Cabin Fever
 

There is a mix of snow and freezing rain in Pennsylvania today. I am tired of the cold and snow. I wana ride. I can't wait for the first nice day of spring so I can ride all day. I think I need to move to Charleston S.C. with my brother. :hide:

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I think it's snowing there too. I heard it's 81 in Anaheim today.

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I rode in the cold and the snow a few days back, it was a brisk ride to say the least.

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We're getting nailed again for the second time in a week. The roads never got clear from the first one. I rode January first, and that was the last time the roads were safe for a bike. I have kind of an informal goal to get at least one good ride in each month. The way it looks now, that New Years Day ride might be the only one in January this year.

On another subject, you heartier souls might want to look into a group I just found out about and joined: Year Round Riders. Check the website http://www.yearroundriders.com/.

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That is quite a forum. Did some browsing and found some friends from other forums. We have some yearrounders here too. Besides my friend Don with the Ural there are a few diehards on scooters that just won't quit.

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As a new rider I want to practice my skills without being distracted by the freezing cold. I will try to be a yearrounder in 2012. :)

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Sunday I ran the boy over to a friend's house. Only about 10 miles round trip, all in town, but my goodness it did change my mood for the better. A few miles, some fresh air, a better disposition. Half an hour well spent.

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Ahhh, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Gulf of Mexico Dr., One Stop Shell Shop...... I try to visit my friends down there every few years. Now that I've got my license maybe I'll rent a bike and cruise down Longboat Key to Mote Marine..... Something to daydream about on a dreary winter day in the GWN. Thanks, frempath!

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Wind in my face, sun on my back, the smell of the ocean, and two wheels. A ride through the keys sounds great to me.

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Dh, me'n Moedad already belong to such a club - we call it southern california... (81 over the weekend apparently - I'll be biking it to the Gypsy Den tonight.)

PS. Is anybody going to take a damn picture of a loader or a dump truck? I'm not a regular player, but the "game" does make me get out for no other reason here and then.

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I rode today for 2.5 hours today. It was in the mid 50's and the sun was shining. I ran all my errands and took a little time to ride along the beach - my favorite place to ride. South Carolina does offer all year riding but January/February can get cold. Heck, we even had some snow in December. lol This is also the time of year where I feel most comfortable because I can wear ATGATT which is impossible during the Summer.


:)

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I've been to southern Cal a few times. Love the climate. Wouldn't want to live on the San Andreas Fault, though. And I wouldn't want to live in a state that's in as much political/economic trouble as Cal. Being a gun owner, I could never hack the lack of second amendment civil rights compared to NH. So, I'll tolerate the Winters here. Sue and I have looked at moving to all different parts of the country. All in all, with everything considered, we'll stay where we are with the odd vacation somewhere else.

The "Rounders" organization does allow people from southern Cal to be members, but, as you point out, it's kind of meaningless.

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A serious earthquake might last 18 seconds, but winter is forever. Be better to bitch about fire season, or perhaps mudslides. Not really promoting the state as "gun-friendly", but you can certainly own a gun out here - just can't shoot anything with it. State's been essentially bankrupt for years - never really noticed anything different from when it wasn't, and, the whole country is insolvent anyway. As far as the economy goes, a weak California economy probably has more jobs/GDP than most other states regardless. I'm not very dependent on the local economy, but it does have an effect on home prices. One plus: high unemployment = lower traffic.

It was 78 degrees today, sun shining all day, clear blue sky. When you live where I do, a vacation is generally a downgrade.

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A serious earthquake might last a minute or two, and kill more people and do more damage and cause more misery than every severe Winter we ever had. And, yes, the fires aren't a big selling point for California. But they are really only a symptom of the dryness that limits vegetation, which would bother me more.

In California you can own certain guns in certain places if you're willing to jump through the hoops, but it would be very difficult to get a carry license, if it were possible at all. Here there is only an instant check to purchase (including handguns). Subject to a background check, issuing officials have two weeks to issue a carry permit or else deny it for certain, specific, codified, and documentable reasons (felon, judged mentally incompetent, restraining order -etc.). It's not discretionary. The police must issue in two weeks. If they don't, the burden of proof is on them. NH is one of a small number of states where there are no additional state restrictions (above federal restrictions) to owning class III weapons (full automatic - machine guns, real assault rifles, submachineguns, etc). That takes a lot of federal paperwork, taxes and fees, but a lot of people here do it. Some of the clubs even put on machine gun shoots and invite the state and local politicians, many of whom come and have a good time. Don't see that sort of thing happening any time soon on the Left Coast. Oh, and our violent crime rate is very low compared to more "liberal" states.

Spin it any way you want, but California is in much worse shape than NH for all kinds of reasons. I suspect that a lot of it stems from the unprotected border to the south, and subsequent drain on all sorts of resources, increase in drugs and crime, etc.

Sue and I are both retired now, with enough resources to live where we want. The climate is nice in So Cal, I'll admit. But I'd miss the green. My daughter lives out there, and even she comments that the brown most of the year, and the relative lack of trees sometimes bothers her. We only have two or three months here that make riding tough, though some of us still do it. For the rest of the year, I think the overall environment is more pleasant here than there. To each his own, I guess.

You definitely have the weather advantage this time of year. The expected highs here for the next few days won't break 20, and the lows will be near or below zero. Then we get another snow storm. I'm thinking about escaping for a week or two. Go south and rent a bike for a while till the worst of it's gone.

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Yep, just got back from the free lighted tennis courts in our crime infested tremor filled deathtrap, on the Geezer, wearing the mesh jacket over my tennis stuff. Was near 80 when I headed out, got down to a chilly 60ish after it got dark. Riding through the wide, beautifully paved avenues of North Orange County, past the edges of the Cleveland National Forest, to my hovel in the ghetto of "AnaCrime" Hills. Sure wish I could be freezing my ass off back in New Hampshire, perhaps shoveling a little snow and/or fighting off this week's featured flu bug. I could take up drinking again!

Just kidding. To each his own. I did seven winters in Ithaca and seventeen years in New Jersey. The Beach Boys had it right - Endless Summer. Now, if we could only get them to tilt the planet so it doesn't get dark so damn early in Dec and Jan.

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Well, Alan, it looks like I'm not gonna' talk you into moving here, and I sure as Hell would never live there, so, like you said - to each his own.

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All that and tilt the Earth. Alan what do you consider early dark in December ?

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I too long for more sunlight these days. In Atlanta I leave for work about 6:30AM and it's dark, and when I get off at 6:00PM it's dusk. Ready for longer days when it's light by 6 and stays that way until after 9 at night. It's kinda ironic that in the Winter,(in the Northern Hemisphere) the further North you go the colder it gets but it stays light longer and the further South you go it gets warmer but less daylight hours. Maybe one of your big California earthquakes can shake the earth's tilt a little and improve that situation. lol

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BB, you had a blonde moment there. In winter the further North the colder AND darker it gets. Summer is when it is warm and the daylight hours are longest. Twilight on the Canadian Prairies during Summer is a wonderful time. The light just slowly fades over a period of hours.

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WW,

We have that stupid "Daylight Savings Time" crap down here. Which really should be called, "Shift the Light to the Time Where You Dont Give a Shit Time." Unless you are a morning jogger or something. I'm generally a 9am or later riser so that early light is wasted on me. It's dark just before 5pm for most of Dec and Jan. Just starting to come out of it now.

DH, I think the ideal solution is as you hinted: live in two places. I do that now (here and chicago) but, let's face it, Chicago has shit weather for about 8 out of twelve months.

You are probably not familiar with Guerneville, CA, but, if i was single and could live my life over, I'd probably live there. Not much for guns I don't think, but a beautiful place filled with hippies and artists with relatively mild weather. Look up the Russina River area when you are snowed in. Oh, and some of the most fantastic motorcyling raods available anywhere.

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WW, you are right, don't know what I was thinking, it's the Summer when you guys get almost endless daylight.

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And so it was too, in England. Over here - Light, WHAM, dark. :cry:

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Well, my solution is pretty well settled. I'm going to drive down to San Antonio in early February and spend a week or so. I'm going to rent a Weestrom (always wanted to ride one of those, never have), probably for a week. Got the rental place picked out, talked to the owner for an hour or so, and the deal is all but done. Sue is going to either drive one way with me and fly the other, or just fly down and back for a few days. We'll do the River Walk, and other touristy things, and I'll get to ride the Texas hill country. Never been to Texas. I'm getting excited! On the way down I'll see Charleston SC. I've been fascinated by the history there for years, but never have been there either. This is gonna' be great!

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I've been to San Antonio a couple of times, and will go back again. Do the Riverwalk, the Alamo, get out to Gruene for lunch at the
Gruene River Grill, maybe catch some music at Gruene Hall, and go see the Natural Bridge Caverns. Cruise around the mansions in the King William district, and then take a day to cruise down the Missions Trail. Lots of history!

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Speaking of cabin fever, it's finally out of the 30s this week. I might drop the top on the way home. :)

http://www.gmphotostore.com/images/53218408_pr.jpg

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Thanks cayuse! We'll try to get all of that in.

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Dave, I lived in S.A. for over 30 yrs. Just know that traffic around loop 410 is a bitch now. Plan to be in some traffic when you head out. It is real bad if your heading N on IH 35 around 1800 hrs, say if you were to go to Gruene for dinner. Do the river walk during the week, not as crowded.
Let me know if I can be of assistance. I still go there to see my parents at least once a month.

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Thank you my friend! Is this traffic on 410 all the time, or just at certain times of the day? The motorcycle rental place is in New Braunfels, so a certain amount of riding on 35 will be unavoidable. If I avoid rush hour will it be OK?

The guy at the rental place suggested Fredericksburg as an interesting place to visit. What do you think? Consider the wife and her likes as well. She enjoys touristy towns with nice shoppes and some history.

Thanks!

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Dave, there is traffic all of the time, as is with any large city. Rush hour is really bad.
F'burg is great. If your wife likes to shop, she will be a REAL happy camper. The Nimitz museum is also there. Have'nt been to it yet, but I hear it is real good.

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I think you, and your wife will both enjoy Fredericksburg. I got to visit there a couple of times in the last 25 years and my wife and I both enjoyed it. I also liked the San Antonio Riverwalk, very relaxing and beautiful, lots of nice shops and places to eat along the River. The first time I was there I made sure to buy an authentic cowboy hat in one of the shops. After getting the hat I was walking along the river and checked inside the hat to find that it was made at Chattanooga Rope and Saddlery, in my home town, of Chattanooga, Tennessee. :??:

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Thanks Bonehead and BB. We will definitely do the Alamo, Fredericksburg, and the Riverwalk. That should keep us busy for a few days. I'll do the motorcycle rental, if the weather is good, before she comes down or after she leaves. She may do the drive one way with me, but we haven't decided which way, or even if she will do that as opposed to flying both ways.

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For you guys snowed in - get one of these -

http://www.gizmag.com/for-the-man-with- ... ower/4889/

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Dave, a good bike ride is River road out of New Braunfels. Follows the Guadalupe River up to Canyon lake. Lots of twists, but follow the speed limit signs, LEO enforces strictly.

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Will do - and thank you again!

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This falls into the category of piling it on and just plain old douchebaggery, but... yesterday I went out for a walk, following my usual path up to and around a reservoir a mile from the house, and, it was really unbelievably nice out - about 78 degrees, sunny, blue sky - joggers out in shorts. Took this with the iPhone...
http://s2.postimage.org/2ovtkn7ok/IMG_0698.jpg

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Here are some pictures looking around my house this morning. Second day in a row that schools were closed. This is why I can't go for a ride.

http://s3.postimage.org/c415snwk/photo_1.jpg

http://s3.postimage.org/c44gvcw4/photo_2.jpg

http://s3.postimage.org/c47ry1vo/photo_3.jpg

http://s3.postimage.org/c4cqk3d0/photo_4.jpg

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Matchbox thanks for the reminder as to why I moved to the West Coast from the Canadian Prairies. Snow is for Penguins and Polar Bears.

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Matchbox,

Sucks for riding, but... it's actually beautiful in a different way. I'm too old to appreciate that kind of beauty anymore. My back hurts just looking at snow - unless I am wearing skis and sitting on a chairlift.

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Alan, you are absolutly rite. A new fallen snow is beautiful untill you have to clean it up. It is fun however to watch my seven year old play in it.