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 !!!