NO MORE COMMUTING?

My last day commuting to work was Thursday November 18 as the roads got icy. Then on November 24 a storm cut across Minnesota.

Wednesday afternoon the wind was coming off the lake and one could sense a storm approaching.

It started snowing in the late afternoon.

We were getting over an inch per hour, but the front past by in a matter a few hours. We ended up with about four inches . I am ready for the riding season to end, but when the streets are some what clear and the temperature is in the 20's I will try to ride to work......cuz I'm stupid!

NOBODY RIDE JOURNAL

Since the cold weather descended on Duluth, I am now riding my 125. Our weather has now settled into its average temperatures for this time of year with lows in the mid teens to low twenties and highs in the upper twenties to low thirties.

We had some snow on the ground the beginning of the week, but it has since melted. Up away from Lake Superior (just one mile up the hill) there is still plenty of snow on the ground.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 10

No snow at my home as I headed to work this morning. We received 11 inches of snow at our airport, but since I live near Lake Superior in the St. Louis River Valley we just got a couple of inches. The snow at my home melted yesterday.

It was around 30 degrees as I left for work and 32 degrees when I returned home. There were a few icy spots on the side roads and in parking lots, but the biking was not difficult. The extended forecast sound promising for me to ride all week, as no significant snow is in the forecast.

THE WEATHER IS A CHANGING

Today winter came to Duluth. Yes the weather is a changing!http://s0.ilike.com/play#Bob+Dylan:The+Times+They+Are+A-Changin%27:10280:s41533418.10996528.4657974.0.2.36%2Cstd_7ef9b96c67764a6683c32747ab699715

A Nor'easter came blowing in with impending snow and cold.

Down at Canal Park the wave must have been 8 - 10 feet.

http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4SKPB_enUS300US301&q=canal+park+duluth+photos&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ScfhTOjrLZWvngeyjaSlDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQsAQwAA&biw=713&bih=511

I needed to stay well away from these rocks, as spray was dousing the shoreline.

Here is pictured the Duluth Canal Entry.

It was raining along with the mist from the breaking waves.

This is the canal.

I knew my cycle ride to work on Monday (if I was able to ride) would be more exciting if not just plain cold.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 9

Heading out to work at 7 Am with a temperature of 33 degrees. Today is supposed to be the last day that we will be having above normal temperatures for at least through the 10 day forecast. Our high today is going to be around 48 degrees.

This may be the last day I commute on my CX650 since temperatures in the mid to low 20's don't sit well with this bike.

Took this picture when I arrived at work. If you zoom in you will see the Bong Bridge in the background. http://www.johnweeks.com/river_stlouis/pages/stlL06.html

As I did not go directly home after work, I was able to take these early evening pictures of the Duluth Harbor at Cascade Park. Cascade Park is on the Duluth hillside.
http://www.northernimages.com/Duluth/Duluth-Parks-and-Trails/Cascade-Park-Duluth/10250976_sa55F#715097466_qNmJQ

The background of this photo is Wisconsin.

This photo you can see the Aerial Lift Bridge on the left hand edge of the photo. The strip of land going out from the bridge is Park Point. The body of water on the left side of Park Point is Lake Superior and the body of water on the right side in the Duluth /Superior Harbor

This photo is of Lake Superior, you can see the Aerial Lift Bridge at the right hand edge of the photo.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 8

Another beautiful day to commute to work on a cycle.

This is a photo of the road behind our home.

I thought I would take a picture of Spirit Mountain; the down hill ski resort in Duluth. This photo doesn't show much. You can check out Spirit Mountain at this link: http://www.spiritmt.com/

Before going to work, I went to a local fitness center to swim laps. This is a photo of 4th Ave East with Lake Superior in the background.

It was around 44 degrees when I headed into work at 10 AM and 36 degrees when I got home at 9 PM.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 7

Another fantastic morning with the thermometer reading 44 degrees at 7:15 AM. I hear that tomorrow will be quite a bit cooler. The dew point was 38 degrees so it felt damp.

Most of the leaves have fallen off the trees in our yard.

This photo was taken on my way to work. I am facing Northeast and am on 105th Ave West in Gary New Duluth.

I took this photo when I arrived at work. Our retention pond is in the foreground with our athletic field behind. In the background is the St. Louis Bay with an ore dock protruding out from shore.

I rode home at 5 PM. The temperature was 50 degrees. I have been seeing other motorcyclist. Usually by November very few riders are out, but this weather has kept many folks biking.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 6

Yet another easy commute with a temperature of 39 degrees.

The sun was shining.

There was a haze in the sky as I left Gary New Duluth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_%E2%80%93_New_Duluth

I took this picture after I parked my bike at work. The St. Louis River Bay is in the foreground.

http://www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/archives/slr/StLouisRiverBrochure_final.pdf

If you click on this photo you will be able to see the Blatnik Bridge also know as the High Bridge. It connects Duluth Mn to Superior WI. spaning the St. Louis River.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Blatnik_Bridge

I took this photograph back by my bike, as I was leaving work at 5:15 PM. It is pretty much the same area I photographed in the morning. It was a nice ride home. The temperature was 46 degrees when I arrived home. Sounds like colder weather will be coming to our area by Saturday.

NOBODIES NOVEMBER RIDE JOURNAL ENTRY # 5

This November commuting is rather boring for me so far. I am used to some unpredictable weather along with toughing out some cold rides to work.

It was 41 degrees at 7 AM, when I was heading out! That is our typical high.

The roads were clear with a little moisture from morning dew.

I took this picture on the way home. I stopped in Morgan Park for gas and decided to take a picture of my ride back to Common Wealth Ave. The hillside is the western edge of the ridge that runs the length of Duluth. A parkway follows that ridge; it is call Skyline Parkway and is about 22 miles long. http://www.superiortrails.com/duluth-skyline.html

When I got home it was 46 degrees. It sounds like we will continue to have above normal temperatures until this coming weekend. I know it is just a matter of time before I will be facing more winter like weather.

ASK KICKSTAND

Ask Kickstand is an email advice column dedicated to motorcycle questions. These questions can be technical,regarding mechanical issues, safety related, philosophical, spiritual or relationship issues.

Disclaimer: Kickstand is not a psychiatrist, a professional mechanic, motorcycle safety instructor, pastor or social worker. If readers choose to follow Kickstand's advice it is with the understanding that neither Kickstand nor the Nobody Motorcycle Club will be held liable.

Dear Kickstand,

I am a motorcyclists who enjoys riding around town and also taking day and weekend trips. I enjoy the sport for a variety of reasons, but there is one benefit that I have never been able to claim.; that's having the ladies take notice of me and my bike. At first I though it was because I didn't have a very cool bike. I rode an old KZ 440. So two years ago I purchased a 2007 Harley Davidson V Rod. See enclosed picture. http://images04.olx.com/ui/1/15/67/3440867_1.jpg

At first the ladies would smile and occasionally say hi, but I realized as soon as I took off my helmet they would take one more look and walk away. I will be the first to admit that I am not good looking, but I'm not ugly. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Sincerely,

Longing For A Lady

Dear Longing,

Thanks for you heartfelt letter. I am sure I can help you, but I first need to set you straight on a major misconception. Having a Lady is not a cure all for one's life. There are many "empty wells" we can go to seeking fulfillment in life, but none of them can quench our "thirst". In my opinion the only one who can meet our deepest needs is God. So if you want to understand a little more about what I have just shared let me know. That being said, lets tackle your problem in a superficial way. I guarantee you will get immediate results and will experience a short lived time of happiness.

First off good choice for a bike. You are right a V Rod will get the ladies' attention. Now you need to work with that image. Your magic formula is a simple three step process.

1. Get rid of the helmet. The mystery of what you look like gets the ladies attention, but when they see you they are immediately disappointed. Don't allow them to imagine you looking like......... you fill in the blank as I am too old to know.

2. Grow your hair out long enough that on the days you are riding you can make it look wild. If you lack hair shave the head and go for the tough look. You can also buy a good wig.

3. Watch all the beach party movies that Eric Von Zipper is in and start acting like him.

Have fun and let me know how you like your new life.

Sincerely,

Kickstand

WANDERING; NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO

What does it take to wander? A mind set? A particular attitude? A sunny fall day? I suppose the anatomy of wandering at times can be very complex. Some times it is as simple as having some time, having some Nobodies available and having no particular place to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6OS_ItMGpc



Before leaving we did need to do some work on Lizards 750. His rear sprocket on the bike was the not the original and in fact was too large. Backflash had found the correct size sprocket at a junk yard, so we put it on before wandering.

Flashback took the rear wheel off.

One always needs to take time to admire a motorcycle. Bikes are beautiful whether they are flawlessly restored or just every day rides.

Old sprocket off........

New old sprocket on.

Now for a little electrical work before getting back to the chain. Backflash demonstrates how to correct a brake light problem by doing a break light repair.

Measure the chain on the newer, smaller sprocket and figure out how many links need to be removed.

Grind the pin to remove the needed links.

Attach chain with the master link.

Adjust chain and tighten the axle nut.

Test ride on Nobody Museum Ride Road.

Where are we going? We don't know. Who are we? We are Nobodies. Where are we from? Duluth, and we are stupid!

Backflash is looking forward to getting lost.

Backflashes brother is Eric Von Zipper. Are you familiar with him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Lembeck

We end up some where in Carlton County.

Wandering has its rewards. We discovered some thing we were not looking for.

Kickstand, Puppy, and Lizard in front of a nice little cabin on Park Lake. What a beautiful day!

http://in.lake-link.com/lakes/lake.cfm?LakeID=6576&RegionID=443

Carlton County has some great roads. We did get lost and then surprised when we came upon the City of Cromwell. We had lunch there then headed home, taking a route that was familiar to us.