12-12-2017, 08:46 AM
MORE ABOUT THE TRIP
Hello all I am the "best bud" Bill is referring to and road the gold CB350 on that 'adventurer' which as it turned out, it really was. I was set with a Brooks Leather jacket a Bell helmet a wool blanket , spare U-wear and not much more, plus maybe $20. The first big thing that was noteworthy for me was our gas stop in Battle Creek Mi. when I took a quick four mile detour while Bill and George stayed at the Standard Station and drank Cokes. The house I fist lived in but had not seen for 12 years (it seemed like longer than that) looked just the same and it was somehow mystical seeing it if that is the right word. As we progressed towards Ann Arbor Bill's Suzuki started to have trouble which I now know was minor sizing; once the motor cooled it was fine (well not fine) and would run OK. A trip to Ann Arbor Suzuki the next day did nothing to clear up the mystery and we all were not sure the bike would make it back until it actually did. But other than that we had a wonderful high energy ride, I can still hear the combined sound of engines creating a wonderful harmonic drone; we did not use no stinking ear plugs.
When we arrived at the friends house three things struck me; his sister was cute, the parents were no where to be seen (and never did surface as I recall) and the kids had a section of the house all to themselves. When we entered one of these lower rooms the Girl (Julie) was playing Cheep Thrills by Janice Joplin, a record I had not heard but liked a lot. I did not know it then but I would be almost inseparable form Julie all weekend. Bills friend's (can't remember his name) Dad was a doctor and they had a really nice house where we all kicked back and got to know each other while trying to talk over very loud music.
So that evening we all headed to a liquor store to try a "will you buy us some beer" play, which never works but did that night. Local kids hung out in a very hilly park which I think they called the Grove. And it was there we headed with our case or Blue Ribbon Beer, wow have things changed. I had tasted beer before in my life but had never drank beer and as it turn out I did rather well as Bill and George spent a good part of that night bowing to the porcelain god. A lot of what went on that weekend I do not remember but is was all good and that I know. I do remember Julie pointing where to turn from the back of my bike when we at one point had ditched everyone else. We wound up on a isthmus that jutted out into a river which cars could not reach. I was laying on the ground and remember her hair was like a waterfall; oh the wonders of nature. This all happened Saturday night after the battle of the bands where as Bill said were treated like we possessed special powers. Saying goodbye on Sunday was a bit of a bummer but I was past it after about 35 miles and life was moving forward. It's better to let go than to suffer the hurt of what might have been. All I remember about the way home was a section of RT 12 in Indiana (before I-94 was complete) when we pasted about forty 3%'s , all on Harley's and I do mean real hard core bikers, it was an sight to see.
I still think of that weekend with the fondest of memories; it really was a case of the planets aligning. I called Bill earlier today and he told me about this thread so I thought I would chime in. I also own a CB1100 among other bikes; Bill and Me were both members of this forum but didn't know it for quite a while. JIM
Hello all I am the "best bud" Bill is referring to and road the gold CB350 on that 'adventurer' which as it turned out, it really was. I was set with a Brooks Leather jacket a Bell helmet a wool blanket , spare U-wear and not much more, plus maybe $20. The first big thing that was noteworthy for me was our gas stop in Battle Creek Mi. when I took a quick four mile detour while Bill and George stayed at the Standard Station and drank Cokes. The house I fist lived in but had not seen for 12 years (it seemed like longer than that) looked just the same and it was somehow mystical seeing it if that is the right word. As we progressed towards Ann Arbor Bill's Suzuki started to have trouble which I now know was minor sizing; once the motor cooled it was fine (well not fine) and would run OK. A trip to Ann Arbor Suzuki the next day did nothing to clear up the mystery and we all were not sure the bike would make it back until it actually did. But other than that we had a wonderful high energy ride, I can still hear the combined sound of engines creating a wonderful harmonic drone; we did not use no stinking ear plugs.
When we arrived at the friends house three things struck me; his sister was cute, the parents were no where to be seen (and never did surface as I recall) and the kids had a section of the house all to themselves. When we entered one of these lower rooms the Girl (Julie) was playing Cheep Thrills by Janice Joplin, a record I had not heard but liked a lot. I did not know it then but I would be almost inseparable form Julie all weekend. Bills friend's (can't remember his name) Dad was a doctor and they had a really nice house where we all kicked back and got to know each other while trying to talk over very loud music.
So that evening we all headed to a liquor store to try a "will you buy us some beer" play, which never works but did that night. Local kids hung out in a very hilly park which I think they called the Grove. And it was there we headed with our case or Blue Ribbon Beer, wow have things changed. I had tasted beer before in my life but had never drank beer and as it turn out I did rather well as Bill and George spent a good part of that night bowing to the porcelain god. A lot of what went on that weekend I do not remember but is was all good and that I know. I do remember Julie pointing where to turn from the back of my bike when we at one point had ditched everyone else. We wound up on a isthmus that jutted out into a river which cars could not reach. I was laying on the ground and remember her hair was like a waterfall; oh the wonders of nature. This all happened Saturday night after the battle of the bands where as Bill said were treated like we possessed special powers. Saying goodbye on Sunday was a bit of a bummer but I was past it after about 35 miles and life was moving forward. It's better to let go than to suffer the hurt of what might have been. All I remember about the way home was a section of RT 12 in Indiana (before I-94 was complete) when we pasted about forty 3%'s , all on Harley's and I do mean real hard core bikers, it was an sight to see.
I still think of that weekend with the fondest of memories; it really was a case of the planets aligning. I called Bill earlier today and he told me about this thread so I thought I would chime in. I also own a CB1100 among other bikes; Bill and Me were both members of this forum but didn't know it for quite a while. JIM