Thanks

Okay, so this is the new me. I haven't bought jeans since 1996 and haven't worn a leather jacket since 1985. But leather protects and jeans fit tighter than khakis. And this is not my everyday attire - just for riding.

A great ride today down Chuckanut, albeit a bit chilly towards the end. And I did a totally dork thing when I stopped at a gas station at the pass in Alger: I let the clutch out with the bike in gear and it shot forward six inches and plopped down on the left side. Now I am sure it is not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last. So I nonchalantly picked it back up, set the sidestand and walked in the store. When in there I realized that I didn't want a huge coffee, so instead bought a Clif bar even though I didn't want that either. But oh what fun it is to ride this motorbike (although I am still a bit nervous). And if it looks like it's in really nice shape in the picture, it's because it is.

So after forty miles or so I went to the kids (my age) of my neighbors', quite possibly the kindest people in the world (now that Mother Teresa is gone). So it was a big gathering of family and friends and altogether a fun time. But it was around the freezing mark coming home, a bit colder than I'd like to be riding. I smell like gasoline; my friend Dan (from Philly) says it's the smell of the road.