Leaderboard

Today a 'wet' day. After spraying the grey filler on the metal parts also, we sanded everything with 400/600 sandpaper. The parts are like new. Next week we're in de paint booth again spraying the base-coat on all the parts. The shiny parts are still wet from sanding.

I got a message from a member asking why the site is so dead lately. I don't know for sure but I feel like it's just taking the same course as so many clubs do over the years. We have to be around 15 years old now and many of our core members have gotten older and quit riding. I don't even ride much any longer. I think I took my bike out one time last summer. I keep saying that I'm going to get back into it but just haven't had the desire. I think that all this Covid stuff played at least a small part. Our regional rallies and etc. were a glue that helped hold us all together,. Getting together in person and sharing our stories, working on the bikes, just enjoying one anothers company always seemed to rekindle things. I haven't even had my annual Maintenance Day now for 3 years and that was a highlight, at least for Eileen and I. Not sure we'll have it this year due to the surge of Covid happening again. I know that we need to but just don't know yet. I've not been nearly as active and that pays a big part also, I used to spend a lot of time looking for interesting things to post, tips for our bikes, all kinds of things but just haven't had the time. Starting a new business about 3 years ago has consumed a lot of my time. Now here is something that I haven't told any of you. Those of you who have been around for a long time will remember that I had a bout with cancer a few years ago, about 13 years ago to be more exact. I had Ocular Melanoma and due to the radiation and etc.,, ended up losing 100% of the site in my right eye. I still go back yearly for follow ups. Well my yearly exam was last week and I was dismayed to learn that I again have the cancer. It, luckily, is in the same eye so going blind is not an issue. The fact is though, I don't know yet if it has spread to the liver or anywhere else. I will be going into the hospital late next week for surgery and more radiation. I have appointments sometime over the next week or so for MRIs and etc. to determine if it has spread. I'm trying to not fret over it too much. Just going about my work and will see where things end up. I hate that the site has gotten slow but have no intentions of shutting it down anytime in the near future. I put my heart and sole into this site for a lot of years and I have to do better. In the meantime, I hope that most of you will stick with us, spread the word about the site, and hopefully we can get it moving again. Only time will tell.

I just peaked at the community map, so I know you're all out there. I'm suffering from rally-envy...seems our eastern most contemporaries are having all the fun, comradery and making lasting friendships & memories. Let's celebrate the end (hopefully) of all this covid madness with a rally of our own! If you are in the western part and interested in a rally to meet other venture riders (non-venturers welcome too!), please respond with location, how far/long you'd be willing to travel time frames that work and if willing to help plan/organize. Also, if you have any locations in mind, even better. I'm in San Jose, CA and willing to go ~7-800 miles (two days of travel). Late spring through the fall works for me. Thanks!

Might I suggest a quick wet sanding with 2000 paper before final coat? Seems to give a deeper shine I think.

Best of Luck! Hope you can get the same results I did on mine.

Just don't do it in the kitchen. Don't ask how I know

Damn Don, you need to knock that stuff off and get better, appreciate all that you have done with Venture Rider. I think Facebook has killed forums but I feel much more comfortable here than Facebook.