So Duck Threw the Gauntlet Down and Re-attempting the Iron Butt 50cc

[DSM8]

Originally Posted by Shoganai

Thank you.

Let me tell ya, one-handed, sterile technique on a fat chick using a mirror ain't easy.

ahhh much better now thank you...

[Shoganai]

As I was riding north I approached the Klamath River and it was there I noticed many people were standing on the bridge looking over the edge. I slowed down and pulled over to ask what was going on? Someone said there was a whale in the river.





A whale!!


I had never seen a wild whale and jumped off the bike to have a look.








Great Googly Moogly!



There it was! I got back on my bike, rode to a parking spot, grabbed my big camera and trotted back out on the bridge.














The gray whale was swimming back and forth under the bridge. I asked about it and I was told it had been there about two months. I watched it for over thirty minutes and took lots of pictures but after awhile I started thinking it must be hungry. Surely there was no food for it here and I wondered how long could it last.














Someone was out on the water on a paddle board close to it and the whale seemed to linger near him before continuing it’s sad, confined figure eights.








It made me think of a tiger mindlessly pacing in its cage.
Maybe it felt trapped?


I bet it felt lonely.






My excitement faded into an empathic sadness. I stood surrounded by others and I watched it a little while longer but it felt like I was watching it slowly die. Death as a spectator sport; I couldn’t stomach that and walked slowly back to my bike.


I had a lot of mixed emotions and I was in a somber mood for about the next hour.


Exile, is there any word that that feels more lonely?




Exile
Cold as the northern winds
in December mornings,
Cold is the cry that rings
from this far distand shore.

Winter has come too late
too close beside me.
How can I chase away
all these fears deep inside?

I'll wait the signs to come.
I'll find a way
I will wait the time to come.
I'll find a way home.

My light shall be the moon
and my path - the ocean.
My guide the morning star
as I sail home to you.

I'll wait the signs to come.
I'll find a way.
I will wait the time to come.
I'll find a way home.

Who then can warm my soul?
Who can quell my passion?
Out of these dreams boat
I will sail home to you.

http://youtu.be/eE3YQqMCPT4



.

[Ze Red Baron]

Very nice RR, Shoganai,

your prose is beautiful and just keeps drawing me further into your adventure.

I'm glad you're doing this ride after reading what happened the last time.

Gero

[Shoganai]

The ride to Grants Pass was fairly fun and as I shifted through the gears I was shifting form melancholy to joy. I was looking forward to meeting Wibby aka Scott for lunch.


As I rode through the tall evergreens I swear I couldn’t help but burst out into several refrains of…


Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.

He's a lumberjack, and he's okay,
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

I cut down trees, I eat my lunch,
I go to the lava-try.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.

He cuts down trees, he eats his lunch,
He goes to the lava-try.
On Wednesdays 'e goes shoppin'
And has buttered scones for tea.

I cut down trees, I skip and jump,
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing,
And hang around in bars.

He cuts down trees, he skips and jumps,
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around.... In bars???????








I had been in contact with Wibby and he had picked out a Mexican restaurant for us to meet at in Grants Pass. I got close but couldn’t find it, nothing new there * blush *, so I called him. We went through the ‘what do you see’ Q&A and as it turned out I was almost with in sight of it. I turned down the right street to see Wibby standing in the road taking pics as I rode up.


After I de-geared we hugged and went inside. I have long wanted to meet Scott and this was yet another cool meeting of long time friends that had never met. The ceiling was hung with many piñatas and around the walls were shelves covered with imported treats.


I wasn’t very hungry and tried to order something small. They didn’t have cheese sauce or carnitas which are two of my favorites. I’d never really thought of Mexican food as having local differences but in after thought it must. I settled on a burrito.


While waiting for the food Scott and I talk and joked around. I think he is a little shy by nature and the timbre of his voice very pleasant and his laughter hearty.


When the food arrived the burrito was HUGE!
I thought I was on woman vs food!
But it was real tasty and I ate more than I expected.





When we finished eating our fill I wanted to get a our picture taken
and I thought it would be funny if for once I could be as tall as
someone else in the picture.





When it came to go Wibby rode out with me a little bit.




Wibby, thank you so much for riding out to have lunch with me. I really enjoyed it. You’re a sweet heart.


Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa mi pa ti
Y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan
Soy capitan, soy capitan

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba



My next destination was Mista Verns home and on my way I saw this.





Well, you don’t see that everyday…unless you live near by.
I was trying to make time so I didn’t linger.


When I arrived at Mista Vern home MortimerSickle aka Ken was already there.

Whoot!

Two of the sweetest folks on ADV in the same place.
I thought I was going to be in sugar over load.





Hugs all around, well not all around … Ken and Vern didn’t hug.


Mrs Mista Vern joined us and offered cool drinks. I gladly accepted her offer and we all walked to the back yard patio to relax. I wish I had taken more pictures of their garden of beautiful plants and flowers.


The patio was just a wonderful place to just be and to be among friends made it just perfect. We must have talked for at least an hour and as my friend Walt would say, ‘We passed a good time’.


But Ken and I needed to get on down the road to Mr. Fishermans home where he was hosting some local ADV’s so that I would be able to meet them. As we reluctantly start tearing ourselves away from their hospitality I take a few pics.


Tell me how cool is it to still own the first motorcycle you ever bought!





Out in the carport was this sweet little bike and it’s sidecar.





That was a REALLY cool sidecar!





Mrs. Mista Vern took our picture.





Mista and Mrs. Vern, it was a great, heart warming joy meeting you both and thank you for making the time for me.





Ken had ridden there so we could ride together to Mr. Fishermans aka Ray home, so off we go. Now, if I’m riding alone I ride far more aggressively through traffic than if I’m with someone else, especially if I’m leading.


Traffic was slow and compact in places on the two-lane road and passing for two bikes at the same might have been difficult, and I had never ridden with Ken.
With all that said, I was fairly conservative and cautious. (Sorry Ken) But honestly it was killing me!


Go on & write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n' all that jive
I can't drive 55!

No, no, no, I can't drive...(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive... (I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive 55!

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by Shoganai

...
With all that said, I was fairly conservative and cautious. (Sorry Ken) But honestly it was killing me!
...

You should have have gone for the gusto. I can usually catch up eventually.

Glad to finally meet you, Gwen. It's not every day I get to ride with a Legend.

[NomadRip]

Beautiful ride, like always.

[MountainLion]

[Ducky 149]

Epic trip!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

[Disco Stu]

Congrats on reaching your goal! Hope your complete ride home was as exhilarating as the first group of pictures!

[Treadless]

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by Shoganai

My goodness it was so darn awesome. She too, felt with a sister to me. We have spent years chatting across ADV, PM’s and phone calls. We already loved each other, or at least I can say that’s how I felt and it was like long lost family to be in her arms.


Hugs galore and some excited conversation and then some pictures and it was all over WAY too soon.

Like the sister I never had. So awesome to finally meet you. Our visit, short as it was, is still fresh in my mind - we have kindred spirits and I look forward to the days when we can spend more time with one another. Love you!

[Shoganai]

When we arrive at Mr. Fishermans home and there were a lot of bikes already there and lot of new and old friends. However, I had been two days without a shower and after a quick hello to everyone I took a MUCH needed shower.


Mr Fisherman and his wife had prepared a wonderful meal and while they were finishing up the last of the details I went out on the porch where everybody was.

Old friends whom I’ve meet before. Gawd it’s good to see these two again.





I poured a drink and settled right down in a chair on the deck where everybody was gathered. I was excited to see RR and TG again. Always great people and TG even brought her own tequila. Gotta love the girl.

And interweb friends I was meeting for the first time.








DireWolf brought a jar a pickled eggs he had made and even though I had never dared try them in the past…well DireWolf made them…I had to give it a go.


I was REALLY surprised how good they were.
The thought of pickled egg is a kinda disturbing.
To be honest, I was very worried I was not going to be able to swallow them.
I thought I was on FEAR FACTOR as I took the first bit.


The chicken and fixing’s were really, really good but sadly my pic was blurry… maybe because of the drink I poured and drank So I hope someone will post a pic of the food. There was much laughter and eating and some drinking but mostly it was a great sharing of time among friends. I can’t tell you ALL how much it meant to me that you would take your time to be there.

And is that wasn’t good enough Mr. Fisherman breaks out the real good stuff.





“That was Middelton's Very Rare Whiskey from our trip to Ireland. I believe it was a 2001 bottle, exceptional quality and the most expensive bottle I have ever purchased. It was 25 years old before being bottled. I am not likely to get another.”

Yeah….Riiiight


That was some amazing Whiskey!

As then evening winds down the inevitable parting of ways takes place.









There are things shared face to face that do not translate well to the written word, nor in some cases should they be. To that, all I can say is thank you.



Again, I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone there. I missed getting pictures of Mrazkan aka Hugh, Easy-Z aka Zack and TTDave aka Dave.


After everybody left or went to bed, I curled up in bed and drifted off to the smooth warmth of good whiskey and the echoes of the laughter ringing in my memory.


The next morning I got up easily because DireWolf was coming back to escort me to breakfast. It seems he and some others had arranged to meet for breakfast and I was invited to join them.

This looked a well played out ploy to gain entry.




When Shawn arrived I was almost ready to leave and he took our picture before
heading out.

Mr Fish and Mrs Fish, thank you so very much for all you did for me
and the all the others you opened your home to.









It didn’t take us long to get there and we parked our bikes out front. Inside we were greeted by Bert and toolfan, knary, his wife and the now World Famous Jane.








The food was very good and the coffee was great but the company was the best!

In 2007 Bert was one of the many people that rode out to visit me in the hospital but sadly I don’t it remember due to the concussion. This time I won’t forget. What wonderful gift they all gave me of themselves and their time. Truly the best of times.














As we were leaving this young woman and her child were walking by and the little boy wanted to touch the bikes. I heard her admonished him not to and I said he was welcome to touch it. I said, “It’s a bike, it’s a machine, it’s a tool and it’s meant to be touched and ridden” and then I offered for him to sit on it. He didn’t hesitate and she allowed me to take this picture.


I love it when young ones are interested in my motorcycle or any bike. It’s a small thing that costs me nothing and the gift of their smiles or amazement is priceless. Maybe one day they’ll buy a bike and join the enthusiasts, the adventurers, the motocross riders, and Iron Butt nuts. We will never know how many times we alter the stream of a lifetime through small acts of kindness.








Thank you everyone and thank you for allowing me to join you for breakfast.


Before starting on this ride I had expressed my desire to knary to see Mike Butts bike that was in his care and under restoration. I was hoping to but I am always fearful of intruding into peoples lives and I’m always, always worried that I may be in places I don’t belong.


Mr. and Mrs. knary along with Jane departed and DireWolf escorted me to the knarys home. We park out front on the sidewalk and were invited in by Scott. Walking into the main hall, I saw the ceiling high cabinets / book shelves he was building. They were still un-stained but looked nearly completed.

They were stunning! My goodness I wish I had the skill he did with wood. I really enjoy working with wood more than any other material.


We went out back into the Studio were the place was covered with many different painting in various stages. I was so fascinated and amazed at the privilege of being permitted to see these things. I wanted to take pictures but didn’t dare because as a kinda artist myself, I was often a little guarded about anybody seeing my unfinished work. It was enough I was there among them.





I love traveling if for no other reason than to see and learn of different plants and animals. This, I learned is called a Smoketree or Smoke bush.





On this trip I had picked up a new habit. I would save my bacon from breakfast or buy extra for the road. It was easy to eat while riding and a tasty snack. WAY better to beef jerky!!





Before leaving I took these pics. This is what happens when Gatorade leaks onto a hot exhaust…repeatedly. I think I’ll use EZ-Off to clean it up.





And this is what happens when I over filled the transmission case and it
boiled over and caught fire.






He went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bothered him so
He was impressive, young and aggressive
Saving the world on his own
But the warm summer breezes, those french wines and cheeses
Put his ambitions at bay
The summers and winters scattered like splinters
And four or five years slipped away


Now he lives in the islands, fishing the pylons
And drinks his green label each day
Writing his memoirs, losing his hearing
And he don't care what most people say
Through eighty-six years of perpetual motion
If he likes you he'll smile and he'll say
Some of it's magic and some of it's tragic
But I had a good life all the way

[MortimerSickle]

Gwen,

I didn't get any food pics either, but here are a few more (bad, even for a cell phone) pics of peeps.

[earwig]

Originally Posted by Shoganai

I love this shot.


Was really great to meet you in person, Gwen!

[MTrider16]

Great report Gwen. If you got more to write, we'll be sure to read it.

David