YamaHead

There are definitely times when I feel like a Borg....I think it freaks some folks out, but I love how some kids react to it. I met a little girl once that thought my cable was attached Internally. Then there's some lads that think it's the koolest thing since sliced bread...

Well, the harness that operates my hook finally broke....been living with no opposing member for 2 weeks....like not having a thumb. Since I moved, the insurance I had basically dropped off....so I was expecting a big bill for this service. I fortunately found a clinic under the same Hanger name where I originally got the arm built. It was 108 miles away, which was alot closer than the original location in Portland which is 280 miles from me. It turned out really well as I got the harness repaired w/ a new HD cable as well. Really glad I returned to the company that built it....didn't have to fill out any paperwork & was able to order 2 new harness' & 8 new arm socks for just over 100 bux. 3+ yrs. ago was the last time I had any dealings with them....drove 280 miles to only get short-changed with a crap cable that broke in 3 days time. So since then, I've been buying pre-cut shift cables from a bike shop only 20 miles away, to keep it operable. Thank God that my Medicare covered 80% of the cost, because anything prosthetic is just stoopid expensive! Now I'm able to finish the projects in my garage & keep riding the 'Goose more often. The real icing on the cake was when the missus & I got home, we finally got a message from my oldest boy who's been working in Israel as a PMC (pc term for Mercenary)...he said it's pretty hectic there right now, but he's working on coming home stateside after Christmas...which left me pretty stoked as I haven't seen him in over 3 & a half years. I couldn't be more proud of him....miss him terribly, but he did also attach this holiday greeting....

I can relate to that metal staple thing.....they pulled 150 of 'em outta my right side of my chest....before they chopped off my toes. Fortunately, I felt only about 3 of those. Take it from me....MRSA is nothing but a Bitch!

Completely PeteProhibitive weather!... Nice ride there Russ... Glad you made it through that heart-stopper of a moment.

Main reason I bought my 32 y/o 4x4 Chevy....put taller tires on it....which works really well up my steep driveway. Pretty kool to see people go grocery shopping in this little town in the snow....in a side-by-side ATV w/ tracks & a blade on the front. Saw a couple slide up to the store on a snowmobile once....just another beer run. The county cops are all kool with it.

@ least a foot & a half deep...

Taken 1 year ago to the day....still hard to believe we had that much snow! This year it's been cold, dry & windy with an 8 deg f temp this morning...

If I didn't know any better, I'd tend to lean on the notion....that maybe Pete's rubbing off on you!.... or did you just nick that off him when he wasn't looking?

My other favorite looking bike.....

Avoiding the Black Friday mayhem on this sunny but cold morning....21f & frosty Seriously thinking about a dirt road ride in the big truck w/ the missus today.... just too damn nice to stay inside all day.

Happiest of Birthdays to the Chief Twat who's ahead of Pete into his 7th decade....

Long Live the Blue hue....

Woke up to a good dusting of the white stuff this morning....gone now, but the temps are dropping into the 20'sF the next few nights Fall/Autumn....ya blink, ya miss it!

Got a long-time friend w/ (2) eMtn bikes that I've had the opportunity to sample a coupla times.....that sparked me into upgrading my 'Goose with an hydraulic front brake...had to be 1 of thee most cost-effective bike upgrades I've ever done....$59 delivered to my door, for a bike that now can put you on your head (brakewise). I'm leaning more towards a fat-tire ebike with a mid-drive as they do pretty well in the snow, which we get a fair amount of every year.

As long as I keep the rubber tension bands changed regularly....'bout due now.

Couldn't pass up some decent weather this last weekend....so I was off for some exercise aboard the 'Goose. Can't say enough about riding in NE Oregon....the views absolutely blow away just about anything on the left side of the state... Heading out on the east side of Elgin....after crossing the Grand Ronde river & Gordon creek here....then the long gravel uphill to the cemetery....which reminded me of just how old I'm getting....lol Fortunately, I persevered!.... Gotta be honest, @ this point I didn't have enough left in the tank to finish this climb as the cemetery is about halfway up this hill.....a destination for another time & then I'll get some pics of Mt. Harris. Needless to say, I definitely enjoyed the sprint back down this gravel hill....barely made the corner @ the bridge! Eventually eased up on the pace to stop for a water break here on the way home... My personal goal is to ride ALOT more so I can eventually justify buying a Yamaha eMtnBike & expand my range.

Last of the "Pete Approved" weather as the temps are dropping to freezing levels....so, last chance to catch some of the season appropriate colors along the Minam river

Start prepping for a week w/o the missus....she's leaving Wed. for her hometown (Emmett ID) to sit with her 12y/o grand-daughter while her son & daughter-in-law pay a visit to Nashville TN. She's making me some of her kick-ass meatloaf for me to survive on while she's away. Had to run off 7 deer this morning outta the backyard....keeps her dog from getting beat up by one again....gave that dog a concussion & a coupla staples in her head last time. That dog thinks she's 10ft. tall & bulletproof....she's a Chihuahua/Italian Greyhound mix & can run like a gazelle.

Since I've been "toe-less" for 10 yrs now, I've become a complete advocate for Salomon....the fit is impeccable. The Quicklace feature is a game changer.... These last me @ least a year....& I've already got 2 more new pairs in reserve.....I shouldn't have to buy any more boots/shoes for the rest of my life! & they're great for riding the Mongoose mtn. bike with....

And that came with it's own acid kit as well... I was rather surprised as the last time I bought a bike battery was 15+ yrs. ago....for the same price!

Out for a tour of the countryside with the Missus....near Sumpter... Blue Springs summit.... elevation: 5,864 ft.

Just received a Yuasa battery yesterday for my 35y/o XT.....through Amazon, for only $30.

Raining here all night.... but the little tree frogs that hang out under my house, seem to be liking it. When that rare tropical storm came in from the Pacific that hit the LA area last month....it headed NE & missed Portland, but dumped 6" of H2O in 36 hrs. here in Elgin ....surprisingly, it didn't cause any flooding or damage....it was so dry from August's heat blast, the ground just soaked it all up!

Gonna be a warm one today....90F....but backs off again tomorrow Got a Ride in before 9am ...darn'd camera was dead, so my "old fart" flip-phone came through...

Managed this one hangin' on w/ the hook...