What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Yesterday I rode to our local Triumph dealership and dropped off my Speed Triple RS in for a regular maintenance service. But the weather was so nice that when Mr. Sandi picked me up in his truck and brought me home I still felt like riding. Mr. Sandi had a couple of things scheduled including playing guitars with a friend. So I rang up our riding buddy, Russ, to see if he "could come out to play". I think he's the one I know who like to ride as much as me. He immediately responded "YES" so we met up and spent the day galavanting around Tucson in temperatures around 60ºF.

Our first stop was Tucson Harley-Davidson to spend our "points". As Loyalty Customers you get points with purchases throughout the year but they expire on December 31st so we didn't want our point vouchers to go to waste. I bought a fun tassel stocking cap beanie that has nearly the same orange color as my Street Glide Special which is the bike I chose to ride today. When we pulled up and parked, a couple pulled in just a few minutes later. Interestingly, each of them had a 2021 Low Rider S. Even more interestingly, they were modded exactly the same way! When I commented on that they said, "Oh yeah, we like to do the twinsy thing". Seriously, I think the only thing different about the two bikes is that one was black and the other was maroon---the only two colors available for the 2021 Low Rider S. She was on the maroon and he was on the black.


The interior of the dealership was modestly decorated for Christmas--nothing like the pre-Covid years when not only was the dealership completely decorated, but most of the employees were dressed for the occasion, too. Comparatively, it's pretty sedate these days.


One of the first things that caught our eyes was the Sportster S, Harley's newest model and one that is highly touted. It's the first time I've seen one "in the flesh". I do have to say that, unlike the usual deal where I like a bike in person better that photos, this time around that was flipped. There were numerous design aspects of this bike that just didn't do it for me. Ergonomically is was mostly ok but I definitely think this bike needs mid controls and not forward controls. It's super low and light (for a Harley) at 500 pounds. But I felt no affinity for this bike. As I told Russ, I'd have to ride it and REALLY love the ride to even remotely consider buying it. Russ, on the other hand, liked it a lot. Ahh, what does he know.


This bike I like a lot. It's a 2021 Fat Boy in Black Jack Metallic. I just keep coming back to it over and over like it's calling my name. Uh oh. I have to say that having a Fat Boy would bring things full circle. Back when Mr. Sandi and I started dating, he was riding a 2001 Fat Boy. And I wasn't a rider yet. I rode pillion with him for probably about a year before I decided to ride my own bike. So you might say that my first motorcycle was a Fat Boy--although it was Mr. Sandi's bike and I rode on the back.

Yep, that's my mask down by the primary cover. I took it off for the photo. Russ and I were the only people in the place with masks on. Contrast that with one of the other places we went on today's ride, the Western National Parks Association store where masks were required of everyone. Consistency even in one city? Nah.....


Our next stop was the Red Hills Visitor Center which is the visitor center for Saguaro National Park West. The ride through the park is wonderful and something we do regularly. But this time we went counterclockwise because the Harley dealership is on that part of the loop. It's amazing how the exact same route can feel like a completely different experience going the opposite direction!


Here are a couple of views from the visitor center veranda. If you look hard at the second photo you can see a mom and daughter in the desert.




The visitor center was quite busy due to the holiday. That said, this place is always popular and for good reason. When we arrived, we saw these folks and two adorable pooches and wound up chatting with them for awhile. The pup with Russ is named Paisley. She was v-e-r-y friendly!




A primary reason for riding to the visitor center was that Russ wanted to do some Christmas shopping in the store there. In particular he wanted to get a few gifts for his four-year-old grandson. Unfortunately, just as we walked up to the door, a young man told us that they were closing for lunch--for an hour! So we decided to ride back into town and go to the Western National Parks Association store which has wonderful Tucson and Sonoran Desert themed and sourced gifts as well. So we wound up doing the same half of the Saguaro Park loop again--and got to ride it in each direction back to back!

Our final stop on the day was at the Western National Parks Association store. Russell made a haul! I think he bought half a dozen books and a couple of other items, too. I made one purchase--a jar of strawberry--jalapeño preserves to put in Mr. Sandi's Christmas stocking. It's labeled "Hot!" but we like that type of preserves as a topping on cream cheese on a cracker.


After a successful day in the saddle--and shopping around--we headed home. I pulled into the garage with about 75 miles on my Street Glide's odometer and a smile on my face. It really hit me today that moto-therapy is much better than shopping therapy!

 

Great photos and write up Sandy as ever, I like the maroon paint scheme on the low rider and am as jealous as ever of your weather; we have cold, damp fog this morning!!

So.....when will we see the thread introducing your new Fat Boy? .

 

Today I did a little 50 mile Christmas Day ride to celebrate the holiday--and the much-less trafficked roads. It was overcast and a bit chilly but a lovely way to contemplate the day and to count my blessings.

When I got home I just had to take and share this photo. Our neighbor boy decorates their house in the "Snoopy's Doghouse" style each year. And the last several years he has, for some reason unknown to us, included a blow up Minion! I took this photo while it was still fairly light outside but you can see some of his Christmas lights just starting to come on over Mr. Minion's left shoulder. P.S. You should see their yard for Halloween!

 

You just might see it in the not-too-distant future, @Mrs Visor. But I haven't quite yet decided yet. I'll have to trade a bike if I decided to go with the Fat Boy so I'm weighing my options.

 

Canoeing on Coniston…

 

Trip to the Moon today

 

Temperature improved in Scotland today @Dougie D

 

It was a balmy 8c

 

Nice one. I’m hoping to get out tomorrow

 

Our forecast is showing rain today (Wednesday) but cloudy and unseasonably warm in the run up to the weekend. Hoping to turn a wheel before it turns icy again.

 

Yep that is my plan as well. Hopefully the rain will have washed most of the salt away

 

A New Years Day run out into the muddy sticks on the Berg, much to the extreme annoyance of several thousand self righteous walkers full of their own self importance. I'm sure I'll end up on the Tube somewhere, going on the number of people who filmed me and anyone else daring to ride or drive any form of powered vehicle on perfectly legal tracks and Byways!
Pindale was the only place not infected

 

Careful, I hear those old Passat's don't float too well...

 

Cudgie on six, new one to me...

 

Your next bike then Sandi? Maybe you can find a spare corner of the garage and squeeze one in!

 

I think you’ll find @Sandi T had already pulled the trigger… just waiting to see who she has culled!

 

I have an image of Mr Sandi standing in the garage shouting, "Darlin', where's my motorcycle..."

 

What you talkin ‘bout fooool?
Is it Mr Sandi? Shouldn’t it be Mr T???