billyjackjimbob

Got some riding in today and anytime you can start a blog in January like that, living in Kentucky, well it has been a good day. Today's 60 degree high was a far cry from the 42 car pile up due to ice and snow on Monday. And after a few chores this morning, and lunch with Carri, it was time to get some cruising on the VFR done. Called up Kenny and some other riding buds to see who else was up for a ride. With UK playing at 4:00 many here in the bluegrass state were already a pitcher in at Gillum's so it was only Kenny and I. But, we had seats saved for the game at our favorite sports bar, so the calls were not for not. With the snow earlier in the week riding up in the mountains was out due to salty roads and poor conditions. So, we decided to just cruise around Madison county on local roads. We managed to roll up about 60 miles of back roads which normally wouldn't be very blog worthy, but did I mention it is Jan. 7th? And we were riding in jackets! Got to Gillum's in time to get an order of hot wings before the game started. With several friends, all who ride, sitting around watching what would turn out to be an easy win for the Wildcats, plans for another ride tomorrow were laid. It won't be an epic ride except it will be a ride in January... Which is epic. After the Sun set, the VFR was indicating 37 degrees on the 15 mile ride home leaving a cold burn in my legs by the halfway mark. I don't mind riding in the cold as long as I know I can get warmed up. Kinda makes you feel alive to feel a little bite from the cold. Tomorrow, will be a bit cooler but still in the 50's and I am looking forward to riding again. There is also talk of a group effort installing the HIDs on my VFR. Should be a great day!

Good Tuesday morning to ya! Cold morning here in South Central, Kentucky that is... Jan.1st it was 57 degrees and sunny. I worked in the yard and cleaned out the garage with only a sweat shirt. But the thing about Kentucky weather, if you don't like it wait an hour and most likely it will change. Yesterday moring the low was about 40, which turned out to be the high. Winds from the North East picked up and the temps dropped like a Led Zepplin. (great band not so great means of transportation) By 9:00am it was snowing but not sticking. By the 5pm rush hour chaos had set in! With absolutely zero pretreatment to the highways KY were gridlocked. Major highways and I-75 were ice rinks with crashes from Williamsburg (south) to Dry Ridge (almost Cincy) where they had a 42 car pile up. Top the day off with a natural gas line explosion and fire about 20 miles from my house that lit up the sky like sun rise at 7PM (reminded me of the "Fire" episode of M.A.S.H. where the Col. replies to someone "Only the Sun doesn't come up in the North.") The low level clouds from the snow squals lit up like the scene out of Raiders of the Lost Ark, when the Ark is opened and the piller of fire shoots to the Heavens. Only, our show lasted for over two hours. It was a very eerie feeling watching the sky. It wasn't just a glow, you could actually see the entire sky pulse like the flicker of a fire place in a dark room, but this was as far as you could see. One report stated the fire at it's peak shot flames to an estimated 1500ft! Luckily, it was in a remote area and no one was hurt. With the temps dropping like they did I got to try out the new Eddie Bauer coat this morning. Loving it. But, it's really no suprise. It's one of the multiple layer deal that are all the rage right now. Particularly the North Face brand is in vouge. You know the jackest with the black liner jackets that are a windproof shell that go under the outter layer? Following me? I knew they technology worked very well as I've been sporting my FirstGear Killimagaro wind jacket/liner/insulation layer as a solo jacket since 2005. Now the rest of the world has caught on. I finally broke down and got a new version as my FirstGear liner/jacket has about had the lick. But, when I was looking at the new coat, all along I was thinking how well the EB liner will work with my Killimagaro! So, I'll get double use out of it. Everyone wants to be as cool as us motorcyclist (who probably stole the technology from the ski bunnies) but we are just too far ahead of the curve. Oh, and if your a redneck like me but don't want to take your Carhart coveralls to the ski slopes, you can always wear the full Killamgaro suit. Very functional and doesn't look TOO out of place. :) Stay warm my friends! Oh, and it's going to be 55 again on Thursday. Remember what I said about Kentucky weather? Haha!

2012 here we go! Things I am looking forward to in 2012. 1. Getting married. Feb 18th! 2. Watching my 49ers playing in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. Don't think anyone is favored to beat the Packers, but can't wait to see what we can do. 3. Episode 3 of Caliparri's Cats! Should be another final four run for my Kentucky Wildcats but again thats the beauty of March Madness. You never know. 4. TMAC. Hoping to see lots of old friends and share the event with local friends as well. 5. Getting my website up and running to promote KY as a motorcycling destination. Be on the lookout for www.HillbillyTriangle.com. 6. States I plan to ride in 2012: Kentucky, TN, NC, VA, WVA, GA. 7. Collecting and riding more "named" motorcycle routes. Last year I did: Deals Gap aka Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Foothills Parkway, The Snake aka Shady Valley, The Diamondback at Little Switzerland, The Back of the Dragon (in VA), The Moonshiner or Hellbender (NC 28), and The Devil's Triangle. 8. Put together a Fall Rally in KY. I hope everyone gets to ride more than last year. Hears to a happy and safe new year!

It's the last work day of 2011 and I'm trying to leave early.. why? Hell, I don't know why. No one else is here maybe?? Anyway.. It's warm day for the end of December, but my 45 mile commute just isn't welcoming to early morning rides in the 30's. So, maybe I can get home in time to take a spin around the back roads outside of Berea before dark. Some friend that are off for the holiday are taking a trip to Iron Pony mega-store in Columbus, OH. Wishing I was with them. If you've never been pretty much imagine an old Wal-Mart store turned into a motorcycle distribution center for their web business where the public can shop also. It's huge and the close-out deals they have are insane. Got Carrie a First Gear Killimagaro jacket last year for $25, new! Might try to install the HIDs this weekend too. If I do I'll take lots of pictures so I actually have something to post in one of these blogs. HA! Well, be thinking of your New Years resolutions.. or not like Jimmy Buffett says, "Make a resolution, to never make another one..." Hope you all have a safe and happy New Years!

Yes TMAC is on for sure! I'm trying to drag some of my local buddies to the event as well. Three of whom, I have inspired to own their VFRs. :)

As 2011's death rattle can be herd in the not so far off distance, I found myself bored at work. Which lead to surfing and to the enlightenment that VFD has not been block by the IT Nazis. So, why not start a blog! Let me start off by saying that 2011 was a year of highs and lows but ended on a good run of highs. Any of you who have me as a friend on Facebook may or may not remember that the first half of the year I was stuck working 7 days a week 70-90 hours a week. This does nothing good for any part of one's life, espeically if you are a salary employee like me. Then out of the blue a recruiter found a three year old resume of mine on Careerbuilder.com and called me for a job interview. Long story short, I took the job in August and life has been good again since. I am now the Materials Manager for Hearthside Foods in London, KY where we make all kinds of goodies from Oreos to Teddy Graham's and nearly every breakfast bar on the market. It's a pretty good gig! My riding in 2011 was really limited due to the work schedule but I did manage three good trips this year. The first was a weekend get away with my girl to Deal's Gap. It was her first ever overnight trip on the bike and she did great! We had a very good trip and spent the weekend chasing waterfalls in NC. Good stuff. The second trip was one of those where me and a fellow rider, Kenny (KCPhoto on VFRD) took off for four days with no real plans other than to ride The Back of the Dragon in VA, and make the rest up as we go. If you've never done a trip like that let me say you haven't lived! The Back of the Dragon, it's great and everyone should add it to your MUST list. Don't confuse it with The Tail of the Dragon which we found ourselves playing on two days later. HA! We road the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit and then some great roads in the Natahala forest and wound up in Franklin,NC where we would then run the "Cooler Run" down to Helen and back accross the Cherohala and Dragon to spend the night at the resort. They had a room so what the hell! The last day of the ride we hit the Devil's Triangle and some great riding in KY on our way home through the Danniel Boone forest. The third trip was an impromtue adventure with one of my buddies who rides a big old Harely, Ryan. He had planned a trip to Deal's Gap to stay at the Pumpkin Center just north of the Gap on US129 and long story short several folks bailed on him and he had a cabin. So, turns out everyone bailed on him... So it was the two of us again with very little planning but that's cool. When riding with a cruiser it's a little different, but Ryan used to have an FZ1 so, he knows how to ride the curves and for two days we rode around the mountains of NC and TN at a relaxing but not boring pace. Very good trip! I managed to get some pretty good recordings with my GoPro HD in 2011, but not nearly what I wanted. Guess I have that to look forward to in 2012. Also, getting them edited and published on the web like I want, but my dinosaur PC doen't play well with HD recording so editing is out until a new laptop arrives. Finally, 2011 found me in the best relationship of my life and in September I popped the question and she said YES! So, nine years after my first attempt at marrige, I'm diving back in. Carri and I will we Feb. 18th in Gatlinburg. Guess it will be a little cool to make that a bike trip, but expect it will be great anyway! Look for more blogs to come in 2012 and Happy New Year!

Sounds like a damn good idea if ya ask me! I can't tell you the number of times I've wished people behind me knew when I was engine braking ALOT. I try to tap the lever but I think this is a good idea. Kevin PS Can't wait to see the "How To."

So HIDs are getting really cheap and ya'll know my luck with head lamps. HIDs are supposed to be longer life and I'm hoping the electronics will cancel any electrical grimlens I either have or have not on my bike. My question is this... Main lamps are H4s and the single beam HIDs are really cheap. High beams are H7 (right?). So, I'm thinking of changing out both and really light up the night. Since the new digital ballists are plug and play I should be able to simply plug the H4s in and then the H7s in and everything should work as is..... right? I mean but a butt load brighter. Right?

I have what happens without the fix.... DSC00983.JPG DSC00988.JPG DSC00987.JPG

One of the neat things about Slammer having a camara is that I get to enjoy the rides of his summer months during the winter.... :) Gets me my fix until the spring thaw. Thanks for all the great "rides." Can't wait to do some of them next August! Kevin