Made the Turn...

[DDT (12)]

                                                        The Turn…

This has been a very nice ‘tune-up’ for things to come. Yep, I ain’t through by a long stretch, but I still have things to take care of back in Florida… I suppose none of us can ever totally abandon our responsibilities… Anyway, while I was in no hurry and I didn’t have to do it right then, I still wound up letting the stay in Lincoln, MT, be the ‘turning point’ of this ride. I’m now headed back to my new ‘home’.

When I left Lincoln, I was headed at the time back to southwestern Montana. I remembered how special that area is, and how I’d easily found adventure in several locations. It’s particularly scenic, yet it doesn’t have any large concentrations of people once you get south of Missoula.

Small towns, twisty roads, friendly folks (for the most part - however… it is possible to raise the ire of local guys when you make a move on one of their women!), and everything just seems perfect for somebody like this guy. Well, as long as one behaves himself, of course…

I was figuring on just wandering around, then maybe moseying down into Wyoming, and later perhaps Colorado… I hadn’t ruled out Utah either. I noticed that ALI’s front tire was finally beginning to show signs of its own mortality, and that in all likelihood it wouldn’t make it back to Florida. Dang, now I had to keep a close eye on that and attempt to position us so we could address that little detail should the need come sooner rather than a little later.

It seemed a more direct route to Florida might be wise, plus rain was forecast for Wyoming anyway… We just headed east and began the ride downhill towards the hacienda… Interstates, mostly, with little detours when needed to miss cities and/or potential traffic hairballs in known construction zones. Geeeez, it sure had been more fun on the way out!

Each evening I would closely eyeball that front tire, and again each morning I would repeat that inspection just to confirm my previous diagnosis. Know this, I ain’t gonna risk my priceless derriere over trying to ring-out a few extra miles from a $200. tire! If in doubt, I replace it… But, what was going on here?

It seemed that tire was actually ‘growing’ new tread on this leg of the journey! Now, everybody knows that isn’t possible, but I swear by the time I’d reached Illinois, it looked like there was actually more life left in that tire than it had seemed back in Montana! Has wishful thinking totally replaced rational thinking? Is it really possible socialism can actually work after all? I suppose if you can believe the one, it would be easy to believe the other, too…

During all of this, my dear ol’ bud, Sam, called to check in and see how things were going… “You are coming through here, right?” Well, I hadn’t actually planned on that, but… Hmmmm, that would afford an opportunity to party with some of my pals there, and I could also have that tire replaced where I’ve had so many changed before… I am known at that shop!

I would need to pick up the pace of my travels, however… Most Honda shops, and the one in Montgomery, AL, is one of those, don’t open their service departments on Saturdays, and nearly all Honda shops everywhere are closed on Mondays… Meaning, either I arrive in time to have the work done on Friday, or I’d have to wait until the following Tuesday… I extended and stretched the rides some each day, and I twisted the throttle a wee bit more than I had been, too.

Several long days in the saddle resulted in my arrival at Sam’s place on Thursday afternoon. I’d already called the shop a couple of days before and scheduled an appointment for first thing Friday morning, and to have them set aside a Bridgestone Excedra for me.

You know, that doggone front tire still looked serviceable for some more miles, but I ain’t gonna take a chance on it. The best I could hope for would be few hundred more miles, perhaps even a thousand, but the increased risk of the various things that could happen simply weren’t worth gambling on to me… After all, ALI’s tires do haul precious cargo, you know…

Anyhow, I’m now ready to go to Ocala and take care of the chores waiting on me there, then I can move out again. I have a date in Morehead City, NC, to celebrate our birthdays with my cousin, then I have another date for the FCR. After that, there ain’t no plan, just ride somewhere. ALI’s already ready for those rides now, so all I have to do is do all I have to do… then we’ll wander off again to parts unknown… It’s been a major hoot being out again! I think I’ll just haul off and do another road trip in a couple of weeks…

DDT

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

" moseying "



Dear Lord let me live long enough to get me some " moseying " .

You got it going on Bruce ... How many miles on Ali now ?

[Rams]

" moseying "



Dear Lord let me live long enough to get me some " moseying " .

Amen to that Brother!!!   

[RDAbull]

Picking up the pace a bit makes the quicker route, not necessarily the shorter route.
I like that.   
See you at the FCR, ride Safe. 

[NewValker]

Thanks for the ride, I'm sitting here with a boot on my leg with no sign of riding in the near future. So all I can do is ride with you, Joe and everyone else that posts up their rides!
THANKS,
Craig

[Pappy!]

Been following every word you have written so far. Love it!
When you get back home we Florida folks would love to see you.

[DDT (12)]

" moseying "



Dear Lord let me live long enough to get me some " moseying " .

You got it going on Bruce ... How many miles on Ali now ?

It's my calling in life, Joe... Some folks ride around helping folks, I mosey and meander... Keep anticipating and working towards that day, my friend, so when you do get there you'll be able to savor the wonderful experience that awaits you!

DDT

P.S. 533,000+ miles as of this minute. Didn't ride for nearly two months while I was selling my house. I'm doing a write-up on our gal, and I'll be posting that in a few days once I've finished...

" moseying "



Dear Lord let me live long enough to get me some " moseying " .

Amen to that Brother!!!   

Patience, Grasshopper... your time is coming! And when it does, I hope I'm around to listen to your tall tales...

DDT

Picking up the pace a bit makes the quicker route, not necessarily the shorter route.
I like that.   
See you at the FCR, ride Safe. 

Yeah, you do understand! See ya in Robbinsville, amigo...

DDT

Been following every word you have written so far. Love it!
When you get back home we Florida folks would love to see you.

Thanks, Pappy... I have thought about that, and it certainly is possible... or not. This non-planning thing I'm working on makes it hard to say anything about anything more than a few minutes beforehand! Still, y'all have a very special thing going on down there, and I do enjoy hanging with the group... Lots of new faces nowadays, but there still are a few familiar ones there, too... Good folks all, though, and good riders, as well... Heck, I'll see about hooking up with y'all... See, you've done talked me into it! Possibly... I'll be watching your board for ride announcements...

DDT

[robin]

Keep er going Bruce the cost of a tire would not stop me also when it's just do it

[John Schmidt]

Here's hoping you can take the time out to chat a bit when you get back "home."  Depending on when that may happen, I most likely will have to cage it for a few weeks due to bolting in some new suspension on the right side. Those ball joints apparently don't have a lifetime warranty on some models. 

[DDT (12)]

Keep er going Bruce the cost of a tire would not stop me also when it's just do it

 




Agreed! Over the life of a bike most folks might buy one extra set of tires, but for ALI and me it'll be more than that... Still, hardy worth taking the risk of accidents at worst, inconvenience at best from some sort of boo-boo... I've already spent far more time on the side of the road than I care to recall...

DDT

Here's hoping you can take the time out to chat a bit when you get back "home."  Depending on when that may happen, I most likely will have to cage it for a few weeks due to bolting in some new suspension on the right side. Those ball joints apparently don't have a lifetime warranty on some models. 

I'm hoping to make the ride to Astor Park this Saturday, and I saw where you are wanting to do that one, too... Great!     Yeah, you take care of that new suspension project! Those can be tough on certain, ummmm, vintage models...   lol   

DDT

[winghot]

Good write Bruce 

[DDT (12)]

Thanks, Wayne!!! Long time... How are things with you?

DDT

[trout dude]

Hey Bruce keep on moving and grooving on ALI  Its so nice to live the ride with you even if i'm not there we hope to see you soon and hope it works out to ride with you to the FCR. Keep on rolling my friend
Dennis

[Black Dog]

Once again, a great lil' trip... 

Safe winds my friend.

Black Dog

[Crazyhorse]

See you at the FCR. Thanks for taking us on the scenic route.

[DDT (12)]

Hey Bruce keep on moving and grooving on ALI  Its so nice to live the ride with you even if i'm not there we hope to see you soon and hope it works out to ride with you to the FCR. Keep on rolling my friend
Dennis

Thanks, my good friend! We couldn't have done it without you!!! You and a host of others have kept our girl going, and we are mighty grateful for that, too. Yeah, I'm thinking a hook up on the way to FCR is very doable, and I am looking at making that happen. Napper will have to join us in Robbinsville, it appears, but that's OK (she'll be in a cage). Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing y'all again and hanging out kicking tires...

DDT

Once again, a great lil' trip... 

Safe winds my friend.

Black Dog

Thanks, Black Dog... I imagine most folks are like I was a short time ago, and they don't fully appreciate the quiet contributions you make to our community... We need to get you out to showcase ya! Any chance you could throw a leg and join us for the FCR? Heck, the weather ain't bad in Wisconsin yet... Anyway, I appreciate your nice posts, but most of all I appreciate you...

DDT

See you at the FCR. Thanks for taking us on the scenic route.

Thanks, Mac... I'm looking forward to hanging out with a bunch of friends soon... and you are definitely on that list! See ya then...

DDT

[DDT (12)]

Thanks for the ride, I'm sitting here with a boot on my leg with no sign of riding in the near future. So all I can do is ride with you, Joe and everyone else that posts up their rides!
THANKS,
Craig

Sorry, Craig, I missed your post earlier... Also, sorry about the 'boot'. Hope you hair-up and heal-over real soon and can rejoin us out yonder... In the meantime, we'll keep a good thought for ya...

DDT