Life in Motion with Rodney Myers and his motorcycle

April 27, 2006 After lots of days with sunshine, "Spring" finally returned to Indiana. Actually, it felt like it had gone from April to October, completely forgetting about all those months with warm sunny days! So the rain has pushed out, and it s that time of year when it is still chilly in the morning, but glorious in the afternoon. For being cold, around 40 degrees, in the morning, I am rewarded with Sun and 70 Degrees on my ride after work. Now to today's title: I installed my exhaust modification I am working on last night. Yes, I rode when I go it one there, but only about a mile up and down the street, hardly worth it's own entry. I am seriously looking into shipping out to a place in Minnesota that will cut the length of the muffler down about five inches. I am thinking that will be perfect. I headed out of the drive way in the morning with the sun still coming. Last year the sun would have been up for an hour, and things would have been a lot warmer. It is t...

April 23, 2006 Yep, it is Sunday, and time for another breakfast at the now World Famous, I am sure because of this Blog, Shapiro's in downtown Indianapolis. I debated on my trip west on Washington Street just when and where I should stop for gas. I decided to stop at Emerson. As I was filling up, I set the GPS to recalculate a route to Shapiro's for me. It was not down Washington Street, but rather south on Emerson, and across on Prospect Street. I was game for a change a route, so I embraced technology, and let my gadget lead me to my morning meal. The one part I liked about this trip was that Prospect Street runs right through Fountain Square. This area was known as the downtown of the Southside from the turn of the 1900's until Interstate 65 divided the neighborhood, sending it into a frenzy! Thirty years later, the are still struggles to get on their feet. One of my favorite places in Fountain Square is the main building that houses a Theater, Duck Pin Bowling, a Fifti...

April 13, 2006 Another warm morning, Nina drove here Cabriolet with the top down to work, and if she can brave the cool air, so can I. She even assumed that I would be riding, as she left the garage door open. After packing up the bike, getting out the gloves and helmet, I went back into the house to get the dog outside. It isn't easy getting a full blooded Bassett hound out the door when she doesn't want to go! I took my usual route to work. I have noticed that since the damage to the Indiana Bank Building, that there has been a Cop triggering the light at Market and Delaware. Usually, the lights are timed all the way up Delaware, so if you make one, you make them all. The two cops at this post have not yet caught onto the rhythm, and everyone gets stopped. The next two streets to the west are blocked off, and you can still see the hole in the side of the building where strong winds knocked out several windows. I rode up to 10th street, crossed west to Meridian, and then up to...

April 11, 2006 I know I am rather Ho-Hum about my trips to work, but if I ever write about an exciting one, it will probably be bad news. I took my usually route, or tried too. There was a protest that was to take place during the afternoon rush hour against the proposed immigration policies. Why they had the streets blocked at 7:30am, for a protest that wasn't taking place until 4:30pm, I will never know. So instead of heading up Delaware Street, I had to head up Meridian, and around the Circle Monument. It was a nice change of pace, but I did see a lot of bad driving on this detour route. I made to work safely, did my job, and then the day was over. Actually I didn't do much, as the work that was scheduled got cancelled. The main thing I did was something that had popped up on Monday. I had a couple of bank runs to make after work, so instead of my usual route, which would have been blocked by protesters, I took a different route. I still ended up heading south on Pennsylvani...

April 9, 2006 Well, here it is, the last day of a nine day voyage. The temperature had dropped, and when I went to put my bag on the back seat, I first had to wipe the frost off. It was cold, and we were planning on burning up I-65 through Kentucky, and onto home. When I checked out of my room, I made it point that I didn't enjoy my stay because I didn't have free internet. The lady at the front desk said it has been quite a problem, and they are working on getting free internet. We scrambled up on the interstate, and headed home. We went about 100 miles to the town of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. This town has a rich history with Duncan, as one year he was trying to get to Florida, with is bike in tow behind his car, and his car blew up on him. We stopped at Denny's and got some breakfast. We fueled up, and I took the lead. I would be taking us through Louisville, and across the bridge over the Ohio River to get us Back Home Again in Indiana. In fact I sang the tune a little, ...

April 8, 2006 So I wake for the first time in my life in the State of Mississippi. My trunk is now firmly bolted on to my luggage rack, thanks to a trip to a well stocked K-Mart, and the use of Jim's tools. The container is not in the room with me, as I usually am able to detach it quickly from the bike. The mounting bracket that was on the bike is now in the trash can. The tiny can is also filled with beer cans and the refuse form the meal we ate in our rooms last night. Our first stop was the Visitor's Center in Natchez. Shooter Jim knew it was off track from the Trace Parkway, but he wanted to see if Ducnan would notice. They had both ridden the trace before. The trace was a return path of about 450 miles up the Mississippi River. Apparently, men would float goods down the river, then sell them in the south, and sell the boat for the lumber for housing. Then they would walk the 450 miles back, then buy another boat, and do it all over again. When we arrived at the visi...

April 7, 2006 I woke up in San Antonio still high from the feeling I got from walking along the River Walk downtown. Realizing the politicos in Indianapolis would never be smart enough to do it in the Circle City would bring me back to earth. My first order of business was waking up, and then getting something to eat for breakfast. Surprise: When I came out of the room, a second floor room, I saw Jim talking to some strange woman. This is a surprise, as Jim often retreats when Duncan and I get going with our flirting. I do it because I think it makes people feel better, I would say that I am not sure why Duncan flirts so much, but I think you can all imagine (he's single, he's 60-something, and he's still going). With our final trip to load up the bikes, as Duncan and I's were parked around the corner from Jim's, the same woman approached us. It didn't take her long to start with the regular speech: I just left my husband, I need money for gas, if I can only...

April 6, 2006 Thursday and Day six of our adventure, we had made the hump, and we were on the back half of our trip. We woke up in Marathon, Texas, home of the train passing by town every two hours, whether it needs to or not. The trains were like clockwork, but after I closed my eyes, I didn't hear anymore until I woke up in the morning. No messages, no voice mail to disturb either, as we had no cell phone signal. We did, however, have wireless internet! While loading up the bike, Duncan struck up a conversation with the couple who were staying in the room next to us. Apparently they currently live in Fort Worth, and are looking to move to this area. Why, I have no idea!! I hope they plan to be far away from the train tracks. She is also a Web Logger, and we traded hyperlinks, if you want to check out Cowtown Patty, click here . It was getting close, if not slightly passed 8 am, so it was time to hit the road, or Shooter Jim would be on the road without us. We headed East...

April 5, 2006 Finally, I woke up on the morning of what is to be our shortest travel day on the trip. This was hump day, the middle of the trip, and it started with the three of us waking up in our cozy two bedroom, two bath suite. I was the first up. Jim and Duncan were both very tired from the late evening, early morning really, the day before. I guess my "youth" is serving well when it comes to energy level. That and the fact that I am used to getting only 4 to 6 hours of sleep on a regular basis. Duncan could not peal himself out of the roll away bed, so Shooter Jim and I took for Fort Davis. We took the standard photos in front of the sign, Jim got his stamp, and we watched the park movie on the history of the area. Upon exiting, a sign that had caught my eye the night before, caught it again, with more detail. We had to stop and take photo. If you can't see the picture clearly, it is for Rodney's Phat Burgers. Pretty Hot And Tempting, and deserving of a p...

April 4, 2006 Day four was to be welcomed as a short, leisurely drive. If you know anything about my trips, when I say it will be short day, you know you are in for a good story, as fate has a way of turning a few miles into many hours. So lets first start out with the bad. I was packing up the bike, early this morning, so not to incur Shooter's wrath for another day of tardiness. Upon returning to the room, the one I was sharing with Duncan, I walked through the door, and I saw Duncan, preparing for a shower, completely naked. This was not the wake call I every thought about having! "Duncan", I said. "I will need my eyes to see to drive today." Duncan replied, "Yes, and so." I replied, "Right now, I would like to gouge them out!" So now, lets shiver off the shakes of that memory, and head onto the good. A short road trip to Carlsbad Caverns. The morning was cool. Upon reaching the entrance, we had to take some photos. Apparently...

April 3, 2006 Here it is, our third day of the Big Bend Texas ride, and nothing has gone as scheduled. Shooter and I are in Sulpher Springs, Texas and Duncan is in Atoka, Oklahoma. Gene, is on flight, we hope this time, and headed back home to Indiana. From the weather forecasts, and the way the morning was looking, it was going to be a great day to grind out some serious, over 600, miles on the highway. I will mention it know, because I know Shooter will remind everyone, that I got us started late, but less than 15 minutes. I am not used to such a regiment on vacation. We headed out for McKinney, Texas, where we would reunite with Duncan. After some confusing leads from the GPS, we arrived in town. Duncan heard us on the CB's, and we were actually heading right for each other. We decided to meet in the parking lot of a Burger King. The trio was together at last. After a bathroom break, and a rendition of Happy Birthday to one of Jim's friends, we headed to get gassed up....

April 2, 2006 With a mix of emotions from the events of the day before, Jim and I headed out. We were already 100 miles short of our day one destination, and since we did not leaving until 10am. We esentually are started day two, 200 miles down, and a need to make up some serious time. Duncan stayed behind with his friend, and we didn't know if we were going to meet him in Dallas, Big Bend, or at all. The first legs of our trip would not allow us to make up time. First we had a trouble just finding our way out of town. We were heading for twisties and Ozark scenery, neither is a place to make up some miles. We eventually arrived in Harrison, Arkansas, the head end for SR 7, the road that we would take south to Hot Springs. I was shagging behind Shooter, and had noticed that my water temperature light had come on, but not at full brightness. The bike was obviously not hot, so we forged on. Even after a gas stop, the light came back on for the engine check, and then went to half ...

April 1, 2006 Finally, finally, finally!! The day is here! It was just the Friday before that I realized I have never in my lifetime went on "Spring Break". Never as a kid, never as an adult did I throw caution to the wind, and go anywhere during this fabled week of passage. After 37 years, I was going on Spring Break! Four "Guys Gone Wild", or maybe gone awry. I pulled out of the driveway at 7:30 am, with Nina visible at the front door, waving me on. My plan was to pass by Duncan's House, as I was led to believe that I would met him, and his friend, and fellow Bus Driver, Gene, there. When I arrived at Duncan's, his was the only bike sitting in the driveway. I pulled past his bike, turned around in his driveway, and pulled in behind his wineberry Goldwing. The other rider, Shooter Jim, and I, had an argument earlier in the week on who was to be road captain. Shooter had thrown the torch of being the Cruiser Club President at me a year earlier, and I was...

March 29 & 30, 2006 Okay, so I have two dates above. No, I didn't shuck work, and take off on a mini trip. Rather, I was riding to work. These are two rather eventless, mundane trips, so I thought I would combine them to save space. Wednesday was finally day in the spring of 2006 for Indianapolis that actually got to the average temperatures. It had reached those norms on some weekend days, but not yet on a weekday. The ride in was chili, but certainly tolerable. The ride home, as usual this time of year, was the reward for braving the morning the cold. Indianapolis will be on Daylight Saving Time for the first time since I was born, however, they were put on Eastern Daylight Time. You know, because we are an East Coast City. I can't tell you how many times I am asked directions to the beach while cruising the circle city streets in a landlocked state. Since we are not in the correct time zone, actually several hundred miles west of the geographical western edge of EST,...

March 26, 2006 You guessed it: Another Sunday, Another Breakfast, Another Ride. This Sunday, the temperature would be a balmy 32 degrees. We had rain, snow, and sunshine on the Saturday before, and I thought it just might be too wet to ride. When I ventured out to get the Sunday Edition of the Indianapolis Star, there were still spots on the driveway that were frozen over from the evening cool. The overnight low was the mid twenties. After reading several sections of the newspaper, I took another look outside. Sunshine was pouring through the east facing windows, and the thermometer had climbed above thirty-two. "I'm riding," I decided to myself. My chaps were already in the house from last week, so I suited up. While I finished, Nina came down the stairs, ready for church, and asked, "Your Riding this morning?" I rolled the bike out of the garage, nearly throwing myself off when my helmet caught on the bottom of the garage door. I will be glad when ...

March 19, 2006 First a disclaimer: I actually rode the day before, Saturday the 18, and I didn't create an entry. In my defense, I had only changed the oil, and test rode the bike to check for leaks. It wasn't even two miles!! Second, the date is a Sunday, and I was headed to Shapiro's for breakfast, so now you know why I would through my leg over the bike and take off when the temperture was 25 degrees. If I said that I did not feel any of the cold, I would be a liar. My fingertips were starting to feel the chill toward the end of the ride. It was mostly a normal breakfast, but as some have trailered south to go riding, and others have been pulling plans together to go riding, the talk went more with hitting the road. Ron had just returned from a trip around Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Like others in the group, he has a National Park Stamp Book, and likes to collect as many stmaps as he can on any trip. Those who rode besides myself were Tony, Jim, and Gen...

March 12, 2006 Last time I wrote, I thought I would be able to ride the next day, which would have been March 2nd. Guess what? The weather man was WRONG! As always in Indiana, the weather changed in five minutes, and the idea of riding went down hill very quickly. I mention this, because this sets the tone for this entry. The weekend of March 11 and 12, 2006 was as wacky as Indiana weather can possibly get. Overnight rain and thunderstorms, early morning flooding, and sunny 70 degree skies in the afternoon. This happened on both Saturday and Sunday. As you can tell from the entry date, I didn't ride on Saturday. I was spending the day wiring in my LED driving lights. I created a ring of white LED's that surround the turn signal light. The turn signal still works as normal, and is still yellow. I figured, as with many LED's, they would not show up too much in the daytime, but it would be cool at night. Sunday, I was not going to be fooled again. I had...

March 1, 2006 Wow, it has been way too long since I got to write! Okay, I will admit that the reason I am really excited is because writing also means I have been riding. Since the second Sunday in January, the 8th, my 2003 Black Honda VTX 1800 has been sitting in the garage. However, it hasn't been sitting on its wheels. It has actually been up on the jack for most of that time. For that reason, most of this entry will be about the modifications I made. For those of you who aren't in the know, for many of us in the motorcycle world, making modifications is almost as much fun as riding. This winter I had a long list that secretly, I hoped I wouldn't get to. Cold weather, rain and snow kept me at work, though. The first project was some upgrades to the CB Radio system. A cable needed to be modified, and I decided to also add an extra antenna, and replace the rubber duckie that comes with handheld units. I also added four way flashers, using a relay, so that the switch wo...

January 8, 2006: Well, the hibernation for my Black 2003 Honda VTX 1800c was only a week long. Sometimes, I wish I could get a week's rest. Like last week, I knew the evening before that I would most likely be riding on Sunday to breakfast. I had hoped to send Reed and e-mail to see if he was going to be riding to Shapiro's, and if so, if he would pass by the house and we could ride together. The day before, Saturday, was Nina's Birthday, and between that, and working on the house, I wasn't able to remember to send that e-mail when I was sitting at a computer. I did spend sometime at the keyboard, updating the National Cruiser Club, USA Website with their merchandise offerings. Nina was actually working on the morning of her birthday, and went to The Legend at Irvington for lunch with some of her Zoo co-workers. We went out to dinner with my parents, Nina's Sister's family, and my brother and his daughter. My brother's wife was tending to her mother, who...