passing time

I seem to have mellowed a bit more with each passing year. Maybe I'm getting older, and a bit wiser. Life sure seems better viewing it as an optimist, rather than living life through the eyes of a pessimist. With the arrival of winter each year, I realize I have to put the bike away for the season, but this only brings up a new season of thrills and beauty to come. I have come to accept that to live in Minnesota you have to learn to Love ALL 4 seasons. If you don't 3-4 months out of the year, you could potentially find yourself pretty miserable. Winter is just a thing we have to deal with. I've learned the more I go at it with this kind of attitude, the less the snow and cold seems to bother me. I love to ice fish. I love and appreciate the beauty of winter landscapes. I love snow on Christmas, and I like to snowmobile and downhill ski once in a while.

I don't ski wussy hills like the one pictured below, but had to take a picture of the run's sign while I was on my way to the double black diamond runs.

How could you pass up a name like Harley's Hollow?

Keep smiling. Spring isn't too far away.

To Wave or Not to Wave?

To Wave or Not to Wave?

To Wave or Not to Wave? The debate rages on. This question has been showing up on blogs, forums and magazines for a long time and has been popping up again here and there lately. This is the funniest read on waving I have personally run across and shamelessly stolen from the b.a.r.f. website. I searched for the original by the author and could not locate it. Seriously, take your time and read it through. It is well worth your time reading:

To Wave or Not to Wave

By Shalom Auslander

I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community—a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets—God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys—I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at—those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet–like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

I hope you got a chuckle out of that, I sure did. Here is what I think he is saying. If we don’t wave because of every little thing about someone we don’t like; we will never wave at anyone. As for me, I will wave or acknowledge everyone on two wheels I see in time, as long as it is safe to do so.

Ride on,

Torch

Annual De-lurker day.

You know who you are, You anonymous readers who never comment.

Leave me a comment with you name if you are guilty, or even if you are not!

Art or is it?

I Thought this was kind of cool, and figured this was Blogable. I see it quite often. There is a distinct reverse image of the Harley Davidson Bar and Shield Logo left on one of my favorite chairs.

Its like unintentional art.

Its kind of like carving your name into a picnic table as a kid and leaving your mark.

Every time I wear a certain Harley shirt, and sit in this particular micro-fiber chair, I leave a temporary sign that says, "I was there."

Art, or is it?

Kick Stand Down Blues

Kick Stand Down Blues

By Torch 2010

(To the tune of Born Under a Bad Sign)

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

Three inches of snow & ice on the drive

Keeps my baby all locked up inside

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

I've installed all the chrome an’ polished it bright

I’ll be dreamin’ ‘bout her tonight

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

Done all the maintenance an’ Mods I could

Installed fuel stabilizer in the tank just for good

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

Rubbed her down with a nice coat of wax

She’s so much sexier than a Cadillac

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

I’ve read all the Forums and all of the Blogs

She’s just waitin’ for me to blow out the cogs

Got the Kick Stand Down Blues

Ain’t been able to ride since late Fall

If it wasn’t for Spring an’ Summer time

I’d get no ridin’ time in at all

But, Just as sure as the Rapture Day

Ha, Spring is on it’s way…

Ride on,
Torch

Hope you all had a fabulous holiday season!

Still alive and kickin. Can't wait to see what this new year will bring.

Last year was a Helluva RIDE!

HOGWASH Review

HOGWASH Review

No, HOGWASH is not some expensive Corinthian Leather scented soap to clean your bike with. HOGWASH is a book by the multi-talented, “Only Wanna Do What’s Right”, Bryan Duncan. It is also beautifully illustrated by David Eden. Obviously, Bryan now suffers from Midlife Motorcycle Madness, and has decided to write a light hearted book about his experiences and gleanings. In HOGWASH, Bryan takes a humorous look at the biker scene. It is a short 95 page, easy to read book that anyone who has ridden on two wheels should read and leave out on the coffee table, (just move those motorcycle parts over a little).

Bryan leaves no sacred stone unturned and pokes fun at all aspects of biker life and motorcycle riding in general. Subjects touched upon include; “Stuff You Won’t Find at the Harley Dealer”, “Signs Yer Too Fat for a FATBOY”, and “Why Bikers Have Tattoos”. All the short quips will keep you chuckling through the whole book.

He goes on to discus subjects like, “How to Recognize a Biker Church” and “How a Biker Makes Sense of the Bible”. Bryan touches on the humorous side of religion with no preaching, just food for thought. Jesus rides a Road King? Laughter truly is good medicine for the heart.

From the back cover of the book:


ONE BIKER’S SARCASTIC OBSERVATIONS OF MOTORCYCLE MADNESS


What happens when you buy this book!:


• It’ll improve your looks
• You’ll feel younger
• Chicks will dig you
• Yer personality will blossom
• You’ll become more prosperous
• Hair will grow on yer bald spots


With promises like that how could you refuse to read it? I can vouch that my looks have already improved since reading it! (A smile truly will increase your face value). Next, I need to get one of Jack Riepe's Twisted Roads Tees.


HOGWASH is a very funny and entertaining book. Moose’s (David Eden’s) illustrations are all real cute and entertaining in there own right. Bryan Duncan’s HOGWASH is like chicken soup for the bikers’ soul. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and everyone who rides can relate to the humor. HOGWASH is a great book and it will last for many smiles.

Torch gives Bryan Duncan’s HOGWASH an M.M.M Rating of 10 on a scale of 1-10. So, “Have Yourself Committed” and order your copy of HOGWASH today and remember, “Ride Smilin’… It Makes People Nervous”.


Ride on,
Torch