* * * * *
July 31,2006:
After taking Sarah for her walk, I got her breakfast. While she ate, I suited up.
I added air to the front tire, and I was off. After warming up, I entered I-10, heading west. One of the freeway billboards flashed a warning that there was a wreck at 610 and Post Oak Boulevard. It was creating some backup for the folk entering 610 south from I-10. And, although I was entering 610 north, I had to work my way through the congestion. But, at least on the first circuit, things were still proceeding at about 40 mph.
When I headed east on the North Loop, I could see heavy clouds on the eastern horizon. Most of them had very crisp edges. In fact, one giant cloud seemed to tower up from the ground until it covered the sun, which was about forty minutes above the horizon.
I had arisen early this morning, and spent an hour reading a book. Now, with traffic on the light side, I was musing about the book as I enjoyed my morning ride. Fortunately, I was still paying attention to my riding. As I turned onto I-10 from Highway 59, I was in one of the middle lanes, behind a big pickup truck. I was following in the truck's right-hand tire path. All of a sudden, a big road gator appeared from underneath the center of the truck. The driver had positioned his pickup so he could straddle the rubber, and it appeared before me as if from nowhere. Because I had good road position, I was able to avoid the hazard with just a little swerve to my left.
I have noticed that it is harder to make sudden swerves at 60 mph* than you might imagine. The Rebel is quite agile, but reaction time is reaction time. You need to pay attention to road debris so you will have time to slip around it. And lane position in a tire track helps. Once, when I was driving Maria's Jeep, I didn't swerve enough, and I ran over a road gator. It blew out the rear tire. Those gators have steel belts, and those pieces of steel are like razors if you run over them. It was an expensive lesson.
I decided to skip the Highway 59 extension on the second circuit. I wasn't sure where that road gator (or the other tire pieces I subsequently passed by) would be by the time I made it around the track again. So I took I-45 south to avoid the whole issue.
The billboard was still advising everyone to expect delays because of the accident on Post Oak. And, on the second circuit, I was caught up in those delays. At several points, I had to come to a complete stop. Cars were using the right hand lanes to whip by the stopped cars, and then they would stop themselves to try to cut back in the flow. Ugh.
Anyway, when I came to the Heights exit on the second circuit, I went ahead and took it. I headed down the feeder road, u-turned back to the east, and stopped to top off the tanks. I then got back on the feeder, to head for home.
This weekend I noticed that they had raised the speed limit on the feeder to 45 mph. That made sense, since there are hardly any businesses, and the feeder is three lanes wide. Before, when it was 35 mph, Houston cops would sit at the u-turn area at Studewood and use their radar to give speeding tickets to drivers that were going the "natural" speed limit. That practice is over. Or so I thought.
Today, when I exited the gas station, I watched my speed as I headed down the feeder. Which turned out to be a good thing, because a motorcycle cop was on hand to give out speeding tickets. His bike was parked in a area of the westbound feeder. He gave me a wave as I passed him buy. I returned it, but I still don't like speed traps.
When I pulled up to the driveway, I had 16,418 miles on the bike. With luck, I should make 16,500 by Thursday. Stay tuned. And, wherever your travels take you, don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 30,2006:
Sarah got her walk this morning, but my "morning" ride had to be put off until after I took Maria to the airport. Her flight was at eleven, so we could get in most of our normal morning routine except for the ride.
Even so, I was back home around 9:30 a.m. and suited up and out the door by 10:15. I added air to the front tire, and grabbed my backpack on the way out. I had twin destinations for today. First, I wanted to visit the Half Price Books on FM 1960 off I-45. Second, I wanted to take FM 1314 from Highway 59 over to I-45.
Because I had gassed up yesterday, I entered I-10 heading east, just as soon as I finished the warmup portion of my ride. Traffic was light. I worked my way over to the far left-hand lane, and took the exit for Highway 59. Traffic was even lighter once I got on Highway 59. Other than a few road gators, I had an uneventful ride all the way to FM 1314. Temperatures were cool, because rain clouds were all around. No lightning, however.
At FM 1314, I headed northwest toward Conroe. This road is pretty nice, for a major thoroughfare. It is partially rural, and partially commercial. Although it is one lane in each direction, traffic was light, and fast. There were a couple of stoplight that provided an opportunity to practice quick stops.
Just outside of Conroe, I came to the 242 Bypass, which I took to I-45. I then turned south, and headed back toward Houston. I managed to rack up quite a few miles before I came to FM 1960, which I took west toward the bookstore.
1960 is usually a crowded road. And I usually catch all the lights red. Today, traffic was pretty light, and the lights were, for the most part, green. Maybe the fact that it was still early on Sunday morning had something to do with the light traffic.
I pulled into the parking lot for the Half Price Books, locked the forks on the bike, grabbed my do-rag, and headed in. I checked my backpack and helmet, and spent a leisurely time exploring the bookstore. I found half a dozen books I couldn't live without, all for barely $30.00.
I paid for the books, loaded them into my backpack, and headed home. I got back on I-45, heading south. Once again, traffic was light (really light for I-45). When I came to Beltway 8, I took it east to Highway 59. The curved exit from Beltway 8 to Highway 59 is banked and elevated. One has a great view of the top of the world as you arc to the south. I highly recommend it.
From Highway 59,I took Loop 610 west, then south to I-10. I then headed east, back to the house. I was home just before 2:00 p.m. I now have 16,382 miles on the bike. It was good to get in a hundred mile run, and at mostly high speeds. Lots of bikers were out enjoying the morning air, and my only regret was that, due to other commitments, I had to settle for a relatively short ride. Still, I got in some great thinking time, and enjoyed several high speed curves. See you on the road. And try to get in your own thinking time.
* * * * *
July 29,2006:
Maria is getting ready for a trip, and we had to go to her office for some last minute stuff. So I had to choose between Sarah's walk and my ride. Sarah won.
When we got back from Maria's office and all our errands, it was after 4:00 p.m. And there were storm clouds all around. Lightning was flashing to the north, and we had driven through three separate storm cells just getting home. But the Heights was dry.
I suited up, added air to the front tire, and headed off. I had checked the paper for freeway closures, and most of the freeways were fine, except for I-10. It had five separate closures listed, all west of the Loop! I decided to head west on Highway 290. I could hear Half Price Books calling.
Traffic was medium. It took some juggling to make sure no one rode next to me on the freeway, but I still managed to get in some pleasant thinking time on the trip west. Yesterday, because of traffic jams, I had been unable to get on the high-speed roads. I fear I am becoming a freeway addict. I was really missing those 65+ mph speeds* when I got on the freeway. Within minutes of settling in at the speed set by the flow of traffic, I began feeling contented to be on two wheels. This is a warning to all of you just starting out. There is something magical about flying on two wheels.
I stayed on Highway 290 until the exit for Highway 6. I then headed south to FM 529. From there, it was a short couple of blocks to the Half Price Books. I spend a pleasant 45 minutes browsing in the store. I found an interesting paperback on Ethics, and a work of fiction. After I made my purchases, I gave Maria a ring, since there was no way I could make it back by my predicted time.
The ride back was also nice. Traffic was a little thicker than when I was headed west, but everyone stayed in his lane, for the most part. I took 290 to the North Loop, and headed east all the way to Highway 59, which I took south. I then took I-10 west, and exited at Heights. I had run the main tank dry on the North Loop, so I pulled in to gas up for tomorrow.
All-in-all, it was a very pleasant run. Because the surrounding drivers were well behaved, I got in a nice dose of thinking time, and some fast speeds. I felt refreshed. When I rode up to the driveway, I had 16,276 miles on the bike. Stay tuned to see where tomorrow takes me. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 28,2006:
No rain this morning. Sarah enjoyed her walk. As did Maria and I, due to the little bit of coolness in the air. Sarah also enjoyed her breakfast. While she ate, I suited up and decided on which route to take. The radio and TV were both reporting traffic problems all along my route. Or at least at the intersections along my route.
A load of pipe had come off on I-10, there was some problem at 610, and a load of lumber covered the road at I-45 and 610. I go through those places. The traffic reports were not clear enough for me to tell whether the problems were along my route, or on the other side of the freeway.
I fired up the computer to check Houston Transtar for a real time traffic report. Unfortunately, most of my route was colored "gray," which signals "inactive." Inactive does not mean "stopped," but it did mean that I had no good information. I decided that the twisties on White Oak had been neglected long enough!
I checked the air in the tires and headed out. Because I was going residential on my ride this morning, I warmed up on the back roads off 6th street. I like this stretch of turns, and it adds some mileage to a run.
After the warmup, I got on Shepherd, heading north. I took 14th to Houston Avenue. As I turned south on Houston, I noted that the traffic on the portion of I-45 that I would normally take was stopped. Helicopters were doing their buzzard circle. I was glad I decided to take the slow roads this morning instead of the stopped roads.
I delighted in the twisties on White Oak. White Oak was free of any cars. I did the route I used to take all the time when I was first learning to ride. I was glad to see that I could still enjoy it.
The ride was over before I knew it. And, sadly, with all the intersections, I did not get in much thinking time. I was busy keeping a close lookout for left-turners. Still, when I rolled up to the driveway, I had 16,217 miles on the bike. May your journeys be pleasant, and free of traffic jams. Enjoy the weekend.
* * * * *
July 27,2006:
The radio reported that overnight the rain had finally stopped. The traffic report was free of accidents caused by slippery streets. But, when we headed out the door for Sarah's walk, Maria exclaimed, "It's raining." And, indeed, it was.
I informed her that it was impossible that it was raining, because the weather people had assured me for the past hour that there was no local rain. She opined that perhaps a large flock of birds was flying overhead. Sarah had no opinion on the subject.
Sarah did have an opinion on the advisibility of walking in the rain-filled ditches. She was in favor of it. And she freely excercised her choice. I used the leash to keep her out of the dirtiest ones for the last few blocks of our walk, so she wasn't too bad when we got back home. What rain there was, was gone by the time we neared the house. And the rain had been mostly drizzle. The streets were barely damp, and not at all slippery. Acceptable conditions for a nice ride.
When we got home, I fed Sarah. While she ate, I suited up.
I was pleased that, for the second day in a row, I did not have to add air to either tire. During the "warm-up" phase of my ride, there was no rain. However, when I got to the feeder of I-10, a few drops began to fall. I was disappointed, but decided to get on the freeway anyway, and exit at Shepherd if it was real rain, or if the freeway surface was wet.
Fortunately, the rain stopped immediately. And the roads were dry. I got in a great ride, with plenty of needed thinking time. The air was especially heavy this morning. And the cottony clouds were thick enough to obscure the buildings normally visible on the horizon. As the ride continued, rain seemed more and more likely.
On my first circuit, I encountered stopped traffic at the exit for I-45. As usual, I pumped the brakes to signal the quick stop to the car behind me. I also did a little weaving within my lane to further alert that driver. I am not recommending that manuever yet. I can't decide if it is sensible. But I am sure it gets their attention.
Nothing else remarkable happened during the ride. I now have 16,209 miles on the bike. The rain stayed away, but the early morning heat has returned. The weekend nears. May you have dry roads, however many wheels you travel on. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 26,2006:
Yesterday, during the day, it rained in the Heights. We got half an inch. By the time I got home, however, the rain was mostly gone. I took the trash out just before ten, and did not notice any moisture. I came back in and, within five minutes, we were out the front door to take Sarah for her evening walk. When we opened the door, we were greeted with a deluge. And a hard one at that. I could not believe how suddenly the weather had changed. Nor could Sarah. But she realized it would be this morning before she would have another chance for her walk.
Rain awoke me at two this morning. And, although I drifted back to sleep, every time I awoke, it was still coming down. At six, I decided to take Sarah down for the paper and her breakfast. When we went out the front door, it was barely misting. However, before I could get back inside, the skies opened up and dumped a load of moisture.
I think Sarah realized that there would be no walk this morning. And no morning ride. When Sarah finished eating, I let her out the back door, and I went out and checked the rain gauges. We got eight tenths of an inch overnight. And it was still coming down.
I went on to work. I can't say the day went especially well, but at least the rain had stopped by the time I got home.
I had to get in a workout before I could hit the road. I have to warn you, don't be eager to hop on your bike after an intense exercise session. I noticed that my movements were wooden, and that I took several curves much wider than I otherwise do. Drained muscles are unable to make those fine motor movements that yield grace on wheels.
I also have to note that, miracle of miracles, neither tire needed air before I headed out. Because the streets were still damp, and because I was running late, I contented myself with a run to the post office. Still, I made sure I took the long way to the post office, so I got in a four mile run. And, on the way back from the post office, I even got in some much needed thinking time. I was glad the streets were mostly dry. And I was glad to get 14,179 miles on the bike. The rain is supposed to end tonight. I hope I can get in a regular ride tomorrow. Stay tuned.
* * * * *
July 25,2006:
This morning dawned cool and cloudy. But no rain. They were predicting a 70% chance of precipitation, but not until lunchtime. Sarah was happy with that prediction, because dry streets mean a nice walk.
So the three of us were off to the (dog) races. Sarah enjoyed her morning romp, and we enjoyed the extra cool temperatures.
When we returned, I fed the girl, and suited up. I had to add air to the front tire. It was down a pound yet again. The back tire was fine.
I warmed up and entered I-10, heading west. I then took Loop 610 north. On the stretch before it turns east, I saw a Chevrolet Suburban ahead of me. It was in one of the far left-hand lanes, and moving slowly. The driver was gradually working his way to the far right lane, so he could exit at 18th. He didn't have a lot of distance within which to change all those lanes, and I think that is why he slowed down.
But slow doesn't mean safe. I watched carefully as he drifted right. Each time he got in a new lane, the cars would have to slow down rapidly because of the Suburban's slow speed. There were no crashes, but it was a living illustration of the principle that slower isn't always safer. In fact, on the freeway, going slowly has its own set of dangers. Keep that in mind when you are deciding what to do on your two wheels.
As I took the I-45 exit on my second circuit, I got a chance to see another side of the dangers of slowness. I rounded the exit and saw that the traffic about 200 feet ahead of me was at a complete standstill. A quick glance in my mirrors confirmed that there were no cars immediately behind me. That was not reassuring.
My fear was that I would get stopped, and a car would come along and not notice that all the other vehicles were at a standstill. And being rearended while on a bike is not a pleasant prospect.
I immediately began to slow down, with plenty of room to spare. My slowness allowed the vehicle following me to catch up somewhat. When I saw him in my mirrors, I tapped the front brake on and off. This caused (I hoped) the rear brake lights to flash. My hope was that this would get his attention.
I tried one other thing, that I am not yet recommending. Because the road was pretty straight (and, therefore, I was not in the middle of a curve), I began weaving back and forth within my lane. This was to give further physical warning that there was trouble ahead. Of course, weaving would be difficult and dangerous if one were in the midst of a curve when doing the weaving. I am not prepared to add this move to my arsenal of techniquest for navigating the freeways, but it is definitely in the running. I came up with it earlier in today's ride, and I was astonished that I found a situtaion where I could use it on the same ride on which it jumped into my mind.
Worrying about getting rear ended may be in the nature of worrying about minimal risks, based on the findings of the Hurt Report (1981). Those statistics showed that only 5.5% of all accidents occur from a motorcyclist getting hit in the five, six or seven o'clock positions. In contrast, 77% of all accidents occur from a biker getting hit from the eleven, twelve or one o'clock positions.
Fortunately, whether from my tapping the brakes or my weaving, or something else, I got stopped without incident, as did the cars behind me. When we got going again, I got on I-10 and took the Heights exit.
The ride had been wonderful. In addition to much needed general thinking time, I had gotten the chance to think about riding techniques, before having to test them on an emergency basis. And all in cool weather. By any account that makes for a good ride.
When I pulled up to the driveway I had 16,175 miles on the bike, and the rest of the day ahead. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 24,2006:
I went to bed early last night. As a consequence, I think, I awoke at four this morning. Six hours is six hours. Anyway, that allowed me some extra reading time. But I also had the radio on. And they were saying rain was headed our way. In fact, 740 AM was reporting rain already hitting the South Loop. Ugh.
But by six, there was still no rain in the Heights. Which made both Sarah and me happy. Maria and I took her out for a walk, and it was a dry walk at that. There were few clouds in the sky, and none of them looked threatening. So, when we got back, I fed Sarah and suited up.
As usual, I had to add air to the front tire. It was down a pound from yesterday. The back one was fine. After putting the compressed air tank away, I headed out.
The coolness in the air made "warmup" a pleasure. Which was fortunate, because the traffic on I-10, 610 and I-45 was really heavy. Lane changers were in abundance, and it was hard to enforce the rule about not letting anyone drive next to me. I was constantly speeding up or slowing down to make that one work.
I watched some wild maneuvers take place ahead of me, but no one tried to steal my lane. And no one kissed bumpers while I was watching. There were a couple of fender benders at the side of the road, but they weren't even causing the rubber neckers to slow down. All this traffic made thinking intermittent, to say the least. Oh well, I guess it was par for a Monday.
After dodging four wheelers for two circuits, I took the Heights exit and headed home. I'm not sure why Monday and Friday traffic is so much worse that other days, but I am hopeful that tomorrow's run will allow more contemplation space.
When I pulled up to the driveway, I had 16,145 miles on the bike. Stay dry. And try to find a chance to think.
* * * * *
July 23,2006:
This morning I got up at five, fed Sarah, let her out the back, then, when she returned, we headed back upstairs for a bath and book. Always a great start to the day.
When I finished the book, I got out of the tub, dressed for two wheels, and headed out.
This time, Stubbs had not messed with the tire pressure. The front tire was a couple of pounds low, and the back tire was fine. After making the needed adjustments, I headed out.
I took longer than normal on the warmup portion of my ride. The bike didn't feel right at low speeds when I rode it home yesterday, and I decided I needed some city street riding to figure out if there was a problem. I can't really describe what was wrong. It felt like metal on metal, but it occurred so seldom that I cannot say if it was brakes or transmission. I think it was the rear brake.
Anyway, all was well this morning. The bike felt "right." I rode it at slow speeds and moderate speeds. I stopped it a lot. I did all kinds of turns. After about ten minutes, I decided it was ok to try freeway speeds. I entered I-10, heading west.
I did a normal workday circuit. I got in some great thinking time, and even spent some of that thinking on listening to the bike. All was well. Even yesterday, the Rebel felt good at high speeds, so I was not really expecting trouble on the freeway. However, when I got to the Taylor street exit, I took it and drove to the new Target in our neighborhood. It is now open. Or, rather, it opens at 9:00 a.m. I rode around the parking lot, and tried more moves, both at low and moderate speeds. No problems.
I got back on I-10, and headed for Highway 290. There was a definite touch of coolness in the air this morning. That it was barely seven probably helped a lot. Anyway, I rode to the Mancuso Harley dealership on Highway 6, and toured their parking lot. A Rider's Edge class was in progress. Today is test day. I wished them all a silent "good luck," and headed back to the Heights.
The trip back was as pleasant as the trip out. The morning coolness was so refreshing that I almost blew my schedule off. I had told Maria I would be back by nine. If not for that, I would have kept going west till noon! Anyway, I checked my watch, and decided that I could get a last circuit in, which I did. I then circled around, topped off the tank, and headed home. I now have 16,115 miles on the bike, and I am confident that the Rebel is ready for the next 4000 miles. I plan to have champagne for breakfast, to celebrate being on two wheels again (I know it was only one day), so I guess this is all the riding I'll get in today. But tomorrow will be here soon enough. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 22,2006:
Because the Rebel was in the shop when morning came, I fed Sarah, let her do her business, and fixed a pot of coffee. When Sarah was ready to come in, I headed back upstairs to my own B & B: a bath and book. It was barely 5:00 a.m.
Eleven hours later, I called Stubbs to see if I could pick up the bike. They said yes. I suited up, and Maria and I headed for the dealership. Lightning was beginning to hit in the Heights. We got To Stubbs around 4:30 p.m. Dustin told me that they decided the clicking was because the valves needed adjustment. He said they had test ridden the bike after adjusting the valves, and the sound was gone. I was relieved. The 16,000 mile checkup was $160, but it could have been far worse.
I paid and we then started our caravan home. The skies were darkening, except for the constant flash of lightning bolts. No more clicking sound, although the bike seems a little different than when I took it in. I think this happens each time. You get used to the mesh the bike has worked itself into, and, after they adjust everything, it is in a different mesh. I am sure I will get used to the new feel in short order.
The bike did fine on the freeways, clicking-wise. I was racing home to beat the heavy rain I could see in the clouds. I had a great view of the fireworks display of lightning bolts, and the temperature dropped about ten degrees as I approached downtown Houston on I-45. Wind gusts were fierce, but the roads were dry. I managed to make it all the way home without crossing a downpour.
When I got the Rebel in the garage, I checked the oil level. I do not like the oil gauge on the Rebel. It is very difficult to read, especially with new, clean oil. However, after repeated tests, I decided the oil level was fine. So was the brake fluid resevoir. I will check the tire pressure tomorrow. Right now, it is good to have the Rebel back. I now have 16,038 miles on it. And a whole weekend day left. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 21,2006:
The bike is still in the shop. So, the only biking I got in today was during a very pleasant lunch when conversation turned to motorcycles. Although enjoyable (both the lunch and the conversation), I did miss saddling up.
I called Stubbs at 6:00 p.m., just in case the bike was ready. It was not. I will check back tomorrow. Stay tuned. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 20,2006:
Today I have a full law day. Client meetings and court hearings. And I was up late last night getting ready for all the fun. Even so, when the morning arrived, I did not neglect Sarah and her walk.
My ride, on the other hand, was abbreviated. There was just no way I could fit a regular morning ride into my tight schedule, so I settled for a post office run. Two big miles. At least the air was ok in the tires.
I did not that even two miles was still some fun on the bike. I also consoled myself with the possibility that if the hearing went both well and fast, I might be able to get to Stubbs to drop off the bike. That would get me another ten miles.
The client meeting was successful, as was the hearing. I was headed home by 4:30 p.m. I quickly fed Sarah her supper. While she ate, I suited up. I had previously called Maria to meet me at Stubbs.
The trip to Stubbs was pretty uneventful. Rush hour traffic was thick. At one point, a car decided to take my lane, and me with it. I don't think the driver even knew I was there. When I saw him making his move, I hit my brakes and edged to my right. I dropped back as he took over my lane. I think that is when he finally saw me. He waved through his glass, and went on his way. As did I.
When I got to Stubbs I told them I needed the 16,000 miles service and that the bike was making a clicking sound which went away when I pulled in the clutch lever. Dustin told me that he couldn't remember what all was done on the 16,000 mile service. I said I doubted that they got that many Rebels with such mileage. Au contraire, he exclaimed. A grandmother had been in yesterday for service on a Rebel that had 34,000 miles! Wow. He said the Rebels were really well made, and could last forever.
He also said it would probably be Saturday before got my bike back, but that he would call if they had it ready on Friday.
I went across the parking lot to the Harley part of Stubbs while I waited for Maria to show up to give me a ride. I noticed that a lot of customers were at Stubbs. I quickly figured out that they were there on the first day of their Rider's Edge course. The scene of the Stubbs manager telling them about the dealership brought back fine memories. If you haven't yet taken a MSF course, get off your duff and take one. The course is very valuable and will help you in two areas. It will help you get on the road, and it will help you not forget to think. Pretty good. And, by the way, I now have 16,022 miles on the bike. Stay tuned to see if I get in a ride on Friday.
* * * * *
July 19,2006:
Today it was a little cooler than normal. Our overnight low was 74 degrees. It allowed Maria and me to share a pleasant walk with Sarah. When we got back, she ate and I did not suit up. You see, when I called the Federal Courts last night, I got the good news that I did not have to report for jury duty this morning. So, in honor of Ride to Work Day, I decided to skip my usual early morning ride, and take the Rebel to work. My plan was to do one workday circuit, then head for the office.
I had to add air to the rear tire. After that, I headed out. I was wearing a blue work shirt so I could take off my Draggin'Jeans kevlar shirt when I arrived at the office. After warming up, I stopped for gas. I then looped around and got on I-10,heading west.
There was a stalled truck in the middle of the freeway at the Washington exit, and that slowed thing up a bit. Once I was past it, however, it was smooth sailing. I took the Highway 59 extension, and then took I-10 back to the Heights exit. I u-turned, and headed east on the feeder to Studemont. I then rode the the Chase Bank at Washington.
This was my first use of a drive-up window while on a bike. Things went fine. The bank was more than happy to accept my deposit. In short order, I was on Washington, heading west. I was watching the gauge closely. My goal was to turn mile 16,000 over exactly as I rode up to the building parking lot. I needed three more miles. I meandered through the neighborhood, watching the odometer. The mileage turned over as I came up to Scotland from Jackson Hill. Two blocks later, I was in my parking spot, with the odometer reading a couple of tenths over 16,000.
They call it Ride to Work Day, and I almost made it all day without have to leave the office. But, at 4:00 p.m., an emergency came up, and I had to ride to another lawyer's office on official business. Fortunately, they all know I ride a bike, so they weren't all that astonished to see me walk up in all my gear. It did make it interesting, however, figuring out where to put the three inches of paperwork I left with. I think that next year I will make sure I bring a backpack, no matter what.
When I left for home, it was after 8:30 p.m. I was glad to finally roll up to the driveway. I now have 16,009 miles on the bike, and an early day tomorrow. I hope my hearing goes well, and I can take the bike to Stubbs on Thursday. Stay tuned. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 18,2006:
When I went to bed last night, it was lightning and thundering constantly. I was worried that rain would spoil my morning run. The Federal Courts had done their part to help with my ride by letting me know I did not have to report for jury duty. Now it was up to Mr. Sun.
Sarah did not notice anything that would prevent our walk. No more thunder. And no rain is expected until lunch. So, off we went. Sarah enjoyed a dry walk, followed by her breakfast. I suited up and headed out.
I had to add a pound of air to the front tire. I then headed out for the warmup section of my ride. Today, the clicking sound was more pronounced, and at low speeds. I have decided to take the bike in to Stubbs on Wednesday evening. I hope they can find the problem, and that it is cheap to repair. I'll keep you posted.
After warming up, I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was light and fast. Just the way I like it. Last night, I posted my Tips on Riding Your Honda Rebel on the Freeway. Today, I paid special attention to some of the techniques I wrote about last night, just to make sure I had them right. Give the article a read. I hope you will find it helpful.
My morning ride on the freeways went fine. They opened a new section of the North Loop between I-45 and highway 59. I think I am going to like it. Of course, since everyone was new to the route, I was especially aware of the surrounding vehicles. No problems, fortunately.
I only did one loop this morning. I am managing my mileage to hit mile 16,000 tomorrow, on Ride to Work Day. I am on schedule, assuming I don't have to report for jury duty. I now have 15,975 miles on the bike. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 17,2006:
Today started out hot and muggy. But, Sarah insisted, not too hot and muggy for her walk. So, off we went. When we returned, hot and muggy, Sarah had her breakfast. I suited up and headed out.
The tire pressure was fine. Warm up was fine. I-10 was fine. Traffic was light and fast. That's my definition of fine.
I did two regular morning circuits. I am watching the mileage in hopes of reaching mile 16,000 on Ride to Work Day, which is Wednesday. I decided to put thirty miles on the bike this morning. I was able to do that without incident. That leaves 45 miles to go.
I got in some good thinking time during my ride. I am outlining (in my mind) a short page on freeway riding. Several readers have asked about taking a Rebel on the freeway. The Rebel is up to it. The page will contain some of the things I have learned about riding my Rebel on Houston's freeways. And you thought all I think about on my two wheeled trips is sex and philosophy. Stay tuned.
After the second loop, I took the Heights exit, and headed home. When I rolled up to the driveway, I had 15,955 miles on the bike. And there was still time to grab a shower and watch the Shuttle land. Life is good. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 16,2006:
Last night I decided that I wanted to see the sun rise in Galveston. It would make a nice trip, fairly close to home, and, if I got up early enough to be there for sunrise, I would be back by shortly after eight, with most of the day ahead. Sounded ideal, except for the part about when I would have to get up. As someone once said, the problem with sunrise is that it comes way too early in the day.
Nonetheless, I got up about 4:30 a.m. so I could be out the door by five. That was the plan anyway. I showered, then took Sarah downstairs for her breakfast. I then let her out the back while I added air to the front tire. Next, I pulled up the radar on Weather.com for rain. All clear. Last night, before retiring, I had checked the Chronicle to make sure there were no road closures that would affect my route.
After Sarah finished her business, we went back upstairs, where I suited up, told Maria I would be back, and headed for the bike. Sarah remained to keep Maria company.
After warming up, I headed for gas. I topped off the tank and headed out. It was barely 5:20, but I was already behind schedule. I got on I-10, heading east. I decided to take I-10 all the way to the East Loop, so I could take the bridge across the Ship Channel. Before I could get there, two adventures awaited.
First, I was heading down I-10 at about 65 mph.* It was still dark, so I was careful to stay in one of the tire tracks of my lane. Riding in the center of a lane in the early morning is not always smart. Debris has not had time to work its way to the edges of the lane, and you might get a surprise.
The surprise I got was a giant insect that hit my visor full force, smack dap in the center of the part of my visor in front of my left eye. The bug hit so hard I feared it had cracked the visor. I could not tell for sure, because bug guts obscured my vision on the left. This was not a good start to the trip. There was no way I could continue to ride with this insect problem. From the amount of goop, I figured I must have hit a large grasshopper. No parts were left with which to identify the culprit, and I had a close up view! I had to pull over.
I took the first exit I came to. I pulled into a gas station, toed the bike into neutral (so I wouldn't have to find out the battery was on the blink), and took off my right glove and helmet and assessed the extent of the damage. No crack, but lots of innards. I was carrying a Kleenex, but I knew it would not be enough tissue for this problem. Fortunately, I was also carrying a foil pack of Sun Covers brand Lens Cleaning Tissues. I had purchased them at Cycle Gear, and I was glad to have them. Although they were "pre-moistened," that had been some time ago.
I took one of the tissues out and noted that it was only damp. I gently wiped the bug matter from the visor. The guts came off easily, but left a streak. I got another tissue and succeeded in distributing the smear equally across the front of the visor. Ugh.
Time to get the Kleenex. I spit on the visor, spit on the Kleenex, and went to work. After repeated applications of tissue and expectoration, the smear seemed to disappear. I resealed the lens cleaning tissue, placed the Kleenex back in my pocket, and redonned the helmet and glove. This delay had cost me at least five minutes. Time would tell if I missed sunrise. But at least I had my view back.
I got on I-10, and took the 610 exit, heading south. As I took the turn, surprise number two appeared. There, right in the middle of my lane, was a dead animal. Fortunately, I was not riding in the middle of my lane. So I whipped by the carcass without risk to my tires or health.
I took the Loop all the way to I-45, then headed for Galveston. Traffic up to then had been virtually non-existent. Except for the bug episode, I had gotten in some great thinking time. However, traffic on I-45 was heavy. I was surprised, given the early hour. Pickups and trailered boats dominated the scene. I had to stay alert to all the speeding vehicles.
I was also watching the eastern horizon and my odometer. I was still in the race to make it to Galveston before sunrise. And I was being helped by heavy clouds that were hugging the horizon. Mister Sun would have to rise more than usual before I would see his orange face. That might buy me a few extra minutes.
Other than dodging a turtle crossing the freeway, the rest of the trip into Galveston was without incident. As I crossed the Causeway, I could see a tint of red behind the clouds. But the sun was still not out. It looked like I would make it.
I took 61st to Seawall, cursing every red light that slowed my progress. Of course, I caught the light at 61st and Seawall on red. I waited for what seemed an eternity, then zoomed over the hill to see the ocean.
I beat the sun. Barely. The sea was totally flat. I have seen lakes with more wave action. But things were popping in Galveston. Lots of people were out. It was barely 6:30, and there were cars galore parked along the Boulevard.
I have been to Galveston lots of time when the beach was mostly deserted. But this morning was different. There were plenty of fishermen. And lots of families. Not to mention the comely lasses out for their morning runs.
I rode east on Seawall, watching for the sun. First, there appeared a small hole in the clouds that were resting on the horizon, and that window was orange. Mister Sun was coming up. As I rode east, the sun continued to rise. Within ten minutes, I could see the full rounded outline in orange, as if behind a curtain. The clouds were especially thick, but no match for the intense presence of the sun. By the time I made it to East Beach, sunrise was upon me. I enjoyed the view of five ships waiting to enter the ship channel. A view I shared with several early morning fishermen.
I then headed down the dirt road to the beach area. I passed a lagoon filled with sea gulls and a lonely pelican. I haven't noticed that many pelicans around Galveston, but this one was impressive. It certainly dwarfed the seagulls.
After taking in the sights, I headed back to Houston. I rode the Boulevard all the way to 61st, passing a couple of bikers along the way. I guess it was still early for most two wheelers to be out. When I got back on I-45, it was barely seven. I was still on schedule.
The trip back was very nice. There was little traffic headed for Houston at that hour. Plenty of time for thinking. I used it well. When I reached the exit for Loop 610, I took it north, crossing the Ship Channel one more time. I stayed on the Loop, and took it west, then south to I-10. I was watching my mileage.
Wednesday, July 19th, is the fifteenth annual "Ride to Work Day." Last year I had some lawyer thing that made it impossible to gear up for the ride. This year I may still have a problem, because of Federal Court jury duty. But I may get lucky. Each day, you call in after 6:00 p.m. to see if they need you to report for the following day. I don't have to report on Monday, and that is a good sign that this may be a light jury week. More cases start on Monday's than on any other day.
I figured that if I did one workday circuit, I would be positioned to make mile 16,000 on Ride Your Bike to Work day, assuming that I didn't have to report for jury duty. I did the circuit, and I now have 15,925 miles on the bike. I hope to get thirty miles in on Monday, and thirty miles on Tuesday. That will leave me needing only fifteen miles on Wednesday. Very doable, weather (and the courts) permitting. Stay tuned to see if I make it on the holiday day. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 15,2006:
Today, they predicted rain for this afternoon. So I decided to go for a morning ride. The only thing was that we have a busy schedule, so the ride would have to be shorter than a normal weekend ride.
Sarah and I went down before six, and got the paper. I then got her breakfast and checked the air in the tires. Fortunately, it was ok in both tires. I then checked the newspaper for road closings. While Sarah finished eating, I suited up. It was about fifteen after six when I scooted out the door.
I warmed up and got on I-10, heading east. I took I-10 till it intersected Highway 59, which I took north. Traffic was very light. Speeds were very fast. The sun had not yet risen.
I rode to the exit for the Airport, then took a tour of the terminals. I'm not sure why, but I enjoy this route. Early in the morning it is quiet, except for people flying away on adventures. Or so it seems.
After circling the Terminals C, B and A, I headed for Beltway 8. I took it west to I-45, and then headed south. Traffic on I-45 was very heavy, even though it was barely seven. I much prefer Highway 59.
When I got to the Loop, I took it west, in the opposite direction from my normal morning circuits. I did a couple of loops, then headed home. The ride was pleasant, with plenty of thinking time until the heavy congestion on I-45. The clicking sound was present in about the same frequency as on Friday.
I haven't decided where I am heading tomorrow. Until the clicking is fixed, I don't want to stray too far from home. But I may head to Galveston in the morning, weather permitting. I now have 15,769 miles on the bike. Rain chances are down for tomorrow, but there is often precipitation in Galveston, even when it is dry in Houston. Still, I really like that ride. We'll see.
* * * * *
July 14,2006:
Friday mornings often seem like the beginning of the weekend. Even though you have to go to work. This Friday seemed like that. Even though I have to go to work. But, first, Sarah needed her walk. So we all tumbled out of bed to accommodate her wishes. The morning had a touch of coolness about it, at least for July. We all enjoyed her stroll.
Whle she enjoyed her breakfast, I suited up. As I suspected, I had to add air to both tires. Thus properly inflated, I headed out. The clicking sound was sometimes present during the warmup portion of my ride, even after I thumbed off the choke.
In short order, I entered I-10, heading west. There was a lot of weekend traffic, but it was moving fast. Even the drivers changing three lanes to make an exit used their blinkers. And stayed off their cell phones!
That touch of coolness we encountered on Sarah's walk was even more pronounced at 65 mph*. It made for very pleasant riding time. And great thinking time. I had special fun this morning organizing my reading matter for next week. I received a Federal Jury Summons, and I begin my "at risk" time on Monday. I have to call in the night before each day, to see if I have to report. I will propably be restricted to evening rides next week. But, more to the point, I may have long stretches in the jury assembly room. That affords an extra opportunity to read. I have been giving the subject great thought. There are considerations of size, length, and titles. Any reading matter is fair game for questioning by the lawyers, so that must also be kept in mind. It makes for fun thinking.
Anyway, before I knew it, I had completed my ride. I now have 15,685 miles on the bike, and the whole weekend ahead. Have a great one, and don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 13,2006:
Today was a virtual repeat of yesterday morning. Sarah was again ready for her walk (like, when isn't she?), and she was also ready for her breakfast when we got back.
One difference was that I didn't have to add air to either tire. That was nice, but I expect that tomorrow will be another story. Anyway, I warmed up (remembering to cut off the choke), and entered I-10, heading west.
Traffic was pretty light, and very fast. I was making record time until the last lap, when I encountered backup from a van/pickup collision on the Highway 59 extension. Even with that delay, I was only about ten minutes behind schedule.
Other than the delay, the wreck didn't cause me any problems. In fact, I spent a happy thirty minutes or so working on the problems of the day. And some of the problems of the century. One problem I didn't have to deal with was the clicking sound. It was (mostly) absent on today's trip. No visit to Stubbs yet.
When I pulled up to the garage, I had 15,650 miles on the bike, and I was barely behind schedule. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 12,2006:
Sarah made sure we were up on time, and that we took her on her walk. When we got back, she ate, while I suited up.
I had to add air to both tires. Ugh. After warming up (and remembering to thumb off the choke), I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was light. It was a great morning for riding while thinking.
During the first third of the first loop, I thought the clinking sound had gotten bad enough that I could reliably call it up at will, albeit at high speeds. I need to be able to produce the noise at will if Stubbs is to fix it.
As the engine warmed up though, the sound mostly went away. Nothing I did could call it up. Oh well, it's not yet time to take the bike in for repairs.
I enjoyed the rest of the ride. No incidents, and lots of productive thinking time. When I rolled up to the driveway, I had 15,610 miles on the bike. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 11,2006:
Another dry morning. And another walk for Sarah. She was happy with the walk, and I was happy with the dry streets. When we got back, I fixed her breakfast and suited up.
I had to add air to both tires. Afterwards, I headed out on the warmup portion of my ride. Next, I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was pretty light, and there was lots of time for thinking. I took advantage, mulling over several problems.
I got in lots of thinking time during the first loop. On the second loop, I missed watching mile 15555.5 by three tenths of a mile. When the event came, I was easing over to the far right because a pickup truck driver decided he could pass me without completely changing out of the lane he and I were in. I figure that's when the mileage rolled over. By the time I had dealt with the crises and recollected my thoughts, the odometer read 15,555.8. Oh well. At least I didn't miss seeing the pickup!
The only other event of the morning was that the clicking sound was pretty frequent. It is almost to the point where I can call it up by a rapid roll back of the throttle. But I'm not quite there yet. I can't see the benefit of taking the bike in to Stubbs if I can't replicate the sound. So, for now, I am continuing to ride.
I did two loops this morning, adding the Highway 59 extension to the second one. I then took the Heights exit and headed home. When I came to the first stop sign, I realized the choke was still on. I had added about a quarter slide of choke when I started the bike at the beginning of the ride, and I had, once again, forgotten to thumb it off once I got going. Clearly, I need to pay more attention to this. Also, tomorrow I will find out if having the choke off lessens the frequency of the clicking/clinking sound I'm getting with rapid motor deceleration.
When I rolled up to the driveway, I had 15,570 miles on the bike. I lubricated the chain before putting the Rebel away. The day was still young. And tomorrow is supposed to be another dry morning. See you on the road. And don't forget your choke.
* * * * *
July 10,2006:
No rain overnight. So the streets were totally dry this morning. Which made Sarah happy, although she also spent time in the water-filled ditches during her walk.
When we got back, I fed her and suited up while she ate. I had to add some air to the front tire, but the back one was unchanged from yesterday morning. I was glad when the engine turned over. I headed out for my warmup route.
After warming up (and remembering to thumb off the choke), I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was pretty light for a Monday morning. And most drivers behaved in a civilized manner. That made for good thinking time. And a pleasant ride.
With no immediate mileage goals in mind, I contented myself with two normal workday circuits. It was nice to be back on I-45. I like the extra mileage the Highway 59 extension gives, but it is not a relaxing route. I-45, on the other hand, is both familiar and predictable.
After two laps, I took the Heights exit and headed home. When I rolled up to the driveway, I had 15,535 miles on the bike. Mile 15,555.5 is coming up. I hope I don't miss it. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 9,2006:
It had been far too long since I had headed west to Bellville for a motorcycle ride. More than three months too long. This morning, I made up that lost time.
I got up at five, and took my shower. Sarah and I then went down for the paper and her breakfast. I let her out the back door, while I checked the air in the tires. I added air to the front tire. I then returned inside to finish getting ready for my long Sunday ride. I packed maps and compass and tire inflator. When Sarah came back inside, I was at the computer, checking Weather.com. No rain on the screen.
Maria came downstairs to wish me a fun day. I told her I didn't know what time I would be back, and for her to have fun, too. Then, I was off.
I held my breath as I pushed the start button. The engine roared to life, and I headed out for the warmup portion of my ride. I then stopped and topped off the gas tank. Once again, the bike started up without hesitation. I got on I-10, heading east.
John and I had made arrangements to meet up at the Tweeters parking lot just north of FM 1960 and Highway 59. Traffic was light on both I-10, and Highway 59, and I made the rendezvous in record time. John, however, was already waiting.
We had decided that John would be in charge of getting us to Magnolia, and I would take over the route after that. I handed John a copy of my portion of the trek, and we headed north on Highway 59. It was not yet seven in the morning.
We rode to FM 242, and took that highway west, past I-45, all the way to FM 1488. We then got on FM 1488 and took that to Magnolia. The roads were pretty nice, but they were mainly urban highways. And they were mostly straight. No hills. Few curves.
By the time we got to Magnolia, I was starving. I had shorted myself on breakfast, and I was hungry. We pulled into a gas station, and I spotted the Family Dining Inn a block off the corner of FM 1488 and FM 1774. Earlier, I had told John we would be breakfasting in Hempstead. But my stomach was asking me to revise those plans. So I did.
I was pleased to note another motorcycle in the parking lot as we pulled in to the Family Dining Inn. It is an old fashioned cafe. The menue was simple, but more than adequate. Prices were reasonable, and the sour dough toast was exceptionally good. John seemed to enjoy his breakfast. He said, at its conclusion, that that should hold him till supper. I let him know that lunch was definitely on my itinerary for the day. I mean, a growing boy needs his nourishment.
By the time we were ready to leave, it was almost nine. I took the lead, and we headed north on FM 1774. We passed through Todd Mission and into Plantersville. This road is pleasant. It is tree-lined, with a few hills and curves. At Plantersville we took FM 105 west for a couple of miles. When we came to FM 362 we headed south, toward Hempstead. FM 362 is a very nice run. Lots of curves, and several hills. I highly recommend it.
Eventually, FM 362 dumps into FM 1488, which we took on in to Hempstead. We gassed up there, because I was worried about how far our next big town was. John just had to top off his tank. I had 125 miles on my tank by that time, so I was in greater need of petro.
We got on Highway 290, heading west to Chappel Hill. There, we took FM 1155 north, till it deadended into FM 2193. FM 1155 is another great section of Texas highways. Lots of curves and lots of hills. FM 2193 is also nice, but it deadends into FM 105 before too long.
At FM 105 we went north a mile or so until we came to the exit for Scenic Road 390. This is a great run. Lots of curves, lots of hills, and even some curves on hills. I love this stretch of road.
As we approached FM 50, we came upon three fellow bikers (well, two of them were "fellows"). They were going slower than the pace I was setting. So, when they continued west on 390, I turned south on FM 50 to the Antique Rose Emporium.
John and I had come this route a couple of times before, and I wasn't going to let another chance to tour the gardens go by. John (not a gardener) was a good sport, and endured my tour without complaint.
Once we finished up at the Emporium, we got back on 390, and continued west to Burton. Just before we got to Burton, we passed a restaurnat called the Cactus. It was packed with customers. John and I both agreed to put it on the list for another time.
In Burton, we got back on Highway 290, heading west. Within a few miles, we came upon FM 2502, which I took south. We had not gone more than two miles when I spotted dark clouds ahead. It was clear that rain was falling. I pulled over. John and I conferred, and John voted for trning around and taking Highway 36 in to Bellville. I agreed, and that's what we did.
Although we rode into rain on 290, it was nothing like what looked to be waiting for us on FM 2502. We gassed up in Bellville, then rode to Newman's for lunch. They now feature soup and sandwiches, and a chef salad. John, true to his prediction, passed on lunch. I, true to my word, ordered up.
I had a turkey chef's salad, ice tea and a glazed donut. I mean, how could I pass up a donut at Newmans? That would be practically sacrilegious. Newman's is a famous stopping point for bikers in this area. And, true to form, there were other bikers present when we rolled up. Donuts and ice tea are not exactly the combination I would recommend, but Newman's did both well.
When I finished eating, we saddled up for the last leg of our journey. We headed east on FM 529. This is a nice road for motorcycling. In fact, we saw lots of cyclists on our way east.
When we got to FM 359 we took that south until FM 529 turned back east. Shortly after getting on this stretch of FM 529, we encountered rain. I saw a wall of water in front of us, but it was too late or me to turn around. We rode through it, getting thoroughly soaked in the process. More rain clouds were ahead of us.
I found a dry spot to pull over, and we talked out our options. To the north, the clouds were heavy with rain. Ditto for the south and east. And the big rain cell was still behind us to the west. John agree, there was nothin to do but continue east on FM 529. I told John that I was pretty sure that my bike would turn into the parking lot when we came to the Half Price Books near Highway 6. John said he would probably continue on home, without stopping. Which is what happened.
I managed to find a logic book by David Kelly, so I was happy. And the rain left while I was "sheltering in place" at the bookstore. When I finally made my purchases, the streets were dry. I got on Highway 6, headed for 290. I gave Cynthia a couple of honks of the horn as I rode past her apartment.
I stayed dry all the way to Loop 610. I took the North Loop, all the way to Highway 59, which I took south to I-10. I headed west on home. As I passed I-45, it started pouring down rain on I-10. It continued to rain as I took the Heights exit and u-turned back for gas. In fact, it rained hard all the rest of the way home. My jacket and pants were thoroughly soaked. I was glad to be back home when I pulled up to the driveway. And I had 15,505 miles on the bike. It was 3:30 p.m. The rain gauge registered seven tenths of an inch of rain. And my odometer was registering 280 miles in the nine hours since I had left home. Not a good average, until you figure in all the pleasant time we spent on stops. It had been a great day's ride, with good company and good roads. And plenty of time to think. Time to change into dry clothes and a wet bath. See you on the road.
* * * * *
July 8,2006:
At 2:30 a.m. this morning, I was awakened by the pounding of rain against the roof and the sides of the house. I went downstairs to confirm the storm. It was pouring. This was no gentle shower. An hour later, I was still awake, and it was still raining. I finally drifted off to sleep. When I checked the rain gauge at six, we had seven tenths of an inch. But the streets were starting to dry out, at least in places. I figured the freeway would be dry by the time I got there.
I fed Sarah her breakfast. When she finished, I let her out the back, and checked the air in the tires. The front tire needed a pound, as did the back. After adding the required amounts, I went back inside to check the radar on Weather.com. All clear.
While I waited for Sarah to return from her business, I checked the Chronicle for road closures. I have a morning meeting at the Houston Garden Center, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get in a long ride before the start time of 10:00 a.m. Still, I want to get in 60 to 75 miles, just to make sure the noise problem isn't getting worse.
So, after checking the weather on the computer, I headed upstairs for a quick shower. Then, I headed for the garage. My habit is to turn on the choke, the ignition switch and the kill switch while in the driveway, and hit the start button when I reach the center of the cul-de-sac. That lessens the odds the bike will awaken any neighbors at the usual early hours I set out on my rides. After backing the bike out of the garage, I turned on the choke, the ignition switch and put the kill switch in the "run" position. I started duckwalking down the driveway. I noticed a small pebble in the front tire. I stopped, lowered the kick stand, and flicked the pebble from the treads with my gloved finger. I then raised the kickstand, duck walked the bike to the center of the cul-de-sac, and pushed the start button.
Nothing. No sound. No lights. The instrument panel was dark. The headlight was out. I went through the start sequence several times, to no effect. There was no power to the bike. Then, after the fact, it hit me that I had not noticed the instrument panel lights or headlight coming on when I turned the ignition switch the first time. The battery had probably died overnight.
Reluctantly, I put the bike back in the garage, and went back inside. Time to hit the internet to see how long Rebel batteries are supposed to last. And to determine whether I can change the battery myself or not. Not to mention the problem of whether Stubbs has a Rebel battery in stock.
I found no information on battery life on the internet. Some sites said their batteries were "long lasting," but no one said how long "long" was. Thus far, I have noticed that motorcycle batteries are not rated in months and motorcycle tires are not rated in miles. Weird. Just before I left for the meeting, I called Stubbs. Fortunately, they had a Rebel battery in stock. Thus calmed, I headed for the meeting--on four wheels.
When I returned from the meeting, I quickly changed into work clothes and headed for the garage. I removed the right side cover without problems. I then unhooked the rubber band holding the top of the battery in place. Next, grabbing a phillips head screwdriver, I undid the screw post on the negative terminal of the battery, as per the owner's manual instructions. Next, I repeated the operation for the positive terminal. I was then able to easily remove the battery from its holder. Very simple.
While at the meeting, I had reread the owner's manual. In the trouble shooting section (under the part about what to do when your engine won't start), they said to be sure and check the fuses. The fuses are also behind the right-hand side cover. But it was a puzzle to figure out how to remove them for a look. So, I decided to do the easy thing and take the battery to Stubbs and buy a new one.
When I got to Stubbs, they had the new battery ready. I also got a ten amp and a twenty amp fuse, just in case. I asked them to test the old battery, which they did. It registered in the orange range. Red means dead and green means fine. Orange means it needs a charge. They said they doubted the trouble was the battery, and that Rebel batteries should last over a year if used on a daily basis. They said the old battery was probably fine. I was glad they didn't just sell me a new battery and be done with it. (Also, I would have had to add the battery acid to the new battery, and wait an hour before caping the battery to give the solution time to become active.)
I decided to get a trickle charger instead of a new battery. Even if my battery was still good, I figured it was run down, and would need a new charge. Still, the trickle charger was only $36, and a new battery was going to cost a hundred dollars. I was happy at the good service from Stubbs. I headed home.
When I got home, I set myself the task of getting the fuses out for an inspection. Before starting, I plugged the old battery into the new trickle charge. The charger read "red," meaning the battery was charging. I then turned my attention to the fuses. The ten amp fuses came right out. The fuse cover was easy to remove, and the fuses were both okay. That left the 20 amp fuse.
I had real trouble getting the cover off to inspect the 20 amp fuse. Finally, I called my friend Bill. He is the neighborhood mechanic, and he had some ideas. First, we sprayed the area with WD 40, and waited for it to do its magic. Next, we worked the area until we figured out that the whole fuse assemble was sitting in its own little box. We removed it from the rubber holder. It was then relatively easy to rock the cover off the fuses. I then removed the 29 amp fuse for a look. It was okay. Ugh.
I was now out of easy solutions. It looked like the bike was headed for the shop. Bill had one last suggestion. He said that, sometimes, just pulling the posts apart, and putting everything back together would do the trick. I agreed to try it. I walked to the trickle charger and noted that the light was now green. The battery had charged in under half an hour. Clearly, it was not a totally dead battery. I unplugged the trickle charger, unhooked the battery from the charger and took the battery back to the bike. I put everything back in its proper place. Before getting to the result, I want to digress.
If you remove the battery on your Rebel, be careful of the two square fittings that are under the mountings for the cables and terminal screws. If you lose those fittings, you will be in a world of trouble. They are sort of like nuts for the screws. I almost lost both of them. One fell off into the cardboard box I was using to transport the battery to Stubbs, and the other fell off as I was walking out the door at Stubbs. I am lucky I heard it hit, or I would have been S.O.L.
After everything was back in its place, I thumbed on some choke, turned on the ignition, put the kill switch in "run," and pushed the start button. The engine fired right up. I don't know who was happier, Bill or me. I was glad I had asked him for his advise. Of course, I now don't know why the Rebel didn't start this morning, but Bill is of the opinion that any number of things might explain the development, and that sometimes just taking things apart and putting them back together will cure the glitch. But he also advised me to just get a new battery.
After getting the Rebel to start (and start again and again), I called John to let him know that tomorrow's long ride is still on. I then suited up and headed for my daily ride.
I was in a particular hurry because thunder was everywhere. Maria had encountered rain during her outing this afternoon, as had I when going to Stubbs. But the streets in the Heights were dry, so far.
I started up the bike, and warmed up. I entered I-10, heading west. I did the normal workday circuit. Lightning was hitting the ground on the northern horizon. Lightning was hitting the ground on the eastern horizon. But rain was not hitting the ground on my route.
On the second circuit, I added the Highway 59 extension. On the third circuit, I returned to the normal (i-45) route. All told, I put 50 quick miles on the bike. I did hear the clicking sound from time to time, but it was no worse than yesterday.
I made a stop at the hardware store, then headed home. The bike started fine after the stop. When I got to the driveway, I had 15,225 miles on the bike. I checked the oil, and repeatedly added small amounts (starting the bike after every pour), trying to get a good reading on the Rebel dip stick. I really dislike the Rebel dip stick. It is very hard to read. At least for me. After adding about a third of a quart of oil, I stopped.
I went inside and called John, to finalize our route and start time for tomorrow. My hope is to be on the road by 6:15 a.m. Time for me to get some sleep. It should be a long, wonderful day of riding tomorrow. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 7,2006:
It was raining last night when we went to bed. I don't know how long the rain continued, but the streets were still damp when we took Sarah for her walk. And the ditches were full. Sarah enjoyed that development.
Although there was dampness in the air, there was no rain this morning. And the streets were wet only in spots. I was confident that I could get in my ride.
When we returned, I checked the rain gauge before getting Sarah her breakfast. Nine tenths of an inch of rain. Wow. Sarah was more impressed with her breakfast. I suited up while she ate.
The air in the tires was fine. It remained to be seen if the tell-tale sound of yesterday would still be present.
I thumbed on some choke, and started up the bike. This time, I remembered to take the choke off by the third stop sign. I then finished my warmup route and entered I-10, heading west.
I did three normal circuits this morning. My one goal was to try to determine the source of the sound the Rebel is making. I failed.
I cannot reproduce the sound at will by anything I do. Not by acceleration, not by deceleration. Not by braking. Not riding by bumps in the road, or hills or turns. Often, this morning, I could go for miles without hearing a thing. Then the clink would appear. Usually just a single sound. "Clink" doesn't exactly describe it. It is definitely not hard metal on hard metal. And the engine itself sounds fine. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc ruled the day. And I know enough to realize how unsound that investigative tool is.
So, I threw out my theory about the choke. And all my other theories. And I still have no explanation. I can't even reproduce the sound phonetically. Or locate its point of origin. How I will ever convey the problem to Stubbs is a mystery itself at this point. On the good side, the sound is still very intermittent, and doesn't sound like it will cause a crash when failure occurs. So, for the moment, I ride on. Day to day, but without restrictions.
For this morning's ride, the extra circuit (for investigative purposes only, of course) brought the total mileage to 15,175. And rain chances are down to 30% for the weekend. See you on the road (and, hopefully, not beside it).
* * * * *
July 6,2006:
No rain today. At least so far. Sarah was happy about that. I don't think she would appreciate another morning without her walk. And evening walks are just not enough. At least that's her attitude. So, as the alarm sounded, she jumped in bed to make sure we understood the significance of the moment.
There were still puddles of rainwater in the ditches. Sarah was happy to check them out. Fortunately, she was mostly dry by the time we got home. I checked the rain gauge, and we got another tenth of an inch since I had emptied it after work. That means we got 2.2 inches of rain yesterday.
Sarah waited impatiently while I checked the gauges, then we all went in the back door for her breakfast. While she ate, I suited up. I had to add air to the front tire. I then headed out.
As is my usual custom, I slid the choke over about one-fourth of its travel distance. In the winter, I use full choke. But in the summer, I just add a touch of choke to smooth out the morning idle. I try to remember to thumb the choke off by the third stop sign during my warmup ride. Today, I forgot.
The Honda manual discusses the problems caused by forgetting to take the choke off after the bike warms up. Mostly, they discuss the discoloration the mufflers can get. I may have another warning to issue. But more on that later.
I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was light. Clouds were everywhere, but the streets were completely dry. I took 610 north, then east. I was trying to decide whether to add the Highway 59 entension or not. I don't have an immediate mileage goal, and I had kind of missed the I-45 trek south to I-10. When I topped the rise at the North Main exit, my mind was made up. A fast-moving fog bank was shrouding the view ahead to the east. I couldn't tell if the clouds contained rain, but they looked menacing. I turned south on I-45.
That move allowed me to avoid the fog bank, but it also showed me that the fog was covering the downtown skyscrapers. And the clouds were so low, I could still see the tops of the buildings, but not the ground floors. Weird.
I countinued with my normal workday circuit. But I didn't get in any more thinking time. At least not on matters philosophic. Instead, I began to concentrate on a funny sound the Rebel was making. It was an intermittent noise, the exact location of which was hard to pinpoint. It sort of sounded like it was coming from the chain area. The bike sounded perfect when under acceleration, but a single clang could be heard when I let off the throttle abruptly. But not every time.
I really want to take a long bike ride this weekend, and I sure don't need mechanical troubles. But I could not ignore the noise. Sadly, since I could not reliably produce it at will, I didn't know how Stubbs was going to help me with the problem.
I was concentrating on the chain as a likely suspect because the bike purred soundly at normal speeds. It was only when I let off the throttle that I could (sometimes) get the noise to appear. That could be too much slack in the chain. Or one of a thousand other problems I know nothing about. Sunday's trips began to be in doubt.
When I came to the Heights exit, I took it on home. At that point I still had around a mile and a half to go. When I pulled up to the first stop sign I had come to since getting on the freeway, I realized the choke was still on. Just that one-fourth amount I use in the summer, but "on," nonetheless. I thumbed it off. And tried and tried to get the clank back. I could not. With a little relief, I decided that maybe the sound was because the choke was still on. Tomorrow will tell. If there are no clanks at freeway speeds, I will chalk the problem up to forgetfulness. Let's hope it is that simple. If it is, I will have to confess that I was the one who forgot to think!
Oh, and yes, I got my mileage count. I now have 15,131 miles on the bike. And much to think about during tomorrow's run.
* * * * *
July 5,2006:
I was hoping to sleep a little later than normal this morning. However, a little after five, I was jolted to awakeness by thunder and lightning. Lots of thunder and lightning. Sarah was awake too. I decided we should go downstairs and get the paper before it was soaked with rain. And, since we were up, Sarah wanted her breakfast. While she ate, I checked weather.com. This was habit, not necessity, because the skies had opened up, dumping almost an inch of rain in short order. Clearly, there would be no ride this morning.
It continued to rain until noon. Then, the skies cleared. By the time I got home, the streets were dry, although the rain gauge had 2.1 inches in it. I waited until 6:30 p.m., giving rush hour traffic time to finish up. I then suited up, checked the air, and headed out.
Temperatures were cool, and the skies were overcast. There were plenty of clouds to the west and north. There was even lightning on the northern horizon. Fortunately, the streets stayed dry, and traffic was minimal. I made two workday circuits in short order, then took the Heights exit. I circled back and got gas. After topping the tank, I headed home. It had been a quick ride, with some nice high speeds. And dry roads. More rain is expected tomorrow. For now, I have 15,101 miles on the bike. Stay tuned for further adventures.
* * * * *
July 4,2006:
Happy Independence Day. And happy birthday to the country founded by individualists, who recognized that rights belong to individuals, not to the state. Who complained about interference with their lives by a distant King, and took up arms to enforce the rights they possessed because they were humans. The economic rights to engage in commerce and keep the fruits of their labors, and the liberty interests to do what they wanted in a social context, so long as they did not initiate the use of force. Classical liberals by the eighteenth century definition of that term. Libertarians by the twenty-first century definition. And, I am sure, lovers of motorcycles all, if they had only been given the chance to know our two-wheeled wonders.
On this Fourth of July I got up around five. I got in some reading, showered, and went downstairs to get the paper. The skies were clear. The radio was blessedly silent on the subject of rain. While Sarah ate, I checked Weather.com to see where the clouds were.
Things looked clear for the moment. I let Sarah out the back, and checked the air in the tires. The pressure was fine, front and back. Sarah and I then went back upstairs to check on Maria. She declared her independence by choosing to lay in bed for an extra hour. It was barely six. I promised Sarah a walk when I got back, then I headed out for my 15,000 mile run.
I needed five miles to make my goal. Thanks to the weather, that was no problem. I warmed up and headed for the gas station to top the tank. Once properly fueled, I entered I-10, heading east. I had calculated that I could make it to Memorial Drive by the time the odometer turned over, and I was right. As I pulled up to the stop sign at Prairie and Bagby, I needed a half a mile to make my goal. And Prairie changes to Memorial at Bagby. The light changed, and I was off.
I quickly accelerated to 50 mph* or so. When the moment arrived, I took a deep breath, extended both arms straight out, parallel to the ground, and coasted my way to mile 15,000, sans hands on machine. It was good to be on two wheels on one of my original set of twisties. Memorial has been a learning experience for me over the last 15,000 miles. I faced my first real risk of crashing when my front tire got caught in a gap in the slabs on this very stretch of road. I learned to pace myself and dodge the four-wheeled monsters that surround every biker. I learned the value of going the speed of the other vehicles, not too fast and not too slow. And I enjoyed the aloneness of being on Memorial early in the morning. Like this morning. I had it all to myself. It was a great time for thinking, and a day that demanded contemplative efforts. I embraced the moment.
Because of the City's Fourth of July celebration, Allen Parkway was closed. So I stuck with Memorial. Before I knew it, I was at Memorial Park. It was not yet seven o'clock, but the Park was full of runners, male and female. Especially female. Ah, America.
My original plan had been to take Memorial all the way to Beltway 8, then head back home. But, exercising my individuality, I changed my mind. When I got to the West Loop, I entered 610, heading south. It was time to circle the city.
I have taken the 610 Loop around the inner city many times. Often, the route is clogged with construction cones. Today, traffic was minimal and the orange cones were nonexistent. More great thinking time.
When I reached the Ship Channel, I looked to the west as I topped the bridge. There was downtown Houston. A low cloud was covering the bottoms of the skyscrapers, but the tops of the buildings were still showing. It was like scores of concrete edifices to the mind of man were floating above the mist.
I continued on my route. I am happy to report there were no close calls this morning. Probably because there were no close cars. It was just a pleasant ride. I took the West Loop south to the Woodway exit, then got back on Memorial to complete my loop. I headed downtown, then took Louisiana north to I-10. To finish off the ride, I did one of my workday circuits, and at very nice speeds. All the turns were deserted, which made for real fun as I arced into the banked curves. Time to accelerate out of those turns. All right.
When I came around to I-10, I took the Heights exit and headed home. As I pulled up to the driveway it was not yet eight o'clock. I had 15,071 miles on the bike. When the number hit me, I almost got back on the bike to take it to 15,076 miles in honor of 1776. But then I remembered that I had put five miles on the bike before reaching mile 15,000. So this morning's run came in at 76 miles. Appropriate to the day. And a fun 15,000 miles it has been. Thanks for reading. Ride free. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 3,2006:
I awoke to mixed messages on the weather. First, no rain was hitting my windows. Second, the street outside the bedroom looked dry in places and wet in other places. Third, 740 AM radio was reporting rain all over the place. They were talking about the training kind of rain that causes flooding.
I grabbed a shower, got the paper and fed Sarah. The rain gauge showed only one tenth of an inch of rain overnight. Still, the radio said there was ponding on the freeways, rain at Hobby Airport, and an accident that may have been caused by water at the West Loop and I-10. I couldn't figure out if it was inbound or outbound, but it was not good, either way.
Channel 11 was equally pessimistic. The freeways (including the West Loop and I-10) were reportedly wet. A flood watch was in effect. Still, their radar showed most of the activity was to our east and in Galveston. The inner city had only light green on the radar.
I decided that Sarah should not give up her walk. That would give me more opportunity to assess the clouds and streets, and more time for the freeways to dry out if the media was engaging in hyperbole. About this time, Maria headed down the stairs, attired for walking. She grabbed an umbrella, and off we went.
The streets were dry under the trees, and wet in the open. A light mist must have fallen. They were especially slippery. Not good. Still, the skies didn't look particularly threatening, and the air did not smell of rain.
When we got back, I listened to Channel 11 as I suited up. That accident at the West Loop and I-10 was on the West Loop, not on I-10. So the backup would be on a part of the freeway that I would not be on. And it was not caused by rain. In fact, the reporter reported that the streets around the scene were dry. I quickly headed out.
At the second stop sign on my warmup route, I put my foot down and leaned the bike. My boot slipped a little. Residential streets were not only wet, they were slippery. The same slipperiness was present at the next stop sign. I was careful in making my turns. These were not good signs.
I entered I-10, heading west. I decided that if the freeways were dry, I would play it by ear. If they were wet, I would exit at Shepherd and tour the Heights for a few miles.
Fortunately for my schedule, the freeways were completely dry. No ponding, and little traffic. But the traffic that was present was going fast. And that's what I don't like about riding in the rain. I have confidence in the Rebel, and in my abilities. But Houstonians just won't slow down on wet roads. The ever-present risk of hydroplaning aside, you can't ignore the fact that there is not as much traction for stopping when the roads are wet. So speeds should be reduced, and distances between vehicles increased. But that never happens. So I try to avoid riding in the rain.
Today, none of this was a problem. I added the Highway 59 extension to the first loop in honor of the fact that they are predicting a 90% chance of rain all day tomorrow. If it stayed dry for my second loop, I would need only five miles tomorrow to make my goal of 15,000 miles. Even a downpour could not stop me then.
The rain stayed away. Oh, I had scattered drops on my visor a couple of times, but not enough to wipe it clear. Traffic got heavier as the ride continued, and speeds got faster. Still, it was a cool pleasant ride, and it was fun being on two wheels.
When I got home I had 14,995.5 miles on the bike. I took a picture of the odometer to preserve the moment, then went inside to get ready for work. Check back tomorrow. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
July 2,2006:
Today I awoke at four. It was sort of like Christmas. I couldn't sleep, wondering whether or not I could get a long ride in. Last night, the weather people continued to predict massive rain for all day. At four, I came down to check Weather.com. The hour-by-hour forecast showed increasing chances of rain as the day wore on. By 7 a.m. the percentage was listed as 30%. By 9 a.m., chances were 40%. By 2 p.m. they were predicting a 70% chance of rain. The radar showed rain in Galveston and in Kingwood, with scattered clouds in other areas. I decided a long ride was not in the offing.
I went back upstairs to a B & B (bed and bath). I read till 5:30, then took my shower, got the paper, fed Sarah, checked the air (and added air to the rear tire), and rechecked the radar. The street in front of the house was dry, but the rain chances were the same. I told Maria I was going to do the normal workday circuits, so I could be close to home if the skies opened up. Her only comment was, "Was that lightning I just saw?" I headed out, watching the skies.
I quickly warmed up, then entered I-10, heading west. The western skies were dark, but not immediately threatening. There was no traffic on this part of I-10. Speeds were fast. As I turned onto Loop 610, I saw a thick lightning bolt on the northern horizon. No thunder, though. I headed east. I decided to stay on 610 all the way to the East Loop, then go south and pick up I-10 west. This would add ten miles or so to my trip, and I would still be able to head home if the rains came. Because of the lack of traffic, it was perfect conditions for extended thinking. I took advantage.
When I got on I-10, heading west, traffic suddenly appeared. Before, I had had the road pretty much to myself. Not so on the Katy Freeway. Cars were everywhere. It was almost as bad as workday traffic. I had to pay strict attention to the four wheelers. But at least the streets were dry.
I did another loop, then headed home. I have several items on my "honey-do" list for today, and lots of them require outside work. Rain will play havoc with more than just my motorcycling.
I am still on a good schedule. I now have 14,961 miles on the bike. If I get even one circuit in tomorrow morning, I will be in a good position to hit mile 15,000 by the Fourth. Unfortunately, the weather people are still predicting massive amounts of rain for Monday and Tuesday. Stay tuned to see how I manage to get in the next forty miles.
* * * * *
July 1,2006:
Given the weather forecasts for the next few days, I figured it was now or never for racking up some miles on my 15,000 quest. So, A little after five, I got up and took my shower. Sarah and I went down and got the paper. I checked for freeway closures while she ate. I then check the air in the tires. Both tires were okay.
Before leaving, I checked Weather.com for rain activity. The radar was clear. The prediction was for the moisture to hit around noon. The newspaper showed there was no construction on Highway 59 north. So, using the route I plotted last night, I headed out at 6:15 a.m.
I warmed up, then headed for the gas station to top off the tank. I then entered I-10, headed east. I continued east past the exit for I-45, and then worked my way over to the left-hand lane to take the exit for Highway 59. I took it, and curved around to the north. As I entered 59 proper, I did a head check for merging traffic. I thought I saw storm clouds behind me. That didn't make sense, given what Weather.com's radar had shown. Another head check revealed that what I had seen was the Houston skyline, not dark clouds. I continued north.
Just past Kingwood, I encountered fog. Unlike the last time I found fog in this area, today it was confined to the fields and tree tops. It never got on the highway itself. I also encountered a lot of smoke. Even at this early hour, countless men were out stoking their fires for Saturday barbeques.
Traffic was pretty heavy for a Saturday. I think lots of people were headed out for fun. I know I saw several trailered boats behind pickups. I stayed on Highway 59 past Cleveland, all the way to Shepherd. I then took FM 150 to Cold Springs. There, I pulled in at an Exxon station and got my breakfast. A pint of chocolate milk. Well, first breakfast at least.
I then took FM 156 to FM 224. I started east on FM 224, but it was under construction. At first, it was loose gravel. Then it switched to clay and gravel. Not much improvement. I stayed on the road for a couple of miles. It looked like gravel as far as I could see. I have heard tales about how easy it is to lay a bike down in loose gravel. I did not want to add my first-hand accounting to that body of lore. I turned around and, ever so slowly, headed back to FM 156. Quickly, I came to the junction of FM 945. I took that road west. It was a newly paved blacktop, and was quite pleasant. Wide, and curvey. Just what the philosopher ordered. A perfect thinking road.
FM 945 intersected with FM 150, and I took it west. This road was also pleasant. And deserted. The cool temperatures and high speeds made for a pleasant run. Lots of thinking time. Everything was fine until I came to the intersection with FM 1725. My plan was to take that highway on back to Cleveland, and then home. My map showed a left-hand turn to get on FM 1725. The map was deceiving.
It was a left-hand turn, alright. But there was no gradual arc to it. It was a sideways "V." I had been going over 60 when I came on the sign warning of the junction. There was no warning of the sharpness of the turn, however. A hard left-hand turn would be ninety degrees. This turn was easly 135 degrees. And there was traffic coming up behind me and traffic coming towards me on FM 1725. Yikes. I will remember this one.
I made it with style, albeit a a lower speed than usual. I was glad to throttle up once I was heading south. In fact, FM 1725 was blessed with nice curves, and lots of them. But, as a reminder to stay alert, I encountered a road hazard on one of the arches.
I was having fun, staying to the outside of the curves, to maximize my viewing distance of the upcoming traffic. I found out another virtue of taking the curves on the outside edge of the lane. Your view of the upcoming road is also better. Today, the hazard I faced was not an oncoming car, but a dead animal.
I rounded the last leg of a nice esse curve and faced the surprise. Not to be too graphic, but the carcass and entrails of some kind of animal, the size of a coyote, were spread out over most of my lane of travel. I had to weave around the stuff, adjusting my arc in the process. I was past it almost before it registered. That I had time to react was a function of staying on the outside of the curves. I was glad I had managed to dodge the obstruction. I have no idea what would have happened if I hadn't. Well, I have some idea.
FM 1725 intersects with FM 105 just before Cleveland. I took it east, to Highway 59. I then headed for home. The skies were still overcast, but no rain was falling. I had missed watching mile 14,800 roll over, and I also missed watching mile 14,900 come up. When that second event happened, I was in the middle of Houston traffic, with my visor getting wet. I was trying to figure out if it was rain or the tank truck ahead of me. I swithced to the lane to my left, and decided it was the tanker. I just hoped it was water that had splattered me. I could not see any caution labels on the side of the tanker, but I was glad my visor had been down.
I stayed on Highway 59 to I-10, then headed west. I took the Heights exit, then u-turned to get gas. I was running on fumes by this time. I had come over 150 miles on the single tank. I refilled the Rebel so I would be ready for another run tomorrow. I then headed home.
When I pulled up to the driveway, I had 14,915 miles on the odometer. I need 85 more miles to reach my goal, and I have three days to do it. That would be easy, except for the weather. I am writing this blog at 11:00 p.m. It has rained lightly all afternoon, starting around noon. Channel 11 is still saying there is a 70% chance of rain on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We will see. It should be interesting. Keep dry. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 30,2006:
We got to bed at a decent hour last night, so I arose early to get in some reading before Sarah's morning rituals. She let me know when it was time to close the book on philosophy, and open the book on walking. It was good we were on time, because I have a full day. And, included in that day, was a somewhat longer than normal morning ride.
But before I could get on two wheels, I had to satisfy Ms. Four Legs. So, Maria in hand, we headed out for Sarah's morning walk. It was not especially cool, but it was very cloudy, and that helped. At least with the temperatures. The rain chances are now at 70% for all weekend, and my schedule is threatened. So is Sarah's, for than matter.
But not this morning. We completed her walk at a fast pace. Then, while she ate her breakfast, I suited up and headed out. The tire pressure was fine, as was the riding weather. After warming up, I entered I-10, heading west. I decided to try for three loops today, traffic permitting. And I decided to add the Highway 59 extension as often as backup would permit.
The first loop went fine. The clouds made the morning ride just grand. I may be of another opinion by tomorrow. But, for today, the morning air tasted good. Traffic was mostly light, and speeds were mostly 60 mph* or above.* I did see a lane changer cross three lanes of traffic to take the TC Jester exit at the last second, but I watched that maneuver in my rear views, not in front of me.
I also watched a giant plastic lid come off a truck. And that was in front of me. No problem dodging it, however.
The second loop was also taken at high speeds. Then, as I headed west on I-10 for the third loop, a situation developed. I was in the far right-hand lane. A pick up was in the lane to my left, about five car lengths behind me. I watched a big truck enter the freeway from Shepherd. It was one of those situations where the truck was clearly going to merge onto my lane, but at a very low speed. I faced the choice of really cutting my rate of travel, or of changing lanes to my left. Normally, I would just brake off some speed. But this time, I judged that the safer alternative was to change lanes. Which is what I did.
Things worked out fine. But I am usually against sudden lane changes on a bike. Mistakes are costly. Today, I balanced the alternatives, and decided there was more risk in going 15 mph down the freeway than in changing lanes with a pickup behind me. If the pickup had been any closer, I probably would have just dropped back. I know all this doesn't sound especially exciting, but it is an example of the rapid judgment calls a biker has to make constantly when traveling in Houston traffic.
I finished the third loop, and took the Heights exit on home. I met my goal. I now have 14,753 miles on the bike. Clear weather would give me clear sailing to mile 15,000. But stormy seas are ahead. Stay tuned mateys, and don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 29,2006:
There was still a touch of cool in the air today, along with lower than normal temperatures. I got up early, got in some reading, then waited for the mechanical alarm. Our four-footed alarm was patiently impatient.
Our walk was very nice. Sarah enjoyed the cool temperatures, as did we. She also enjoyed her breakfast. While she was eating, I suited up and headed out, after checking the air in the tires, of course. And adding a pound or so to the front one.
After warming up, I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was medium. Everyone stayed in their lanes, and cell phone talk was at a minimum. I completed two quick circuits, with the Highway 59 extension on each one. No backups to speak of. I continued to Washington, u-turned, and headed for the gas station to top off the tank for tomorrow's ride.
As I left the gas station, I headed down the feeder, going east. Cars behind me started herding me on, causing me to up my speed. Houston Police use this stretch as a speed trap. The feeder is three lanes, with no homes or businesses to speak of. They use it as a speed trap because the proper speed is way above the posted speed limit. In fact, the feeder on the westbound stretch has a 45 mph speed limit, and there are condo's and business all along that stretch.
I looked for any cop cars, and was glad the coast was clear. I was also glad when the tailgaters entered I-10, and got off my rear. I continued down the feeder, slowing as I went. All of a sudden, a police officer stepped out from the shadows. He was looking to increase the city's revenues. I guess I wasn't a big enough fish. I rolled by him, and noticed that his motorcycle was parked on the west-bound portion of the feeder, out of sight of his victims. I continued on home.
Rain is predicted for the rest of the week. By Saturday afternoon, the chances are listed as 50%. Ugh. Right now, I am on schedule to make 15,000 by the Fourth of July, weather permitting. Whether it does or not remains to be see. For now, I have 14,696 miles on the bike. And five days to go. Stay tuned. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 28,2006:
Today it was a little hotter--and a little more humid--than yesterday. Made me glad I took my extended run on Tuesday. But, Sarah insisted that it was plenty fine out for walking, so we all trooped down to enjoy a morning stroll.
Now make no mistake. It was still unseasonably cool this morning. Unseasonable for Houston, that is. The low was 70 degrees. Sarah had a great time. We also enjoyed the morning air.
When we returned, I fed Sarah and suited up. The tire pressure was fine. I headed out. Traffic was especially light for most of the ride. I added the Highway 59 extension to both laps. There was no traffic jam at I-10 during the first circuit. However, when I was heading south on the second lap, a very different situation presented itself.
I was cruising along at 65 mph*, as I had been most of the trip. I noticed that the traffic ahead of me--those cars attempting to merge onto I-10 from Highway 59--was almost at a stanstill. I made a quick, hard application of my brakes to peel off some speed, then I let off the brakes and began pumping my right foot to flash the brake lights so the cars behind me would begin their braking process. I also downshifted and scooted to the far right-hand edge of the lane, so I could escape to the shoulder lane if necessary. I then applied more brake to continue the slow-down process.
Fortunately, everyone got stopped without the squeal of tires. And we were soon back on our separate ways. I got on I-10 and took it all the way to Washington before u-turning and heading back to the Studemont exit. When I pulled up to the driveway, I had 14,652 miles on the bike. I am on schedule, but rain is predicted for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. A rain day will play havoc with my mileage. Stay tuned. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 27,2006:
Last night, the weather gurus were predicting low humidity for this morning. And Maria had an early appointment. And I didn't. So conditions seemed ideal for an extended run on the Rebel.
Everything started on schedule. I awoke early, as usual. I showered and took Sarah downstairs to get the paper. Maria joined us, and we all trooped out the door for Sarah's walk. Indeed, there was a touch of coolness in the air. Temperatures were below normal, as was the humidity. Sarah enjoyed her walk.
When we got back, I fed Sarah and then, instead of suiting up, I fixed breakfast for Maria and me. My goal was to be on the road by 7:30 a.m. Maria's goal was to be out the door by 7:30. Happy coincidence. But it was not to be. She ran fifteen minutes behind schedule, and it was almost eight by the time I headed out.
Before leaving, I added some air to the front tire. I then suited up, grabbed a can of compressed air and a compass, and headed out.
Last night, relying on the weather predictions, I had plotted out a complicated route through the Sam Houston National Forest. I wanted to get about 180 miles on the bike, and experience some twisties during the run.
Before hitting the super slabs, I topped off the tank. I only had 44 miles on the current fill up, but I didn't want to run short in the forest primeval. After filling the tank to the brim, I entered I-10, heading east. I worked my way over to the far left-hand lane, and took I-45 north. Even though I was going against the grain, there was lots of traffic. The coolness made the ride pleasant, but the traffic kept it from being relaxed.
A few miles before reaching Huntsville, I watched the statue of Sam Houston pop into view. A billboard had announced that it was the world's tallest statue of an American hero. If you have ever travelled north on I-45 you know what I mean by "popped." All of a sudden, there is Sam Houston. And due to a turn in the road, at first it appears like Sam is standing in the middle of the freeway.
I enjoy the statue. In reminds me of my friend Bob, who used to work in Huntsville. Bob was a big fan of Sam Houston. Sam lead an interesting life, and made decisions based on his philosophy of right and wrong instead of always doing what was popular. Maybe that's why Bob admired him. I know that's what I like about the guy.
Shortly after passing the statue, I came upon the exit for FM 19. This is one of the first exits you encounter when entering Huntsville. Before I knew it, I was at the intersection of FM 19 and FM 190. I took FM 190 east, toward Point Blank. FM 190 is a pleasant enough rural road. It suffers from being straight and level. But I wasn't on it long.
After about eight miles, I came upon an abandoned business. By the layout, I was sure it had been a gas station, although there were no pumps or buildings left. The concrete pad was consistent with such stations. I pulled in and turned off the engine. It was right at 9:00 a.m. Time to check in with the office. I told Cynthia where I was, and noted that I had just seen the exit for Dodge. After getting assurance that no emergencies were pending at the office, I continued on my way. Within another eight miles I came FM 946. I took it south.
Farm to Market 946 has some sweeping curves, and is a pleasant ride. After another eight miles or so, I came to another abandoned gas station. It was at the spot where FM 156 joins FM 946. This gas station had pumps. When I realized this, I u-turned and rode back for a look. The price on the pump (for regular) was 94.9. No brand name was evident.
Just before getting to Cold Spring, I turned west onto FM 945. This was the road that had inspired this trip. On my maps, it looked wonderfully crooked. In reality, it lived up to the maps. There were curves galore, and even a few hills. Not the big hills like you see around Bellville, but some nice ups and downs, nonetheless. And trees. Lots of trees.
The low humidity lasted until about 10:00 a.m. After that, the only coolness was when I was moving. But it was still a great ride. Right when I got on FM 945, a truck pulled onto the road just ahead of me. Some kind of a tanker. A slow tanker.
All those curves made for long stretches of double yellows in the center of the road. But, after five minutes or so, I came upon a section that allowed for passing. I whipped around the tanker, and had the road to myself for the rest of the time. It was fantastic. The trees were tall, and on both sides. But they had been cut back from the edge of the highway, so that feeling of being closed in was not present. And there were lots of ranchettes along the way. It was ideal country for putting in extended thinking time, and I did not pass up the opportunity.
Next time on this route, I will probably take FM 150 west to FM 1725 to add even more twisties. But let there be no doubt: FM 945 was a fun run. Somewhere along the way, I turned over mile 14,500. I missed watching that event. But earlier in the ride, I had watched the odometer creep up to 14,444.4. I guess it evened out.
Just outside Cleveland, FM 945 deadends into FM 2025, which I took south to Highway 59. For the rest of the trip, I cruised the super slabs. I was watching the tripometer, and I was getting close to the 140 mile marker. I begin hunting a gas station. I spotted one in a small town, and pulled up to fill the tank. It was a Shell station that catered to truckers. Each pump had diesel as one of the options. I inserted my credit card, got approval, and tried to fill the tank. The nozzle had a full length rubber shield. One designed to lessen the escape of gas fumes into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, I could not get the pump to start dispensing gasoline. A motorcycle tank does not have the set-back filler that one sees on cars. So there was nothing for the rubber shield to fit over. Or maybe it was just me. For whatever reason, I had to cancel the order, and leave without gas. A little ways away, I spotted an Exxon station. This time, everything worked. With a full tank of gas, I headed for home.
I breezed past FM 1960 without pulling in to Half Price Books. I regretted that, but I had a noon luncheon with a lawyer friend that I did not want to be late for. So I continued south on 59. I then took the North Loop west. As I approached the TC Jester exit, the odometer rolled over to mile 14,600. I did not miss that milestone. I continued on, heading south on the Loop. I then took I-10 east, all the way to the Studemont exit. When I pulled up to the driveway, I had 14,608 miles on the bike. Time to grab another shower, then head for my lunch appointment. Mile 15,000 looks possible after all. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 26,2006:
Just over a week till July 4th. We are having some friends over, and on this morning's walk, Maria asked me if I would have mile 15,000 on the bike by then. I told her that I wasn't sure. It would be tough to put enough miles on by next Tuesday and get everything else done. Sarah wasn't interested. She just seemed content to be out before I hit the road. Because of our busy schedule, she had gotten cheated out of her morning walks on Saturday and Sunday. Not that she didn't have an active weekend keeping the backyard squirrels at bay.
Anyway, life was back to its normal workday routine. After taking Sarah for her walk, I fed her and suited up. Because I was running a tad early, I decided to add the Highway 59 extension to both laps. In fact, it is my plan to do this all week.
I had to add a little air to the front tire. I then headed out and warmed up. I entered I-10, heading west. Traffic was light and fast. A great start to the week. Sadly, the lower humidity they had been promising all weekend was not here yet. But the high speeds provided their own cooling.
As planned, I rode past the exit for I-45 and continued east on the North Loop. At the exit for Highway 59, I headed south. Almost immediately, I encountered an older dark green car. Two occupants. The driver was on the cell phone. She was also wandering out of the right-hand side of her lane. I dropped back. She wandered out of the left-hand side of her lane. At least she was off the cell phone. Then, to my amazement, as she wobbled down the road at 65 mph, she leaned over and kissed her passenger. And wandered out of her lane yet again.
I am all in favor of kissing. There is far too little of it in the world. But I question the wisdom of practicing the art while hurtling along at 65+ mph during morning rush hour. And I did my questioning at a distance. I let off my speed so as to increase the distance between the weaver and myself. I also made sure I could retreat into either the left-hand lane or the right-hand lane--or both--if the driver had a fender bender. Much to my regret, the lady took the I-10 exit off of Highway 59--the exact way I was going. So I was stuck with her until she took the downtown exit onto I-45. She made several more sashays before she exited. But she did signal her lane changes. Well, one time she did.
I was glad to see her go. The second loop was without incident. As I left the lady behind, I looked at the odometer and noted that it was at 14,399.9. I watched it roll over to 14,400. I was glad I could relax again. A sneak peak at my watch revealed that I was still ahead of schedule. I decided to add a few extra miles by going all the way to the Washington exit, u-turning, and heading back east on I-10 to the Studemont exit, then on home. Which I did.
By the time I pulled up to the driveway, my efforts had rewarded me with 14,425 miles. I'm not really on schedule to make mile 15,000 by next Tuesday, but it is still within the realm of possibility, if the weather holds. See you on the road. And don't forget to signal your lane changes.
* * * * *
June 25,2006:
It was another early morning. With the "honey-do" list I have, it was ride early or ride short. I rode early. As in 6:30 a.m. Of course, that was after getting the paper and Sarah's breakfast. Much to Sarah's chagrin, I skipped her walk so I could get an early start.
And, in honor of my "honey-do" list, I decided to make today's run part of said list. On Tuesday, Maria and I had been at the Enchanted Forest nursery in Richmond. It is a great nursery, and has many garden delights, both hardscape and landscape. One of the things we had seen was a concrete brontosaurus that was about four feet tall at the head. Unfortunately, the dinosaur had no price, and we had already spent more than expected by the time we checked out, so I forgot to ask the toll. Thus, I decided to kill two birds with one stone this morning, and get in a nice ride while checking out the stock at Fraser's Concrete Heaven in Hempstead.
As you may recall, the local road construction projects conspired to limit my access to Highway 290. But, I figured out a way to get there, and the added miles just meant more riding pleasure. But first, I needed to top off the tank.
After getting gas, I entered I-10, heading east. Way east. All the way to the East Loop, which I took north, then west. That way, I avoided the construction roadblock at I-45 North and Highway 59 North. And, twelve extra miles later, I was on Higway 290, headed west.
It has been several months since I made my way west on 290. Last night, I plotted a route that would give me the chance to have coffee and donuts in Bellville. And a chance to ride the twisties on FM 529. Unfortunately, I had forgotten how long of a ride it is to Hempstead. There was no way, given the number of items on my "to do" list, that I could afford the time necessary to breakfast in Bellville. It looked like I would have to content myself with a ride to Fraser's.
When I got to Waller, the sky began to darken. It looked like rain was on the western horizon. Maybe Brenham was getting a shower. Things were dry on Highway 290, but the temperatures droped with the cloud cover. For the first time in months, I actually felt a chill while riding. But the road remained dry.
When I got to Hempstead, I took the Highway 6 exit and headed for Fraser's. I rode slowly down the feeder road, looking for concrete dinosaurs. I saw deer, buffalo and fountains. But no dinosaur. And the gates were locked due to the early hour. There was plenty of unexplored territory, but I couldn't get a clear view of the entire stock. They may sell what I am looking for, but I didn't spot it. Oh well, any excuse for a ride. I made a u-turn on a side road, and headed back for Houston. It was a little before eight.
When I got back on Highway 290, heading east, I got a surprise. Those rain clouds I though might be in Brenham, were ahead of me. And there was definitely rain in them. On my left, I could see the sheeting pattern that clouds make when rain falls.
Just when I thought I would miss the rain, the road curved, and the clouds were on my right. They still looked too far off my course to be a problem. But, just as I was relaxing, the road curved again. The rain clouds were now straight ahead. Of course, another curve would take me out of harm's way. But the road continued straight ahead. And, in an ominous development, I noticed that the cars coming toward me all had their lights on. And it was after eight, and full daylight.
Closer examination revealed that they also had their windshield wipers on. Ugh. About thirty seconds after this thought registered, the rain hit. And hit hard. The big drops stung when they hit my unprotected neck. And they made a loud noise when they hit my helmet. I could feel my pant legs getting wet from the spray from the road. And my visor was clouded with water. This was a big storm. Fortunately, traffic was virtually non-existent, so, I was able to cut my speed to 60 mph*, all the while using the gloved index finger of my left hand to wipe the rain off my visor.
After ten miles, I rode out of the thunderstorm, and onto dry pavement. I twisted the throttle back up to 65 mph*. Traffic continued to be light. I decided to reverse my outbound route, and take the North Loop all the way to the East Loop, and that south to I-10. I would then take I-10 back home.
This was a new route for me. I could use it in the mornings, but I decided that the road was too debris-filled to be safe. The far right-hand lane was full of all kinds of stuff, and would not be safe to ride on with only two tires. Still, the extra twelve miles was woth the exploration. Better to scope out the route on a Sunday morning than during workday traffic.
When I got to Heights, I took the exit, u-turned, and stopped again for gas. That way, I would have a full tank for the start of my workday circuits. When I rode up to the driveway, I had 14,382 miles on the bike. And it was barely nine o'clock. It had been a good ride, with fast speeds, cool temperatures, and lots of thinking time, not including the stretch of rain. I had the entire day to devote to my honey-do list. But, however tired I got, I had already gotten in a very pleasant ride. It was worth the getting up early. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 24,2006:
Today I got moving early. Real early. I had my bath and Sarah's breakfast all taken care of before six. I even had the air in the tires checked, and a pound or so added to the front tire. Sadly, there was no hint of coolness in the air.
Even so, I checked the newspaper to see about freeway closings. Highway 59 North was under construction. So was I-10 West. As was I-45 North. That particular closing prevented me from taking I-45 to Loop 610 to Highway 290. The construction on I-10 closed my other usual route to Highway 290.
So, I could not go north on 45, west on 10, west on 290 or north on 59. That left Galveston. Not a bad consolation prize. I warmed up and entered I-10, heading east. I took I-10 all the way to the East Loop. As I approached the Loop, it occurred to me that I could take the Loop north, then west to Highway 290. But my mind was already dreaming of water. So I took the Loop south, over the Ship Channel bridge. I then got on I-45, heading for the ocean.
Traffic was pretty light, and very fast. I made good time. There was plenty of time for thinking, and I enjoyed the early morning. Only one incident occurred on the way to Galveston.
I was cruising along at about 65 mph*, with no cars around. I noticed a white plastic bag dancing in the air. You know how you will sometimes bump into a person coming toward you in a hallway because you go to your right, and she goes to her left, and you meet in the middle in spite of your efforts to avoid running into each other? Well, that plastic bag and I did a similar dance at high speeds. I tried to zig zag around the floating obstacle, but the bag would have none of it. When I weaved to my left, it moved to my left. When I went to the right, it went to my right. Before I knew it, the bag hit me full-on in the middle of my helmet. Fortunately, it did not stick. It would not have been fun to be going down the freeway with my vision totally obscured by a plastic grocery bag. And, double fortunately, the bag was empty. So, when it hit, it kept right on going. As did I.
When I arrived in Galveston, I took 61st street to Seawall, then I went left (east) to East Beach. I rode Seawall all the way to its easternmost end. I then parked the bike and took a stretch while looking at the ships at sea.
After my break, I took the sideroad to East Beach, watching all the fishermen try their luck. No one was reeling anything in. But, as they say, that's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching."
On the way back, I decided to take Broadway back to I-45 instead of going back down Seawall Blvd. So, at the 8th street, I head east. I ran into UTMB. It covers a lot of territory. I wound my way around the complex, and ended up going north on Harborside. I cruised the Strand, then got on Broadway, and headed home.
Because of morning tasks, this was a quick trip. The ride home was uneventful, except for some minor route changes I had to make because of construction on I-45 North, just as it comes to I-10. Anyway, by the time I pulled up to the driveway, I had 14,246 miles on the odometer, breakfast waiting, and a long list of honey-do's. See you around the house. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 23,2006:
What a difference a day makes.
Today started like most others. Sarah was ready to get up before we were. And she let us know her intentions. Because we had gone to bed at a decent hour, I was a bit more accomodating than I would have otherwise been. I got up and invited Sarah to join me in some light reading. She followed. I then showered and checked my email until Maria was ready to join us. It was still early, and Sarah was pleased to be on her walk.
I immediately noticed that yesterday's mugginess was absent. But I didn't really appreciate the morning coolness until after we returned, Sarah got her breakfast, and I was suited up for my ride.
When I entered the garage to check the air in the tires, I was pleased to note that I was not hot. "Not hot" is a good thing in June in Houston. I was also pleased to note that the air pressure was fine in both tires.
As I did my warm up ride, the "not hot" became "cool" as I generated my own breeze. By the time I entered I-10, heading west, it felt like many summer mornings in Denver, as Maria and I would head to the Colorado Railroad Museum, just east of Golden. The morning ride on the Rebel tasted just like those pleasant trips.
The cool temperatures continued for the entire ride, and the drivers were similarly cool. Travel was fast, and congestion was light, especially for a Friday morning.
There were a couple of times I felt like I was close to getting pinned in. I would have a car or truck on my left, and another one on my right. I had to jockey hard to make sure neither car was directly beside me. I wanted at least one lane to retreat into if needed. This feeling was not caused by erratic behavior by the four wheelers, but by the heavy congestion that was sporadically present this morning.
But this morning, I had no such "need." The ride was wonderful. Plenty of thinking time, plenty of speed, and plenty of sheer fun. The contrast with yesterday's prosaic trip was astonishing. I saw the odometer register 14,100.0 just as I passed the Ella exit on the second loop. I was having so much fun, I almost missed it!
To lengthen the pleasure, I added the Highway 59 extension to both circuits. And there was no backup at I-10 on either round. All too soon, I had to take the Heights exit. If I didn't have appointments today, I don't know when I would have come back home. As it was, I filled the tank with gas, and anticipated tomorrow's run. I have a lot of chores planned for Saturday, so I am planning to get on the road early. Not having to stop for gas should give me another precious ten minutes on the road.
For today, when I rolled up to the driveway, I had 14,115 miles on the bike. A great morning. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 22,2006:
Sarah made sure we did not sleep past the alarm today. In fact, she made sure we did not sleep until the alarm today. But we got her back: we laid in bed until we were ready to get up, despite her protests.
The streets were dry, and Sarah got her walk. You could tell summer had arrived. The air was muggy, without a trace of coolness. It didn't seem to slow Sarah down.
Nor did it affect her appetite. While she ate, I suited up, added air to the front tire, and headed out. After warming up, I entered I-10, heading west.
Traffic was pretty light. I added the Highway 59 extension, and had no stop and go where it entered I-10. On the second loop, I caught heavy congestion on I-45 south. There, I did have to come to a complete stop several times. But not "quick" stops.
There was nothing exciting to report on the ride. I got in a quick 35 miles with minimal fuss. When I rolled up to the driveway, the odometer read 14,074 miles. Time for work.
* * * * *
June 21,2006:
Ah, the first day of summer. I know, the temperatures have been saying summer has been here for months, but today we celebrate the longest day of the year. And Sarah awoke ready to celebrate. Which we did. By taking her for her first walk of the new season.
Astonishingly, it was rather pleasant out. Must be because of all the rain we have received lately. Anyway, the walk was on the cool side. And Sarah seemed to enjoy her breakfast. While she ate, I suited up and headed out.
The tire pressure was fine. Because of the pleasant temperatures, so was the warmup section of my ride. I then entered I-10, heading west. No storm clouds were on the horizon this morning.
Traffic was fast paced, but well mannered. It was a perfect morning for extended thinking. I did not pass up the opportunity. To increase the thinking time, I added the Highway 59 extension to the first lap. On the second lap, I decided to take I-45 south. As I topped a rise, I noted that the traffic ahead of me was at a standstill.
A judicious application of front and rear brakes brought me from 60 mph* to 2 mph* in short order. I was more concerned about the car behind me stopping than I was about my rate of deceleration. But everybody behaved well, and then we all went on our separate ways.
That was the only exciting part of the ride this morning. Apart from the ruminations. When I called a halt to my musings, I had 14,039 miles on the bike, and a full day ahead. I took the time to grease the chain, as recommended. I do this every 500 miles. That done, I wheeled the bike into the garage, another ride under my belt. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.
* * * * *
June 20,2006:
I got up a little after five this morning. The radio was reporting rain in the area. I looked out the window, and couldn't tell. There was water in the gutter, but the driveway looked (mos