Author: DBrent

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Quick ride before the rain

It has been about a week since my last ride, and I wanted to get a quick one.

Home is behind me about 20 minutes and the sky is starting to look llike rain. I made my turn-home corner and started to hear those little splats on my helmet. More on the windscreen of the bike.

I look skyward and feel it will not be heavy, but I head towards home without delay. That means no side trips. LOL Arrived home safely and without heavy rain. It was just some drops all the way home. Rain is on the way.

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

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Fly Fishing for the Motorcycle Traveler

What I taught at Horizons Unlimited Virginia

I recently attended Horizons Unlimited Virginia to see friends, but also to teach Fly Fishing for the Motorcycle Traveler. HU Virginia is one of many rallies around the world for long-distance adventure motorcyclists. three full days of presentations sharing info on just about everything a motorcyclist needs to know about riding in other countries.

I teach and give tips about equipment and minimalist needs for fly fishing.

I have taught this class four or five times before and it’s always fun to introduce fly fishing to motorcyclists, especially when they learn about the minimalist approach of Tenkara, the Japanese art of fly fishing.

Tenkara is simply a rod, a line and a fly. The rods compact nicely–some models so compact, they fit into a pannier bag rather than strapping it to the bike.

The beauty of my class is the ability to give hands-on instruction and help to participants, like how to set up a first-time user of a Tenkara rod.

Then, there is the casting demonstration if a pond or lake is available. In past classes, we have caught fish. That really “sells” the Tenkara method.

Everytime I teach this class, I hear from one or two of the participants that they have bought a Tenkara rod. That feels pretty good. I did a good job of teaching.

I’ll be teaching this again at Horizons Unllimited New York in October. 

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

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Ride, Fish, Ride

I wanted to go fishing, and I wanted to take a motorcycle. So, I loaded my minimalist Tenkara gear on the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport and headed to Stonelick State Park.

After catching four or five blue gills, I packed it in and took the long way home.

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

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A visit to Cadre Cycle

Paid a visit to Cadre Cycle this morning. This is the Moto Guzzi dealership where I have purchased my Guzzis. There are a lot dealerships within big fancy buildings and lots of product bling. Cadre isn’t like that. Cadre is old school and where “everybody knows your name.” It’s my second family.

Enzo’s grey V7 Milano next to my grey V7 Sport.

Enzo Miller is the owner of Cadre. He is well versed in all things Guzzi and owns a few in addition to Cadre Cycle. One of the bikes he owns is a 2019 Moto Guzzi V7iii Milano. It’s a grey bike. When my V7 Sport was on order, we wondered if it was the same color as his Milano.

Today, I rolled my Sport next to his Milano to compare greys. They are very close, but just slightly off in color. We had a good chuckle about whose grey looked better. 

Afterwards, I rolled on for a ride home … the long way home. Stopped at Kroger for a few things for tonight’s planned dinner, lasagna. 

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

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Out of gas

Friday in our house is Fish Friday. Most of the time, I am cooking fish, salmon, catfish, tilapia, shrimp or some form of fish. We also go our for fish and chips. We have our favorite spots.

Tonight, it was tilapia on the Blackstone with veggies as a side. 

Because each of the items on the Blackstone cook at a different rate, I always start with the item that takes the longest to cook. That would be the Brussel Sprouts. Then I added the mushrooms, onions and bacon. That was cooking nicely, and it was time to add the tilapia.

I was watching the sizzle.  Everything looked good. I stepped inside for a moment and returned to find things slowing down. The fish wasn’t cooking like it should. I started checking things and finally looked under the grill at the flames. OMG! In the middle of cooking, I AM OUT OF GAS.

“Lin, it’s going to be a bit longer. I have run out of gas on the Blackstone.”

That’s why I always have that next bottle ready to go. It only took a couple of minutes to change the tank and start the griddle again. Soon, the food started to sizzle on the grill top.

I’m not the only one that has ever run out of gas, but I was prepared. Were you prepared? What’s your story?

See you on the highway.

Brent