| Author | Message | ||
     Tootal |
Indeed. Your card is adorning my mantle along with the rest of my good friends. And a very Merry Christmas to you John! | ||
| Etennuly |
I was kind of surprised and hapified(is that a word?) to get my first official mail from down under, awesome! Thank you again John! | ||
| Crusty |
A Good Day I've been sleeping in a recliner since I got here. I kind of prefer recliners over beds; I sleep better in one. That started after my heart surgery. When I came home from the hospital, I discovered that it hurt for me to sleep flat on my back, but I was OK if I slept on my recliner. It took months before I could go an entire night on a bed. This morning, Titan decided to stick his cold, wet nose up against me to let me know he wanted to go out just as the sky was getting light. I'm kind of glad he did. There is a window facing east that I can see out of from the recliner, and I got to watch an amazing sunrise. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but along the horizon, the sky was a Brilliant orange color that faded as I looked upward until it was a very pale blue color. It was an amazing backdrop for the fields and Gum trees, and it looked just breathtaking. It didn't last long, maybe ten minutes, but it was a wonderful sight to wake up to. I sometimes wish I had good photography skills; that sight was worthy of a really good photograph. Yesterday, Kristyn brought Tylana up to stay with Grandma over the Holidays. She also gave me a ride to Toowoomba so I could buy a Christmas present for Melia. As is usually the case when I go Christmas shopping, I spent a good bit more than I was planning, but I think Melia will like what I got her. I'm going to get Tylana a gift as well. We're going to go to Costco today, and I'm going to get her a very large bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. This year, that's going to be about all the gifts I'll be buying. I usually buy for my friends and family, but I just can't afford to. It would cost more to ship things than the price of the things themselves cost. Hell, just a Christmas card costs $2.55 to mail, and that's a break from the usual letter fee of $2.75. After Kristyn and I got back from Toowoomba, the four of us went out for lunch. we all drove over to Fernvale to the bakery, where I got a Steak Burger. I asked the guy at the counter what the difference was between the steak sandwich and a steak burger, and he told me that the sandwich came on sliced bread while the burger came on a roll. So I asked him which he would order, and he said the Burger, so I said, "Fine; that's what I'll have". It was a true delight. My new favorite meal is a Steak Burger with fried onions and BBQ sauce and nothing else on it. No carrots, tomato, beetroot, lettuce or anything else. Along with an order of chips (fries), and a bottle of Solo Lemon soda to go with it from the Bakery in Fernvale. Ron called last night, and told us that he wouldn't be home until probably late January or maybe early February. I got to trade insults with him, and I gave him a real ration of sh** about it, while he gave the usual lame excuses. I also asked him when the last time was when he was awakened by all the clocks chiming and ringing at the beginning of Time from Dark Side of the Moon. he told me that, while some people may think I'm a nice guy, he knows that under that facade, I'm really an a** hole. I agreed 100%. I just looked out the front window and watched two kangaroos go hopping down the hill. I'm not used to seeing that yet; it still draws my attention. Well, It's time for breakfast. This morning some fresh locally grown watermelon sounds like a good idea. | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Crusty, I just had an idea: I just posted up on QB about planning next year's garden, I wonder if there might be some interesting/tasty plants there that might be good to try back here? Of course, this may be a bad/illegal idea to bring "alien" seed stock to the USA... my GF was born in the DR, last time she went there and back... oh, nevermind.  | ||
| Crusty |
One of Those Days Some days, I can’t do anything right. Everything I touch turns to s**t. Days like that, I just try to hunker down and get through with minimal damage, if possible. But other days, I can’t do anything wrong. I could fall into a barrel of *Shaving Cream* and come out smelling like a rose. I love days like that, and wish I could have more of them. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot more of the former than the latter in my life; which makes it all the more noteworthy when I have one of the good ones. I’m having one of those good days today. The day started off on a beautiful note; I watched a magnificent sunrise. Then, I posted on a couple of forums about a problem I was having with my Laptop. Within a very short time, I got responses that told me exactly what to do to solve my problem. Yay! My day got a bit brighter! I’ve been watching eBay for a 4 1/2 gallon tank to put on my ’05 Sportster back in the US. The other day, I saw one for $100.00, so I put a bid in on it. Usually, they’re going for $250.00 and up unless they’re really banged up bad. My reasoning was that since it’s close to Christmas, not many people would be looking at used motorcycle parts and I might have a chance to buy a bigger tank for a reasonable price. I truly expected to get out bid, but time went by and I was the sole bidder. The auction ended about 3 hours ago, and I’m now the proud owner of a large gas tank for my road machine. Either my logic was sound, or my Guardian Angel decided to help me out (Thanks, Bill!). Anyway, I got it and I’m one step closer to having my true touring Sportster set up to my liking. It’s 93º F (32.9º C), the relative humidity is 35%. It’s hot and dry on December 21. The Solstice. Here, it’s the Summer Solstice; the longest day of the year. The sun came up around 4:30 AM and won’t set until close to 7:00PM. Back home, the sun won’t rise until 7:15 AM and it will set at 4:15 PM. That’s another big Plus for me. I’m aware that back home, they’re having record setting warm temps, but the temps here are better IMO. I’m a Summer person. I prefer heat to cold, and I also prefer days that are longer than nights. I have friends who prefer cold over warmth, but they can have it, as far as I’m concerned. I still don’t know what we’re doing for Christmas. Melia was hoping that Kristyn and the kids would come here for Christmas Dinner, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. It also doesn’t look like we’re going down to Melbourne for Christmas with Roni Ann and Simplice and their kids. But nothing is set in stone. One thing that I do know is that we’ll be eating a Christmas Dinner. If it’s here with just Melia, Tylana and me, or if there are others present, it will still be a Big Meal. I’m going to fix my mother’s Italian Green Beans, which I think everybody will really like. I think I’ll modify the recipe the way my brother David does and see if it comes out as good as his. To describe it, for you poor unfortunates who’ve never had them, it’s a bunch of bacon, crushed tomatoes, garlic and secret herbs and spices cooked in a frying pan until they get right, then, add a bunch of pre-cooked green beans to the mix. let them all cook together for a while. Then cover the pan and let it sit overnight. Heat the whole mess back up just before dinner and serve it hot. As a side dish, it’ll steal the show. I think it’s time to hit people here with another culinary whammy. The beans should do it. Well, Later. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've got some secret herbs in my arsenal... I think I might have to try that recipe. Glad you got that tank, that was a real score! | ||
| Court |
Crusty: What a joy ...... After following your adventure...... To be sitting here in the den.....writing and overlooking The hustle and bustle of xmas in NYC ..... To have your card arrive. One of the kidlets ...... Having convinced his Harvard Ph.D. Advisor that there is a credible reason to spend 8 weeks in Oz is also wandering down under. In addition ...... Badweb's own Paul Rogers is on the move .... Hitting Adelaide today ..... On an epic 6,700km journey around Oz. You guys are having too damn much fun and I .... As much as I enjoy reading your tales ..... Miss all of you. I'm thinking a stroll to the Dinosaur and a lunch, in your honor, would be good today. I'm at the Picasso Scupltures at Mona until noon and BBQ sounds good. Keep having fun. It's so great to hear from you. Merry Christmas ....... Court | ||
| Crusty |
Sleep; Blessed Sleep We’re preparing for Christmas. We aren’t going to travel; we’re going to stay here. Invites have been extended to all, but I think it will just be the three of us. To be honest, it puzzles me that the people on the coast think that 2 1/2 hours is too a long drive to celebrate Christmas. Then again, I am a tramp and such a concept should puzzle me. We discussed our options yesterday and having the dinner seems like the best option. Going down to Melbourne is a bad idea for several reasons. Melia doesn’t want to take the Swift, as the mileage is getting up there on the odometer, and she doesn’t want to kill it. The truck is down because the front end needs attention. Flying down is more costly than either Melia or I can comfortably afford. We’d also have to stay with Roni Ann, Simplice and the two kids in their tiny apartment. Then we really wouldn’t have enough cash to get out and see all the neat things around the city. Plus, Roni Ann and Simplice haven’t got money to burn, either. As far as doing dinner at the coast, there are too many complications, and I won’t go into them. I’ll just say that it’s a bad idea. So having Christmas Dinner here is our best option. We’re going to have turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, Italian style Green Beans for the meal with pumpkin and apple pies for the meal. Maybe we should pick up some Vanilla Ice Cream to go with the pies? I’ll have to talk to Melia about that. In any event, the meal should be good. I don’t know why, but last night, I was exhausted. I was falling asleep during dinner while sitting at the table. I went to sleep early, and slept late this morning. I don’t feel sick or anything, I just feel tired. I still feel tired this morning. I hope it passes pretty soon. Well, we’re about to get out and do a bit of shopping for Christmas Dinner and such, and I need to take a shower, so I’ll have to cut this short. | ||
| Crusty |
Screwey, Ain’t It? Last night, I was falling asleep at the dinner table, went to bed early, slept all night and woke up tired. Tonight, I went to bed at the usual time and woke up at 12:30 AM. laid in bed wide awake for an hour and finally decided to get up. So I’m listening to the Trans Siberian Orchestra on Youtube (quietly; so I won’t wake anyone else). I’ve become obsessed with that Yamaha 900 that’s for sale in Ipswich. I think I’ve figured out a way to get it, but I want to really think it through before I do something stupid and shoot myself in the foot. I think it might be a case of “If I make a few moves with my monthly check and the seller lowers the price a little bit, I can juggle my money and buy the bike. However, I won’t be able to buy Insurance or put it on the road for another month.” Plus, I don’t have any riding gear here. I bet I can come up with some for short money, though. However, if I do get it, will I have the cash to do the things to the Sportster back home that I want to do? The new wheels need to be powder coated and have new bearings installed, along with new brake rotors and tires (don’t forget new brake pads!), I was hoping to get the new tank and front fender painted, and I need to get a Sundowner seat that fits with the bigger tank. And I need to get the mounting racks for the hard bags modified to fit on my bike. Oh; I also need to buy a pair of hard bags to fit on the mounts. Then there’s the Iron Motor. I won’t have the cash to do anything to it. It will just sit in the garage, abandoned. I don’t think I’d feel right if I did that. Of course, I could buy parts for it back home and bring them with me when I return; that way, I’d be able to do it right. But I’d be riding. I wouldn’t have the money to go anywhere, but I’d have a bike that could take me across the country , if I so desired. It has shaft drive, which I prefer to chain drive. Then again, it’s an I-4, and I’m not real big on fours; I prefer twins. But it’s not a bad looking bike. It has hard bags and 1” risers for the bars and a taller windscreen than stock, so it might be comfortable; though I tend to prefer a more sporty riding position… Well, at 2:30 in the morning, I don’t have to make any major decisions. I don’t think I’m going to go for it right now, but if it’s still available in another month I think my next bike will have Yamaha on the tank. | ||
| 86129squids |
Yammie is my favorite of the big 4- that bike should be stone-ax reliable, comfy, and turn-key ready for some more RoadCrustin' down under! Good luck, whatever you choose. | ||
| Crusty |
I just want to share a photo of a billboard near the airport in Gatton.  | ||
| Froggy |
John, you picked a terrible winter to bail on us. The weather here for tomorrow will be the same as it was on the 4th of July  | ||
| Greg_e |
Yeah, probably going to put the battery back in my 9R and go for a ride, it's in the 60's right now. | ||
| Greg_e |
Crusty, just sent you a private message with a link to a donor that might help get you running. | ||
| Greg_e |
Today  | ||
| Froggy |
That is a great view I literally had to turn on the air conditioner, it was sweltering in my apartment. I know I've ridden in the past on Xmas when it has been fairly mild out, but I don't recall it ever being warm enough to ride in my summer gear. | ||
| Greg_e |
The other picture from that location  and a different spot along the way  | ||
| Crusty |
I’m Sick and Tired At 3:00 AM today, I was in the bathroom with a case of the runs. I’ve been sick as a dog all day long. I can’t eat anything and I can’t even drink anything but water; and I can only take small sips of that. I had chills all morning, which eventually became hot sweats. I had a fever most of the day, but that seems to have faded. Melia and Tylana prepared a magnificent feast for dinner, but I’ll have to wait until at least tomorrow before I sample it. I did a bit of reflection, and I believe that this is the first time I’ve been sick on Christmas Day in 65 years. Hopefully, it will pass by the morning. I’m pretty sure that I’m getting better; This is the longest I’ve been able to sit up all day. May you all have the best Christmas you can possibly have. | ||
| 86129squids |
Sorry to hear that, John. I'm having to leave home and travel to Nashville in an hour without my sweetheart, she's been sick for a couple of days now. Have as Merry of a Christmas as you can, that tasty dinner will be good as leftovers too! | ||
| Daddio |
Crusty, sorry you were feeling ill for Christmas, hope you're feeling better soon... | ||
| Crusty |
Boxing Day I’m feeling a bit better. My digestive tract has calmed down and I think I’ll be able to eat and keep it down now. I still have a miserable headache. My head feels like one of those latex balloons that's been blown up for a couple of days; all tired and wrinkly and soft as a rotten melon. My attitude isn’t very good, either. I was feeling pretty depressed on Christmas Eve day, but now I think it might have just been the bug starting to affect me. As I said, my attitude isn’t very good. I’ve been thinking about heading back to the States. I seem to be caught in a Catch 22 here. I can’t travel because I don’t have a bike; but if I get a bike, I won’t have the money to go anywhere. I haven’t given up on the Iron Motor, but it’s going to take a fairly large chunk of money before I could trust it on a ride of any real length. I would like to get it to at least run, though. The final clutch parts are in at the Harley shop. I’ll get them and see if I can get the primary cover on. Then hopefully, I’ll be able to get it to fire. I gave the wiring a good look, and everything looks OK, so if I can just put a jumper on it it should light up. This week should tell the story. I guess part of the reason I’m feeling so (mentally) crappy is that the Troy Bayliss Classic is going to happen about 8 hours away from here in a few weeks. I’d dearly like to see it, but I’ve got no way to get there. I’m a Flat Track lover, and this ranks right up with the Superprestigio in Spain (though neither event is in the same category as the Springfield Mile). Still, it would be a hoot to see a real dirt track race here in Australia. I’m at a loss now, but maybe I can figure something out. One thing that’s crazy about flying places is that it costs almost the same to fly one way as to get a deal on a round trip. Just for kicks, I was looking at flights from Brisbane to Honolulu, and prices were pretty close for one way or Round trip. I hope my stomach really is better and that I’ll be able to keep some food down. | ||
| Crusty |
Mental Stew Being sick does strange things to my mental processes. It also plays hell with my sleep patterns, which is why I’m typing this at 4:00 AM. There is a “Merry Christmas” thread on one of the forums I post on. There is one response, Merry Christmas to those who love Jesus and those who love America. That bothers me. I seem to recall that when Christ was born, the Angels were saying. “Peace on Earth, Good will to men” I would think that on Christmas, the spirit of love should prevail. And, if somebody lives in another country, and loves his own land more than a foreign land, should he not have a Merry Christmas? I’ve got the travel bug pretty bad, right now. I want to see more places. I want to be on the road again.I don’t know where, but I want to be traveling. When I was younger, I used to love traveling to visit family and friends. I still enjoy doing that, but I want to keep moving. I’ve become addicted to movement. I also have a feeling that my clock is winding down. That leads to thoughts about how much do I want to see and do before I check out? Then again, there is always unfinished business; and is it better to pass on with unfinished business, or is it better to have everything accomplished that I wanted to do? I think the ideal is to kick off just as I complete my final Bucket List item. I doubt that will happen, though. One thing I want to find out is if I can make any changes to my Airline ticket. I’d like to stop in Hawaii on my way back to the US. I want to rent a Sportster for a day there, just so I’ll be able to put state #49 on my list. Maybe that means Alaska next summer? I’d like to ride in all 50 States before the end. I seem to be focusing on my particular end to this phase of my existence. Being sick does that to me. Having dodged the bullet twice in the past few years (major Heart surgery and Bladder Cancer), I’m a bit more aware of my mortality than I used to be. My old friend Irving used to say, “Nobody gets out of this alive”. That’s the truth. I’m going to try to get just a little more sleep. I hope I don’t have really weird dreams. | ||
| Crusty |
Jim Today, I got an e-mail from Dondi telling me that she just found out that Jim died of stage 4 Lung Cancer on Christmas Eve. Jim was one of the group of four of us friends who sat together at the Loonie Noonie in Fitchburg. We all have very diverse backgrounds and personalities.There’s Murph, Dondi, me and Jim. As you all know, I’m a bit of a nut case who loves to travel, and I have my own perspective on life. Dondi is a very loving and helpful kind of person. She was constantly giving rides to people who didn’t have their own means of transportation. She is the type of person that people feel safe asking for help or favors. Murph is an Artist and an intellectual. Jim was a quiet and stabilizing influence. He kept us all a little more earthbound when we tendencies to go off in different directions. he was a quiet guy, but he was a good judge of character, and if you listened. had some really humorous observations about things. Although our little group was inclusive and not exclusive, and other people were welcome and would join us for a while, we four were the core. Jim was a Blue Collar worker. He’d worked in Paper Mills for his entire working career, I think. He seemed to be the type that did a job efficiently and without unnecessary drama. Jim had had medical problems in the past. He was on Dialysis for a while and received a kidney transplant. When I was going through my cancer treatments a couple of years ago, he had a way of putting things into perspective. He was a major source of stabilizing advice. We didn’t have long conversations about what I was going through, but he knew how to say things in a way that made perfect sense. None of us knew he had Lung Cancer. We knew he’d had some problem with fluid buildup in his lungs, but that was it. I’m kind of stunned. I didn’t get to see Jim when I was back in the area last November; I figured that he’d be back in his usual seat when I returned from Australia. Jim was a really good guy. I’m really sorry to see him go. | ||
| Pwnzor |
26.5 hours ago we got the call about Shasha. The last matriarchal figure on my wife's side of the family, aged 93. 4 years ago, the week before Christmas I got the call about my brother, aged only 46 years. 12 years ago I held my father on Christmas eve as he exhaled his last breath in my face... I can still smell that room. The seasons pass, and so too our friends, relatives, and eventually it will be us. God's plan is bloody mysterious. I am very sorry for your loss, John. Don't beat yourself up over not seeing your friend. You will see him soon enough and right now is the time for living with every ounce of your effort. | ||
| Alfau |
I have a mental disorder which torments me and everyone that confronts me. I feel confronted all the time. For the most part I am that hermit you mentioned. I look forward to the future because of promises I have read in the bible. While He was on earth Jesus showed on a small scale what will take place. Jesus said and you need to read it for yourself:- John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15 For now your friend is asleep in death. What Jesus said is often distorted by religion. You need to prove to yourself by confirming that the bible actually says it before it is to be believed. Santa Clause for example can't be confirmed. And so it goes. Did you know Jesus cried when His friend Lazarus died. John 11:33, 35 | ||
| Crusty |
Mowing, Movie and Macca’s It’s another spectacular sunrise this morning. The sky is flaming red, orange, purple and light blue with wispy clouds to really bring out the colors. All this happens before the sun is up. A little bit of eye candy as a treat to start a busy day. Today, we’re going to fix the railing on the front (back) steps. I don’t think it’ll be a difficult job, but then again, my carpentry skills are , um, weak. I can usually hit a nail, if you give me a big enough shovel. Back in the late ‘60s, I worked for a house builder for a few weeks. I realized then that my aptitudes lay in other directions. I did manage to give the rest of the crew something to laugh and talk about. Especially the day we were all nailing down plywood for the roof. I hit my thumb so many times (once dead square on center with full force) that they almost fell behind in production from laughing so much. Actually, I’m not a bad carpenter. I tend to be slow and methodical but I usually do a good job that lasts for a long time. But I don’t enjoy the work. My dad loved carpentry, but he didn’t pass that love on to me. Which is kind of funny, because I gave Melia a Skill saw for Christmas. We had been in Bunnings (Australia’s version of Home Depot) a few days after I arrived, and were looking around and she said that she’d rather get tools for gifts than nearly anything else. I noticed that there was no skill saw in with her power tools, so I made a mental note of those two facts. Ron is a mechanic, and I’m a mechanic and we both love tools. Melia has worked as a mechanic over the years, among other things, so figuring out what to get her was easy. Since she has a new toy, she wants to use it. Yesterday, Melia, Tylana and I went to Toowoomba and bought a 4 by 4 (100 x 100) and had it cut in half so it would fit in the Swift to make end posts and today we’re going to replace the rotted end posts that are on the railing. I don’t think it’ll be very difficult. While we were in Toowoomba, we went to the theater and saw the new Star Wars. Here, when you buy tickets for a movie, you get assigned seats. It’s not like in the States where it’s first come, first served. We enjoyed the movie, though Tylana had trouble understanding what was going on. She hasn’t seen any of the preceding six Star Wars movies, so a lot was lost on her. I’m amazed; what 12 year old has never seen ANY of the Star Wars movies? After the movie, we went to McDonald’s for dinner (we’re big spenders, we are!) I haven’t eaten in a McDonald’s since I got here and since it was almost the only place open (there was a KFC, but having been eating turkey for a few days, we opted for Macca’s. (That’s the local abbreviated name. It sounds better than Mickey D’s; I think) So; yesterday was a fairly busy day. The morning was spent mowing grass around the house and drive, the afternoon was spent driving to Toowoomba, going to Bunnings and the movie and the evening was eating a quarter pounder and driving back to Spring Creek. | ||
| Crusty |
Waffling? Hey; ya know how fixing’ the railin’ was gonna be a quick an’ easy job? Hee hee hee… Well; it’s now day two. We’ve spent about four times as much as I thought it was going to cost, but now we know how to do it right and the right side railing has never been so solid. In a short while, I’m going down, and starting on the left side. By nightfall, I’ll be able to say the same about that side as well. I may not be a good carpenter in my mind, but I’m a freakin’ wizard compared to the hacks who installed and worked on the stairs before. I’m also a perfectionist who hates shoddy work. I’d rather spend the money and do it right than have to do it over in a short while. Plus, it looks better when it's done right. In the meantime, I’ve made a decision about the Iron Motor. The same rule applies to it. So I’m going to get it running, then stop. I’ll make up a list of what it needs, then collect parts throughout the summer. When I come back, I’ll change out everything that needs to be changed and bring her back to her former glory. It’s just too painful to keep taking things apart, only to see more parts that need replacing. Melia either knows or can find a place to get the exhaust Ceramic Coated, (she made up a list of Ceramic Coaters for helicopter parts around the Brisbane area a few years ago) and a painter who can do the swingarm and other frame pieces black. She can get them done while I’m back in the States. When I come back next year, I’ll put the new pieces on (which will keep me busy for a while) and the bike’ll be really pretty and ready to roll again. So, in the meantime, what am I going to ride? I’ve got the Roadster back home (which is going to have its own series of changes when I get back), and I’ve decided that a running Yamaha here is better than no bike at all. At the end of January, if it’s still for sale, I’m going to buy that ’95 900. It has hard bags and looks like it’s set up for touring, which suits me just fine. I’ve had this obsession for it since the first time I saw the ad, so if I’m meant to have it, it will be available when I can come up with the money to buy it. I’ll ride it until I go back home, then Melia will ride it until I return. She hasn’t had a bike for a few years and misses riding a lot. She really loved her Softail, but also agrees that any bike is better than no bike. She probably won’t like the 900 nearly as much as her old Evo, but she’ll like it a whole lot more than not riding at all. That’s the way things are looking this morning. Probably by this afternoon, everything will change; but that’s Life. Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. | ||
| Crusty |
Punch Drunks Woman in car: "I'm in a terrible dilemma" Moe : "I don't much like these foreign cars, either!" I want to write something exciting and profound, but I can’t come up with anything. I mean, The railings are fixed on the back (front) stairs; while that’s exciting to me, it’s kinda boring to read about. However, it was one of those projects that keeps growing as you get into it. Once, when I had my house in Leominster, I decided to fix a dripping faucet. It started with less than $5.00 worth of parts to fix the cold water valve. 10 hours later, I had a new sink and faucet, and had put in a new T fitting for the water to the refrigerator and new shutoff valves under the sink. What started as a ten minute job for less than five bucks became a sink replacement with all new everything. It wasn’t the way I really wanted to spend my Sunday afternoon and evening. And it sure wasn’t where I wanted all my available cash to fly away for. Putting in the new end posts for the railings was like that. What I thought would take three or four hours took the better part of two days and cost a whole lot more than we expected. But the railing is solid, there are no termites in it and it looks pretty good to my highly biased eye. Since we used an Australian Hard wood, the termites shouldn’t come back. I got the little parts I need to put the Primary cover on the Iron Motor. Hopefully, all will go well when I try to put juice to the electrical system and the bike cranks OK. If I can just get it to start and run for a few seconds, I’ll be happy. After that will come the Restoration. I’m still trying to figure a way to go see the Troy Bayliss Classic. I hope I can figure out something quick. I’s love to see some Flat Track racing in Australia. Troy Bayliss, who’s promoting the race, has brought over five of the fastest Flat Track racers from the US. It should be some good racing. Poor Titan has my sympathy, He went to the Vet today and got neutered. I had KFC for dinner tonight and now my stomach feels like it’s been neutered. It’s New Years Eve. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! In less than four hours, it’ll be next year. I hope 2016 is as good to me as 2015 has been. I hope that 2016 is a great year for you, too! | ||
| Pwnzor |
Happy New Year John! Fireworks became legal in Georgia recently, so tonight I'll be doing my level best to keep all my fingers and eyeballs attached to my body. Whiskey and explosives... what could go wrong? | ||
| Crusty |
I Have Been Assimilated I lived in Kenya for about six months back in 1980. That’s where I first learned to drive on the left side of the road. It’s a lot tougher than it looks. You have to learn a lot of little things that you don’t expect. The driver’s seat is on the other side of the car. That means that you shift with your left hand. Foot pedals are the same; gas is to the right, clutch to the left and brake in the middle. but you have to look up to the left to look in the rear view mirror. When you come to an intersection, the oncoming traffic is on the opposite side of the road from what you’re used to, and you tend to see oncoming traffic as receding, rather that approaching. When you turn onto another road, you have to be careful to turn onto the left side. This might seem like no big deal, but it’s a lot tougher than you expect. However, I mastered it while living in Nairobi, and relearned it in 1994 and 1997 when I came to Australia. I’m finally feeling comfortable with being in traffic here (notice I ‘m not saying I’m comfortable with driving here). I believe that the best way to learn something is to immerse myself into it. The best way to learn to ride a motorcycle is to ride a lot. The best way to get used to traffic on the left is to be out in it. Eventually, you learn where to look at an intersection. If you get that down as a passenger, then it’ll be a little easier when you start driving. I’ve been driving for a while, now, but not a lot. I’m just now starting to get used to traffic patterns, so I don’t have that constant level of anxiety that was there at first. The nice thing is that I’m out in the country and traffic is light, so I have a little breathing room. I think that once I get a bike and start riding around the area, I’ll get more used to it a lot faster. Now; which bike should I get; the ’93 Yamaha 900 or the ’93 BMW K1 or the Triumph 955, or the TRX 850, or… |
