Thanks, but I'm not ready yet!

My younger brother had a heart attack a week ago today. At age 47, he is too young for this sort of nonsense. In retrospect, his age was a big advantage in his surviving this medical crisis. I'm not going to go into the causes of his illness but I do know that one factor was stress.

As we spoke tonight, I laughingly blurted out that it was time for him to get a motorcycle. He agreed that life was short and that maybe he would look into this. After I hung up the phone, I realized this is exactly what he needs to alleviate some of the stress in his life.

Another friend, an old friend, a good man, is in the process of getting a divorce. His world has been turned upside down and he struggles to keep his family together while being forced to sell his home, so he can pay off his cheating wife. He too, is at a crossroads in his life. A motorcycle is just what he needs to meet a better class of people.

They say you never see a motorcycle parked outside a shrink's office. I'd bet there's some truth to that.

We are the free, the feral, the untamed, the unwashed. But we're also eloquent, thoughtful, generous, kind and considerate. I'd do anything for my brothers and I know they would always be there for me too.

It's important to me to have the time, the freedom and the free will to go where I want, when I want and with whom I want. I need a little inner space to be myself, to explore this side of me. I can be domesticated but I can't be tamed. Call that anti-social if you will, I prefer to think of it in terms of being in touch with one's id, devoid of the social niceties and political repression foisted upon us by pressure groups trying to force conformity and their own world-view.

I have goals and dreams which are mostly about living my life the way I decide to. I want my life to be memorable, to me and others around me. I want to laugh with my friends and have fun.

Life's too short to settle for a crappy one. I'm going to ride as long as I can, knowing that this lifestyle is a healthy part of who I am.

Follow your dreams..."'cause if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there".

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

First ride, 2008

The Open Road Beckons.......




















First ride 2008: Impressions

Sunny, cold
Tires low
Manny & Jay
Bad drivers elicit thrown crackers
Snow melting, falling through sunny sky
Frost heaves 6, front fork 0
Bump, thump, Whoa!
Hang on.
Loud pipes, growly twin
Old friends, new acquaintances
Twisty, turny river road
Snowy fields glisten
Warm sun, cold hands
Tom Turkey napping
Hot coffee, spicy chili
No gas
Late for Whizzer, Bye Jay
Stop for smoke
Purple haze
Hurry, now late!
Gas, home
Hidden smile
Repeat as necessary.

Damn Sexy

I don't care what you think, I still say this bike is DAMN SEXY!

Are you listening?

I'm just wondering if anyone has used the FineTune application that sits on the left side there (go ahead, scroll down to look). If you click on it, you can listen to a playlist I picked out just for you (yes YOU). See? You don't think I do anything for you but I do.

Anyway, there's two different playlists there and I was about to add a third one when I realized I CAN'T REMEMBER ANOTHER PASSWORD! Holy shit. I don't know why I need so damn many passwords. Every friggin' site has its own protocol. Is it six letters and a number or eight letters. My brain RAM is full. I'm going to start carving these into the top of my desk at home. If you break into my house, you can have all the crap on my PC. How's that? Jesus!

So, this may be the end of playlists or I'll have to start over with FineTune. I like this program because it's (say it with me) FREE. I actually found songs there that I can't BUY on iTunes. Hmm. So, I'll try again or, get some vitamins or whatever will help me unclog my brain.

Also, I think we might ride (oh yeah, this is a motorcycle blog, innit?) tomorrow, Sunday. It is forecast to be in the high 40's and it will be warm enough to pull the cover off and put all the parts back together today. I'm going to try to rendezvous with Jerry midday. Not sure who else has their scooter out yet, besides Manny.

So, here we go. Back on two wheels again. Jeez, I sure hope everything still fits...

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

A sturdy stool

Yes folks, at my age, all I want out of life is a good sturdy stool!

This is a shameless plug for a product I bought today at EMS. It's called the Tri-light stool and it is manufactured in Orono, Maine. If you click on the title (tired of hearing that YET?) it will take you to the manufacturer's site.

I was looking at some triangular seated camp seats, or stools, last year at EMS. They were too large to pack on the bike and I didn't like the way that third section snuck up on me, if you know what I mean. The guys in the crowd certainly will. It was a bit like riding a Western saddle.

Anyway, I was goofing off during the day yesterday and I wandered next door to EMS. I saw this small collapsible camp stool and had to have it. My only trepidation was the weight limit (200 lbs) but, I tested it and it did not groan audibly once. The legs are tubular steel and it has a nylon connector in the middle.

Here are a couple of shots I just took. That pica stick (who can tell me what it's used for?) has measurements up to 12" but the overall length is closer to 13".



I know that I can drop this into my saddlebags or bungee it to any part of the bike for a trip. It's light and durable and it will keep me off the ground. The next shot here is the opened stool. It is very easy to deploy.



The absolute best part of this nifty little camping chair is the price. I bought this for $20 at EMS. I grabbed the only one in stock but I bet you can find it online. The mfr. also offers links to retailers so poke around until you find it.

I'll do a test evaluation after its first real use. My teenager predicts that I will forget that it doesn't have a back and I will tumble ass over tea kettle. We'll see.

Stay tuned for more EXCITING product reviews.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket