Entry for December 25, 2005

Picture:  Dad and Pam getting ready to ride.

  Beautiful Christmas day in Salina, KS, USA.  Light winds and 54 degrees, what more could a person ask for this time of year?  I think this was the first time I have ever taken Pam for a ride and for sure it is the first time she has ever been on a Bullet.  The bike pulled strongly with two up and I didn't really notice a drop in power.  Handling was fine and maybe just a little less stopping power.  My Honda riding daughter was duly impressed and that is saying something since she was sitting on the luggage rack with no padding save her own skinny butt.

  After riding out to the industrial area I turned it over to her for a quick spin while I watched (I ain't sitting in back).  She came back with one of those grins that is common to a person that has ridden on their first thumper.  Wish we could have stayed out longer but that luggage rack is hard on the back side.

Entry for December 22, 2005

   It wasn't much of a ride but I rode today.  I just wanted to get the Royal Enfield Bullet warmed up so rode it for about five miles.  Never got over 40 mph and it was running great.

  CMW called yesterday to tell me they thought they had located the correct nut.  We will see, this will be the 4th one they have sent.

  Supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow so I might take it out for awhile.  It was still pretty sloppy today, it takes awhile for 8" of snow to melt.

Entry for December 07, 2005

Picture:  The Nut in Question

Pearl Harbor Day.....never forget

  Not much going on with the RE.  The second nut Classic Motorworks sent didn't fit but they think they have it figure out now and will be sending a 3rd nut to try.  Seems like it would be a simple thing but I think the factory must throw on any part they have lying around so you never know for sure what you need.

  It is too cold to ride anyway, 8 degrees at 6:45am and no expected to get much higher.  Got a little snow coming down and might get a couple of inches.  Good day to work on the Christmas letter.

Entry for November 30, 2005

  I've been back in Kansas since Sunday just beating a early winter storm.  The worst is mostly West of Salina but the weather has been crappy.  Fired up the Bullet Monday.  It started on the 3rd kick after sitting for two and a half weeks.   I left the battery on the float charger so it was OK.  You are probably wondering why I didn't use the starter.  I don't know, just wanted to see if I could kick it to life I guess.  Warmed it up and rode around the block in the snow.  I think it likes cold weather, it has never idled so well while warming up and it just seemed like it wanted to be ridden.  Not today, too damn cold.

  Brother-in-law, Bob is coming up tomorrow evening to help me put a nut on a bolt.  Who would think that it takes two people to do that?  Guess if you have a Royal Enfield Bullet you come to expect the unusual.

Entry for November 17, 2005

Picture:  The Old Enfield Rider and his First Grandson, Alexander

  While this post doesn't have a lot to do with riding motorcycles at this time I believe it appropriate to introduce a FUTURE motorcycle rider, my first grandchild, Alexander.  He was born November 13th.  Now does anyone know where I can find a little biddie helmet?

11/9/05 ROMEOs in Alma, KS

Picture:  I pulled off the road and up a hill into a pasture to get this Kansas vista.

The ROMEOs (Retired Old Motorcyclists Eating Out) met in Alma, KS for lunch today.  The Corner Stone Cafe is a cool little place in the back room of a grocery store in an old stone building.  The buffet was all home made and there must have been ten desserts, $6.50 all you can eat.

  It was almost too cold at 44 degrees but the last 17 miles made it worth while.  That was a little twisty two lane between Alta Vista and Alma through the rolling Flint Hills.  Great ride especially when you are used to the long straight roads that made up the first 80 miles of the trip.  Going back down that same road on the way home was even more fun with the wind at my back and the temperature now in the low 50's.

  I don't know how many more of these Wednesday lunch rides I will be able to make, today was about the coldest I care to ride.

Entry for November 04, 2005

Picture:  East of Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, North of Canton, KS

 Beautiful Fall day, nice little ride to McPherson.  Couldn't find anyone to have lunch with so had a hamburger at the DQ and went down to Wallace Chevrolet for a part for the S-10.  Always enjoy visiting with the guys in there, several came out to check out the bike. 

  Over to the Post Office to see if the new maintenance man needed any help but he wasn't there and no one knew if he would be back.  Glad to see that he is following in my foot steps.

Bought a pound of coffee at Java John's, www.javajohns.com, and headed for Canton.  Stopped in the Post Office there to see an old buddy who is the new Postmaster, what a pud job!  North with the wind now to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge but the information center is closed and the roads are dusty so I give up on getting a good shot of a Bison today.  The picture is three shots stitched together, really quiet out there with just the sound of oil wells thumping away.  Headed back to the house through Roxbury and Gypsum and up Old 81.  A little over 80 miles.

  It will probably jinx me to say this but I am starting to get over the fear of the Enfield breaking down on me and beginning to take it for granted.  It starts every time, runs without missing a beat and if I think ahead it will even stop where I want.