ugh, saw a rig in my area, but it went before I could go see it. Disappointed? sure but I remind myself that the unit isn't destroyed, it's just someone else is using and enjoying it. I
I guess the disappointment stems from...had a few health scares the last couple of months, I feel the number of my days and I'm endeavoring to have it get me focused
I'm only 56 (I know, a young pup to many here), but outlived the years of my pop and a good deal of the males in my family - so there is a bit of a feeling of bonus time
The last 4 years or so I spent in pain from sciatica..it sort of distorted my little noodle as I suppose chronic pain can - and I aged faster in those 4 years than at any other time
In the last few months i decided that the spiral of inactivity feeding-back into the back was doing far more damage to me than just moving (have a bicycle century coming up in a month...I used to live in Boulder, CO where cycling is a way of life.)
I don't know where we first heard it, but "Don't let the old man in" is a slogan in the house now.
My wife (a neuroscientis - her study was on the immune system and the nervous system as it relates to learning and memory...including stuff like dementia) - wow man, she is the one encouraging me to live it.
(she needs to take her test, but trained on sidecar..on a ural she found the steering heavy and the system a bit clunky. we hope to find something designed in this century 😝 )
when I was disappointed about the lost opportunity (it was like an hour away) and I was "so many of them I'm going to have to fly out or have an experience guy look at and get it shipped" feeling negative abt it and she said..."well so what will you do?..hmm"
ummm,fly out or get it shipped?
"that's right" she says
[did I mention she's awesome?]
I went back and retrained on two wheels as well just to...not let the old man in..and I've got a thing about retraining after years of lay-off on whatever skill ...it was fun and maybe some gymkhana or low speed cone drills would be fun...much respect to LEOs on Electraglides doing things I cant fathom
but I find hack more interesting these days with some interesting behaviors and challenges (the 2 wheel instructor observed I'm a "cerebral rider" - tell me something I don't know)
and of course, the enhanced practicality in terms of doggos and cargos has a place
-- but mainly the wife saw the smile back in my eyes
That and the wife has balance issues (a virus killed part of her inner ear so she gets anomalous balance info from her internal artificial horizon)
funny , I found cycle (be it 2 or 3 wheel) is wayyy better for my back. Sitting in a static seat in the steel box tears me up ('motion is lotion' says my 84 year old USCF coach neighbor)
but I suppose the takeaway is - the seasons of life are changing a little, and there was some reminder of my own mortality recently - but forces seem to be conspiring to help me not go down and languish there, to not let the old man in.
So I'm hoping to make hack an integral part of that journey -- eh, I just thought I'd wax poetic about why I'm embarking on this part of the journey. I suspect I'm preaching to the choir on it
thanks for reading my babbling. I'm not even drunk or anything
Youtube: Toby Keith - Don't Let the Old Man In
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Darn tootin! As for balance, I'm currently in an acute rehab facility recovering from a cerebellar stroke that has really only affected my balance. Gonna lick that ASAP. I was on a long ride when I recognized my issue and made for home. Didn't quite make it and it's been an ugly couple of weeks. BTW, I'm 58 and this is my first hospitalization since I was 6.
Take no prisoners, James! After all, the former president (now treasurer) is looking to set an Iron Butt record for age on the Prudhoe to Key West Run. Just left yesterday!
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
James Winger @jdwinger, may I ask....where do you live now ?
I ask, because if it's relatively close, I would be honored to assist you in this journey to find, and bring home, a sidecar rig that works for you, then spend a few days in your area, walking you through the world of sidecaring with physical issues, and discussing your physical issues with your wife and you.
I have a trailer, so could pick up a rig, then bring it to you, or do the fly 'n ride myself, if that would help you.
Send me a private message, and we can discuss how much you are able to spend on your sidecar rig, and what you are looking for.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Here's to success in your search! 🍻
A friend of mine always said; "You've got to keep moving, 'cause you're a long time still." He lived a great life into his late '90s.
Another good friend told me; "It hurts every morning to get out of bed. So I can either lay here in pain, or get up, get active and enjoy the day." He lived into his late '80s, rode a dirt bike very well and raced a dragster he built, into his early '80s.
Sidecar life is pretty great! It's like celebrating Independence Day, every day.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Wow, I really appreciate the support!!
I'm in sunny..for 3 months out of the head Camano Island about 50 min (or 2.5 hours on the new rush hour) north of Seattle, WA USA, Earth , Sol, Western Spiral Arm
Wow, I really appreciate the support!!
I'm in sunny..for 3 months out of the head Camano Island about 50 min (or 2.5 hours on the new rush hour) north of Seattle, WA USA, Earth , Sol, Western Spiral Arm
James, then we are "almost" neighbors. 
I am just barely south of Olympia, in that same state, the Evergreen State.
It will be easy, and convenient for me to assist you on this.
If YOU find a rig for sale that you are VERY interested in, I am happy to either go look at it for you, and report back my findings, or go with you together to look at it. If you make a deal on one, I can offer to transport it for you, so you have it on that "island", that is not really an "island".
I will reply to your message...privately.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
We do call it "the island that wasn'"t up here
Which is funny b/c I'm a scientific diver (less active b/c of back and covid sort of changed things in terms of work) and I moved to a place in the sound that has LESS diving than the mainland [ The puget sound has a lot of good shore diving...no boat needed]
for those not familiar, Camano is an island that has really shallow sand flats and the bridge onto it is about 12 seconds. I have kayaked around it, but we had to wait for really really high tides to go under the bridge and we were still paddling over march grasses and stuff. So it's technically an island, but it's not like you are surrounded by the sea The advantage is it's not like a lot of the other islands where you are tethered to the ferry schedule -- we just weren't ready for that. still, as long as I have a buddy pick me up, I can jetski over to Whidbey in a Jiff)
There was a funny traffic jam one time (then again if you see 10 cars in winter you are "what's with the traffic jam") where a sea lion decided to haul out and sun himself on the bridge
Welcome James
Good bunch of people here, lots of experience in simply finding a way to get things done in spite of the odd challenge or two =)
Miles knows his stuff for sure, your in good hands.
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
