Friday, May 16, 2008 - Posts

Friday, May 16, 2008 8:59 AM

Spring Filler

What a strange spring -- weather-wise.   We finally got the corn in and now we just need a little warmer soil for the beans.  Between the  snow,  rain, hail, winds,  and cold, we've  tried to keep  planting stress to a minimum by working on several  little projects and getting ready for riding  season.  RR picked up the Aluma motorcycle trailer he'd ordered and spent several cold, wet days in the garage lining it with insulation and carpet.  Thanks for the ideas Stu!  They really "finish" the trailer.  PS:  When the company's label says proper ventilation in regards to using a spray adhesive, they mean it.  Your brain cells will thank you even if your body says it's a little chilly.

We've also used field breakdown times to catch up on our reading.  I always stash a magazine in my lunch tote to browse while waiting for parts or technical assistance.  The June issue of Motorcycle Cruiser had quite a few good articles.  Here are some things that caught my eye:

  • The "Can-Do" Kid:  a wheel-chair lymphoma patient who operates his bike from a sidecar.
  • Top 10 Motorcycle Museums
  • Buyer's Guide to Leather Jackets with a Women's Apparel Section
  • Care and Feeding of Leathers
  • 2-Up Touring  Safety Tips for Riders and Co-Riders
  • How to Inspect a Used Bike with Checklist
  • Night Riding Tips (Includes How Current Bike Styling Trends Can Affect Safety and What You Can Do About It)
That last article mentioned the difficulties aging caged drivers have when approaching an on-coming motorcycle, eye problems of riders, and how bike manufacturer's styling may result in improperly aimed headlamps in addition to the usual good safety suggestions.  Worth Reading.

My filler?  All winter I've been wondering how I can keep two of my favorite hobbies out of conflict -- riding and gardening.  We want to put some miles on the bikes this summer but still want fresh tomatoes and home-grown vegies.  Solution? -- We converted our garden according to Mel Bartholomew's square-foot gardening method.  Supposedly, it requires less work, less water,  and less up-keep.   We also started a worm farm to create our own ultra-rich compost.  The ideal "pets" for bikers -- feed 'em some scraps and shredded newspapers and junk mail and you can leave them on their own for up to three weeks.  Cross your fingers that this will solve my dilemma!  Thanks RR for your patience and your help!   I owe you  some CFS.

posted by U2Farmer with 2 Comments