Old man musing's
Been stuck here in bed for the last week . Eye's don't or wont focus and leg's not wanting to work . I started remembering my best ride . The ride that I'll remember for ever . It was the ride that “made me” in the club . The ride that I was never able to repeat no matter how hard I tried .
It was 1972 , I had heard on the news that Abercrombie and Fitch was closing . If you were anybody and if you were going to Africa on safari you were outfitted by A.&F . When John Wayne went to film Doctarie All his outfit was supplied by A&F. . I became obsessed , I had to have something ,,, anything from A.&f . It just had to have Abercombie & Fitch logo on it .
I emptied my bank account close to 10 g . Fired up my best bike . {1952 Harley 45} exactly the wrong bike for a long ride and left Salinas California for New York . I pushed that poor bike with all my will and all my purpose . For three days and nights no sleep . When I arrived in N.Y. I found a closed store front with newspaper over the show windows . Too late . I can't describe my let down . I started trying to get out of N.Y. Lost . no direction , Every taxi acting like I had a target on my back . Taking cat naps sitting on my bike when I could . I knew every one around me was looking to take what ever I had . Some of the Neiborhood's I was passing though looked like war zone's . Lost all track of time . It might have been one day , It could have been three or four . I finely found myself out of N.Y. I had bought some maps . Found a few out of the way , Out of site places to sleep where I could keep an eye on my bike . I got the idea I was somewhere north of N.Y. Maybe Pensavania . Found a bar that looked like I would get out alive . Went in for a beer and took all the map's to try to figure out where I was and how the hell to get out of here . Map's spread out , beer Infront of me , best I could figger I was somewhere close to Vermont .
This guy introduced himself as bill and asked where I was going . I showed him my map and told him I was trying to get home and asked him “WHERE THE HELL AM I” He took me outside , around the side of the bar , Showed me the Skyline Of N.Y. Oh crap I'm in new jersey .We wound up at his place , My bike in his locked garage and me asleep next to it . I slept the sleep of the dead for two days . Bill had gone to take everything out of his bank , Bought a new Triumph 650 , loaded it with camping gear and said “lets go” . We wandered north ,taking our time , riding back roads when we could secondary roads and toll roads when we had to .Crossed the border near Qubeck Canda . Found the TransCanada Highway and headed west . We took our time , We stopped at every bar that looked the least bit friendly . Made it to Calgary in time for “stampede days” . Left one town that had a large Billboard that said “DID YOU GET GASS” We ran out about 30 miles short of the next town . We camped or were invited to stay nights with so many people . We finally wound up in Vancouver . No discussing , We just headed up the AlCan highway to Alaska . Juno we finally had enough . We took the fairy to Seattle . God that was so expensive we had to sleep on the deck next to our bikes . I have never been so cold in my life . Seattle we hit highway 101 and cannon balled it south . When we crossed the Goldengate Bridge we were so broke we had to sign promissory notes that we would pay to get home to my place . Home Prundale . 12 miles south of Salinas.
Half a mile from home Bill went down , broke his left wrist . Called buddy's {yeah that close} they loaded us up in a truck for the 10 min ride home . Bill to the emergency room for a cast on his arm . Partied like hell for a week with the club . Bill was adopted by the club and givin colors . The club put up the money to ship his bike and paid his plane fare home .
That was my ride . Thats the ride I'll never be able to repeat . That's the ride that pull's at my hart to try again .