Sportster Sunday

Found this old picture on the Interweb.  Looks like it may have been a promotional shot from back in the day but look at those bad old Sportys. Makes the old heart happy to see the classics both stripped and decked out for touring.

Hang in there...

-Buddha

Sportster Sunday

Sportster Sunday is back, after a bit of a break, with another hot cafe bike from over at Den Of Sportsters:

Looks awesome...looks fast...looks like those pipes would roast the inside of my thigh like a fat Buddha turkey leg.

Hang in there

-Buddha

Up in smoke...

Ironic Skies

Over the last couple of days Houston has been blessed with spectacular sunsets.  Far more so than the camera of an iPhone can capture, especially when said camera is being operated while driving home on Houston freeways.

Yes, I know that dangerous and I shouldn't do it so, kids,  don't do this yourself.  Only over the hill Buddhas should take such risks.  

The sunsets were particularly amazing since we haven't seen a cloud in over a week.  The drought lives on, even if the temperatures have come down somewhat.  So, for the last couple of days I have driven along enjoying the view whenever traffic the cityscape allowed.  (I drive 35 miles each way to and from work so autopilot kicks in pretty easily.)  Then, I started to wonder what lengthening rays of the sun were shining on to provide such a view...  

It only took a mile or so before the sense of wonder and awe at the view turned into a sick, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach...  

The sunlight was glinting off all that remains of the trees, pastures, farms and homes that have burned north and west of Houston.  This is all that remains of people's cars, livestock, businesses and homes.  This is all that remains of the people who have been killed in these fires.  In this case people's livelihood and lives have literally gone up in smoke.

This isn't a little fire.  It is not even a single fire.  There were/are over a hundred and eighty separate wildfires in Texas according to the Texas Forest Service, last week.  Nineteen new ones were reported on 9/8/11 alone and all told.  Over 150,000 acres have burned in that time period.  Thousands have been forced to evacuate to shelters, hundreds have lost their homes, businesses and belongings.  No one is publishing the death toll but these fires are dangerous and many people have had fifteen minutes or less to get out before their homes were consumed.

Our idiot governor who is busy campaigning instead of doing his job at the moment, says that fires this year have consumed an area larger than the state of Connecticut. I think he only learned where Connecticut was when he found out there was a primary there, nevertheless, that would make our burned out lands number 47 in state size rankings.

According to the federal government they are "considering" whether or not to declare this a disaster...it may qualify as a "limited" disaster...

Seriously?  

WTF constitues a disaster to these people?

Hello, Washington?  Is there anyone there with a clue or a smidge of common sense?

Or, this this just politics?

Hang in there folks

-Buddha

It's almost Harvest time...

Worst drought on record has most of the state drying up

...not for harvesting the crops mind you.  They have all dried up and blown away in the worst drought in the history of the state.  No, I am talking about the Harvest Classic; the best classic bike show/rally in the world.  Well, at least one of the best and the only one I am going to be able to make this year.

A tough economy combined with a new job meant that the planned trip with my son to the MotoGP at Indy had to be cut.  That, plus an unexpected family crisis and the bills that went along with that meant that our family vacation was cancelled as well.  Add in record high temperatures and the previously mentioned drought and Buddha family has been staying close to home trying to stay cool and keep the plants alive (failed) and the foundation from cracking (so far so good).  But come October 21st most of the clan is saddling up for a ride into the Hill Country!

That's right, Wonderful Wife, My Girl Cierra, My Grandbaby, ChaCha, Moose and Pretty Boy (oh, and me too) are heading west.  The girls and Grandbaby will take the SUV and tote the groceries for the trip.  The guys will head out earlier in the morning to scout the way on the bikes and, if the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise (not much chance of that),  we'll be checking into a cabin outside of Medina in time for the Friday night fish fry!

1926 Royal Enfield

We probably won't be floating the river (it's probably one of the seven that have dried up in the state) but we will get to ride some of the best roads in Texas, including at least one of the Three Sisters (RR 335) and Highway 16 between Kerville and Medina.  We won't be grillin' steaks like Red, BPR and I did a couple of years ago (the burn ban includes the use of charcoal grills) but we will see some of the coolest vintage bikes around.

If year's past are any indication, it may not make up for the cancelled cruise but a special time will be had by all.  What more could a Buddha ask for?

Hang in there

-Buddha