All good things must come to an END!

This is to let you all know that we have TRADED IN the Sportster for a van, yes we've decided to get out of motorcycles! Lots of reasons, cost, storage, etc. It's been a FUN ride since 1976 but due to circumstances beyond our control and changes we are heading in a different direction. We hope you've Enjoyed our Blog as much as I enjoyed writing it for us and YOU. May you have Sunshine and Tailwinds on all of your RIDES!  :) Adios Amigos! Keep the Rubber Side Down, Ride to LIVE, Live to RIDE!! 

35,000 mile service is done!

Well, the 35,000 miles service is done and as usual, everything checked out just fine, gota LOVE a Sporty, it may be the "least" updated platform that Harley-Davidson makes but it's been around for so long that it just doesn't have the "BUGS", that the other Harley-Davidson's seem to get!! :) New tires in March, Service in April so MAYBE in MAY we can get out on the road a bit!! :)  The problem lately has been the WIND!!! Yesterday, up to 70mph. gust's all around Southern Colorado, that's just dangerous to be riding a motorcycle in, JMHO! Hopefully it will mellow a bit come May but, LOL, it's been known to SNOW her in early May so you just never know.  Would really like to head up to Laramie, WY.  and ride The Snow Mnt. Scenic Byway, (WY. Hwy. 130), it's really a sweet road and it's been a lot years since we've got to ride it!

Sorry, Black Hills Rally in Sturgis SD. is just not my thing, I don't like massive crowds and a bunch of drunk Bikers flying around!!! Now we'd love to go ride the Black Hills area of SD. on our own again, last time was 1996, that's just "too long"!  Summers a com'in, just got to be patient, the scoot is ready, we are ready now it's Mother Natures turn to get ready!! ;)

Cubic Dollars!!!

LOL, sometimes you get in a real "catch 22" in life, paid for a new set of tires, (way to expensive, even with a decent dealer discount) but can't really get out much due to I'm needing a 35,000 mile check up and I won't have the money till my next social security retirement check shows up on April 11th. :(  The dealer service department get's grumpy if you have more than 400 miles over the required service mileage and we've got 35,250 and still need to put on at least a "battery charge" sometime this up coming week so we've had to be MELLO on the miles, even with NEW tires, being a POOR Harley Sportster rider sucks, LOL! ;)

Since all we've been able to do is "batter charge runs" due to needing new tires and crap weather, either snow, rain, cold or "WINDDDDDDDD", which has been really bad this Spring here in Southern Colorado. Sure will be HAPPY when the service is done, then with new tires and better weather we are going to to a "weekender trip" to somewhere to get rid of "Cabin Fever"!!  Hope your getting in some good miles with a lot of SMILES! :)

Midnight chomp'in at the bit to go for a Real RIDE!! :)

WIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man I really HATE winter, even if the temps are in the 60+ F's in Jan/Feb/Mar, here in Southern Colorado, the WIND is totally insane, doing it's best to blow me and the Sporty off the Highway!! Today was that kinda day, flat ass scary riding a motorcycle when the winds are gusting up to 60 mph. and you NEVER know where they are coming from!!  WHAM,  you get broadsided and counter-steer heavy the opposite way to keep from being pushed into the other traffic lane!!  Put on 100 miles on the Southern Loop but it really wasn't any real FUN!!  The only good spot was riding EAST from Penrose, CO. to Pueblo, CO. on CO. Hwy. 50, the wind was blowing so hard it basically created a "vacuum" of still air for 36 miles and let my nerves have a bit of a rest!  I hope you all are getting in some rides and aren't subjected to the Crazy Wind Spirts we have! :)

It's "battery charge run" time again, LOL! ;)

Well it's December so it's mostly rides around the area to "charge the battery"! We don't have a garage so we keep our motorcycle in a 5x10 storage unit, close by. Of course that means we don't have anyway to plug in a "battery maintainer" so being "retired", I pick the WARMEST day of the week and put on 100 miles at speeds enough to charge the battery a bit!! Don't have heated clothing so I bundle up like the Michelin Man and RIDE! ;)

Been lucky lately as the "weekend" have been the warmer days so my wife, JoLynn can ride along, last Saturday we did what we call the "extended loop ride", heading south on I-25 to Pueblo, then west to pick up CO. Hwy. 96 heading to Wetmore, then CO. Hwy. 67 S. into Florence, CO., then CO. 115 N. back to Colorado Springs! It's just over 100 miles with lots of 60+ mph riding. :)  Stopped and took a photo of the big curve on CO. 96, just before you get to the hamlet of Wetmore.  60+ degrees and SUNNY, not bad for a December day in So, Colorado! :)

2017 High Country Toy Run

We've been riding in the area Poker Runs for a long time now, the Toy Runs used to be several are now down to just two a year. We were at the BIG one on Sunday, The High Country Toy Run! About 1000 bikes and riders brought our toys to the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum at Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson at 11 AM. and headed out with a full Police escort to downtown Colorado Springs, CO. It was finally a Sunny, warmish day on the 1st. of October, 2017 and we arrived, parked and dropped off our toys to the Marine Corps Toys For Tots trailer and headed into Cowboys Night Club for a Steak Dinner, where all the proceeds go to buy, what else, MORE TOYS!  :)  They have an auction, raffle, etc. but we are "too Poor" for those so we headed out for a short, battery charge run, heading south, then back home! A great day for a good cause! :)

Our favorite Poker Run

Come Sept. we usually get in a couple of the area's Poker/Charity Runs, our favorite it the Annual Suicide Prevention Poker Run, put on by American Legion Riders of Post #38 in Fountain CO. This run is FREE, that's right free, it starts at Fort Carson's main gate (#1) in the parking lot for the Post Museum and goes different routes around Southern CO. This year we road up to Divide, CO. for the first stop, then to down town Cripple Creek, CO. Had a bit of "adventure" riding as some of CO. 67 was kind wet dirt for a couple of miles, (our Sporty HATES dirt)!

From Evergreen Station on Teller Co. 1 we picked up Teller Co. 11 heading west, it's a beautiful twisty backroad, with great views of the lower area mountains and hills. The CO. Hwy. 9S. to CO. 50 E. to Canon City, CO. and a stop in Veterans Park. Back on 50 to 115N. back into Co. Springs and then Hwy. 85/87 into northern Fountain and the ALR Post for free food, cake and raffle and 50/50 drawings, LOL as usual our Poker Hands, SUCKED! Didn't win anything but we had a great days ride, though it was a bit CHILLY heading up to Cripple Creek, filled up the tank and headed for the barn, got home about 6PM. Hope to see you there next year!! :)

End of the summer season riding

Well we decided to head up to one of our favorite close rides as the summer is pretty much over here in So. Colorado. We headed up to Westcliffe, CO. for our favorite "Chili-Cheese fries" and a Rootbeer! It's about 180 mile RT with some great riding thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon on CO. Hwy. 50, then north on CO. Hwy. 96, with it's awesome view of the Wet Mountains. On 96 we had the highway all to ourselves, what I call, "owning the road"!  We've had a LOT of HAZE from out of state fires so the view wasn't as grand as usual, that and it's been warm enough to melt the snow off the peaks, still is a great motorcycle road in Westcliffe! Headed back home the same way, just so we can re-ride Big Horn Sheep Canyon, as it flows right along the Arkansas River. Got to the barn and cleaned the bike a bit, we got a LOT of BUGS on this ride! We will be staying closer to home the next few months but we can dream of the Chili-Cheese Fries and the warmer days of next summer! :)

Million Dollar Hwy. Ride

We finally got in a decent "Road Trip", as of August 21 thru 24th. We rode from Colorado Springs to Montrose, CO. spent the night, the rode CO. Hwy. 550, known as the Million Dollar Highway, 1/2 of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway, thru Ouray, Silverton and down into Durango. Over Red Mountain, Molas and Coal Bank Passes. It's one very beautiful road, with hundreds of curves, lot's of spectacular mountain views!   We stopped in Silverton, CO. " as it has the "highest altitude" Harley-Davidson Store (over 9,000 ft.). We were amazed as this tiny mountain hamlet was filled with "motorcycles" of all brands and styles of street machines and lot's of adventure tourers and dual-purpose bikes. We didn't a have a real sunny/clear day but we never got rained on so that's ok with us! :)

Into Durango to spend the night, on a search for food, close to our motel, we found a River Walk Trail and walked it's length, found a great little Chinese Place with a patio by the river, ate and watched the rafters, waders, tubers, etc. in summer sun and heat! We got up the next morning and rode Hwy. 160E, thru Pagosa Springs and Wolf Creek Pass. Saw a Semi that went off the side of the pass being pulled back up, what mess!!! Rode thru South Park and into Monte Vista for gas and lunch. Ate at a little diner called, BOOGERS, LOL, they made a great club sandwich with onion rings! We headed up CO. 285 N. which is a open hwy. surrounded by vast farming lands over Poncha Pass into Salida, CO. for our final nights stay. Found a quaint little, old style motor lodge, Silver Saddle Motel and walked the town, ate and then watched The Godfather I & II before hitting the sack! Headed home via CO. 50E. thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon to Canon City, CO. 115 N. home to Colorado Springs. Lot's of miles and smiles, just wish it didn't have to end so soon. :)

Due to the rain's lately, we decided not to do a long ride on Sat. so we just headed south on CO. Hwy. 115 to CO. Hwy. 50 W thru Big Horn Sheep Canyon to the little store/diner at Texas Creek. Had a really good Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and a root beer. Love riding thru the canyon, it nothing but sweepers right along the Arkansas River. The river level is really high and it was full of rafter's, LOL, they are braver than me, I'll stick to the road by the river, not getting on it in a little rubber boat! ;) Headed home the same way, no rain till we hit Cheyenne Mnt. in Co. Springs, just a light sprinkle and got the bike back to the barn and us back home. We will be heading out for 3 days of riding in the Southwest area of Colorado, around Durango, riding 50/550 (Million Dollar Hwy.) and CO. 149 over Spring creek and Smgullion Passes back into Gunnsion, CO. for the last night. around 700 miles, can't wait, been a long time since we've been on a real road trip!!! :)

Just, ride'in around

Well with a recent move, etc. lately we've just been riding around the local area's south and east of Colorado Springs. We are planning a 3 or 4 day ride come the week of the 18th. of August, heading to Northern NM. and Southwestern, CO. So JULY,  was a bit light on the "miles" but we so NEED a Road Trip or we might just go crazy, LOL!! Stay tuned for photo's and an update!! :)

A great ride with old friends!

Jo and I went on a ride with two old friends we don't get to ride with very often, we went to Bishop's Castle on CO. Hwy. 165, heading west out of Colorado City and I-25. We stopped at the "hand built" castle to see what new additions have been added since our last visit awhile back. We then headed north on 165 to pick up CO Hwy. 96 W. into Westcliffe, CO. for lunch at the Rowdy Rancher's Café. The views of the Wet Mountains on 96 heading to town are beyond awesome, it's towering mountains as far as the eye can see! We headed back 96 E. down Hardscrabble Pass into Wetmore, then 67 S. into Florence, CO. for a cold drink and fuel stop. Headed home via CO. 115 N. into Colorado Springs, Mary B. headed north on I-25 to Castle Rock CO. and Ed headed south to Fountain, CO. a beautiful day, a great time! :)

An update

Not a lot going on, just mainly, short area or battery charge rides over the last few months. We had a rear turn signal relocation kit added to give Jo some more "foot room" for the passenger pegs. Seriously thinking of adding "forward controls" for me as we've decided to just keep our current 2014 Sporty Super Low till it's paid off in 3 years. The thought of going $14,000+ in debt at our current age of "62" is just a bit scary! We don't have any other retirement other than the little bit of Social Security we've earned and who knows if that's going to be there!! I'm putting in for my SS early, I turn 62 in August, I can put in for my SS in May 2017, yes it will be less money but maybe I'll get it!!

The Forward controls are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!! $425.00 for "black" set and over $200.00 for labor, YIKES!!!! Still it will make the bike for comfortable for me for longer rides so against $ Thousands for a new 1200 Custom Sportster it's pretty cheap. :)  We are looking at going to the Black Hills in SD. or riding the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and the Trail Ridge Road in CO. and WY. this August so can't wait to get out on the road for a few days!! :) Installed a new battery, can't complain, the original lasted 3 years and that's with us NOT being able to hook up a "battery maintainer" during the winter months. Yep, the new No Water hi-tech batteries ain't cheap but I'll not complain. Hope it's starting to turn to Spring riding time in your area, sadly we still have 1.5 months to go before it's truly Spring here in So. Colorado and the end of May for most of the real "mountain riding". See you, ON The Road!!

2017

Well I did manage to get in a "battery charge" run on the 31st. but the weather has turned to crud for the New Year! :( Right now it's lightly snowing and COLD and it's only going to get colder and more snow for the  next 2 days, YUCK! Also go on a new rear tire, my H-D dealership, surprised me and had the tire "in stock" and was willing to put it on that day, sweet! :) Since we are back to riding by ourselves again, I have no idea where we will wander for 2017 so stay tuned! :)

It's been a good Fall!

We've done mostly area rides over the last month or so, sadly none of the "Color Rides" like last year and no real "moto-vacations", 2016 was a hard year financially! Still we've enjoyed the nicer than usual weather in November, last Sunday we went for what we figure is our final year run up to Westcliffe, CO. and our favorite "ChillyCheeseFries" at Ranchers Roost Cafe!! It was a partly cloudy day, here in the Springs and the clouds were "heavier" than they said they'd be! :O

We headed out anyway and it got better as we headed south and west, we did our favorite run thru the Big Horn Sheep Canyon (Hwy. CO. 50 W. out of Canon City, CO.), to pick up CO. 96 N. with views of the Mountains at our west and 60 mph. sweeper two lane highway, with creeks flowing, forest's a beautiful open space for 30+ miles!  Yes, I forgot the camera again, it's hell getting OLD, LOL!! We noticed that the temps were a bit chilly at 9,000 feet but was sunny with puffy white clouds overhead. Got our favorite Root Beer and Chili Cheese Fries, with RED chili, (the Green is too HOT for us!). Ate the fest had nice conversation with the locals, then headed back down the highway and home, 75 miles later. We know winter is coming, it was nice of it to be so kind as to give us "one more" run up there! :)

That time of year!

Well it's getting to that time of the year that the rides get shorter and colder, LOL. On Oct. 9th. we rode up to the "favorite motorcycle hangout", the café at Deckers, CO.  As usual there was a good crowd of all kinds of bikes, CO. Hwy. 67 from Woodland Park to Deckers is a excellent twisty road and everyone from the Sportbiker's to the Gold Winger's loves to ride and stop of lunch at the Café. The sport bikes, then head up CO. 126 over, Horsepower Hill and thru the 20mph. turns up to Pine Junction, CO. The Tourers, do the same route but at much mellower speeds and enjoy the view, the Dual Purpose/Adventure Tourer riders, take CO. 67 to CO. 105 and back to Colorado Springs as that part of CO. 67 is dirt and bit rough for street bikes! We just rode up, bought their excellent "black cherry", soft serve ice cream and then, headed back to Woodland Park, picked up, Hwy. 24 West to Lake George, CO. and then headed back to Colorado Springs. 127 miles, sunny skies and great company and roads, a very good, although short day! :)

A FUN but also SAD day!

On Sunday we headed to the yearly, High Country Toy Run, it's at a new start point and now run with the help of the City of Fountain, CO. It was a sunny and cloudy day but warm, we decided not to do the actual RUN as it's hard on my arthritic wrist to do, Parade Formation side by side riding!! We dropped off our toys, got our pins and headed to Victor and Cripple Creek for a last of the season Color Ride. We headed up Ute Pass on Hwy. 24 W. towards Woodland Park and we followed a Fire Truck, sadly a motorcycle had gone off the rode in the canyon so we were stuck on the pass for 2 hours, while rescue and a flight for life helicopter landed and took on of the riders away. As we waited the clouds came in kinda dark and heavy looking so we decided not to do a color ride, just have lunch in Woodland Park.

They finally cleared the roadway, we still don't know what caused the couple to get off the road, it was strange as there was NO news of the crash on the nightly local news!! We pray they were able to be helped and are on their way to recovery asap! We decided to get a combo burrito at Taco Bell, bummer, they don't have those in Woodland Park, the wife bought a 7 Layer Burrito, YUCK, it was really gross!! We got just reg. burritos and some hardshell taco's they we fine! :) We just didn't like the "LOOK" of the clouds so we headed back to the Springs, took a ride south on I-25 as the clouds had broken up that way, just to charge the battery, from all the "stop and go" riding up the pass! A strange day! BJ.

Changes

Well Jo and I have been riding here and there over the last month, not much distance as we have a very expensive ($500.00+) 25,000 mile service in 400 miles. We have decided to go back to being "Independent Riders" as we've found that "group riding" just doesn't work for us. Due to physical, financial problems we just don't fit in well. It's just so easy to ride alone, stop when we want, eat where we want, etc. so we bailed on the Zebulon Cruisers Meet Up Group and now we are just Lone Wolf'ing it, LOL!  Going to the Open House at Pikes Peak H-D on Sat. the 24th., look at all the machines we can't afford and get a free burger, so it's not all bad, LOL! ;) Sorry for no photo's lately, just didn't want to mess with the camera! Hope your getting in some good "Color" rides it's that time of year! BJ :)

Just rid'in around!

Well not much to add, we've been just riding around the area lately. We did do a area Poker Run for the EL Paso County Rescue last weekend, a good ride for a great cause. This run started out over 25 years ago as the Colorado Springs Touring Club Poker Run and the proceeds have gone to El Paso County Search and Rescue for many of those years. A beautiful day to ride, a good turn out and at the end a totally ROCK'IN band by the name of the Inman Brothers was playing the rock and roll! As usual we won NONE of the door prizes and nothing in the 50/50 drawing, LOL! We did get a bit of rain but not much so that made us happy.  Tonight we will be going to the monthly meeting for the group (Zebulon Cruisers) we belong to. Got a very expensive 25,000 mile service due in the next 800 miles so we haven't been able to do any "touring"! Oh well, that's life as they say. Hope you all got to put on some "MILES"! :)

CO. Hwy. 69 Ride

Put on close to 300 miles, leading a Zebulon Cruisers Ride to run CO. Hwy. 69 down to Walsenburg, CO. A great "back road" way instead of just hauling bunn's on the Interstate! We had 10 riders on different brands and types of machines and even though it was HOT, (95F+), the ride up to Westcliffe and down 69 to Walsenburg has excellent mountain vistas views with almost no traffic. We stopped in the town for a good Mexican meal at Cortina's Mex Restaurant and the company was excellent. We rode back via CO. Hwy. 165, by San Isable Lake and Bishop's Castle, more nice cooler "mountain" temps! LOL, was too busy enjoying the RIDE to take route photo's but here's some of the group both riders and machines! :)