The Paint is In

Today would have been a really great day had it not begun with a trip to the Humane Society to put down our beloved pet of over 9 years.  She was a 12 year old mutt, looking as though she was a strange mix of Cocker Spaniel and Dachshund.  Somehow, she managed to become partially paralized last night, unable to walk.

The wife called a friend for some advice.  Her friend had a pet that went through the same thing.  After spending quite a bit of money at the vet, the friend was eventually informed that they could not do anything for the animal and suggested putting  her down.

We had also seen something similar with a friend's dog that had become paralyzed.  Having witnessed this, we could not allow our dog to live in such a condition.

After taking our dog to be put down, I fetched tins with their new paint.  Returning to my brother's house, where my bike was stored, I quickly proceeded to assemble the bike.

A short time later, the bike was complete.  I took a brief moment to give it a quick bath.  Once dried, I hopped on and rode it to the place of my employer, where I would display it in all its glory to my co-workers.

I rode the bike home.  It was a brisk 40 degrees or so.  My face was freezing as I arrived home.  It was worth it just to have it nearby while I wait out this storm that will be keeping southern California company for the next week or so.

I'll post some pictures soon.

David Mann Chopper Fest in Ventura

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending the David Mann Chopper Fest in Ventura. It was truly one of the best shows I've attended.  There were bikes, miscellaneous parts for sale, more bikes, David Mann art, and more bikes.

Unfortunately, I had to drive the car there.  My bike was still awaiting the painted tins. Although, this was very fortunate for my nephew, who I asked to join me.

The day was beautiful.  It was unlike any day in December that I can remember - the temp in the 80s and perfect riding weather.

I managed to snag a few pics worth sharing.  The parking lot had many bikes and a few cool cars.  The show had more bikes on display, attempting to earn some of the awards being handed out.

All in all, it was a great day and I look forward to next year's event.

If you're unfamiliar with David Mann's work, just click here for a link to a Google images search.


There were tons of cool bikes.  Some of them classics, some rat bikes, and some crazy customs.  Here's a few - not necessarily the best bikes, but different.

These first photos are from the show you are presented with upon paid admission ($12).

Here's a few bikes that some of the vendors had on display.

My wife would hate this 1 due to her hate for odd numbers.

And here are a few images of vehicles found in the parking lot.

V-Rod Trike?

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the motorcycle swap meet in Long Beach.  Unfortunately, we got there a bit later than we should have and the vendors were beginning to pack up.  I managed to talk to a few people and peruse some of the goods, but it would have been much better would have made it there a bit earlier.

There were quite a few bikes in the parking lot to gawk at.  Some were very cool, but not that different from other bikes I had photographed in the past, i.e. some bobbers, choppers, low-rider style Road Kings and Softails, etc.  There was one, however, that caught my eye - a V-Rod trike.  That's right.  Somebody took one of Harley-Davidson's sport models and converted it to fine trike specimen.

Here's the only photo that I took at the event.  Never mind that there appears to be an empty lot.  This was taken quite late and most had already packed up and left for the day.

Still Waiting For Paint

I spoke with Jeff from Skip Fordyce regarding progress on the paint.  He stated that he had already begun the initial process of prepping the tank, but the weather we were having, with the rain and such, delayed things a bit. He stated that with all of the humidity in the air, it takes longer for the paint to cure and allow him to move from one step to the next.  This is understandable, but I cannot wait to get the parts back so I can put this thing back together.

I'll keep you posted.

Flames?

Not having the bike very long, I felt it needed something.  Some people are more than satisfied with a plain black bike.  Not me.  I need something to set it apart from the crowd.

I took the bike apart, removing the tank and front fender in preparation for some added color.  The tank came off fairly easily, but the fender, which should have been simple, was more of a bear.  The fender is only held on by 4 bolts, but there is a shim behind those bolts with the corners mashed up against the bolts that give you some difficulties.  Without much room to unbend those tabs, it took some effort.  I removed the brake calipers and lifted the bike in order to make room for the trusty screwdriver that would be hammered on in order to free the bolts.

Jeff from Skip Fordyce Harley Davidson in Riverside will be adding some airbrushed true flames to the pieces.  I've seen some of his work and it's very nice.  He's also giving me a pretty decent deal.

I'm looking forward to getting the parts back and restored onto the bike.  I think it's going to look great and with additional ideas to make the bike stand out, it's going to be one cool ride.

Here's a picture of the bike in my brother's garage with the tank and fender removed.  It's kind of sad, really.

Law's Restaurant Tonight

Law's restaurant in Riverside, Ca is having a bit of a shindig tonight.  Rumor has it there will be about 25 vendors on site.

I'm hoping to find a couple of things there tonight.  First, I'd like to find a seat guy.  Occasionally, a couple of guys show up to these events with custom upholstered seats for reasonable prices, and I'd like to get my hands on a reach seat for my newly acquired Road King.  Second, I'd like to find a pinstriper to create some flame magic on my tank and front fender in order to break up the monotonous black - especially since I had taken the time to remove those bedazzled looking HD logos.

If I manage to get anything of this sort accomplished tonight, I'll have to post some pics of any changes to the current appearance of the bike.

My Road King

Well, 7 weeks to the day I totaled my bike, I purchased another.  I was looking for something bigger than my Softail that would be more suited for traveling.

The Road King is the smaller of the Touring line of bikes from Harley.  It comes with saddle bags for storage and can be fitted with other amenities, such as a fairing, windshield, and Tour-Pak.

As you can see in the image below, this one is quite simple compared to the Heritage that I once owned not long ago.  It has a simple black paint, and an ugly logo which will be removed soon enough.

I've been scouring the internet for ideas to transform this thing into something more pleasing to the eye.  Well, at least my eye.

I've already put close to a hundred miles on it - even with my gimpy leg.

The first thing that I need to get is a reach seat.  My feet sit flat on the ground with a bit of effort, but I'd like to be even a tad closer to the pavement.

Here it is in all its splendor.

New Bike

7 weeks after my accident and totaling my bike, I found a replacement.  That's right, I'm going to ride again.  This one's an upgrade in a sense.  It's a touring bike with bags, a Road King.

The bike is nice, with a mere 4700 actual miles.  It's an '05 model.  The only problem is that it's kind of plain compared to my last bike.  No flames.  Nothing that really stands out.  Just a clean black bike with a Harley Davidson logo that appears to be bedazzled.

The wife sat on the bike and instantly loved the seat compared to that of my Heritage.  She said that it was much better.  For a woman that suffered a broken tailbone over a couple of years ago, she still complains of discomfort.

I haven't ridden it, yet.  I plan on picking it up from the dealer tomorrow after taking care of getting some insurance on it.  I can't wait.

I'll post pictures of it when I can get some - possibly tomorrow.

Renegade Classics 2010 Anniversary Bash

Renegade Classics in Riverside, Ca held their Anniversary Bash last night.  The event consisted of a model contest, a bike show, raffles, food, music, and bike games.

There were a lot of cool bikes on display and some unusual ones.  The music was decent with covers of some very popular rock tunes, including "Have a Drink on Me" from AC/DC and "The Wall" from Pink Floyd.  The raffles were plenty with prizes of clothing and accessories.  The food consisted of nachos, snacks, and lasagna with garlic bread.  The bike games had some of the best participation I've seen in quite some time.

Here are a few images from last night's festivities:

This is the parking area, complete with bikes and vendors.

A contestant in the weenie bite bike game.

 Here's a custom chopper that was entered in the bike show.

A couple Yamaha 650 bobbers were also on hand.

As mentioned previously, there were some unusual bikes in attendance, but none would top the bike with the horse theme.  Check out that mane.  The kickstand is also quite the conversation piece.  The owner proudly explained that he also had a tail that he would fashion to the fender on long trips.  He invited me to sit on it and testthe comfort of the saddle.

I hope you enjoyed the words and pictures.  Ride safe.

American Heat in Palm Springs, Ca 2010

Having missed American Heat last year, I was sure to go this year - bike or no bike, I was going to be there.  I'm glad that I attended and the heat probably nearly killed me in the process.

There were many cool bikes present.  The streets were being combed over by the large gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts.  Traffic was unbelievable.

My only complaint was the parking situation.  There was limited available parking for strictly motorcycles.  The area available was reserved for those bikes registering for certain events (it was unclear to me what those events were).  Otherwise, bikes were mixed in with the cages (cars for those unfamiliar with the term), lined along the main strip and side streets.  This made it difficult to get a good picture of a cool bike when there wasn't really enough space to capture all the components that a bike was fitted with.

There were plenty of vendors on site.  Most were selling some sort of clothing. I probably made it up and down the strip, including the vendor area, a total of 3 times - limping all the way.

Here's some pictures of some of the radical custom bikes on display.

These first three were made by a company called G & N Fabrication (if I remember correctly) in Pasadena, Ca.

Here's a cool Honda.  I'm not familiar with this one and can't tell you the model.  It looks like they copied a Victory.

Here's another cool chopper.

A couple of cool Indians were on hand as well.

All in all, it was a good event to attend.  There were bikes of many makes, which led to a nice variety to photograph and enjoy.

As always, ride safe.

Update

Well, I seem to be healing quite well.  The pain in my shoulder is minimal most of the time, allowing me to assume I will not need surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff.  My leg, however, is still giving me some grief.  My ribs and back also cause some pain when trying to get some much needed sleep.

As far as bikes go, I have been looking and have found some reasonably priced bikes and one insanely well priced chopper on Craigslist. I decided it was best to check out the chopper that was going for a mere $5900. It was cool and well worth the money with the powerful 117 cubic inch motor.  The wife disagreed.  She didn't like the idea of sitting her bottom on a seat affixed to the rear fender via suction cups.  How I wish she would have reconsidered.

I've been looking at other bikes as well.  There are quite a few good deals out there and I think when I'm ready to get back onto a 2 wheeled machine, I'll find something worthwhile that I'd enjoy as much as my ol' Heritage.

On a side note, I plan on attending American Heat in Palm Springs, Ca this weekend.  I expect this to be one cool motorcycle event.  Check back for some cool pics to be posted from the event.

As always, ride safe.

The Old Doc...

Yesterday, I decided to go to work.  This would be my first time back since the accident.  My wife tried to discourage me from returning so soon.  I've been out over a week and feel that I can manage.

I felt fine in the morning, having taken a couple of Motrin pain killers.  By the afternoon, the pain relief was non-existent.  I was beginning to feel the pain throughout the right side of my body, limping a little more and losing some mobility.

Today, I called in sick.  I needed to recuperate a bit and I have an existing doctor's appointment.  This would allow my wife to drive me, instead of me getting behind the wheel again.


After going to see the doctor today, I was told that physical therapy is necessary.  I head to the desk to make a future appointment with the suggested doctor and am told that I will not be able to see him until December 2 at the earliest.  I figure I should be fine by then and would need to cancel said appointment.  I really think I'll be over this by then.  Of course, I thought I'd be fine by now.

On the way home, I picked up my new prescription of pain relievers.  These should be better than the over-the-counter variety I have been taking since I didn't care much for my last prescription.

Anyway, I look forward to going to work again tomorrow.

Ride safe!

Bike Totaled...Totally!

I managed to speak to the service manager at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, Ca regarding the repairs of my bike the other day.  I was hoping to have a few improvements made, if possible.  One of them would be the addition of the Road King style freight train headlamp in lieu of the smaller Heritage model.  I figured since the current one was smashed and in need of replacement, I should be able to just fork out the difference and get the upgraded model.  To my dismay, I was told that the bike was in need of over $19K of repairs and would thus be totaled.

I called the Geico agent today and he confirmed that the bike would be totaled.  He would call me back later with a settlement figure.

Looks like I'll be in the market for a new bike when I can muster up the strength to do so.  This of course will be after the pain subsides.

One Week Later...

Well, it's been one whole week since my accident.  I can say that I've healed quite a bit, but if you were observing my methods of getting around and doing ordinary things, you wouldn't believe much has changed.  Today, I'm able to prepare my own shower and dress myself.  These were things the wife had taken care of previously.

I finally get to see how the other half lives, with the wife chauffeuring me around for a change.  I think I'm beginning to enjoy it - her driving still scares the crappolla out of me.

I still suffer from pain throughout my right side of my body.  My back, shoulder, upper arm, ribs, and leg are all giving me some grief.

The one good thing that I have to look forward to is one less pill starting tomorrow night.  That's right.  I'm done with my antibiotics.

My stitches in my leg are scheduled to be removed on Tuesday.  After that, the slow healing process of the remainder of my injuries will commence.

Ride safe.

Accident Update

My friend Donna visited me in the hospital and forwarded the pictures that she had taken of me while in E.R.  Most would say there aren't any pictures that are very flattering of me, but these are definitely not. Fortunately, they aren't pictures of my junk, which was exposed often throughout my stay.  Due to the popularity of Seinfeld, you often hear that cold water causes shrinkage - try extreme pain!  I'm glad those pictures aren't in the mix.


Take a gander below for the aforementioned photos.

I really feel that I'm lucky to have lived through it, let alone leave the scene with nary a broken bone.

Ride safe.

Motorcycle Accident

I was on my way to work Friday morning on my faithful motorcycle. I was cruising along the highway that clings to the side of the mountain as usual. I don't recall moving at a high-rate of speed, but I hit a curve and proceeded to brake. The rear tire locked up. I released and applied the brakes again. Once again, it locked up. I continued over the double yellow lines and into the lane of an oncoming S-10 pickup.

I awoke on the ground, feeling as if it were all a dream. As I gained focus, I noticed several people walking about, one of which appeared to be a Sheriff's Deputy or Highway Patrolman. I was loaded into a vehicle of sorts and once again lost consciousness.

I was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center. Throughout the day, I would be attended to by doctors and nurses. Friends and family would visit. I must have appeared to be a complete mess, dozing off in the middle of conversations and waking at the sound of my own snoring.

It's been over 4 days since the accident and I still haven't regained total control over my body. I had a dislocated hip and torn rotator cuff, in addition to a concussion, bruises, and swelling throughout the right side of my body. I suffer from dizzy spells and pain throughout the day.

The bike looks to be in pretty bad shape. I hope it can be repaired, but it may be in need of replacement.

Here's a couple pics from the local tow yard.

It may be awhile before I can ride again.  Be careful out there.

This Weekend's So Cal Rides and Events

There are a few things happening this weekend that might require my attention.  First, there's the last bike night of the season at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside this Friday.  Second, Roadhouse Biker Church in San Bernardino is hosting a ride to Oak Glen, followed by a BBQ on Saturday.  Also on Saturday, the 15th annual Run for the Grizzlies will be held in Big Bear, Ca. Westminster Harley-Davidson will be hosting demo days on both Saturday and Sunday. And finally, Skip Fordyce will have a poker run to support one of it's employees who has suffered a stroke.

There were a couple of others that I have missed, but it does look like it's going to be a great weekend with plenty to do in the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  I know that I will attend several of these events.

If you need a break from riding your bike and want to check out some bitchin' cars, you can head to downtown San Bernardino for the annual Route 66 Rendezvous.

Have fun and ride safe.

ABATE 2nd Annual Poker Run

ABATE 27 was gracious enough to host another poker run.  This was their second annual event.

Having been to the inaugural event last year, I kind of knew what to expect - a good time with lots going on.  There were raffles, vendors, bike games, etc.  I only participated in the poker run, raffles, and food intake.

Keeping with my personal tradition, I didn't fare well in the poker run.  I ended up with a pair of fives after nearly succeeding in getting my all-time worst hand.  The raffles, on the other hand, I ended up with more decals for the wife's car.

Grub was provided by the American Legion Post 79 at Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA for a nominal fee.

The poker run was decent, with a few stops scattered around.  No attractive young ladies wearing bikinis this year, though.  Refreshments were provided at each stop.

As with most rides and events, I managed to snap a few pictures.  Here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Rick, Butch, and Kevin at the first poker stop hosted by KCAL 96.7 FM.

John and Marlon comparing poker hands.

The American Legion parking lot

The slow ride contest.

Due to lack of participation for the wienie bite contest, this is what was offered.

As usual, the ABATE 27 members were very hospitable and friendly.  I enjoyed hanging out with them and enjoying the day at the park.

I hope you enjoyed the words and pictures.

Renegade Classic Bike Night in Riverside September 11

Renegade Classic leather shop in Riverside held one of their bike nights tonight. This one had a decent turnout. There were quite a few bikes and bike enthusiasts present.

We purchased a couple pairs of sunglasses that were on sale. We seem to go through them fairly quickly around my house. As a matter of fact, the Mrs. managed to break a pair at the event.

Food was to be had with a donation. This would be in the form of meatball subs, pretzels, and cookies. The kids were pleased.

As usual, there was also a raffle. We fared well at the last one and decided to purchase some tickets again. This occasion was met with empty hands at the end of the night. Oh well. You win some, you lose some as they say.

While there, I got the scoop in the form of a printed advertisement that the store is going to be hosting it's 3rd anniversary party on Oct 23, 2010. The card states that live music (typical of their bike nights) will be present, along with a calendar model contest, a raffle (also typical), food, vendors, and biker carnival games. This would not be one to miss.

A few images of the bikes on hand tonight would be dutifully found below.

Obviously, this one isn't a bike, but it sure is cool and was also present.

5th Annual Kern River Run 2010

The 5th Annual Kern River Run was experienced by my friend Kris, the lovely Mrs. Knight, and yours truly this weekend. We rode up Friday and enjoyed the festivities, including a meal that included one whole hog served on a platter with sides.

The event was free. The only cost, other than the petroleum used to get there, was the cost of the dinner. That was a mere $7. A breakfast of Honey Buns and coffee was also available at no cost.

We arrived and were immediately escorted by one of the females that assisted in organizing the event. She would lead us around the campsite in order to find a temporary spot for our tent - our temporary home. Our initial walk would lead us to find a fully undressed woman on the beach, another half-naked woman in a raft floating nearby, and other topless vixens mingling with other onlookers.

Friday night was a sight to be had. Many, if not all but my lovely wife, chose to bare it all and put on a show. The show included a stripper-style pole tied to a overhanging limb of a tree on the designated "Nude Beach." Things started off fairly tame, but ended up being downright naughty. No one would complain.

After the first night, we had to head home and pick up the kids from our sitter. We would miss the Saturday night shenanigans. I'm told that the Saturday night events would be much more extreme than that of Friday - Friday was shocking as it was.

We did get to do a bit of riding north of Kernville. The area was breathtaking with the river and bountiful supply of trees.

A trip to Kernville was also planned. A brief stop at the Kern River Park allowed us to visit the cool shops and pick up some local brand of cola, candies, and a t-shirt for the wife. We hoped to finally take that rafting trip we had been meaning to do, but, unfortunately, the river was no longer flowing as much as it was during the last few weeks and the shops weren't offering the excursions until next season. Looks like we'll be heading back next summer.

As usual, here's a few photos taken during the weekend (I did get some of the ladies, but want to keep this a family friendly site).


Here's a shot of the river, north of Kernville.

Here's the welcome wagon.  This vehicle belonged to a couple that heads up the run and keeps things organized and entertaining.

Some of the temporary domiciles can be seen below.

I managed to capture a rare image of a few of the drunkards - actually, I kept my limit pretty low.
(Left to Right: Me, Mrs. Knight, and Kris).  One of the other two (hint: not my wife) managed to put away about 14 containers of beer.

With all of the action going on, I had to capture a shot of a beaver.  This one's safe for minors.

This Weekend's Events in So. Cal

There are a couple of interesting events coming up this weekend that I'd like to attend. The first is the 5th Annual Kern River Run. The second is the second annual ABATE 27 Poker Run.

The 5th Annual Kern River Run is an adults only throwback to the ol' biker party days. This one isn't for the faint at heart. There's word of nudity and lawlessness. Careful when following the link. It's not for minors.

The ABATE 27 Poker Run is going to be held at Fairmount Park in Riverside, Ca. This event includes a poker run that I participated in last year and had the fortune of riding with Jimbo from KCAL 96.7 FM. Rumor has it, he'll be participating again this year. The stops were great, with the first one taking place at Cold War Shooters in San Bernardino - a gun shop that had bikini clad young ladies posing for pictures while allowing you to select your card for your hand. Biker games were also held and it was cool to watch.

Looks like a fun weekend to be had.

Roadhouse Biker Church Ride to Cedar Glen Malt Shop

Once again, I was fortunate enough to join the Roadhouse Biker Church for a ride. This time our destination was The Cedar Glen Malt Shop.

We met as usual at the Hideout at 10 a.m. Approximately 30 bikes made their way to the location. Kickstands were up at 10:30 a.m.

The route took us up the 15 freeway. We exited in the Cajon pass in order to take a brief detour along Historic Route 66. We returned to the 15 freeway and exited 138, taking us past Silverwood Lake and into Crestline, where we would stop to pick up additional vehicles for the trip. We proceeded through the town of Crestline, catching a glimpse of Lake Gregory. A short while later, we found ourselves at the Lake Arrowhead Village, the conclusion of our trip.

It's funny, but once again we didn't make it to our original destination. This would lead to some laughable commentary by Pastor Denver during the Saturday night sermon at the Roadhouse Biker Church. Since we had such a large number of people in attendance for the ride, the group was worried that The Cedar Glen Malt Shop wouldn't be able to accommodate all of us. So, we spent the afternoon walking around the Lake Arrowhead Village and consuming tasty ice cream from one of the parlors there.

All in all, it was another awesome trip into the mountains. The cooler weather was enough reason for me to attend the ride and end up in my neck of the woods, so to speak. I enjoyed the ride and the company. It was great and I look forward to the next one.

Here's a few images taken on the trip:

The group gathering at the hideout.

A brief stop to pick up more travelers.

Bill, Owen, and Pastor Denver near the lake.

Pastor Denver, Owen and Butch after a prayer and preparing to head home.

Skip Fordyce H.O.G. Chapter Challenge

Skip Fordyce hosted a contest of strength and athleticism tonight. The games consisted of volleyball and tug of war.

The teams for volleyball were I.E. H.O.G., Circle City H.O.G., and the employees of Skip's.

The first match pit I.E. H.O.G. against Skip Fordyce. Those fellas from Skip's beat us, but the true score may never be known, with a few people voicing different numbers - including Jay, the owner of Skip's. I kind of preferred the numbers given by the guy that was drinking or another member of I.E. H.O.G.

After the match, we were provided with a meal. This meal consisted of various burritos, chips and salsa, refried beans, and rice.

The second match would leave Skip's defending it's lead against Circle City H.O.G. Having just lost to Skip's, I was encouraged to root for them against Circle City. We couldn't live with the trash talking should they win. The folks at Skip's made quick work of them and beat them by a larger margin than the match with us.

Volleyball behind us, the next contest would be the tug of war. I.E. H.O.G. would be fortunate to have some large men participating. The team consisted of I.E. H.O.G. and a couple employees of Skip Fordyce Harley. The opposing team would consist of a few gusys smaller than ours (not small, but small in comparison) and about 4 or 5 petite women. We had this one in the bag. Or so any bystander would have thought. Those women and the smaller men of the group would pull our group over the line and almost into the kiddie pool in the middle. Cries for 2 out of 3 rang out. The second match would end the same as the first, the men from I.E. H.O.G. would be dragged again to the other side, this time after a small delay.

One last event would remain - the old stein hold. About 10 people would have steins filled with water extended out from their bodies, held with only a single arm. Men and women would compete. Arms began to quake. One after another, a drink would fall, eliminating a contestant. The women put up a good fight, with a couple outlasting quite a few of the men. The last one holding the stein would be from Circle City.

I.E. did not win any of the contests of strength or athleticism, but it did go home with a Hog Pinata, due in part to the many attendees from the chapter. We won by pure numbers. It was the consolation prize.

I had a blast tonight and it reminded me why I enjoy that dealership so much. The events held are usually great. The H.O.G. chapter of that dealership is also great. I look forward to the next one.

Multiple Harley-Davidson Dealership Ride

I met up with my friend Kris and rode out to Laidlaw's Harley-Davidson in Baldwin Park for their open house event. They had some vendors, lots of bikes, and, best of all, a couple representatives from the Hooters restaurants (see pic below).

Once at the event, I noticed that the prices on the new bikes at Laidlaw's were better than other dealerships I frequent. I'll keep that in mind when I'm in the market for a new bike.

There were many cool bikes to gawk at in attendance at Laidlaw's. Some low-rider type bikes, a few bobbers that may have belonged to some of the employees, and many other makes and styles.

We finished checking things out and wanted to rush to Skip Fordyce's pep rally at the Riverside, Ca dealership that would start at 1 o'clock. We made it with plenty of time to spare. Unfortunately, there wasn't the draw that Laidlaw's had. A few bikes and familiar faces were on hand.

A little underwhelmed, I made haste to Quaid in Loma Linda, Ca for their customer appreciation event. I enjoyed a couple of their free cheeseburgers and chips while checking out their goods. They had a decent turnout and I spoke to a few acquaintances. I purchased a few shirts (a couple of them long-sleeved) from their bargain bin at a mere $2 a piece (thanks for the heads up, Donna!).

I finished up and made my way home, putting about 150 miles on the ol' scooter by the end of the day. It was a nice day for a ride, a little crisp in the morning and warming up a bit in the afternoon.

Here are some pics from the event:

Remember those Hooters representatives that were mentioned earlier in this post? Well, I asked them if they would mind me taking a picture of them with my friend. They agreed. What are friends for? Well, to show your wife who you took a picture with, that's what.

It was funny how quickly he blurted out what had happened and how I was framing him when we ran into his wife at Skip's.

I would post that picture, if I hadn't screwed up and lost it, along with a few others.

Fortunately, I have this one.  Thanks, Kris.

This is the image that will cause a little strife for my marriage.  My wife doesn't see things my way and feels that no other woman should ever find herself sitting on my bike. It's her seat.

 

Should I live after posting this image, I hope to share more with you.