Biking in January

It's been a bone-chattering stretch, but I spent a couple of hours freezing my buns while riding my Kawasaki Police bike today. It was great. It's been years since I've had the feeling of revitlaization that motorcycling gives and it's great. These last few weeks it has been overcast and raining and that's a real blues-generating time. The bike is a good thing to cheer me up.

I bought the bike from a guy a few houses down the street here in Benton City after seeing it in his garage while I was on a walk. I just had abdominal surgery and was waddling down the street with my hands holding my gut. I musta looked like I was nearly dead. I think the guy that owned the bike was shocked that this ol gray-haired, bearded gimp was in the market for the Kaw. He was in the street tying down his powered parachute equipment onto a trailer when I first talked to him. He's another over 55 guy too...must be an ol' guy thing around here. Anyway, he asked $1,800 and I gave him $1,350 for it and we were both happy. Then I got to thinking...dangerous for me...that thinking thing.... what in the heck was I doing with a motorcycle?! The last one I owned was an 1100 Yamaha Special...1979 model. I bought it new just before I got married to Mary Peterson of Lakoita, ND, and it served as our honeymoon transportation from Grand Forks, ND, through Glacier Park, MT,and back. I crashed it doing a peg-scraping corner maneuver in Missouri while heading for work at Thomas Hill power house near Moberly, MO...a bit of gravel on an asphalt two-lane corner. That was about 1982 when I was just finishing my Electrician apprenticeship. It was also the last time I owned a scoot and was to be always known as my last one. Hmmmm. Time has a way of healing memories...or, should I say, covering up good lessons?

This new scoot is a 1992 KZ1000p...the "p" is for police. I think it's the beginning of a long and fun relationship.