Our residence was built in 1904, and mine is the eighth tribe to call it home.  I love everything about the place, from the ten foot ceilings to the hardwood floors.  It’s not fancy or elaborate, but rather understated and simple.  I appreciate all of the character and craftsmanship associated with houses of this age, but there is one feature I cherish above all the rest; our red front door!  The door is original to the house and wears the scars to prove it.  Its panels are weathered and scratched from time and use.  Over the years this door has faithfully protected those who have lived here and cheerfully welcomed them home.  On many occasions I am asked where I reside, and being that I live on a very well known street, the only other identifier I need give is, “the house with the red door!” 

Recently some friends and I were sharing stories of the places we have traveled and the beautiful sights motorcycle touring has afforded us to visit.  We talked about the magnificence of the Appalachian Mountains, the vastness of the Atlantic; the fields of corn in Iowa, and the acre after acre of wheat in Kansas.   We joked of the small town diners that hadn’t been remodeled in 53 years, but still whipped up the best pancakes on the planet, and the overpriced joints that cost us $19.50 for a dried up burger and a bag of stale chips.  We laughed about the difficult and often hilarious encounters we experienced while camping, like trying to sleep in rain soaked clothing, or the time the wind was so strong it simply blew the tent away!  

I have had the good fortune of logging thousands of miles on my motorcycle’s, some of those miles have been shared with a couple close friends, some with my wife and sons, but most have been logged alone. Yet no matter how beautiful the scenery, or important the landmark, that I have seen it is always nice to return home.  Not long ago someone asked, “What is the most beautiful thing you have seen while riding on a long trip?” and without hesitation I replied; “My red front door!” 

I guess today is an exciting day for women and men a like.  Yep, February 14th, 2010 a day of romance, sweets, and NASCAR!

I can see it now, the wife has dressed up in her newest pair of sweat pants and over sized Homer Simpson tee.   She is looking forward to some fine dining with her man at the Golden Corral Buffet then perhaps a little shopping at the new Super Walmart.

You however, have a very different idea of how this special day will be played out…  Sleep in till 9:00 a.m.  have the little woman whip you up a fancy breakfast of bacon, sausage, biscuits, eggs, grits, and a Bud.  Turn on Fox TV’s pre-race coverage and sit on your fat ass until the checkered flag.  Good times!

Whatever this day has in store for you be it romance or exhaust fumes.  I wish you and your special someone a very happy Valentines Day!

Ever thought about hanging it up?  Ever ponder the possibility of no longer riding a motorcycle?  For some these may seem like the most ridiculous questions of all time, for others they are a harsh reality.  Why would anyone consider giving up something as rewarding as motorcycling.  Here’s 4 reasons some people give up riding…

1.  Lifestyle changes.

While visiting a forum on Sunday I read of a 30 something who recently became a first time father, and although passionate about riding he understood the inherent dangers associated with motorcycling and therefore made the choice to quit.  For others it may be a new marriage,  a promotion at work that requires more of ones time, or perhaps the loss of a job.

2.  Illness

Dealing with a devastating illness requires the total focus and attention of a person and their families.  More times than not, this leaves one with no time, energy, or capacity to endure the arduous nature of cycling.

3.  Aging

A good friend of mine is currently dealing with this issue.  He says the bike seems heavier, the miles seem longer, and his reaction time just isn’t what it used to be.  As long as he encounters “no problems” out on the road all is fine.  But he questions what happens if something goes awry.  What if he drops the bike and no one is nearby to help, or he can’t make that emergency maneuver in time?  For him the question isn’t how long can he keep riding, but rather how long can he keep riding safely!

4.  An Accident

Many riders suffering from injuries due to a motorcycling accident, disclose that while convalescing they war within themselves about whether they should find a safer hobby.  Some do!

These are but a few reasons one time passionate riders decide it’s time to call it quits.  I am certain for most it is a difficult choice and one which all of us will face at one point or another in our lives.

It’s 5:45 on Sunday morning and a light coating of frost blankets the lawns and cars, throughout the neighborhood.  My newspaper has just arrived, and my first cup of coffee is perfect.  For this moment, all is well with the world.

Today’s plans…

• breakfast with the family.
• complete the holiday decorating.
• turn the compost.
• check out the latest issue of Rider.
• put the Nighthawk in storage.

FYI

Sometime ago I purchased a 1996 Triumph Daytona 1200 with the intent to sell it.   I now have a potential buyer lined up, so hopefully she will have a new home for Christmas.  If you now anyone interested let me know.

I need 174 miles on the RT to reach 60,000 miles.  I want to to do this before Christmas.  Weird I know.

Hope you have a fantastic Sunday!

With cold weather predicted for later this week,  I will spend this Sunday preparing my single car garage to receive my wife’s vehicle, and two of my motorcycles.  Five years ago I moved into a home built in 1907, and although the house has more than enough space, the garage it seems, was an afterthought.  For three seasons of the year our tiny garage is crammed full of motorcycles and accessories that go along with them, but winter is another story.  You see, as the cold winds of winter begin to howl, my wife insists her primary car is the one that gets the garage.  So today will be spent trying to make mama happy.  The other bikes will be moved to storage where they will hibernate, and dream of  rides yet to come.  Have a great Sunday!

Although I prefer to ride alone, there are rare occasions when I will ride with a couple buddies and last night was one of those times.  Both of my sons were home from college for the day and after a nice dinner at one of our favorite eateries, we enjoyed a late night ride through the chilly streets of Springfield.  As the boys have gotten older, those times of sharing life together have become less and less, so when we hang out it is a great delight, especially when we are on motorcycles!

TO  DO LIST

• Cut Grass
• Stack Firewood
• Clean House
• Grocery

The To Do list has been completed, the weather is decent, the RT is full of fuel, and I will see you tonight!   Have a great Sunday everyone, I am  outta’ here!

I have included a link for those of you who may not be able to ride today.  It has nothing to do with motorcycles, but another one of my favorite subjects…  Bikini’s of the Big screen.

I have become accustomed to riding the RT everywhere I go.  In fact, during the spring, summer, and fall, I am rarely in a car.  Riding the bike as my main form of transportation isn’t normally a big issue with my wife, but this day was not normal!

SETTING

Michelle and I were preparing to have dinner at the Pub, a quaint British restaurant located at the “The Greene”, some 30 minutes from our home.  The Pub has a lovely patio, great fish & chips, and a magnificent collection of stout ales.

PROBLEM

With temperatures in the 90’s, under brilliant sunny skies. I was looking forward to an enjoyable ride to our destination, but my wife had other plans.  Seems she was considering this impromptu dinner, a date, and as such, she didn’t want helmet hair.  What’s more, she was wearing a “cute” outfit, which was not conducive to motorcycle travel.

After a brief discussion about this matter, we were soon on our way to dinner… in the car!  (Surprised?  I thought not!)

CONCLUSION

I guess I should be ecstatic that my wife still desires to look “cute” for this middle aged man, and in the end everything worked out.  The food was great, the ambiance, perfect, and the conversation, riveting.  Only one thing could have made this evening a tad bit sweeter;  a little helmet hair!

On December 15, 2008 my sons, Jonathan, and Ethan, left to become part of the United States Air Force.  Tonight they returned home!  Looks like we have a lot of catching up to do.

The week leading up to Father’s Day evoked a great deal of emotion for me.  My father died three years ago, and for some reason, my feelings of loss were very pronounced this year. So today I took a solo ride to visit the places that were important in my dads life, and spent this Father’s day remembering him in my own way.

 Stop One:  The cemetery, about an hour east of Springfield.

Stop 2.  The home he grew up in.

“I remember thinking this yard was so huge when I was a child”.

Stop 3:  His High School, Senior Class President.

“The old school is being razed to make way for a new one.  Glad I got this photo!”

Stop 4:  A place he worked.

“Close to my grandmothers home, my dad would often let us visit her while he went to work.  A lot has changed in that neighborhood.”

Stop 5:  A place we fished.

“We parked here and walked the tracks to a fishing hole full of big bluegill.  Great times!”

My father was not a perfect man, but he worked hard, and loved me and my siblings a great deal.  I regret not telling him more often that I loved him, and that I was grateful he was my father!

Today my sons Jonathan, and Ethan, will complete their tech training as crew chiefs for C130’s.  They will say good bye to Texas, which has been their home since December 2008, and be stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas for a brief span of time before heading home in late June.