Little House of Trikes

Last Saturday in northern Arizona was truly a magnificent fall day. The air was clean and sweet smelling from all the rain we had the previous week. The mountain peaks appeared so close that reaching out and touching them seemed possible. All summer long we had suffered from the smoke of prescribed fires filling the Verde Valley with thick, smelly and lung choking filthy air. One deep breath Saturday and we knew it was going to be a fantastic motorcycle day.

I met up with two other riding buds and one budette in Sedona. It’s nice having a woman rider along. Julie keeps us civil (sort of) and she is one of the guys when it comes right down to it. She belongs with our group of ragtag riders who don’t take life too seriously and love to laugh. Teasing one another is par for the course and it helps to learn that laughing is contagious and good for the soul. Jay, Hoppy, Julie and I all smiled and hugged at our meeting. We are great friends one and all.



Julie



Hoppy



Jay



Mittster

After some hot coffee and sweet pastry in the Village of Oak Creek, we saddled up for the ride to Mayer and a look-see at a terrific trike and classic bike shop we had heard about from Adrian, who owns a tattoo shop named Physical Graffiti in the Village. We had met at his shop because my wife Sandy wanted a small tattoo, but she was unable to be with our group that day. We met in the parking lot and Adrian was able to check out our bikes, which consisted of two Harley V-Rods, a 1975 first-year Honda Goldwing and a Harley Super-Glide.

As we headed south toward Interstate 17, it became apparent that the day was special and smiles spread wide as we negotiated the last round-about and headed for Mayer. Even though the air was crisp and cold, it felt good after a hot and long summer. Traffic was light going south, but northbound was heavy as the tourists flocked toward Sedona. Thank God we were going the other way; Sedona can become a zoo and no place to be riding a motorcycle when the car traffic becomes heavy.

We soon turned on the I-17 south and cranked up the scooters to 75 mph with wind in our faces and brilliant sun lighting up the fantastic vistas. It didn’t take long to reach Cherry Road and we then headed west toward Prescott until we reached Highway 69 and turned south again toward Mayer and The Trike Shop. We arrive to the sight of two beautiful trikes outside for display. We rode around to the back of the shop, parked, shed coats and gloves, and headed inside to the best motorcycle shop I have seen in years.

I only took pictures of the Harley trike conversions this time and the pictures I took of all of us meeting in Sedona didn’t turn out because I am an idiot (don’t ask).












My V-Rod when I get too old to ride two wheels.






















We are planning another trip soon so I can photograph the many classic Harleys, Indians, Hondas, and other fantastic one-of-a-kind bikes in the museum. Thank you, "Scruf," for being the perfect host during our visit!

To be continued….

Write on,

Mittster

Welcome to the 21st Century

Whoever said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks has never ridden a Harley-Davidson VRSCA. This old dog is now riding the first water cooled bike made by Harley. The V-Rod was offered up in 2002, but at the time I was still “old school” and riding a Twin Cam 88 Road King. I didn’t pay too much attention to the hype and went on about my business.

In 2005, I test drove a silver anniversary model 2003 VRSCA at KA Cycles in Cottonwood, Arizona. I was impressed with the ease of shifting and the smoothness of the lighter, rocket fast V-Rod, but, alas, I was still old school to the core. The ride left a lasting impression on me though, as did the looks of the bike. It reminded me of a Café racer, but still distinctly Harley-Davidson.

In 2010, I did the unthinkable and sold my Road King to help finance Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, two murder mysteries I had written and published. I missed my King, but was very excited to see my books on Amazon.com. Although my timing was lousy because we fell into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, I was determined to continue authoring and started my third novel, The Phoenix Code.

As fate would have it, I have returned to construction and started earning more money again. Now is the time to get back on a Harley. My decision to look for a V-Rod was one of common sense. I was tired of air-cooled bikes that didn’t much care for the hot Arizona sun, and they protested by pinging loudly if I let them idle too long in 100 plus degree heat. You could cook a full course meal on the engine! No such problem with the V-Rod; that is if I remember to check the water. The other issue is weight. I was also tired of man handling 800 pounds of road hog and welcomed the idea of only having to handle 575 pounds with a very low center of gravity. I also realize that my long hauls all over America are finished and that I don’t need a lot of storage space anymore.

I have found a perfect low mileage, “pristine silver,”


V-Rod at the best motorcycle store on the planet, Buddy Stubb’s Harley-Davidson in Phoenix, Arizona. I jumped at the chance to grab it up before someone else bought it. The V-Rod is truly is a cruiser on steroids and perfect for the short charity runs we have in northern Arizona. My first ride is for the Humane Society of Sedona, Arizona, in May. I look forward to riding with all my motorcycle friends again and at the same time supporting our favorite charities. Life is good….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Ride The HIgh Country

If you click on the title of this blog you will be able to see the video of our ride to Colorado over Labor Day Weekend. I guarantee you won't be disappointed even if you don't ride motorcycles. The three newbies who rode with us this year came away with a new understanding why the Colorado Rockies are a biker’s paradise.

The newbies are not virgins anymore and they are already talking about next year. That's what happens when you make this trip for the first time – you can’t wait to go back!

Enough said...click and enjoy!

Write on,

Mittster

TGIF

My head is still not back to normal operating condition after four days riding the Harley in Colorado. Tuesday, everything I touched turned to caca and I couldn’t even add numbers correctly with a calculator. You would think with four Red Bulls and a couple five hours down the gullet things would get better, but no, the day lasted a week.




Wednesday was a little better, but I spent the day apologizing for all the stupid mistakes I made Tuesday. Hump day became rump day because my ass was still dragging. I told my boss he should never let me go with the crazies again to Colorado. He agreed….




Thursday I actually got some work done, but nothing to brag about. I did ride the bike to the car wash after work. Just sitting on the seat caused my butt to spasm like a worm on a hot frying pan, but I had to get all the bugs off the bike before baby became permanently disfigured with bug guts.




Today I am actually looking forward to honey dos at the casa this weekend; no bike riding for me until next weekend when Willie Nelson will be in town. Willie next Friday night and a rally in Old Town Cottonwood next Saturday – life is good!




Come to think of it, I haven’t ridden New Mexico yet. I wonder if any of my riding buds and buddettes are up to it yet.

I'm just saying,

Mittster

Rocky Mountain High

My twin brother Walt was unable to make our yearly Harley pilgrimage to the high country of Colorado this year due to chemotherapy for prostate cancer. He was determined to go, but realized that his body is fighting for life and the stress of riding with our crazy companions would not be a good idea right now.




I dedicated this year’s ride to my brother in hopes the pictures would inspire him to wellness. There is nothing more spiritual than riding in the Colorado Rockies. He was with me in my heart every minute we traveled which turned out to be exactly 1, 073 exciting miles.




The picture above was in Silverton and it was the last time we rode together in Colorado. The first two pictures without him standing there is hard for me to look at, but in order for the trip to work for his health, my spirits remained high and my heart full of love for my twin brother.




I couldn’t help but ask two Ignacio, Colorado police officers for a picture. They both were so nice and taking time to talk with them was a pleasure. Were we ever that young?




This picture above Telluride was especially inspirational. Mother Earth was taking a bath and the air was crystal clear, cool and inviting. I wanted to get naked and roll in the ferns and grass. The rest of the group pleaded with me not to do it saying it was more information than any of them needed. Party poopers!







The trip to God’s country is not without some hardships. I personally like riding through the Navajo Reservation, but newbies (and we had three) sometimes find that part of the trip long, hot, dry and miserable. I don’t get it – riding in most of Arizona is just that and we do it all the time. Butch up guys and gals!




Here's to you bro...next year you will be going with us!

Let's Get in the Wind

Harley fans, it’s Four Corners Rally time again. Our group is leaving for the trip across the Navajo Reservation early Friday morning and ending up in Durango, Colorado, sometime late afternoon.

I want to commend the three newbies who are making this trip for the first time. Kudos go to Hoppy (far left),




Mark (I'm sorry to say I don't have a picture)and Mark's wife Julie, and especially Julie (far right).




The last newbie gal that made her first and last trip to Colorado dislocated her shoulder in Cortez during a horrible thunderstorm by cranking down on her front brake at a stoplight. I have mentioned this story to Julie many times hoping she will not have the same fate on wet roads, and there will be wet roads!

Some may ask why do we take on the challenge of crossing the Res and riding the high country of Colorado knowing we could and probably will face rain, sleet, snow, high winds and blowing sand. Why do people skydive or do all the high intensity, adrenaline pumping crazy things in life? We do it because we can and it makes us feel alive!

Personally, I don’t think there is anything more inspiring than riding a motorcycle through the Colorado Rockies. You breathe in pure, cold air and your eyes are treated to majestic mountain peaks with endless valleys of green, luscious pine trees. The scent is like fine wine and you become intoxicated from the experience.

After a long, exhilarating ride there is nothing like a wonderful meal, hot tub and incredibly sound sleep. You wake up in the morning to the sounds of song birds, crisp air and the urge to saddle up and ride some more. Breakfast tastes divine and hot coffee becomes the nectar of the Gods.

Even the ride home after two days in the high country is OK because everyone will be mentally planning next year’s ride to the most beautiful mountains in the world. Sure, we will be tired, sunburned, wind burned and butt sore,




but who cares. It will be a fantastic adventure and life is way short on this kind of thrill.

Write on,

Mittster

It Takes Brass Balls

After it was determined that my brother Walt had stage four prostate cancer, the whole family kind of went into shell shock. After all, we both had decided at a young age that we were going to live forever. At least that is the way we lived most of our lives. “Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes!” Now we have a reality check and, man, does it smart – damn, we are not going to live forever.

After Walt learned that the prostate could not be surgically removed and that it was too late for radiation, his only choice was chemo and a new drug on the market that can extend his life for months – maybe. So bro started chemo and now is beginning to feel some side effects…like wanting to puke and bones so brittle he dare not stub his toe.

His answer to this dilemma was short and sweet; let’s ride our motorcycles to Durango,Colorado, over Labor Day weekend. So be it. I booked the motel and the trip is a go. It happens to be a grueling ride though the Navajo Reservation and not for the weak of heart, and to make the trip even more interesting, we have three newbie’s riding with us.

It’s not the first time Walt and I have led newbie bike riders across the Res and into the high country of the Colorado Rockies, and I am praying it won’t be our last. Maybe the spiritual benefits of riding such majestic peaks and valleys will have a healing effect on my brother.

Oh, by the way – have I told you how much I love my twin? Words could never describe….

Write on,

Mittster

Scooters Ready

I was up at 1:30 a.m. today so I could work on two projects we are estimating in Sedona, Arizona. Why, you might ask? It’s simple; my Harley is ready at Buddy Stubbs in Phoenix after they fixed a brake problem and I am out of here at 10:00 to pick it up – that’s why!

The garage has been empty for two weeks now. The fact that the monsoon has dumped on us every freaking day doesn’t matter. What matters is having my V-Rod sitting all clean and beautiful so I can grab a cup of coffee, my little wheeled work bench, and scoot around the bike anytime day or night to help forget about numbers and work for a while.

For those of you who are not interested in motorcycles but have a sport or classic car that is a real passion, you know exactly what I mean. I was starting to go through withdrawal and the feeling wasn’t very nice.

It will be good to have baby where she belongs, and I look forward to riding her back to Camp Verde today. Will it rain? Who cares! It’s not like I am a rain virgin, or any other kind of virgin for that matter.

I’m just saying,

Mittster