AKRefugee

Umm, I have to say scam. I lived in Alaska for 32 years and I can tell you that at least half the trees in the background don't grow there. Another give away is that no one calls it "The Elmendorf AF Base" the adding of the word "The" is not local . Also note that there is no DOD tag anywhere on the vehicle (which would be required if she was based at Elmendorf). Lastly in the 3rd and 6th picture you can see a dealer tag on the keys. All I can say is Run Forest, Run.

That wasn't just riding and stunting. That was true artistry.

Those scammers will try that with anything. Here is a good one. I have some Maltese puppies for sale advertised online with the local newspaper. One day I got a call from the TTY operator. If you don't know what this is it is a relay service that a deaf caller can send a typewritten message to and receive typewritten messages back. The operator acts as a relay between you and the caller. The caller asked for my email and gave me theirs ad wanted the cost of puppies etc (funny because I had listed the full price in the add). I sent them an email from my email that I have just for these type of things. Response was that they wanted it for their son, would send me a check for the amount plus shipping, someone would come and get the dog and I would give them the shipping fees. Yeah right I fell for that one. What happens is that the bad guys send you a bank check from an overseas bank. This takes a while to process. In the mean time you have deposited it in your account, given them the item and the extra cash. But wait, after about 2 weeks the bank check comes back as a forgery. Now your bank is after you for the full amount of the bank check, your item is gone, the bad guys have your "shipping fees" in cash and your credit gets wrecked because any payments you made based on the sale money bounced because of the forged bank check. The bottom line is that if you are selling something to a stranger and it involves you giving your own money out first RUN.

#10) 36 degrees for 5 or so hours can be done . . . it's not as fun as it sounds . . . but it can be done #9) It Really is warmer in Florida #8) They know how to grill fish properly in Florida #7) Vaseline cures anything and everything . . . right Brake Pad??? #6) If it in any way resembles an alarm clock sound some people will get up and take a shower . . . even if it is 1:11am and not 6am . . . right Tom??? #5) If you wet down used dryer sheets they will easily remove dead love bugs from your car or bike #4) If you smear Vaseline on the front of your bike you won't have to worry about Love Bugs sticking to your bike at all (see #7) #3) Wife and I are still laughing about #6 HAHAHA #2) Venture riders will not pass up an opportunity for Ice Cream even the ones in Florida and Top 10 Thing I learned at the Florida M&E #1) Venture Riders in Florida do know how to have a fun Meet and Eat

Gotta say that the second one looks like she passed out there.

Well lets see. Look at bikes with scantily clad women hanging on them. Or meet up with some of the folks from here and eat great food. Oh Wait!!! Now I see the dilemma.

I am definitely going to be in town this weekend so I will be making it to Lexington. I will be coming from Charlotte just off I77 near the SC border. If anyone wants to ride up together call me or drop a quick line.

Thanks Mike. I will check that out.

Discovered the other day that my flashers only work on the left side. All turn lights work on right side and left side but when I turn on only the flashers only the left sides work. Any ideas?

Gene, I well understand where you are at with this. I experienced almost a carbon copy of this several years ago.The images never go away, and never should, as that it what assures us of our humanity and humility. This is a piece of you that has been added without your desire or permission. The shock and grief never goes away but rather you learn to life with this new piece of you. As so many have already said talking about it will help. Expressing your grief and sense of helpfulness does not make it go away but it does help you bring it into better focus. You have my number and you can call me at any time day or night if you just need someone to listen. All of our prayers are with you, the father and everyone involved and touched by this tragedy that their hearts and minds will be calmed and healed.

Well gotta say it wasn't really all that bad. I made the drink up the night before and put it in the fridge so it was nice and chilled when it was time. I added the orange flavoring to it so that helped as well. I started to add the vodka but was caught in the act and had to stop (WHAT, where does it say on the box that I can't). After the pill and the drink everything (and I do mean everything) came out "okay", and came out "okay" and came out "okay", in fact it was still coming out "okay" the next morning. When it came time to go to the docs I tried to get my Sweetie to let me take the bike but she said something about not daring to sit behind me (yeah there was that particular grin again) so we had to take the cage. Of course since she was driving so I had to navigate. We almost didn't make it in time because she took a wrong turn (WHAT, I wasn't the one driving so I didn't get us lost). When we got to the docs office and all signed in we had to wait for them to call us. As others were called I would lean over to my Sweetie and tell her "I know what going to happen to theemmm". This was immediately followed by a firm punch to my shoulder (WHAT, I was just speaking the truth). When they called my I could not resist and stood up and yelled "BINGO" "WHAT DID I WIN". At least this time I was smart enough to not be within her reach so I didn't get the shoulder shot (but I did get the eye roll). The nurse didn't know if she should let me in back but she gave me a grin and led me to the back (what is it with women and that particular grin?). Little did I know that she would be the one putting the needle in me. In spite of that particular grin the nurse had given me she did a superb job of poking me nicely. Of course I had to get my fun in so when she started to reach for me I pulled my hand back and told here not until I got a sucker and a promise of a Spiderman band-aid later. (Hey guess what, she knows that eye roll thing as well). For a moment though I could have sworn that particular grin started to appear as she begin to insert the needle. Of course only she knew she had "other recourses". She "accidently" banged into the wall 3 times going down the hallway and than spun me around 360 degrees two times getting me in to the procedure room. I am no dummy (or at least I keep reminding my Sweetie) so I kept my mouth shut this time. The doc came in and said hi and asked me if I had any questions. You thought I would have learned by now but I figured he wasn't the nurse so maybe it was okay (remember I'm no dummy?). I than asked him "why he would spend $10,000 on a boroscope just because it had the word medical attached to it when that I could get for one about $2000. They must have seen you coming huh?" Funny thing how that particular grin thing keeps showing up. At that point the nurse had me roll on my side and she got the knock out stuff ready to put in my IV. Fairly sure I seen her hesitate for a moment and that she started to get that particular grin as well but she went ahead and put it in my IV. Than I woke up. Yep, that's all there was to it. One second I'm awake and the next it is 1 1/2 later and I am waking up. About 20 minutes later I am reeling towards the door thinking I was glad I didn't take the bike. The wife drove us home in record time and this time did not miss a single turn. I am not sure if it was because the escaping "air" from my procedure or because the navigator wasn't fully functional. As we were driving home she told me they found 3 polyps but that the doc thought that they were okay. She also told me they removed some hemorrhoids as well. I couldn't leave that one alone now could I? I said that since they took out the things that were a pain in my butt what was she still doing here (I blame the after affects of the anesthesiology for that one). Did you know that my Sweetie is so talented that she can drive, change lanes and punch me in the shoulder all at the same time? After I got home I ate and ate and ate and then slept for about 4 hours. It was a peaceful rest I will say that. Would I do it again? Yeah, it was no where near as bad as I had expected. Would I recommended it to someone else? You bet you. It is a small inconvenience to know that you do or do not have the 3rd leading form of cancer in the United States. If you are of that age, man or woman, go get it done. I want the chance to get to meet as many of you as I can and your loved ones will appreciate it as well.

All I can say is bigger than mine baby bigger than mine.

My Sweetie was pressuring me to go get a full physical and in a moment of weakness (my kids think it was forgetfulness due to my age) I agreed. Of course she made me promise to do what ever the doctor said I had to do (I think she knew what was coming and damned if she didn't keep a straight face about it ) and after some strong arm bending and bribery I promised. Well that doc did the blood test thing and the rubber glove deal and the heart monitor test (and a few others I think he probably made up off the top of his head ) and told me I was looking fairly good. Well I thought that was pretty good and was ready to leave quite content when he said there was one more test he wanted to do (and he smiled , or it might have been more of a gleeful smirk , as he said it). Yep, he was sending me off to get the boroscope thingy done (aka colonoscopy ). So now I am preparing for this deal. I made a check list and have gone through it. Lets see, pill taken? Check. Drink mixed up? Check. Two rolls of TP available? Check. Clear path to bathroom? Check. Okay it looks like I am ready to go (no pun intended). Any way you can bet that I will be a lot more careful about what I let my Sweetie talk me in to in the future and twice as careful about what I will promise her. I will say this though, she has been quite good about no making wise cracks about it , well at least not to much, but that particular grin she has is kinda of giving her away.

I had the aftermarket leveling lings on when my rear shock went out. Two places in NC that I took it to never said a word about it. Of course they thought that the shock was fine and wouldn't do the warranty work on it. Come to find out they didn't even know what the bike was and they were "afraid they would get stuck with the bill if the shock wasn't really the problem when they sent it to Yamaha". When I got back to CA I took it to the local dealer and they know this bike very well. Didn't even blink at replacing the shock and never mentioned the leveling link. I think you will find it a non-issue.

Bump since closer to the date

Thanks for the response guys. Sylvester I will be getting with TD's_TD since he appears to be very close to me. Once I get this thing back on the road we need to all meet up for a ride.

Hey all. Moved to Charlotte but my stuff is not here yet. I really need to get my bike in the air and tighten the front end but my jack is still in CA. Anyone in the Charlotte area have one I can borrow for a day? I live in the south end of Charlotte.

Might want to do what this guy does [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxIwRDs1Yc8&feature=related]YouTube- I Wear My Sunglasses at Night with Lyrics[/ame] Prayers are with you and Eileen.

Man I heard it was hot in Texas but this??? Oh the travesty of it all!!!

That's about 3900 miles. At 450 miles a day that is a 9 day trip from Omaha to Seattle to Anchorage. Depending on when you go you can expect a lot of motorhomes and trailers on the Alcan. This will slow your trip at times. In addition you will be wanting to stop often just to catch your breath from the beauty, especially in Upper British Colombia. If you are going to ship your bike back check with Alaska Airlines. You can get a good rate shipping it from Anchorage as standby freight. You would have to meet it in Seattle and based on the loads you may have to wait two or three days in Seattle for the bike, they can usually give you a good indication when it will ship when you drop it off. Last time I checked it was about $800 USD for the shipping. I would not plan this trip after end of August as the temps can get quite cold starting in Early September and I have run into snow several times in mid September especially between Tok and Anchorage.

Let's see, 11 miles in about 11min 15 seconds. Average speed near 60 mph. Great, if your on a track, bad if your on a road posted at 30 mph. Sorry not impressed. You want to run like that take it to the track.

http://www.cast-aways.com/codypics/IMGP2554%20%28Medium%29.JPG See, I told you we should have taken a left at Albuquerque!!!

Since you are riding two up make sure you put some blue Loctite on the passenger grab handle bolts.

Got this info off another site. I have verified the information and it is correct. Just FYI - There will be a huge BICYCLE ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Sunday, August 29th. This is for the area roughly from Blowing Rock, past Grandfather Mountain and the Linville Cove Viaduct, to the Linville Falls highway exit, basically mile markers 290 - 320. The bicycles will also be traveling on sections of Hwy 221 and other roads in that area. It is an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have no idea how many bicyclists will actually be participating, but please be careful if you are riding or driving in that area. A motorcycle-bicycle "meeting" is a huge hazard for both sets of 2 wheels. Ride safe!

Gotta to tell you. I moved here to Charlotte on 1 July and I do not like riding in the Charlotte area at all. I have seen the worst driving habits in the area than I have ever seen anywhere else, and I have driven in all 50 states and a good many of the provinces as well. Not to bash anyone fron NC but when it comes to riding here I do so with an extreme sense of alertness. I also run one gear lower that I need to so I can make a quicker get out of the way or a faster engine slow down.