Yeeees! New bike for the old guy!

As usual, not much time goes by before Mr. ManyWheels adds some more wheels to the rancho fleet.

This time it is a close friend's 1990 Honda XL600V Transalp....a bike I have wanted for many years, about 16 or so.

To add to the joy is that the top box I made for Kit's R65GS and our trip through the Americas that ended with a bad crash on the Dalton Highway comes with it. This box was traded to the guy I am buying the bike from and it now comes home...cool beans...the only example from my aluminum TIG welding projects that I will have.

These bikes were only brought into the US for two years, '89 and '90. A real shame since the bike was made until 2007 and went from 600cc to 650cc and ended with the 700cc version. Extremely popular throughout the world and coveted by us in the USA.

It's big brother, the 750cc Africa Twin never even made it here at all and is even more coveted.

I think I will leave this a solo bike for a while and eventually add an enduro style sidecar with no mods to the bike so it can be ridden solo or as a tug.

I am excited and honored to be the fourth sober AA guy to own this particular moto....kinda cool.

Stay tuned. I won't go get it for awhile since it means a drive with the trailer to Terlingua, TX where it rests in a shed, waiting for me to liberate it from....TEXAS!

I'm coming! Don't despair...there IS life after TEXAS!

This is a shot of a similar bike, same year, different color.

O-boy!

Peace,
MWB

New stuff....

Home in TorC again...man I love it here! It has really gotten my attention since I never thought I would find a place that would hold me like this little town in this redneck state does. I thought I would always be restless and have itchy feet and I guess I still do to a degree, but it is often just to take a little break from daily life.

I found on this last trip that my van felt small to me and I thought I might like more room. Hard to get that without the negative of worse mpg.

Well, instead of making too fast a move, I am redoing the little Chinookie with the idea in mind that I am really only taking short trips in it and I have been packing for expeditions! So? Cramped space with way too much crap I don't use...

I have sung this song many times before. Never have I been able to cut down enough on what I think I need to have along on any trip...

I have been inspired many times by folks who travel with almost nothing and do it well.

So...the van is emptied out, a swivel added to the passenger seat, batteries re-arranged and stowed under the bed...I went back to one large 12v deep cycle and took out the two T-105 6v batteries...I don't really need so much power storage. It is a bit lighter and takes up less room.

I have taken out a bunch of stuff that I don't ever use including some tools and compressor, etc. trinkets, and redundant stuff...extra TP, extra paper towels, etc.

Next the propane system came out, back to the one pounders for the Buddy heater and a new small butane stove like several of my vandweller friends use and like.

The big puzzle will be how to build a bed that is a single bunk while I am alone in the rig and a double size when Kit is with me...a puzzle but it can be solved....

More later,
Happy trails and peace.

MWK

At the Infamous Third Winter Rubbertramp Rondezvous

I arrived on the 8th and found a lot of my good friends and many others already ensconced in their chosen spots in the area Bob chose for the event....My spot being next to Jerry and Nelda and their Roadtrek right near the main fire pit.

Great group so far with many first timers...some new to the mobile life, some not so new.

There have been a few group meetings and twice daily group dog walks with the dozen or so dogs in the group so far.

This morning there was a seminar on the hows and whys of choosing a home state/address/maildrop, drivers license, vehicle registration, etc. and quite a few showed up for it....looks like something is planned daily with a few group dinners and breakfasts planned as well.

I have already found some of my spiritual fellows here and we have had some nice chats and sharing.

The rigs are phenomenal and I have fallen in rig-lust for one for sure, and two other possibilities. As I think I mentioned it is time to enlarge my space and since I find I am not interested in ranging so far now, I do want it to be big enough to stand up and move around in and be able to pursue some hobbies in and to have Kit join me in some travels in it...

The Mobile Traveler still calls me as always, I see that a Roadtrek 2100 would be nice and then there is the extended full size high roofed cargo van route such as my friend Cheri has...and do the build myself...and the last  is prolly the best idea.

I will have to put the request for something out there and see what the universe has in mind...it is always better than I can invent myself....

More later though,,,

Happy trails,
MWB

Yuma...

I landed in Yuma a couple days ago and my friend Roy (living these daze in his new to him 1989 LazyDaze class C)  is showing me the ropes here....I nice WallyWorld parking lot for the nights and an amazing Kroger store with a bakery/cafe with easy chairs and good wifi with lots of outlets for computer stuff and tv watching. Did I mention it is a bakery???? Well not only that but an actual food court...hehehe....

Lots of good conversation and taking care of business and maintenance. Today a shower at the Flying J, a great steak and egg breakfast at a good local restaurant. And that is only so far....it is 11 AM.

Last night he took me to a very good little meeting at the Foothills Alano clubhouse....a wonderful campfire  meeting with several oldies and a few newcomers...nice!

So about Tuesday or Wednesday I (we) are off to the Q for the RTR....I think Roy may go, but not sure...he has been invited.

Really looking forward to visiting with many old friends and making some new friends...yay!!!!.... life is good indeed...

Blessings from the southern frontier where it is low 40's at night and mid 70's in the sun....ohya, ohya...

MWB