"Simon, you never could ride anyway ..."
Low Level stole my line.
Back when we were both just kids, I often enjoyed reading your posts and I looked forward to meeting you.
Then I met you. (Dogpile words.)
Anyway, take care of yourself, old man.
It's been a hoot.
It's the best thing you've posted in years, Simon. Not the news part (too bad), but for getting Old Michael off the couch to type a reply!
Gotta say, the long rides are more and more of a challenge. A 300-mile day is a LONG day so the out-of-state rallies may all be in the past for me. The few riders who were senior to me are fewer all the time, but now even youngsters like you are hanging it up. What's that about? Hope you've found something to replace your FJR for joy! Good luck selling the bike and ALL those farkles.
Don't be afraid to come on and post a snarky comment or something here once in a while.
Okay you two... Story time. For wonderful forum members.
Many years ago I tried to get a ride coordinated with some NorCal folks, when I was going to be in town. No one bit. Maybe they thought I was joking. Old Michael, now known as "real" Old Michael reached out to me and said he'd put a ride together for me and I could meet some of the NorCal gang. I think I wanted to meet at Poor Red's (I heard of the place and thought it'd be fun to go to) in the middle of nowhere in El Dorado, California. It's a "biker" bar. I'll never forget that great trip and meeting all the great folks like Old Michael, SacramentoMike, Mad Mike2, UberCool, Haans, Tyler, Puppy Chow, FJRonamission, and many others I'm sure I'm forgetting. We had a nice lunch and and upon leaving and talking out front, a Harley dude made fun of Tyler's three wheeler. Big mistake. Tyler let him have it verbally and his ego hit the ground. He was pissed and tried calling his buddies to get to the place. We escaped before the mayhem started, but it was a fun time and ride. Thank you so much Michael, I'll never forget that.
I also tried to humiliate Old Michael after a SoCal NorCal meet up for lunch in Orcutt, California at Far Western Tavern. Great rib eye steaks and again met a great bunch of people. Wild ride it was cold and raining that December. Bikes were covered in mud from the farm vehicles leaving a mess on the roads etc. Great time though. I took many pix and used the animal heads and Old Michaels head to show what he'd look like with antlers etc. Fun posts form that trip. I thought he looked very handsome with antlers.
Then on a different NorCal trip after a year or so, my friend and I were resting at a nice place, New Bullards Bar. No it's a reservoir, silly people. Beautiful huge dam in a canyon. Anyway I notice a couple funny looking motorcycles in the spot we pulled off on and they were FJR's. And no kidding it's SacrementoMike, and a buddy and his pillion! It was great to run into them by chance and we chatted a bit. I won't forget that one either Mike... SactoMike...
Anyway, point being, great people and great memories on this forum!
