Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

 

I took a little short hop on the bicycle over to the Industrial Park the other evening and the paving outfit has upgraded their driveway entrance. They used to have just one roller, but now there's two and they're both painted up nice. Once upon a time in my checkered past, I worked for a blacktopping outfit and when I wasn't changing tires or running a scoop shovel, I was rolling asphalt. The one I ran was a little smaller than the ones in the photo, but it paid the bills and my college tuition. Just a small part of my diverse background, but I learned how to drive a tri-axle dump with a 5 and a 3 transmission.

My little orchid I received as a gift many years ago. It's still in the original pot but I'm afraid to mess with it. As you can see from the photo, it seems to be doing OK as it is. When we first moved here roughly 25 years ago, there wasn't a flower anywhere, which I found surprising. No "ditch lilies", iris or multi-flora roses, which were almost always to be found at old farmsteads. That's all changed now. We've got quite a few things blooming around here, it's certainly not a showcase operation, but the place looks lived in now.

The Missus and I went to the movies Monday to see Revolutionary America. It's a very good movie chronicling the events leading up to the Revolutionary War, the war years, and the beginning of the new country. It gives an excellent description of what the founders and the original Patriots went through to form the country. Much of the content came from Hillsdale professors. I was impressed with their presentations. It didn't seem they were just reciting facts, but rather they seemed to truly understand what the founders went through and the importance of preserving the ideals they were willing to die for. I'm of the opinion the knuckleheads running this country, at the very least, should see this movie. It probably won't change much, but maybe they would at least have a tinge of regret for what they've allowed to happen, because there damn sure isn't going to be an easy way to get us out of the mess we're in. 

World Bicycle Day

 

World Bicycle Day today - little late notice but I've been busy. 

I saw the above sign along the side of the road the other day, came home and looked it up. Seems there's a bike ride in the near future from one of the big dairy farms (tourist attraction) to the county courthouse. Nineteen miles one way, and that's the problem. One way with no shuttle bus or anything to get you back to the start. Since it's coming up pretty soon, I could be in shape to do the 19, but not 38 if I wanted to ride back to the start. I did find a local ride August 1st that has 40, 60 and 100-mile routes. I'm planning on doing the 40 miler for sure, maybe the 60, depending on the weather, training, etc.

I've been out on the bike the last few days - short hops, but now I've got an event to train for, so I'll get busy.

My First Love

 

I came across this on Facebook on a Sprint owners' group, I think. I didn't get the details because I swooned when I saw it. It's a '67 HD Sprint H that appears to be in showroom condition. I bought an identical one 58 years ago when I was a senior in high school. Right side shift, which took a little getting used to, and the handlebars were rubber mounted which also took a little getting used to, but I loved that bike. I saved up my money from paper route, frying chicken and doing farm chores to buy it. 

It cost me $650.00 which took me a bit to save up for. When I finally had the money, my mother said I should get a loan to start establishing a credit rating. I didn't much care about a credit rating at that point, but I knew better than to cross Mom on this deal. We went to the bank together so she could co-sign the note, we sat down across from the loan officer, and I told him I wanted $300.00 to buy a motorcycle. He said no because he didn't like motorcycles, and that's when Mom came unglued. She tells the guy the only reason we were sitting there is because she convinced me it would be a good idea and if he's not going to loan me the money, he should get his ass out of the chair and write her a check because she was closing her account where she had done business for over twenty years. The loan officer excused himself, probably to check on Mom's account, and came back shortly with a loan application for me.

I had the bike for almost one year exactly, had put a little over 5,000 miles on it and then it was stolen out of the garage in the middle of the night while we were home. The steering was locked, so there were probably two people involved. One year later I was working nights at the foundry and Mom hollered at me at 8:00 in the morning to get up, the FBI was on the phone and they wanted to talk to me. Seems they found the bike in Tennessee at a gas station. I had already been paid by the insurance company but I asked the FBI agent how it looked and he said it was in pieces. I don't know what happened to it after that but if you ever come across a '67 Sprint H with the serial number 67H17889, that's the one.

I got the swingarm bolt out of the frame on the Yamaha yesterday. Just like the Mounties, I too always get my man.

"Failure to Communicate"

The "Killer" singing one of my favorite hymns. Kind of ironic, him singing a religious tune, considering he married his 13-year-old cousin.

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Went to the grandson's graduation Friday night - short and sweet. The whole ceremony only lasted an hour, mostly due to the fact it's a small high school. The Missus and I are quite proud of the young man.

Saturday morning I went to the boxing club - been a while since I was there. Did some bag work and shot the breeze with Jimmy for a bit. Grocery store after that. I'm not shocked by the price of groceries these days but not pleased with how the prices have gone up over the last few years. Anyone considering retirement should gaze deeply into their crystal ball to see what future prices are going to look like. The fixed income thing could leave you in the lurch with unforeseen inflation.

 

After I got home I managed to watch some motorcycle racing from Road America on the television. The second installment will be on today. I also watched Cool Hand Luke for about the 50th time. One of my all-time favorites. I wouldn't have except it was on TCM, so no commercials.

Some mowing on the agenda today and some exercise, either walking or cycling, along with a little something else as yet to be determined to round out the day. 

Revolutionary Movie

 Hillsdale College has a made a movie that will be showing May 31, June 1 & 2. The movie is titled Revolutionary America and the link here will take you where you can find a theatre showing it, as well as how to get a buy one, get one deal. The Missus and I will be going to support Hillsdale College and as a refresher course on American history. 

Surly and I did the Appleseed shoot several years ago and history instruction was included along with marksmanship instruction. Also, I went on a National Endowment for the Humanities summer trip years ago. I was right there where the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" was fired. I also visited the site of Thoreau's cabin.  I think it's more important now than it has been in years to know about the founding of the country. Patriotism requires knowledge of our country's history. 

I realize this is short notice, but if you can find a theatre in your neighborhood might be worth your while. The movie is a tick under two hours and all the showings that I saw were afternoons at 4:30.

Music to My Ears

 

A few of my favorites I don't hear too often. If my buddy Kevin and I would have been able to get our low wattage radio station up and running, besides broadcasting school events, we'd be playing a huge variety of tunes. In fact, Kevin had an uncle I believe it was, who had a bluegrass band, and I worked with a guy years ago who wrote a couple of religious songs that I've got the sheet music for. There should be a place for that stuff.

My first bike trip 23 years ago was on the Katy Trail with another of the shop teachers from the high school. We stopped in a little burg for the night that had a bike hostel and a little bar next door. We got us a couple of beers and a Tombstone pizza and kicked back. Later in the evening they had Karaoke and we were informed it was our turn after the regulars were done. I don't remember what my saddle pal sang but I did the two numbers above. And you can bet your bottom dollar, if Kevin and I would have gotten the radio station up and running, there would have been Buck Owens and Johnny Cash on the playlist.

Not much to show on the project front due to doctor's visits and general life things that are never ending but I did pick up some fuel line and a filter for the trials bike and dug out the carb I'm planning on using. I'm going with a Mikuni rather than a Dellorto that are normally used on these little Ducatis.

The can of Blaster is for another bike project. The grandson is starting to work on a Yamaha SR500 and the swingarm bolt is frozen solid in the frame. All of the usual tricks to get it out haven't worked but I haven't given up yet.

The eye doctor who did my surgery checked out my eyes yesterday and one is real good, the other as good as it's ever going to be, which is what I figured going in. Next week I'm going to see the toe doctor. I imagine that's going to involve some pain and some healing. Gettin' old ain't for sissies.