http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/ en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:36:05 GMT CakePHP http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/how-different-they-were-how-different-they-are-tribute-to-fl1-riders/ Gordy Carroll - 9, Jun 2009 Tim McDonald - 9, Nov 2009Janice Serven - 22, Oct 2007 Buddy, DDC and Trackie20. Three very different people in many ways. But they were very much the same also. In their love of motorcycling was the common bond. This bond is what brought them together. Through the FL1 forums, we met , talked and ended up riding together. Different they were. Trackie was a lovely young woman who rode a Japanese street bike, that sounded like a jet engine. She was a track star and coach I beleive. She was the one I knew the least. When I met her after chatting on the forums looking for the ride. She pulled up on a fast sleek street machine, pulled up her helmet, shook out her hair. She smiled at us and said, I bet you thought I was a guy. She was like that. Kinda quiet, but funny and full of surprises. She passed after a motorcycle accident, we were all shocked. DDC or DoneDirtCheap, I knew second best. Full of smiles, he was larger than life. He rode a Japanese VTwin crusier. Loud it was, with open pipes and a 1500 cc engine, you knew he was coming. He loved to ride that bike. His favorite comment was "as long as your knees are in the breeze". Thats the way he was, it didnt matter what you rode, as long as you did. I remember one of the first time we talked, he asked if I blipped the throttle under bridges, I said "no". He smiled an evil little grin and said " I do, I love it". On a ride I was next to him under a bridge and he did it. Now I know why, it sounded awesome. And now I do it, and think of him. DDC passed one night in his sleep, we were all shocked. Buddy. I knew him the best, talked to him more and rode with him more. He rode a Harley, a road sofa ;o). He loved that bike. I remember when he first got it and he had a shake in the front end. He was worried, and took it real easy until he fixed it. Thats the way he was careful. I remember when trackie passed and we decided to to a tribute ride for her. On his own out of his own pocket he got her mom flowers. She cried a bit when he gave them to her, but she smiled on the inside. He also wanted to do a ride each year and charge a bit, so we could start a scholarship in her name. He invited us to his house after. Thats the way he was caring. He had many friends on the board, and I was honored to be one of them. A nice guy, but I dont think I would want him mad at me. He was big and strong. Handled that great big bike like it was a 500cc honda. He always a had a big smile and a warm handshake. He passed one day from a heart attack, we were all shocked. After he passed I found out he pm'd SilverFox that we needed to get the DDC-Trackie ride going he said " we have already lost two". We didnt get it going soon enough. The ride was great, the weather was perfect. I made a mistake by saying we were going 5 and 20, then I ended up taking us down river road. LOL but we got together by lowes, like it was planned. We took the same route and the first FL1 ride and the trackie tribute ride. The same stops, except we added a stop at deweys at the end. And a stop at Buddy's grave. He is near the road which is traveled often by bikes, you caould hear them going by, he would have liked that. You could almost feel them with us and we traveled the blue ashphalt rivers, as the thunder of the machines echoed our passing. We ended up as part of the parade in Watkins Glen, which those three would have really liked. I made some new friends on this ride, got to put some faces with posts, and saw some old friends. We had a great ride and a great day. As LOTE said bittersweet, but it doesnt get much better. http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h22/cgp-1200r/2009-TributeRide/?action=view&current=fca9fe17.pbr Tue, Aug 4th 2009, 05:17 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/billy-birthdays-bears-and-bling/ Well... not in that order. The bears come first And what a bear it was. Went to big moose for a small holiday. One afternoon while sitting on the porch a black bear came out. Yowsa a 300 + pounder Yikes. He was calm enough, just wanted to eat and sniff, the kids were loving it. We also went to Enchanted Forest and water safari. That place is so nice. A great little park nesteled up by Old Forge. If you get the chance its a nice family place. The girls did some shoping while me and the boys went looking for geodes. It was a nice day for a walk. We saw lots of deer some bucks in velvet. It was a fun trip, lots of smores. ;o) Billy, well not really Billy, but a Billy cover band that is. Big Shot is a Billy Joel Cover band and they were really quite good. We went to the turning stone with freinds and caught the show after a buffet dinner. Yikes there is way too much food in that place. Any way, the band was good, we had a table in the second row. They played lots of BJ favs of mine, and even did pressure after the heard me yell it. ;o). He did some journey also, and the interaction of the band members was really funny. The table in from of of kept giving the Guitarist tequila, and the head of the band didnt care for that too much. Good show catch them if you can Lastly Bling, I finally bit the bullet and put some bling on Precious There is a timing cover that is kind of plain, and it blends into the black motor. So one day while cruising E-Bay I saw a WilleG skull timing cover and said what the hell. And I just love it. I dont think I will do much more. Old cover look above the brake. New cover Mon, Jul 27th 2009, 15:39 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/weddings-i-luv-em/ I love them, how about you?. We went to a wedding this weekend in Olean. Had a great time, but then again I always do. There is such joy, a sense of hope. The issues and problems of the days just melt away with the bubbles as they float by. People smile the biggest smiles. Every bride is beautiful, on her day. The ushers hope to get lucky, the bridesmaids hope to be brides. I think that’s one of the greatest treasures of a wedding, HOPE. A hope for a happy life, a hope for families to stay together, maybe children, maybe not. But the hope of love eternal. Other things I love about weddings; Jordan Almonds, white cake, and of course: ashot a cigar and a dance with the bride. Cameras on tables, boy is that a hoot. This wedding had a chocolate fountain. And a Mashed Potato Bar, where it is served in a martini glass. Regular, Garlic, or Sweet, and so many scrumptious toppings. Umber Cool if you ask me. Beef on a weck, that was quite good. I always feel a special closeness to my wife at weddings. I think many of us do. A time to rebond, to remember our day, kneeling in a driveway, asking for her hand, The years planning, and then the big day. The whirlwind of fun, and laughter, of love and life. At the end my bros serenading her. Then the honeymoon ;o) Sun, Jul 12th 2009, 12:07 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/quaker-steak-to-capt-jacks/ This weekends ride was truly a nice one. We had decided that Sunday would be the day, due to all the parties this weekend. So tenish we gathered at my brothers house and kicked around where to go ?. We have ridden most of the popular routes, Naples, around Cayuga etc, I was hoping for something different. I suggested Quaker Steak and Lube. It's a pretty cool resturant chain, just starting to have sites in NY. As you could imagine it has a car / bike / racing theme. Good food, I really like the lube burgers and Onion rings, brought to you on a car antenna. But They are known for their wings. Has to be 15 different flavors. The top of the line is Atomic, if you eat six and sign a hold harmless, you get your name on the wall of flame, a bumper sticker, and some other interesting gastro-effects. I am on the Wall of Flame in 4 states. So its off to Syracuse, I bit brisk, but my new Tourmaster Jacket has it covered. 5 and 20 is slow, some conehead from Ontarioi wants to do 40. But its all good, i'm on the bike. We get past Elbridge and it starts to open up, then 695 and we can twist the wick a bit. The roar of the bikes sounds like a symphony to me. 690 is tricky, but no worries. We arrive at our destination. http://www.lubewings.com/ Then it was off to parts unknown. We decided to take 31 back, as to not go the same way. The day was bright, the bikes ran strong and it was picture perfect. We stopped in Savanah for gas and decided Jacks Reef would be the next stop. So up through the twistes we went, hit 104 and crusied west.Charlies V-T roaring, Bobs Suzuki next in line, Marios Gold Wing floating and Precious growling under me is the perfect setting for a tranquil cruise into the sun. Jacks Reef is under constrution, so it's back to 104 to go to Sodus Point. We come to the point, and there are bikes lned up everywhere. The sound is amazing as the pull in or our of the parking spots. The strip is alive with young and old, bikers and cagers. We head up to Capt Jacks for some refreshments and talk. It's a nice place with a Tiki Bar on the roof. The waitress keeps going by with Burgers and fries that look yummi. A band starts to play, as I look outr over the bay. Ahhh its one of those momnets you only get after a good ride, to a good place, with great friends. We take some back roads home, and settle in for a snappy ride to Casa NYTF. Quaker Steak: Sodus Point: Mon, Jul 6th 2009, 05:53 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/talesfromthe-b-side/they-are-here/ Syracuse Zoo has new arrivals If you get the chance you should stop up and see them. Red Pandas are one of my favorite animals. And after seeing them they may be one of yours also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=occw-8sSao4 Baby Red Pandas Red panda parents, Cyril and Rose, welcomed a set of baby girls in the early hours of June 13. They are the second and third cubs for the pair - sister Jaya was born July 4, 2007. Inari (In-are-ee) was born first and weighed 84 grams; she is being raised off exhibit by her mother. Her sister, Loki (Low-key), was born second and weighed considerably less. As such, she is being hand raised by zookeepers in hopes that she will thrive under the watchful eye of her human caretakers. Zoo guests may have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Loki while she is bottle fed in the zoo's veterinary clinic. Red pandas are a light brown color at birth and their red coats will not fully develop until they are about three months old. Their eyes will also remain closed for about another week, typically they do not open until 17 to 18 days after birth. With each passing day their motor abilities will increase, though in the wild, cubs stay in the nest for about 90 days. Red pandas are listed as endangered and are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) - a collaborative effort between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and zoos around the world to help ensure their survival. They are challenged by habitat loss and unique dietary needs, as well as low birth rates in the wild. While the hunting of red pandas is illegal, poaching continues. In China, their tails and hides are used as good luck charms for wedding ceremonies. The birth of red panda cubs illustrates the success of the Species Survival Plan and the conservation efforts at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Thu, Jul 2nd 2009, 09:10 GMT