DL Timeline: Part 1
The beginning of life with my DL 1000 / V-Strom.
- 6-Aug-05: Purchased DL1000. 17 Miles.
- 7-Aug-05: First oil change @ 150ish miles. Looked clean w/o any noticable metal debris.
- 9-Aug-05: Changed out turn signals: flush mounted in front, LED in rear (same as on my YZF). Install light intergrator. Turn signals now flash inside the brake assembly as well as the external signal mounts. Bobbed the tail.
- 11-Aug-05: DMV $218 for personalized tags, title transfer, etc. 4 yr plates. Another ghost on the road…
- 12-Aug-05: Installed Givi crash guards, tighten & lube chain, adjust tire pressue, crank the prep-load, add saddle bags and top case.
Departed @ 21:30.
Longview, Chehalis, Olympia, Seattle
Arrived @ 01:30
Sleeeep - 13-Aug-05: A train passing the open window… Pepsi appears on the counter while I am in the shower.
Departed @ 09:15
Seattle, Bellingham, Canadian Border, Chilliwack, Hell’s Gate, Lytton, Lillooet, Pemberton
Arrived @ 21:00
Dinner @ Wildwood, hot tub, sleeeeep. - 14-Aug-05: Sunlight. Coffee being made. No pepsi? Shower, breakfast @ Wildwood, talk. I’m liking the vacation thing…
Departed @ 11:30
Whistler, Britannia Beach, Vancouver, Border, Blaine, Arlington, Everett, Seattle, Olympia, Chehalis, Portland, Hillsboro
Arrived @ 01:00
1106 miles - 19-Aug-05: Accompany friend buying a new bike. Two-up for 25 miles down 26. Not enough rear preload to level the machine. Plenty of power. Trying very hard not to wheelie it when entering 26 flow. She was comfortable and that’s all that matters. Picked up her KLR. Skyline from 26 to Cornilius Pass, Old CP to Roadhouse for dinner, home to work on KLR: oil change, clean air filter, etc.
- 20-Aug-05: REI for new tent, sleeping bag, camping fuel, etc. All strapped to the back of the bike without any problem.
- 21-Aug-05: REI again. Pliers, packing supplies to stash under the saddle, flashlight, etc. Hook up with a friend. North into Washington, East on SR14 to Bridge of the Gods, up the Gorge on I-84 to Hood River. Relax, read, watch wind surfers on the Columbia… Back down the Gorge, Historic Hwy, Multnomah Falls. Stop for caffeine and people watching. Corbet, Troutdale and into Portland on I-84. Chunks of a semi-tire litter the left lane as we near the Hollywood district. Brake lights everywhere. We all slow to a crawl. M/C wreck occupies the left and center lanes. My heart sinks. A red Monster on it’s side-stand, in the left lane, pointed the wrong way, waiting… The rider laying face down in the center as our queue slowly rolls past. Not good. Flashing lights in the failing sunset, blue childrens’ blankets, scarred asphalt, black flip-up helmet removed with care rests on the pavement… A car shields my eyes from the truth… mostly.
This dangerous sport we love so much…
Rolled 2000 miles as I took the long twisty way home, trying to purge the vision of black-clad feet pointed downward, motionless as resuce staff worked…
We all accept the risk. In the end, we will all reach our ‘end of days.’ The choice is in how we reach that moment. Alive as you follow your passions, glazed by long days in a cube farm, slaved into the lies told by ‘our betters’, or something in between
Give me fuel.
Give me fire.
Give me that which I desire…
For none of us know when our moment will end.
