| Author | Message | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2370 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've been scarce around these parts lately, mostly following Alembic folks on facebook and gigging a lot. Anyway, I'm still among the living, still playing the Series 1.5 and still taking motorcycle trips. Most recently I rode my new-to-me motorcycle to Alaska and back, and documented it here. I hope you find it entertaining even if it is a little (or a lot) light on bass content.. http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/scarysharkface-indiana-to-alaska-to-indiana-2015.1080786/ Another trip to The Mothership is way overdue, so I'm working on that one.. John | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2098 Registered: 5-2002 |
Great pictures! Stay safe out there, we seem to be losing motorcyclists every day out here in Colorado. | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1694 Registered: 11-2004 |
John, I saw this last week on advrider last week….I started reading there after your last Big Bend report and it's one of my most frequently visited sites nowadays. I've never ridden and don't have any plans to, but I love living vicariously through the threads. Outstanding stuff. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2373 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks! That site has changed my life. It's got a ridiculous amount of incredible travel content, most of it very well presented. Be well, John | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1923 Registered: 10-2006 |
If you're going to be in Skagway, e-mail me. My youngest son lives there, and might be willing to point at less touristy stuff, best food & beer, etc. You might even catch one of his gigs. Peter | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2374 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wonderful offer, Peter, but alas I am home already. John | ||
| jon_jackson
Advanced Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 231 Registered: 12-2008 |
I really enjoy reading your trip reports, although I haven't ridden a motorcycle in 40 + years. Jon | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1537 Registered: 6-2006 |
John, An R1200GS?! That is my dream bike. Glad you got it and certainly glad you got to break it in. My butt gets sore on my 81 XJ650 Maxim after 1 hour, how was the comfort on your BMW? | ||
| kilowatt
Intermediate Member Username: kilowatt Post Number: 143 Registered: 12-2004 |
John, I looked forward to this morning's coffee, so I could read your RR without interruption. I have to get myself out on a LONG trip like this. I think it would be good for the soul, and learning from someone who does it the right way, is priceless. Glad that it all went well. I have to share this with one of my old colleagues, who is now retired, and spending WAY more seat time than me. Maybe he can talk me into a trip, in the not too distant future. Regards, Pete | ||
| smokin_dave
Senior Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 424 Registered: 10-2002 |
As I watch the Moto GP qualifying from the Brickyard I'm looking at your wonderful pics from advrider also. I hope to do something like that one day.From Indy to Alaska. | ||
| groovelines
Senior Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 799 Registered: 4-2003 |
John, While I don't ride, I've taken vicarious pleasure in all of your ride blogs. This area is rife with a variety of bikes, bikers and attitudes, but few of them make me wonder much about what I'm "missing". Then off you go. And I start to wonder that there's something to this. Enjoyed your diary very much. Mike | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1538 Registered: 6-2006 |
John, I gleaned through your journal, mostly enjoying the great pics. Noticed how besides motorcycle riding being two-wheeled medicine for the mind it also apparently is the correct prescription for your damaged back . . . I admire your adventurous soul. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2375 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jon - Thanks. I went for decades without riding a motorcycle. Getting back on one at 43 a decade ago was one of the better things I've ever done for myself.  Paul - I sold the Jeep to buy the GS and a cheap used car. No regrets. Zero. The custom seat isn't perfect, but throwing a gel/sheepskin over it makes a huge difference. I think I'm ultimately going to install a peg-lowering kit to save my knees. It's a comfortable bike, and fun. Pete - Do it. My first visit to The Mothership was on my wife's V-Strom 650. After my visit, Ron followed me out to talk about the technicals of the bike. What nice people, those Wickershams. Dave - Do it. None of us are getting any younger. Mike - I can't begin to credit you enough with encouraging me to visit Big Bend and expand my list of places to call home. There is something to this. I'm an atheist, but if there is a God after all, that must surely be who is talking to me while I ride. It's a wonderful thing. Glad you enjoyed the write-up. Paul - My neurologist was just about speechless during my follow-up visit after the trip. He couldn't believe my improvement. Then the physical therapy folks had me do shallow squats for them, which of course I'd been doing across every pavement seam for the last 3 weeks and 9k miles. The motorcycle has treated me well. While I was on my back for 10 days with sciatica I resigned myself to never being able to play the Alembic again, due to the weight. I was reasonably sure I'd probably never play bass again, to be truthful. It was a pretty dark period. Last Friday I gigged with three basses. I brought my Precision with flats because it's light, my Lakland fretless and the Alembic. I played the Alembic for a full set and could still walk afterward, so I'm rather jazzed about the prospect of keeping it around. https://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/i-Gf9cqPt/0/XL/i-Gf9cqPt-XL.jpg John (Message edited by 811952 on August 10, 2015) |
