Ho-ho-ho.... life is good!

It was 60f. yesterday, and I went for an all-day ride. Tons of bikers out enjoying the great day, and you could see everyone smilin'. We've only had a trace of snow in town here so far, but the northern part of the state is getting buried. Our little town sits at 8,500'. Weather guys are calling this system "La Nina" as opposed to "El Nino" a couple years ago.

What that means, is that warm and dry weather is pushing up from Arizona instead of heavy snow coming from the Northwest. It's raining here today, can you believe that at Christmas time?

I hope to get in a ride on Christmas day, and will let you know how that goes. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all, and hope you get something shiny under the tree.

Glad you had a good ride. Just about any ride is a good ride. The high here today was 30 and even though it was spittin snow, I got a few miles in riding up to the dealership. They keep plenty of coffee for me plus had a bunch of "low cal" (yeah right) do-nuts. Ride when you can. Just be safe. It's supposed to get up to 35 tomorrow with only a 20 per cent chance of snow so I may get to log a few miles - even though the gas milage takes a nose dive when the weather gets really cold.

I figured you were snowed in up there. It's been incredible down here on the Front Range. Far better than last year. Are you able to make it out of the mountains for the Last Brass Monkey Run?

Amazing! I always thought Colorado was snowed in by this time of the year. Glad you all have some decent riding weather. We got spanked with 6" of snow overnight and counting. Hot01: I read your account on freedom. How very true! Keep writing!

I read your article about your travels----very cool ! I can't help but think about you as a female type " Then Came Bronson ". Keep on keepin' on, can't wait to read more about your travels.

Thanks,
Studds

Funny how the snows have gone right over us and dumped on the rest of the country. Although, Breckenridge, which is about 40 miles north of us, is getting buried. Well, that's exactly what I want--snow where I can ski, and snow shoveling somewhere else! Hah!

I DID get a ride on Christmas day. It was a bit colder (only about 40), but very nice with electric jacket and pants liners--I know I'm a wuss. I called a buddy who is always ready to ride, and we rode to Leadville for some adult refreshments. Leadville sits at 10,000 ft. just north of here, and it was only 20 degrees when we got there. But the good folks at the Nugget gave us hot Irish coffee served by sweet little elves, and soon we forgot about frozen fingers. That's what I call Christmas cheer.

Hot01, I heard Ft. Collins got a good covering of snow just before Christmas. Did you get to do any skating on the roads? Read some of your blogs and enjoyed greatly, but are these meant for "ladies only" readers? Hope not, cuz I was planning on following them regularly.

What, where, and when is the Brass Monkey Run? If the weather stays like this, I could probably go, as most rides are usually downhill (and warmer) from here.

Studds, I forgot to mention, when Michael Parks (Then Came Bronson) was cruising the west coast on his FXR, I had a Honda 450 street bike that I promptly took off the mufflers after seeing his bike. I dreamed of owning a Harley one day and traveling the country.

After getting out of the Marine Corps in '75 and leaving San Diego, I tried doing the Bronson thing on a new Triumph 750 Bonneville. I started out by cruising up Hwy 1 all the way to San Francisco. What a dream that was--until the bike broke down and left me stranded with no parts (burned valves) available from the dealerships. It barely had 1,000 miles on it.

I sold it for a big loss to the dealer, and went across town and bought a 10 year old Hydra Glide. I resumed my travels through several western states, ending in my home town of Monument ,Colo. I kept that Harley for 25 years, and rode it all around the US, Canada, and Mexico, putting on 185,000 trouble-free miles.

My new '08 already has over 55,000 miles on it, and I won't ever be without a Harley again.

Funny you should mention Michael Parks. I'd see him & Doug McClure hanging around Cannery Row when I used to gig down there at Kalisa's in the 1980's. Never met him, though. But I did my "Bronson" thing, too, for a while, first on a Honda 450 and later on a '72 Ironhead. That Sporty was the coolest bike and never let me down cross-country or otherwise.

Cannery Row was an interesting place, but I somehow missed Kalisa's. My visit there might have pre-dated Kalisa's, but that would have been quite a thrill to meet Michael Parks. Wonder what he's doing these days?

No doubt! And Kalisa's was the best part of Cannery Row. It was a bohemian styled eatery that featured belly dancers and live music. I played guitar & bass in a loosely organized band of misfits known as 'The Nite Owls', and sometimes we'd play till the sun came up. After hours, certain people (musicians included) were invited upstairs to a private party where we would partake of 'Kalisa's coffee', a special brew spiked with adult libations! Kalisa's was there since the 40's and folks like John Steinbeck & Doc Ricketts hung out there in the old days. It was considered 'the living end of Cannery Row' because it was situated, well, at the end of The Row. But in 1984, the Packard family built an aquarium right across the street from Kalisa's and she was forced to turn her establishment into a respectable ice cream parlor for the tourists. It was the end of an era. Cannery Row now is nothing more than a shadow of it's former self . . .

I think I remember reading that Steinbeck wrote "Tortilla Flat" after spending many days drunk down there on Cannery Row somewhere. Quite a history that place. Sorry I missed you.

You mentioned you played in a group called the Nite Owls. When I was in VietNam (actually Laos), I was in a company called the Nite Crawlers, doing night-time search and destroy missions along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Me and one other friend were the only survivors of that unit when we left Nam 2 years later.

When we got back to San Diego, we started a rock group called the Nite Crawlers. We played in all the dives and anywhere we could get a gig for about a year. It helped us both deal with our bad memories. The fights afterward also helped. Wish I could see that place again today.

Alex, God Bless You for Your Service ! I was also in the Navy during the Vietnam Era, what a waste of many young men.

I went through a divorce in 1974. Then Came Bronson was my favorite show on TV. As soon as I got back on my feet ( 3 mo. ) I bought a Yamaha RD350 ( scared the hell out of me for a first bike) traded that for a 650 Yamaha ( rode it to Vegas and back ) traded that for a 750 Honda (hated it) traded for a 75 Moto Guzzi 850 ( totaled it ) got a 750 R90 BMW and wound up putting 168,000 miles on it. Got my first Real Motorcycle Dec. 2007 (2003 Heritage Softail Classic) put 46,000 miles on it. Got rear ended sitting at a red light by a Wet Back that went to sleep at the wheel and hit me going 35-40 mph.(totaled it and almost me) found my current 03' Electra Glide Classic on Ebay and purchased sight unseen.(greatest purchase I've ever made)

I don't know who I owe the most to, my Ex-Wife or Bronson! Ride Safe!!!!

Studds, do you remember what the grunts called the Navy during VietNam? "World's finest escort service". Thanks to you and the Navy pilots who saved our bacon many times!

Long live Bronson! How can a person get ahold of those few episodes? I've never seen a single re-run ever. Anyway, it's only 5 degrees (high) here today. Good day to stay in and dream of running up the Pacific Coast Highway, searching for that gal who fled her wedding day.

Alex the dog, Google 'Then Came Bronson DVD set". All 26 episodes for around $80. Joshbob

Been thinking a lot about Bronson lately, after you mentioned it.

Sounds kinda corny, but I wish I had spent more time cruising the whole left coast back when I was more flexible. Now that I'm old and not so flexible, I wonder if I could still do it without getting run over. Maybe find a girl standing on the side of the road......