Interim Update

Being as how it's winter time, my stories of motorcycle riding have dribbled to a halt. As I type (using the wifi at Atlanta Bread Company), Mr. Crunchy is sitting at TJ's waiting to be cured of what ails him. He's leaking anti-freeze, smelling like a 1982 Datsun pickup truck, and has had an RPM hiccup a couple of times recently. Since the temps have been stinking cold this winter (more stinking cold than normal - even with snow, no less), I've only gotten out about four times on the bike. I'll be missing him this Sunday when it's supposed to be near 60, but he needs to be doctored before I ride him too much more.

In lieu of crazy bike trips, I've gotten into remodeling mode at my house. I bought it as a fixer upper in 2000, and have done little bits here and there over the years. Many projects have been started, but never finished, each one waiting on one other piece of the puzzle to be placed, before its own picture was complete. Beginning in December, I've started finishing things. With a vengeance. New heat pump installed, old oil furnace removed, old (50+ years) hardwoods refinished, old drywall ripped out, old wiring redone, insulation placed, new drywall installed, new light fixtures, plans for built in bookcases and bench seats, not to mention....new windows. When it's written into a sentence like that, it doesn't look like much. When you live with it daily, knowing there's one more bit of drywall to finish, one more window to trim, one more outlet to place, it's monumental.

When we took the drywall off one short wall in the hallway, on the back of the piece exposed on the other side of the wall, a child's footprints coursed up and down the wall, written in 50 year old drywall dust. If I've heard Jamie (the plumber - but he's read a book about wiring) say, "wow" once, he's said it 20 times, as he uncovers messes in the wiring, black burned insulation around light fixtures, bare wires and spliced rats' nests. The refinished floors are absolutely gorgeous, but they are hiding under a layer of plastic sheeting in a vain attempt to protect them from the remodeling underway. Once it's all said and done, there's one more buff and finish coat waiting to be put down. When the new windows go in, I'll finally be able to trim the inside of them...a project that's been waiting for at least five years. I didn't think the windows were going to be done until sometime in April or possibly May, but found out today I can expect installation to be scheduled in about three weeks. Which means I've got some other logistical items to calculate. It's been busy, to say the least.

With the costs incurred, I was wavering on whether or not I would or should take another trip this year. I'd toyed with the idea, but hadn't had time to put numbers and routes on paper. Until Tuesday. Once I called to check availability of lodging in Estes Park, CO, and found a place for $25 a night at the climbing school, it was on. At this point, the vacation time is approved, and all but two nights are taken care of. Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama and all points in between there and SC will be on my route. Two weeks and 4500 miles. Countdown stands at twelve weeks and three days...

As long as the bike is in shape :)