Happenings

Met up with Kustom Jeff Friday to score some old mags. Always good seeing you buddy and thanks for the classic stash.  

 

Saw this at Wally-World and had to grab a photo since i just finished the Louisiana run of sauces. I bet this is utter crap...

I rode Friday but nowhere special, just ran around from store to store doing a little research on some loose ends we need tied up around the house. Saturday I went to work on a buddy's barn-fresh CB550. His hangover and lack of tools hampered our ability to get anything of real significance done. It does have two new spark plugs and the oil and water mixture that was in the engine was drained...

Questioning texts and the followup phone calls lead me to a buddy's place. I hadn't seen him in awhile and his workshop is full of halfway finished projects. I'm certain I made him late to work and for that, I am sorry. He caught up with me later and didn't mention getting fired so I guess I'm clean. 

I didn't take any pictures of this stuff. As the saying goes, "If there isn't a picture, it didn't happen" so I guess the above is all lies.

Speaking of photos, I'm taking part in Lady Hump's February Blogosphere Challenge. The idea is to avoid the redundancy you are bound to notice if you are a casual browser or hardcore follower of the motorcycle blog universe. The rules are simple and in my case, I just gotta keep on doing what I've already been doing. Well, at least most of the time. I looked back and in the past few months the only non-original content I posted was one photo I didn't take, the Flake and Flames trailer and a Fartbarf video. Anyhow, today I am emptying my phone, its on!

Hot Sauce of the Week

Poppin' bottles of Crystal this Friday bitches! Last of the Louisiana run, and by far not the least. Flavor first followed by heat, smoother than Louisiana and hotter than Trappey's Bull. After the Tabasco standard, Crystal is close behind.

Gear-Hammock

Nothing against sleeping on the ground in a tent (I do have one in my gear cache) but ever since seeing a buddy camp in a hammock, I grabbed one for myself and have not looked back. My hammock of choice is the ENO Doublenest. Sturdy, durable and well made...I would recommend this brand to anyone.

                                           

Straps on the left and hammock on the right. As you can see, they pack down very small. Both will fit in one of the side pockets on my pack with room to spare. I selected the Doublenest because I need the extra space and these are made for two and rated up to 400 lbs. There is some extra material but I've found that this makes for a good cover if there is a light source nearby and it does keep heat inside the hammock. Setup is lightning quick: sling the straps around two nearby trees, clip the hammock carabiners in and you are done. 

Straps outside their stuff sack. There are a couple options here, I just have the regular straps and have never had an issue. The "Pro" straps are longer and a hair more expensive.

Here is the hammock opened up. The stuff/compression sack is attached and doubles as a stash pocket for your cell, glasses, smokes, etc. In my case, it also provides enough weight to keep the extra material over the other side of the hammock giving a good wrap-around cocoon effect.

The carabiners make it nearly brainless to set up. They also provide an anchor point for ENO accessories like the bug net and rain-fly. I don't own either of them but have used both. The net is a bit much for me, kind of took the outdoor-ness out of being outdoors. The rain fly was great the one time I got rained on, set up fast which was way important and kept me dry despite the fact that I didn't stake it into the ground and just let it hang down. I'm not sure it is worth the price, you might get the same results from a decent tarp and some rope. I've also used the clips to hang other stuff off of like a battery powered lantern and a six pack.

Obligatory action shot.

Changes

Went out to the garage Friday to take a look at the rear end of the bike. I'd been meaning to take the strut covers off for some time. The rear turn signals have been bothering me a lot lately. I had the idea to mount a single signal on top of the rear fender. Before I knew it I was unbolting and cutting wires. Time ran away from me and I ended up finishing up Saturday afternoon.

Ass end in pieces, tools and parts galore. All the wiring on newer HDs is quick disconnect. The connectors barely fit through the fender struts...pain in the ass.

There are some brackets and crap that I need to cut off this fender. I was a little reckless with it during this project knowing it needed to be trimmed and repainted. 

To get the wires through the top of the fender, I had to cut them. I soldered and shrink wrapped them together before realizing the relocation would require more length. I cut them, added length and did it all again.

My first thought was to make a channel in the existing hole to run the wiring through. For mounting reasons, this ended up not being an option. When in doubt, drill baby drill...

Finished product. The verdict is still out with me, I'm not 100% sold on it. I'm toying with the idea of just running the single light on a shortened stem on the tag side.

I went for a ride, it didn't suck. Even getting stopped at a train crossing was relaxing. It got cold later in the day and I regretted not riding in gloves. Then I remembered some people's riding seasons gets interrupted with blizzards and I didn't feel so cold anymore.

Mailbag: Steffan at Zombie Performance sent some schwag, awesome bars and fabrication. Check out his work here. 

Hot Sauce of the Week

I'm going to call this one out for false advertising.
"The perfect hot sauce"=false.
"One drop does it"=false.
This one is more or less like Trappey's Bull but thicker, darker and more emphasis on the heat and less on the tangy flavor. If you like one you'll like the other and if heat is important, this is the better choice between the two.

Gear- Waterproof Bags

Waterproof bags are essential. Chances are if you go on the road for a long trip you are going to hit some rain. It isn't practical for me to waterproof all my gear but at the very least, I try and protect the things that would be ruined by water.
Map roll across the top, left to right: 5L Seal Line Bag, Sea to Summit 1L Bag, and Seal Line Atlas bag. Seal Line makes great bags in a range of sizes from 5L to 55L. The 5L bag was the first one I ever had and I've really tested it's abilities. It has really held up, never had anything inside come close to getting wet.

Serious fold-over closure, durable materials, very affordable. Highly recommended. I used to ride with a guy who had one of their larger bags and would throw all of his gear in it and just strap it on the bike. Worked great for his style of packing and travel. 

I bought the small Sea to Summit bag to carry electronics outside my pack I didn't want to have to dig them out on short stops. This was before the days of the smart phone. I carried my cell, a small point-and-shoot camera and an mp3 player with ease. Same style fold-over closure as my 5L bag, thinner material. Never had any issues with it either, stays clipped to one of the side mesh bags on my pack.

Roll up map bag, brand unknown. Good for day rides, hook and loop closure, will fit nearly half of a folding map with ease. Retention loops inside for a grease pen or other writing utensil.

Seal Line Atlas Bag, by far my favorite of the bunch. Dedicated for one purpose but nothing else will do for a full sized atlas. This one is actually so big, there is room on the side and some on the top if you wanted to keep something else small inside. Ziplock style closure and plastic d-rings on the top and bottom. I kept it bungeed around my pack so I could hop off quickly for a look without having to dig it out. Worked like a charm.

Weekend Happenings

Great weekend, new stickers in the mail from Slave Made, vintage gear and parts. Check it...

http://slavemade.blogspot.com/

http://txdennis.blogspot.com/

Also got this buckle from my buddy Tom, good stuff. 

I tried to go for a spin Saturday morning, it was 25 degrees when I left the house at 8am. I made it a few miles before heading back. With all the gear on it was doable but enjoyable...not so much. Later in the day I got out, swung by Haints HQ for a few, tried to go for a spin but was halted by a dead bike (not mine). Nickel's worth of free advice, always check polarity when attempting to jump start another vehicle. Failure to do so can make a bad situation worse...

Hot Sauce of the Week

To continue a theme (and since the options are abundant) all of January's choices will be Louisiana hot sauces.

This week's sauce: Trappey's Bull.
I first had this one last week at Fat Girls BBQ. A little tame for my particular taste, the emphasis is on the flavor as opposed to the heat. Not too hot and not too mild, good if you are heat-shy but want some spice. This one could be applied to a range of foods to give a tangy kick.

Gear-Maps/Atlases

Though a map or atlas may not technically fit in the "gear" category, it is something I could not have done my cross country trips without so I'm including them. Folding maps are great for regional or in-state rides but if you are going to be covering real ground, a good atlas is a must. Google maps is also a great tool. You can tailor directions to your own needs and print them with the related maps, scaled to your liking. This would be a bit daunting to do for a long trip but for smaller ones, I use it all the time. 
The atlas you choose can make or break your trip. The bigger, the more complete and detailed it will be. You can see a comparison below of the small and larger atlas.

This is Delaware (and Maryland) on the small atlas. You can see it is not nearly as detailed as the map below. Putting two states on a page isn't helping anything either.

 From the larger atlas, one state spread across two pages. Tons of detail, including an inset of a major city.

Here is a closer shot. This atlas had markers for camp sites, state parks, national parks/forests, hospitals and points of interest. This was a must for me. My travel plans are pretty thorough but things happen that you cannot plan for. Being able to look and find alternate campsites was a big plus. 

Here is a shot of my most recently acquired Alabama map. I make all kinds of highlights, additions, marks and numbers when a map is less detailed.

On the road to Canada, at the end of each day I would highlight the route we had taken and plan the next day. I know some folks who use a GPS on long trips. I know this wouldn't work for me, i like having the big picture and being easily able to go back and forth.

Chasing Ghosts

If you said to me, "lets leave in the fog with 70% chance of rain to ride dirt roads looking for towns that may or may not exist," I'd probably say no...but that is what we did. Flirting with disaster, we manage to go between the dark clouds but never under them. We pass two pickup trucks full of angry looking old men in hunting gear. Between this, the clouds and the dirt road...I start bargaining with God. Despite our best efforts, we find only a portion of what we are looking for. Time and light are short, the last 50 miles are done in the dark riding tight and fast.

Home always seems to feel just as good as you hope it will.

Hot Sauce of the Week

So...I am on a "fancy beer" break, saving my drinking dollars until Hop City opens. I am certain the first trip will be a very costly one. If you are in Birmingham and didn't hear about this, click the link.

For Christmas, my uncle from Louisiana gifted me an assortment of hot sauces. With his inspiration, the "Friday Night Beer Menu" posts will be preempted with a "Hot Sauce of the Week" series. Beer Mecca is slated to open in late March, there are 12 bottles of hot stuff waiting in the wings.

Figured I'd start with the one everybody knows...McIlhenny Company's Tabasco.

Gear- Mess Kit/Stove

When it came time to throw together a mess kit, I knew I wanted something middle of the road. I had seen some really cheap kits made of flimsy metal that wouldn't last as well as some high end stuff that was for guys who were doing some long hiking excursions and would need a better setup than I would.
This is what I settled on. Several companies make kits like this. Made of quality stainless and under $20, you can find them at any outdoor or sporting goods store. Mine came with a few extra pots and lids as well as a stuff sack for carrying but I never use any of that.

Inside I carry the plastic measuring/drinking cup that came in the kit as well as Wonder Wash, my stove and a sponge for cleaning.

When I can, I cook with the fire. I wanted a solution for the times that a fire was not possible. My first trip out, I tried Sterno gel and a folding stand/stove. These are cheap as gear can be, which may tempt you, but after testing them on the road I can say they are not fit for my needs. The flame takes forever to even warm food and the design of the stove, which has a wind block for the fuel, does little to keep the flame from being wind bent. 

My stove is a Brunton Raptor, a very basic butane camp stove that will fit in the palm of your hand. The pot supports, as well as the electric ignition, are all built into the body so there is really no assembly, everything just folds out. The body screws directly into any camping butane canister (Jetboil, MSR, etc).  The wire control is responsive and this thing will boil water quick. I burnt dinner a couple times before I learned that less is better with this stove.

Wonder Wash is miracle shit, you can wash ANYTHING with this stuff. It is made for outdoor use and is completely safe to just spill everywhere and not worry. I use it for dishes but I read reviews online before choosing this brand and people wash their hair, brush their teeth and do all other kids of crazy stuff with it. 

Rounding out my kit are a couple utensil options. Up until my last trip, I always used a Light My Fire spork. These are also dirt cheap, which is nice because they break easily. I've been through a few. Last trip, my traveling partner gave me this slick Hobo Knife. Stores as one unit, opens up to two. Includes a bottle/can opener, corkscrew, a knife, spoon and fork.

Everyday Carry

I've been following the EDC blog for some time now. I've also seen the term popping up in discussion on other blogs, like Iron Vaquero.

From left to right top to bottom, my basic carry:
top row: belt and buckle, wallet and chain w/belt loop, keys and belt retention loop
bottom row: good luck charm, cross, Kershaw folder, Gerber Shortcut Multi-tool, Gerber Artifact Tool , Bic Lighter, Pocket Comb, Samsung Galaxy Cell

There are some things that get added based on need. All bike keys are on their own rings, as is the key to my pickup, and I only carry them as needed. I also have a thumb drive on a ring but it rarely gets use since I upgraded to a smart phone.