It was a beautiful fall day. 65°F and sunny. I took off with a destination loosely in mind but things happened… and I had to adjust.
Left Byron on my ORIGINAL MOTORCYCLE that I bought back in April of 1985. Due to some mechanical issues it got sidelined and I never got to it. Last year I took it to…
Bear’s Cycle Restoration.
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https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrgQnAxLO
He warned me it might be months before he got to it. Fine, as it had been sitting in my garage for 10 yrs. Summer came and I hadn’t heard anything. Then around July I got an estimate. He got everything done in the fall. I rode it home and it sat all winter and then this summer too.
I had to take it out and boy did it feel weird to be on that old bike with it’s Buckhorn handle bars. It took a few miles for the feel to come back. Hands are in a perfect relaxed position. I have a custom seat on it built for Loraine and that has to get replaced with the one made for me! 112,000 miles on it. Stopped by the Honda shop to chat and look around. A young man on a sport bike pulled in and asked if it was an 87. No, 1984 Standard Wing with an 83 Hondaline fairing on it. I bought it in 85. He was shocked that I was the original owner and said it was cool and in such great shape. I thanked him and thought that was nice as I look at it and don’t think it is in great shape… as I had seen it new! But the young lad helped me out greatly as he suddenly exclaimed… Hey, something dripped from your front brake reservoir!
Sure enough fluid was dripping and it had damaged the clear coat on the tank! Nick from the shop ran in and got a rag and some cleaner. Cleaned it up. Luckily I was only 8 miles from Bear’s and I rolled in shortly. He diagnosed the problem fairly quickly. The rubber diaphragm that also acts as a gasket had bowed in and fluid got on top of it and came out the vent holes. He had new diaphragms there and put it in and sent me on my way.
I didn’t have time to make it to Leland, Wisconsin as work asked if I would come in around 5 pm. Bear told me there were several good places in Argyle and that was much closer. Ran into some construction and that added some time, but I forged ahead anyway. Rolled into Argyle… Oh, I have gone through here several times before! Had no clue were to eat.
I saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair on the corner. I rolled up and stopped beside him. He gave me a thumbs-up. I asked him if he knew where there was a good place to eat a lunch in town. He brightened right up and said… right here! As he pointed a thumb over his shoulder. Ok, thanks, and I pulled in.
I was in the parking behind the place and taking my gear off. A lady came out and was throwing a bag of garbage in the dumpster. She looked at me and said ” I am jealous of you! It’s the perfect day for a ride” I gave her a grin and said “yes, it is”
Turns out that was Julie and she is the cook. I met Amber at the bar. We had an interesting conversation about her having her gallbladder out. It all started as we were discussing my order.
But as I walked in two old gentlemen were sitting at the corner of the bar and as I was the only other person in the place they were looking at me. Now this is a town of 870 people. They know that I am not from around there. They continue to watch me.
I ask, as they are the only people in there… do I just sit down or what as there were tables and a deli. Reply… she’ll be out here in a minute. Sure enough out came Amber and asked me… like I knew what I was doing… you ordering a sandwich from the Deli or eating from the menu.
Menu! As I sit at the bar. One page double sided. Hmmm… and with that hmmm, one of the old guys spoke. If you’re hungry go with the top special on the white board. I looked, Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy. Yeah, that sounds good, but I have to try their Ruben sandwich. Says they make their own Corned Beef!
I ordered homemade hand breaded cheese curds… I am in Wisconsin after all! Good breading and warm… cheese inside was soft… dipped in ranch… Mmmmmm. I’ll try Bleu Cheese next time. While they made my sandwich I started talking to the 2 guys. Told them I asked the guy in the wheelchair where to eat and he recommended this place. Oh, that’s my brother Bob said the guy (I never found out who he was) Then out came my sandwich. It looked good! Bread was thick, perfectly crunchy but not hard, big slice of corned beef and a good amount of sauerkraut and dressing.
Amber and I started talking and I said I liked the cheese curds. Said she did to but she couldn’t eat stuff like that anymore. Then the explanation of her gallbladder. She left and one of the old guys started asking questions after they figured out that I was friendly.
I found out that one of them was Dennis Mason, lived a mile down the road… you could tell he was a regular there. Anyway, I asked him after we talked if I could record him in a video as He was living history. I wasn’t sure about if he would want too. He surprised me and put on a big grin and said SURE!
I did and then I had to hightail it 90 minutes to work.
Rode home in the dark… those 1984 dim yellow lights … they work but they will need to be upgraded with LED bulbs!
Oh, I asked Dennis if he was ever called Dennis the Menace while he was a Cop for 29 yrs in Madison starting in 1964. No. But I didn’t really care what I was called… as I was the one with the gun! You gotta watch the video!
https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrgQnAxLO
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