Rest easy mom, the bikes are gone...

Empty nest indeed.
My mom always worries about me having motorcycles because they are dangerous.
She worries about me drag racing, road raging, 130 MPH straightaways with hard braking in corners at ridiculous speeds and passing in non passing zones and  splitting lanes in traffic. I don't blame her, sometimes I don't know why i'm still alive.
So mom, you can rest easy now, I'v sold the motorcycle.
With the need in my life for toys that make my mom nervous, I didn't last long before replacing the bike with a little slower vehicle.
We bought a boat.
Not a speed boat, nothing too fast, nothing too scary.
We bought a fishing boat, an Aquasport 175 Osprey with a 90 HP Johnson. It tops out at 40MPH.
More sedated than the breakneck speeds of Harley Davidson powered Buell motorcycles.
We live on an 8 square mile island with thousands of miles of reef around us.  It just makes sense that we take advantage of the bounty of the ocean.
Fishing for permit, snapper, grouper, and cobia and deeper water fish like tuna and mahi-mahi.
Spearfishing too. That's the only way to catch tasty hogfish.
So mom, rest assured that were not driving fast and taking as many chances.
All you have to worry about now is sneaky storms, getting lost, running aground, sharks, and mild cases of drowning...
Dont worry mom,  we have life jackets.
Lets hope we dont have to use 'em!

...empty nest blues

I sold my last motorcycle today.
Its a sad day indeed.

I have had as many as 7 bikes at any one time in the garage in the last few years. Some ride-able  some projects, some ride-able projects.
Slowly; I've either lost interest, finished and sold them or just plain gotten rid of them one by one.
I also sold my mountain bike...
I think I was more sad to see that one go.
Its amazing what you don't need here in Key West.
I am keeping the Vespa though. White lightning is running as good as ever.
It really rattles alot but its a good ol' scoot... Its gonna rust out like everything does around here. It's kind of a shame as the Vespa is 34 years old. But all good things will pass. Like owning a fleet of motorcycles or too many bicycles... or living in Key West...
Although the wife reminded me today why I sold the bike.... it was to finance a little fishing boat...
so keep a watchful eye out for the next installment... afloat!

Vespas in paradise and other ramblings

Life is a funny.
Its funny what what people do to simplify their lives.
I wanted a simpler life.
I needed a simpler life. Slower. Mellower.
I needed a place I could get back inside myself and let go of anger and frustrations I have been feeling for a long time... Ive been cold, indifferent and not the father and husband I wanted to be. So I made a change.

Key west has been calling my name for a number of years. The little island with big charm.
Fishing, relaxing, kicking it back "Buffett" style. Although not really MY style. As most of you know, I'm high strung. (all 0 of you reading this).
I was close to moving here in 2007 when i lived in Fort Myers, Fl.. It was a twist of fate and a rash decision to move home, back to Beaver County . Yeah, THE SAME beaver county, TOUGHER THAN GOD.
Fast forward 4 years, 8 months and 4 days. I picked up my family and left everything I know and love including my relatives and all of my friends.
I took them 1355 miles so I could simplify my life and to find something within myself again.
I think that i'm finding lots of things.
For starters, Im finding that I don't need all the stuff I've been hoarding for years, stacking in my garage, in the basement and under the bed. It was hard but I detached myself from a lot of it and I sold, tossed or gave away a virtual ton of good shit I just didnt need anymore. It was liberating and my first step in simplifying my life.
Im finding that its increasingly hard for me to relax. (again, Im high strung.) but I feel that this will soon fade as I find that thing inside myself.
Im finding that I like seeing a beautiful sunset every day. I cant recall the last time I looked forward to seeing something as simple as a sunset.
Watching a sailboat cruise across the horizon and disappear into the setting sun is amazing.
Its like the key west version of "stopping to smell the roses". Its awesome.

To further simplify my life, I bought a little white 1979 vespa. I always wanted a cool little Vespa scooter. I know that "cool scooter" is a contradiction but its entirely possible. The main form of transportation down here is disposable Chinese scooters.  Nothing like the sexy little Italian I brought with me.

I may possibly have the fastest and coolest scooter on the island.  Here is a picture of it by Smathers beach. This was one of my first days after we moved here. I was actually lost even though I was about a miles from my apartment complex, I had no idea where I was. This island is only 2x4 miles. Not real easy to get lost in but I somehow managed to.
Anyway, my old vespa, or as a former co worker called it "white lightning", is my "simplified" form of powered transportation. I got rid of my car. I havent beeen without a car since I was 17 years old. I guess i have always needed one until now.

My bicycle is my main mode of getting around now. As most people around here realize, cars are stupid, unnecessary and far from simple. Most everyone in Key West is either walking, riding a scooter or riding a bicycle. Bikes are everywhere, its worse than Portland. They are literally all over.  Most are kmart cruisers, some are painted all one color  or decorated with colored duct tape. Some just bare frames hanging on a stop sign attached only by a cable lock! All of them are rusty. But thousands of people are all riding a bike everywhere. Recently, I saw a guy moving a set of 4 chairs in his handlebar mounted basket! I have no idea how he was able to see. Its nuts.
That Lemond poprad cross/commuter bike I bought all those years ago from Keith is now a daily driver and a really is a perfect island ride. Its light, sits upright, has fenders, a loud ringy brass bell and is super comfortable. Of course, most of all, its simple.
I added a pull behind trailer that I got from Kevin. Its perfect for Donovan. He absolutely loves it.

It may take some time to learn to relax down here and try to live a simpler life and to enjoy all the things that life and nature has to offer. Its beautiful here, it shouldn't be too hard. If  I can find myself again and learn to grow and appreciate what I have and keep life simple it will all have been worth all the hassle.

the eve of the last year to be alive

yep, this is the eve of the last year to be alive.

12/21/2012 will be soon upon us in a few short months (well, OK, a year.)

If the Aztecs had it right, were all gonna be gone by this time next year.

They had the insight to end their calendar on 12/21/12 either because we are all gonna die or that the printer got tired of making any more calendars....

The Aztecs were pretty saavy, they did come up with some pretty cool things like manditory universal education, antispasmodic medication (made from the passion flower) and chewing gum... ok maybe not the first for gum, but they were pretty good at those other things...

So these ancient people studied the stars, followed the revolutions of the earth and read all of the signs to formulate an idea that we were only gonna make it for so long... and this year is the last one we get. So they say.

You know, if the artist formerly known as Prince would have any of this type of insight, the song lyric would have been "party like its 2011" although that doesn't roll of the tongue like 1999....

So all you naysayers, continue on like nothing is gonna happen. Thats cool too. But I, myself, am living it up this year.

Im gonna throw all caution to the wind. I'm gonna drive fast, take chances and live like its 2011!!!!

If anyone else out there believes it to be true, especially any of you rich folk, get in contact with me, I'll help you party it up and go down in a blaze of glory that they will still see shining over the horizon for the next couple of hundred thousand years!!!!

until then though,we wait, we party and we shall see....

happy new year everyone

All my passions involve things that come in 2's.

Got me a new motorcycle this week.

Yup, another bike...

its a Buell M2 Cyclone.

A Buell is a Harley sport/adventure bike.

Not your old mans obnoxious Harley and not your overpowered underbrained crotchrocket.

Its somewhere in between.

Its a cool bike, I've had 3 or 4 of them in the past. Still have a 1995 S2 Thunderbolt.

Buell is now extinct.

Harley closed the doors on them in late 2009.

Harley bought them out in the 90's, then after they started doing well, winning Pro races, making money and finally getting a market share of the sales.

Then POOF.

Gone.

Noone knows why.

The Economy is to blame of course but it just doesnt make sense.

well. i have 2 Buells now and I sold my harley.

Kept my Old triumph project (ongoing, I may actually work on it this year.) and an old Royal Enfield. (keep an eye out for more about that as well...)

Im going for a ride on my brand new to me Buell...

fun fun fun

Monday is my first wedding anniversary and I am working in victorian Oil City, Pa. 06-14-2010

Not that I dont like this town (DUMP) but I can think of a dozen places that I'd rather be.

The day started with a wardrobe malfunction!I felt like Janet Jackson at the superbowl. I had to work all day with my left titty hanging out.

The other guys on the site looked at me kinda funny all day.

I didnt think it was as funny as my coworkers did...

There is a nice park outside the hotel (DUMP) we are staying in.

The park has monuments honoring american soldiers as well as a few local .

There was a few pretty cool bronze statues too. Pretty lifelike... almost creepy.

They also have a time capsule that was buried 14 days after I was born... pretty cool.

I may come back when Im fifty and see what is inside...

I guess even though we are staying at a dump, the park by the allegheny river makes up for it.

Im trying to make the best of being out of town for work.

The Isuzu cab-over truck is running well, i guess thats a good thing too...

More pictures can be found by clicking the above image.

OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD.
Well i finally took the plunge and picked up a new bike. ive been frankenstein-ing bikes all me life. i havent had a new bike since i was a small lad.
The last new bike i had was a cyclepro bmx bike my mom got for me at the Ambridge bike shop.. which is where I bought this one... weird.

Anyhoo, anyone wanna go for a town ride asap? im going tomorrow (friday)...

This is all Chrissys fault, she stole my poprad. One ride and she was hooked.
It is a really cool bike too...
owell, now she has no excuse why she cant ride in the city now... OMYGOD! a new bike!

This is a test... apparently I can text directly to my blog... im going to try it right now~will wonders never cease? This internets thing is amazing. Thanks Al Gore...

Thats right. Beaver County. The beav. BC. 724. Our slice of Western, PA.

My friend Bill made this logo up, great stuff. Hes proud to live around here too.

Ill drink to that!

Ive been here all my life. Except for a little time down south. Those poor bastards dont know what they're missing!

I understand though. I used to hate it but I realized a few years ago just how good we have it here.

Its like this...

Its the end of Winter and you think you cant take one more day of the cold and the brown and white nothingness...

BOOM, Spring is in the air. The days get longer, the flowers blossom, the trees turn green. Time for renewal and rejeuvination. Bike rides in Bradys Run Park resume and the Maple Syrup Festival! Along with this yearly rebirth comes rain, mud and pollen and when you just cant take any more indecisive weather and spring allergies...

POW! heres Summer. In the Summer you can bask in the sunshine all day because the weather is always good (although sometimes partly cloudy) and theres dancing at summer music festivals. You can ride your bike (pedal or motor) anytime you please... all day, everyday! And theres delicious Mojitos that hit the spot on long hot summer nights. Then just when the heat, humidity and long balmy days seem like they go on forever...

WHAM! just like that, its September 1st. Fall weather is upon us. It seems like in just 1 day, it cools down and its time to get your jackets out (oooh, i love finding a forgotten $5 bill in a coat pocket!) and comfy warm flannel PJ's. Theres beautiful landscapes full of colorful leaves and the crisp mornings where you can see your breath for the first time in ages and Halloween then Thanksgiving with bonfires and family get togethers. Dont forget wine festivals and fresh apple cider! Then when your not even ready...

POOF! the first snowfall. The ground is covered with white and the trees are heavy and full of crystals...its just so damn pretty. The solitude of a fresh snowfall... its so peaceful, sometimes you can hear your heartbeat out where I live. Theres sled riding, you can make snow angels and winter mountain bike rides with little nips of smooth Canadian whiskey at stops.

I actually like driving in the snow. Its challenging.

Then when your oh so sick of slushy and salty roads, unbelieveable cold and being sick... the cycle starts over again!

No matter what season your enjoying (or geting sick of) you know a new one will be just around the corner. Theres always a new ride, a seasonal beer to enjoy and a fresh outlook on the weather you thought you couldnt stand!

Just think... You get all this in Beaver County.

724. Tougher than God.

WHO DOES THIS? After a long day of riding a mountain bike in the woods, what better way to relax than to eat a big stack of homemade pancakes smothered in fresh syrup pulled from the veins of the trees and cooked during the of Bradys Run maple syrup festival in good 'ol Beaver County, Pa.

What better way to wash these pancakes down than a big 'ol glass of fine microbrew.

What better way to entertain our full bellies than to hurl bags of beans at plywood with holes in them??

Well, to me and to many of my friends, there is nothing better! If you were in the know, you were there. If you were not there, hopefully next time.

I didnt have the pleasure of the ride but the pancakes, friends and cornhole was alot of fun. I would suggest it to anyone!

Click on the pic to see more hot cornhole action...

I work for a stage rigging company that never has a shortage of jobs that keep us on the road. BTW, thats where the term "roadie" comes from... I am a Roadie.

well, we find ourselves in all kinds of interesting places while working on the road... some fun, some scary and most of them located in bumfuckt egypt (formerly known as east jabip)...

this week we stayed in a DRY county called Sciota in a little burg called seaman. we had to ask directions to the hotel and giggled a little when he told us where we were heading.

i had to ask twice to make sure he wasnt kidding. the guy didnt think it was funny. When he asked where we were from, I told him Beaver and he, in turn, giggled a little. I didnt think it was that funny... I guess im used to it as im sure he is used to people thinking seaman is a funny place to live.

I guess humor is in the funnybone of the beholder. At least he had a sense of humor.

That easter bunny never did catch that little bunny rabbit with that carrot... (see post below)

However he did catch Donovan... although he didnt seem to mind too much. Actualy, bunnys seems to be his favorite.

Is it me or is the easter bunny costume a little creepy? he almost looks stoned...

I guess you would have to be stoned or drunk to sit at the mall for hours on end in that roasting hot getup... all the while having bratty screaming kids pissing in your lap all day.

After we got this picture taken, the bright eyed 5 year old future Einstein that was up next had to be forced into this poor bunnys lap all the while kicking and screaming crying that he didnt wannnnna go!

Grow up kid, that 7 foor monstrous easter bunny is a vegetarian, he only eats kids for lent... o wait... IT IS LENT!!!

WELL, easter is just around the corner. that means more candy, longer days and more bike riding.

The poprad is on its way to becoming a bike again and the triumph project is back on track...

well, theres just something disturbing about this picture... i dont know why, i just fel like something is gonna happen...