UNDERSTUDY!
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2007
1
15
47
Trip End
Nov 13, 2007
Austin,
Texas,
United States
Monday, September 3, 2007
I haven't posted in several months on this blog, so what did I do with my summer? Well, I've been out in Sterling, NY working at the Sterling Renaissance Festival. That closed on the 19th and I packed Oleg (the sidecar rig) onto Sancho (the trailer), hitched Sancho to Angus (the pickup truck) and drove down to Austin, TX to visit my overwhelmingly welcoming family there and to await the arrival of my Dad, riding down from Seattle. En route to Austin I spent three days in beautiful Gilbert, AR where I had a sad epiphany (which will explain the title of this post).
Oleg, my much-loved sidecar rig, which I've bled and sweated over for most of the last year, is just not the right vehicle for this trip. Those of you who have seen me around my rig will know what a wrenching realization this was for me. I did not arrive at it easily, but I know I am making the right decision. To that end, I'm selling Oleg here in Texas and just yesterday I bought a new (to me) bike for this trip. It is a 1994 Kawasaki KLR 650 (same model as my Dad is riding).
My New Baby
She is a a very fun bike. I've forgotten, in the three years of being a sidecar guy, how much fun a regular bike can be. She is also butt-ugly (unless you're a fan of teal . . .), which I think is great because she's going to be getting a fair bit of abuse over the next few months and it can only improve her looks;)
So for the next few days my Dad and I are going to putz around Texas and then, early next week, we're off for parts unknown . . . holy shit.
Till then, this is Matt Pearsall, International Bum, signing off.
Posted in Austin, TX
2,367 miles from home.
Comments
Greetings from Gilbert
Hi Matt,
Just a note to check in and see how you are doing. You mentioned you might change bikes when you got to Austin. Apparently you have.
Are you still in the U.S.? Drop a line before you leave and let me know how it's going. Be safe and listen to your gut feelings...they are usually right!
Danny
Good pick
Matt, I'm the guy you bought the KLR from. My nephew Brooks brokered the deal. You will love the bike. Keep the fluids and filters good and she will treat you right.
If you have any questions just send a line.
Miles of Smiles
MG
Re: Good pick
I'll treat her well and I'm sure she will do the same. Just bombing around Austin has been a blast.
Thanks,
Matt