Thursday afternoon run

On June 22 Thursday afternoon I took Kandi up to #1 Cycle Center Harley-Davidson State College. I went up there to have my passenger grab rails put on my bike and to have my Navy covers put on. Half way up to the dealership I realized that I forget the Navy covers at home. Kandi rode up for her first long motorcycle ride. It is about a hour to a hour and a half to get there. It was a nice ride until we got to Pine Grove Mountain. We had to follow a 18-wheeler the whole way up the mountain that went between 10 to 20 mph up the mountain. Then once we got to were I could finally pass I gunned the bike up to 70 mph. We got to the dealership and Brian helped me even though I was 25 minutes late for my appointment. I showed Kandi around the dealership and she got to meet Weston, my cousin, who sold me the Harley.

Once at the dealership I bought Kandi a Harley-Davidson jacket to wear while we were riding and when ever she just wanted to wear a jacket. Weston said he might be down to the house on Sunday to install the Navy covers. (it is Sunday and he must have forgotten because they didn't get installed) On the way home the Weather Band on the radio kept advising everyone that a major Thunder Storm with sever lighting, high winds and possible hail. So I drove as fast as I could on the mountain roads. Right around 60 to 70 mph. We got to Huntingdon and we went to O.I.P. for supper. Getting off the bike I told Kandi, "I think we might have a storm in about 1/2 hour. We went in to order our meal, then the sky got dark and it started to rain about 20 minutes after we sat down. We stayed there for over a hour as it poured down the rain and some of the sharpest lighting I have seen in years.

We left and on the way home we followed the storm. I could see the jagged streaks of lighting everywhere. I was never so glad to get home from a ride as this one. I put my cover on the bike and then it started to rain again.

On Saturday Jordan tried cleaning the bike. He did an okay job but I went and cleaned it some more. I took Harley Scratch Remover to get some of scratches off the left saddlebag. I worked for about a hour to get the bike clean, shined and the scratches. Then I put a coat of Harley Gloss on it. It looks much better than it did. I only wish that I had my Navy emblem/covers on it because July 1, Saturday, is Thunder in Happy Valley at the H.D. Dealership. They are having a motorcycle show and also a contest for the nicest bike. That is why I want the Navy Covers put on the crankcase and air cleaner. I figure that I would be the only one that would have their military covers on their bike and would give me a great chance to place in the judging.

It has been a ruff week for me. On Saturday I went down to my mother's to cut her grass. I had to get gas for the bike and noticed that I didn't have a gas cap. So I I searched my mind to figure out where it was. On Monday I was cleaning my new Street Glide and remembered that the first time I got gas was in Three Springs. Here they had my gas cap there! Well I asked Kandi if she wanted to go for her first ride on the bike with me and she did but I had to wait. So I took off my left saddle bag to adjust the air in the shocks. I had trouble putting it back on so I got Jordan to help. He dropped the saddle bag and scratched the top of it. I was upset, but didn't yell at him. So after I got everything together I pulled the bike up front. When I was coming to a stop the bike went down in a small ditch and it went down! I was almost stopped but I couldn't hold the bike up. I honk my horn and Jordan came out of the house. I had him run over to Price Motors to get some help getting it up. Some gas drained out but no scratches or dents.

Kandi and I went on the ride down to Three Springs to get my gas cap. On the way home it started to rain. So I got to test out the bike in a little rain. It still rode and handled nice.

I didn't get back on the bike until today, Wednesday. Kandi had me take some paper work for the boys school work for the year to the Tim Miller. I came up to his house and looked up the hill to it. It was all dirt and stones and steep. So I elected to park the bike at the bottom on the hill and walk up. I dismounted and then the bike tipped over and fell on its right side. I caught it before it went all the way down. I honked the horn on and off for a few minutes. Tim's wife came out and helped me get the bike up righted. Then I asked if she could hold the bike while I got the papers out of the saddle bag. Then the bike started to tip over again! This time we caught it. I got back on the bike and was tence. So I went for a ride. It was hot and I only had a tank top and shorts on.

I remembered from some motorcycle books I have read that when a person gets a new bike that they should test it out. So I chose some back roads that had many turns in it. I thought since in 2 times in a row the bike went down that I needed to find the sweet balancing spot of the bike so this wouldn't happen again. I went on to ride for about 50 miles on twistie back country roads. I came home about 2 hours after I have left. I feel alittle bit better in my skills on this bike but I know I still have a way to go. I felt a little shakey today when other times I haven't.

I take the bike up tomorrow afternoon to the dealership in State College to get passenger grab rails put on along with my Navy covers for the crankcase and air cleaner. Kandi said she wants to ride along. It will be about a 1 1/2 hour ride up. The maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hour service then come back. So we probably won't get back to late. It is also suppose to rain/thunder storms off and on tomorrow. I am hoping and praying that it will be a better day and a much safer day and weekend.

I bought a new motorcycle

When I came home to Cassville, Pa from the 7 months in Ft Myers I rode my bike down to my mother's house in Shade Gap. My Aunt was there so I asked her if her Grandson Weston was still in Arizonia? She told me that he was home and working in State College. Weston went out to Az to learn motorcycle repair etc. He is now working in Salesales at #1 Cycle Center.

I called up there and asked for Weston. I asked Weston if he could take my 2004 1100 V-Star and Kandi's 2004 Honda Silverwing in on trade. So Friday I took delivery of my new motorcycle, a 2006 Harley-Davidson Street Glide a FLHXi. It is over 1,400ccs and also is fuel injected. It has a short windshield on the faring. It has a AM/FM Radio and CD Player, air ride suspension and I put a back rest on it for the kids. I ordered US Navy Covers for the Air Cleaner and Crankcase. I am waiting for them and hopefully they'll be in this week along with the chrome fender tips I order and the passenger hand rails and the cover for the bike.

Since I had to trailer two bikes up I trailered my bike back. I got to ride in their parking lot for .5 of a mile. Then I took my son Jordan for a ride from Cassville to Calvin. This is about a 5 mile total run. Then I took Morgan.

Saturday morning I went for a short ride since we were leaving for a H.S. graduation party outside of Allentown. I had to wait until after Church to take a futher ride. This ride was from Cassville to Huntingdon's Fair road to see Danny Mc Nerlin. I showed him the bike and he liked it. I took the long way home. Jordan was riding with me.

Today, Tuesday June 13, 2006 I rode down to my mother's. Along the way I saw my cousin Suzy Bair Jenkins at her house. This is Weston's Aunt. She liked the bike and we talked for awhile. I got down to Shade Gap just fine. My mother called her nextdoor neighbor - Belle Hess - to come over and see the bike. She called her brother Max Baer to come to see it. Uncle Max loves the bike. He said that his son, Bug (Max Jr.) will like it too. Bug has a 2003 Harley Fatboy. I got told that others around Shade Gap bought or are buying Harleys. Then I rode to Burnt Cabins and took the Mountain foot back road to Nelleyton. I stopped at my Aunt Shirley's - Weston's grandmother - to show her the bike. Aunt Shirley likes it. On the way back to Cassville I had to get fuel for the first time. I went 149 miles and put in 3.7 gallons which is 40 mpg. Now I don't know if the dealership filled it up as much as I did.

Comments on the bike: It is great. It handles very well. It is well ballanced. It effortless to do sharp slow speed turns in it. Highway turns are a blast and effortless also. Since the Street Glide has air suspension it rides very well. The bike is a little heavier than the Yamaha or Honda of mine, but it seems so much lighter when riding it.

The bike has a small faring that protects you from the wind a little bit but it protects the AM/FM Radio and CD player! It also has a fuel injected Twin Cam 88 and I also added an upgraded Sundowner seat. This is a very comfortable seat. I got a back rest and order US Navy Covers for the crankcase and the air cleaner. I also order chrome front fender tips.

The only problem I am having with the bike is that I want to go traveling as far as I can go, just to enjoy the Harley. It just rides so smooth. Maybe some year I'll get to go traveling on a motorcycle. I dream of doing the Skyline Drive then the BLue Ridge Parkway with a stop in Deal's Gap, NC to ride the "Tail of the Dragon". THis is Rt 129 and 11 miles long with 308 turns in the road. After I accomplish that I want to ride clear across the US of A. With stops in Sturgis and Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Maybe some year.

I am hoping to enclude a photo of the new bike soon. Bare with me.