Miles

Okay, there is a lot of speculation going on, and I am here to be the voice of reason, and tell you what really happened. These are the facts: A large truck (18 wheeler) hauling an oversized load, out of B.C., with an oversized load permit, and an escort vehicle in front of it, was trying to cross the Skagit River Bridge, and as it approached the bridge from the north side...going southbound...it attempted to move toward the center of the two southbound lanes...and at the last moment another large truck (18 wheeler) tried to pass this oversized load, forcing the oversized load driver to veer hard right back into his own lane, causing the oversized load to strike and hit the bridge girders on the far right side of the bridge. The oversized load ripped out several of the trellis support girders on the right side of the bridge, and the truck with the oversized load was able to make it all the way across the bridge, but in his rear view mirrors he saw the bridge collapse behind him. He pulled over to the right shoulder after crossing the bridge. The other large truck...(18 wheeler) that made the stupid move of passing the oversized load...also made it across the bridge, and fled the scene. While both truck drivers are at fault, it was the truck driver in the left lane that went flying by the oversized load that really caused this accident. The pickup that was towing a camper trailer...that was immediately behind the oversized truck load, saw everything, and reported all of this to the state patrol. It was this pickup truck...that was towing the camper trailer...and one more car (looked like a red Ford Focus) that went into the river. The ONLY two vehicles to go into the river were the pickup truck that was towing the camper trailer, and the small red Ford Focus. No other vehicles went into the river. The driver of the pickup truck that was towing the trailer dislocated his shoulder in the accident, and when he realized the shock of what happened...he actually put his pickup in Park...set the E-Brake, tried to undo his seatbelt, realized his shoulder was dislocated...he popped it back into place, checked on his wife that was sitting in the passenger seat, she was knocked out...he got her to wake up, she freaked out, he calmed her down, water was getting higher on her side of the pickup, so he dragger her over to his side, and he stepped out onto his running board. That is when he saw the driver of the small red Ford Focus, that was now getting out of his car and climbing on top of it. All victims were taken to the Skagit Valley Medical Center. There were NO deaths. The two men have been released from the medical center, but the woman is still in there, just for observation. The driver of the pickup truck...the one that dislocated his shoulder, and then popped it back in place...is a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy. He was very level headed and cognizant when he explained all of this to the WA. State Patrol. The State Patrol would love to find that other truck driver...the speedy one...that felt he just had to pass the oversized load at the very moment that the oversized load was trying to cross this bridge.

In the OLD days:backinmyday:, when motorcycles did not come with a factory fairing or factory saddlebags, like my Norton 850 or my Triumph 750's, we really did push them into the motel room at night. No kidding. Just had to make certain we turned the fuel petcock off, so the carbs didn't drip fuel all night.

Oh...bazinga !

Chief, you did mean to say...granddaughter...didn't you ?

Oh, I see...I get admonished by a guy that cannot show up for either of the two Meet & Eats that were scheduled around his own calendar. And, what makes you assume it was me that took the picture. It could have been my passenger. We know that you would not want to let go of the handlebar grips with that new V-Twin you just bought:stirthepot: And Hey...that picture clearly states that it is for Barrycuda only. Did he give you permission to look at it ?

Here are some pictures of the gathering at Patti & Don's place. [ATTACH]76703[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76704[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76705[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76706[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76707[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76708[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76709[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76710[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]76711[/ATTACH] And...Barrycuda, this last ones just for you, so don't let anyone else see it:rotf: This...Barry..is how a rider maintains a high overall averaqe speed for all riding and stops combined. Pay attention to the bottom left corner number, and the bottom middle number. You can...(if you can)...ignore any other numbers on that screen:shock3: :rotf:So that is a moving average of 74.1 mph, and an overall average (when including stops for fuel) of 72.4 mph. Just ignore the 99 mph current speed, or the 130 mph top speed. Those do not concern you, as you have a 2nd gen Venture. [ATTACH]76712[/ATTACH]

I got the same one from DHL this afternnoon. Thanks to YOU warning us on this, I deleted it, as spam. Thank you for the warning.

Here is the link to my follow-up, posted earlier today: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78522&page=3

I cannot stop laughing. That made my day.

You see, Barry, this is the Brooklyn side of you. They are called...Rain Covers...not ain overs. Oh, fogetaboutit !

Actually, Easy Rider, you are 100 % right about the bike cover. I will be buying a new bike cover for this bike. I have been using two GEZA covers, which are the ones that look and act like Lycra spandex. I always put the newer one on first, then the older one on top. But...in a heavy rain, it still gets through both covers. They are not designed to be waterproof. So...I will commit the older GEZA cover to one of my other bikes, for storage in the shop. The newer GEZA cover will still be used, as it is like silk on the bike surface, and protects the bikes paint. But I will buy a new...waterproof...bright colored cover, that will be used in situations like this. As for the police coming, this woman was very upfront to the motel manager of what she did. She did not try to run off, or hide the fact. I did give her credit for doing that.

Okay...Family...I am back home in Washington State. I got home about 12:30 pm today, and been sitting here are the computer taking care or snail mail, e-mails, and forums. The bike has very little damage to it, as someone stated...a small scratch on the right rear crashbar...a small scratch on the right front Kuryakyn highway pegs, a tattoo of a mark on the right valve cover (but thankfully no punch that would cause a leak there). I intend to wash the bike tomorrow, and then very carefully inspect all the tupperware. Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I was parked legally, in the first vehicle parking space just outside the office area. The problem was...it was late at night, right at midnight, and raining, when this woman pulled into a unloading space...and then backed her Jeep Cherokee up more than 20 feet...across a 10 foot wide paver-walkway...and finally struck my bike. I think...and the police think...and the motel manager all think that I was parked correctly. I probably should not have parked it on the centerstand. But only for the reason that it was easy to knock off the centerstand. I like my bikes to be straight up when parked, so that when started in the morning, the engine oil is delivered equally to all places...an OLD BMW trick. Ever notice older air-cooled BMW's smoking out of the left cylinder whwn first started? Because it was parked on the sidestand. Yes, I was very happy when I saw her USAA insurance card. Of course...the female police office that was just stading by treated me, like the criminal, because thuis poor woman was in hysterics when she was explaining what happened...and that she, "didn't really knock it all the way over...see...it din't fall all the way onto its' side". That pissed me off, and luckily the male officer that was in charge of the situation...and he rides...explained to her that the crashbars stopped the bike from falling further, but that it was knocked over as far as it would go. So, I am home, the bike is 99.314159 % okay, and all will be well. There are alwasy firsts on rides like this...firswt time anyone has ever backed into my bike, knocking it over...first time I have ever been hit by side winds so hard...that they literally ripped both of my hands off the hand grips, and almost tore me off the bike. The bike was unaffected by the sidewinds, but it almost tore me off the bike. First time I ever had a deer jump out in front of me...runing...because it was being chased by a coyote...which also ran out in front of me. Had lots of deer issues over the years, but never one being chased by a coyote. Such is life.

Barry, read my post titled...Nightmare in Laramie.

It is 2:01 am, in Laramie, Wyoming. I "should" be in bed, asleep, and resting up for my ride later today. Instead, here I am, sitting at the hotel computer, explaining about my Nightmare in Laramie. It all started with a phone call to my hotel room, just after midnight, with the desk clerk telling me that my motorcycle had fallen over. I quickly thrown a few clothes on, and exit my room wearing only my LDComfort underclothes, and my riding boots. I go to the front desk to find a woman standing there, and very sheepisly trying to explain...in the smallest voice possible, that she backed her 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee into my bike, while it "was" on the centerstand, and that it knocked my bike over. Okay, you all get the picture...midnight...in the rain...in Laramie, WY. The bike has 2 of the Geza covers on it, but even that is not keeping the rain out. I now need to deal with trying to un-cover the bike, so that I can get it back up onto its' two wheels. Yes, I did first place the sidestand out, and extended, so that when I do lift this wet bike up, it will land onto the sidestand. Fast forward many minutes, and I am "trying to explain to this woman from Boulder, Co. that it does no good to try to inspect a Black motorcycle, or any vehicle, in the rain...in the dark...to look for damage, as it would be nearly impossible to see the damage. This needs to be inspected in daylight, under a strong light, when the vehicle is dry, and wiped down. It took forever for her to accept this. She was wanting to remove her own guilt by hoping to NOT find any damage to my 2013 bike, that had been knocked off the centerstand, and onto its' right side. Although I saw no need for it, I finally agreed that we could call the police, at now...1:00 am, and have them explain to her that as long as we exchanged all our info, and no laws were broken, and no personal injury occured, that the police were not needed. They came, we filed reports, and now another hour later, I tried to get back to sleep...that is a joke. There is no way I can get back to sleep now, at least not for a few hours, as I need to calm myself. The woman that hit my bike, she gets to drive off inside her warm 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the heater on, the defroster keeping the windows clear, and sipping on her latte'. But I was hoping for as much sleep as I could get...prior to this incidence...so that I could attempt to get all bundled up in my electric heated clothing this morning, and ride off into the 37 degree weather, in the rain, on my motorcycle. She has 200 miles to go to reach home...I have 1200 miles to go to reach home. Somehow, I do not think I will be compensated for the loss of sleep, anxiety, or extra time on the road. Of course, in the dark, in the rain, I cannot see any appreciable damage to the bike. That was my point. If you ever want to trade in a used car, do it when it is raining, as it hides 93.14159 % of the small nicks and dings on your car. I will have to ride the bike back home 1200 miles, wait until Wednesday afternoon, wash the bike very thoroughly, and then do a careful inspection. We all know that a Goldwing based bike does not go all the way over onto its' side...body wise...because of the front and rear crash-bars, and any highway pegs one might have on the bike. But...remember, she also hit my bike with her Jeep Grand Cherokee, to knock it off the centerstand, so there may be damage to the right saddlebag cover or body. This will all need to be determined. Frankly, I hope there is NO damage. But if there is, at least she has USAA insurance, and I have all her info. But all the insurance and info does not make up for the loss of sleep, and delay...in riding out of here in the morning. I "was" cold, wet, and tired. Now...I am seriously bummed out.

Baritone, I am landing for the night in Laramie, Wyoming. In the past 24 hours, since I left Martin, TN. I have dodged tornados, high wind gusts, and horizontal rains. I had to stop for a 6 hour off-the-bike rest in York, Nebraska, as I was falling asleep. So, taking that 6 hour off-the-bike rest out of the equation, I traveled 1300 miles in the past 18 hours, from martin, TN to Laramie, WY. Cold, some places wet...and beginning to feel hypothermia, I decided to stop for the night. In the morning I will put on all my Gerbing Heated Clothing, and leave here. It is 8,000 foot elevation here, and the rain may turn to snow. Only morning will tell. Barry, I was a blast to meet you. Patti & Don, love you two, and thank YOU so much for the excellent grub. Cooked perfectly. Eck, I am safe, not-sane, and will get warm, and start again tomorrow. It was MY pleasure to meet all the folks that attended B2Dad & B2Mom's gathering. More, once I make it home...another 1200 miles.

Left home outside of Olympia, WA. on Tuesday afternoon, as weather report said it was going to be raining on me Wednesday morning. Got 500 miles under my belt on Tuesday, before stopping for the night in Nampa, Idaho. Left Idaho yesterday morning, rode a little over 900 miles yesterday, hit elevations of over 11,000 feet in Colorado...in the RAIN. Note...for those of you East of the Big Muddy...11,000 foot elevations if like 3 times as high as anything you can stack up in those Eastern States. If any of you have ridden through Colorado, then you know what I mean. If you have not ever ridden West of the Big Muddy, then...you need to. Leaving Denver this morning, and should make it to Tennessee later today. Need to stop and do an oil change today, on the new bike. I hope they do not run out of Frog Legs before i get to B2's.

Gunboat, your share of the Frog Legs are the ones that refused to go into the kitchen, and were spared:rotf: [ATTACH]76457[/ATTACH]

Creole, this is NOT meant to pick on you, but as a remonder to all riders...the very nano second that the bike "thinks" it wants to be moving forward...PICK UP YOUR FEET...and place them all the way onto the footpegs or floorboards. I have viewed other riders doing this for 1000 year now (yeah, I feel that old), and it bugs me when I see a rider that drags his feet, uses his feet as outriggers...or slowly moves his feet from the ground to the footpegs/floorboards, as if he/she needed to keep the feet out there in case the bike would fall over, or until they get up to enough speed that they can finally pull those outriggers in. If any of you old-timers have ever done..slow races...the slow balancing contests to see who can take the longest to get from point A to point B, the you know you can go SLOW, while having your feet up on the footpegs. Every stop light or stop sign I pull up to I continue to practice the slow balancing of the bike. And...when I know that it is time to pull in the clutch, engage 1st gear, and release the clutch...my feet are OFF the ground and all the way onto my footpegs in a nano-second. I do not allow my feet to dangle, dawdle, or meandor around by the ground area while I am moving forward, even at .314159 mph.

One has to wonder...do they make Frog Leg flavored Ice Cream ?????

Patti & Don, Here is a picture of a t-shirt that I picked up in Juarez, Mexico, back in 1990, so it is 23 years old. I love the picture on this shirt... [ATTACH]76453[/ATTACH] Take a close look at this picture...it is very funny.

I have done that, to the extent of riding from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the southern tip of South America, however I did not film the entire trip like this guy did.

See Brian, it doesn't pay to be a smart alec. You said you would BET that it uses the same glass 1157 bulbs...and you lost that bet. Also, how many people other than me already knew that the CCT uses the exact same tires as a Goldwing 1800 ??? Huh? Huh ???? This is why I was willing to answer Ricks' question, as to the Meaning of Life.

Brian, please do not be encouraging this wanker from B.C. The only REAL reason he bought a Victory CCT is because he has an overstock of tires for his Goldwing 1800, and the Victory CCT takes the exact same size and brand of tires he is used to running. His thought...why let good tires go to waste?

Pete, it was nice meeting you yesterday for the Meet & Eat.

YES...there are several adapters that can do this for you. If you go to... www.wingstuff.com ... and you do a search for handlebar risers, you will come up with 3 good ones, and 1 bad one. Ignore the one bad one. Here...I will do it for you. http://wingstuff.com/shop/?keyword=handlebar+risers Ignore item # 3. Bad... I use item # 4, and have used the same ones on all of my 3 GL-1800's, and am using it on my new F6B. A lot of riders like to use item # 1, or item # 2. The major difference is that some of these will RAISE the aft end of your handlebars (the hand grip end), like Item # 4 does...and some of them will not only raise the handlbar, but will also bring the grip end of the bars IN...and...some will PULL the handlebar grip end BACK. So, you can have the choice of raising the bar ends...bringing the bar ends IN a little closer, and/or pulling the handlebars BACK a little. All of these 3 items that I mentioned are good. It depends on what YOU want your handlebars to be like when done. Personally, I have been satisfied with Ityem # 4. It is the most simple, as all it does is RAISE the bar end up about 3/4" to maybe 1". The choice is yours.