You know, the fallacy of all this is I got this thing going. AND I didn't have a SOHC4 that I was able to ride at that point. When we did our leg from snowy cold Colorado Terry loaned me his CB650. Nice bike but it had a curious quirk. At about 1/2 tank of gas it would quit. Just like it ran out of gas. Open the cap, plenty. Stop and gas it up and off we were going. I could get maybe 100 - 125 miles at best. On our second weekend after the bitter cold and snow crossing the Continental Divide, we headed east again to meet up in Topeka, KS with Richard Bacchus at Motorcycle Classics. After the nut biting cold it was over 100 in KS. Meet up, have lunch and everyone went their separate ways. I'm by myself running across US40 (I believe) with my loaner 100 mile bike. All good until I neared Colorado. After 100 the day before it started sleeting, hailing, snowing. Of course it did. This weekend I did not have the cold weather gear with the forecast over 100. The first main leg into Colorado had one fuel stop then no more for maybe 150 miles in the #$%* of nowhere. I knew where I was and there was nothing I could do so I pressed on. The snow got worse and I had to slow to maybe a 35 average. That saved my ass haha. Much better fuel mileage. I see a sign stating fuel 30 miles or similar. 40 - 50 miles outside Colorado Springs at the stop. I pull in, get off the bike, coldern fuk, can't really straighten up and go inside for something warm. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the good ole boy ranchers, etc when my snow covered ass gets off the bike and goes inside. Hilarious! It's like WTF is he doing!?! Coffee and gas and continue home. First thing I did was soak my cold old ass in the hot tub for no telling how long.
The tale of 2 totally different back to back Colorado weekends and a crusty old fuk that was determined. Everything I did was for the guys on the forum. Ride em don't hide em. Get to know your fellow SOHC4'ers and get your bike out of the city.
It was a long 8 or 10 months of sometimes intense keyboarding and communicating but it was great therapy for me during a difficult time in my life. I was able to make myself happy and about 1000 or so of my fellow SOHC4'ers. With that being said I couldn't have done this without all you guys believing in our mission. I just wish I could have ridden the whole thing. Maybe next time
Oh, and it just so happens I am wearing my 2011 Rally Around the World T-shirt now. Godzilla and the script may be faded but the memories never will
