On Tuesday afternoon, I got the phone call that my cables had come in to Woods Fun Center, and that I could pick them up at any time. Now I had ordered these cables, and was waiting for them, so I made plans to pick them up on my way home from work. I found out about a happy hour later that night for Morgan’s birthday, which I am sorry to say I had to miss. We will make it up at some point, she is a cool cat. Anyway, when I got home I started ripping the bike apart to put the new cables on the bike. This might have been easier if I had a shop manual, but I don’t yet, so I just winged it.
In all, it took me about an hour, and I have working gauges now. Unfortunately they are not illumenated gauges, but at least I can track my mileage and figure out my speed now. Also I told Kelly she couldn’t ride it until I have 6,000 miles under my belt, so they officially start now.
I am in Houston for the weekend, so no riding for me, but I will when I can.
It has been a week since I last posted, and a lot has happened. First, I spent the morning last Thursday at the HEB, helping out for a Hurricane Ike relief food drive.
Second, Kelly’s company, NI, had their company picnic over the weekend, so we went down to Fiesta Texas, where the park was closed for everyone except for us. It was a great time, and the worst line that we had to wait in was about 4 cars deep, but that was because the lines were short enough we were willing to wait to ride in the front car.
On the way down to San Antonio, I saw a sign I felt I needed to photograph. It was the first time I have ever seen a gas pump explain the difference in density of gasoline at different temperatures, and to warn that their equipment does not take the different densities into account. I personally think this is probably an attempt to protect themselves from the recent scandal of gas stations deliberately mis-metering the fuel. It is something I have wondered why they haven’t taken into account for years, but haven’t ever really done anything about, so seeing it just validated my argument. Here’s the photo:
The next thing to happen, and no less impactful than anything before it, my Uncle and Godfather Ken passed away. I am still really at a loss for what to say. I think my greatest memory is actually a recent memory of Ken. And, you would really have to know my family to understand, but we are the kind of people who will get together for lunch on a holiday, and we would sit down around 2, and eat, then just talk until 5 or 6 without a problem. Now, the thing to know about my family, and I mean this without any malice or rudeness, is that they escalate. Its not a one-up-manship, rather its just that they always get louder. And my fondest memory of Ken is from the first time that he met Kelly, and as dinner started to wind down, and the first conversation started to make its crescendo towards eleven, he leaned over to Kelly and said something to the effect of “Just let them go”. He meant it as a let them get louder, they will wear themselves out, and they will calm back down. Almost as if to say, you are in the torrent, just let it flow and eventually it will subside, and you will be fine on the other end. It was the sort of feeling that he and I could look at each other and see, and sometimes we would start our own side conversations about computers or art or camping, or other times we would just sit back and let the river flow. As I said, I am still at a loss, I am not really sure what to say, and I wish that I could find the eloquence that Dan used when he posted.
The original owner was an old man who kept it garaged most of the bike’s life, and had handicapped plates that were on it when the 3rd owner got it. The second owner was a young kid, who dropped it on the right side, which is why there is some road rash on that side. Its definitely visible in the controls, and along the exhaust. The brake reservoir and the coolant overflow have been repaired, though if I can find the parts at a reasonable rate I will be replacing them, as I do think they are kind of important systems on the bike. The seem to be working well now though. Also, the tach and speedo are not functional, but the previous owner said that he had pulled the tach cable from the valve cover and the gear was turning there, so its just a cable issue. I have since checked, and there appears to be an internet store that has each cable for $15, so no big deal there. Also, there are no turn signals on it, but I know the manual signals, and for a while that will be fine. I will probably look into getting signals before I start riding it on the highway though. The tool box is missing from behind the seat, which I am 90% positive that I will be replacing as soon as I can find a tool box for sale.
Tomorrow I will try to get some insurance on it, and then, get it registered in my name, and start riding it around the neighborhood.
