My brother is a rolling stone...

Ross got sent to Nanana, Alaska to oversee the restoration of the local police station. He called Patti to say he had arrived safely and that it is snowing.

I'm going to Everett on Sunday to have lunch with the kids and my Mom.

Happy birthday Thom!! (10/29)

What's going on?

My almost wife (Paige) is upset with me in that I have not been posting on my blog regularly. I always thought "no news is good news" but I guess that doesn't apply to blogging.
One reason I've not been blogging is that I never remember to either take or use my camera when I am out doing whatever it is that I am doing. We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Luckily for all concerned (you and me), I don't have a thousand words in my head.
Last weekend was spent in the Marysville area. I planned on visiting my Mom and my sister and attending my 40th high school reunion. The possibility of staying at the Tulalip Casino hotel was put asunder by the $240 per night room rate. I did visit with Mom and attended the reunion picnic, but was unable to visit with Tom and Mary. There was a mix up (on my part) regarding which day Mary would be returning from San Diego. Oh well, I'll see them in Arizona in the spring.
The reunion was the first I have attended since graduation. It was well organized and it was a lovely day on the lake. A few people were recognizable and a pleasure to see again. I rode by our old house and the location of the old high school, then left. I didn't forget anything for which I need to return.
I returned to a sorrowful house. Patti and Ross' 13 year old cat Reynolds passed away. They are both pretty upset. Reynolds was a feral cat that Ross rescued. He followed Patti around like a little shadow. He ran and hid from just about everyone else. I tricked him in to thinking I was Ross a couple times and got to pet him a little. It was a game I'll miss playing with him.
This weekend has been spent riding. One hundred- sixty miles on Friday on back roads in and around Yakima, many of which ended in gravel and necessitated U-turns.
Today's ride was to Wenatchee sticking mostly to well known highways. The run on I-90 to Ellensburg from George was in to a steady head wind of about 25 miles per hour. It was a tiring ride.
One of the purposes for both rides was to visit the local Harley Davidson shops. I look forward to returning to the Phoenix area and visiting large, fully stocked Harley shops again. I'm sure the limited riding season plays a part in the economics of operating a shop, but Sound Harley Davidson in Smokey Point seems to be able to make a go of it as a pure Harley shop. The people at Owens HD in Yakima are friendly and helpful, but their resources are limited. I was not impressed with the operation of Legends HD in Wenatchee and the prices on the displayed bikes seemed very high.
Okay Paige, that's what I've been doing.
Now I can get back to using my computer for it's real purpose - looking for a love life and parts for my Harley.

Visitor

This guy was on my kitchen counter tonight.

A little Northern Exposure

Took a lazy ride along the Yakima River through Cle Elum to Roslyn for lunch.

Some of you may remember a television show called "Northern Exposure" about a New York doctor working off his school loan in the small Alaskan town of Cicely.

Well, as far as I know, Cicely, Alaska is imaginary. The show used Roslyn for the outdoor shots and had a set in Bellevue or someplace for interior shots.

Attempts were made years ago to visit Roslyn during shootings, but without success. The "hot set" signs are no longer needed.

The large painted advertisement for the Roslyn Cafe was modified to "Roslyn's Cafe" for the show, but has been returned to it's original glory.

I got to town just after 2. That's important because that's when "Village Pizza" opens. She makes her own crust dough and sauces. Yummy.

Check out weenerbagotails to see Dave's new gas tank. Forrest painted it and Doug finished the design in gold leaf (the same guys that painted my bags). It's a replica of a tank design used on a 1933 Harley that Dave saw in the museum in Milwaukee.

Got my stripes

I don't know if I earned them, but I got them. Forrest did a great job on the repair and laying the pearl on the bags and fender, Doug followed thru with my Maltese Cross design on the bag lids and the stripes on the fender. Beautiful.

Mike and Vicky had Dave, Paige and I over for dinner last week. Great steaks Mike!

Dave and I rode to Port Orchard for coffee this morning. We met Mike and Chuck at Tully's. Nice to talk about everything except work with these guys. Everyone feels better after they retire. Chuck just got back from umpiring Little League regionals in California and Mike is heading down to the family ranch in California tomorrow to do some shooting.

I'll be packing up and moving back to Thorp tomorrow. I'll make one return trip to this side of the mountains to attend my 40th high school reunion on the 12th of September. Don't know why I'm going for sure, I have not attended any earlier reunions.

moved

I've moved to Bremerton. Forrest is my host. He will also be repairing the rear fender on the bike. I purchased a new "Tail Bagger" kit from CycleVisions and my new hard saddlebags actually hang straight on the bike. I hope to get some pinstriping done, too.
Accommodations here are good - I have water, sewer and 30 amp electricity. Three things I didn't have at Ross and Patti's. HOWEVER - I don't have cable tv or internet access. Two things I did have at Ross and Patti's.
The weather is supposed to be acceptable on the wet side of the state for the next week or two. That will be just right. I'll head back to Thorp for most of September, then be on my way to Apache Junction.
I thought time would slow down when I retired, but the summer has flown by.

My adopted home in Thorp

A few pictures of my summer home in Thorp. Ross and Patti are gracious hosts. I am lucky to have the opportunity to share their "park".