I stopped for a while to smell the flowers.
Monthly Archives: July 2008
Air and Space Museum
The best part of this place was three or four Russians, who spent some time at the Soyuz exhibit. They must have spent at least a good half hour pointing to and talking extensively about the system and its components.
Native American Museum
Native American Museum
Final destination
After doing my duty, I was off to see the sights one more time. Let it be known that Washington, D.C. is a great place for walking and seeing those sights — and might I add that one’s most comfortable pair of walking shoes are a necessity! If you think you’re wearing them, think again, and bring an even more comfortable pair.
I was able to plan my route to pass by the Aviation & Space Museum, greatly air-conditioned and almost cool to the touch. In the heat of the day it proved to be a grand respite, complete with cafeteria for a noon-time pick-me-up. Nothing extravagant, mind you, but not bad, nevertheless. And did I say air conditioned?
Security was at a minimum and was mostly concerned with some street work in the vicinity of the Capitol Building. Of course, there was the usual Capitol Police presence in vehicles parked at intersections and bike patrols, but mostly it presented itself as being invisible — which is what it needs to do.
I had a great time walking around mid-week in what I would consider prime vacation time and not being surrounded by huge crowds of tourists – which is what I was on this day. Even the tour buses were half-empty.
The VRE did a great job of getting me to and from Union Station, on time and without delay. I even enjoyed people-watching from a comfortable chair while awaiting my train back south.
Bearings can skate, apparently
On the road, I never stop at any of the H-D boutiques I fly by, unless I need an oil change or a part. I’m an oil-change fanatic in the sense that at every 5,000 miles (8,000 km), the old oil and filter gets dumped, no matter where I am. I use synthetic oil – anything but the H-D brand when I do it myself. After all, the engine in my bagger is air cooled, and the proven high temperature protection against oil breakdown provided by synthetic oil versus dino oil gives my engine all the heat protection that it needs.
Volumes have been written about the differences between synthetic versus dino oil. Early on in the motorcycle synthetic oil debate, mechanics would declare synthetic oil to be “too slippery” for the H-D evo and twinkie engines and their bearings, and thus “bearing skate” would occur. That statement was, and still is, a complete crock of shit, of course. Synthetic oil works just fine, and in fact, H-D now sells its own brand of synthetic oil which comes installed from the factory in many of their newest engines. How times change.
I must give the H-D dealerships their due. In most instances, their service departments will take a traveler just riding through and give him priority for things like tire changes in the event of a flat, or an oil and a filter change. My last flat tire was down south in New Mexico a couple of years ago. I got priority then in Santa Fe.
I was in and out of Winchester’s H-D boutique dealership in an hour, which gave me time for a sandwich in their deli. Not bad, since the deli was completely unexpected.
To make it all easy, I use H-D’s atlas for an annual up to date listing of dealers in all of the western hemisphere. Handy as hell.
My only wish is that indy’s would provide some kind of a listing of their locations, but of course that’s an impossibility. I would prefer to use and support an indy and his business if I could.
U.S. 50, Grafton WV
Yesterday on the Ohio turnpike, I watched dumbfounded as an auto with a driver too stupid to slow down in the pouring rain, did 360s and hydroplaned into the ditch beside me. Dumbass.
U.S 50 east of Grafton, West Virginia, is a fantastic little narrow two-lane road with twists and turns and leafy canopy that covers the roadway and obscures the sky. Grades are seven to nine per cent. There are switchbacks and hairpins, with room for lots of floorboard-dragging. In places it widens out, but for the most part it remains narrow and twisty — just the thing after days of interstate riding.
Here’s what I mean
I’m holed up on the 50 in Romney at the Koolwink Motel. It’s a quaint little place, fully modern with a “retro” feel. It’s been around since 1936, and has been continuously upgraded ever since. It’s well kept up and has all the amenities, including wireless, microwave and fridge. Current owners have had it since 1955.
The Koolwink Motel fits perfectly with U.S. 50 through West Virginia
Notes from the road
The Indiana Turnpike is a piece of trash. I wonder where Indiana spends the tolls it receives?
On the other hand, the Ohio Turnpike is bliss. Obviously, Ohio spends their turnpike tolls in the right places.
If you must eat it and beat it, a quick-stop at MickyD’s for three chicken fingers isn’t too bad. Forgo the fries — too salty.
Nobody can drive worth a shit around the cities in the east. You’d think they were all q-tips and bluehairs on the roads. They’d never be able to cut it in LA.
Number of cars seen with McCain stickers: 1
Number of cars seen with Kerry stickers: 1
Umm… wasn’t John Kerry so eight years ago?