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Apheresis - July 2

redcross.gif I watched most of Hancock. My buddy Gail removed my needle and wrapped my arm.

posted 3 Jul 2009 in Apheresis

Leaving for CFR

I'm off to CFR, an FJR rally in Nakusp, BC. See this TC FJR post for complete details.

posted 12 Jun 2009 in Rides

Apheresis - June 12

redcross.gif I watched the uneven New in Town this morning. Renee was not looking her best in this one.

posted 12 Jun 2009 in Apheresis

Apheresis - May 29

redcross.gif I watched Baby Momma this morning.

posted 29 May 2009 in Apheresis

Arkansas, here we (don't) come...

After weeks a low-key planning and preparation, Justin and I left on our motorcycles last Sunday for an eight-day trip to Arkansas. Here's an e-mail I sent out to friends and family on our plight:

Very early on day one of our trip to Arkansas, my bike bike got a flat rear tire. Of course, these things always seem to happen in the worst possible place -- in our case, it as about half-way between Barstow and Needles on I-40. 105 degrees, no shade, on the shoulder of the freeway and twenty miles from the nearest exit

I always carry a tire patch kit and a small compressor for just this kind
of situation. I checked the tire out, found a puncture, and plugged it.
However, the tire would not inflate. We looked at the tire (both me and
Justin, and a rider who stopped to help out his fellow motorcyclists),
and couldn't locate any other problems. Then, to make matters worse,
the fuse blew on the compressor.

I called the Auto Club, and they dispatched a truck that could inflate the
tire, or tow me somewhere if we couldn't get the tire to hold air. After
working on the bike for about an hour, we then had to wait another hour
and a half for the tow truck to arrive - and there was nowhere to sit. I
had a gallon jug of water plus two regular bottles of water, but by the
time the tow truck arrived we were almost out.

When the driver inflated the tire, we were able to hear a second leak.
I plugged that one too, and the tire held air. Unfortunately, it's just not
a good idea to start a 4,000 mile trip on a rear tire with two plugs in it.

Justin and I talked about it, and decided that it would be best to post-
pone the trip for now. From where we were north of Barstow, there was
nowhere to get a new tire on a Sunday afternoon, and we'd lose most of
the day on Monday getting the tire installed. The schedule was tight to
begin with, and we just couldn't make it work if we didn't leave until late
Monday or early Tuesday.

So, the trip is postponed for now - but not canceled. We're talking about
going this fall when the heat isn't so much of a problem, or maybe early
next spring. We'll keep you posted.

posted 17 May 2009 in FJR1300

Tea and Moms

Carole will be visiting Cindy in Spokane next Sunday, so we had the McConnell Mother's Day festivities yesterday at the Tea House in Big Bear. The Casey's all came (including Kristie), along with the Bowsers, Rob and his clan, Crystal and the kids, and Shane.

The tea was very good, but I wound up drinking a little too much, and had a bad caffeine hangover on Monday morning. The nice but somewhat ditzy waitress at the teahouse made a mess of splitting the checks, but everything worked out in the end. We went back to the house for dessert, and most of the guys (old and young) went down to the park for a little touch football. The drive both up and down the hill was fast and fun in the 'Vette.

A good day.

posted 4 May 2009 in Family & Friends

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