*************************OPEN***ROAD***LOVE***IT***************************** 
LIKE I’VE MENTIONED IN EARLIER POSTS I RIDE PRETTY MUCH YEAR ROUND..USUALLY IT REQUIRES A DEGREE OF PREPARATION..THIN SOCKS THEN A PAIR OF THICK WOOLEN SOCKS WITH A SMALL HEATING PACK BETWEEN THE TWO..THEN A PAIR OF THOSE LONG UNDERWEAR WHICH I COVER WITH A FLEECE LINED PAIR OF JEANS..NEXT COMES A SLEEVELESS T-SHIRT FOLLOWED BY A THERMAL T-SHIRT, A BIGGER HEAT PAD AGAINST MY BELLY (SOMETIMES ANOTHER ONE AGAINST MY BACK) THEN A HOODED SWEATSHIRT..A WIND-BREAKER VEST, THEN MY LEATHER RIDING JACKET (WITH LINER)..I HAVE A SPECIAL PAIR OF BOOTS THAT I WEAR DURING WINTER WHICH ARE A SIZE OR TWO BIGGER TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTRA SOCKS..AFTER PUTTING ON A LEATHER BANDANA I’LL CLIMB INTO MY CHAPS (HATE THOSE THINGS)..BY THE TIME I’VE DONE ALL THIS I BEGIN TO SWEAT (NOT GOOD)..SO I MOVE OUT INTO THE GARAGE TO COOL OFF AND SAFETY CHECK THE BIKE..WHEN ALL IS READY I PUT ON MY HEAD AND NECK SOCK, PUT ON MY FULL FACE HELMET (HATE THAT TOO) AND WRAP A SCARF AROUND MY NECK, PUT ON MY SUPER INSULATED GLOVES (WITH SMALL HEATING PACKS) AND FINALLY I’M READY TO ROLL!!
I WAS BUNDLED UP LIKE THIS DURING A LONG WINTER RIDE YEARS BACK..WENT INTO A CURVE THAT HAD A BUNCH OF SAND ON IT AND DOWN I WENT..CAME OUT OF IT WITH A SORE SHOULDER AND A SCRATCHED UP HELMET, A BUNCH OF SHREDDED CLOTHES AND A CLOUD OF FEATHERS FLOATING AROUND FROM MY DOWN VEST (LOOKED LIKE A SCARECROW WEARING A HELMET) BUT NO ROAD RASH.. THE BIKE SUFFERED THE USUAL - BROKEN CLUTCH LEVER-MIRROR-SIGNAL LIGHT-SCRATCHED UP PAINT..BY THE TIME I GOT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER IT WAS SPRING AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD ONCE AGAIN..
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| "THE LANDING ZONE" A FAVORITE BIKER STOP |
USUALLY I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS DRESS-UP RITUAL A FEW TIMES BY THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JANUARY BUT SO FAR IT HASN’T BEEN NECESSARY..TODAY (SATURDAY JANUARY 7) I WAS CRUISING LIKE IT WAS AN EARLY SPRING DAY..GLOVES, RIDING JACKET, WINDSHIELD AND SOME ROAD TIME—VERY SWEET!!
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| "PHOTO IS O K --BUT NO NAMES" |
OF COURSE THERE WERE MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE..THESE GUYS AND GIRLS ARE THE ONES WHO REALLY LOVE TWO WHEELS AND ARE IN NO HURRY TO PUT THE SCOOTER UP FOR THE WINTER-IF AT ALL..A LOT OF THESE BIKERS COVER MORE GROUND IN THE WINTER THAN OTHERS DO THE WHOLE SUMMER..AT EVERY STOP I MADE THERE WERE SMILING FACES AND FRIENDLY CONVERSATION..WE WERE ALL ENJOYING THAT NATURAL HIGH THAT ONE FEELS ON TWO WHEELS AND THAT IS ENHANCED ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT WHEN MOTHER NATURE SENDS US A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WE CAN RIDE WITHOUT SPENDING A HALF HOUR PREPARING..
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| ANOTHER BIKER ADDED AS A FRIEND--MEET ERIC CHAPMAN --ERIC HAS BEEN ON TWO WHEELS SINCE 1994 SHOWING SPIRIT AND CLASS ON HIS 2004 ELECTRA GLIDE--GOOD MEETING YOU ERIC |
SUN STARTED TO GO DOWN AND COOL OFF A BIT.. I WASN'T READY FOR ANY KIND OF REAL COLD RIDING SO I HEADED HOME..STOPPED TO TAKE THIS PHOTO OF ANOTHER OF MY FAVORITE VISIONS..VIEWS LIKE THIS MAKE MY EYES FEEL GOOD--AND HELPS GET MY MIND RIGHT..
JIM
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