Dry and cat free

In all the years I have owned a motorcycle, they have not seen the inside of a garage. They have always been outside and covered up through all sorts of weather.  Sad.  I know.  It made me sad and there were countless times that I damned the elements while I raced time to complete some maintenance task before the arrival of the impending weather doom that was quickly approaching.

Then there is the time I had to have my seat re-upholstered because one of my daughters cats had clawed its way under the bike cover and decided my seat needed kneading. From that point on my bike always had a blanket over the seat.... and a cat.

Then one day my wife suggested that I put the bike in the shed in the backyard. Although the thought spent nearly 5 seconds in my head, I finally pointed out all of the dastardly things that would have to happen in order for that to work which included removal of the 6' tall gate, navigating up a step onto the deck, then down the deck and across the yard. If that wasn't enough, I'd have to clear out the shed of all of the yard tools, beach and lawn chairs, lawnmower, power washer and clutter only to find out that the bike will not fit in a 7' x 7' shed. 

"Build another shed" she says. Well, I did, but only big enough to house all of the yard tools. But the decision was made to build a 10' x 10' shed in the driveway. Let the madness begin.

The town I live in requires that one get a "Use variance" for a shed under 100 square feet and a drawing to show where it is going to go. Okay, fine. The seemingly helpful gentlemen at the zoning office then asked "Are you buying one or what's it going to be made of?" He says. "Stick framed wood." I replied. "Oh, then we'll probably have to get an architect involved." Was his comment. "It's a shed for my motorcycle, I'm not sleeping in it." I replied in great surprise. "Doesn't matter, it's a framed structure." He finally said. The call ended with a "Nevermind" from me.

Crap.

To be continued......

 

The Mythical Sun

I have a solar powered hula girl on my desk.  Because of where she is, like my bicycles and my Harley, she gets little sun. What she does get, as does my bicycles and my Harley, is ambient light 

Now what this ambient light does is give her just enough power to allow her to let off with a little giggle every 5 seconds or so. What she is supposed to do is shake that thing like a hula girl should when she gets full sun.

Now my bikes, human and engine powered, will not wiggle at all. In fact, it pains me to say that I feel that they are mad at me when they do not see the sun or move.

There is only so much I can do in that respect.  The movement part I can do something about. The sun part.... well... that might require a physical relocation and that may happen at some point but at the moment, I am locked into a northeastern winter cold rainy snowy weather poo that engulfs the region. 

Things are changing though! Soon there will be a new 10'x10' shelter logic enclosure for the Harley which will allow it to breathe a little better and I'll post pictures of the progress of that in another posting. She may not be as sad with more room to sit around while we all wait for dryer, sunnier days.

In the meantime, my Zwift cycling buddies and I get to see things like London, Richmond and a fictitious place called Watopia where there is an active volcano and snow capped mountains to climb.....and a blimp.

This time of year... I wish to be above the road.