Fuzzygalore.com

Blogging About Motorcycle Travel – For the Rest of Us

Fuzzygalore — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:00:26 +0000

Staying Close to Home

I read a mountain of motorcycle blogs each day. In the last couple of years there seems to be a trend that has emerged across some of them. It is the idea that in order to have an “adventure” you must undertake an epic trip. Preferably on some giant behemoth of a bike with fancy luggage and everything but the kitchen sink strapped to it.

The rest of us knobs putzing around on the tarmac within the confines of the state where we live or the country in which we were born – well, that’s worthy of a pat on the head and an “aren’t you cute with your little motorcycle rides?”

I call “bullshit.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. If you have the time and resources to find yourself in far off corners of the world for months at a time – you are indeed doing something wonderful. I am here to say that no one appreciates the effort people make to write about their far-flung travels and share their photos and routes more than me. It’s the stuff my daydreams are made of.

But… if your time and resources keep you close to home - don’t you dare feel like you’re doing something less than someone else or that it isn’t worth writing about.

Enthusiasm Trumps Mileage

The more blogs that I read, the more I discover that it’s really the authors enthusiasm that draws me in. Some people can travel across the US or through spectacular alpine passes and manage to write a blog post that is yawn worthy. Others can make their moped trip across town seem like something you’ve just got to try.

Motorcycling isn’t about having to fit into a mold or into an ideal set forth by someone else. It’s about you experiencing your world in the best way that you can. The value in a journey is not solely the number of miles it contains or the borders crossed but in the enjoyment and experiences you come away with.

Motorcycle Blogging For The “Un-Adventurous”

If you’ve been thinking about telling your story but have been holding back because you aren’t in the midst of some tremendous undertaking – don’t!

The biggest trip you’ll ever take happens every single day that you wake up and complete a rotation on the Earth. There’s your epic trip. Savor each day, enjoy each ride.

So if you’re out there, just a regular “un-adventurous” motorcyclist with a blog who doesn’t have the time to globe trot – it’s alright. Keep loving your life and keep sharing your un-adventures with the world. You just might be surprised to find out how inspiring it is to the people who read your posts.

Newsflash – Girls Ride Motorcycles

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:43:57 +0000

On Sunday morning I hopped on my bike to head out to Captree Park to meet my dear friend Bill for coffee.

The Captree parking lot serves as an informal hang for motorcycle and car enthusiasts on Sundays before the town starts charging for entry during the summer season. These types of gatherings draw a diverse crowd. You get everyone from grizzled bikers, hot-rodders, Euro supercar drivers and you might even see a woman on a motorcycle mixed in.

Bill and I stood directly behind my motorcycle sipping our coffee, talking and generally minding our business when two men walked next to my bike and started checking it out.

“What year?” the taller of the two men asked.

“11,” I answered and he nodded.

He then went on to tell his friend how obviously uncomfortable and awful my bike must be. “Just terrible. Terrible. What you want is something like that…” as he pointed to the Harley-Davidson 883 parked next to me.

Then in what could only be described as a facepunch worthy moment, Mr. Expert then looked at me and said,

“Is it uncomfortable riding on the back of that thing?”

I scanned his face for a moment to see if he was just busting my chops but I saw no signs of anything but dead seriousness.

“I have no idea,” I answered in disgusted disbelief.

Now that I think about it, my response was technically untrue. But in that moment of trying to restrain myself from lighting him up with a nice go fuck yourself that was what came slithering out of my mouth.

Bill, who is a prince, deadpanned to the guy, “You, my friend, are sailing into uncharted waters.” He then went on to laugh himself silly.

You just can’t make this shit up.

Wishful Thinking: One More For The To Do List – Teakettle Junction

Fuzzygalore — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:38:28 +0000

A few weekends ago a friend posted a photo on Facebook of a motorcycle ride he’d taken in Death Valley. The picture was a group of friends in their riding gear in front of a sign that had teakettles hanging all over it. It marked Teakettle Junction, which I’d never heard of before.

Now I can’t get the image out of my mind. The more I Googled to learn about Death Valley and looked through photos, web sites and blog posts the more it became apparent that I must go there. Aside from the rugged beauty of the National Park environment itself, there is something sweet about those dangley teakettles that I simply must see.

Bucket List? Say hello to your new friend from Death Valley.

Photo: James Marvin Phelps on Flickr

A Brush With Greatness: Meeting the Wienermobile

Fuzzygalore — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:35 +0000

Some dreams are gigantic, epic undertakings that take a lifetime to complete if they can ever even be completed. Then there are other dreams that are just simple bits of whimsy. Wishes, if you will.

On the surface those wishes may appear to have a small scope but their impact can bring a smile to your face long after they are realized. That makes those little dreams and wishes just as important as the big ones, in my book.

One of the wishes I’ve long held close to my fuzzy little heart has been to see the Wienermobile up close. Dumb? Probably. But, so what?

Last week – A Dream Realized:

The giant hot dog came wheeling onto Long Island and I was there.

Has ever a finer vehicle ever graced the highways and byways of this world? I don’t think so. It seems to emanate happiness from its hotdogginess.

The Wienermobiles were hand crafted by Icelandic unicorns. Before the unicorns sent the giant rolling wieners out into the world to bring joy to the masses, they infused them with baby otter farts and cookie dust to give them a little extra sparkle. True story.

Inside the belly of the beast:

You can ~~stalk~~ track the Wienermobiles to find out where to have a brush with lunchmeat greatness.

Hotdogger Blog – Track the Wienermobile

The Wienermobile is the grandaddy of all “Greatest Cars in the Universe.”

LOVE IT!

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Do Women Who Ride Motorcycles Find It Easier to Get Dates?

Fuzzygalore — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:53:59 +0000

I received a comment from long time motorcycle rider BobbyN who asks the following:

In a previous life I was a bartender for a large theme restaurant in NYC. I worked with a lot of great waitresses who would complain about not finding a boyfriend, which I would have a tough time believing. Now I have another wonderful, beautiful, successful, very funny friend in L.A. who is crying these same blues. I would joke that if a woman learned how to ride a motorcycle, she would never have that problem.

Then I thought, is that true or just a male perspective?

Though I did meet my other half on a motorcycle ride, I don’t have a lot of experience in this department. So, I thought I would open this question up to the floor.

Ladies, Gents – What do you think?

Do women who ride motorcycles find it easier to get dates or find a longterm mate?

I Think It’s Time For Us To Go Somewhere

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:28:28 +0000

I feel like Kenny and I haven’t gone anywhere or done any riding in the longest time. Of course, it was winter. Sort of.

But, it’s time; time for us to think about hitting the road. The next few weeks are set to be busy ones with things like getting married and whatnot but after those “I dos” and “to dos” clear off my list, we’ll be hitting the road.

We’re not going anyplace monumental like say Chris and George who are each heading to Alaska this year, but we have every intention of having a great time somewhere in the southern states nonetheless. What will make our trip monumental? Well, that remains to be seen.

With this past Sunday’s rain, I found myself in the house all day. It was the first time I’ve been cooped up in ages. I managed not go completely haywire by whiling away some of the time looking at maps, researching things on the web and getting a loose idea of where our trip might take us. I broke out my big America Rides wall map and began to jot some ideas down.

Now comes the daydreaming…

How about you? Any trips on the near horizon?

The Living the Goes Into Motorcycle Helmets

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:52:05 +0000

When you consider that you might have a helmet for say, 4 years – there is a lot of living that goes on during that time. Many roads traveled, friendships made, time shared and adventures experienced.

My old Shark helmet and I have been through a lot together. I suppose that’s why I felt a little twinge of melancholy when my new Shark Sutra helmet arrived. Not because I would miss my old helmet per se but because it was like the closing of a chapter.

Is it silly to mark these occasions? Maybe. But I cannot seem to escape doing it.

My Gramma said that it was good luck if it rained on moving day. I carried that little piece of superstition with me and smiled when the rain drizzled down during my first ride home from work in my new helmet. I hope the good luck continues to carry me through the rest of our time together.

Some of the places me and my old Shark helmet have been together:

Thanks for the memories, Sharky. It’s been fun <3

Double Muff: Checking In With Two More Muffler Men

Fuzzygalore — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:10:59 +0000

Over the last few weekends my travels have added two more checks in the “Visited” column of my Muffler Man to-do list. There are still plenty more to see but I’m enjoying picking them off one by one.

Sometimes I think about those places that I’ve visited, towns I’ve passed through before the time I cared even the tiniest tiddly-boo about the Muffler Man. I think about what might have been…

But, no sense in crying over spilled milk. I prefer to not see those trips as missed opportunities. Someday I’ll go back. I just hope the mighty muffs will wait for me.

The Muffler Man Halfwit of Jackson, NJ:

Though he could use a fresh coat of paint, overall he’s in pretty good shape. He’s also mounted on a trailer which if you think about it is pretty handy. Who wouldn’t want to bring their muffler man to the Stop & Shop or to the park, maybe swing by the in-laws for lunch?

One thing to note however is that his arms are a little veiny and those hands are a wee bit strangle-y. But, judging by the hat he’s Amish so it’s probably nothing to worry about. He might’ve just gotten done with a barn raising.

See in street view

Muffler Man Indian of Shirley, Massachusetts:

A few weekends ago I took a ride with some friends who wanted to stop in to the open house at MotoMarket in Acton, Ma. Since I had no interest in buying anything I let the guys know I would be excusing myself for about a half an hour while they ate lunch.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m just going to check something out.”

“It’s a muffler man, isn’t it?”

They know me too well

This big guy stands outside of a used car dealer, waving to the traffic that goes by.

Upon closer inspection he too needs a fresh coat of paint. The poor fella is has a serious case of the peels. And something isn’t quite right with that raised arm. And… well.. there’s this:

::tsk:tsk:: Poor guy. It looks like he’s wincing.

See in Street View

Interested in finding Muffler Men out there on the road? Check out Roadside America.

What’s Your Take On This 3-Wheeled Scooter?

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:46:47 +0000

Today at the office, the only other moto in the lot beside my own was this 3-wheeled scooter:

What’s your opinion on this 3 wheeled scooter? Cute, cool, non-committal, geeky – what do you think?

The Perks of Being Part of a Motorcycle “Couple”

Fuzzygalore — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:58:30 +0000

Many people who are part of a couple in which both people ride their own motorcycles like to wax poetic about how it’s so great to be able to ride with the person you love most, your best friend, blah blah blah…

Get real. The best part of being in a motorcycle couple is being able to ride each other’s bikes!

Kenny sent me out on his CL today to just run some gas through it. Now that’s the kind of “honey do” list I like!