Not Today - I Have a Headache!!

[hppants]

Got a text from Brody on Friday:

"Good riding weather 2moro - where we goin?"

(Pants) "I can't go"

(Brody) "Why?"

"Promised Momma I'd play honey do's"

Woke up Saturday morning early hanging my lip.  The weather is about 55 - it's going to warm up to the mid 70's, and the rain is gonna wait until that evening.  But a deal's a deal, so I pulled out the tools and started with drippy toilet in the master bath.  That's when SOQS woke up.

(SOQS)  "I have a terrible headache.  That noise is terrible."

(Pants)  "I can't do this without making noise."

"Then could you do this another day?  I can't take that banging noise."

"How about if I leave you alone for a while."

"That would be great - thanks."

(Cue the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

Alleluia!

Called Brody to see if he's still up to a ride.  5 minutes later we are warming the bikes up.  Pulled out a Louisiana map, closed my eyes, and pointed to a spot - Bundick Lake.  Programmed the GPS and off we go.

We stumbled upon this area of very smooth road, where the curves are wide open, and decided to take some action shots.  This uncut rice will be used to feed crawfish in the Spring.



Brody is getting real comfortable with his Shadow. (that sounds wierd)





I had a blast running around this curve at 70-plus!!

[hppants]

We move on to the town of Oberlin - population "not much".  Stop for gas and a snack - couple of Boudin Balls, a Corn Dog, and a Yoohoo to wash it down.  Yummie.



Then it's back on the road for more adventure.  We cross the Owiska Chitta (pronounced "Wiskey Cheetah" river, a popular canoeing area during the summer.  It was given an Indian name meaning "Tall Cane".  I've never been here before, and it's real nice.





No rope-swinging today.  That spring fed water is icy!



No oil leaks on 'Ole Yella.

[hppants]

Brody purchased the baffles and some different exhaust tips for his bike.  He also tightened the exhaust nuts to cut out the "popping" noise.  It quieted down the bike tremendously.  But I noticed the bike started getting louder again.  Looks like he lost a tip.  Gotta use Locktite on bike fasteners.



Turns out the Owiska Chitta drains into Bundick Lake.



This place is nice.




We ride around the lake on wooded unpaved roads enjoying the scenery.

[hppants]

We're not in Honey-do-ville  anymore!!!



We start heading in the direction of home, finding more familiar roads.  We were delayed on a highway for about 15 minutes because of this.  We chatted with others in cages for a while.



Last week, I noticed my bike was a little flat off idle.  Seafoam to the rescue!!!  By the 2nd fuel stop today, problem fixed.  About 250 miles total, I averaged about 49 mpg.  Brody's only getting 35 though - Burgi, is that normal?

In 23 years of marriage, that's the first time the "I have a headache" excuse worked in my favor!!!

Back at the house, I decided to do a little wrenching.  Pulled my rear wheel  off to have a new tire mounted.  Wheel bearings are good - cleaned the rear brake assy.  What do ya'll think about the condition of my rear sprocket?



I pulled my plugs out.  All look great with a light ashy color and very little wear.  Re-gapped them and reinstalled.  I also changed my rear-turn signals.  The Bike Bandit units are an exact match.



One of my fork seals is leaving just a film on the tube.  I've got all of the parts - I'll prolly change them out during the holidays.  But I'll need some help from ya'll - I'm a little nervous about it.

[Burgi]

Pants you appear to be riding in knickers? 
I'm surprised how brown it gets there this time of year.
What is that thing in road?
Adults drink YooHoo?
Not sure on the MPG, seems a little low but V hasn't checked it in so long he doesn't remember.
Tell Brody not to leave his key on. Husband did it again yesterday and that bike doesn't like to bump start. To heavy to be able to get it rolling fast and the engine is to big to turn over at low speed. Ended up having to wander the restaurant we were at begging cables for a jump. 

[fishball]

In 23 years of marriage, that's the first time the "I have a headache" excuse worked in my favor!!!

Great ride report Pants, your line above cracked me up!

[Munkey]

What do ya'll think about the condition of my rear sprocket?

Looks OK from the picture. When the teeth start to get cupped or the points start to get sharp like you could cut wood with it, that's when it needs replacing. You also may be able to flip the sprocket over and let it wear the other side of the teeth for a while to prolong the life some.

[JB1290]

Great report, Pants. I wish I could ride half as much as you do. 

[cmyers]

Just wished the wife and I lived closer to join you on some of these rides pants

[hppants]

Pants you appear to be riding in knickers? 
I'm surprised how brown it gets there this time of year.
What is that thing in road?
Adults drink YooHoo?

My "High Pockets" are showing, I'm afraid.  Wish riding pants came in "tall" lengths.  Still plenty of green in places, but yesterday was looking more seasonal.  I don't know what that oversized load was.  Prolly something oil field related - it was heading down a board road toward some production stuff in the distance.  Yoohoo is good stuff - kind of ryhmes with "Yaa Hoo!!!", which was appropriate.

Looks OK from the picture. When the teeth start to get cupped or the points start to get sharp like you could cut wood with it, that's when it needs replacing. You also may be able to flip the sprocket over and let it wear the other side of the teeth for a while to prolong the life some.

Good info - thanks.  Someone told me that this looked like a factory honda sprocket.  Can you tell by the picture if that is true?

JB - I'm rolling, no doubt.  Cmeyers - you and SOQS are always welcome.  Hopefully, we can ride together in 2011.

At our last fuel stop, we noticed about 6 Harley's parked.  After fueling, I walked in the store past them to the restroom.  All real rough looking biker guys.  I said hello and kept walking.  Back at the bikes, Brody wanted to pull up to the store and get a cold drink.  So I pulled next to him and the harleys.  Then all of the bikers came out and one of them looked at my bike and said "Ah - it's a Nighthawk.  We were all wondering what you were riding.  I haven't seen one that nice in years."  We talked with them for a while - super nice guys.  They were faith bikers - one gave me a laminated card with a biker's prayer - kind of cool.  One of them was close friends with someone that rides a '95 NH750 with 150,000 miles on it!!  Wish I would have taken some pics of their bikes.  One was riding a Valkerie that sounded out of this world.

[isleofmanfan]

Hey hppants, I thought (probably incorrectly) that rice needed to almost grow IN water.  So that really IS rice in that field, and its maybe a breed that can grow with less water?

Great report as usual!   Keep 'em comin', we're all in lock down mode up here.      

[fishmeister]

Pants you appear to be riding in knickers?  

Those are Capri pants. Very fashionable in Louisiana...(in case of flooding)

The old sledge hammer to the toilet trick.....  

[Hangster]

So youre just gonna torture us snow boud hawks with these ride reports all winter , aren't you !!! 

JK..it's god to see someone having a ball 

[luckylindy]

Looks like another good ride Pants.  That's the 1st time a headache worked in your favor?  I've experienced that a few times.  Ride on bro.

[hppants]

The rice fields have been drained for some time.  What is pictures is 2nd growth that was re-drained about 4-6 weeks ago.  It will seed and the stalks will be re-flooded after the first of the year to feed crawfish.

Hangster - I took a peek at the Patriots/Bears game this afternoon.  Boy, I don't envy you.  No riding weather - that's for sure.

[green427]

Nice reports & pics. I envy those of you who live down South, year-round riding.....

It is also nice to have a riding buddy ready at short notice, too. 

[muttstang]

Yeah, we just figure out other things to do with our time when the white stuff flies!

The sabre is one of my favorite cruiser type bikes.  Also a big fan of the M50

[Ol School]

Pants it looks like you need taller boots or longer pants   too much  leg exposed there .
It is 17  degrees here in north Ms. this morning ...and I`m looking forward to a Polar Bear run Jan. 1    
Don`t tell anyone but back in my duck hunting days ..I would wear a pair of the wife`s panty hose under my pants , don`t laugh before you try it though...those things are warm , bathroom stops are a little tricky though ..

[Burgi]

[Wahrsuul]

My "High Pockets" are showing, I'm afraid.  Wish riding pants came in "tall" lengths.

Check New Enough, at the least, I know Tour Master and Joe Rocket make riding pants in tall sizes.

Wish I would have taken some pics of their bikes.  One was riding a Valkerie that sounded out of this world.

That's one thing I did love about my Valk - the 6x6 exhaust was a little loud for me, but sounded great.  Like a small-block hot rod.  Sometimes I miss that bike, but I hated polishing chrome.

Sounds like ya'll are having quite the time out there, enjoy.

[Laminar]

My "High Pockets" are showing, I'm afraid.  Wish riding pants came in "tall" lengths.  

I got a pair of First Gear riding pants in a 36-tall size. The pants are long enough that the cuffs hit the floor if I'm not wearing shoes, here's what they do on the bike:



For reference, the jeans I'm wearing underneath are a 34W 36I.

[fishmeister]

Pant's wife sure dresses him funny....

[hppants]

Laminar - those pants would work.  But at $170.00 - $350.00, I'll stick to my "knickers" for now.

[Ol School]

Pant's wife sure dresses him funny....

Maybe those are Katrina pants ..never know when the water might rise in NO . 

[Laminar]

Laminar - those pants would work.  But at $170.00 - $350.00, I'll stick to my "knickers" for now.

I'm about to blow your mind.

New Enough has the 2010 model on clearance right now, they still have a couple tall sizes in stock. The 36-tall that I bought fits perfectly over jeans or gym shorts, and I usually wear a 34-36 or 36-34 jean depending on the brand.

$99. Figure in the 10% off coupon I can PM you, and you're at $90.