Thanks everyone for the kindness, encouragements, and perspectives shared throughout the day. Like all other days, this one draws to a close. We had seven people circulating through that house. Four of those I have know since they were literally babies. They followed in their parent’s footsteps, joined the company, and help us help others. The adults are closer to my age. We have grown old together. All of us will go to sleep tonight, safe and sound. It is a good day.
I will return to the East Bay tomorrow, take care of what needs tending, and ship anything I value including the CB1100EX back home to the Hill Country. Some of you may be surprised by future ride reports. Texas is one of the great places to ride in this country. It is time for me to revisit those places that led me to fall in love with motorcycling and the communities that are naturally drawn to them. Good night. David
A suggestion? Take some time away from work and ride the CB1100EX to Texas.
+1 to what others have already said, David. Glad you and the others are OK. Quite the shock to read of, but there's a saying in Spanish, "poco a poco se va adelante, con paciencia". May it be so for you.
If it were me, and of course it is not, I would pour a cup of my favorite beverage, grab my favorite cigar (again, if it were me), and contemplate your horses and those beautiful live oak for an hour or three. Glad to hear that things are not as bad as you had feared -- most of us would do well to pause and be thankful that most bad things are not as bad as we fear.
Peace
I like your approach, Empty.
(07-06-2026, 08:29 AM)emptysea Wrote: [ -> ]“most of us would do well to pause and be thankful that most bad things are not as bad as we fear”
Profound. Let’s hope it remains true as the hours and days progress. I am sitting on a plane in Las Vegas. In three hours, I will be onsite to clean up everything and start over with something new. In a moment of doubt, frustration, or despair, I will draw upon the wisdom of your words. David
(07-06-2026, 07:44 AM)pdedse Wrote: [ -> ]"poco a poco se va adelante, con paciencia"
When I lived in Venezuela for a few months, I saw the dignity of the people who rebuilt “ranchos” following the rains. 25 years removed, I still remember it and plan to emulate that life lesson. David
I'm just catching up on the forum news...my initial thought when I read your first post was: based on how you recovered from your bike accident years ago and turned bad into good, this will be comparatively easy for you. The spirit of resilience and forgiveness will pay dividends once again, as always.
The first day was spent sorting out what is salvageable and what is not. The verdict is still out on my Roadskin Motorcycle gear. No soot exposure, which is good, but all gear is “smokey.” Jackets and pants are “airing” out tonight. Tomorrow, they will be washed on a gentle cycle using cold water and Dirty Labs Detergent with two wash cycles) and then air dried. I will report the results, but i hope none of you will ever have to follow my lead!
I may be homeless in California, but my motorcycle is not. She is resting comfortably in a new flat. Life is good.
The CB1100 looks in good shape, rdprdp01. How about the pedal bikes?
Give the gear lots of time to air and the smoky smell should fade. You'll need more than 24 hours. Good luck.