Earache

It snowed 23" this day. We passed a piece of equipment parked off the side of the road - look at the snow piled up on the mast of the truck... We didn't stop to take any pics as I wasn't sure I could get moving again. The snow plows were the only other vehicles out this day, but we only saw them about once every other hour or so.

Crap. This isn't gonna be any fun at all. The road goes from this... to this... and then to this...

Christmas Day and we're leaving Santa Fe and driving around 420 miles north to Gateway, Colorado. Should take about 6 hours of driving through some of the best scenery in the USA. Leaving Santa Fe, it's bright and sunny... About 50 miles north and it starts to cloud up -nasty looking, dark blue clouds that tend to hold a lot of moisture...

Not much else to do today so the wofe and I head up into the hills and to Los Alamos. Great scenery with the show covered hills on the horizon. I want this guy's house - what views!

True dat - should be around mid week; Jan 6-8. Will let you guys know.

Sweet! Can I borrow it for awhile? I'll be in Columbus soon after the new year and will let you know exactly when, etc.

I need to borrow an OEM license plate holder / rear fender for a Gixer 600, years 2006 through 2008. I need it for about a day to measure the bolt holes and agles so that I can make a fender eliminator for a guy. He already threw his OEM unit away. In return for letting me borrow it, I'd be happy to make an eliminator for you if you want one ("billet" aluminum, powdercoated or polished - your choice, with an LED license plate light). Email me at EaracheMS@Gmail.com if you can help me out. Thanks! Eric

Nice pink flamingos

Have fun and drink a beer for me!

Some pics form Gateway today. Dont; worry about the snow, it'll all be long gone by the time we'd get there. The hotel... The inside is as cool as the outside. The bar area...

I'm sitting in Ouray, Colorado as I type this. Just spent the last week driving all over New Mexico and Colorado. I suggest we make a change and skip Santa Fe and add in Gateway, Colorado. Reasons: Santa Fe has great food. But the roads are kinda average and the freakin' town closes at 9:00 PM each night. Plus, it's a 400 mile long hike to get back into Colorado. It'd take a full day to get into New Mexico and a full day to get back out. That'll kill us on a one week long trip. Gateway is fantastic, great riding and Moab, Utah - along with Arches and Canyonland Nat'l Parks - is nearby. With great roads leading there and back. Gateway has one hotel and it's a great place as well. Ain't cheap with single rooms going for $110 or so and doubles around $200. Great pool in the desert and no one is ever there. Best place to go in the USA. Great pool in the desert sun surrounded by bluffs and mountains. Freakin' excellent. So, what say you?

I can whip you up a monut that uses the bolts that hold your clutch and /or brake lever perch if you want. Easy as shit to make. And beyond cheap as well!

Oh yeah, as far as the case goes, I made some out of billet aluminum that came out really nice - indestructable. Sure, they weigh a ton and look kinda weird. I'll find apic and post it sometime. Stole the idea from here: http://www.proarmor.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=865

Hate to jump in the middle of the headphone argument, but I've tried many and spend a ton of cash on shit that didn't work. I now use these and they block a lot of noise, so high volume on the iPod isn;t needed like it is on skull candy: http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx They can be had for around $100-150. They fit in my ears without pulling out when I put on my tight helmet, sound perfect and block a lot of noise. I can hear perfect at 90+ mph - even with a lot of wind noise. Couldn't be happier with them I've tried Skull Candy and others. Even had some custom molded earphones made for $350 the Etymotics kick all of their asses.

I was thinking about something like the targa shields - east as shit to make and you can have any size you want.

I'd say abouty 1 cold beer sometime. I have plenty of sheet stock lying around, so as long as I don't have to buy any material - it's free. Unless the pipe already has a mount on it, you'll need a couple of stainless steel hose clamps to hold it on. Post a pic so I can see what ya want.

Something like this maybe? Can be any shape of course, with holes or milled slots for looks. Or even just solid. Easily made from aluminum sheet stock and then powdercoated whatever color or just polished.

If the shape of the shield isn';t too complex, we could make ya one pretty easily. Have a picture of what one looks like?

Okay, we'll keep it there then. That itinerary is just an outline - we don't have to strictly keep to it.

Just peeked out of the hotel room window - still snowing like a beeatch....

That, my friend, is one handsome sumabitch!

exploring for roads is going tobe very limited today due to the 2 feet of snow on the ground. Hope to get up to Taos, but may not be able. More pics later........

I'm drunk and it's time to head back to the hotel. Although the tracks in the snow would indicate otherwise, we have the town to ourselves.... Home sweet home....

We amble across the street after dinner and into the La Fonda's Hotel bar (see http://www.lafondasantafe.com/foodbev/lounge.html ) so I can get a few more beers in me because I just haven't had enough these past few days. Judy opts for some spiced rum or some girly shit like that... Self portrait in t he bar mirror... Nice place...

We're late eaters and lotsof the places ahve closed early due to the weather. But we find a cozy bar to plop into for drinks and chow... More food pics - I love the food here, always hot and spicy - started withthe cheese and bacon filled jalapenos. Hotter than shit! I have the blue corn chicken enchiladas slathered with the requisite red and green chiles... The wife had a burger. A fuckin' burger! No food pictures for you!