My Friend Hoppy

My Harley riding bud Hoppy decided to get his first tattoo and asked me who the artist was that tattooed my full dragon sleeve. I replied that it was done by Adrian at Physical Graffiti in Sedona, Arizona.

Hoppy made the appointment for his sitting and I showed up about forty-five minutes later to get some pictures. His first sitting took about three hours and the next one will be about the same. He chose a large bald eagle for his right shoulder, which I thought was ambitious to say the least for a tattoo virgin.

While the outside of Hoppy was all smiles and giggles, I bet the inside was pure pain and misery. He handled it well and is now waiting a few weeks to heal before the final sitting. Of course he won’t admit it hurt, but for those of us who have large tats, we know better. My helmet is off to you, Hoppy; ya done good!

For those of you who might want a tattoo, I recommend Adrian highly. As a matter of fact, Sandy and I are going in this Saturday for some additional tats and color. If Hoppy shows up with a camera, I can guarantee you it won’t be all smiles and giggles for me while I am bleeding like a stuffed pig. I hate freaking needles, but my twin brother, Walt, and I love tattoos!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Welcome to the 21st Century

Whoever said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks has never ridden a Harley-Davidson VRSCA. This old dog is now riding the first water cooled bike made by Harley. The V-Rod was offered up in 2002, but at the time I was still “old school” and riding a Twin Cam 88 Road King. I didn’t pay too much attention to the hype and went on about my business.

In 2005, I test drove a silver anniversary model 2003 VRSCA at KA Cycles in Cottonwood, Arizona. I was impressed with the ease of shifting and the smoothness of the lighter, rocket fast V-Rod, but, alas, I was still old school to the core. The ride left a lasting impression on me though, as did the looks of the bike. It reminded me of a Café racer, but still distinctly Harley-Davidson.

In 2010, I did the unthinkable and sold my Road King to help finance Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, two murder mysteries I had written and published. I missed my King, but was very excited to see my books on Amazon.com. Although my timing was lousy because we fell into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, I was determined to continue authoring and started my third novel, The Phoenix Code.

As fate would have it, I have returned to construction and started earning more money again. Now is the time to get back on a Harley. My decision to look for a V-Rod was one of common sense. I was tired of air-cooled bikes that didn’t much care for the hot Arizona sun, and they protested by pinging loudly if I let them idle too long in 100 plus degree heat. You could cook a full course meal on the engine! No such problem with the V-Rod; that is if I remember to check the water. The other issue is weight. I was also tired of man handling 800 pounds of road hog and welcomed the idea of only having to handle 575 pounds with a very low center of gravity. I also realize that my long hauls all over America are finished and that I don’t need a lot of storage space anymore.

I have found a perfect low mileage, “pristine silver,”

V-Rod at the best motorcycle store on the planet, Buddy Stubb’s Harley-Davidson in Phoenix, Arizona. I jumped at the chance to grab it up before someone else bought it. The V-Rod is truly is a cruiser on steroids and perfect for the short charity runs we have in northern Arizona. My first ride is for the Humane Society of Sedona, Arizona, in May. I look forward to riding with all my motorcycle friends again and at the same time supporting our favorite charities. Life is good….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Ride The HIgh Country

If you click on the title of this blog you will be able to see the video of our ride to Colorado over Labor Day Weekend. I guarantee you won't be disappointed even if you don't ride motorcycles. The three newbies who rode with us this year came away with a new understanding why the Colorado Rockies are a biker’s paradise.

The newbies are not virgins anymore and they are already talking about next year. That's what happens when you make this trip for the first time – you can’t wait to go back!

Enough said...click and enjoy!

Write on,

Mittster

Rocky Mountain High

My twin brother Walt was unable to make our yearly Harley pilgrimage to the high country of Colorado this year due to chemotherapy for prostate cancer. He was determined to go, but realized that his body is fighting for life and the stress of riding with our crazy companions would not be a good idea right now.

I dedicated this year’s ride to my brother in hopes the pictures would inspire him to wellness. There is nothing more spiritual than riding in the Colorado Rockies. He was with me in my heart every minute we traveled which turned out to be exactly 1, 073 exciting miles.

The picture above was in Silverton and it was the last time we rode together in Colorado. The first two pictures without him standing there is hard for me to look at, but in order for the trip to work for his health, my spirits remained high and my heart full of love for my twin brother.

I couldn’t help but ask two Ignacio, Colorado police officers for a picture. They both were so nice and taking time to talk with them was a pleasure. Were we ever that young?

This picture above Telluride was especially inspirational. Mother Earth was taking a bath and the air was crystal clear, cool and inviting. I wanted to get naked and roll in the ferns and grass. The rest of the group pleaded with me not to do it saying it was more information than any of them needed. Party poopers!

The trip to God’s country is not without some hardships. I personally like riding through the Navajo Reservation, but newbies (and we had three) sometimes find that part of the trip long, hot, dry and miserable. I don’t get it – riding in most of Arizona is just that and we do it all the time. Butch up guys and gals!

Here's to you bro...next year you will be going with us!

Colorado High Country

Riding the high country of Colorado is like honey and butter on freshly baked biscuits. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Clean, fresh, pine scented air with a crispness that wakes the senses like nothing else can.

These pictures do not do Colorado justice…mainly because you can’t experience the wonderful people who live and work in small shops nestled in high country towns.

As for Julie, Mark, Hoppy, Jay and I, we will have memories that will last a lifetime.

I would also like to thank God for all of us because we made it home safe with a better understanding of our beautiful blue planet. I will continue this blog along with more pictures as time goes by. Hoppy has many more pictures and plans to make a CD showing the whole trip in detail.

Write on,

Mittster

Brain Buckets

My friend Nancy Bradley sent me pictures of these cutting edge motorcycle helmets. I find the need to share the next trend in brain protection.

This helmet is for crackers who think watermelon jokes are funny.

This next example is for nuts who like to be thrown up against the wall.

I refuse to believe bowling dweebs even ride motorcycles! No offence, but if the bowling shoe fits - wear it.

Same as above....

I am surrounded by dweebs!

Now you are talking; pool players are solid bike riders.

Pierce this baby!

No more helmet hair...life is good.

Bootie call....

Is it possible to wipe out a brain twice?

This is for riding in states that require helmets. Be prepared to get stopped, and make sure you are not holding. Yes, it is a canine unit....

Not even Flo from the Progressive commercials can beat this hair.

I have no clue as to what the hell this is supposed to be, but I bet the Sun's reflection could blind you. This helmet is probably for Oscar night in Hollywood.

I'm just saying,

Mittster

It Takes Brass Balls

After it was determined that my brother Walt had stage four prostate cancer, the whole family kind of went into shell shock. After all, we both had decided at a young age that we were going to live forever. At least that is the way we lived most of our lives. “Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes!” Now we have a reality check and, man, does it smart – damn, we are not going to live forever.

After Walt learned that the prostate could not be surgically removed and that it was too late for radiation, his only choice was chemo and a new drug on the market that can extend his life for months – maybe. So bro started chemo and now is beginning to feel some side effects…like wanting to puke and bones so brittle he dare not stub his toe.

His answer to this dilemma was short and sweet; let’s ride our motorcycles to Durango,Colorado, over Labor Day weekend. So be it. I booked the motel and the trip is a go. It happens to be a grueling ride though the Navajo Reservation and not for the weak of heart, and to make the trip even more interesting, we have three newbie’s riding with us.

It’s not the first time Walt and I have led newbie bike riders across the Res and into the high country of the Colorado Rockies, and I am praying it won’t be our last. Maybe the spiritual benefits of riding such majestic peaks and valleys will have a healing effect on my brother.

Oh, by the way – have I told you how much I love my twin? Words could never describe….

Write on,

Mittster

The Techno V-Rod

My friend and riding bud, Hoppy, has done the impossible. After I bought my first V-Rod and showed it to Hoppy, he wanted to know where he could get one. After many years of not riding, Hoppy thought the smaller Harley would be perfect. It is fast, yet lightweight and water cooled to boot. Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson in Phoenix just happened to have another used one and we drove down in his truck to check it out. The rest is history; he bought it and has been riding every weekend since.

One fine day a couple of weeks ago, Hoppy told me he wanted to add some new technologies to the bike. I informed him that his V-Rod had all the technology he would ever need. “Wrong,” he said with a smile. “My bike needs GPS and a frame-mounted camera.” “Are you serious?” I asked with a grin. “Yes, indeedy, Mr. speedy,” was his reply.

At first I thought he was just putting me on, but, low and behold, he added the GPS and camera. The bike now looks like a space vehicle ready for launch. The more I thought about it, the better I liked the idea. Now I have a riding partner that can take all the pictures while we are riding and we won’t ever get lost.

Personally, I don’t care for bells and whistles, but having the spaceship riding with me is kinda fun except for one thing. Hoppy always likes to ride last in the group. If I head in the wrong direction and look in the rearview mirror to his flashing lights, it’s too late. We will have to do the U-turn maneuver, which always spells chaos. He should ride in the lead, but no way. Mr. Technology will just have to flash his lights and photograph the rest of the group, including me, trying to make a U-turn without crashing and burning in the middle of the highway. The thought of having that maneuver on video with me in the lead and three or more Stooges following is blackmail looking for a place to happen!

Ride on,

Mittster

Too Broke for Sturgis

Too Broke for Sturgis is an annual get-together of Harley riders that meet at Mormon Lake, Arizona, about this time of the year. The original idea was to have a rally close enough for most Arizona motorcycle riders who couldn’t afford to travel to the huge rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, to be able to (in some small way) duplicate the “Sturgis” experience in Arizona.

The event at Mormon Lake has grown into a good-sized rally, with riders from all over Arizona joining in the fun. The draw to this place is beautiful pine trees in the high country and a chance to get out of the scorching heat of the lower deserts. Mormon Lake has a saloon, lodge, restaurant with good eats and a country store. There is plenty of room to pitch a tent or even pull in motor homes. There are vendors selling leather goods to jewelry and everything in between. It reminds me of the Buffalo Chips Campground in Sturgis, only smaller.

There will be no more Too Broke for Sturgis. Friday night’s partying was suddenly interrupted by gunfire. No, it wasn’t rival bike chapters shooting it out like the incident that happened at a casino in Laughlin, Nevada, some years back. This deadly shooting was of domestic violence in nature. A drunken, irate man opened fire on another man and his wife, killing them both. He then also shot another woman six times in the chest and she was air-lifted to a hospital and is in critical condition. The gunman then pulled the trigger with the gun pointed under his chin. Three lives violently taken and no more July party in the pines at Mormon Lake.

I don’t blame the residents of this small, historic community for being up in arms. I always found it strange that the town would allow a motorcycle rally in their back yard to begin with. During the day, there are children riding bicycles and young people riding quads around town. There are many cabins and small houses, and the people who live in them are not bikers. The families who own cabins at Mormon Lake have the same idea in the summer; let’s get out of the heat!

It will seem strange not to have Too Broke for Sturgis anymore, but I suspect the organizers will come up with a different venue next year. After all, Harley riders bring in a lot of money to small communities and businesses that desperately need revenue for survival.

I personally will continue riding in the area. The cool pines and fresh air remind me of the Colorado Rockies and the Black Hills of South Dakota. I can’t go to the more exotic locations every weekend, but riding our own high country is a close second!

Ride on,

Mittster

Scooters Ready

I was up at 1:30 a.m. today so I could work on two projects we are estimating in Sedona, Arizona. Why, you might ask? It’s simple; my Harley is ready at Buddy Stubbs in Phoenix after they fixed a brake problem and I am out of here at 10:00 to pick it up – that’s why!

The garage has been empty for two weeks now. The fact that the monsoon has dumped on us every freaking day doesn’t matter. What matters is having my V-Rod sitting all clean and beautiful so I can grab a cup of coffee, my little wheeled work bench, and scoot around the bike anytime day or night to help forget about numbers and work for a while.

For those of you who are not interested in motorcycles but have a sport or classic car that is a real passion, you know exactly what I mean. I was starting to go through withdrawal and the feeling wasn’t very nice.

It will be good to have baby where she belongs, and I look forward to riding her back to Camp Verde today. Will it rain? Who cares! It’s not like I am a rain virgin, or any other kind of virgin for that matter.

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Hardly My Harley

What makes this Harley unique is that after a hard day's ride and you are starving, you can eat the damn thing.

This tunnel model is designed so that we can still ride our beloved Harleys even after the nuclear holocaust.

The future Harley trike will be able to go under the massive SUVs crammed like sardines on the freeways.

Harley's answer to public transportation is the "Twin V" rickshaw. Sure it only holds three people, but it can get you there at 130 miles per hour!

Of course, this model is for the jet setters; ride by yourselves, butt wipes.

This Harley was special ordered by Arnold. He can't afford it now; Maria
is taking all his money.

The U.S. Postal Service has ordered this model in hopes of getting back into the package delivery game after having their butts handed to them by FedEx.

For those of us who continue to ride in circles.

Oh, crap...my wife is not supposed to see this one!

I gotta go – see ya!

Mittster