Tough decisions

I've come to a crossroads in my life.

In November, I received a back injury at work, which has made it very uncomfortable to ride my bike or drive my truck. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which is basically asthma with an attitude. This summer, whenever we've had a major storm or extreme humidity, I've needed to stay in the air conditioning. Unfortunately, about two weeks ago, I had to go to work early on a Thursday morning. I took my preventative inhalers, but the next thing I realized after leaving the house was that I was sitting in my driveway trying to call my wife on my cell phone.

Apparently I had collapsed due to lack of oxygen due to my lungs' inability to process the humid air. I'm told by the doctor that I need to stick to air conditioning as much as possible on humid days or days with a high pollen count, etc. My little S-10 has no air conditioning. My sabre and my Kymco don't either.

Add to that that I have been transferred to a new job at work that will require me to use my personal vehicle at times, and my truck really isn't set up for that.

So, I'm selling the truck, and the big bike. I'll keep the Kymco since it is so cheap to run and keep insured.


On Wednesday, my wife and I were taking our son to an appointment, and I saw a sky blue vehicle that really caught my attention. I was shocked at the price sticker and even more shocked when I went online and looked at the dealer's website to find that they'd gone even lower than that.

I did some research and found out I was looking at a 2002 Ford powertrain with an excellent reliability history. My wife and I looked at our finances and looked at the cost of the vehicle and found that it's well within our budget.

Yeah, ok, so it's not really a Ford* on the surface, but it's a Ford underneath (which will help keep repair and maintenance costs down). The fuel economy is good for a V6, and it was a literal steal price-wise and hardly will put a dent in our monthly budget. It's a luxury car, but it's an older luxury car. It has lumbar support in the front seats, which I need, and it's not a standard so I'm not always shifting and throwing my back around. Most importantly, it has a working A/C unit. I will be able to breathe on humid days.

I'm disappointed that I had to make a financial outlay of any sort, just as we were starting to get ahead again, and I'm even more disappointed that I have to get rid of both my truck and my big bike, but as my physical health has changed, so have my priorities.

Here's to riding comfortably and healthy, and hopefully having enough good days that I can still ride the scooter.

* For those wondering, it's a 2002 Jaguar S-type 3.0L V6. They are extremely inexpensive to get into used because they are a foreign car; however, those with a Ford powertrain have excellent reliability and are not as bad on repairs as those without the Ford parts.

The Crate Escape

The humble milk crate: it is an unassuming piece of molded plastic, but it has been the friend of motorcyclists for decades. It is lightweight, yet has plenty of space for a multitude of items, from groceries, to baggage, to jackets, etc..

The crate on the silver streak is technically a storage crate since milk crates can sometimes draw the ire of bored lawmen, but it serves the same purpose and does it well...so long as I'm careful what I put in it.

Earlier this week, my wife was ill and needed an over-the-counter medication, so I scooted up to CVS, bought a small box of the pills she needed, threw the bag in the crate and headed home, only to find the crate empty upon arrival.

Retracing my route, the bag containing the medicine was nowhere to be found, so it was that another box of medication was purchased, which went under the seat.

Crates are wonderful, to a point. I'll be careful what I put in mine in the future.

cool spring

This is the best riding weather. I know many bikers don't like it when there is a chill in the air, but I love it, as does Maggie.

Sure, a jacket is necessary, as are socks and shoes, and it's too cold to go without a helmet. But then, I'm not some nutty sportbiker on a gixxer wearing a wifebeater and flip-flops.

Maggie rode with me to the groomer today, then we went back home to get the checkbook since my wife used the last check and didn't re-fill it, then we went back to the groomer. Poor dog was shaking in her little satchel, thinking she was going to get another bath.

Such was not to be, much to her relief, as we left the groomer and went to Lancaster Honda to buy some scooter oil.

Just outside the Honda dealer, there sat a brand new 500cc naked bike. I forgot to take a picture, but I was madly enamored by it. Unfortunately, such a purchase would require either money or good credit, of which I have neither.

So, Maggie and I got the oil, and headed home, she with her ears flapping in the wind, and me with mine firmly inside my helmet, not that they'd flap anyway. She is now sleeping off her traumatic experience at the groomer, and it's off to work for me.

Happy travels and safe riding. May you always have the wind in your face and your tongue hanging out.

Back...again...A real pain

It's a Thursday afternoon, and I can't stand. At least not for very long. The injury from work in November has come back to haunt me. So, I'm watching Top Gear on BBC America while I try to find someone to cover my shift at work.

I think the best episode of Top Gear is the Vietnam special from season 12. In this episode, they ride motorbikes north through Vietnam. The countryside is beautiful and the bikes they ride are fantastic; an aging Vespa, an old Honda Supercub, and an ancient Minsk.

The gifts they get for each other are funny as well, not to mention the suits they purchase.

What strikes me most in this episode is not so much the countryside as the people. There are still reminders of the war, some forty years later, but the people live on and make the most of life.

If I ever have the chance, I wouldn't mind visiting some of these far away places. In a way, I get to enjoy some of the experience. Here in Lancaster county, there is equally beautiful countryside.

And sometimes the sunrises are amazing. The above photo was taken after working an overnight while riding home on my scooter.

I've applied for a transfer at work. There's an opening at the art gallery that Friendship Community runs. The opening is for an art instructor, and it would be a perfect fit for my skills, not to mention that it would be easier on my back. There's the added bonus that I ride a scooter, which means I must be qualified because artsy people ride scooters. Isn't that an accepted fact? I'm only kidding of course.

Well, I must stop here, I've taken a muscle relaxant and can feel it starting to take effect.

Ride safe.

Long hiatus

It's been an interesting winter. I rode very little since I injured my back at work on the last day of November. It has been so cold that with the back pain and the weather, riding hasn't been all that comfortable. To add further complications, I injured my shoulder about a month ago, again at work. Despite my best intentions, the scooter sat in my driveway much of the winter, only getting out on the road three or four times.

Then, last week, the weather started to get nice again. The scoot's battery got a little top off from the tender, and a fill-up at the gas station, and we set off again together. Then, this morning, my riding buddy and I set out to do some errands.

We went to the bank and the post office and Maggie got all sorts of attention in her little pouch. She loved riding with me, probably in part because she was cuddled in front of me, and partly because she was able to enjoy the wind. I still need to get her some doggles, but with the windscreen protecting her already, I think she's safe enough for now on the short little rides we've attempted.

So, another riding season is upon us. A little later than I would have liked, but there's not much to be done about things that are out of our control. It's good to have my back mostly feeling better and to have weather that allows for a pleasant ride.

Let the sun shine down upon us and the road stretch out to the horizon ahead.