the running lights. Good to know.
Snapped this picture after installing the new light but with the factory tools splayed out on the sidecar.
Its been a grand last few days. I am beat to hell, but sometimes you just got to get the hell out of town. I am pleased with the Ural. In one week I rode the bike from Northern Vermont to Worcester, then back up deep into New Hampshire, with a lot of miles in between trips.
The bike loves 4th gear at about 45-50mph. God I am on top of the world, I almost feel my age.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Bike
I drove up to Vermont with my friend John on Friday to pick up the bike. As we went 4 miles up this dirt road it occurred to both of us that we could be killed and no one would ever know. At which point John looked right at me and said "You owe me big"
So I picked up the bike, a boatload full of spares and documentation. Then proceeded to ride it down to Spofford Lake (NH) where family friends have a house. Had dinner with people who tour the world on BMW motorcycles and slept in a very comfy bed. From there I rode it back to Worcester. The 3 pictures were taken at various stages in the trip.
The top one was taken on a cut through road I know in Winchendon MA to get from 202 to 140. The middle was in Vermont by a river, and the bottom of course was/is my driveway. See I took off the windshield on the sidecar.
Tomorrow (or later today rather) she will get new engine oil, gearbox oil, and final drive grease. She'll also probably get new spark plugs. She runs and rides great, I am deeply and madly in love with this motorcycle. It is everything I have ever wanted (give or take 15HP)
Later today I am riding her up to Portsmouth New Hampshire to camp for a couple of days and attend an air show I think. I should be back in Worcester sometime Saturday afternoon where I will probably ride to the Fire Station to show Brent.
The aim is to have her in my name on the road early next week.
Anyways, my hands hurt, and that's the bike!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
1997 Ural 650 Tourist
It's not a sure thing yet, but its as close to a sure thing as it can be, and I already have my hopes up. This is the bike for sale:
Those pictures kind of suck, so this is a better picture of what a 97 Tourist looks like:
I wrote this up a couple days ago, then got distracted, so here's the previous explanation:
Well, assuming something doesn't change drastically in the next few days the new motorcycle has been selected, a 1997 Ural 650 Tourist.
But Jack you say, Isn't this the 5th new motorcycle idea you've had in as many weeks? CYNIC! I say, you make it seem as though I can't make up my mind! At which point we both tumble over in a fit of laughter.
Well as it is, the loan is on its way for this specific motorcycle, so all I have to do is make sure that it actually is still available, and then go and collect it. Easy enough? Well here is to hoping.
This bike has some things going for it which previous ideas did not.
1. The sidecar is complete, wired, and attached - with brake.
2. Spare wheel that will fit all 3 wheels on the bike.
3. Leading link front end designed for steering a sidecar.
4. Reverse gear which means I at 145 pounds don't have to flat foot a 700 pound bike into and out of parking spaces.
5. Motorcycle that is actually designed for winter riding.
6. You can get snow tires for them.
7. INCREDIBLY simple.
8. I have always wanted one.
9. The exact same price as a Harley of the same year without sidecar or mounting kit.
10. Shaft Drive.
11. 6,000 miles.
Now the slightly bad. She tops out at about 65mph, extended highway travel is not recommended, I have never driven a sidecar rig, and she is in central Vermont.
I don't much mind the speed limits, technically I never really go anywhere that requires the highways, even visiting Kyle can be done via Rt 9.
The never having driven a sidecar rig... well... that one is going to be a sort of crash course in learning, hopefully only figuratively.
Being in Vermont, well at those speeds getting home could take a rather long time, but we have family friends in Keene, so I am hoping that I can stop in and say hello to them (for a night) on the way home. I might even manage to see Liam on the route home, assuming he is around, and I don't get horrifically lost.
I could toss out every point I made, except for the reverse gear, and the leading link suspension. We'll go in that order.
As I said, the rig weighs 700 pounds, this is actually not as bad as you think. The KZ or Harley rigs would have weighed 800 pounds. So we are looking at a 700 pound motorcycle with limited place for footing between bike and sidecar - which is on the right, which I would like to think is my stronger leg, as absurd as that sounds. So.... what would the plan be for parking on streets? Parallel parking would be entirely out of the question. Backing her into parking spaces as you generally would a bike would be out of the question. Hell parking at Deedy's house would become complicated. But with this motorcycle you simply snook it into Reverse with a hand operated lever, and back it up.
The Twin Leading Link Suspension. Well first you have to picture almost any motorcycle's front end to understand this. The front forks slope out away from the frame, which is designed to give you the proper rake and trail for riding solo. There is really no steering involved over about 10 miles per hour, you push slightly on the right handlebar to go right, and slightly one the left to go left (which means you steer right to go left, and left to go right). With a sidecar rig you actually have to steer, and the stresses involved are rather harsh on telescopic tubes, and even harder on the arms.
What the Leading Link is, is basically forks that angle straight down from the steering stem, with the wheel sitting a few inches away from these straight down tubes, then at a slight angle - as if completing a triangle there are twin shocks, like you have on the back of the bike. The shocks provide some damping to system. This puts the front wheel significantly closer to the motorcycle, and makes steering a hell of a lot easier.
To outfit either the KZ or the Harley with such a front end would cost $2000. You can't outfit either bikes with a mechanical reverse gear, though I did have a plan in my head for an electronic idea - but that was going to require a car battery, an electric motor, some additional wiring, and an elongated rear axle.
Those pictures kind of suck, so this is a better picture of what a 97 Tourist looks like:
I wrote this up a couple days ago, then got distracted, so here's the previous explanation:
Well, assuming something doesn't change drastically in the next few days the new motorcycle has been selected, a 1997 Ural 650 Tourist.
But Jack you say, Isn't this the 5th new motorcycle idea you've had in as many weeks? CYNIC! I say, you make it seem as though I can't make up my mind! At which point we both tumble over in a fit of laughter.
Well as it is, the loan is on its way for this specific motorcycle, so all I have to do is make sure that it actually is still available, and then go and collect it. Easy enough? Well here is to hoping.
This bike has some things going for it which previous ideas did not.
1. The sidecar is complete, wired, and attached - with brake.
2. Spare wheel that will fit all 3 wheels on the bike.
3. Leading link front end designed for steering a sidecar.
4. Reverse gear which means I at 145 pounds don't have to flat foot a 700 pound bike into and out of parking spaces.
5. Motorcycle that is actually designed for winter riding.
6. You can get snow tires for them.
7. INCREDIBLY simple.
8. I have always wanted one.
9. The exact same price as a Harley of the same year without sidecar or mounting kit.
10. Shaft Drive.
11. 6,000 miles.
Now the slightly bad. She tops out at about 65mph, extended highway travel is not recommended, I have never driven a sidecar rig, and she is in central Vermont.
I don't much mind the speed limits, technically I never really go anywhere that requires the highways, even visiting Kyle can be done via Rt 9.
The never having driven a sidecar rig... well... that one is going to be a sort of crash course in learning, hopefully only figuratively.
Being in Vermont, well at those speeds getting home could take a rather long time, but we have family friends in Keene, so I am hoping that I can stop in and say hello to them (for a night) on the way home. I might even manage to see Liam on the route home, assuming he is around, and I don't get horrifically lost.
I could toss out every point I made, except for the reverse gear, and the leading link suspension. We'll go in that order.
As I said, the rig weighs 700 pounds, this is actually not as bad as you think. The KZ or Harley rigs would have weighed 800 pounds. So we are looking at a 700 pound motorcycle with limited place for footing between bike and sidecar - which is on the right, which I would like to think is my stronger leg, as absurd as that sounds. So.... what would the plan be for parking on streets? Parallel parking would be entirely out of the question. Backing her into parking spaces as you generally would a bike would be out of the question. Hell parking at Deedy's house would become complicated. But with this motorcycle you simply snook it into Reverse with a hand operated lever, and back it up.
The Twin Leading Link Suspension. Well first you have to picture almost any motorcycle's front end to understand this. The front forks slope out away from the frame, which is designed to give you the proper rake and trail for riding solo. There is really no steering involved over about 10 miles per hour, you push slightly on the right handlebar to go right, and slightly one the left to go left (which means you steer right to go left, and left to go right). With a sidecar rig you actually have to steer, and the stresses involved are rather harsh on telescopic tubes, and even harder on the arms.
What the Leading Link is, is basically forks that angle straight down from the steering stem, with the wheel sitting a few inches away from these straight down tubes, then at a slight angle - as if completing a triangle there are twin shocks, like you have on the back of the bike. The shocks provide some damping to system. This puts the front wheel significantly closer to the motorcycle, and makes steering a hell of a lot easier.
To outfit either the KZ or the Harley with such a front end would cost $2000. You can't outfit either bikes with a mechanical reverse gear, though I did have a plan in my head for an electronic idea - but that was going to require a car battery, an electric motor, some additional wiring, and an elongated rear axle.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sidecar, Bike, and Me (I guess)
I got the Windjammer partially mounted the other night and completely wired up. I had to modify the way it was done slightly, the original bike to fairing cable was missing - so I drilled a 3/8 hole in the inside portion of the fairing and ran the wires for the headlight through it. The turn signal stocks come through the fairing so wiring those required no modifications.
All in all it came out well enough. I need to get some longer bolts to actually bolt it down, and sort out some other minor details, but nothing to hard with that.
with the Sidecar I decided to just use what I had laying around the garage, so I used a KZ1000 headlight, and also will use some spare signals as blinkers and marker lights, I will use the tail/brake light off the 73 Triumph.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Almost
She looks less together than she was before, but she is actually improving. I figured out one of the faults today after changing the fuel lines I discovered the right two carbs weren't getting fuel so I took apart the fuel tap and did a real solid cleaning with WD-40, Paint Thinner, and Liquid Wrench. All considered it worked and now fuel flows through both spigots. I am still having an issue with flooding, but I think thats more her unwillingness to start, so the fuel just flows and floods. I checked to make sure I have spark and its strong all the way across the board. Took the air filters off, and added tubes to the carb breathers. She's close now, she ALMOST started a couple minutes ago, but now the battery is becoming weak from multiple attempts. So I will put the charger on that tomorrow morning and run it till she's at 100%
There is a chance that the points need adjusted, or need to advance the distributor a little bit. But even said, well, she's getting close to running. Once I have her starting I think I will be good to finish her up fast. Then I can register her, she doesn't need a title since MA law says bikes predating 1980 can be registered with a Bill of Sale only. Once she has a plate and has gone through a few shake down cruises, timed proper, and all that - then I can ride her down to Matt's in Conn - who sold me the Dnepr sidecar chassis, and he'll help me weld on the proper tabs to fit a sidecar to her - since he knows the proper set up and has plenty of rigs around. So they will all be in the right place.
THEN I will get her inspected without a sidecar, and then fit the sidecar. NOW, they say that I need a tail light, headlight, turn signals front and back, and marker lights on the sidecar to be legal.
SO...
For the headlight I plan to get one of the rectangular black plastic $35 units from Mike's XS, which is 5"x7" and will work fine.
To mount it I remembered a bracket used by Hitchcock's in England which is used for mounting 7" headlights to Royal Enfields, I actually had one of these for my first Royal Enfield, and if flipped the right way and such, should be fantastic for mounting the previously stated headlight to the fender:
When it comes to the signal light there is a company in Texas that sells sidecar accessories, some cheap, some not (headlights for example), so what I am planning is one of these marker lights on the top center of the fender $13
For the front turn signal I will use one of the 7 I have in a box over there *points* mounted to a bent piece of steel mounted to the fender, or maybe I will mount it to one of the fender side walls.
Then for the rear of the fender I need a tail light, a brake light, and a turn signal. The company in Texas I stated before sells a 3 way combo for $20 which is pretty big, 7"x 5" I think, but all considered should work superbly for what I want, mount it straight to the rear of the fender and then wire it up:
THEN for Winter use, I have a Vetter Windjammer fairing that looks like THIS:
Which I plan to mount soon. Might have to get a new windshield for it, and I most certainly have to re-wire it, but all in all, its good stuff. I think I am going to steal the new turn signals off the XS400, at least for the front of the bike as they are better looking, and are currently using the mounting stocks that are good with the Windjammer (came off the Windjammer).
So yeah, that's the update on the KZ1000 A-1
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Fall River
I'm listening to Jackson Brown's The Load Out. It is one of my favorite songs for sure, especially since he pays tribute to the techies, and to putting on a show - that makes all the difference to me.
I was writing earlier, keeping track of my life in ink, which is more solid than this can ever be, and I found I had to refill the pen, which I thought was worth documenting.
That's another one of those neat pictures, not in the aspect of how well its done, but in the thought of fountain pen and Waltham mechanical watch built to WWII troop spec. Also a good shot of my current journal with how I keep track of things when I'm not here.
OK So I had an interesting last couple of days. I sold the Norton, lock stock and barrel. Great guy, he's going to do her justice, he even has the title from 1968. He really dug it, drove all the way from NYC to pick it all up, and packed it all into a Honda Civic. Good stuff.
After that was done I rode out to Fall River MA where Vanson is located, they make some of the best leather jackets and racing suits in the country, and have for decades. While there (which I got kinda lost on the way, but I made it) I saw the old Matchless that I had so admired on my last two trips, it is the only Matchless I have ever seen in person, and while it needs some work, I would give one of my toes for it.
I picked up the jacket I had been looking for, which is 1950s spec Rocker classic style jacket. Doesn't vent like the other, but I found it to be cool enough while moving, thanks to the flap in front and the wide sleeves.
To illistrate what the classic Rocker's looked like, here's a good clip of some:
Not only do I like the look and the feel of the jacket, as well as the breeze with the flap open, and the warmth when it's all sealed up, but I like the time when they were worn, and what they symbolized, and who had them, and what they were doing with and on bikes. The jacket and its style suits the motorcycles that I care about.
After Vanson I decided at the very least that I wanted a good meal. A Diner was recommended, and that's exactly where I went. Bigger than the Boulevard by far, but the food was much the same, and while not as old, it was still quite something, and original to the 50s, not one of these new replica Diners (which I actually want one of)
From there I realized that I was both too tired to make the trip home, and ill equipped, I had left my regular glasses at the house, and it was starting to get a little dimmer, and with only my sunglasses...
...well I decided to find a cheap motel and spend the night. Well... I will let the picture of what I found in the room I rented for $50 speak for itself. Mind you I had no idea this was going to be in there, and considering it was 95 in there, the AC didn't work, and I was exhausted... well it just kicked ass.
There were also mirrors and black lights over the tub... and... over the bed. I got the feeling that not too many people stop in there just to sleep the night away and hit the road the next day.
Anyways, thats the tale, at least enough of it to make sense. Time to go inside and sleeP!
Friday, August 6, 2010
*sigh*
A few days ago (I'd have to look in my journal to determine the day) we had a flood, I think it was Saturday. Mom woke me up at 7:30AM with concerns that we had a burglar. What the noise she heard was (I investigated, she locked herself in a bathroom) actually water pouring through the plaster from the pipes in my bathroom into the Living Room. An inch of water on the floors, rugs soaked, furniture soaked, top surfaces destroyed... I yelled "GET TOWELS AND BLANKETS" and dashed out to the garage for tarps.
I tossed her the tarps and went back down and shut the water to the house off. It was 5 hours after the water was turned off before water stopped coming through the ceiling. In that time Mom & I got a lot of furniture out, covered, tarps down. In a break around 8:30AM I called my brother who came over soon after. From there he and I began to get the larger furniture out, lay down more tarps, buckets, and bail out of one of the windows.
This was the scene around noon:
This was the window which we were later throwing buckets of water out of (like bailing a sinking boat) and later on my brother and I picked up the tarps full of water and literally carried them bunched up with the water inside out of the window to dump them.
Its been a hell of a week at the house, with this, with me being in and out of medicated stupors, and with the now begun cleaning out of closets which means a TON of books are going back to the Book Bear. I'm a bit of a collector of things, as in I have extreme difficulty letting go of something - even if I don't care whats in it. I'm super sentimental. I have clothes that I have owned for over 10 years.
Now... you have heard me talk about my Father... How much he influenced me when I was alive, and even after he died - he continues to be an influence. Now JUST IMAGINE me trying to figure out which of His books I am willing to part with. Anything with Locomotive, Steam, or Metal in the title stays - I don't care, it STAYS.
Also going through some of the bags mom had packed away of books to be sold or traded, I found a few first editions which he had mentioned to me in the past - one being Hemingway's Out of Africa, the other being From Here to Eternity - by Jones I believe(?) but in perfect (but obviously read) condition. I am glad I caught those, and put them back in the book case. These are all books that will end up in my apartment one day.
There is plenty else going on, some which can't be put down here as while it effects me heavily, it is not my place to put it out there for anyone to see.
I sometimes feel as though I am slowly going out of my mind. People can make you feel like such shit when you're disabled, because sometimes I Can do things, but a lot of the time I can't. I forget things, things get away from me, I can get slightly cranky when the pains up, I'm not always easy to live with - and I give my mother HUGE credit, and admiration for her willingness to live with me, to keep me around, to tolerate the things that make me sick, and to keep such upbeat spirits. All in all we get along fantastically, but sometimes there's tension, but, well, she's my mother, I'm her son - and we take care of each other.
One of the stress's right now is selling the house. Its a magnificent house. We've done a lot of work - a Lot of which was done by Dad and I, or Walter helped by Dad & I, or Steve Sr - helped by me, or Jim Williams helped by Dad, or Brent helped by Me... But do you see the common themes in this? But I mean the plumbing, heating, Wiring, Roof, windows, Kitchen, some bathrooms, painting, plastering, flooring... So the idea that what the house is worth, and then what it's worth here, then well, we're trying to sell it - but this isn't the proper TIME to be selling it - but it's a lot of house for a teacher and a guy on disability.. sooo... It's not like when Dad and my Brother lived here too.
But yeah, so life, life is life right now. But there are good things - most of which outweigh the bad. I also frankly don't care, no matter how bad it gets, it could be far far worse.
ANYWAYS... I'm done ranting for now.
I tossed her the tarps and went back down and shut the water to the house off. It was 5 hours after the water was turned off before water stopped coming through the ceiling. In that time Mom & I got a lot of furniture out, covered, tarps down. In a break around 8:30AM I called my brother who came over soon after. From there he and I began to get the larger furniture out, lay down more tarps, buckets, and bail out of one of the windows.
This was the scene around noon:
This was the window which we were later throwing buckets of water out of (like bailing a sinking boat) and later on my brother and I picked up the tarps full of water and literally carried them bunched up with the water inside out of the window to dump them.
Its been a hell of a week at the house, with this, with me being in and out of medicated stupors, and with the now begun cleaning out of closets which means a TON of books are going back to the Book Bear. I'm a bit of a collector of things, as in I have extreme difficulty letting go of something - even if I don't care whats in it. I'm super sentimental. I have clothes that I have owned for over 10 years.
Now... you have heard me talk about my Father... How much he influenced me when I was alive, and even after he died - he continues to be an influence. Now JUST IMAGINE me trying to figure out which of His books I am willing to part with. Anything with Locomotive, Steam, or Metal in the title stays - I don't care, it STAYS.
Also going through some of the bags mom had packed away of books to be sold or traded, I found a few first editions which he had mentioned to me in the past - one being Hemingway's Out of Africa, the other being From Here to Eternity - by Jones I believe(?) but in perfect (but obviously read) condition. I am glad I caught those, and put them back in the book case. These are all books that will end up in my apartment one day.
There is plenty else going on, some which can't be put down here as while it effects me heavily, it is not my place to put it out there for anyone to see.
I sometimes feel as though I am slowly going out of my mind. People can make you feel like such shit when you're disabled, because sometimes I Can do things, but a lot of the time I can't. I forget things, things get away from me, I can get slightly cranky when the pains up, I'm not always easy to live with - and I give my mother HUGE credit, and admiration for her willingness to live with me, to keep me around, to tolerate the things that make me sick, and to keep such upbeat spirits. All in all we get along fantastically, but sometimes there's tension, but, well, she's my mother, I'm her son - and we take care of each other.
One of the stress's right now is selling the house. Its a magnificent house. We've done a lot of work - a Lot of which was done by Dad and I, or Walter helped by Dad & I, or Steve Sr - helped by me, or Jim Williams helped by Dad, or Brent helped by Me... But do you see the common themes in this? But I mean the plumbing, heating, Wiring, Roof, windows, Kitchen, some bathrooms, painting, plastering, flooring... So the idea that what the house is worth, and then what it's worth here, then well, we're trying to sell it - but this isn't the proper TIME to be selling it - but it's a lot of house for a teacher and a guy on disability.. sooo... It's not like when Dad and my Brother lived here too.
But yeah, so life, life is life right now. But there are good things - most of which outweigh the bad. I also frankly don't care, no matter how bad it gets, it could be far far worse.
ANYWAYS... I'm done ranting for now.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Well Fuck.
OK, so I just did a ton of research on Winter tires for motorcycles. The prospects were... well... 3 selections of tires, all made by the same company (that weren't $300 each). So the Harley idea is totally dead, you can NOT get a 4 season tire for it's rear wheel. So that left the BMW option, the Ural option, and the Dnepr option.
Good Urals are expensive. Good BMWs are less expensive. But well... the Best suited BMW for what I need is an early 80s BMW R100RT (shown in a previous post). They can be had with about 30,000 miles for about $2000. They weigh 515 pounds, make 70HP, come fully faired, and will accept these snow tires. Well... the KZ1000 which I already have weighs 530 pounds, makes 80HP, comes with a Windjammer fairing, and will accept these snow tires.
A BMW would require a $600 kit to mount the sidecar I have to it. The KZ requires a trip to Conn to have Matt weld on the proper mounting brackets for somewhere between free and $100.
So you tell me... what POSSIBLE excuse could I have for selling the KZ1000 and buying a BMW?
Oh yes, and the BWM will require the valves adjusted once a month, the KZ requires no valve adjustment.
Soooooo yeah. The Harley and BMW ideas are now dead in my head.
I will also be holding onto the car until after a few trips in the snow - just in case.
Monday, August 2, 2010
4 Season Rig
OK, so the KZ1000 is being sold, so is the Car, and so is the Norton chassis. The XS400 will probably be sold shortly there after.
The brown Harley seen before is on loan until further notice.
I'm now 50/50 on the Harley plan. I'll either get a Harley or an 80s BMW, the sidecar mounting kit for a Harley is $525, for a BMW its $625. BMWs run 2-3 grand, Harleys 3-4 grand - so it depends on whats best in my price range when I have the money together.
So it'll either be a RT BMW:
Or a 1200 Sportster from 1986-2003:
One or the other will become my 4 season rig. They make the same HP, have the same reliability, both have care free final drives. One shakes, the other doesn't. The BMW comes with wind protection.
Anyways, thats the plan.
The brown Harley seen before is on loan until further notice.
I'm now 50/50 on the Harley plan. I'll either get a Harley or an 80s BMW, the sidecar mounting kit for a Harley is $525, for a BMW its $625. BMWs run 2-3 grand, Harleys 3-4 grand - so it depends on whats best in my price range when I have the money together.
So it'll either be a RT BMW:
Or a 1200 Sportster from 1986-2003:
One or the other will become my 4 season rig. They make the same HP, have the same reliability, both have care free final drives. One shakes, the other doesn't. The BMW comes with wind protection.
Anyways, thats the plan.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Motorcycles I have owned
Ducati 620 Multistrada
-No Picture-
1978 Yamaha XS750S
-No Picture-
73 Triumph T140V
2002 Royal Enfield Bullet
2004 Moto Guzzi 750 Breva
1976 Yamaha XS500
1967 Norton Atlas
1977 Ducati 900GTS
2005 Triumph T100
1973 Triton
1995 Kawasaki KZ1000P
2006 Suzuki SV650S
1973 Triumph TR7
1978 BMW R65
2003 Royal Enfield
1982 Suzuki GS550
1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 A1
1982 Yamaha XS400
1998 Harley 1200 Sportster
-No Picture-
1978 Yamaha XS750S
-No Picture-
73 Triumph T140V
2002 Royal Enfield Bullet
2004 Moto Guzzi 750 Breva
1976 Yamaha XS500
1967 Norton Atlas
1977 Ducati 900GTS
2005 Triumph T100
1973 Triton
1995 Kawasaki KZ1000P
2006 Suzuki SV650S
1973 Triumph TR7
1978 BMW R65
2003 Royal Enfield
1982 Suzuki GS550
1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 A1
1982 Yamaha XS400
1998 Harley 1200 Sportster
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About Me
- Jack Greenman
- Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War! But no, really, I'm a student to be a motorcycle mechanic, I'm 25, I write a lot, I eat less than I should, I sleep less than I should, but I like to get out and live. I don't drink, but I smoke a pipe. My sense of style is at Least 40 years out of date, I am who I am, and That's who I am.