Broke Again

I was cleaning the Harley and I lost some lights again.  I found a broken connector and will get some tomorrow (Tuesday).  The bike is like me.  It looks good in low light and from  a distance.

I finally took the new small Bradley smoker out of the car.  Bradley shipped me another one after the other new one failed royally.  I has some pork loin so I thought I would give a try.  They were small porkers.  I smoked for two hours and they were basically done.  I wrapped in tin foil and stuck in a regular oven on low/warm for another two hours.  Guess what we had for diner.  I over seasoned (Pappy’s rub) them for sure.  Maybe even smoked them too much with Maple.  They weren’t bad but just not great.  Pork butt is $3 bucks a lb.  That’s really high.

The rains came yesterday and again today.  The cold front is here.  It took the high humidity with it and it looks like it will be in the low 80’s and 50’s.  That’s real good plus no rain predicted for over a week.

Last Friday we took the Mariner into Ford to find out why the engine light remains on.  Plus a state inspection and oil change.  We get the car back and everything seems OK.  Saturday we drove it 10 miles and the check engine light came back on.  I called the Ford dealer Monday who said to being it in today (Tuesday).  We shall see.

See ya……………..

The Harley Goes Down

And I’m not talking about going down the road.  I was walking the Hog backwards out of the barn onto our rough gravel driveway this morning (Sun).  My foot slipped on some rocks and I know it was going to fall towards me.  I’ve been in this situation before with the big bikes I’ve had in the in the 30+ years ago.  All you can do is guide the bike down because it’s coming down – no stopping the 750 lb motorcycle.  Since it has crash bars in the front and rear – no bigee.  It just leans over on them.  No damage what so ever.  Since it’s so heavy I get only one try to upright it.  Otherwise it’s time to call for help.  I did it in the past most of the time.  I figured I would wait and let my batteries recharge for the big lift.  Since it was laying over I figured it was a good time to degrease it.  I broke out a can and squirted the entire bike.  Then I hosed it down.  It got a lot of very old grease off.  Then it was time to stand it up.  Being I was 30 years older I had my doubts about putting this big old hog up.  There wasn’t gonna be a second time.  I pulled up my pants and went for it.   It went up.  I still got it baby.  I immediately went and got some back pain pills.  I then degreased the other side.  Not too bad with all that oil/grease off.  Now it just looks like an old bike that isn’t all greasy/oily - like me now.

I worked on the running lights, turn signals, fog lights, brake lights, radio and got them all working to include the horn.  It was just loose or bad connections.  I then adjusted the clutch cable the remaining distance I could.  It needs a clutch cable for sure or a trick to shorten the cable.  It’s stretched out to its max.  I worked on the rear air shocks and got them to work.  The front air shocks are still a mystery.  Instead of having a bunch of oil leaks it appears that I have only two that need to be repaired.  One is a rocker box if you know what that is.  The radio & speakers were new and it rocks real loud with no distortion.

I’m no mechanic or want to give you that impression.  If I see something that is not connected, I can connect it.  I can take something very simple apart and put it back together after I clean it.  That’s it!

Oh yea, yesterday, I called a Harley dealer to see if I could get the internal engine/trans/clutch checked out and all that stuff on the 1985 Harley. They said, “Sorry sir, we don’t and a lot of Harley dealers don’t work on anything that old.” Talk about feeling old.  Smack - right in the face. My last three Harleys were from around the early 80’s. Well, I guess 30 years is a long time. I guess today’s mechanics can’t diagnosis unless they can plug  into the bike’s computer. This “old bike” has no computers or even fuel injection. Too complicated for today’s so called “mechanics.”

The leather saddlebags are hard as rocks and dirty.  Any ideas?

See ya………………….

The Rocker, Carol & Smoker

It’s Saturday and we decided to make a run to Katy, TX to the Camping World over 100 miles away.  It rained most of the way.  We took Carol’s Mariner so we could make sure the car really got charged up.  It was at the Ford dealer Friday for a state inspection, oil change and an engine light that had came on.  Well, as soon as we left the engine light came back on.  Ford didn’t know why it was on but got it to go out.  Now it’s back on.  I guess it will go back to Ford Monday.  It ran fine for the 200+ miles.  Carol got her special rocking chair at Camping world.  It’s a rocker that uses two shocks on it.  Steve & Nancy O’Bosky had two and Carol really liked them.  You don’t have to be on perfect level smooth ground to rock in it.  I will take some pictures. 

Along the way we stopped at three Harley dealers trying to find a helmet I liked.  Couldn’t find one but did find out for sure that I do have a “Big Head”.  I take a 2XL in a Bell helmet.  I want a 3/4 face with a flat black finish.    Not a very big helmet selection in Texas due to the no helmet law I guess.  I went on line and they’re about $30 dollars more for the exact same thing.  That was hard to believe.

Sunday I need to go to several auto stores and see if I can find a cable shortener.  The clutch cable on the Harley is stretched out and needs to be shortened.  I hope they still make them.  I need to try and find where a fuse for the turn signals and fog lights that don’t work.  I got some engine degreaser and need to spray/hose it down to see what I can see.

Carol is pending referral approval for two more medical tests and is waiting for the results on her last test.  We saw the doc Friday and she wants the additional tests.  Carol has had all these test several years ago but the doc said it was time again.  Carol said fine as long as it don’t interfere with her line dancing.  Well, we know what her priorities are!

I’m still coughing and hagging.  I thought I was almost done but nooooo it can’t back.  It’s been over two weeks so far.  I guess I still got what ever it is.

Oh, I just got a new Bradley portable smoker delivered.  I bought one in South Dakota and had major problems with it like it didn’t work.  I called Bradley and they sent me the new one I just got.  I think it’s a newer model too.  I called Cabela’s and gave them hell for not having it in a store that was advertising it.  I drove 100 miles (en route) to get one at another store.  They sent me a coupon for $20 for my troubles.  Now it was normally $200 on sale for $150.  I opened an account with Cabela’s and got $25 off.  Now additional $20 off for a bottom line price was $105.  You got to spend money to save money.  I think it’s still better not to spend money but when you do, why not save?  A report will follow on how well the smoker works.

See ya…….

Brake In Again

I rode 240 miles today to check things out on the old Harley.  The bike did fine and I did fair.  My butt should be awake sometime Saturday.  My sunburn should be cleared up in a few weeks.  My levis are now waterproof from the oil leakage.  I learned to carry toothpicks for the bugs that are hard to get out of my teeth.  Oh yea, don’t open your mouth at 65 mph.  My hair reminds me of Jack Nicolson on a bad  hair day.  My beard now points up and touches the end of my nose.  So with all that in mind…..it’s great to be back in the saddle again.

See ya……….

Carol’s Dr & An Old Harley Davidson

We came back early to Livingston so Carol could see a dr.  She saw the dr on Monday morning who ordered some tests “stat”.  Medical talk for NOW.  Monday afternoon was one test.  Tuesday was another.  Wednesday was a day off and she needed it.  So far the techs giving the tests have said no major problems.  Just old age stuff.  One more test today (Thur) and then Friday back to the doc to give her a summary of the tests.  She is on some antibiotic stuff for a minor internal infection.  All is OK…

Now for the fun stuff.  In the middle of all this (Tue) we went up to Rusk, Texas to see Cindy (Paul’s widow) and pick up Paul’s Harley Davidson.  It’s a 1985 FL which basically means a big bike.  It wouldn’t start, dead battery, and a flat tire.  The trailer we were going to carry it in that came with the bike wasn’t a bike trailer just a small utility trailer.  Cindy called on two BIG friends to help us upload the bike at an angle.  It looked liked the three stooges loading this bike in a little trailer.  The wiring on the trailer had been chewed on a little by a dog.  I fixed that.  We’re off with a 100 miles to go.  We got back to Livingston about 8 PM and no problems.  The next day (Wed) Carol & I unloaded it.  This time we looked like two midget stooges trying to get this thing off the trailer.  Here it is before unloading. These pictures do it a lot of justice, too much.  It looks pretty from a distance but up close it shows it age like we all do.

We had it tagged as an antique motorcycle.  We even tagged the trailer while we were in Rusk.  Cindy was a lot of help doing that.

The battery was dead and would not hold a charge.  Ran down to Walmart and bought a battery.  Then I had to charge it for 6 hours.  That was rough waiting that long.  Installed the battery and it started on the second try.  Went for a short ride.  It rode very nice like most heavy bikes do.  It has air ride front and air rear suspension.  I got it up to about 65 mph and it handled a lot better than I expected for a 30 year old bike.  Very nice!  Noisy – nope.  It has a low tone with the fish tail pipes.  It’s not a real loud Harley.  I took it on a small back bumpy road and it did real good.  Got back and took an after ride look.  It has some major rocker box oil leaks and a few other leaks.  I guess I carry oil with me for now.  The main lights work like the brake and headlight.  Turns signals and fog lights need to be checked out.  I’m happy.  Tomorrow another ride and a little longer.  I’m thinking white wall tires too.  It’s that type of bike.

See ya……

Cat’s Toy/Around The Lot

Our cat really, really likes her new toy/bed/scratcher/hiding hole.  We got it at Petco I think.

Around Mom’s lot…We don’t stay in the mobile home unless to entertain and do the wash….. The “Baby” is our home and that’s where we stay.

The boys are standing guard again.

From the rear entrance.

I backed the Jeep up to the barn to unload “stuff”.  We keep Carol’s car stored inside the barn when we are away.  Carol does her line dancing on the second floor.  Our gardening stuff is in the little shed. 

I trickled charged ( 1/1/2 amp) Carol’s car (Mariner Hybrid) last night and unhooked it this morning.  Later in the afternoon I tried starting it.  No problem.  It’s setting at one of our two full hook up sights.

Carol’s working me using the saws all and weed eater.  I thought full timers didn’t have to do that type of stuff.

See ya……………..

In Livingston, Texas

We got into Livingston about 3 PM.  Here are some pics along the way.

Not a good day for riding.

Stop and go.  Bad back up for us…

We’re back in Texas.  How can you tell?  Well, 75 MPH on a back road is normal……!

These black dots on the front are called Lovebugs (dead) and this only about 50 miles of them.  It’s messy for about 2 months then they’re gone.

The lot needs work like getting rid of the dead weeds and the live ones too.  Carol’s Mariner would not start.  It appears the charger was dead.  Evidentially there was an electrical outage in the area and the charger circuit blew when it came back on.  Thus a trickle charger did not work.  Now it’s on a trickle charger for the night.  It did start with Wayne’s auto charger.

Our lot water was on for some reason.  We did turn it off and notified the water company when we left.  Oh well.  Flushed the lines on the lot and in the mobile.  The electric we leave on for guests.  Turn everything on in the mobile home and it’s ready to go.  We stay in our “Baby” but when we have guests we move over to the mobile.

See ya…….

Almost There

We made it to Meridian, MS today.  We’re in a Sam’s parking lot with no neighbors what so ever.  I think we did about 700 miles today with another 450 miles to go Saturday.  I ran down our fuel tank pretty low and ended up getting 88 gallons of fuel (730 mi).   We got fuel for $3.46 just south of Birmingham.  Being Livingston was about 600 mi from there we will won’t have to get fuel again until Livingston.

Here are some pictures from the last few days.

Carol and our son…

The fall colors are just starting to happen.

Oh boy, motorcycles in the rain….

 

One big back up we were in…Oh well, it was the only one for months..

See ya……………………

Livingston Now!

We originally planned to back in Livingston about the 1st week in November but that ain’t happening.  Life had other plans that we did not know about.  Life is like that.  We just have to adjust accordingly with what we can.  We will be back in Livingston by this Sunday to deal with our new situation.  We will keep you posted as we learn too.

Today (Thursday) we left Baltimore, Md and stopped in Fredericksburg, VA and met with our son for a short.

We are now in Waynesboro, VA and are parked in a large Target shopping center off route 340.  Nice and quiet.  Paid $3.47 for diesel today.  We got 1250 miles to go and three days to do it in…no problem.  It’s suppose to start raining tomorrow and continue on the way south….same ole, same ole.  Winnie is running good and fuel mileage is between 7.5 & 8 mpg.  Hope that gets a little better when we hit Interstate-81 south.

See ya………….

Over 15 lbs Gone!

Yes, I decide to lose weight a few weeks ago and so far I’ve stuck with it.  I was approaching 225 lbs and that’s just too much for me.  I’m under 210 lbs (206) now.  I want to get under 200 by the end of October and under 190 in November.  Time will tell.

Rain last night washed away the shiny “Baby”.  Oh well, it’s not road grime at least.

I put on one of those vent wings on the roof over the grey tank vent.  I was gonna put it on the black water tank but Winnebago screwed up the vent pipe cover so it won't go on without extra work/tools/sealer.  In other words…later.  The grey water vent was a simple remove the vent cover and screw in 3 screws and basically done.

See ya…………..