It's about time.

Today I took the time to wash the bike. Sadly, not to remove the road grime from the annual ride with Steve Lindsay, Rob Goldbecker, Pat Murphy and David Lust, but rather to remove the vestiges of the latest dust storm. Hopefully that situation will change next year.
Makes me sad to look at the bike sitting in the shed waiting to go out and play. It's just too hot. It was too hot to wash the bike (110 degrees at 2 p.m.), but wash it I did. Not well, but washed.
Tonight is the first Motorcycles on Main Street event of the season. The city closes off five blocks of  Main Street in the heart of downtown Mesa. The bikes park Sturgis style and everyone wanders the streets looking at bikes and sampling the fare of local restaurants and bars. Live music blares from a different band on each block. I don't expect a large turn out.
So this afternoon I'll don long pants and boots, helmet and gloves to attend the gathering and to enjoy a slice or two or three at Queen's Pizza. I'll walk the street and renew old acquaintances, admire other bikes freshly relieved of the latest layer of dust and remember why I ride.

They make good neighbors.

Can't sit around and do nothing while I am staying with my son Thom. With the help of his uncles, Ken and Boone, a section of fence got replaced. It was only 26 feet of fence, but it took three days, 12 beers, 4 steaks, four cigars and a couple hundred dollars to finish. Ken had the pre-manufactured gates. That was a real time saver.

One week

Because I was having so much trouble posting with the old "new" format, I basically gave up on my blog. This new "new" format seems much more user friendly and I'll try to add some posts.

I am in Washington now in preparation for the annual motorcycle ride with Steve, Rob, Dave and Pat. It appears that everyone will make the ride this year, the first time in four years I think. This year we are revisiting some of our favorite roads from past rides (excluding British Columbia). We will head north and east from Olalla, taking the North Cascades Highway (US 20) - the northern route across Washington. Our first day of 365 miles will end at Omak. That will be our second longest day going strictly by mileage. The second day of 265 miles will take us north through Tonasket, along the Canadian border, drop down through Republic, Kettle Falls, back up to the border and down to Colville. Day three is 289 miles through Metaline Falls, Chewelah, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and east to Coeur d'Alene. We may take a side trip to Mount Spokane. Our fourth day of riding will get us to Walla Walla, Washington, via Pullman and Kahlotus - 292 miles. We will enter Oregon on the fifth day, headed for Enterprise, but most of the day will be spent going northeast through Lewiston and the Spiral Hiway. It will be a short day, only 250 miles. 293 miles from Enterpeise to Burns on Day 6. On the seventh day we will ride 389 to The Dalles on the Columbia River. One of Rob's favorite places. The ride will take us thru John Day and the Umatilla National Forest. Three hundred and thirty-one miles to get us home, passing Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier. I imagine that by the end of the eighth day and 2500 miles, out butts will be sore, but we'll already be planning the next ride.

I will post pictures here and try to link my blog to facebook.

Absent

I have missed the ability to add new posts to my blog over the past few weeks. Blogspot changed the format and did not make allowance for adding new posts. Repeated requests for help went unanswered. Luckily, I worked my way around the roadblock and, for now, am able to once again post to my blog.

Lucky you.

Now I just have to remember what it was that I wanted to post...

Haven't done enough hiking

Haven't posted on my blog much either, or played much golf. Haven't played tennis in years.

Did finally go on a hike yesterday. I tagged along with Dave and Jim as the headed up Syphon Draw in the Superstition Mountains. This is the path most take to climb to the top of Flatiron. I won't be doing that. Gary (another park friend) made it to the top 25 times last season and had has topped out six times already this year! Of course he is part Canadian mountain goat.

Another tattoo

I guess they are addictive, because as soon as this one was done, I was thinking about the next one.

Lady Luck because I have been so lucky in life. Even my marriage was good because together we raised such great kids. I was lucky to get the job at the shipyard - it allowed me to retire at 55. I have been lucky to make so many good friends. I have been lucky to be so healthy.
I was never lucky enough to get a hole-in-one though....

Bound for Arizona

Leaving on Monday. I had a nice visit. Thanks to Thom and Ross for giving me shelter. Seven weeks of living out of suitcases will be enough.