First Ride of the Summer

I've been working 6 days a week since I started my new job with the FLS. The last few weekends have been wet. Today was sunny and warm so I headed out for a day ride on Skyline Drive.

I took off around 10 am and headed for Warrenton for lunch. I stopped at Foster's Grill for a burger & fries.

Then I headed through Virginia horse country riding north on SR 688 through Hume & Orlean. Then west on 55 to Front Royal.

It was another perfect weather ride today. Temps cooled down when you hit altitude in the mountains.

I was very windy today. Every now and then pushing me to the edge of the pavement.

Sunday Ride...

The last few weeks have been kinda crazy. 

I took a week of vacation to The Grand Canyon. My job that I have been at for more than 15 years was eliminated. Instead of unemployment I was transferred to a different job. It's a great new job, different but very important and my new bosses are excited to have me. I also get to keep my job, benefits and now I am getting overtime for the first time in years. 

I finally got a day off to go for a ride and rain was predicted in the afternoon. I decided to head to Orange and visit Stonewall HD. It's about 50 miles there so that would make 100 miles for the day.

It was partly sunny and a good ride down but you could see the rain coming up from the south. So after a break relaxing on the front porch I headed back home. As I hit the driveway the first rain drop hit my arm so that worked out well.

The strange part of the day....

Four women had to touch my beard today. The nice lady behind the motorclothes counter at the dealership. The waitress where I had lunch. A lady at the next gas pump at Sheetz on 20 & Rt 3 and my sister's friend Vonda when I made it home.

Sedona, Arizona - The Grand Canyon

I finally got a week off to take a family vacation to Sedona, Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful city, Sedona. If I had found this town in my 20's I never would have left it. I might just have to move there when I retire.

We started our adventure with the Pink Jeep Tours and visited the Coconina National Park.

Ancient pictographs at the Honki Heritage Site.

                                   

Our trip to the Grand Canyon was also great.

We also went to Slide Rock Park

Amanda & I went on a few hiking trails

I even found time to play a couple rounds. I packed a few discs in my luggage just in case I got the chance to play. I was lucky enough that when ever I showed up to play there were locals just starting and I was able to join up with them. 

I didn't play that bad either...

The gas station next to Verde Valley entrance sold discs and had a portable basket in one of the garage bays.

Day Ride Today

It's National Parks Week which means free entrance to any National Park. Since I have a season pass it doesn't effect me but today the temps are warm and the skies are crystal blue clear so I had to ride Skyline Drive. The valleys are getting green but it's still brown in the mountains.

I did stop by Stonewall HD (Formerly Waugh's) in Orange. It's open on Sundays now. There was a good crowd there today the dealership is ok. Nothing much is changed except Big Daddy Waugh is not sitting at the front door anymore.

There were a lot of riders out today...

Hey! Not That Bad!

I've been trying to get a Bag Tag night going for a few years and this year is no exception. THe fist night I had 2 guys show up and only one had a tag but I'll take it.

It was another windy day at Loriella but warm. I actually ended up playing not bad. Seven bogeys and 2 birdies and was able to get it under 60 for the first time in forever. It would have been closer to par but I missed 2 birdie putts. I was hitting some long putts for par and to save bogey.

I played well enough to keep my #23 tag. Mike has #55 and Greg will be getting his tag this week.

Started Playing Again....

Since I'm not playing tournaments I'm just playing for fun and exercise. It's a good thing cause I suck. I usually shoot 9-10 over par now but with the super high winds we both played worse. I don't even expect to come close to even any more.

But I have fun when I play with Marla, she is so easy going and fun to play a round with. As usual she beat me again.

With my new iPhone 6s I can take what are called "Live" images. They are basically 3-5 second mini video clips when you tap the scree to take the picture. I took a pic of Marla throwing her tee shot on every hole at Loriella.

It turned out pretty good for a first try. Although you can hear a thump when I tapped the screen to take the image.

Spring is Here

 It's that time again. The weather is warming up and time for Spring Cleaning. Spent about 5 hours polishing & cleaning all the hare to reach places I didn't get to over the winter rides.

I decided to leave the rear seat and backrest off once I was done. I really want to show off that sweet orange paint.

Now all I need to do is find a good rear fender rack and a small backrest to help the ol' lumbar support.

Disc Dying Season is Here...

It's 2016 and that means only one thing...

Time to dye the trophy discs for club events. First up is the Betty Queen Open. Pretty simple design and easy to do.

I didn't want to waste the basket cut outs from the trophy discs so I took them and stuck them on a clear 150 Champ Sidewinder and dyed it orange.

Softail Workshop is Done...

I finally got the shed/workshop for the Softail where I want it now.

 Made some custom signs to go along with the ones I had before....

I added loft shelves on both ends. Wire shelving for my oil, filters and other stuff. Put in lighting and added an old stereo tuner and speakers so I have something to listen too while I work.

There is plenty of room for my tools and an air compressor. I'm measuring it out now to see if I will have room for a lift table that I can keep on it's side when I'm not using it.

I also added a solar battery charger and mounted it to the side of the shed and now I can keep the Softail charged and ready to go without spending any electricity to do it. It works like a charm. I tested with a volt meter and it keeps the battery topped of at 12.4 volts even after the last week of below freezing temps.

Softail Gets a New Home....

Haven't posted in a while. Same old, same old, getting bored with disc golf so I haven't played much.

I finally pulled the trigger on a new shed for the Softail. I still keep the Sportster in my room. I'd keep the Softail in the house too but it won't fit through the door.

Winter is coming and even if you cover your bike with tarps the constant sudden temp changes causes condensation on the bike under the tarp. That kills chrome faster than anything. The plan is to set up the shed as a work area. I'm installing some lights, shelves to take advantage of the high roof area and putting some peg board up. Hopefully have a lift table in there next year when it's time to put on some new tires.

Blue Skies, Cool Day...

I wasn't planning on a long ride today. But once I got going I ended up riding to Warrenton then taking 521 to Orlean and Hume. Then it was to Front Royal and south on Skyline.

Skyline was just about perfect today. The Fall colors were just starting to come in. It got pretty cool up there today but it was nice. The sky was a pure blue today.

Taking Care of my Baby

I haven't been up to much lately. But the winter is coming so it's time to do some maintenance on the Softail.

Changed the oil, primary & transmission fluids...

Afternoon Ride

I took off late today but before I knew it I was on Skyline Drive. It was perfect weather for a ride up there. It was pretty cool up there I' glad I brought my jacket.

1st Tournament in Forever

I was getting bored and hadn't been stupid enough to enter a disc golf tournament so I rode down to Ashland to the The Village Disc Golf Club and entered the River City Open.

The Village is not one of my favorite courses. There are very few birdie holes for a 840's rated player and this course can really throw your ass on the bogey train and take you directly suckville with no stops.

My goals were to actually finish both rounds and not DFL.

The morning round wasn't too bad. We started on 17 and started off with 2 pars. I almost had the birdie on the just about impossible #18 but I ended up with par which felt like a birdie. I did manage one Duce but a few missed par putts and a double bogey on 4 pretty much ruined that round. But it wasn't the worst score I've had here.

The afternoon round was going to be the tough one and it was. It felt like a disc golf death march. I was already tired from the morning round and the heat kicked up a notch during the afternoon. To the point I was sweating so much it looked like I was caught in the rain.

But I didn't fall apart like I usually do. I did have a couple of bad holes but I didn't DNF and I didn't DFL.

BYOB is Now OPEN!

The last week was very exhausting helping Dave get BYOB Garage ready for opening day. A lot of moving equipment around, organizing tool boxes and getting everything looking good.

BYOB Garage owner Dave Ellis and his wife Angela. 

The garage will be a local dealer of Amsoil products.

I arrived early to help out with last minute things and got the Sporty loaded on to a lift for a fluids change and overall mechanical inspection.

Not long after Tom rode in to work on his handle bars and replace a blown tube in his front tire.

I am really excited about the concept of this garage and I hope it catches on. It's so much nicer to be able to work on an elevated lift and not be all sore and cramped from sitting on the floor all day.