| Author | Message | ||
     Slaughter |
Don't know how many of you remember me posting about DAnielle Hebert - Canadian composer/musician/arranger/producer/writer that Sunny and I met on a mountain ride back in August. Back in May - she sold everything she owned except her studio gear, guitars and sculpture tools and stones - loaded it all in her van, parked in a friend's driveway - and just LEFT Vancouver on a 1983 Suzuki GS750. For more than 16,000 miles, it has been a HELLUVA RIDE. Danielle's Blog Her Suzuki had given out about the time that she left to Nashville to finish her last CD - and in a way, she was stranded here in So CA but she is among friends. Sunny, me, Ozzie (Doerman here), his wife Melanie - all made sure she had a secure place to stay and operate from during Winter while she caught up on her writing, her music and started to line up some music gigs. The freaking MAGIC in all this seems to be that no matter where Danielle turns, things just seem to get better for her. She played a local gig and a test pilot/friend was so affected by her story, her music that he got "permission" from his wife to GIVE HER his BMW K75S!!! She picks it up today (even with the rain, she WILL RIDE) Now that Charlotte is leaving on HER moto-sojourn, we're having a PAAARRRRTAY in the So CA area for Danielle, Char, and Melanie Doerman sometime after Char heads South out of FMJ's shop next month. Melanie herself had a moto-journey herself last season as posted here by Ozzie Melanie's Blog We have to do SOMETHING for the 3 of them - maybe even nail down a venue and have a concert/celebration! Still in the planning stages. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!! Danielle was so taken by the story of Erik Buell's struggle in the past year, she'd done a bunch of reading - Steve Anderson's Cycle World article, blogs, etc - and staying here and with Ozzie - she became very familiar with the Buell story (and has been riding Ozzie's XB while trying to resolve HER moto-situation) ANYWAYS - she really wanted to use a Buell for her cover art, and more images of the machinery for the liner notes... and it looks like that can happen. We'll all be flying to E B Racing when they can afford the time to roll out a machine for this photo shoot. This is just SO COOL! Yes, she is now riding a BMW but the STORY of Buell has inspired her to FEATURE it on her new CD. There's going to be more (gotta GIT to last few hours of work today before vacation - but today's an exciting day with Danielle picking up her BMW. Not too often that a performer gets a MOTORCYCLE in her tip jar!) | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Great story... take some pics if ya can when she gets her new set of wheels. | ||
| Whatever |
 California will never be the same after I get there... if I can help it... | ||
| Slaughter |
Well... Danielle is right about halfway between here and LA - there's a SLIGHT break in the rain. She's from VAncouver and said this looks just like home for her. We're such weather wimps here in CA! | ||
| Doerman |
She arrived safely (albeit a bit soggy) in LA:   | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
that is a great looking bike...and how much did it cost again... | ||
| Moxnix |
Love them K75S's. What a great story. A jam with the Thunderbolts is in order. Recorded and posted here! | ||
| Slaughter |
You ought to read her blog... that BMW was her tip for a local concert... from a test pilot out here in the desert. DMV gets weird at the declaration of a vehicle as a gift - but it worked. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Wow, just wow, wow, wow! God bless Danielle, for she is an inspiration. And thank you very much Slaughter for bringing her story to us. It's Amazing and Beautiful! It reminds me of the poem Desiderata. Here is part of it: Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism..... .....With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Her story, a story she is sharing, and letting others be a part of, is really wonderful to me. I've been worried about how I'm going to keep my house this year, and then I'm reminded of Danielle's journey. Which reminds me of the poem. And the two help to bring peace and gratitude to my soul. Today, I have a little more joy and wonder at the beauty of life, and the special people you meet along the way. Yes Virginia there is a santa clause, and I'v been giving a gift two days after Christmas  | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Whisper- I'd forgotten about the Desiderata, once had a copy of it- can you post the entire thing? I've always hung poetry, random sayings, etc. on my walls, it'd be good to have that one back... | ||
| Sekalilgai |
great story....good luck ladies! | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Desiderata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. -Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) Vould someone please tell me what year that BMW is. Thanks | ||
| Court |
>>>>>I'd forgotten about the Desiderata, once had a copy of it- can you post the entire thing? You should read my posts more carefully. | ||
| Slaughter |
It is a 94. Interesting note today. She'd been used to her Suzuki and the XB, riding the BMW as if it were a sportbike but today, she actually RODE it and rode it WELL for the first time (note: "IO" was her late GS750 Suzuki - "Beowulf" her BMW)
We'll be seeing many more miles in her future. Especially now that she has a moto-compatible guitar.   | ||
| Slaughter |
You know the really cool thing? The FIRST time Danielle saw Erik Buell - it was as a musician. That was the day that she first met many of us. She only later found out that day that that was THE Buell of the Buell motorcycles. Cool | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Great story and thanks for sharing! Those beemers have a way different center of gravity than our Buells and I can only imagine how intimidating one could feel to someone who does not easily flat foot it. I finally felt comfy on our K75 after putting some miles on our much taller XB12XT, and I am no petite flower (5'10"). Hope she has many good rides on her beemer and it takes good care of her. B. | ||
| Slaughter |
Belinda - the cool thing about that K bike is that it came from an "inseam challenged" friend of ours - so it already had the lower seat. She can nearly flat-foot it. It's lower for her than her dearly-departed GS750. | ||
| 86129squids |
Great stuff!! Moving from a early 80's GS to the'94 K75 Flying Brick would and should be a challenge... IMHO a much better bike to "roundabout" on. | ||
| Slaughter |
Exactly what she's finding out. We're working on a case for her to carry the guitar plus patch cords and a few pedals - and put some D-rings on so she can easily tie it down across the back - and STILL tie other gear on top of it. Interesting challenges to make a moto-musician's travels possible. Now Forrest Robinson - her drummer/keyboardist... we gotta get him riding - but he's probably going to need a trike or side-hack. :-) | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Wow, Steve, fantastic that the bike was already set up for the vertically-challenged. Meant to be. Hope hers has the heated handgrips, they make all the difference on chilly days. We are about due to get the spline greased again on our K75. That was the only major maintenance issue we were warned to get done professionally. Besides that, we do all the maintenance at home, just like the Buells. So, regarding Forest, u can fit a bunch of equipment in a sidecar, I'm due in Costa Mesa for a visit sometime, might be cool to teach in Cali...just sayin'... | ||
| Slaughter |
Don't think grips are heated but she got an amazing gift with the bike, BMW heated pants and vest, hard bags. Better than putting a $20 in her tip jar! If you are EVER in the area, give a shout. If she's still out West, she's always working on new material - and especially working with Forrest on her new stuff. He's an amazing artist in his own right! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Heated grips are an easy after market fix. k75's heated grips are what got me sucked into the a-stitch's aftermarkets for the city x and one of many factors of desiring my uly. Besides having those awesome BMW hardbags (waterproof and light), she's got a heated vest and pants, wow?! She's blessed. Just blessed. WHEN, not IF I'm out that way, I will definitely pm you. Not sure what 2011 will bring but we are looking west. 2010 was all about my family in MN, so grateful for that and still muddlin' thru stuff, but long term we may be headin your way...B. | ||
| Whatever |
I think Beowulf and Piglet will hit it off just great! With a head cold, total chaos at home, a never ending list of sh*t that needs to get done yesterday, and missing my job terribly... I am reminded of WHY I am doing what I am doing... Only wish I had time to read all of Danielle's and Melanie's blogs, but I don't. I have always wanted to be a writer... and I am starting to journal every morning again... this is the opportunity of a lifetime... maybe it is fate, or destiny... but this morning at 4:15 AM I feel I am on the right track... The doubts were plauging me last night... missing the 'love of my life'... some guy I haven't even met yet... yeah, I know, poor me, it is kindof boring... wondering if the guy I am seeing could be 'it' under different circumstances... another great day of packing... and paperwork here... six days to liftoff...  | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Char what is your route to So Cal. If you come through AR let me know. Maybe I could buy you a cup of coffee on the ozarks |
