Copper Chopper

As part of the centennial celebration, Paul Yaffee built this motorcycle which is being raffled off. Called the copper Chopper, it is fully plated in Arizona copper and includes several references to the state.
You can read more here: http://www.arizona100.org/events-projects/copper-chopper

Shed expansion project.

Believe it or not, there are rules in the park regarding the size of the sheds. 10' x 12' is allowed. Mine was 9' x 10' when I bought the place. It is part of the carport, using the carport awning for the roof. I decided to add the three feet toward the east edge of my lot. First I had the cement poured, then the awning extended. With that done, I was able (with the help of friends) to cut the east wall loose, move it, and build filler sections.
As my park model sits on a corner lot, part of the purpose of the shed expansion was to accommodate the Harley. Dave, Mark and I had already installed a roll up door on the north side of the shed. The siding removed for the door installation was saved for the expansion. I was given some other pieces of siding saved from another shed job to use on the other side.
The whole thing turned out pretty good. No - I won't work on your shed. One is enough.

Dirt bike fanatic

In conjunction with attending my Mom's 90th birthday party, I delivered an old rusty piece o' crap CZ to Forrest. He and Kenny have gone overboard regarding their fascination with early 70s dirt bikes. I took a few pictures on my visit.

It's been a while.

The new year has come and I have failed to update followers of events in my life. I'm retired - I don't have to. Besides, I spend more time on facebook now.

Some changes large enough to note have occurred and I thought I should at least mention them here. I no longer live in a motorhome. After the first year, I no longer used it the way I thought I would. I haven't traveled outside the corridor required to travel from Thorp to Apache Junction. The incident with the trailer scared me. The cost to repair the motorcycle and trailer, the time spent waiting for the Harley dealer in Durango to do something, took the fun out of it.

I enjoy life here in AJ. The people that call this home during the "season" have become good friends. The number of months I reside here has extended each year. I may even try to endure a summer here soon.

To that end, I purchased what is referred to as a "park model" - a small, one bedroom, single wide manufactured home that is anchored to the desert. They are limited to 400 square feet, so you can imagine how small it is, but it feels huge in comparison to the motorhome. I now have a full queen sized mattress and a recliner. Wow.

You can see that it has a carport and a shed. The shed affords the luxury of a washer and dryer, ending trips to the community laundromat. For now, the trailer sits in the carport and the bike stays locked up inside. A future expansion of the shed will include the installation of a garage door to allow storage of the Harley in the shed and let me park the truck under the shade of the awning. Speaking of trucks, the 98 Ranger was not an adequate tow vehicle for the trailer, so I found a 97 Chevy Silverado for that purpose. It was one of those finds that make me smile. It has been in the same family since new - father and daughter. Every piece of paper generated during maintenance on the truck was included in the purchase - even the original window stickers. It cost just over $24,000 when it was new. The canopy has never been off the truck. Like all cars that have never left Arizona, there is absolutely no rust.

I miss the spot I had in the park along the back fence. I don't get to watch the birds and bunnies, squirrels and coyotes anymore. There is more road noise here at the front of the park, but I think it will work out fine. Besides, my old neighbor Lois says I can buy her park model when she decides to stop coming down here for the season.

I guess I'll never change - I enjoy horse trading too much. I've never kept vehicles for very long, or lived in one place for more than seven years at a time.

Put up my lights

Overnight ride to Lake Havasu City

I joined a riding group here in the valley called the East Valley Road Rascals. The organizer, Sherry, does a fine job of picking out rides and events to attend. This time we left Saturday morning for Lake Havasu City to watch the Christmas boat parade. It's a big tailgate party along the shore near the London Bridge waiting for nightfall and the arrival of the boats. I'd like to say that I was able to get pictures of the boats, but I'd be lying. I found a setting on my camera for night landscape pictures, but alas, I'm no Cory Parris (nor do I have his camera).

One big bonus included in an overnight motorcycle ride is the opportunity to sleep in a big bed with a full size bathroom just across the room!

On Sunday we headed north to Route 66 and the town of Oatman so we could pet the wild (?) burros. From there we followed 66 to Kingman, had lunch at Mr. D's then headed home. 120 miles of mind numbing, butt numbing hiway 93 to Wickenburg.

Everybody made it home safe, with only a couple visits from law enforcement (not me).

Acres of chrome, paint and big engines.

Kaiser Darrin roadster

 Dave and I went to the final Goodguys event of the year and wandered through acres of hot rods, rat rods, trucks and sports cars. Dave took pictures of every Studebaker entered and searched in vain for trim pieces for his Starliner at the swap meet.

I think the Lincoln Zephyr flathead V-12 is a piece of art.

Lincoln Zephyr flathead V-12