Mission Accomplished

Well, here's my baby!! It's a semi-miserable day here (for riding), what with the wind blowing at about elebenty-lebben mph... I rode the entire way back from Clovis at about a five degree list and (almost) made a couple of "unprogrammed" lane changes in the process.

Thank GOD it warmed up before I made the ride home. It was 47 degrees when the oh-so-kind Bike-Lady picked me up this morning; it probably was near 60 when I hit the highway between The Big(ger) City^TM and P-Town. I was just a wee bit chilly, but nothing serious.

It runs well. I haven't taken it above 6,500 rpm yet; I hit 85 once or twice on the way home but mostly held it at an indicated 75 mph. I love the riding position! Just frickin' perfect, it is! It's a bit of a bear to push around, but once I get used to it things should be fine. Under way it feels light and "flickable." Just how flickable remains to be seen, tho. Commend me on my restraint, please. The red line is 10,500 rpm, and I held it to no more than 6,500. I think I'm growing up.

I had to go to three bike shops to get a lock...none at the Suzuki store, ditto Honda. Finally found one at the Harley store, and that's a good thing...coz there was only ONE other possibility (in Clovis). So I now have an H-D logo-ed Kryptonite brake rotor lock, which probably cost me ten bucks more just for the Harley logo. And I bought a pair of Tony Lama boots from Joe's Boot Shop (That would be the "world famous" Joe's Boot Shop, thank you very much ). I got my old Red Wings (boots) out of the basement storage last evening and they were covered with mold...which is nature's way of telling me I really ought to replace boots I've owned since 1978.

Tomorrow will suck worse than today (weather-wise)...cold and rainy is the forecast. It'll be a day or two before I put any serious miles on it. But, Hey! It is what it is. No matter... the bike is parked right under my window so I can stare at it in the way a 14-year-old boy stares at the cute blonde in English class...with one key difference: she's mine. All mine.