MERRY CHRISTMAS

FOR CHRISTMAS WE GOT A NEW SIGN FOR THE PORCH OF THE CABIN ON “THE MOUNTAIN”.

THANK-YOU TO THE SAUCER CREW !!!

 

SCOOTER PROGRESS

ON MARY’S DAYS OFF THIS WEEK WE GOT OUT FOR A SECOND SCOOTER RIDE TOGETHER. COLE MADE A SUGGESTION FOR MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING WHICH WORKED OUT GREAT FOR US. SCRATCH THAT OFF THE LIST.

MARY SAT VERY STILL ON OUR 40 MILE RIDE AND BALANCING WAS MUCH IMPROVED, EXCEPT FOR THE 15-20 MILE AN HOUR WIND. RIDING IN THE WIND WAS GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR US, BECAUSE THE WIND BLOWS A LOT ALONG THIS COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. I DON’T TAKE THE SCOOTER OUT IF THE WIND IS BLOWING 25 MILES AN HOUR OR MORE, AND THE TEMPERATURE HAS TO BE 60 DEGREES OR ABOVE. THE TEMPERATURE THIS AFTERNOON WAS 65. NOT BAD TO BE OUT PRACTICING ON THE SCOOTER THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

WE JUST NEED MORE PRACTICE BEFORE WE ATTEMPT A SCOOTER TOUR. OUR FIRST TOUR IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULLED FOR THE THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY TO LAKE HAVASU TO MEET UP WITH OUR SHOW LOW BUDDIES FOR A GAME OF JENGA AND MAYBE A DRINK OR TWENTY. THIS WILL MAKE A GOOD SHAKE DOWN AT 50 MILES EACH WAY. THE ROUTE WILL INCLUDE 9 MILES OF INTERSTATE 40 AS WELL.

WE RECEIVED A SET OF WATER PROOF SADDLE BAGS FROM TWISTED THROTTLE. THEY AREN’T REAL BIG BECAUSE THE MUFFLER IS ANGLED UP ON THE 2013 MODEL.

PACKING FOR OUR SHAKE DOWN OVERNIGHTER TO LAKE HAVASU WILL DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO CONSIDER A TANK OR TUNNEL BAG AS WELL. THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM UNDER THE SEAT, BUT WE HAVE RATHER BULKY JACKETS.

IN OTHER SCOOTER UPDATES, I’M STILL STRUGGLING TO REGISTER THE NEW SCOOTER IN SOUTH DAKOTA. THE SALES TAX IN ARIZONA IS 7.5% COMPARED TO 4% IN SOUTH DAKOTA, PLUS CHEAPER TITLE, LIC., AND INSURANCE. IT MAKES THE HOOPS WORTH JUMPING THRU IN THE END.

AFTER THE PAPERWORK, NEXT WILL BE A TRAILER TO HAUL THE SCOOTER. WE’RE CONSIDERING A CARGO TRAILER SO THE SCOOTER WILL ALWAYS HAVE A GARAGE TO PARK IN. THE OLD SCOOTER WAS SMALL ENOUGH TO PUSH INSIDE THE PORCH FOR COVERED PARKING AND SECURITY, BUT THE NEW SCOOTER IS TOO BIG FOR THAT TRICK. OF COURSE NOTHING IS SIMPLE, THE SCOOTER WOULD FIT INSIDE A 5X8 TRAILER, BUT IF WE WERE TO MAKE IT INTO A TRIKE, A 6X10 TRAILER BECOMES NECESSARY. DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS …..

WE HAVE THE REST OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY TO KEEP ON PRACTICING, COMPLETING PAPERWORK, AND DECIDE ON A TRAILER. THE SCOOTER HAS 350 MILES ON IT NOW, AND AFTER THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN AND SERVICE I’LL BE READY TO RIDE, BABY, RIDE !!!

 

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

CROSSROADS CHRISTMAS PARTY

WE HAD OUR RV PARK CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WITH COCKTAILS AT 4PM AND DINNER AT 5 PM.

THERE WERE OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE FOR THE HAM DINNER AND LOTS OF VISITING. WORD IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY 5 OPEN SITES LEFT FOR JANUARY. IT’S GOOD TO SEE THE PARK FILLED UP, UNLIKE THE LAST FEW YEARS.

INCLUDED ARE A FEW PHOTOS TAKEN BY LARRY HULL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

BRRRR........

WE HAD A FREEZE WARNING THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS. NOT TYPICAL FOR THE LOWER DESERT. WE HAVE SOME SUMMER PLANTS FROM THE CABIN WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE OVER THE WINTER, AND SO I COVERED THEM.

THE PLANTS AREN'T THE ONLY THING OUT THERE LOOKING COLD.

 JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE "X" ON THE PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THE GARDEN HOSE THAT RUNS UP OVER THE ROOF. THIS IS MY WATERING SYSTEM WHICH I TRY TO TURN ON EVERYDAY WHILE I WALK THE GARBAGE UP TO THE DUMPSTER. IT'S A GOOD PLAN UNLESS I FORGET TO TURN IT OFF WHICH RESULTS IN A MINOR FLOOD OF THE AREA.

LIKE THE REST OF BLOGLAND I'M MISSING THE LIVE WRITER SOFTWARE TO WRITE BLOGS, BUT I HAVE SOME CHRISTMAS PICTURES I'LL TRY TO GET UP THIS WEEK.

MAIDEN RIDE

WE’VE HAD THE SCOOTER FOR OVER A WEEK, AND TODAY MARY TOOK HER MAIDEN RIDE. WE STAYED AWAY FROM TOWN AND WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO OATMAN FOR A BEER. WE DID A WALK-ABOUT AND ENJOYED THE WARM WEATHER. I’M STILL NOT USED TO THE ADDED WEIGHT AND THE TWO OF US TOGETHER ARE GOING TO HAVE PRACTICE MOUNTING, TAKE OFFS, AND LANDINGS, BEFORE WE TAKE ON A SCOOTER TOUR.

OH NO REX !!! TELL ME YOU DIDN’T MAKE MARY GET ONE OF THOSE UGLY “DON’T RUN OVER MY ASS” YELLOW JACKETS?
YUP, NOW WE BOTH CAN WORK OUT ON THE HIWAY AS A FLAGMAN…..

I FORGOT……

BRRRRRR……..

WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO 26 DEGREES. NO WE WEREN’T ON THE LOWER DESERT, BUT WE WERE ON “THE MOUNTAIN”. WE DROVE UP YESTERDAY MORNING.

IN THE AFTERNOON IT WAS 15 DEGREES WARMER ON THE SCEEN PORCH THAN IT WAS INSIDE THE CABIN. WE WERE IN T-SHIRTS CARRYING 5 GAL BUCKETS OF WATER TO THE PLANTS IN MARY’S YARD. THE MOUNTAIN IS STILL ARIZONA AND BASICALLY AN ARID CLIMATE. MARY’S NEW PERENNIALS NEED TO BE WATERED ONCE A MONTH, UNLESS THERE IS GOOD SNOW COVER TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.

WE DIDN’T UNWINTERIZE THE CABIN FOR JUST ONE NIGHT, AND FIRED UP THE ELECTRIC HEAT IN THE BEDROOM AND BATHROOM. IT WARMED UP NICE AND COZY. WE HAD TO CARRY WATER ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM THE CLUBHOUSE LAUNDRY TO MARY’S PLANTS.

JOE AND ROSEMARY, FRIENDS WHO LIVE IN LAKE HAVASU IN THE WINTER, BUT ON THE MOUNTAIN IN THE SUMMER HAD DENTAL APPOINTMENTS IN SHOW LOW, SO WITH THE HUNTERS WE GOT TOGETHER FOR COCKTAILS AND DINNER.

THE HUNTER’S HAD A SOLAR POWERED CHRISTMAS WREATH HANGING ON THE FRONT OF THE CABIN.

 

AND IN THEIR OWN YARD A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

 

OH YA, I FORGOT…

ANOTHER REASON FOR OUR TRIP TO THE CABIN WAS, THAT I FORGOT MY KINDLE IN NOVEMBER ON THE BEDSIDE TABLE. I KEEP MY MEDICARE CARD AND OTHER INSURANCE CARDS IN MY KINDLE. GETTING OLD AND FORGETFUL LEADS TO ALL KINDS OF ADVENTURES.

BACK ON THE DESERT, AND “SUNNY & 77”……

SCOOTER UPGRADE

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I’VE RIDDEN THE SCOOTER OVER 6,000 MILES. I’VE REALLY ENJOYED IT, ESPECIALLY IN WISCONSIN ON OUR SUMMER TRIPS. I TEND TO RIDE THE SCOOTER MORE IN THE WINTER THAN IN THE SUMMER.

IN ANALIZING MY SCOOTER TIME, I FIGURED OUT WHY I ENJOY WISCONSIN MORE THAN THE SOUTHWEST. IN WISCONSIN THEY HAVE BLACKTOP FARM TO MARKET ROADS WHERE YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE IN THE STATE ON THE BACK ROADS. IN THE SOUTHWEST IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO TOUR WITHOUT USING THE INTERSTATE HIWAYS. THE HONDA JUST DOESN’T DO FREEWAY SPEEDS AND YOU’RE A SLOW MOVING “TARGET” IF YOU TRY IT.

THE REASON I RIDE MORE IN THE WINTER THAN SUMMER IS BECAUSE MARY TAKES THE SUMMERS “OFF” AND SCOOTERING HAS BEEN A SOLO ACTIVITY. OH SURE IT HAS FOOT PEGS AND A PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR A 10 YEAR OLD JAPANESE KID.

WHAT I NEED IS A SCOOTER THAT DOES FREEWAY SPEEDS AND PROVIDES A COMFORTABLE SEAT FOR MY FAVORITE PASSENGER, MARY.

 

SUSKI BURGMAN 650

SO HERE IS THE SCOOTER UPGRADE, A SUSKI BURGMAN 650.

 

THIS IS THE DASHBOARD. AT THE TOP, A ROW OF IDIOT LIGHTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A SNOWFLAKE?  LEFT SPEEDOMETER, RIGHT TACH. THE MIDDLE LED PART FROM THE TOP, THE TIME OF DAY 2:52 PM, THE TEMPERATURE 69 DEGREES, AND 34 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THERE ARE TRIP SETS A & B AND YOU CAN TOGGLE THE TEMPERATURE TO TELL YOU YOUR GAS MILEAGE. TODAY, MY FIRST DAY I GOT 45.3 MILES PER GALLON. YUP, GONE ARE THE DAYS OF BRAGGING ABOUT 100 MILES TO THE GALLON.

 

BUTTONS? I GOT MORE BUTTONS THAN I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH:

 

 

I EVEN GOT BUTTONS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS.

FOR STORAGE, THERE ARE THREE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, AND THE BIGGEST ONE HAS A 12 VOLT PLUG FOR YOUR GPS OR TO CHARGE YOUR PHONE.

 

AND UNDER THE SEAT, LOT’S ROOM…….

 

MY FIRST IMPRESSION, IT’S BIG! WHITE! AND FAST!