november in portland

 
Drinks for everyone, coffee for me, please.

The weather report says clear, but I check hour by hour because
sometimes they mean "clear until about 4:00 PM and then freezing
rain".  But no, rain not due until after midnight.

The bike makes a lot of steam in the morning.  The temp gauge (winter
project: convert that to engine temp) says mid-thirties (Fahrenheit).

It's not lost on me that I don't have to bundle up nearly as much on
Noisy Glide as I used to on the Sportster.  The farings do a good job
keeping the wind chill to manageable levels.  Sweater, jacket, riding
pants over jeans, long gloves, and I'm good to go.

Radio says hwy 26 is socked in and jammed from the tunnel back to my
exit, so I head north instead, up German Town Road, which roughly
parallels the freeway but at 40 MPH instead of Dead Stop.  Finger tips
go numb early, not a great sign.  Keeping out of the shadows (ice) and
looking for fallen leaves (slippery) but roads are surprisingly clear.

I wind my way up to Skyline, suddenly coming out of the fog and into
morning sunlight on fall colors.  The clouds are walking below me. The
corners are tight; remember to let the bike find its way and not fight
the handlebars in the corners.

The intersection at Skyline is on a bit of a hill, and I have to turn
onto another hill, and the entire intersection is filled with fallen
leaves.  Great.  I stop at the sign pointing uphill and the bike
slides backwards a bit.  Shift weight, add the rear break, and the
sliding stops.  A little gas and tippy-toe around the corner, and I'm
out of the muck and back on clear roads.

The fall colors are odd this year.  It's like the trees can't decide
whether it's fall or not.  The same tree will have yellow and green,
or red and green.  Some trees are naked, and others still have most of
their leaves.  More colorful than past years.  I've got the camera in
the trunk, maybe take a walk at lunch.

Skyline ends at Barnes Road, wait for traffic, then turn left.  Rough
patch before the tunnel -- they really need to fix that part. Smoothes
out further on, and still clear of leaves.  Surprisingly devoid of
traffic, and still above the fog.  Usually when the highway is jammed,
enough people take this route that it becomes problematic. But not
today.

Riding by the college, several girls out jogging.  Images of tight
spandex on fit bodies accompany me the rest of the way into work.

Hands are cold enough now that it's difficult to work the locks, put
away helmet.  Eventually everything gets stowed and I head into work.
The security guard knows I ride, waves as I go by.  Mine is one of two
bikes in the lot.

I'm wearing a ski jacket because the riding jacket is in the shop
(busted zipper) but got a voicemail that it's ready, good excuse for a
ride at lunch.  Maybe the camera will wait until tomorrow.

I was thinking on the way in how my daughter had been bugging me to
trade in the Sportster, very specifically for an Ultra Classic, ("The
one with the armrests") and I had put it off because it seemed to be
trading in a sports car for a winnebago.  But I realize now that it's
really not.  It's like trading in an MG for a Mustang.  Yeah, it's
bigger and heavier, and probably doesn't corner quite as well, but
it's still a heck of a lot of fun to drive, and you're less likely to
freeze your ass off in November.

But mostly, I was thinking, the riding season is over when *I* say it
is.


   Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com

 
I know what your sayin brother
Novemeber has been wicked here too
Down in the 60's at night and never getting above 82 during the day
Glad I have fairings and a sweatshirt in the saddle bag

kickstart

 On Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:27:37 -0800 (PST), kickstart


Glide"http://www.christianfamilywebsite.comhttp://www.ronaldchristian.com

I guess it depends on what you're used to.  I've noticed since moving
up here that the girls tend to wear shorts down into the fifties.  If
the temperature in California dipped into the sixties, they break out
parkas.


    Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com

 On Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:27:37 -0800 (PST), kickstart


Glide"http://www.christianfamilywebsite.comhttp://www.ronaldchristian.com

A real man wears shorts and a T shirt!!!
d&r
danl

 wrote:


Glide"http://www.christianfamilywebsite.comhttp://www.ronaldchristian.com

And flip-flops.  With an outrageously expensive full coverage helmet.


   Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com