This is what a call a friend

For several months I have been emailing back and forth with a long distance friend in Indianapolis. He volunteered to help me via Internet and phone calls. It was Dec., I had my Yamaha Venture engine out fixing 2nd gear that goes out at 40-60k miles. My Venture at the time only had 19k miles. Being my anal self and having 5 bikes with lots of time on my hands let's fix it now. This is a touring bike Linda and I were planning to take to South Padre Island and then to Dallas to see our daughter. I wanted it reliable and fix everything long term.
It had sat for 24 years and only had 14.5k miles and body wise was perfect. Age had taken it's toll on many parts.
Anyways engine removal is not my most favorite mechanical things to do especially with my arthritis getting worse in my shoulders and hands. I'll just take my time...
When I got to parts unknown in disassembly, fixing the actual problem, (a $5 soft part Yamaha used instead of hardened part) and reassembly, Dan was there... Yes in Indianapolis, he had done he's in the last year.
He were there when I needed them, NOW.
Since then Dan and I have conversed many times. He's a better mechanic than me, even though I'm the best of all my friends in El Paso.
He's got a problem, he talks, I listen. I got a problem, I ask.
But he's the only one I know who will talk to me on a technical level and understand what I'm saying.
Thanks Dan
AND he has a RED 1984 YAMAHA VENTURE!!

Trip 3

Our 3rd trip was to Monahans, Tx to the Sand Hills State park. Very large white sand dunes up to 70 feet and very hot. RV park was in a depression with no where for heat to escape. Went there because it wasn't going to rain as it did on our 2 prior outings. We took the Venture and saw hundreds of crude oil pumps in the Permian Basin. About 1/2 were working.
When I got my pilots license I flew into Wink Cnty airport which we drove by. It is still manned, why I do not understand? 1 plane.
Went to Rosa's Cantina Restaurant in Odessa for dinner (I'm still not over impressed), but it was something to do in a dusty-dirty West Texas oil town.
Next day went into Midland which is nicer. Ate lunch in a park and was back to the RV just after noon. High 90's by that time. A/C in RV would just barely keep it cool. I walked up a couple of sand dunes, the 2nd time at dusk because the 1st time in the afternoon I got heat stroke!
We bought a TV converter for Linda's Laptop but we must have been too far from town. We wanted to watch the last episode of "I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of HERE!" No pic, bummer! But my favorite celebrity Lou won! We found out later.
Drove there 250 miles and back to Van Horn almost 375 miles total before we got gas. Tank is 35 gallons. I drove slower this time 55-60 and got 14.9 mpg, pulling the Venture on the trailer. That's much better than we have done before. Had a early 70's car that didn't do this good. Could drive 425-475 miles without stopping except for stretch and pee breaks.
Made many more improvements and fixed several leaks, every things working better.
Next trip late July to PHX to see my older sister and hubby.
We were NO where near anything like in the photo.

When will I ever get done?

With work? 6 years ago

With marriage? NEVER

With retirement? Hopefully when I can't ride motorcycles, work on bikes, car or house, in 20 years??

With bitching? Probably never...

With having fun? Never, well...

With riding? maybe sooner than I want, my arthitis is going to more joints every few months. My hands are getting worse fast.

With eating? The day before my last. But I'm eating better things for me now than ever.

With drinking? Water, several glasses a day, Alcohol is way slowed down hate hangovers and the draggy feeling after more than 2 beers, wines.

With blogging, RIGHT NOW, for now.

150+ And Counting

That's right folks I tend to over do things... Kept track of how many projects/fixes on the RV. I've been over, under, inside, out, front and rear, top to bottom on the RV and trailer. There is one consistency to the RV. That is if it wasn't painted it is rusty, especially underneath. Found more Mud-dubber nests, nestled up to the frame today, at least 2 pounds of dirt.
Can't get that transmission oil pan to stop leaking. Got it slowed down...
Found another seal on the transmission output shaft next to the universal joint leaking very minorly, will just keep my eye on it for now.
Covered the rear cooling fins on the A/C with screening so if it hails again it won't ruin them. Took almost 2 hours to straighten them out.
Started painting the 3 sets of red double stripes. A silver/gray strip I've already paint is in between. But when I covered the gray with tape it pulled the gray stripe paint off. So... I decided to just clear coat the red and gray. What a difference! In some spots it almost looks new, was very faded.
Found more storage. When I put in a heavy duty turn signal flasher for the added trailer lights, I had to take the glove box tray out. Looking inside there is a cavity 3 times larger than the tray, where nothing can fall out. Before the paperwork in it was in the way of the door catch. 2 problems solved.

Now the big project: how to get 30 mpg and all the "stuff" in the house in it!!!

That is NOT my bike inside that car. Can you imagine how fast he must have been going? RIP!

What's next?

Put in a rebuilt power steering pump last Thursday. Was leaking. Installed a transmission cooler to help with the temps in high 90's and going up Mtn's. Drained the transmission pan put in a new filter and 5 qts oil. Drained the coolant and put in the 5 year stuff.
Have eliminated about 140# of stuff we didn't need in the RV and watching every ounce we put back in. We have only added about 160#'s, so were only up 20#'s or so. Plus the trailer and bike of about 1100#'s. I've eliminated 2 of the 3 rails for bikes. Each was 29#'s and had flat (wind resistant) channels. Replaced with much lighter wood for my feet for balancing the bike in the center channel/rail, which I'm staining and varnishing.
Going to Glendale AZ to be with my sister and brother in law in July. We want to go to the White Mtn's in east AZ and the Magallon Mtn's in western NM later this month. The Cat Walk is there too.
Worked on my Red 92 Suzuki 1100. Bad spark plug, very frustrating trying to figure what was wrong.
Linda's Aunt Mary, 3 cousins (John, Sue, Shelly) and his wife, Miriam, were here Friday-Sunday, very much fun people. In pool twice (our 3rd time this yr). They went El Paso site seeing, shopping, "Viva El Paso" and to Carlsbad caverns.
Want to replace the fuel filter and change out the differential fluid on the RV next.
Just read that many people in the world recognize the shape of the GREAT STATE OF... (where?) in the pic.

Getting better

Fewer problems with RV. Ran good, got 13.4 mpg pulling Venture on trailer, with headwinds. Can't seem to get away from rain though. 0% chance turned into a down pour with hail. Everything wet, muddy and dirty. No leaks in RV this time.
Roads and surrounding areas in and out of Big Bend are extremely remote, rugged, rocky, dry, hot and beautiful. Linda took many great pics. Left early but was in mid 90's by 11-12 am in Presidio. Didn't stay long and returned to higher elevation where it was cooler.
Marfa lights was a bust. House and car lights 10-20 miles off is all we saw. You Tube videos were better than what we saw.
Visited Davis Mtns. State Park. Really nice. We will be going back there. Road between Alpine and Ft. Davis very pretty too.
Went to Marathon for breakfast, Gage Hotel only serves guests. Ate at a coffee shop, breakfast $23!
Home Friday afternoon hoping guys will show up to ride Sat. Group seems to be falling apart.
More camping trips maybe in late June, early July.
Linda and I laughed at ourselves. We could park 4-6 RV's in our bedroom alone. Our kingsize bed would take up the entire RV interior and more!