back in the saddle, baby!

[Iahawk]

After a 4 month layoff from riding I decided to pull out the Helix, change the oil, and go for a ride. Temp is in the 60's F and sunny (18-20 C).

An oil change involves removing the drain bolt, draining 800 ml of oil out, replacing drain bolt and refilling with 800 ml of oil. As easy as it gets!

Tires were pumped up, bike warmed up and off for a 27 mile ride. Helix always runs well and rides great. I had put a whole 181 miles on it since the last oil change 15 months ago...that will change this year.

Early retirement is looking like a real possibility..just a few more things to figure out with my financial advisor before I declare myself officially retired! Retired at age 59 1/2?? 

I can't wait to put more miles on in this riding season than any since covid!

[Neil955i]

Got my fingers crossed for you Hawk.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Enlisted in the Army Air Corps, as a 20 yr old in WWII - my dad retired from the Air Force after 30 yrs......at 50!!
As a navigator, he spent the last few yrs keeping his flight status (& extra F.S. pay!) by mapping flights over various parts of the country - scoping out his future retirement area.
He chose Colorado, and Arizona. My mom got pretty handy at shoveling rattle snakes out of her garden shed and the garage. One of their 2 dogs, the big golden retriever, was bitten by a rattler - dad got her to the vet in time. Vet said if it had been the skinny pointer - the bite would have killed him.
Finally - mom said, " enough!, we're going back to live by the ocean in Forida!" She died last year - fortunately just months shy of 100. (she told everyone that she was really going to be PO'd if she made it to 100) They both passed at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, and are buried in the VA grounds near St Pete beach, FL.

My wish is for you to have as good a retirement as my folks did! He bought a big Ford, and pulled their Airstream to the 4 corners of N America.
A favorite family memory was watching my mother trying to "dock" that huge black Lincoln by restaurants in Florida, while my older brother grumbled like a drill sgt - giving his running commentary at her efforts. His wife - "Steve!, language. The children!"   
Stig

[Iahawk]

Enlisted in the Army Air Corps, as a 20 yr old in WWII - my dad retired from the Air Force after 30 yrs......at 50!!
As a navigator, he spent the last few yrs keeping his flight status (& extra F.S. pay!) by mapping flights over various parts of the country - scoping out his future retirement area.
He chose Colorado, and Arizona. My mom got pretty handy at shoveling rattle snakes out of her garden shed and the garage. One of their 2 dogs, the big golden retriever, was bitten by a rattler - dad got her to the vet in time. Vet said if it had been the skinny pointer - the bite would have killed him.
Finally - mom said, " enough!, we're going back to live by the ocean in Forida!" She died last year - fortunately just months shy of 100. (she told everyone that she was really going to be PO'd if she made it to 100) They both passed at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, and are buried in the VA grounds near St Pete beach, FL.

My wish is for you to have as good a retirement as my folks did! He bought a big Ford, and pulled their Airstream to the 4 corners of N America.
A favorite family memory was watching my mother trying to "dock" that huge black Lincoln by restaurants in Florida, while my older brother grumbled like a drill sgt - giving his running commentary at her efforts. His wife - "Steve!, language. The children!"   
Stig