1st 2009 ride

So here is the skinny.

I fired up the KLR after getting my "new" battery from the local dealer. The bike came with the factory juice box which was a lovely 5 yrs old so you can well imagine it was screwed from the get go. The dealer was honourable and charged up a fresh, new albeit cheap battery. It'll get me through this year and perhaps next. I will get a gel battery sooner or later but this will do.

So yeah, I fired the monster up. I figured a 15 minute warm up and check of all the essential was in order. That did included a transmission and brake test. So with out missing a beat, I took my trusty jacket down off of the rack in the garage. It was put there after my last ride of the year (on a scooter no less) and hadn't the heart to admit defeat and put it away for the winter. I figured I'd use it when I took the snow blower out. Get my 2 wheeled internal combustion fix while I fired heaps of snow at my neighbours so to speak... I left the lid behind as it was sent to the basement. I was too lazy to slog downstairs to get it so I installed my Relic hat on my bean. Now since this is a sleepy little burg, and the donut shop was K's away, I figured the chance of a copper rearing his lawful eye was pretty near zero. Good thing too as insurance and legality was 2 months away. 

I flicked my left toe and moved some what ahead. Actually it was kind of forward as my front tire decided it wanted to go sideways. I felt transported back 30 or so years to my first foray on alpine ski's. Snowplowing was the word of the day. Well only when the rear tire decided to dig deep and catch something worth gripping. When it wasn't it made long strips of ice. Hmmm not really transmission testing was I? Where to go? Well the closest "main" street was free of snow, so after dismounting and using the ski-doo technique of rear end pulling I was facing the right way. So legs as outriggers I made the quick 1st gear jog to the street. I was grinning as I was ready to connect with asphalt and move. I looked right, nothing. I looked left- two squad cars sitting empty. Of all the stupid f****** luck. Well at least they were over at the local fun house checking things out. Time to tippy toe home and call 'er a day.

Yeah right. I had to ride. So I decided on something a little more legal and decided to hit the backyard. Now most people ignore their backyard for 5 winter months. I can't! You see I have a neurotic little pug who has to have the proverbial paved yellow brick road. And I mean it when I say yellow- with little bricks. We like to call them poo stations. Little pug nuggets scattered through out. 

This little enclave was going to fall under the knobby wheels of the NEW bike in town. After much jostling of downspouts and gates, passage was clear. I was worried about the cedar hedge on the side but figured I could power through. Ha! I am still pulling little cedar shitlets out of my left ear. But I persevered. I lined the trail with tire tracks, lodged the front tire in to too many snowbanks to count and loaded my boots with snow. It was an absolute hoot. If this was any indication of riding for the upcoming year, then it should be a good year!