Day 5 - The Vespa

The second important bike in my life was a motor scooter. A Vespa 160 GS. It belonged to a friend of by brother who was under orders to sell it because he had broken the rules once, or very many, too many times.

This was a disaster waiting to happen. Too much power, too little brakes, and absolutely no suspension to cope with the streets of San Francisco. Those little tires were never meant to deal with the craters euphemistically called pot holes.

The tiny tires also meant that cornering was always a challenge because leaning it too far over meant that it would scrape the bodywork. This would lever the back wheel off the pavement if one were not careful. Centrifugal force would immediately take over and fling the scooter and rider off the street and into the nearest stationary object. Ouch!

I didn't care. It was fun to blast through traffic, cutting in and out and in between the bigger cars and trucks. It was the '60s, the Haight-Ashbury generation, and all young people in San Francisco were supposed to act crazy!

The little wheels also meant that it was prone to doing wheelies whenever going up one of those famous hills. I once had a girl on the back and let out the clutch too fast. The Vespa wheelied, she fell off the back, hurled many bad words at me, and walked home. Alas, I never saw her again.

I did ride it to Yosemite one time. Remember, this is a 160cc machine, not the 50cc of my little Honda so I was not quite as crazy. Until the ride home …

There was a Corvette coming down the Altamont Pass at the same time I was. Now a Corvette and a Vespa are not usually in the same competition class but where he had the power, I had the maneuverability. I was cutting in and out, lane splitting before it was legal, doing anything I could to get ahead. Maybe he saw me or maybe he was just in a hurry but I was having the time of my life!

Until …

The engine seized!

Remember those little wheels? Let me tell you that they do not offer much stability when they are not turning. I managed to grab the clutch and keep it upright while I coasted to the side of the road. 50 miles to home in North Beach and I was wondering what I was going to do. Having nothing to lose I started kicking it over and over until it miraculously started. It must have overheated and seized but was able to restart once it cooled off. It didn't run very well but it got me home.

The following weekend I took it over to my friend Dan's place because he had a garage I could work in. I took out the engine and carefully cleaned it off so I could disassemble it. Then left it out on the sunny sidewalk to dry off while I went into his apartment to make a sandwich. He came in and said, “Wow, you've got it back together already?”

“No, I'm waiting for it to dry off so I can work on it.”

“Well it's not out there now.”

I ran out and, sure enough, it was gone. Vanished!

I called around but a replacement engine was more than I could afford so I sold the body for a little money and became a regular patron of the MUNI, San Francisco's bus and trolley system.

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Day 4 - My first Honda

Looking at a digital album of the motorcycles I've owned I'm amazed at the variety of interesting bikes I've had the pleasure to ride and the vast amount of adventures I've had on them.

Street bikes, dirt bikes, touring bikes, and what's come to be known as “adventure” bikes. Mostly Hondas but a smattering of Brit and Euro bikes to add flavor.

My first bike, a Honda C110. 50cc of awesome power! My dad wouldn't let me have a driver's license but did allow me to purchase this tiny tiddler.

It was a magic carpet for me. I used to sneak out of my bedroom window at night and push it down the street so he wouldn't hear it start. I would go up to Skyline Drive and rode along the ridge with the lights of San Francisco beckoning across the bay. I'd go for hours and miles until I was exhausted. Then return home to push it into the backyard, climb back through the window, and fall asleep to happy dreams of adventure.

The following summer, after convincing my parents that I wasn't crazy, I rode the bike down the Coast Highway (Rt 1) all the way to Disneyland. It took me 2 days to get there but I was in heaven. After a couple of days roaming around L.A. I got on and rode up to Yosemite. Trust me, the Tejon Pass is 10 times as long when you only have 5 1/2 horsepower. My aunt and uncle lived in Merced so I stopped there for the night.

I got in late and didn't want to wake anyone so I spread out my sleeping bag on the front lawn and fell asleep. My uncle liked to tell the story about how he thought one of his kids had left their sleeping bag out and was very shocked when it let out a scream when he tried to pick it up.

They fed me breakfast and offered opinions about the sanity of going anywhere, let alone Yosemite, on my little bike. However, I was not to be deterred and left in high spirits.

Past Briceburg the the old Yosemite Railroad roadbed parallels the highway on the far side of the Merced river. Since my bike had a high pipe it must be a dirt bike, right?!?!

Bouncing along the rutted and washed out path it was wasn't long before I went over the side. Luckily the bike only weighs ~160 pounds so I was able to drag it back up the bank and head back to Briceburg. Then up to Yosemite and my first of many, many visits to the valley medical clinic. They patched up the tear in my arm and offered their opinion about my mental capacity. It was beginning to seem like a familiar chorus.

A couple of nights camping out in the valley and hiking around the falls with my Kodak Instamatic made me feel the stirring of the great wanderlust that continues to this day.

It all started with a bike so small that it wouldn't get a second glance these days. But it was the start of a wonderful relationship between me, Honda, and the world!

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Day 3 - Fire

I just read an interesting article on preventing California wildfires by Sashi McEntee, mayor of Mill Valley, CA. She states that people must take direct responsibility for their circumstances. Blaming climate change or other factors does not reduce the need for “Vegetation management, Evacuation planning, Early detection and alert systems, and Neighborhood preparedness”

I recall all the people who cheered the old ladies who chained themselves to trees and said something like, “Every tree is precious!”. There was another woman in Oregon who built a tree house and sequestered herself in it to prevent it from being cut down. Admirable at the time but creating a policy that has come to haunt us now.

Every tree is not precious. Some have to go so that others may stand. Nature takes care of this in a natural manner but humans seem to think they know better. No logging to thin the forest, no roads to create fire breaks, no natural fires to clear the underbrush.

Who or what will save the forests from all these good intentions? The Law of Unintentional Consequences dictates that the more we try save nature, the more we will destroy it.

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Day 2 - The Book

Sitting down this morning I wrote ~250 words on the merits and limitations of a Vino 125 motor scooter for an internet forum. Good, but not what this writing challenge is intended for.

I am proposing to write an educational tech book. The premise is that most books teach in isolation. As if any real world technology was an island unto itself.

There are plenty of books to teach the Angular framework. They help you setup the environment and show you how to write Hello World to the console. Which is very nice if you think there are any jobs for Hello World writers.

The real world demands that you write your program, write tests for your program, and integrate it with the work of others. You have to keep a record of your work in progress, check the work of others, and attend a daily meeting where you explain your work. If all you have been concentrating on are the basics, your first day on the job will be like trying to take a sip from a fire hose!

I've never found a book that brings it all together for the reader. Time will tell if I accomplish this but I'm going to give it my best shot!

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100 words for 100 days

One hundred words doesn't sound like much until you have sit down and write them. Then it seems like staring down a very long and dark tunnel. In fact, it isn't such a big deal. I simply have to have some kernel of an idea and then let the words follow one another onto the page.

The premise is simply this, 100 words for 100 days. No breaks, no excuses, no “I'll do 200 tomorrow”. Of course anything over 100 is OK but it buys no future exemption for a missed goal. 100 * 100!

See, it's not really so hard. Already I'm over 100 and I've hardly begun to babble

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Death March Tours Quiz #2

Death March Tours is gearing up for another season of fun and mayhem. To get ready for your next adventure answer all questions honestly and keep a note of your score. 

1) What is an MT21? 

• A) Tire 
• B) Missile 
• C) A mountain. 

2) When using a roll chart, on which side of the handle bars is it best mounted? 

• A) Left hand side 
• B) Right hand side 
• C) In the middle

3) When riding off road on gravel with fully inflated tires, is it best to ? 

• A) Lower air pressure 
• B) Add a little more air 
• C) Find an alternate route 

4) When riding along a very narrow trail with a drop off to one side, is it best to ? 

• A) Send your riding buddy along the trail first to see how he does. 
• B) Slightly lean your bike away from the drop off side, while counter balancing your bike with your body weight. 
• C) Place the bike in neutral, and try to walk it out. 

5) While riding in an event you notice a rider with a flat tire, do you ? 

• A) Stop to help them 
• B) Close your eyes and hope they go away 
• C) Mark their position on your roll chart so you can advise someone at the next check point 

6) You're pulling the best wheelie of your life in front of a large crowd, when you notice that you're running out of road. Do you ? 

• A) Push the cut off switch on your bike 
• B) Pull in the front brake and push down on the bars 
• C) Roll off the throttle and apply a little rear brake

7) You're riding along some twistie country lanes, when you come to a Harley rider broken down. Do you ? 

• A) Stop to help them 
• B) Ride on by while laughing loud enough for them to hear you. 
• C) Stop and grab your cell phone to call your buddies up, so they can all come over and have a look

8) You've just fallen off your bike and it's leaking gas on to some dried out grass. Do you ? 

• A) Pour some water on to the leaked gas to help break it down 
• B) Set fire to it, and wait for it to fully burn off 
• C) Dig up some dirt and cover the grass over

9) You come to a road sign which reads. "Not recommended for motor vehicles, enter at your own risk" Do you ? 

• A) Give your riding buddy the thumbs up and go for it.
• B) Knock the sign down, and wait for some unsuspecting motor home driver to come along. 
• C) Turn around and find an alternative route 

10) You're riding along a forest service road when all of a sudden a cat sized rodent jumps out in front of you directly in your line of path. Do you ? 

• A) Swerve in to the direction the animal came from 
• B) Open the throttle and try to ride over the rodent 
• C) Slam on both brakes and hope for the best

11) You're all alone and 29 miles from your camp site in the middle of a forest when you get a rear flat tire. You don't have a spare tube or any way of fixing the flat, but you do have some duct-tape. Do you ? 

• A) Wrap the tape around the tire and wheel and ride back to camp at a slow pace. 
• B) Remove the rear tire and wrap the tape around the wheel rims, and ride back to camp at a slow pace 
• C) Throw the duct-tape at that Harley rider that just blew by you, you remember the one you didn't help from question 7.

12) Is it easier to ride a bike with a ? 

• A) Front flat tire 
• B) Rear flat tire 
• C) Remove the air from the non flat tire so both are flat and level

13) You've just rode 200 miles through a desert and your air filter is as clogged as a Dutch man's feet. You have done a quick filter clean with some gas from your gas tank, but need to oil it. Do you ? 

• A) Use some baby oil from your bag of toiletries 
• B) Use any remaining oil off of your chain drive 
• C) Use some oil from your engine

14) You're just about to ride a stream crossing. The stream isn't too deep but the bed is cover in rocks. Do you ? 

• A) Take your boots off and walk your bike across 
• B) Lean as far forward on the bike as you can to help keep the front down and ride across slowly 
• C) Keep your weight to the rear of the bike and ride across slowly

15) Which of these three items would you find more useful on an adventure ride ? 

• A) GPS 
• B) Cell phone 
• C) Hydration system

16) Is "neutral" a classed as a gear ? 

• A) No 
• B) Yes 
• C) A little green light comes on my instrument cluster

17) A trail is totally water logged, the mud is 2 inches deep along the entire length of the trail. Which brake has the most stopping power ? 

• A) Front brake 
• B) I'd use the gears to slow down 
• C) Rear brake

18) You've just hit reserve and know you have enough gas for 18 more miles. You have just travelled 18 miles from your truck to get to the point you are right now all down hill. But you know there is a gas station 19 miles further down the mountain. Which direction do you go ? 

• A) Go off exploring 
• B) Back to the truck 
• C) To the gas station

19) Which of these items would you find most useful in the desert ? 

• A) Empty water bottle 
• B) Book of matches 
• C) Lantern

20) You're riding along and have a sharp pain in your chest. Do you ? 

• A) Pull over and take an aspirin 
• B) Start coughing 
• C) Ride to a phone booth. 

21) When riding up a steep rocky hill which of these three choices do you use the least 

• A) Brakes 
• B) 2nd gear 
• C) Horn 

22) You're 45 miles from home, one of these three items is just about to fail on your bike. Which one would you prefer to break ? 

• A) Sub-frame 
• B) Clutch cable 
• C) Head gasket

............................ 

Instructions : 
Receive 5 points for every "A" answer. 
Take away 5 points for every "B" answer 
Receive 2 points for every "C" answer. 

Scores: 
0 to 10 ... You don't own a bike do you ? 
10 to 20 ... How long you owned your Harley ? 
20 to 25 ... Not bad, let's ride sometime 
26 to 34 ... Way to go !!!! you know your stuff. 
35 to 45 ... Not bad, not bad. 
46 to 55 ... At least it's only time you wasted 
55 to 110 ... Keep taking the meds please

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Agile is not a synonym for “Hand me a new roll of duct tape”

This is a copy of an article I wrote for medium.com. I'll be posting techy articles there from time to time. If you find them interesting subscribe and spread the word. Don't worry, the moto articles will continue here as I continue to get inspired

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Agile is not a synonym for CHAOS.

Agile is not a synonym for “Whatever … “

Agile is not a synonym for “Hand me a new role of duct tape.”

Agile is not a synonym for “Run for the fire extinguisher!!”

Agile is a layer in the development process that starts with a vision of where the organization is going. It’s aim is to get there by a constant refinement of that vision that is understood by all the parties involved.

The next layer is goal setting.

Then a map of resources to goals with a timeline can be created. A strategy for attaining the goals and allocating the resources across time is negotiated. Budgets, people, and time are all resources that may not be elastic.

Then, the promises are made and the deliverables are scheduled.

Finally, the agile part comes to bear. Agile is not a technique displacing preparation. A Kanban board or scrum meeting will not cover-up lack of planning. Agile is a philosophy of open, honest, and transparent communications between consumers and producers to assure that, as development progresses, what the consumer needs is what the producer is delivering. NOTHING MORE !!

Agile does not create anything, it merely facilitates reality in time, budget, and production.

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Rocky Mountain High

A few months ago my friend Marcus told me that his BMW airhead engine had committed suicide and asked about contact info for Peter at Moto Bogotaro. Peter and MB are definitely the #1 shop to go to in the NYC / Brooklyn area if you want great workmanship and fair prices. The problem is that Peter is so good that the waiting list is months long.

I half jokingly told Marcus that it would be easier (and probably faster) to fly out and buy my '88 R100RS. While not perfect cosmetically, it has a performance modified engine and a transmission that shifts like a Honda! And who wouldn't want one since they are the ultimate babe magnet ?!?!

He got back to me and gave me a verbal handshake on the deal. We agreed that Labor Day would be the best hand off. I would ride with him for a couple of days to make sure that he was happy and then turn back to Utah while he continued to New York.

I picked him up at the airport and we looked over the bike. I had changed all the fluids and tuned up the bike in preparation for the trip. He looked the bike over, we went for a brief ride and he wrote a check. 

Only one problem flawed the transfer, the side panel that had never been a problem in all the years that I had owned it suddenly decided that it wanted to stay in Utah and disappeared along the side of the road. We went back over our route but found no trace of it. Bummer!

My friend Linda in Aspen had agreed to put us up for a night. It was a great trip spanning all that Utah and Colorado have to offer. We started south in the desert and then turned east into the mountains. With over 400 miles to go we stopped only for gas and lunch. Sorry, no pictures of that part of the trip. Just take my word for it, with great roads and perfect weather it was a gorgeous ride that is the stuff of dreams.

Looks Photo Shopped but it isn't. It's really this great!

The next morning we packed up and got an early-ish start. It's cold at that altitude (7800') and we were willing to give the sun a chance to warm things up. The altitude was also taking a toll on the bikes as they were not jetted for the altitude. Both bikes were running smoothly but were significantly down on power.

Our plan was to ride over Independence Pass and then continue on to Manitou Springs where I would turn back. I will put this route up against anything that the European Alps have to offer. It runs along the Roaring Fork River on the western side and tops out over 12,000'. Beautiful scenery and tight roads are a challenge as you try to make the most of both without taking a flying lesson off the side. 

At Buena Vista we stopped for lunch and decided that I would return from there. Labor Day crowds packed the road and I had seen it all before. Motorcycling is a solo enterprise even when traveling with a friend and I felt confident in Marcus and the bike. 

While eating lunch a guy came over and asked who owned the Transalp. I admitted that it was mine and he and his partner joined us for a discussion of bikes and life. He wanted a bike, she liked her Lexus. Park the bike, wear the gear, and somebody always wants to talk to you. It's one of the joys of traveling by motorcycle.

It all has a happy ending. This is the BMW parked in front of Marcus's garage in NY. No problems or drama. I made it home with a similar lack of events. My only note is that the panniers seem to add quite a lot of wind resistance at highway speeds (70+). They didn't affect the handling but the gas mileage dropped considerably. A small price to pay to get home quickly.

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Inspiration

Note: I came across this letter I wrote to a friend some time ago. We cannot change our past but we can continually improve our future by acknowledging our debt to the ones who helped us.

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Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living"

You asked me what inspired me and I admit to being at a loss for words, let alone ideas. I mentioned Yosemite as a place that I think of as home but it isn't really inspirational in the sense of a call to action.

On my drive back to Connecticut the question kept running through my mind. I admit that I'm pretty comfortable with my life and rarely ask the BIG questions anymore. By now I know who I am, what I am, and am somewhat ambivalent about why I am. But, still, the question kept reappearing. If nothing else, it helped pass the two hours on the road.

As usual, the answer came when I finally ignored the question. When I stopped trying to find the answer, the answer found me.

I mentioned that Yosemite inspires me but that isn't quite true. What it does is provide a place of spiritual quietness. A place where I can consider my life and actions. It's a place for contemplation and reflection, but not inspiration.

What inspires me are the small kindnesses of others. That might sound very Blanche DuBois but it is what drives me forward.

We talked about those moments when we flinch with chagrin at the missteps of our past. I am embarrassed at the rude and thoughtless acts I have done to others. The times when I was petty or harsh to people for no other reason than that I was trying to be smart.

I can look back and blame this on the ignorance and arrogance of youth. I have learned to forgive myself for the misbehavior for no other reason than that I can not change it.

However, I can do better and I try to. There were some who were steady in their friendship through all my chaotic swings. Those who supported me when I was less than sterling. It is by them that I am inspired.

It is also by the small acts of kindness that happen to me all the time. The nameless farmer in Tennessee who I met in a small diner on my trip across country last summer. After talking as we ate he stood, shook my hand, and wished me a safe trip. When he was gone the waitress came over and informed me that he had paid for my meal. Not because he thought I was poor or in need but because he wanted to add a bright moment to my day.

It costs so little to make people's lives better. I am hardly a sentimental, touchy-feely kind of guy but a smile, a helping hand, and a little effort can go a long way to making a difference in another person's life.

So it is the ones who have stood by me in my life, who were patient, and who have given me that smile, helping hand, and extra effort who inspire me.

Beautiful sunsets last only minutes

and mountains fade away in a million years

but kind words and good friends last forever.

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Why I Don't Use K&N Air Filters

This is a K&N air filter I pulled from the R100RS. It's supposed to be cleanable but I'm not buying it. I don't believe that all that dirt is ever coming out not matter what I do to it. That means either restricted performance or dirt will be getting through to the engine.

This is an OEM BMW air filter. Free flowing and certified by BMW to do the job correctly. Clean air and no restrictions. Properly balanced for the carbs and intake system.

Price is not on K&N's side either. ~$90 vs ~$35. You would have to clean the K&N 4 times to save any money and who wants to do that dirty job? Plus it's never going to be as good as a new one. You wouldn't reuse the oil filter, why is the air filter any different?

They have a great advertising campaign but nothing else to offer in my humble opinion.

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The Tale of Two Carburetors

This could also be titled: Old Motorcycles Mean New Problems

My last post described getting the motorcycles home. 

With the help of my friend Doug Wothke, who stopped in on his way to Bonneville Speed Week, the Indian started right up. He said it ran, shifted, braked, and rode well. Yeah!

Note: Doug is a real round the world traveler, unlike those two movie posers.
Check out his site here for tales of his adventures.

Inspired, I got to work on the BMW after he left and immediately ran into a brick wall. The bike wouldn't start. A little exploration revealed that the carburetors were seized and wouldn't operate. Remember that this is a 76 year old bike from the country that lost the war. You don't just run down to the local auto parts store for replacements or parts.

It took a day of carb cleaner, CRC Power Lube, and hot water soaks to get the slide to separate from the left side body. The hot water bath is to get the aluminum body to expand faster than the steel slide and break the corrosion bond between them. One problem is that the slide is connected to the throttle cable but you can't pull too hard for fear of breaking it. Remember, no parts available.

The right carb was not so easy. Three more days of all of the above were required. This time the hot water soaks had a mixture of vinegar added. Vinegar is a weak acid that will eat into the corrosion but leave it to long and it will destroy the aluminum carb body. 

Soak, rinse, check, repeat, ...

Finally, they were both freed up. As you can see, some of the parts are missing and some are different. 

I turned to Craig "Vech" Vechorik at Bench Mark Works for help. He is to vintage BMWs what Bill Silver is to vintage Hondas, the very best and most knowledgeable! He helped with parts, service, and advice for my R69S but this time had only sad news. The carbs were not Bing but Graetzin and parts were NLA (No Longer Available). Not even on EBay. However, he said he could provide gaskets which would be a big help.

Luckily, Germany was on the metric system and I was able to dig around in my box of old Honda parts and make up substitutes for the lost pieces. Not perfectly but close enough for an old war horse.

Spark plugs were another challenge. Neither the local Honda nor Kawasaki shop had the right ones but Amazon came through with the correct NGK B8HS items. I'm sure that to be historically faithful I should have chosen Bosch plugs but I've never had a failure with NGK and always rely on them.



Putting it all together was rewarded on the 5th kick! It sputtered to life and coughed and kicked a bit but it ran! Some time fiddling with the adjustments resulted in a bike that ran and idled. Wow! Older than dirt but not dead yet. An inspiration for us all.

For a real test after I took it out into the local roads and tried some dirt trails. What a hoot! I could see trying the Trans America Trail on this and having a blast.

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More Bikes In The Garage

I keep saying that there are too many bikes but somehow they keep multiplying whenever I turn my back.

My father was fascinated with World War II and had a collection of uniforms, vehicles, and memorabilia. At one point he had his own Jeep and half-track. He was equal-opportunity about it and collected both U.S. and German articles. To him, it was an era when the world knew right from wrong and was willing to fight for it.

As he got older it became harder to maintain his collection of vehicles and he sold them off until only about a dozen remained; a 1964 Corvette, a '63 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, 2 Cords, an ancient fire engine, and the actual taxi from a Laurel and Hardy movie that was his pride and joy.

When he passed away in January he left his two motorcycles to me. A 1941 Indian Scout Sport and a 1943 BMW R75 from Rommel's Afrika Korps. Through no fault of my own the inventory grew. A large growth it was because the R75 comes with a side car. So I drove to Calif with UHaul's biggest trailer with high hopes. 

 

Of course there were problems. The BMW with sidecar was just a few inches wider than the trailer opening. Weighing almost 900 pounds there was no picking it up and moving it around.

Scooting under it I was able to remove the kick start lever and the left foot rest and guard. At the very last moment I realized that this was also the mounting shaft for the transmission so I left that alone.

With a perseverance ( and a few choice words! ) my brother and I were able winch it into the trailer and get it tied down with loading straps.

The Indian was next and it was another big bike. It just barely fit in the remaining space and, thankfully, was easy enough to just roll in and strap down. 

Now came the really hard part, driving back to Utah with 3/4 ton of motorcycles behind me. The first part was to get out of the SF Bay Area before the Monday morning commute madness began. Sunday night meant that everyone was flooding back home as I was headed east. An overnight stay in Sacramento at my sister's cut my drive back by 100 miles and let me escape the commuter traffic. Then it was up and over Donner Pass and off across Nevada on I-80. By 8:30 that night I was home. Unloading could wait for tomorrow.

Just one question: How can Calif have the highest gas taxes and the worst roads in America? I-80 over the Sierras was rutted so bad that I had to straddle two lanes so that the trailer wouldn't sway back and forth. I find it truly amazing that the people put up with it!

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Tales From The Toolbox

Every mechanic will lose or misplace a tool from time to time. If you're lucky you just left it next to a different project you were working on and it turns up when you get back it. If you're really unlucky you left it next to the carburetors and it departed for parts unknown when you went for the test ride.

As every mechanic knows, the best way to find a missing wrench is to buy a new one. As soon as the new one arrives the old one will suddenly leap out making you wonder about your powers of observation.

This is my original 8mm wrench. It's one of the ones I bought for my first job. If you didn't see the original post it's here.

Originally 6mm bolts had 10mm heads but Honda, in their infinite wisdom, has now decided that they should have 8mm heads so this is a really important tool. And it went missing ...

This is the 8mm wrench from my backup toolbox. It's a Craftsman wrench and is a perfectly fine wrench. It jumped into action while I used bad words trying to find my original wrench.

This is the new Snap-on 8mm wrench that I bought to replace the lost wrench. You might logically ask, Why get a new wrench when you already had a wrench? Well, all I can say is that I'm a tool nerd and I like to have perfect sets of things.

Snap-On is my favorite brand and it makes me happy in my hand. That is not to denigrate other brands like Craftsman or Mac or Cromwell. It's just the nerd thing and it's cheaper than cocaine but just as addictive! OK, maybe not that much cheaper.

This is another 8mm wrench. It's a box end wrench with a slightly different bend that isn't used too often. When you need it, nothing else will work without a lot of frustration and bad words. Nobody NEEDS one but when you are faced with that one special situation, nothing beats reaching into your toolbox and getting out the tool that makes it a 10 second chore instead of a 10 minute hell.

If you're going to have an 8/9 mm box wrench you should also have a 6/7 mm box wrench, just in the off chance that you should be working on a Yakazumi 67cc moped made in 1952 and need to adjust the points plate. I mean, you never know ...

So back to my original hypothesis: To find a wrench, buy a wrench. This is my original wrench which was right where I left it. The Craftsman wrench is restored to its place as a backup and the two Snap-on wrenches are hanging from the pegboard ready to jump into action. If I misplace one of them will I need to buy a fourth wrench to find it?

Stay tuned for further tales of wrenched excess!

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Erickson Pass Ride

On past rides along the Pony Express Trail I had seen a sign for Erickson Pass. 

I was initially put off by the sign that warned it was for 4x4s only because I was with friends. Of course, that just meant that I had to go back and try it out for myself.

Andrew (Africa Twin), Chris (DRZ-400), and Lucas (CRF250L Rally) were game for a try after I explained that I had no idea what it was or how bad it might be. In fact, I incorrectly remembered it as "Norton, or Nelson" pass. We went right by the cutoff before realizing that I had the wrong name and turned back to give it a go.

The road was through rolling hills typical of the area. An easy ride to enjoy the scenery. Because of the late spring rains it was greener than would be expected for this time of the year which was an added bonus.

Erickson Pass was little more than a depression is the surrounding hills. Had we not seen the sign we would missed it completely. I suppose if I were in a horse drawn wagon it would have been more meaningful but it hardly a challenge for our mighty beasts.

Seeking a little bit more of a challenge we decided to see where the trail behind us led.

Not sure what was up with my camera but I really wasn't going that fast.

Another break to checkout some interesting rock outcroppings and then on to Delta for lunch.

A little over 200 miles for the day split between dirt and pavement. That's the great thing about adventure bikes; no trailer required! We all had a great time and are looking forward to doing it again in the Unita mountains next month.

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Really Old Stuff

I rearranged my work area today and moved this toolbox over to the bench. A moment's reflection made me realize that it contains a micro history of my life.

I bought it used in 1968 when I got my first real mechanics job at Weymouth Honda south of Boston. I worked a deal with the Snap-On dealer to buy the basic wrenches and sockets on credit and slowly paid him off as pay checks came in.

The stickers for Honda of Boston, Honda City, and Boston Cycles are from the summers I worked in those shops as I went to UConn. They have all passed into history with many great stories if I had time to write them all down.

The upside down American flags is a protest against the Vietnam war that killed several of my friends.

The tools and sockets are from many eras. There are Metric sizes from working on Japanese motorcycles and Whitworth and British Standard from a time when I worked on Triumphs. There are SAE sets from the summers I worked on school buses with Floyd Chesbro. A great man who taught me that the most important tool in any toolbox is patience.

The same wrenches that I bought in 1968 are still in the drawers and still get used regularly. Good tools and good friendships last forever.

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Doggish Sayings - Part Deux

From my sister:

Medicine heals the body; Dogs heal the soul - My favorite T-shirt

If your dog thinks your the greatest, do not seek a second opinion! - Good Advice

You don't get to tell me what to do - you're not my dog. - Anonymous

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