cowpuc

Prayers Up, Blessings Down,, nite neverland!

Count on it Bongo, count on it!! THE DAY IS COMING SOON!!

that is flat purdy!! Nice fool, really really nice!

Oh come on Puc......that's a staged pic and you know it. A seasoned biker like you and Tip would sleep on the soft grass in the background in front of the motel for some real shut eye. -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA:rotf::rotf::rotf: Heyyyyyy,, wait a minute,, you were there,,, kinda like the producer of a good movie given up those hidden little secrets Pete.. Bad form bad bad form:rotf::rotf: Besides,, seasoned OLDER bikers like me and Tip would have walked up to one of those doors with bikers sleeping behind em, beat on em until we woke someone up and said move over, we're tired and walked right over that lawn!!! But that wouldnt have made near a good a picture for the end of perfectly true story and you know it Pete..

By the way Larry,, the title of your thread here sounds like the title of a good book!!

Lots of times I have picked up old bikes that have mice nests in the airboxes.. Not sure about actual rats but mice nests - lots of em.. For some reason, and no idea why, those little buggers love air boxes and sometimes exhaust pipes,, no idea what the draw (pun intended) is.. The worst thing as a result that I have experienced is ruined carbs from their urine, those varmints go potty all the time.. I can see though that if the bike was ran and some of the nest was drawn into the intake further problems could and would result.. I make it a point to always check airboxes on bikes I get in for restore 1st thing and have avoided major problems a couple times by doing so.. This applies to all power equipment.. Sounds to me like you caught it in time and a new filter is all ya need to be back in business.. A whole that small sealed off good should be fine till your new filter comes in.. That and getting all that nasty stuff out of there.. You also might wanna double check the wiring in the area for chew marks,, them buggers like chewing wires too!! I have been told that storing with fabric softner sheets stuffed in pipes and air intakes will keep em away.. Might be worth googling.. Now that they have been in there it wouldnt surprise me that other rodents will come in cause of the smell they leave.. Hope this helps, glad ya checked it! Puc

HEAR HEAR!!! THANK YOU DOUG!!! I am soooo glad you pointed that out! Let the countdown begin family!! Puc

And who,, by cracky,, is that on the bike behind the car??

Tip, that brave wife of mine - think about it - would YOU climb on the back of a bike with me at the helm, and I do a fair amount of long hour riding.. Admittingly, we usually only ride sun up till sun down and find that a 12 to 14 hour day in the saddle is enough.. When Tip started her tour of duty in the saddle of our bike, Tweeks, three years ago she was really excited about it.. She took to Tweeks ol saddle like a duck to water.. She found out within her first couple thousand miles years ago that the kids weren't joking that they never got soreness from those prior to Tweeks 1st Gens they straddled many years ago.. Tip found the same comfort in these big ol seats the Yamaha Company had chosen to use on the bikes we have come to love so much.. As many of you know,, saddle soreness,, monkey butt and cramps arent the only issues that long distance riders have to contend with.. There is also the issue of just plain getting sleepy.. When I was younger,, much younger, I could easily spend 24 hours straight up in the saddle, sleep for a few and go right back at it.. In Harescrambling (its a brutal form of racing - kinda like motocross mixed with enduro racing mixed with hill climbing) most race venues offer your choice of 1, 2 or 3 hour races to the riders.. I always chose the 3 hour scrambles cause I just couldnt get enough of the wonderful stuff.. I did really really well in the 3 hour 250cc class back then cause I spent the time when I wasnt racing out playing on my dirtbike.. A 3 hour Harescrambles was actually a picnic for me back than.. Today,, not so much.. I LOVE the last two hours of daylight riding when out on our bike,, I call em Magic Hours.. My daughter used to say that riding cross country on the back of that big ol Yamaha was like being the Movie that people were watching and we were just looking at em watching them watch us.. I gotta say that I have always loved her comment and totally get it.. That being said, the last two hours of the ride day have always been like the end of a good movie,, the part that makes ya cry or laugh or finally get the answer of that notorious question of "wonder how its gonna end".. Now adays, after the show is over I am TIRED.. An additional couple hours of riding makes me even more tired and if I stretch it to far I can literally fall asleep about anywhere once I get horizonal,,, like a cat who just ate a big mouse,, completely satisfied at the day I just ate.. The kids used to nod out on the back of the bike,, lay there head down on whatever we had on the trunk and out they would go.. This is fairly common with lots of passengers.. I once saw a guy riding a Wing down a four lane highway out in California with his wife nodded out on the back of his bike.. Dont know how she could do it but there she was,, sawing logs right in bumper to bumper high speed traffic.. Tip doesnt do that.. She likes to stay awake and watch the action.. Its not like she doesnt get tired but her need for sleep seems to be an almost perfect match for that of my own.. She will climb on the bike at sun up, climb off at gas stops,, wonder around the station a little but usually by the time I get Tweeks fed she is right there waiting to climb back on and continue the movie,,, gosh I love that woman... Whats really cool is that both of our batterys seem to run out at about the same time.. If we get into a situation where we cant find a place to drop our tent its usually her now that will say something like,, hey - theres a bale of hay we could sleep behind or, there's an old campground right there while pointing at a local cemetery,, she's a keeper that Tippy.. For those of you movie goers,, you ever tie into a longggg movie that just keeps going and going,, like Lord of Rings or War and Peace or something along that line? Well,, sometimes riding long distance is like that for us.. There are times that the show is just soooooo good ya simply cant stop watching it!! We did an all dayer last year and found ourselves entering into Death Valley at 1 in the morning on a moon lit night.. Werent no way weren't no how we were gonna miss that gorgeous opportunity!! We rode till about 5 a.m. before we HAD to camp next to a gas pump cause we were bone dry!! It does happen from time to time!! This year while we had a little issue with sleep deprevation on the way to the VentureWest Rally at The Dalles Oregon.. When we finally found the place we were tired and really needed that much missed sleep.. Tweeks found her own place to park away from the cars and other bikes and we didnt even bother hauling out our traveling motel,, or tent if you prefer.. Just another nights rest for a couple of tired bikers and one tired ol bike.. Puc

I will say one thing for you Canucks,, you are some of the kindest, most thoughtful people I have ever met.. Had I of responded with that answer I would have made sure I said something along the line of big "bald" bird that wont be soaring alone with that one.. :rotf: Ooppsss,, there goes ol Pucs longest distance award right out the window.. Oh well,, just stay being such a decent champ Doug and you wont have to suffer the consequences like I do!!! Brother,, you are right,, that Harley is one GORGEOUS bike!!!

How bout this one.. Heyyyyy,,, wait a minute,, this guys on a Harley,, aint no body gonna know who he is..

Chasing the wind has its price,, DOG GONE IT I MISSED THE CHANCE TO GREET A NEW RIDER, Rats!! While I do agree with others who mentioned that a Magna is a pretty good sized bike to start out on, I like to hear about folks starting on an XR100 or something small, I TOTALLY wish you nothing but the best on your new endeavor Heather!!! Practice practice practice (sounds like you have been) and the world is your oyster!! Hope your having fun out there!! Be safe! Puc

Beeeeeutiful!

Not sure Jim,, ya gotta ask EasyRider,, I am just the glue-ee or is that glue-er.. GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR RECENT ENDEAVOR - ROCK AN ROLL BROTHER!! Indeed,, I too hope our paths cross in the near future, would LOVE to shake the hand and get another signature of a mile eating brother!! Eat To Ride. Ride To Eat Puc

And if its lead acid you might wanna check your cell acid levels before sticking a charger on it.. The last battery I bought was a cheapy lead acid off Amazon. If memory serves me, I paid 32 dollars for it shipped, had to buy acid for it at Autozone, about another 8 bucks.. For 40 dollars I was into a new battery.. BUT,, there are certainly MUCH better batteries available that I am sure you will hear about.. I would be careful starting your bike on a weak battery,, the hardest thing on a starter, IMHO, is a low level battery.. Just an FYI.. Good luck and glad to hear your getting back on two wheels! Puc

That comment I keep hearing about Tweeks running out of sticker area could not be further from the truth.. Take a look where some more of my very favorite stickers ended up! A dear new friend of ours, Sargent Coffey of Nellis Air Base found out that the area 51, Nellis Air Base museum located on the Extra Terrestrial Highway was closed when we rode that 150 stretch of no gas highway that passes right thru Nellis so we were unable to stickerize Tweeks so he personally took it upon his broad soldiers shoulders to make sure Tweeks got her just reward.. Now located right next to our sticker from Travis AFB, the base we visited last year, the sticker n patch are proudly worn by Tweeks Sargent Coffey! Also note, a reminder to stop and say hi next time we come thru is clearly visible! THANK YOU CMCOFFEY, WE WILL BROTHER! Puc PS,, if you look close enough you can see in the picture a sticker from the Camp Ground Host at the Oregon State Park where BikerJohn, CMCoffey, the Shuttlebugs (thats MR. Shuttlebug to you LOL) and Tip n I stayed.. Sargent Coffey also made sure that the sticker that this wonderfully understanding gentleman wanted to present us with got safely into our hands!! The sticker is located in the bottom right of the pic right beside the Nellis patch..

EasyRider presented Tippy n I with a very special patch at the Meet n Greet we hosted a couple days ago in Elk Grove California. Tweeks, our beat up ol 83 Venture has never had music come thru those speaker screens but now she does thanks to you EasyRider! Although the music playing is one lonely song, a simple a song with only 6 words, it has been and forever more shall be close to my heart! And more important, very close to my stomach! RIDE TO EAT, EAT TO RIDE! THANKS EASYRIDER, n please pass the Banana Nut ice cream! Puc

Hey you butt kickin Texas Cowboy you,, glad to hear your still kickin em!! No hurry on the fuse block, probably wont get at it till Winter (just typing that word is give me goose bumps).. Wondered if you could PM me your home address though, would like to update my database.. BikerJohn, if you happen to be reading this could you do the same please.. That open door invite swings both ways Squidley!! Give Lonna a hug for us, toss Brownie and Pinky a hunk of chicken for me and THANKS for the compliment on the song,, GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT!! Puc

Puc's sleeping and left his puter on and left us,, his fingers laying on the keyboard.. We just had to fill in the ...... that Dan left in his quote above,, teeeheeeheeheee

Humming,, back in college I took all my typing, keyboarding and CIS classes first.. Later several of my professors told me I should have taken them last as my fingers seem to have a mind of their own.. My final GPA after 4 years of hard labor was 3.96 meaning Summa instead of Magna Cum Laude (4.0),, I was heartbroken.. After pouring over my records I discovered that these goofy, mind of their own fingers had cost me 40 thousandth (once a gear head always a gear head) of my final GPA.. In other words,, there are some things that I really cant blame on my computer or the ink in the keyboard thereof.. Hi,, these are Pucs fingers taking over,, just wanted to say in our own defense (all ten of us),, he's lucky to have us.. We didnt do to bad at that University considering he was a greasy gear headed motorcycle bum in High School who finished that portion of academia way back then by the skin of his teeth with a 1.98 GPA.. Oh, and even our little bothers, Pucs two pinkies KNOW that 1st Gens are BY FAR,, the fastest, bestest of ANY of the Ventures..

Oh yea,, I hate snow even worse,,,, and am beginning to not think to highly of grass either.. Hey Sleepy,, sounds to me like you done did a GREAT job of keeping it all together!! GOOD ON YA BRO!!

Indeed,, BUT,, I agree and yet disagree and agree and yet disagree Lets use Dragonslayer for a recent example, ITS ONLY AN EXAMPLE, I know he has thick skin.. Bob posted a bike up for sale that didnt belong to him, he stated that the bike would probably be sold at a wholesale price and that he was getting nothing for the sale.. To me, his intent was to help someone in OUR family find a really good deal on something that would make one of his family happy.. Personally I like the idea of having 12000 plus family members out there looking out for each other too,,, like a family does.. Doesnt make any difference to me whether its a Craigslist ad or Ebay or just something you know is available and one of us may be interested in,,, I like being treated like I am part of a family.. I also KNOW that if I had something I had advertised on here and nobody seemed interested, family first, and Bob knew of some non family member that was looking for what I was selling that I could count on him to mention the item to the outside person.. Brothers,, or family members, do that kinda stuff for each other.. Nipping it completely can be a double edged sword, especially if your the one who gets caught paying 4 times the price for something because we cant help each other.. On the same token though,, I totally understand your point Hummingbird,, friends selling things for friends thru taking advantage of our privacy just leaves a bad taste in my mouth too.. Perhaps just keeping it out of the Watering Hole and into an area where we have to choose to visit would help those feelings.. Reading all the great replies in this thread gives me a tiny little taste of the frustrations that our leader has to face on a daily bases with this kind of stuff.. It also helps me realize the importants of making sure what ever we are posting up is going in the right spot on the board.. Not that I dont LOVE the people outside of our family BUT,, there are things around here that we really do need to keep within our family cause we're special AND we are worth a buck a month if someone wants to look deeper in to being part of us.. I really really do see Don's point in the intent of this thread.. In order to keep things organized AND to keep the selling and buying of stuff accessible to "family" members (just another perk of being a member), us monitoring our selves is manditory,, he's our boss NOT our mommy,,,, good grief, could you imagine being the mother of over 12000 kids Hey Don,, thought just occurred to me,, there were lots of times that my Mom had to be the tough guy and not be nice too.. She ended up being deeply respected and loved by all that knows her, especially her 7 children.. YOU, my friend, are on that same path,,, no ya bunch of lop eared varmints I aint referring to being on a MOM path... Puc

Indeed,, sharp!!!

WOE,,, WAY WAY COOL!!! The journey Snag,, not this little episode in the park bro,,, THAT is bummer!! THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR THEM MARINES - GOTTA LOVE EM!! Sounds like your having a really really super time in spite of this one incident,, good on ya!! To bad those jarheads didnt catch the culprits in the act eay Try to stay dry somehow and hopefully the stuff will recover with minimal damage!! Good to hear your ok,, and good luck on the next leg of what sounds like an epic journey!! Buy the way,, if your travels take you up into Montana (you probably already been there) keep this in mind,, Grizzlies dont usually carry lighter fluid so you should be ok!! RIDE SAFE and with the wind at your back!! Puc

BUT,,, summers just gettin started AND my camera and tablet are still functional ALSO I happen to have a written invite to come camp in your yard SO on our way to Pork In The Pines you never know what might happen... Plus,, and this is a BIG PLUS,,, the whole true story about our summer riding doesnt even begin until you crank that machine up again this winter SO you are far far from safe!!! Oh yea,, also,, Tip has given me the thumbs up to sneak over on the War Bike and let her sniff around her home town a little late this fall,,, I figure if NOTHING else - she oughta be able to distract a Cheesehead away from his cheese long enough to snap a pic or two of em!!! Andddd another winner,,, a super winner being one of my heroes I might add!! While those other yahoo's arque about who was hittin on who in Cody,, lets try another one of mine.... Heres the deal,, I am looking at the blue bike in the center with the two riders on it BUT,, special honor given to the person who can guess the person on the bike behind them AND double SPECIAL SPECIAL honor for identifying the person on the bike that only the tail section is shown!!! Identifying the person in the car behind the blue bike will also earn double special special honor!! Seeeeee,, arent cha glad you decided to play the game after all!!!