cowpuc

After we filled Tweeks fuel tank we went inside the Skull Valley Store, got a couple sandwiches, a coke, some fresh pop corn and went out front to sit on our favorite bench to relax while we pondered the day we had just experienced. The last time we were here a real friendly Utah woman had waited on the three of us - this time it was a middle aged man who was also a very friendly person. He came outside and visited with us while we ate dinner. After we chatted about Tweeks and our ride in from Sacramento, we told him that it is customary for the 3 of us to stop in to the store any chance we get, he started telling us about the store. Apparently it is owned by him and his wife, the girl that waited on us last year was an employee and he was glad to hear she had treated us well. He laughed when I told him about the video prank video Tip and I had made while camping behind his store. The owner said we could camp in there any time we wanted and stay as long as we wanted BUT, he said he knew of a spot that we would probably really get a kick out of. He gave us directions that involved riding a few desert trails that started about a half mile east of where we were setting. The attendant looked at Tweeks and said the old girl looked like she would do just fine on some of the deep ruts that plagued the trail leading to the camp spot he was thinking of - even in the dark.. Before heading out to find the secret camping spot that the Skull Valley Store owner had just told us about, I asked about the horse corral I had noticed earlier. The gentleman told me that local cowboys have a round up every year at the beginning of May and that they still use that old corral during that time. Apparently the old "open range" concept is still used out there and, just like in the old days - real genuine cowboys come in on HORSE BACK and round up the cattle that is scattered all over that huge section of land. I asked if they used quads and motorcycles to chase the cattle and he said no - they still do it the hard way. Apparently they do use a special breed of dog to assist in the round up - he began to explain that there is only one domestic dog that wont back down from Coyotes, they are white in color and a joy to watch work the cattle. I recalled many years ago being camped on the prairie and being awakened by some strange white dogs with bells on their collars chasing a coyote - I never did find out what kind of dog they were but, after I explained that to the attendant he said it sounded just like the kind of pooch he was referring to. He invited us out to watch the round up event and said they also do real old fashioned branding and "snipping" during round-up. Than, after all the work is done the cowboys throw a HUGE western shin dig that is second to none!!!! This sure sounded like something that Tweeks, Tip and I will have to attend some year and it is now on our ever growing bucket list.

We arrived safely in one of my favorite little camping spots in Utah - a place called Skull Valley. This time we actually made it in time to purchase fuel and get something to eat from the tiny convenience store other than the day old popcorn we had to eat the last time we came into this place. They have a huge parking area beside out back of this notorious western icon and that is the place where I have camped on several occasions going all the back into the 80's. Some of you readers may remember this location as the spot that Tippy and I made a prank video about a few years back. It is the one found on You Tube (all my ride video's can be found there by searching for me - Scott Barnhard - on the You Tube site) where Tip and I shared an early morning uptake of the gorgeous Utah mountains here in beautiful Skull Valley.

I know I already put the quarter in and played this for Steamer but, to be fair and so Steamer dont have to share.. You two have a blast down there Robin, ya hear!!

Wow Reiny, could not believe what I was reading here!! Absolutely - Thoughts and Prayers Up for your wife and your father!! Like you said, THANKFULLY it didnt happen while on the road somewhere, at least you folks caught it now! Please give them both a great big hug from Puc and Tippy and let them know we are praying for and thinking of them! Thanks for posting this up and PLEASE keep us updated.

WOW!! GREAT WORK THERE PLUMBER!! Thank you for sharing with us!!

NICE!! Thanks Don! Now the questions start Wondering what Viewed Traffic and Not Viewed Traffic are - like its any of my business:missingtooth: THAN (I know, that ol Puc is kind of a nosey old varmint), I also wonder what makes a Unique Visitor unique? Would that be people like Eck, FlyinFool and YammerDan?

@Chaplain Dusty, here is a link to that thread I was looking for. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/watering-hole/86325-carb-metering-rod-question.html?highlight=slide+needle I couldnt remember if I had actually sent this to you or not. I did end up dropping the needles on Tweeks by 67 thou as I recall. I worked perfect, she got and held her MPG just fine and maintained the ability to still run 85 octane (no spark knock from running to lean). She also made the whole summer last year and didnt burn down so I guess the jetting is pretty close. I didnt dare go any farther than the 67 thou though cause I had a hunch I would have to rejet my pilots and I didnt want to put that kind of work in her, again. Hope this helps and BLESS YOU TOO my brother!! Puc

Sounds like my cousin who moved down south many years ago Dan O'.. Guy by the name of Elvis sang a tune about her,, definitely your type!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMo1csFQbB0

Good on ya Goat!! Couple bucks here and there can make a BIG difference in turning around struggling finances! You are in our thoughts and prayers!! The quad sounds like it might need a good carb cleaning, maybe got some dirt in the main jet, especially if it runs fine at an idle. Depending on the carb, may have an access plug in the bottom of the bowl so you dont have to pull the carb - just unscrew the plug - grab a socket and pull the main out of it. I would pull the air cleaner and check for mice nests and pull the spark plug and make sure it aint fouled first though..

Hope you have fun down there too Craig!!

Have fun in the sun down there Steamer!! As far as actually moving down there,, if it were me I wouldnt even start looking until I had crossed that bridge that connects Key West to the bottom of Florida. Aint no way, aint no how, I would trust this cold weather not to figure out a way to get me even in Florida!!

Just heard there are a bunch of folks down there without power due to this extremely cold weather.. Hope any of our family members involved in that mess are ok! Thoughts and Prayers Up for everyone down there involved in it!! Puc

Don, do all the ads found under the section marked "Ebay" ads that belong to members here or do you have some kind of a flagging device on Ebay that grabs anything marked "Venture" that automatically posts it in our classifieds? Did I word that so its understandable???

Just found this posting a ways back,, I know its kind of an old one.. I was wondering if this MD thing was still on? Looks like it might be a fun place to go hang out...

Maybe I need to add some better pics or something,, its 5 dollars a TRUNK load Orlin, I simply do not sell Snolettes by the case! Oh, yea,, it is apparent that you dont know much about Snolettes. I have many return customers so, either people around here know they are real or they simply dont care!! All that said, should I send you a trunk load? I like the way SaddleBum thinks!!

My oh my,, look what the cat dragged in Tip!! If it aint our long lost pal @Lone Eagle!! Hey ya lop eared bald one - how's that Harley treatin ya these days bro!! Hope all is well!! Really nice to hear from you! Sharing awesome memories about that rally you put together out there in "The Dalles" was a piece of cake, there were sooo many to choose from - what a great time we all had!! Thanks for jumping on and saying hi Mr. Eagle! Dont be a stranger ya rascal - ya had us worried that you were still at the The Dalles trying to explain why you and @Condor chose their town for the Rally

We shall see my good friend, we shall see!! We get up there CTFWing across your beautiful country and if I find out differently, can I count on you to come and talk with the Canadian Authorities to explain where I got the notion from that we would be welcome?

Now why would I wanna do a thing like that Bubster? Its fun having a best friend who really believes I am the hottest thing since the invention of the fastest bike on the planet - an 83 Venture!! Me and Tweeks, we know a good thing when we're living it!!

Have a GREAT time down there CE!! Get on that ship, have the CaptN' choose a straight south heading and dont stop until ya hit 90 degrees!! Shut off the motor and stay there till ya here from one of CABIN FEVERED family members thats it's safe to come home (thats what I would do)!! Seriously, hope you have a super time down there!! Puc

I shoulda known something involving all you folks that work so hard at fund raising for St. Judes would have been right at the top of the attendance list Mom!! THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK!!

Hey there Mr. Video man - AWESOME PICS!! Looks like you guys are getting er done! Thank you for giving us the honor of sharing that WARM hearted gathering with us!! WAY COOL!! Mr Visitor man, if you are reading this, we would be thrilled to make the acquaintance of another friend of Davids, any friend of that rascals is a future friend of ours for sure - jump on here and say Howdy!!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL pic there Van!!! That mother of yours really has good taste and she showed it by her choice in marriage!! , Obviously your father is a GREAT man!! Beautiful!! CONGRATS on saving that scoot thru all these years my friend - THAT is priceless!! As for me, I was born with some defective chromizones so my dad (he was a sports guy) didnt have to energize my bike addiction - I came from birth with it.. I was born during the day and age when "liking" motorcycles was taboo. While attending kindergarten I got into a lot of trouble cause I didnt "fit" well with the rest of the children my age, they were all into collecting base ball cards and stuff while I would sit at my desk and draw pics of choppers (sounds funny but I am not kidding - it really happened this way). My parents had 7 children (I was second born - have a sister 1 year older than I) all of which, other than myself, were normal - playing sports and all that. Wasnt enough money to go around so my severe needs of spinning wrenches always got set on the back burner.. My early years of wrenching found me dragging home bicycles, cutting front ends of hollow forked Huffies and sliding the cut Huffy fork tubes onto Schwinn solid forks to manufacture choppers. I probably had over 20 neighborhood kids with choppers by the time I was 8 years old. I also noticed that my neighbors old rototiller had a side shaft Clinton motor on it and came up with the genuis idea of finding one of those motors and mounting on my pedal bike. There was a store called "Strevel's" about 7 miles from our home in Fruitport whose owner was into selling used mowers out front of the store. I would ride my chopper bicycle up there at least twice a month just to look at the side shaft mowers. At first, old man Strevel would actually come out and start the mowers for me to show me they would run (I would just sit there smelling that burning fuel and dreaming). Wasnt long though and he wouldnt even come outside. My parents bought me a used 10 speed pedal bike for my 9th birthday. A few weeks later my grandfather, who was actually the only person who really understood me back than, gave me an old kickstart washing machine motor (probably all of 1 horse power - wish I still had it - it was COOL) and I went about the task of cutting the center post out of my 10 speed to prepare if for the wash machine engine. My dad came home from work, saw what I was doing and thats when I received my 1,000,000th whoppin from him. He later came out of the house (had apparently talked to my mom about anger management), apologized for smacking me. About a week later I was helping him on his linen route, he got a big smile on his face as we pulled into a tire company (Atlas Tire in Grand Haven Mi) where he had rugs on their floors and said he had something to show me. We went inside and there sat a GORGEOUS 1959 Sears/Allstate/Puch moped!! My dad told me that if I paid for 1/2 (I worked unloading trucks at his linen company and I also had a paper route) he would pay the other half. I will NEVER forget loading my new (to me) Sears moped into the back of that old linen truck - I FINALLY HAD A REAL MOTORCYCLE!! There were rich kids in our area who had mini-bikes and stuff that I would ride any chance I had but, THERE IS NOTHNG LIKE A GEAR HEADS FIRST BIKE. About 2 weeks after we got the bike home the old girl decided it didnt want to run.. This time it was my mom who walked over to the high school parking lot (our yard was all sand and we had no garage) where I had the top end off my moped and started yelling things like "that thing will never run again" (the old Sears mopeds had a lot of shrouding on them so the pile of parts she started yelling at me about was actually 85 percent shrouding - it wasnt that big of a deal). I had torn ALOT of mowers apart during my early years and I just KNEW the old bike needed a set of rings and sure enough it did. Most folks probably will never believe this but Sears actually sold quite a few motorcycles back in those days and their parts supply was second to none!! After my parents had calmed down and I had stuffed all my moped parts into a box, I talked my mom into taking into sears where I bought a new set of rings, a base gasket and the cutest little tin head gasket that a gear head has ever laid eyes on. I roughend her tiny little bore up with sand paper, cleaned everything up real good in gas, lubed it all down and stuck her back together.. I will NEVER forget the look on my parents faces as I drove across our front yard on my freshly rebuilt, first motorcycle. Having finally found the real me, I purchased my second bike - a gorgeous 1967 Bonanza BC1300 two years later. It took me a while to save up for that one cause every time I could gather seemed to go into running costs of my Moped. What I really wanted at the time was the full fledged chopper that Bonanza offered with the Hodaka Ace 100 motorcycle engine it - I simply could not come up with the money for it and the sharing costs that my parents did on the Moped was a one time shot. My Bonanza was ok but the 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds that Bonanza advertised in their flyer was really where I saw myself (oh yea, I collected bike flyers back than and also sent away for info that was found in the bike mags of the day - I still have a LOT of the flyers I collected as a kid - I can probably did out the poster of the Bonanza Chopper and snap a shot of it if you would like - I used to DRUEL over that thing). Here is a pic that my little sister took of me way back then. I still have the frame of my first bike - the 59 - sitting in my basement. Not to long ago I noticed a later model of the same bike for sale for a couple hundred bucks. Tip and I went over to Grand Rapids and drug it home. My plan is to use this later model Moped as a parts bike to restore (not repaint and all that - just put it together in its perfect patina state) my original first bike to rideable condition and then use it as a daily rider.. My defective chromizones never did get better and I have suffered with it my whole life. I have owned hundreds of bikes thru the years of many makes/models and engine configurations. I can tell you from first hand experience that I KNOW how you feel about that gorgeous picture of you and your dad - there is NOTHING like that first bike! Oh yea, I raced bike starting at 16 years old, my final embarrassment for my parents came about when they saw my High School Graduation pictures, everyone of my peers appeared with a suit coat, mine choice of clothing was, well,, me..

WOW - down right PURRRRDY!! Welcome back Daitan and looking forward to seeing you out there too!!! Puc

pusuh shhiaeth montoye etootsx translated = I cant talk right now my beard is still tangled and frozen in the snow blower!! 3 weeks Fool, ya got yourself 3 weeks and its SPRING!!!!!!

Right there with ya big guy!! Those were probably also the days when my biker buddies would tease me about having the only "bagger" Chop with an 18 over front end cause I always showed up at the parties with grocery sacks of brew hanging over the rear seat being held on by what ever happen to occupying that seat!!