Have to pick up my bike hauler in the morning. Getting ready to go north for a few weeks and since the bearings, etc., are original from 1994 I had a local shop replace all bearings, repack them, new grease seals, new SS cover cones and lug nuts, and new wheels and tires. Tomorrow I'll jack it up and knock off some rust underneath and spray with that black stuff that coats and stops rust. Then I'll be ready to haul the Valk. Just had a major security system installed in the house, need to get the oil/filter changed in the car, maybe recharge the a/c a bit, thinking about having the tranny fluid flushed/replaced since it's original and now 12 yrs. old and has 70k miles on it. Once the car is done I only have to get myself ready, probably a bigger job.
Plans are to head for my youngest daughter's place in Wisconsin via an eastern route. Stu Saunders(Pluggy on the board) used to live in Wtr. Pk. and moved to the eastern part of N. Carolina. Plan to stop there for a day and maybe do some local riding w/him....also has a Valk. From there NW to Roanoke, VA to spend a day/night with my sis-in-law before heading to Westerville, OH on the east side of Columbus to see another sis-in-law for a couple days. Next, head toward Chicago by way of Ft. Wayne so I can stop and see Solo 1(Wayne) where we can sit and solve the worldly troubles of the day. Next is Oakbrook, IL, a western 'burb of Chicago, to spend some time(hours) with the sister of an old high school buddy. We two guys used to live at each other's house but I don't plan to stop by his place in S. Carolina. Last time we talked I could tell he's having some trouble remembering/communicating. I chat w/his sis about once a month, been doing it for years but haven't seen her since about 1955. She kept in close touch with Rita 7 yrs. ago when I had my major heart attack. From there it's up to see Ross...da Prez on the board, and hopefully his brother Dennis....Old 2 soon. A day or so there then on up towards Green Bay. Figure it will take 10-12 days from here to get there but it will give me a badly needed break, plan to be there until near mid-August then start home. Will go through central Illinois to see some great-grandkids I've never seen, spend a little time there, then probably on to Louisiana to see my eldest daughter's husband and more grand/greatgrand kids. That daughter is the second one of the two we lost to cancer and I've stayed in close touch with both sons-in-law and family. Once back in Florida I start the next round of treatment for prostate cancer, a procedure I'm not looking forward to....only the outcome. Also means no riding for a few weeks just as it's cooling down a bit. Oh well....beats the alternative.
Late next Spring I want to start touring a little....God willing and the body stays at least as good as it is now. Will take the ashes and sprinkle in some of our favorite vacation spots which means going up into Canada. It's a whole new life, not one I wanted to live alone but I'm not in control. It also means going all the way across the top of the US to New England where we spent a number of Octobers enjoying the Fall foliage. Due to my responsibilities at home, the bike has just under 50k on it because I was unable to travel. I plan to try and make up for lost time & miles, at 81 I don't know how long I'll be able to continue riding, so far I have no trouble. A trike might be the next step if health allows me to continue. Time will tell. Thanks for listening, not the most exciting reading I know, just sharing a bit. There will be pictures on this coming trip....hopefully with a large bass or two in them, they have a large 40+ ft. camper trailer on a lakeside lot.
