bit more than brisk

[the Ferret]

I'm not sure how many days I have gotten to ride so far in Dec. I know we had terrible cold weather for about 10 days, I snow plowed on Dec 6, 9, 10, and 16th, waited all day for a plumber that never showed on the 11th and babysat my Grandson Riley on the 13th. So .. haven't ridden much.

Today the sun popped out. By 2;00 the thermometer had climbed to above freezing ... just barely.
[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18026_zps6c85db6a.jpg.html]

Time for a ride. Disconnected the CB from the battery tender and rolled her out into the sun. She fired right off.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18029_zpsa91c0dc5.jpg.html]

snow was still piled in grassy areas
[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18027_zps78a404c1.jpg.html]

I had hoped to hit 7000 miles on the CB this year and I was getting close when the weather turned sour. A quick check showed I still had 135 miles to go. Maybe I could knock some of that out today

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18030_zpsfbab2e34.jpg.html]

Threw on some cold weather gear and took off

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18033_zpse8333389.jpg.html]

The ride felt good. The roads were mostly clear, some patches of residual snow that I suspect had fallen off of cars, some small patches of ice in low places, and too much salt residue.The only scary moment I had, which wasn't bad, was crossing over a bridge over a creek that runs to the Ohio river. It was wet and slippery looking but I rolled over it ok.

I rode for exactly an hour, and had covered 42 miles. The only thing that really got cold was the finger tips on my throttle hand.
[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18034_zpscb9462cf.jpg.html]

by the time I got home it has gone up to almost 36 degrees wooooooo heat wave

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18036_zpsf13a0830.jpg.html]

the salt residue made a mess out of my rims which I will have to hose off.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec18035_zps541af0d6.jpg.html]

Now only 93 miles from my goal, with 12 days or so to go. Tomorrow is supposed to be even nice than today and a bit warmer, so who knows, may knock out that last 93 tomorrow.

When I read this, I started to feel bad for you. I just came back from a lunch time ride and it was a sunny 77 degrees.

Then I remembered all of those 110+ degree days that I had to put up with all summer and I didn't feel so bad anymore

When I read this, I started to feel bad for you. I just came back from a lunch time ride and it was a sunny 77 degrees.

Then I remembered all of those 110+ degree days that I had to put up with all summer and I didn't feel so bad anymore

You know I would love to be a snowbird and have a second home someplace warm for the cooler months up here, but my wife would never be gone from here until after Christmas, and then our son and daughters birthdays are in Jan and Feb, not sure she could bear not see the grandkids for 2 or 3 months, plus my wife is still working. The most I can hope for is after she retires in 3 years we can vacation in Florida or the southwest for a few weeks in Jan or Feb every year.
Two interesting things I noticed looking at the photos you guys may or may not have caught. In the first speedo pic notice the tach is showing bike in warm up mode with a 1400-1500 rpm idle. Then on the end of the ride the tach is idling at about 1100 rpms.

Also notice the fuel gauge.. Still showing full after a 42 mile ride, however on the ride it had dropped a bar. Maybe being on the sidestand made it relight that last bar. I suspect when I go to ride today, that bar will drop immediately as I take off, and the next bar will disappear in about 20 miles or so.