I have put a couple of hundred miles on it now and sure feels good to be riding again.
Now I know why dogs ride with their head out of the window!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
New Toy
Well as you may remember, I bought a little Yamaha VStar 250 to carry on the front of the Excursion when we go camping. It will be great for that, but it is not a road bike. I have taken it out for a couple of rides on FM roads around Katy, but it is just so light and not geared for running the 50-55 mph you need to travel to stay out of the way.
Well while in Boerne and looking at Harleys, Raymond and I were talking about what we would like to have. I was telling Raymond about a 1998 Valkrie that was on CraigsList that had real low miles on it. These were super bikes that Honda only made a few years. Ellen told me if I thought it was a good buy, to go buy it. She likes to ride as much as I do. We quit riding years ago with kids around.
I had been looking around for a while and thought I wanted a VStar 1100 to play around with. She and I had been to Yamaha and I had sat on one as well as some of their larger bikes. Seems like all the 1100's on CraigsList were either high milage or priced too high. Yamaha shop had no used 1100's. And, Yamaha has dropped production of the 1100.
I and then Michael and I had made several trips to the Yamaha shop and asked questions and sat on bikes. We looked at several used bikes and I looked at a used RoadStar and really liked the way it felt and sat. But, it had a fairing with radio and hard bags on rear. I really thought I wanted just a plain bike. I then found a 2007 Red RoadStar with 4500 miles on it that had windshield and nothing else. I made an offer and he turned me down. So I kept looking. Michael and I went to the Yamaha shop again. They had a used 2006 Midnight RoadStar Silverado S there on consignment. I did not think I wanted a black bike, but this bike was one good looking bike. I made a low offer.
Offer was countered half way in between asking and my offer. Sales guy told me the bike although it was a 2006 had not been sold by the dealer until March 2009 and the buyer had purchased the 4 year extended factory warranty on top on the normal 1 year and that it was transferable, good until March 2014. I still walked away and went to look at other bikes.
Yesterday I called and talked with Ellen and told her what I found. The red 2007 base RoadStar and the loaded 2006 RoadStar with warranty. Even though more money, the 2006 was a better buy as it would cost a fortune to add the assessories to the 2007 to equal to 2006, and the 06 had the warrantee. I went in and made the deal on the 06 and came home and cancelled appointments that I had to look a couple other bikes.
Picked up yesterday afternoon and only put 30 miles on it. Road 90 miles on it today and hopefully if no rain tomorrow, go for another ride. It is great to be on the road again, 2 wheeling!
Well while in Boerne and looking at Harleys, Raymond and I were talking about what we would like to have. I was telling Raymond about a 1998 Valkrie that was on CraigsList that had real low miles on it. These were super bikes that Honda only made a few years. Ellen told me if I thought it was a good buy, to go buy it. She likes to ride as much as I do. We quit riding years ago with kids around.
I had been looking around for a while and thought I wanted a VStar 1100 to play around with. She and I had been to Yamaha and I had sat on one as well as some of their larger bikes. Seems like all the 1100's on CraigsList were either high milage or priced too high. Yamaha shop had no used 1100's. And, Yamaha has dropped production of the 1100.
I and then Michael and I had made several trips to the Yamaha shop and asked questions and sat on bikes. We looked at several used bikes and I looked at a used RoadStar and really liked the way it felt and sat. But, it had a fairing with radio and hard bags on rear. I really thought I wanted just a plain bike. I then found a 2007 Red RoadStar with 4500 miles on it that had windshield and nothing else. I made an offer and he turned me down. So I kept looking. Michael and I went to the Yamaha shop again. They had a used 2006 Midnight RoadStar Silverado S there on consignment. I did not think I wanted a black bike, but this bike was one good looking bike. I made a low offer.
Offer was countered half way in between asking and my offer. Sales guy told me the bike although it was a 2006 had not been sold by the dealer until March 2009 and the buyer had purchased the 4 year extended factory warranty on top on the normal 1 year and that it was transferable, good until March 2014. I still walked away and went to look at other bikes.
Yesterday I called and talked with Ellen and told her what I found. The red 2007 base RoadStar and the loaded 2006 RoadStar with warranty. Even though more money, the 2006 was a better buy as it would cost a fortune to add the assessories to the 2007 to equal to 2006, and the 06 had the warrantee. I went in and made the deal on the 06 and came home and cancelled appointments that I had to look a couple other bikes.
Picked up yesterday afternoon and only put 30 miles on it. Road 90 miles on it today and hopefully if no rain tomorrow, go for another ride. It is great to be on the road again, 2 wheeling!
On the road again, don't to wait to get on the road again, going 2 wheeling with my friends!
Labor Day Weekend
We drove out to Boerne, Texas for the weekend. The Texas Boomers were having their annual Labor Day Rally and their 10th anniversity party. Last I heard, we had 68 rigs show up. Got there Friday afternoon and we shortly thereafter started eating. Friday night pot luck finger food, snacks and sandwiches.
Saturday morning we had pot luck breakfast. Never have I seen soo much food. Eggs, egg casseroles, grits casserole, bacon, sausage, biscuites, toast, donuts, etc. You sure did have to leave hungry. There is no telling how many gallons of coffee and orange juice were drank.
Afterwards, Raymond & Annette and Ellen & I ventured down to the Harley shop. Ray and I both have to bug for a road bike. Got there and they were celebrating also. Had a live band and tons of folks looking at new bikes and some taking test rides. They sure had some great looking bikes, but you really have to pay for that Harley name. Saturday afternoon Annette and Ellen went to the pool and I walked around the campground and talked, and took a nap. Saturday night we had "catered" BBQ dinner. It was OK, but not great food. Afterwards, we had live music. This group at this campout was really good.
Sunday morning we had zippy bag omlets. More coffee and orange juice. More chatting with friends and making new friends. Afterwards, Raymond & Annette and Ellen and I went out to the "Cave with no Name".
Saturday morning we had pot luck breakfast. Never have I seen soo much food. Eggs, egg casseroles, grits casserole, bacon, sausage, biscuites, toast, donuts, etc. You sure did have to leave hungry. There is no telling how many gallons of coffee and orange juice were drank.
Afterwards, Raymond & Annette and Ellen & I ventured down to the Harley shop. Ray and I both have to bug for a road bike. Got there and they were celebrating also. Had a live band and tons of folks looking at new bikes and some taking test rides. They sure had some great looking bikes, but you really have to pay for that Harley name. Saturday afternoon Annette and Ellen went to the pool and I walked around the campground and talked, and took a nap. Saturday night we had "catered" BBQ dinner. It was OK, but not great food. Afterwards, we had live music. This group at this campout was really good.
Sunday morning we had zippy bag omlets. More coffee and orange juice. More chatting with friends and making new friends. Afterwards, Raymond & Annette and Ellen and I went out to the "Cave with no Name".
I took more pictures, but they just did not come out. This is a live cave. 66 degrees year around. Interesting tour and history of the cave.
Sunday evening, put luck dinner and tons of food again. Last night at campground. Sat around and talked and visited with everyone. Monday morning dawned foggy and threating rain. Everyone started getting ready to go early and then just pulled on out. We visited in between getting trailer ready to tow. We left around 10 and headed home. Ran in heavy rain and traffic got heavier the closer we got to Houston. Made it home to a heavy rain. It finally let up and we got unloaded and I took the trailer back out to the shop.
We had a great time. But reality was upon us, Ellen had to head back to Robinson early Monday morning.
Trip to Illinois
Got some catching up to do here, so lets get to it.
I flew out of Houston on August 25 and Ellen picked me up at the Indianapolis airport that evening. We drove back to Robinson, IL, ate a light dinner and got to bed. We got up early on Thursday morning and drove to Chicago. Never been there before and was impressed at how clean the city looked. We arrived at the Navy Pier and finally found parking 5 or 6 blocks away. We have pre-purchased tickets on-line ahead of time, so all we had to do was stop and exchange our printout for wrist bands and we were good to go.
The "tours" of the tall ships turned out to be stand in line, board, walk to bow on 1 side, to the stern on the other side then back up the first side to to ramp and exit the ship. Not what we expected when we bought tickets to tour the vessels. Some of the hatches were open and you could look down into the ships, but could not see much. Heavy crowd on Thursday, but we were told it would be wall to wall people Fri.-Sun.
We walked the pier and looked at the Tall Ships, boarded a few and people watched. We purchased tickets on the SeaDog and took a tour up through the locks down the river into Chicago. The guide pointed out historical buildings and other things along the way.
At 6PM we lined up to board the Tall Ship "Lynx". We had bought tickets for a 90 minute evening sail aboard her. Crew was great explaining everything they were doing. We sailed around to the other side of Navy Pier where the HMS Bounty (from the movie) was tied up and gave her a broad side with 3 of our cannons. We then sailed out of the harbor and south a little ways before heading back. On the way back I sat and talked with the Captain. Lots of interesting stories and facts about the ship. He noticed the "Pride of Baltimore" heading our way and her crew making ready to broadside us. He hastened our crew to reload 2 cannons and we returned fire. Later as we were docking, the "Pride of Baltimore" passed by us on her way to her tie up and gave us another broadside.
Here are some pictures.
"HMS Bounty" surrounded by people waiting to board
We stopped and ate a late lunch on the way to the airport. I caught my plane and got home Sunday evening.
I flew out of Houston on August 25 and Ellen picked me up at the Indianapolis airport that evening. We drove back to Robinson, IL, ate a light dinner and got to bed. We got up early on Thursday morning and drove to Chicago. Never been there before and was impressed at how clean the city looked. We arrived at the Navy Pier and finally found parking 5 or 6 blocks away. We have pre-purchased tickets on-line ahead of time, so all we had to do was stop and exchange our printout for wrist bands and we were good to go.
The "tours" of the tall ships turned out to be stand in line, board, walk to bow on 1 side, to the stern on the other side then back up the first side to to ramp and exit the ship. Not what we expected when we bought tickets to tour the vessels. Some of the hatches were open and you could look down into the ships, but could not see much. Heavy crowd on Thursday, but we were told it would be wall to wall people Fri.-Sun.
We walked the pier and looked at the Tall Ships, boarded a few and people watched. We purchased tickets on the SeaDog and took a tour up through the locks down the river into Chicago. The guide pointed out historical buildings and other things along the way.
At 6PM we lined up to board the Tall Ship "Lynx". We had bought tickets for a 90 minute evening sail aboard her. Crew was great explaining everything they were doing. We sailed around to the other side of Navy Pier where the HMS Bounty (from the movie) was tied up and gave her a broad side with 3 of our cannons. We then sailed out of the harbor and south a little ways before heading back. On the way back I sat and talked with the Captain. Lots of interesting stories and facts about the ship. He noticed the "Pride of Baltimore" heading our way and her crew making ready to broadside us. He hastened our crew to reload 2 cannons and we returned fire. Later as we were docking, the "Pride of Baltimore" passed by us on her way to her tie up and gave us another broadside.
Here are some pictures.
Pride of Baltimore
Ellen on the bow of the Pride
the SeaDog
Chicago
This is the"Roseway" the only ship there that was not a replicate
?
The "Lynx" dockside
The smaller ship is the "Red Witch" other unknown
The "Lynx" coming in from an afternoon sail
"Lynx"
"Red Witch"
the "Lynx" at sea with us on board
Good bye Navy Pier - It had been a great day.
Friday and Saturday Ellen and I cruised some antique shops, walked the park and watched some movies. Just spending great time together.
Sunday we left Robinson early heading back to Indianolopis. Ellen had seen signs regarding a covered bridge and we went to take a look.
Upper falls
lower falls
Bridge was pretty, creek running slowly, but it was hot there so we did not stay too long.
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