Soon to be bikeless?

[gunkylump]

A friend of mine who retired from the salt mine was chatting with a friend of his about bikes. He knew that they were searching for a newer bike. Bruce gave Barry and Donna my telephone #, and contact was made.

 

Well, they came over Wednesday night, had a look at our 04 midnite, and fell in love. Took it for a spin, had a friend check it out and came back with big grins on both their faces. They called after dinner tonight, and said that they were waiting word from the bank and wanted the bike. They currently have a 1st gen...it's an 85, and it has over 100,000 on the odometer. So, they wanted another, newer Venture. We had a nice visit....it was great trading "Venture" stories. I guess to make a long story short, looks like Beth and I are soon to be bikeless.

 

I bought my first bike when I was 12 years old, a 50cc Bombardier, and except for a hiatus while raising my boys, riding has been a passion for me. But, in all honesty, I have lost my lust for this sport.....truthfully, the accidents this year have really hit home, and probably have had some impact on my decision. Once I get on the bike, it's just like home, the problem was getting my leg swung over the seat in the first place. We have decided to try to "look in to our future" so to speak. I'm tired of the cold and winter, and we have a desire to retire on the water somewhere warm.....so we have purchased a Bayfield 29C sailboat. We will try this out, and if Beth can handle the "motion of the ocean", we will sell the 29 footer and move up to a larger sailboat closer to retirement, outfit it the way we want to, and then, as the saying goes......sail off into the sunset.

 

We have made a lot of great friends here on this site, and we will miss each and every one of you. We do plan on continuing to attend local meets and eats...er greets when my work schedule allows us to do so.

 

I want to say THANK YOU to all who have helped me through their posts working on my bikes, who have actually worked on my bike, who have directed me to sites to purchase new safety chrome and other accessories for our ride. It would have been so much harder to dress the bike up, have the confidence in it's mechanical abilities to just get up and go for weeks at a time. Before finding you all and this site, I couldn't do most of the repairs/updates that I've done over time on both my 96 royal star and the Venture. Changing out a clutch slave cylinder, doing the brakes, adding lighting....the list goes on.

 

I'm still going to pop in on the site now and then to check up on everyone...wouldn't miss the enjoyment of reading all the posts and updates here on the site, seeing who is getting into "trouble" with the mods..., what's new in everyone's lives.

 

Anyways, good luck to you all....Gary and Mary, you're just a half hour away, we'll drop in now and then, Monty, good luck with the boys overseas, Freebird, keep fighting the big "C", you are going to completely beat the beast, Ponch, keep up the good fight, we're all in your corner pushing you on, Yammer Dan...buddy, you keep the site interesting!!!! IBents, we'll see you at the wine party and get you out for a sail next summer I hope. Carbon One, keep those ideas rolling and producing accessories for these great rides. Squidley, Lonna, Kregerdoodle, Gunboat and the rest of the Houston gang, we had a blast down there last year, we'll not soon forget that ride!

 

A ton of great memories, awesome times, great friends!

 

gunk

[footsie]

Keep you course true,

Give me a tall ship and a star to sail her by,

Good luck

 

Gregg

[DragonRider]

You dont get off that easy, this is one family you cannot divorce, we are kinda like the mafia, once your in, your in for life, not getting away from us..............

 

You will have to get Don to add a forum for sailboats, we want you to stick around........

 

GOT IT..............GOOD.

 

Enjoy you sailboat and retirement.

 

Happy sailing, and keep the keelboard in the water...............LOL

A friend of mine who retired from the salt mine was chatting with a friend of his about bikes. He knew that they were searching for a newer bike. Bruce gave Barry and Donna my telephone #, and contact was made.

 

Well, they came over Wednesday night, had a look at our 04 midnite, and fell in love. Took it for a spin, had a friend check it out and came back with big grins on both their faces. They called after dinner tonight, and said that they were waiting word from the bank and wanted the bike. They currently have a 1st gen...it's an 85, and it has over 100,000 on the odometer. So, they wanted another, newer Venture. We had a nice visit....it was great trading "Venture" stories. I guess to make a long story short, looks like Beth and I are soon to be bikeless.

 

I bought my first bike when I was 12 years old, a 50cc Bombardier, and except for a hiatus while raising my boys, riding has been a passion for me. But, in all honesty, I have lost my lust for this sport.....truthfully, the accidents this year have really hit home, and probably have had some impact on my decision. Once I get on the bike, it's just like home, the problem was getting my leg swung over the seat in the first place. We have decided to try to "look in to our future" so to speak. I'm tired of the cold and winter, and we have a desire to retire on the water somewhere warm.....so we have purchased a Bayfield 29C sailboat. We will try this out, and if Beth can handle the "motion of the ocean", we will sell the 29 footer and move up to a larger sailboat closer to retirement, outfit it the way we want to, and then, as the saying goes......sail off into the sunset.

 

We have made a lot of great friends here on this site, and we will miss each and every one of you. We do plan on continuing to attend local meets and eats...er greets when my work schedule allows us to do so.

 

I want to say THANK YOU to all who have helped me through their posts working on my bikes, who have actually worked on my bike, who have directed me to sites to purchase new safety chrome and other accessories for our ride. It would have been so much harder to dress the bike up, have the confidence in it's mechanical abilities to just get up and go for weeks at a time. Before finding you all and this site, I couldn't do most of the repairs/updates that I've done over time on both my 96 royal star and the Venture. Changing out a clutch slave cylinder, doing the brakes, adding lighting....the list goes on.

 

I'm still going to pop in on the site now and then to check up on everyone...wouldn't miss the enjoyment of reading all the posts and updates here on the site, seeing who is getting into "trouble" with the mods..., what's new in everyone's lives.

 

Anyways, good luck to you all....Gary and Mary, you're just a half hour away, we'll drop in now and then, Monty, good luck with the boys overseas, Freebird, keep fighting the big "C", you are going to completely beat the beast, Ponch, keep up the good fight, we're all in your corner pushing you on, Yammer Dan...buddy, you keep the site interesting!!!! IBents, we'll see you at the wine party and get you out for a sail next summer I hope. Carbon One, keep those ideas rolling and producing accessories for these great rides. Squidley, Lonna, Kregerdoodle, Gunboat and the rest of the Houston gang, we had a blast down there last year, we'll not soon forget that ride!

 

A ton of great memories, awesome times, great friends!

 

gunk

[MidlifeVenture]

Sailed since I was a kid only a couple of times on the ocean. Have to agree the accidents this year make me think really hard if the enjoyment and the risk are worth it. My friend who was hit this summer is still in the hospital and they may have to take his foot do to infection. Sailing is a different kind of peace but similar

[bill in mn]

That sounds like a great plan. I had those same thoughts and sold my bike a 92 750 Seca but after 3 yrs. my wife could see my frustration and bought it back for me . (got to love her) I had been ridding since I was 12. The first mini bike was a car starter motor and two batteries on a frame, you had to get it rolling before hitting the button.

Now the sailing sounds fun to me but the wife I'm not sure she would go along with that.We have a sail boat now ,1976 23' Watkins and there is nothing like sailing .This summer we never got out, work got in the way . I tell my bride that I'm going to have a mid-life crises and sail away and the only thing stopping me is the Coon Rapids Dam (the last dam before the lock system on the Mississippi) I'll give you a ride past the dam was her response.

Nothing stops you from getting another bike and moving back on land as long as you have your health your set. Enjoy the trip no matter what.

[Kregerdoodle]

We wish ya`ll all the luck and happiness in the world on your new Venture...like they say " we only go around Once " make the best of it. ya know ya`ll could sail around Fla. into the Gulf and we can have a M&E in Galv. Do keep up with the site, as you never know when we might be talking about ya!!

 

Kreg

 

 

 

A friend of mine who retired from the salt mine was chatting with a friend of his about bikes. He knew that they were searching for a newer bike. Bruce gave Barry and Donna my telephone #, and contact was made.

 

Well, they came over Wednesday night, had a look at our 04 midnite, and fell in love. Took it for a spin, had a friend check it out and came back with big grins on both their faces. They called after dinner tonight, and said that they were waiting word from the bank and wanted the bike. They currently have a 1st gen...it's an 85, and it has over 100,000 on the odometer. So, they wanted another, newer Venture. We had a nice visit....it was great trading "Venture" stories. I guess to make a long story short, looks like Beth and I are soon to be bikeless.

 

I bought my first bike when I was 12 years old, a 50cc Bombardier, and except for a hiatus while raising my boys, riding has been a passion for me. But, in all honesty, I have lost my lust for this sport.....truthfully, the accidents this year have really hit home, and probably have had some impact on my decision. Once I get on the bike, it's just like home, the problem was getting my leg swung over the seat in the first place. We have decided to try to "look in to our future" so to speak. I'm tired of the cold and winter, and we have a desire to retire on the water somewhere warm.....so we have purchased a Bayfield 29C sailboat. We will try this out, and if Beth can handle the "motion of the ocean", we will sell the 29 footer and move up to a larger sailboat closer to retirement, outfit it the way we want to, and then, as the saying goes......sail off into the sunset.

 

We have made a lot of great friends here on this site, and we will miss each and every one of you. We do plan on continuing to attend local meets and eats...er greets when my work schedule allows us to do so.

 

I want to say THANK YOU to all who have helped me through their posts working on my bikes, who have actually worked on my bike, who have directed me to sites to purchase new safety chrome and other accessories for our ride. It would have been so much harder to dress the bike up, have the confidence in it's mechanical abilities to just get up and go for weeks at a time. Before finding you all and this site, I couldn't do most of the repairs/updates that I've done over time on both my 96 royal star and the Venture. Changing out a clutch slave cylinder, doing the brakes, adding lighting....the list goes on.

 

I'm still going to pop in on the site now and then to check up on everyone...wouldn't miss the enjoyment of reading all the posts and updates here on the site, seeing who is getting into "trouble" with the mods..., what's new in everyone's lives.

 

Anyways, good luck to you all....Gary and Mary, you're just a half hour away, we'll drop in now and then, Monty, good luck with the boys overseas, Freebird, keep fighting the big "C", you are going to completely beat the beast, Ponch, keep up the good fight, we're all in your corner pushing you on, Yammer Dan...buddy, you keep the site interesting!!!! IBents, we'll see you at the wine party and get you out for a sail next summer I hope. Carbon One, keep those ideas rolling and producing accessories for these great rides. Squidley, Lonna, Kregerdoodle, Gunboat and the rest of the Houston gang, we had a blast down there last year, we'll not soon forget that ride!

 

A ton of great memories, awesome times, great friends!

 

gunk

[T.J.]

I th-ink's he's been smellin's to much salt down in them there mines and now he thinks sail-in them ocean's will give him some more up his nose.

 

You better stay in touch gunk.

 

Glad ya got it sold if that's what ya wanted.

 

Say hi to Beth.

[Yammer Dan]

Keep us posted Gunky.

[Marcarl]

Gonna miss ya Gunk,,,, but hey, if you want to get wet,,, go for it,,, a man has to do what a man has to do, and if he has his wife along side,,,, wow, that's LIFE!!!

[Carbon_One]

We'll miss riding with ya Gunk & Beth but at least we should see you some times during the year. That is if you're on land around here. LOL

Enjoy your boat & life on the water.

Larry

[Yammer Dan]

Hey Gunk you could take the cage and go to a M&E....

[awsmsrv]

What about a trike?

[MidlifeVenture]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n5G0qFBsHM]World Premiere Video: "Knee Deep" Feat. Jimmy Buffett - YouTube[/ame]

[BradT]

Keep in touch and all the best with the sail boat. Don't forget the party you were having HAHA

 

Brad

Edited November 6, 2011 by BradT
Spelling

[ibents]

IBents, we'll see you at the wine party and get you out for a sail next summer I hope.

 

 

 

Wouldn't miss it Randy and sailing sounds like a plan, I'll be dropping in on you anyway.

 

Ian & Pat

[Gary N.]

Glad it's working out for you Randy.

[spear]

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Do yo' own thing bro!

[Squidley]

Good friends are hard to find, you and Beth fit that phrase. The door is ALWAYS open down here in Texas no matter how you get down here. Lonna and I wish you all the best, we do expect you to not be a stranger....all the best to both of you my friend

[Monty]

Randy, I'm glad you got it sold, if that's what you really want. We will miss riding with you and Beth, but I'm sure we'll see each other again eventually. Enjoy your boat, I know we have been enjoying ours. Have fun, and tell Beth we said hi.

 

 

Fair winds and following seas to ya.

[Evan]

Hey Randy - Sad to hear about your sale but congratulations on your purchase and future plans. In my case, my first love was horses and I had a bunch of them. In fact, bought my first bike back in 1962 to get to a horse place where I hung out. About 35 years later, I gave up all my horses and with my wife, bought our first sailboat. Still have a sailboat, and we still enjoy the sailing experience, which is even harder to explain to others than the joy of riding. Enjoy!!!

[adventurer 08]

It was nice to meet you and Beth. Hopefully we can will see you again, maybe at the Renaissance Festival?