Errands on a motorcycle

[f6john]

I rode the Wing to town today, because I wanted to ride, I needed to go to Lowes for some plumbing parts, maybe get some gas, and check for any bargains in the meat sections of a few places. I guess my biggest complaint with my experience is that all my stops were too close together. Every stop involves finding an acceptable parking spot, pulling off the gloves, removing the helmet, storing the gear, and locking up. My first three stops, Lowes, Wally World, and Krogers are less than a mile apart and accessible by service roads. That’s a lot of off and on fun in a relatively short period of time.

After those stops if was off to Buc-ees to see how much gas was and make a pit stop ( morning coffee doing it’s job ) . I could get gas cheaper elsewhere so gear back up and off to Meijers which allowed for a few mile run down I75. Another round of gear off and gear on but I did strike pay dirt. 80/20 hamburger meat on sale for $2.49lb! Some weeks back I scored some for $1.99 lb but those days may be over for a while.

Then it was back home as I don’t have a fridge on the Wing. Another great day to be out today, temps in the seventies and low humidity. I will have to venture back out this afternoon as rain is looming in the forecasts and we need some about now.

[Serk]

Had to go visit the vampires for my annual (That I hadn't done in 5+ years) blood workup, so rode the Valk (It's good to have a spare motorcycle when your main is stranded in a parking lot in Montana... Ugh).

Once the vampires eternal thirst was temporarily sated I rode to Ace Hardware to pick up some sand paper to finish patching some holes I'd had to cut in our bathroom wall last week to save two baby opossums that'd fallen in there. (Both saved and taken to a wildlife rehabilitator who'll nurse 'em back to health and release 'em in a good spot.)

It was quite comical, thinking it was squirrels in the wall the spousal unit was full of vile and anger, practically begging me to just grab a shotgun from the safe and blast the critter to hell.

I cut the hole, and sent her this pic:



And it immediately switched to "Awwwww! She's scared! Help me get her out, get some water ready, contact the animal rescue lady, help me find a box.... Awwwwww)

Anyway.... I diverge.... But yes, it's good to ride, even short distances.

[f6john]

Your Wing is still in Billings??!!!

[Serk]

Your Wing is still in Billings??!!!

Yup, as of noon yesterday when Disco called the hotel and asked 'em.

I can not NOT recommend Premiere Motorcycle Transport strongly enough... Not the most communicative outfit to work with. (Although they were very prompt when it came to charding my CC!)

Luckily the hotel are still VERY helpful, patient, and have no problem with the 'Wing sitting in their parking lot just as long as it takes to get this handled.

[Rams]

Your Wing is still in Billings??!!!

Yup, as of noon yesterday when Disco called the hotel and asked 'em.

I can not NOT recommend Premiere Motorcycle Transport strongly enough... Not the most communicative outfit to work with. (Although they were very prompt when it came to charding my CC!)

Luckily the hotel are still VERY helpful, patient, and have no problem with the 'Wing sitting in their parking lot just as long as it takes to get this handled.

Hmmm.........   I may have mentioned such things at some point.  

Regarding the errands on a motorcycle, I went to Lowe's today, needed and additional 4x6 post 10 feet long for a project, Lowe's only had 8 and 12 foot posts.   Don't need no frigg'n 12 foot post and an 8 foot post is too durn short.   So, went across town to Economy Supply.   Won't set foot back in a Home Depot.   Regardless, Economy Supply had the one post I needed.   Now getting it strapped down on the  trike just wasn't going to work but, thankfully I thought to bring my tag-a-long trailer.   Got her home without an issue.  

Rams

[Jess from VA]

In my area, I almost never use the bike to pick up small things because leaving it parking lots is dicey.  There may be areas to park your bike where cars won't fit (NOT handicapped), but you may incur the wrath of Joe Public or the cops doing so.

I'll make quick single stops where I can go in and get out in a minute or two (7-11), and I often just wear my half helmet in (with my face hanging out), and stick gloves in the jacket or jeans.  

Walking into stores with a full face helmet on disturbs people and I don't recommend it.  Do NOT go in a bank with a full face on.  

[Avanti]

My Mother lives in Muncie Indian and needed her bird feeder’s refilled. My brother usually does this for her but he is on vacation so my wife and I decided to ride to see her and refill her bird feeder’s. So 800 miles later she has full bird feeder’s. A Valkyrie is great for running small errands.

[Rams]

My Mother lives in Muncie Indian and needed her bird feeder’s refilled. My brother usually does this for her but he is on vacation so my wife and I decided to ride to see her and refill her bird feeder’s. So 800 miles later she has full bird feeder’s. A Valkyrie is great for running small errands.

That my friend, is the way to do an errand for Mom.   

Rams 

[cookiedough]

My Mother lives in Muncie Indian and needed her bird feeder’s refilled. My brother usually does this for her but he is on vacation so my wife and I decided to ride to see her and refill her bird feeder’s. So 800 miles later she has full bird feeder’s. A Valkyrie is great for running small errands.

That my friend, is the way to do an errand for Mom.   

Rams 

I'd say so 800 miles to fill a bird feeder for mom.  YOU are a saint for sure best son around am sure.

[..]

When I had the ST1300 I could go grocery shopping with ease.

Cavernous saddlebags and an empty tank bag.

I was loading up after a Sam's Club shop and a guy walking by with wife and son said see "If I had a bike I could go shopping".

During my 5  years as a motorcycle messenger in London I carried so many different things.

The largest was a 6 foot tube with drawing schematics of an oil rig inside.

Smallest but largest in value was a 310,000,000 pound check from Exxon to the Tax man.

Fast food, dry cleaning, presents, legal documents, to be signed, payroll print outs  etc etc etc

[f6john]

When I had the ST1300 I could go grocery shopping with ease.

Cavernous saddlebags and an empty tank bag.

I was loading up after a Sam's Club shop and a guy walking by with wife and son said see "If I had a bike I could go shopping".

During my 5  years as a motorcycle messenger in London I carried so many different things.

The largest was a 6 foot tube with drawing schematics of an oil rig inside.

Smallest but largest in value was a 310,000,000 pound check from Exxon to the Tax man.

Fast food, dry cleaning, presents, legal documents, to be signed, payroll print outs  etc etc etc

I can’t remember, if I ever knew, do you own another vehicle?

[..]

When I had the ST1300 I could go grocery shopping with ease.

Cavernous saddlebags and an empty tank bag.

I was loading up after a Sam's Club shop and a guy walking by with wife and son said see "If I had a bike I could go shopping".

During my 5  years as a motorcycle messenger in London I carried so many different things.

The largest was a 6 foot tube with drawing schematics of an oil rig inside.

Smallest but largest in value was a 310,000,000 pound check from Exxon to the Tax man.

Fast food, dry cleaning, presents, legal documents, to be signed, payroll print outs  etc etc etc

I can’t remember, if I ever knew, do you own another vehicle?

Oh yes. I've owned Mazda 3 hatchbacks since 2013 and a 4 door Tahoe before that and others before that.

[cookiedough]

most of my shopping trips I use my 2 scooters.  With underseat storage plenty for 3-4 plastic grocery bags, and if added on, soft side bags and top trunk, I have as much and more than my Valk I/S with hard side bags and top trunk. 

More than once I have brought home EXTRA on both scooters with a huge plastic pkg of TP or paper towels in between my legs on flat load floor cruising down the hwy.  I once, although stupid,  brought home 15 miles country roads a pair of wood paddles hanging onto them with my left  hand with handlebars using mostly my right hand for throttle/brake.  I had to keep speed below 50 mph since the wind force was hard to hang onto the paddles catching too much air at hwy. speeds.