Retiring

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The last time I wrote about retiring, it was about a fresh new rear tire, a Michelin Pilot Road 2.  Here it is, when it was new and shiny: 

Since then, I have again replaced both the front and rear tires with new Michelin Pilot Road 4's.  I don't have many miles on them yet -- just over the first few hundred miles or so to rough them up a little.  With the conservative way I ride, they will last about 9000 miles and are probably more than I need, but still, there might be that time when a little extra grip would come in handy. 

At the same time as that previous tire change, I replaced all of the original brake pads with EBC type HH.  

They have a nice, predictable grip, and seem a little better on stopping power than the originals.  They also do not appear to be causing excessive rotor wear or warping -- a good thing. 


This posting, however, I am not going to write about that kind of retiring, but rather about the real thing. 

Retiring from the job.

Yep.  I have reached the age where I can retire.  That is somewhere between the ages of 55 and 95 for most of us these days.  I am not quite to 95, but I am well past 55 for sure.

Not ready to identify with this picture by a long shot, however.  

Anyway, I looked into my bank account and my crystal ball, both, did some calculations, and decided to call it quits from the work-a-day world.  The salt mines are behind me now.

....WooHoo!....

The people I work with threw a fine retirement party for me.  Maybe they are glad to finally get rid of me, or maybe they really will miss me.  ...possibly some of each...

Anyway, they put on quite a feast.  They invited many of my current work associates and several retirees to join us. We ate, and talked about old times, and things we have done together, and difficulties and accomplishments along the way. 

Aside:

The people I work with have been able to successfully make parts that are amongst the most challenging I have ever been involved with.  We did this by keeping our noses to the grindstone, plain and simple.  When an approach to a problem didn't work out, we went on and figured out what the next step should be.  We have made many incremental improvements that, when taken together, amount to real progress that has made our company a leader in the industry.

I will genuinely miss working with my colleagues. 

At the party, the food and the fellowship lasted into the early afternoon. 

The thoughtful folks at work also brought in a cake that was quite special. 

As you know, I ride a motorcycle, an endeavor I took up late in life.  (If I didn't ride, I wouldn't be writing about it so often in these pages, I don't suppose.) 

And, some of you also know that I play the piano, which I started at an early age. 

The clever people at work along with a creative baker came up with a cake that does justice to both.  It was the visual focal point of the whole feast.

Take a look:

Can you believe it?  There is a little sportbike on top and a spiral "road" with piano-key pavement leading down around the body of the cake, and icing sentiment, "Let the Good Times Roll."   

The little motorcycle is, indeed, a Kawasaki, the same moniker as my Ninja 650R, but it is ZX-14, a model with about twice the displacement of mine.  A real performer, that one.

They also put together a slide show of various pictures taken in the plant over the last decade or so.  Many of my associates, past and present, were pictured.  It will be a good reminder of my years with them. 

I was touched and honored.

Retirement is said by many to be a bittersweet time.  Not having to go to work with its stresses every day is the sweet part.  But, after having done that for many decades, it will be an abrupt change to NOT do that every day, and I will miss the banter and interaction with people.  That is the bitter part.  


[So, what are you going to do now, Bucky?]

Well, I plan to get out on the bike more.  Weekday riding is almost unknown to me.  I will certainly have to watch for all of you who are still working, what with your frantic rushing back and forth to work.  Maybe I can take some longer rides than my usual half days on Saturday.  Possibly an overnight trip as well.

I will have to find some people who can ride at the same time as me -- either old fogies like me or someone working 2nd or 3rd shift.  Come to think if it, I am the oldest guy I ride with.  Everybody else is younger than I am.  Hmmmm.  I wonder what that means.  That I am in my second childhood?  That I am not as old [acting] as my birth certificate might indicate? 

I hope it is more the latter. 

I also hope my wife and I can travel a bit more.  We have that old 1967 tent trailer and my wife is quite the trooper when it comes to camping like that.  She is a great cook and manages to rustle up some mighty fine grub when we are out. 

We probably won't do any exotic trips, but there are many places in the good old U.S.A. that we have yet to see.  We went to Niagara Falls just this fall -- places like that.

View from Canada.

View from U.S.A.

I think that I can ramp up the volunteer work as well.  I play the piano for old folks at nursing and assisted living homes.  They seem to enjoy it and I am fulfilled by doing it for them.  I have already made contact with a couple homes a little further from where I live. 

And, I've got lots of chores and fix-ups around the house and cars, too, so I don't think I'll run out of things to do.


Let me know what you think about what to do with my time. Any tips from you who have preceded me in retirement? 


And are you nearby and available to ride during the week?  If you are, post a comment to the blog with your phone and/or e-mail address, and I will get back to you.  (I moderate all comments, so your contact information will not appear online.) 

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Christmas Meaning

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It is that time of year when we think of cool weather, gift giving, family time, and a few days off from the workaday world.  For those of us who live in warmer climates, it could be that we can sneak out for a few miles on the roads or in the woods on our scooters. 

All good, these things. 

There is one more thing about this season, though that is paramount.  The reason for our celebrating in the first place.  It is the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago.  Christ is God's son and his teachings are fundamental to our lives now, and into eternity. 

It is at this special time of year, that we would do well to hear the Christmas story once again.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming of Jesus to earth about seven hundred years beforehand:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and The Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this. 

The prophet Micah wrote, between 735 and 700 B.C., about where Jesus would be born, in Bethlehem:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Luke wrote of the birth about thirty years after Jesus' death:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Around thirty-three years after Jesus' birth, he was killed by crucifixion, laid in a borrowed tomb for three days, then arose from death.  He was seen by multitudes here on earth after that. 

If you don't know Jesus Christ as your living savior, then find a church that preaches from the Bible, and where they believe that it is the inerrant word recorded by writers inspired by God.

They can explain the wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ and what it means to you and me. All you have to do to go to heaven after you die is to believe what happened to Him, and to ask Jesus to be your savior. 

Merry Christmas to all, and happy riding in the new year.

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Riding Two-Up (Maybe)

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Last Saturday, I went out for a ride in the cool but sunny winter weather here in South Carolina.  The temperature was only about 31F when I started out, but climbed into the mid-50s by the time I returned.  It was only 129 miles on familiar roads, but it was good to get out on a beautiful day.  Amongst the routes was SC-130 between SC-11 and Whitewater Falls.  You can post some brisk speeds though the sweepers that populate this ten-mile stretch of road, so it can be quite enjoyable, and there is the nice waterfall and the Bad Creek overlook near Pushpin B. 

Click here for an interactive map.

I also rode two-up for the first time ever.  

At least I think I did.  Well, maybe it is possible that I could have. 

[Bucky, what are you getting at, here?  What’s with the obfuscation?  Did you ride two-up or not?] 

Let me explain. 

[Now, we’re getting somewhere….  Maybe….] 

I generally take along a bottle of water or Gatorade, and some granola bars or the like to munch on at stops.  This trip, when I wanted to take a slurp of water and eat a snack, I noticed that one of the foil packages for the energy bars was already open, and the contents half gone.  I don’t usually leave any when I start on one of the bars, but I shrugged and ate the rest, then started on my way back home, never giving it a second thought. 

Later, at home, as I was unpacking my tank bag – the place I carry my food and drink, along with some other necessary items, and I noticed little pieces of foil wrapper littering the inside of the bag.  “What is this?” I said aloud to no one in particular.  I dug further.  One of the other granola bars had some of the foil torn off it too. 

Now, I know I didn’t do that twice. 

Wait a minute.  All those shreds of foil look like teeth marks.  Mouse-size mouthfuls, in fact. 

In MY tank bag, eating MY granola bars!  And I ate the other half of one of them, to boot!  Yuck.  No telling what diseases that mouse might have.  Can a human catch mouse mung or some other malady?  I was seeing red. 

Then I got to thinking.  Was this little brown fellow a passenger with me?  Had he ridden pillion with me, so to speak? 

If he did, I wonder what he thought?  At least he had some snacks to eat while on his trip.  (That’s more than some airlines give you these days, and at a lot higher fare than Mr. Mouse paid.)  Or maybe he hopped out when I opened the bag to eat my snack at the waterfall.  If he did, I’ll bet he misses his family now, being out in the cold, cold world instead of in my nice cozy garage. 

I went and bought some mousetraps later in the evening. 

I’ll ride a human passenger some time, perhaps, but hopefully not another four-footed hitchhiker.  
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