July 25, 2011

OK, so remember how I wasn't going to bring the choke cable to the shop so John wouldn't think I intended for him to install it on my bike while I worked on Lil' Wiggly? Well, I brought the cable to the shop on Saturday after all. I also brought the “Cat Face” tail light I bought for the thing. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it in the rant, but it arrived Friday so I brought it. The reason I brought both of those items, when I specifically said I wouldn't, was that John called to say he couldn't make it. I went to help Dave load Barbecue Bob on a tow dolly so it could leave and fingered I'd get a touch of work done on Bobbi while I was there. I had no delusions that I'd get any work done on Lil' Wiggly, I need John there to motivate me on that project again. There, I said it. So, I get to the shop and begin playing with the choke cable. It isn't the right one. The end is too long and won't work with the bracket on the carburetor. I'm just about to start making a bracket for it when Dave comes back from the shitter and is read to load Barbecue Bob. He asks what I'm working on and I show him the cable and the tail light. He really wants to help install the light. We do that. Well, we install the “Cat Face” lens on the existing bracket and try it out. It works! I shoot a picture to John with my phone and he said it is bad ass. I help Dave load and tie down Barbecue Bob then go back in to mess with the choke cable when he leaves. I make the bracket and then spend an hour or so trying to finger out where I want to mount the knob. Oh, the cable is way too short to get it up to the handlebars, by the way. I wind up mounting it to the bolt for the seat so that the knob sticks out between my legs, more or less, while straddling the bike. It clears the tank and the seat will still fold up if need be. I put everything back together that I'd taken apart to do the install and gave it a try. One kick and the thing fired right up. I nursed the throttle for a few seconds, then upped the idle a smidge, and it sat and ran perfectly once the choke was released. I was really happy. I rolled the bike outside and went for a hoon down the dam road. At that point I was convinced, even if I don't turn out to be a bike guy, I'm keeping this bike. More on that later. I parked the bike and, I think, shut everything down. I locked up and headed home. Mom and I went to lunch and I drove The Seven. I was going over to Rob and Emily’s to hang out with Navajo and others so I fingered I otter keep with tradition in that way. After swimming with them for a while, we all took off to the Mule Pub which was to close down this weekend. I've spent many a drunk night at that building back when it was the Pig and Whistle Pub so I felt I otter go say goodbye to the place. Yep, it was still a dive. I hung out until the live “music” started then went home. I decided then, as I drove down Camp Bowie in The Seven with an ever so slight buzz on, that THAT was the “bike” for me. I'm just not going to ever be a true “Bike Guy.” I'm a Lotus Seven guy. Sorry John, but you’ll just have to settle for me hooning in The Seven while you ride your bike. Now, like I said above, I'm not going to get rid of Bobbi, it is far too friggin’ cool. I'm just not going to go off on trying to be a bike guy. Sunday I wait for mom to get home from church then we go to lunch at a little Mexican place in a farmer’s market at the south end of the Navy base runway. No, literally. As we were parking a friggin’ C-17 Globemaster III took off right over our heads. I could probably have thrown a rock and hit the damned thing. It was that low. Oh, and fucking loud as balls I might add. OK, it was probably several hundred feet above our heads by that point, but still. Anyhoo, once it was gone, mom asked about a car she saw some dude and his trophy wife getting into. “Hmm?” I said, “Oh that? That’s a Lamborghini,” and turned to go inside. Yeah, a convertible Gallardo just doesn't do anything for me. Meh. We ate, way too much I might add, and then went home. I decided I wanted to take The Seven out again and see if the epiphany I'd had the night before would hold up in the 105 degree heat. It did, but I have got to do something about getting cool air into the cockpit down by my legs. After about an hour I was ready for a shower and something cool to drink. I wasted the rest of Sunday in front of the TV and now we’re back at work. So there you have it. I'll try to have something to say tomorrow. Toodles.