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Interview with the winner of the 2010, 7,000 mile Hoka Hey Challenge run from Key West to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Harley’s only, and a $500,000 first placed prize.
When people learn that I am an atheist, someone almost always asks how I can be moral without god. They argue that their imaginary sky-daddy is the source of all morality. I usually respond that, based upon their own “holy” scriptures, I don’t see how you can believe this disturbing nonsense and still consider yourself a moral person.
From Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson, 1966
But with the throttle screwed on, there is only the barest margin, and no room at all for mistakes. It has to be done right… and that's when the strange music starts, when you stretch your luck so far that fear becomes exhilaration and vibrates along your arms. You can barely see at a hundred; the tears blow back so fast that they vaporize before they get to your ears. The only sounds are the wind and a dull roar floating back from the mufflers. You watch the white line and try to lean with it… howling through a turn to the right, then to the left, and down the long hill to Pacifica… letting off now, watching for cops, but only until the next dark stretch and another few seconds on the edge… The Edge… There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. The others- the living- are those who pushed their luck as far as they felt they could handle it, and then pulled back, or slowed down, or did whatever they had to when it came time to choose between Now and Later. But the edge is still Out there. Or maybe it’s In. The association of motorcycles with LSD is no accident of publicity. They are both a means to an end, to the place of definitions.
On Thanksgiving day, four intrepid riders braved the cold (about 30 at ksu) and set off on the Third annual Turkey Day Scramble. We rode to McCammon for coffee, pie, and lies and then on down to Lava for a turn-around toward home. I put the bike in the garage at 2:00 and went inside to get stuffed. We did about 70 miles on the loop although the two riders from Blackfoot can add at least 50 to that number. It was a beautiful day, a good ride, and it was a balmy 42 degrees by the time I reached home. I’m thankful for good friends to ride with and good roads to ride.
Keep On Keepin’ On
Bill
A beautiful day for riding
The Four Horsemen
Just posted a new poem on Songs of the Open Road. It’s called “The Riding Way” and is adapted from the Navajo “Blessing Way” prayer.
For the last couple of years, a handful of us have gone on a Thanksgiving day ride. It has just been down to McCammon, share some conversation and a cup of something warm and return. If you’re house is like mine, the festivities usually don’t get rolling until about 3:00 or so. If the weather is cold, maybe just McCammon; a little warmer maybe Lava? But, that’s to be determined at the time. Gather about 11:00 or so at Ridley’s and you should be back home by 1:30–2:00 at the latest. Of course, if the roads are icy and dangerous, no ride. Last year it was cold but nice. I hope some of you might be interested. Call it the “Turkey Run” if you want.
Keep On Keepin’ On
Bill
By clicking on the Social Vibes thingy on the right, you make a contribution to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America which will be used to pay for assistance to vets who return with traumatic brain injury. Its easy, its a good cause so just do it. They’ve given about all they can give for us so let’s return the favor. You can click once daily so visit every day.
Keep On Keepin’ On
Bill
My friend Dean Swallow has started a group on Facebook named “Harley Owners of Idaho.” Here’s a description:
This group is for anyone that owns a Harley Davidson Motorcycle and lives in Idaho. Hopefully, we can meet, share photos, and maybe meet for a ride. There are many owners that are not members of local groups, and this may be a good way to meet other owners and posible riding partners.
A great idea, Dean. Of course, if you want to join the group you have to sign up for Facebook first.
If you’re already on Facebook, just search for “Harley Owners of Idaho” and join us.
Although Triumph has been successfully ressurrected from the grave, Most of the great British marques are gone forever. If you’re old enough you recall BSA, Greves, Ariel, Velocette, Norton and the rest. One famous British bike never disappeared at all, it simply moved…to India. Royal Enfields have been in constant production in India since the 60′s. Now they are again available in the U.S. and I’d love to have one. Two single cylinder versions, a 500 and a 350, retain the classic Brit styling. How long has it been since you rode a “thumper?”
Checkout the Royal Enfield website.
what a beautiful bike
a red Royal Enfield c5
A great performance by Richard Thompson at the 1992 Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle. His song “Vincent Black Lightning, 1952″, one of my all-time favorites, deals with a redheaded girl, a fast motorcycle, and black leather, three of the best things. Richard Thompson was a hell of a guitar player.The Vincent Black Lightning was a hell of a motorcycle. Red Molly was, clearly, a hell of a girl.
Vincent Series A
Vincent Black Lightning
