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811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2370
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2015 - 5:23 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, August 05, 2015 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, August 06, 2015 - 10:30 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, August 07, 2015 - 5:57 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, August 07, 2015 - 7:04 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, August 07, 2015 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

Wonderful offer, Peter, but alas I am home already.

John
jon_jackson
Advanced Member
Username: jon_jackson

Post Number: 231
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 8:41 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 5:37 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 7:35 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 7:50 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 11:18 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 3:23 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, August 10, 2015 - 7:33 am:   Edit Post

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)

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