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Hog Heaven

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Hog Heaven

Posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 26, 2008 at 06:44:14:

This is the weekend of The River Run, the big Harley gathering. You
have said this is not one of your favorite events either, Walt.

Yesterday I watched from the patio as motorcycles poured into town,
rounding the final bend in Hwy 95 from Needles, wave after wave of
them. 70,000 bikes and at least twice that number of people come
each year. Every casino's parking lot is filled with vendor tents,
leather goods, food, loud music, and endless rows of "hogs". The
back-rap of rumbling chrome pipes sound everywhere, like the
challenging snarls of great rutting beasties. Harley mamas straddle
the backs of the vibrating steeds with looks of defiant pleasure as
they cruise our dark-sided costume carnival of the wanna be hard-
assed. What a happening! Butt cracks and tattoos galore! It is two
hours before dawn, and I can still hear the constant drone of the
Harley pipes from Casino Drive, some four miles off. Tonight it will
reach fever pitch, hopefully without the gunplay of several years ago.
By Sunday afternoon, the valley will return to its summer quietude.
Yes, summer, it's in the nineties here already.

Wishing you the peace that passeth all understanding, Walt...without
motorcycle noise.

Jim


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Tabby [6.2532] on April 26, 2008 at 10:11:25:

In Reply to: Hog Heaven posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 26, 2008 at 06:44:14:

"Hog Heaven" means something very different to me....and I clicked on your thread, wondering just what you were going to write about "my" Hogs--Arkansas Razorbacks, that is. The college team of "Woo Pig Sooie" and "Go Hogs Go".

I'm a displaced Razorback now--and far removed from the SEC--where the "Go Hogs" that is my license plate gets questions along the lines of "so, is your husband a hog farmer?" "Hawgs" with all numbers was taken by the Harley Nation people.

Hog Heaven was the day after last Thanksgiving when we beat No. 1 LSU in football. Pigs were flying that day.....

Tabby


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 26, 2008 at 16:28:47:

In Reply to: Hog Heaven posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 26, 2008 at 06:44:14:

Thanks, Jim.

If my health would allow it, I would be out there with my own Buell (baby HD). I have secretly dreampt about having my own "hog" and joining the group. I just waited too long.

Walt


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 27, 2008 at 06:41:27:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Tabby [6.2532] on April 26, 2008 at 10:11:25:

And I imagine Hawg game day shares much in common with Harley
rallies.


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 27, 2008 at 07:22:38:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 26, 2008 at 16:28:47:

Thanks for sharing that, Walt. Biker doc, eh? Will wonders never
cease! First it's a convertible we hear about, now a Harley. You are a
hip doc! Anyway, it's not the biking but the venue that I satirize.
Wearing leather pants with a chain hanging down the side, bare torso
under a leather vest, with a spiked German army helmut? I would be
giggling the whole time...with a Bud in my hand.

I'm facing the "waited too long" thing too, Walt, but in a much less
drastic form than you. I no longer ride my Yamaha. (Which I wouldn't
dare take out of the garage on Harley weekend anyway.) I don't trust
my coordination and concentration anymore.

I also no longer jump in the ocean, swim out a hundred yards or
more, and swim parallel to the beach for a mile. I've done that at the
exact spot (Solana Beach) where that guy was attacked by the great
white this weekend. But that's not why I quit. I can't take the cold
sea anymore. Sad but true, the body/machine just doesn't stay warm
the way it used to. I've thought about using my spring suit, but I
figure that would make me look more like a seal. Big lumbering seal
dinner.

But as long as the pleasure is bigger than the discomfort or doubt,
I'm ready. It's pretty tame stuff these days though. Next week, for
the sake of friendship with a visiting friend, I have agreed to go
fishing at the lake. Fishing! He's probably going to insist I bait the
hook. I guess if I'm going to make sport of killing animals, then
fishing is probably the best option. I don't feel much kinship with
fish, and my friend will say I can release him. Oh sure, rip the
barbed hook from the flesh of his mouth and toss him back. It's so
not me. He'll probably offer me a Bud.





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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by lissa [3253.4525] on April 27, 2008 at 07:53:14:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 26, 2008 at 16:28:47:

I just waited too long.

Oh I don't know doc. My stepdad has a harley and he's only about 15 yrs. younger than you.

We might even be going to Sturgis this year lol


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by PhillyLady [3423.4558] on April 27, 2008 at 11:43:25:

In Reply to: Hog Heaven posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 26, 2008 at 06:44:14:

Jim:

The are sounds that irritate the soul to no end...motorcycle noise being one of them. It's right up there with nonstop-barking dogs and chainsaws.


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 27, 2008 at 14:58:15:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 27, 2008 at 07:22:38:

Thanks, Jim.

Great pictures (mental). Love them!

Keep them comin"----

Namaste`

Walt


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 27, 2008 at 15:05:11:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by lissa [3253.4525] on April 27, 2008 at 07:53:14:

Thanks, Lissa.

10 years ago I finally decided to buy a Harley "do it"--except for the leathers and chains about which I agree with Jim (the Yamaha guy)teeheehee. Unfortunately, that was only a few years after my fractured pelvis (skydiving) and I could not handle even a "downsized Harley" Buel. I hadn't the strength and flunked out of motorcycle training.

After that it was my heart, kidney failure and brain circulation, etc.

Walt


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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 28, 2008 at 05:51:38:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 27, 2008 at 15:05:11:

Skydiving?! It just keeps getting better, Walt. You're not only a free
spirit, turns out you're a daredevil too...or else you had the "brain
circulation" problem earlier than you thought, and it clouded your
judgment. (insert kidding smile here) Seriously though (not), you
should have bungee jumped instead; it would have been easier on
your pelvis. Or if you really want to get busted up, try hang gliding.

Too bad about the Buel though. I Googled it. They are beautiful
machines. I'm sure you were a fine cut of a figure on it, with your
goggles and leather pilot hat and all. (another smile)

Maybe you wouldn't have even wanted to do thrilling physical feats
at this stage of your life, but it's tough that your definition of risky
behavior has so constricted the last few years to include activities of
daily living. As always, I wish you the presence of peace.

Jim




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Re: Hog Heaven

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on April 28, 2008 at 11:44:58:

In Reply to: Re: Hog Heaven posted by Jim H. [4489.4564] on April 28, 2008 at 05:51:38:

Thanks, Jim.

Namaste`

Walt


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