The F-A-R Journey Continues ....

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2007

By the way, in case there was any doubt about my GPS trying to send me to Senegal after I picked up the FJR, I offer these two photos:

Webmaster Note: Ah, the AGirl route! And they say electronics are not smart. This one is LEARNING. It knows her and knows that when she says go from Point A to Point B she really means to go by way of Cape Horn (or in this case via Senegal). In fact, I think I may have made that trip with her a couple of times (or maybe it just seemed that way)

The past several days here in Music City USA have looked like this…

…which has really cramped my riding style! However, the forecast said there would be a break from precipitation so I zipped back down this morning to Cullman, AL for the FJR's first service, to have them check on an issue or two, and to get the bike a set of replacement mirrors since the stock mirrors could only offer me a glorious view of either my own hands or to the far sides but not directly behind me.

When I left Music City this morning at 9:30am (ok, 9:35) it was a bit nippy. Here's proof:

Yes, it was 16 freakin' degrees! The looks I got from people in cars was priceless. It's been a while since I've had the condensation from my breathe ice over the bottom portion of my helmet's faceshield! Things like this happen when you're going 70mph in 16 degrees, which equals a wind chill temperature of minus 23 degrees! When I stopped for gas a man across from me at a pump quipped after I had pulled in and turned off the bike: "Dude, you've got sum balls to be ridin' in dis cold!!" Heated gear is worth it's weight in gold on days like today I tell you! I wore a heated jacket and gloves along with my riding suit and I was really quite comfortable. I actually needed to turn down the jacket as I was getting too warm. I've always said I prefer cold weather over hot weather for the very reason that it is much easier to get myself warm (heated gear, moving around, etc) than to get my body temperature cooled.

Made it down to D&H, here's Nick doing the first oil change...

…and installing one of the new "Dumbo ears" compared to the stock mirror:

So, you thought I didn't give a rat's ass about looks, right? HA! I most certainly do when it involves what *I'm* looking at, namely what's behind me! As an aside, the new mirrors (factory Yamaha FZ1 mirrors for those that care) are such an upgrade that I could actually lose either mirror and still see completely behind me. THAT's what I'm talkin' about!

While I was waiting for Nick to finish up, I was walking around the Sales area and I came across a pair of boots that I'm guessing only the true slaves to fashion would likely purchase. Actually, I know a chick or two who might even take up motorcycling just so they could wear these things:

The other very unusual thing I witnessed was the other mechanic (Blake) returning from a test ride on a new R6. What's unusual about that? Well, because it was 29 degrees (the highest temp today) and this was his, er, "gear":

Apparently Blake is a hot-blooded Bama boy since those who work at D&H said he rides with a t-shirt regardless of the temperature. Wow, I wonder what the man at the gas station would say about Blake??

I finished up at D&H a little later than I'd anticipated and it was dark by the time I arrived Nashville. Upon my arrival I had quite a few phone messages, half of which were callers back in AZ who all happened to mention it was 70 degrees there.