Freebirds MD 2018,, a brief video blog of the way it happened to me and Vaz..

[cowpuc]

 

 

This years annual VR main event of getting together and spinning wrenches on our steeds took on a slightly different twist for our bike "Tweeksis", my wife "Tip" and I. A friend of ours from Arizona decided to come up and camp with us for a spell and then join us on our trek to the holy grail of all of our clubs rallys held in Ohio. Knowing that most of our club members dont have the built in gps capabilities that I was blest with from birth, I was concerned with my friend Vaz's (short for "VideoArizona") ability to locate us, so Tweeks and I decided to head out on an adventure that we now refer to as "The Hunt For VideoArizona"...

 

[cowpuc]

Tweeks has this uncanny ability to instantly make friends with people everywhere she goes so I was not surprised to find her talking with this young lady when we stopped for fuel in Holland Michigan while hunting for Vaz. This person gladly honored Tweeksis with another friendly signature on one of her many stickers she and her predecessors have earned but when asked if she had any idea of where we might find VideoArizona she unfortunately didn't have clue.

 

[cowpuc]

As Tweeks and I closed in on the Indiana state line while executing our hunt for VideoArizona, I got this impending feeling that we should stop and check for any new text/phone messages from Vaz. We pulled off at exit 29 only to be greeted by a text message from Vaz that stated that just 10 minutes before, Vaz had pulled off at exit 28!!!!! This type of irony is not that uncommon in our bike club and is part of the reason that we call each other "brother" as well as "friend",, at least thats the way I see it.

 

[cowpuc]

HI VAZ!!!!!!! The hunt for VideoArizona may be over and the irony of the location of our initial meeting place may slowly fade off in VR MD history but the fun and memories two really good friends will make while out goofing off on their motorcycles has just begun!!!

 

[cowpuc]

Sitting there talking in that Honda dealership about Vaz's motorcycle journey from his home state of Arizona was in full swing when this pretty little blue 2018 Goldwing came by strutting her bling completely side tracking our ongoing reunion!!!The wheels of the 2018 MD were DEFINITELY beginning to spin!!!

 

[Drews]

hay puc are you at DON'S MORE VIDEO's PLEASE

[Sylvester]

I am looking to seeing both of you "lop eared motorcycle bikers guys":dancefool:

 

[cowpuc]

hay puc are you at DON'S MORE VIDEO's PLEASE

 

Nahhh,,, been way to nasty here weather wise to head for Oberlin.. We are hanging out at our place, working on scoots and burning burgers on the grill.. You headed that way Drews? How's the rain on your side of Michigan?

Working on getting ya up a couple more vids here,,, hold I just a second,, I think one is done cookin:happy34:

[cowpuc]

I am looking to seeing both of you "lop eared motorcycle bikers guys":dancefool:

 

 

Right back at cha Sly,, right back at cha!!!!!:dancefool:

 

and a couple more of my anti rain dance steps tossed in here for good measure:dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool:

[cowpuc]

---

Being from the great State of Arizona and knowing from experience how warm it can get in that desert region I was surprised, honored to be the one to show Vaz but still surprised, that my friend didn't know that the coolest spot in the Honda shop was laying on the concrete floor in their showroom. I really appreciated Vaz's idea that maybe we could add even more coolness by laying under a new Goldwing - WORKED GREAT IMHO CAUSE LOOK HOW COOL WE ARE!!!!

 

 

[cowpuc]

In this little video clip the viewer will get a glimps of my good friend Vaz instructing me on how to properly execute passing a Semi while out CTFW (thats Venturerider.org talk for Chasing The Front Wheel)!!! VERY well done brother!!!

 

[cowpuc]

I made this clip purposely to show folks why it's important to remember to take the keys out of your bike when your out chasing the front wheel and stop at a friends house to say howdy. This is especially important to do if your prone to falling asleep while sitting on your brothers couch after riding thru 7 States just to say hi!!!

 

 

[Drews]

NO RAIN ON EAST SIDE OF MICHIGAN LEAVING FRIDAY for MD

[cowpuc]

After finding out Vaz's new Shinko 777 HD rear tire had picked up a nail somewhere between his home in Arizona and Benton Harbor Michigan (THANK YOU LORD THAT MY FRIEND DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FLAT TIRE ON HIS 2ND GEN OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT HE HAD RIDDEN CHICAGO WITH THAT AIR LEAKING AROUND THAT SAME NAIL!!!) and knowing that we were fortunate enough to have made it up to my house in mid-Michigan on the two bit plug we had stuck in it to stop the leak,,,,, we figured we had stretched our luck far enough and decided it was tire change time!!!!2 lop eared good buddy varmints having one heck of a GREAT TIME IMHO!!!

 

 

 

[cowpuc]

Having never owned or worked on a 2nd Gen Yamaha Venture I had a lot to learn about them and could not have asked for a better instructor/mentor than my friend and brother - "VideoArizona" (AKA VAz). If you take a moment and follow this little video series and watch carefully, you may pick up on some of Vaz's savviness too!!!

 

[cowpuc]

In this video we learn how to raise a 2nd Gen Venture in the air to change its rear tire without a jack stand adapter, we explore the possibilities of using a 1st Gen center stand on a 2nd Gen (I still think it may be doable with a little fabbing but we were running out of time) and we learn the finer art of falling asleep while spinning wrenches and laying on warm pavement if needed!! Two really good friends making the best of what could have been a REALLY bad situation and turning into a REALLY fun time!! THANKS VAZ for your upbeat attitude,, YOU are the GREATEST brother!!

 

[Condor]

After finding out Vaz's new Shinko 777 HD rear tire had picked up a nail somewhere between his home in Arizona and Benton Harbor Michigan (THANK YOU LORD THAT MY FRIEND DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FLAT TIRE ON HIS 2ND GEN OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT HE HAD RIDDEN CHICAGO WITH THAT AIR LEAKING AROUND THAT SAME NAIL!!!) and knowing that we were fortunate enough to have made it up to my house in mid-Michigan on the two bit plug we had stuck in it to stop the leak,,,,, we figured we had stretched our luck far enough and decided it was tire change time!!!!2 lop eared good buddy varmints having one heck of a GREAT TIME IMHO!!!

 

Puc..... You need to invest in a compressor.... :-) VDOAZ is a better man than I am... that thing you're using would have driven me nutz...

 

How much PUC can a CowPUC CHUCK, if a CowPUC could CHUCK PUC???? Say that 5 times...quickly...

[cowpuc]

Puc..... You need to invest in a compressor.... :-) VDOAZ is a better man than I am... that thing you're using would have driven me nutz...

 

How much PUC can a CowPUC CHUCK, if a CowPUC could CHUCK PUC???? Say that 5 times...quickly...

 

I know Jack,, its discusting aint it?? Vaz is actually one of only a few people who really knows the depth of what I am about to tell you here and he is still on the road so I will just give you the short version.... I've been picking and choosing what I do with my limited "up time" for a while now and, basically,,, putting my "shop" back together has been back burnered for way to long.. That little noise maker has actually been a life saver though cause my kids regularly use Dads garage and until I get the big one plumed in and fired up,, it still does the job..

The good news, for which I am VERY thankful, is that I am still here and actually feeling better and looking forward to PERMENANTLY shutting that noisy thing off (gonna give it to my son ) and getting these air hoses ran and plummed in... Day by day,,, one step at a time brother!!

[cowpuc]

This will be the final video about our valiant attempt at making the ride to Oberlin for this years Maintenance Day. We had a LOT of fun visiting with and getting to know my friend from Arizona here in West Michigan but, as happens sometimes in life, we had to change our plans about riding down to the big Venture Rally. Maybe next year will be different!!

 

[Condor]

I know Jack,, its discusting aint it?? Vaz is actually one of only a few people who really knows the depth of what I am about to tell you here and he is still on the road so I will just give you the short version.... I've been picking and choosing what I do with my limited "up time" for a while now and, basically,,, putting my "shop" back together has been back burnered for way to long.. That little noise maker has actually been a life saver though cause my kids regularly use Dads garage and until I get the big one plumed in and fired up,, it still does the job..

The good news, for which I am VERY thankful, is that I am still here and actually feeling better and looking forward to PERMENANTLY shutting that noisy thing off (gonna give it to my son ) and getting these air hoses ran and plummed in... Day by day,,, one step at a time brother!!

I'm right there with you Puc. It's interesting how as we get older how some of those burning desire's just don't have the importance they once had. Or the energy to do them... The back burner is piling up...