2010 Thoughts and Rants...

Another one bite the dust..

Government still sucks, unemployment rate still hoovering around 10%..much higher in places..National debt ever increasing..China raised interest rates..Question..what is .5% of 4 Trillion dollars..Not even gonna go there..The people spoke out in November and tossed a few of the bums..Not the ones we needed to but a start..Willie spoke out louder than most..proud of you brother..

Things I learned this year..

Middle aged white guy's can't get help with health care cause it is known before we are asked we have too much..and if we go ten toes up it is one last dissenter to deal with..

The medical establishment and drug makers will never find a cure for cancer or aids..there is far to much money in it..much more cost effective to just keep you alive a little longer..

Aliens had to come and kick start our evolution..we are far to lazy to have done it on our own..and the history channel say's it's so..

Nostradamus was pretty cool..

San Fransisco Giants are the world series champs..ya baby..

California still hasn't fallen in the ocean..and we still for all our woe's have wraps on cool..

Global Warming is the reason for the far cooler temperatures and all this pretty snow...According to a tree hugger on Fox News..damn..

Al Gore ran out of carbon credits or lost them in the divorce..where ya at now Al..

Harley still has it's head above water..tough choices and changes..that's free enterprise..

Wonder how the riding's gonna be in the land of Oz this summer.. 

Ever though they are on the government banned list I still enjoy greasy burgers, chili beans and pork burrito's..

Working harder to make less is becoming habit forming..still have to smile and laugh..

Riding still ends all bad things for long enough to get over them..ride hard my wayward friends...

It's ain't no thing but a damn chicken wing...Happy New year..


A Rat Bastard...

Glimmer

Morning light creeping through the window..
Sound of the garage door as it opens..
Glimmer of chrome and paint..
Smell of gas and oil, leather and sweat..
Rubber creaking on concrete..
Jiffy spring pulling taunt..
A pull on the choke and five easy twists..
Second kick to life and the rumble..
Power, vibration and sound..
Slight pull of the clutch..
Loud clack of 1st gear..
Pull of torque and horsepower..
Roar of the pipes echo..
Whine of the road under your soul..
Feel of the wind on your skin..
Freedom....

Chrismas with Taco...

It was right around 1984 living in a small burg just out side of Fairfield California...Been a wild spring and summer..meet the Kleppie and he introduced me to the Taco..famed in his exploits..The Klep finds a working payphone sometime during the day on the 24th..Weather had been rough but we a couple day's of Sunshine ahead..He whispered over the phone..Party at Taco's..been burning oak in the pit..bring your scooter, the old lady and some gobblers..dead and plucked por favor....

Knowing well in advance that there would be no drive home I packed the ex in the camper..stopped by Vons and grabbed the two biggest birds they had,,,a mix of brews in large quantities and a gallon or so of Jack..bought me a Santa hat for the ride, kicked over the pan and rolled towards Martinez..Sun shining bright off the chrome...Hohoho it's gonna be a biker Christmas..

As I roll across the Carquinez bridge I swear I smell oak burning..as we make the swing off the 680..past my favorite Food & Liquor..and into the depths of the old end of town..as I turn the Pan down Taco's street I see a line of Chrome and hear the stereo cranking out Bad Company...I pull in beside the Lizards new Dyna to a slew of Hi-Fives and hugs...and the Taco man sitting on his wooden thrown..or the stump to the rump smiling...Merry Christmas...Bro...

As evening rolls in and the sounds of loud pipes and laughter echo in the night..The Kleps sitting back picking the Dobro by the firelight...I sit back in the dark soaking in sounds..Brothers and Sisters dancing around..as the night winds down..

The morning sun breaks through the left over fog in my mind..Christmas and Harleys..Turkeys and beer..damn fine day I can't wait for new Year.....Merry Christmas to all and to all a great time...

Ratster...







 

The Bubbling Point

Name that fender...when all else fails build a bike..Got parts and pieces and whole bikes laying around..time to get past the Grinch mood..Bhah Humbugs need to go..Break out the wrenches and get in the winter wonder what the hell it will look like come spring mood...Here we go...

Can you make that burger rare..

Mental mind fuck of a day..heading to the high desert to twist some wrenches and attempt to make a living..damn..been in a funk and decided at the last second to pay a driver to drive my work truck and ride the glide..me and the glide are still working things out so a little bonding time might help..in fact might even be a lesson to me..longer story than this believe me..Weathers good to go..later than I wanted start but we are on the road..

Couple of hundred miles over went smooth and easy ride wise,,I really should have stuck to riding..love the high desert and about to make it my new home..in fact sooner than later..roll in to town around 2pm and check in..talk with my client and then finish my personal version of foot in mouth disease..one of my finer qualities..around 4pm decide to cruise a little..let my mind relax..I see the sign on I-15, Vegas...151 miles..damn I could sure use a good burger...

Now slowing I eased into the relaxed mode..mind focuses on the road..Niel Young's is belting out Like a Hurricane on the box...and the mile markers fly past..I see the lights in front of me damn it went to fast as I pull into the Hard Rock..Burger please..make it rare..

Time at times is just something that gnaws at the heart of you..never enough,,always rushing to meet it,,late is not an option..I realized time is something we have little of..rush to get back I have to work..I put down my burger..enjoyed a fry and sipped my sweet tea..what's the rush..I enjoyed..walking through the casino and out to the bike...cool of the desert winter settling in around me I caught a glimpse on another world another time..I slowing released the clutch soaking in what means to be free..and rode slowly into the night...on my time...       

Cold on the Mountain...

Cold but full of thought,,just as it should be..Seems I don't have time to ride until my few remaining working braincells scream..Ride...

It's been that kind of year..very little seat time..why, to much time hustling work..listening to the talking heads telling us how much better it is and wondering where the hell they are..Little shit turns big at times, things that don't mean crap turn important..we forget our roots..search for answers that lay within easy reach..or are sitting in the garage on a jiffy stand..wondering where we have been..

Glides been a garage king..seems to like it, warranty is still strong..Rough day, week or couple of weeks and I walk by it everyday..Not thinking of  riding but stressing on shit I might be able to change or might not..Life's works like that when you let it take control..rain clouds have gathered so I got an excuse..easier to sit braindead in front of the box than to take the cure..Not today, I have to ride...break out full lid and leather..snow ride..

Light sprinkles as I back out of the garage...Crank up that sweet 110ci...as I notice the dude across the street, hands out shrugging his shoulders with a baffled look on his face..I smile but he never saw it..as I twisted it back,,,to feel squealing rubber beneath me..the first real laugh in a long time rolls out towards the night..

Rain splatter on and off as I reach the bottom of the hill..Knowing this ain't smart I grab another gear...up we go..a little to hard and maybe way to fast we climb..Concentration takes over as worries fade..working the throttle like a fine turned guitar feather it in power it out..Feel road...the Glide wiggles and slides but never let's go...The little light rains turning to snow..

I know it's cold but it never crosses my mind..we fly by the snowline at 5000 feet..my destination is well with reach as I kick down the gears and feather the brakes a small twisty road way off to the left not well traveled and mostly forgot..The snows standing 2 maybe 3 inches deep straight up we climb...The Glide slips and it slides but never lets go we reach the top and pull to the peak..Look to the west to see light below..Me and the Glide a light dusting of snow..

Mind a little clearer..or as good as it can be..dripping leathers hanging in the garage..coffee perking..fire warming my bones...smiling....ride on....   

 

Bye Gus...

Didn't know him as well as I should have..Heard Friday there had been a wreck, bike versus car and the rider died just down the road from me..Down a road I travel every chance I get..One of the guy's from the shop had driven by and told me it was that dude with the cherry red bike that was with your buddy Ernie a few weeks back..Damn it..

I had rode with Gus and Ernie a few times..we meet way back and shared the bikes and cars stuff..I'm thinking what to say once I knew it was Gus and need to make the call to my Bro..The Dirty one was on his way..We talked about Gus a bit..he was riding at 100mph plus..Good stretch of road I have done it, most of us who ride this area have at one time or another..Car pulled off a side road, misjudged his speed..He never knew what happened, it was over before it started..

Family and friends had a get together last night to remember Gus..I got dragged along, not something I would attend normally..I am glad I did, it makes you think of what you leave behind and happy to have what you have..if that's just another day..Got to meet the wife and kids,,here stories and see tears shed..Made me for a second wonder what he was thinking..Then I realized I know what he was thinking..all who ride to some extent do..

It's a sad way to really get to know someone..It makes you see what you missed by not taking the time..Gus ride free my brother, maybe someday we can do it again... 

When Shovelheads attack....

In 1966 the gods of Harley Davidson introduced the Shovelhead..

Now Shovelheads were mean little mothers..loved the taste of Honda's..Triumphs... and other hot machines of the day..Had a couple of years of munching everything and anything in sight then as the hostility built along came AMF..You know what that stands for boy's and girls..Class and integrity go out the window,,

So AMF who were well know for there bowling ball but no balls set out to change the image of the name..and they did just not quite the way they had planned..The dirty greasy bike image that most of us enjoy was to be gone..They planned to bring Harley to the mainstream scumbags..away from the brand loving true scumbags..Well with their lacking skills at anything other than building golf clubs and penis rackets...I meant tennis silly people..

Everything imploded..Quality went even farther down the tubes..The oil never started to seep...it just ran..the first few years were a disaster..but those who had the addiction stayed true..We wade through the oil puddles to remain true..

So I have had Panheads, Evo's..Sporty's..never had a Knucklehead but dated a couple and worked with many...and in 1981 Willy G..made the move, kick the brand back to life then did away with the Kicker..He stayed true to the brand and still managed to bring in the crowd AMF craved...and did away with the oil leaks..vibrations and funky seats..well in some cases..The bottom line to the history of the Shovel..I can related..We can argue what the best motor is, or the best design..All I know is the best days of my life were the times I was attacked by a Shovelhead...

Dealing with it..

Ever have a headache..One that goes on for a month or more..Ever hand your doctor cash and he just keep putting his hand out wanting more..Now I got to be feeling like pounded shit to go to the Doctor but have been a few times in the last month, gave them all kinds of fluids..some needed and some not so important..Been radiated..loaded with drugs..un loaded with drugs, told I was taking the wrong drugs stop..It's just a fucking headache right..

So if my damn mechanic had blown it 4 or 5 times I would turn the wreck in on the lemon law..found out I can't do it with human or almost human body parts..Who needs a damn head anyway..Oh and I'm sitting in the chair in the picture..I'm hanging around but not like that..So I'm thinking I need a new mechanic..Without my fair share of NoBama care I got to fund all this shit out of pocket..That does limit the total amount of care you get..by tons..

Riding works,,,it seems to cure most ill's but got to work..Got my special K doing her damn-est..but she is learning you can lead a jack ass to water and all he wants is whine..I got the cure..all I need is work, life and the rest of the happy horse shit we all endure to back off..a never ending tank of fuel and some sleazy motels and greasy burgers...Pack it up K..let's go..

April 23rd 1980..siting in plane on a tarmac in Germany, locked and loaded ready for war..Mission would have been Iran..It's as close as I would come to war as I look around the plane and think of the people who I would trust with my life, those of taught me...those who matter in a time of unknowing..

Staff Sargent Wayne Johnson.. My drill..could not sing cadence but knew how to make boy's into men..

Staff Sargent James Davis..Sat me down and talked to me one day at lengthen..Never understood you until we boarded the plane..

Specialist Terry Allen..my friend still today..Hogwaller Ky..clown and radio man deluxe..

PFC Lafayette Gross..Being in the field was a kick..you proved the disbelievers wrong didn't you..a man of his word..

Sargent Greg Kanhi..been here before,,grabbed the bull by the horns and took the lead..many were great full to you that day..

And the of the 2nd and 4th infantry..Drive on..

Thanks to all who serve our great country and there family's who support them..Freedom lives on today from the sacrifices all who have served make..God Bless America..