Snippets

[BKB]

That's beautiful, but I believe that's called "Arrest Me Red". There'll be no way to hide that bike when she's done. You'll be needing a radar detector, John.

[sprink]

Finished up nice!

[oldboy]

AS good as the pics look, I bet the color really pops in person!

[sportsterpaul]

We’ll just have to schedule another “Meet n Eat” when she’s road worthy, eh? I’m sure John and ?Joe would be up for that!

[Crusty]

Do you really expect me to ride a motorcycle that looks that good out in public!!???!
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In a freakin' heartbeat.

[sportsterpaul]

You got it going on now my friend, awesome looking parts.
Wishing you a happy, healthy thanksgiving!!!

[Crusty]

Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!





I’m having one of those days.



Things were going well. Yesterday, I mailed out the Christmas Cards and even sent out a (very) little gift to Melia. I brought up the Christmas things. The little tree is set up and the wreath is on the front door and I got lights up along the porch railing.



Last night, Joe called and told me that my parts are done. that got my head running right about at Redline trying to figure out how to get up to Canton and pick up the parts. I tried to get hold of David, to see if he would be able to drive up there; but, being Black Friday, his shop was packed with customers. I looked online at car rentals and found a really cheap rental if I wait until Tuesday. I figured I’d wait until after I talked with David before I did anything.



This morning, I figured that I’d put up some more lights while I was waiting for David to return my phone call. I was making good progress and I was almost done with what I could do without help when I leaned against the incoming electric cable from the street.

I got a shock through my head and neck that almost knocked me off the ladder. That ended my task. I left the last couple of feet of lights hanging and put the ladders away and decided that Clarence (my Guardian Angel) had covered my butt once more and that I should do something other than putting up lights.



So I came back inside and started looking at cheap rental cars I found one close by that had a Ford Fiesta for reasonable money, so I booked it. I figured today would be a good day for a drive. I called David and he agreed to take me over to Budget. Then I called Joe and told him I’d be at his place this afternoon.



Then, Budget called me. They don’t have an econobox available. They have a luxury car or an SUV available for only double the price, but that’s it. So I cancelled.



The part that really sucks is that we’ve got snow coming in for both Monday and Tuesday. I tried to find something for tomorrow, but most of the rental companies are closed on Sunday.



The Tuesday cheap rental is close to 20 miles away, so that’s out. I don’t want to drive up to Canton in the snow, either. David is off work on Wednesday and Thursday, but I’m not sure if he’ll be available to drive that far. If not, then hopefully, he’ll be able to drive me to a rental place that does have a cheap “tuna can on a roller skate” that I can drive up to Joe’s house.





Well; maybe if I had gotten the car and went to Canton, some truck would have run over me or something equally disastrous would have happened. Because I didn’t go, I’ll be fine. That’s what I’m telling myself; but I’m having trouble believing it. I’ll get the parts when I’m meant to. I just have to accept that.

[Crusty]

And Now…


My parts are home. They’re going to sit in the Dining Room for a month or so and just let the paint cure. I have to say that they look even better in real life than they do in the photos.

Let me back up. I wrote that Saturday was a really strange day. I got slammed in the head by 220 volts, I tried to rent a car to drive up to Canton and pick up the painted parts, but the rental outfit tried to scam me, “Oh; we don’t have any of those economy cars available, but we’ll rent you a Bulgemobile for only twice as much”. So I started looking at car rentals for Wednesday. I figured that David could drive me to a rental yard on Wednesday, then, hopefully drive me home on Thursday when I returned the car. Then, with the side of my face feeling like it was made out of rubberized leather, I decided to just kick back and watch the idiot box.

Ourdee sent me a couple of photos of his bike with the wheels off during the afternoon. I figured he wanted to come down and I would mount the new tires for him. He called me during the evening and told me he wanted to come by my house and pick me up and take me to Canton to get my parts. I made sure he knew what he was volunteering for; it’s 235 miles from my house to Joe’s. That would make yesterday a 600 mile day when he added in driving down to Cheviot from Indianapolis. He said he knew, and I said OK.


So, yesterday morning, R.D. arrived around 10:00. We unloaded his wheels and the new tires and put them in the cellar, then we set out for Joe’s house. The ride was pretty uneventful; except for R.D.s GPS giving us bad directions going through the construction in Columbus. That cost us a whole 10 minutes or so.

We got to Joe’s house and I got to see the parts. They are beautiful. I picked the right color. The gas tank and rear fender are really nice, but the front fender with the black support bracket look so good it’s almost surreal. We carefully put the parts in the Jeep and wrapped them in soft cloth to prevent any damage, then we headed for Cheviot.


We got back to my house around 7:30. we had a dinner of Pulled Chicken and B&M Baked Beans and I was out cold by 10:30, I think. It might have been earlier. I don’t know why, but I was exhausted.


This morning, we got up and had some coffee, then went downstairs and changed the tires. I’ve gotten out of shape for tire changing. I had to think of every step; it wasn’t instinctual like it used to be. But the new tires got mounted and balanced. We then came back upstairs and had BLTs for breakfast.


The rain that started during the night turned to snow, and we loaded the wheels and the old tires into the Jeep, and R.D. set out for home.


I keep going into the Dining Room and just staring at the Gas Tank and Fenders. Joe is an incredibly good Craftsman. He did a magnificent job and I am really happy with it.


Oh; my face is feeling back to normal. That shock I got on Saturday has finally worn off.


Joe:




R.D.in the gas tank





Beautiful paint:





Me, Joe and the parts in the background:





Changing tires:

[ChinCactus]

It's all coming together! I like the idea of keeping those beautiful parts inside and just appreciating them for awhile!

[sportsterpaul]

Sweet John, kudos to Joe and a huge round of applause for Ourdee! Funny thing is I was speaking to Brian about a similar escapade and called me back to inform me the “Indy kid” had already come through for you. Good idea letting them cure, maybe seta couple ribbon bows alongside them for the upcoming holiday! May have to put a run down just to check them out!