Bike Week Over

I read in the paper this morning that attendance for Bike Week was down. It's hard to believe - but then again, I'm not sure I can tell the difference between 500,000 and 400,000 people anyway.

After the first few days, I found myself putting more effort into avoiding all of it rather than heading toward it. It's really neat - as a bike owner - to see all the things you can buy and add to your bike, but there's just so many people and (as I've written before) so much noise. I would say that I must be getting old - but I've never liked loud pipes on a motorcycle.

While at Destination Daytona on wednesday, they had a 'burnout' demonstration on the 'Budweiser Burnout Bike'. The photo is at the top of this post. I tried to make it an animated composite of 4 photos - but not sure it'll work on blogger. You'll know by the time you read this. You have to click on it for it to get animated.

I spent saturday and sunday - leisurely working on the boat. I washed the whole boat and waxed the starboard side. I was going to wax the port side, but my arm just got too tired. It's an odd angle to wax from. I was in the dingy and even though I was tied to the boat, as I pushed to wax - it would push me away from the boat a bit. I think the next time I have the boat out of the water - I'll buff it out quite well. Much easier that way. Still, the boat looks great. I'm looking forward to my trip in it next month.

Also yesterday, I started the outboard engine on the dingy to just make sure it's running properly. Wouldn't you know it - it's not. It'll only run at full throttle. May have to buy a new outboard before I leave. It's always something. I'll check it out again soon. I go back to work on wednesday, so I'll have to decide before I leave. I've found a good replacement online - but I have to allow 2 weeks for delivery.

They've been dredging the marina for the last few days. Pretty amazing operation to watch.


There's this guy that lives not too far from me who has this old VW beetle that he has painted to look rusted and used up. He has put a lot of effort into making it look like a mexican taxi. On the weekends, he loads up all kinds of junk on it to give it more of an authentic look. I've never met the guy until yesterday when I stopped at a 'nautical' yard sale and his car was parked out front. It was a good opportunity to take a photo of it.

The little detail that this guy has added is really cool. He always keeps a 1940's vintage outboard engine on the roofrack. Yesterday he had old luggage, an old cooler, some old fishing rods, a trident and an old style water ski on the car. Inside, the car he has mexican blankets on the floor like floor mats and a stuff armadillo in the back seat. Along the gutters on the car, you can see very old bottle caps crimped on. You can't help but stand around this car and grin.

Images from Bike Week

This is my 2nd Bike Week and it's not really any different from the first. This event is definately a "if you've seen it once, you've seen it all" kinda event. I will say that if you are in the market for a NEW motorcycle - and especially a $40,000 + motorcycle, then it would be worthwhile attending. You have a selection that you can't imagine. Also, all the major manufacturers from BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Harley etc. will allow you to test ride their bikes. If you're a motorcycle rider - then you should put it on your calendar to attend it at least once.

On the down side - it's amazingly crowded. They estimate 500,000 people. It's also amazingly noisy - and it's noisy ALL-THE-TIME. Loud pipes suck and people who ride with them are generally rude and selfish ego idiots. The local police always brag that they're going to 'crack down this year' because of all the complaints from the people who live here - but you can see no evidence of it.

Anyway, I get out for a couple of hours a day on my bike and ride to different one of the central vendor areas to see what's for sale. Since I have no plans to spend lots of money on a bike or even lots of money on my bike, I usually get bored pretty early. I did talk to the Honda Generator people for a while yesterday trying to figure out my best generator options for my boat. Side note: did you know Honda made 'waverunner' style water craft?. I don't think I did until I saw them yesterday.

Here's some random photos from the event.

I've seen a number of greatly abused and burnt bikes. Seems almost like a trend. People seem to be riding them, although I've only seen them parked.



Here's a nice futuristic looking bike.


Some new Choppers lined up for sale.


V-8 engined bikes appear to be getting popular - at least there's a lot of them for sale.

2 months without Snowy

Well, it's been 2 months today since Snowy left us. Time has helped a lot. There are times however, where her lack of presense is deafening. Last night, Jan said that it hadn't gotten any easier for her. I think it was a particularly bad moment for her.

I have put a separate blog entry about Snowy's life with us up. The link to it will remain on the right side of the blog - under the "Links" heading.

We miss her a lot.

1 year home

Today marks the 1 year mark since I returned from living in California CIty for 3 years one winter.

For those not familiar: here it is in a nutshell:

In September of 2005, I moved (without Jan) to the Mojave Desert to build a house with a group of friends - who were also building houses. These were spec. houses to help fill the need for new housing in So. California. I hated living there. I hated being without Jan, but the decision to go there may have saved my life due to a depression I was in at the time I went there.

I worked hard - very hard - building and finishing my house and actually sold it before I finished it. I made good friends while there in Dale, Kent, Mark, Dan and Charlie and I was able to spend more time with one of my best and most loyal friends in life - JB. The group of us all built the same house (in multiples) all paying for our own and creating a 'shared tool' chest of the most expensive - yet least used tools that it would not be feasible to own independent of the group. Things like 'poly forms' for the cement work - which made the job of forming and 'de-forming' go amazingly well. Things like an incredible lazer level which made doing the underground plumbing and leveling the forms go well. Many other tools as well.

Like almost everything I ever do in life - I don't regret doing it. This is one of the things however, that I would not want to do again - in the context that I did it in. California City is a horrible place to live if you've ever been places other than California City and if quality of life (based on where you live) is important to you. There is absolutely nothing to do in this town - especially in the winter (which is when I was there). I was without Jan, so not only did I have no life - I had no life in a place where there's nothing to do. So, I did what made sense - I worked on the house. Nearing the end of my project - I wanted to go home very badly so I worked every waking moments - and even created extra waking moments so I could work.

Anyway, I have fond memories of learning new things - with many (most) of them taught by JB. I also felt like I was a part of something that mattered. I helped design the house - a house that JB, Charlie and Mark are all still there building and selling today. I don't miss it a bit. I would like to see JB again though. I have him to thank for the opportunity.

You can see the whole process here: gwbuilds.blogspot.com