Birthday: June 01
Ride Day: June 01
www.bikenomads.com
2008/06/19
2008/06/17
SUZIE Q RIDES OUT WITH RON AND JENN
Final Part III
!! June 01, 2008: Ron Mathewson’s Birthday!!!
On the morning of June 01, 2008, I went to Harley Eastside, Bellevue to pick up Suzie Q. Ambarish take care of the paper work with Alex Astern.
Alex handed over Suzie Q to me. Since I had last ridden with her, Suzie Q had NOT been rented out. I was in touch with Ron on fone. He and Jenn were in Seattle taking delivery of their bikes, sorry Harleys, from Eagle Riders at Seattle.
Around 1100 Ronn and Jenn rolled down to 226th Street, PL NE. I was ready with by camera as the 2 Harley Beasts of Fortune roared alongside making a deafening noise in the neighbor hood as never before. Here on 226th street, you cant hear a thing except the wind blowing ……
Yes the answer my friend, was blowing in the wind, the answer was blowing in the Wind....
RON AND JENN WERE FINALLY HERE..
We the Chitnis family and Mathewsons exchanged pleasantries, I presented Ron with a BikeNomad tee and Jenn with TANTRA tees. She presented me with a New York Yankee Tee.
Ron immediately wore the tee and that fitted him very well. A few quick pics and we were
Ambarish the Route plan on a Map to Ron. Redmond>Duval>Manroe>Stevens Pass>Leavenworth., some 120 odd miles.
I made an observation to Medini “Jenn is so beautiful….”
Ron smirked and looked the other way. I said “Hey hey Ron, Man you look good too!”
Exactly at 11:00 hrs, we roared off, 3 Harley Monsters.
I was leading, Jenn center and Ron sweeping. The roads were nice and clear, the weather was holding out, but a bit chilly.
Off Monroe, Ron took the lead, Jenn center and me sweeping. Ron stopped the bikes at a Gas Station for a butt break.
The twisties started and Ron started ripping his Monster 1400 cc bike. He was taking the bends in style at high speeds. He is a Honda CBR man. Surprisngly, Jenn also started to rip and take the turns at high speeds, keeping up with Ron. I kept Suzie Q to my riding limits.
As we gained altitude at the Stevens Pass rapidly, the weather started to deterirate. It started to freeze and later fog reduced visibility to around 5 car lengths, some places even less.
The traffic from the opposite side was heavy, as tourists returning home from Leavenworth. Our side traffic was thin. It started to get colder the fog got thicker.
And then, the most unexpected happened. …suffice to say we got away with Nil losses, plenty of Profits, thanks to experiencetial learning from this incident.
I remembered Dr Arn Gupta’s Golden Words……
“Riding on unfamiliar roads on unfamiliar bikes…is asking for serious trouble..”
Dr Arnob Gupta, MDS
Bun Burner, Saddle Sore Rider
Iron Butt Assoc of USA
I will leave out the details for the time being. Jenn’s hands and fingers had started to freeze, no circulation no feel. We pulled over at a curb at the apex of Stevens
Pass. Her hands were white and yellowed. Took some 30 minutes for her to get fit again.
I relaxed Jenn. “Look Jenn, this is NOT going to happen again…so Ride as if you stole the bike…!! She smiled.
This time, Jenn lead the wolf pack, me center Ron sweeping. We had 30 miles to go.
Jen was riding at high speeds…I had a tough time keeping behind her …Ron had slowed down to a leisurely speed enjoying the breath taking views of the Stevens pass.
Once we started to ascend the weather cleared up beautifully. We arrived at Leavenworth.
I found a nice German restaurant for lunch. Ron ordered German home made beers all round, as legally permitted by Law
We were famished.
I ordered a nice big dish of Sausages and Greens.
To my horror, Ron said “Jenn we have home made Indian food waiting for us at the Chitnis’ residence, so lets not stuff up..” He ordered just one small sandwich, ripped it to half and that is ALL they ate! She did not protest one bit….and I, a small Desi, was eating like a Big American Harley Man and the Americans (Ron is lean, tall, a 6 footiya) were nibbling at half sandwiches! Complete role reversals!
Lunch eaten, we walked back to our Harleys ..here Jenn just lay down on the foot apth for a quick power nap!
The Ride home was going fine. We stopped for some pics at the beginning of the Stevens Pass.
Once up the Stevens Pass, was cold again. This time Jenn was lead, Ron center and I was sweeping iin a formation that DIN not allow any cars to pass us. And no cars honked or protested coz tis was 3 Harleys leading all the way. No one messes with Harley Riders in America.
Was a cold rainy windy ride. Jenn pulled up at a 100 years old Post Office cum Coffee restaurant. Gratefully, we went inside, warm and nice. The Coffee was great …only Riders know the value of each sip of hot coffee, what it means to be warm. Ron got his for free as I told the counter lady that it was his Birthday.
We headed out to Monroe…here I was in the lead with GPS in pocket with earfones. But the noise of Suzie’s engines drowned the voice of the GPS. I lost my way and we stopped to cross check the GPS. Done with that and Jenns bike would not start!
We decided to park her bike at a Vet hospital, locked and Jenn held my GPS in her hand riding pillion on Ron’s bike. Ron was feeling bad that we were now late to reach home. I assured him that this was an Emergency and the family will understand. ETA home was 20:30 hrs we made it at 23:00 hrs.
Oh sure the Chitnis Mafia was glad to have us all home. Ron enthralled them with the ride story….
I told Jenn and Ron…”Look a nice ride to Leavenworth and back makes for a boring trip log…..tis when you have incidents and rains, fog and cold winds, unexpected twists and turns, that makes for a great trip log…..We will remember this ride for a long time to come some years down the line.”
Few days later Ron sent me an email
“Captain -
Thanks for the kind words.
It was a crazy birthday for me. Your calmness made it and adventure. Without you it would have been classified a disaster!!”
Final Part III
!! June 01, 2008: Ron Mathewson’s Birthday!!!
On the morning of June 01, 2008, I went to Harley Eastside, Bellevue to pick up Suzie Q. Ambarish take care of the paper work with Alex Astern.
Alex handed over Suzie Q to me. Since I had last ridden with her, Suzie Q had NOT been rented out. I was in touch with Ron on fone. He and Jenn were in Seattle taking delivery of their bikes, sorry Harleys, from Eagle Riders at Seattle.
Around 1100 Ronn and Jenn rolled down to 226th Street, PL NE. I was ready with by camera as the 2 Harley Beasts of Fortune roared alongside making a deafening noise in the neighbor hood as never before. Here on 226th street, you cant hear a thing except the wind blowing ……
Yes the answer my friend, was blowing in the wind, the answer was blowing in the Wind....
RON AND JENN WERE FINALLY HERE..
We the Chitnis family and Mathewsons exchanged pleasantries, I presented Ron with a BikeNomad tee and Jenn with TANTRA tees. She presented me with a New York Yankee Tee.
Ron immediately wore the tee and that fitted him very well. A few quick pics and we were
Ambarish the Route plan on a Map to Ron. Redmond>Duval>Manroe>Stevens Pass>Leavenworth., some 120 odd miles.
I made an observation to Medini “Jenn is so beautiful….”
Ron smirked and looked the other way. I said “Hey hey Ron, Man you look good too!”
Exactly at 11:00 hrs, we roared off, 3 Harley Monsters.
I was leading, Jenn center and Ron sweeping. The roads were nice and clear, the weather was holding out, but a bit chilly.
Off Monroe, Ron took the lead, Jenn center and me sweeping. Ron stopped the bikes at a Gas Station for a butt break.
The twisties started and Ron started ripping his Monster 1400 cc bike. He was taking the bends in style at high speeds. He is a Honda CBR man. Surprisngly, Jenn also started to rip and take the turns at high speeds, keeping up with Ron. I kept Suzie Q to my riding limits.
As we gained altitude at the Stevens Pass rapidly, the weather started to deterirate. It started to freeze and later fog reduced visibility to around 5 car lengths, some places even less.
The traffic from the opposite side was heavy, as tourists returning home from Leavenworth. Our side traffic was thin. It started to get colder the fog got thicker.
And then, the most unexpected happened. …suffice to say we got away with Nil losses, plenty of Profits, thanks to experiencetial learning from this incident.
I remembered Dr Arn Gupta’s Golden Words……
“Riding on unfamiliar roads on unfamiliar bikes…is asking for serious trouble..”
Dr Arnob Gupta, MDS
Bun Burner, Saddle Sore Rider
Iron Butt Assoc of USA
I will leave out the details for the time being. Jenn’s hands and fingers had started to freeze, no circulation no feel. We pulled over at a curb at the apex of Stevens
Pass. Her hands were white and yellowed. Took some 30 minutes for her to get fit again.
I relaxed Jenn. “Look Jenn, this is NOT going to happen again…so Ride as if you stole the bike…!! She smiled.
This time, Jenn lead the wolf pack, me center Ron sweeping. We had 30 miles to go.
Jen was riding at high speeds…I had a tough time keeping behind her …Ron had slowed down to a leisurely speed enjoying the breath taking views of the Stevens pass.
Once we started to ascend the weather cleared up beautifully. We arrived at Leavenworth.
I found a nice German restaurant for lunch. Ron ordered German home made beers all round, as legally permitted by Law
We were famished.
I ordered a nice big dish of Sausages and Greens.
To my horror, Ron said “Jenn we have home made Indian food waiting for us at the Chitnis’ residence, so lets not stuff up..” He ordered just one small sandwich, ripped it to half and that is ALL they ate! She did not protest one bit….and I, a small Desi, was eating like a Big American Harley Man and the Americans (Ron is lean, tall, a 6 footiya) were nibbling at half sandwiches! Complete role reversals!
Lunch eaten, we walked back to our Harleys ..here Jenn just lay down on the foot apth for a quick power nap!
The Ride home was going fine. We stopped for some pics at the beginning of the Stevens Pass.
Once up the Stevens Pass, was cold again. This time Jenn was lead, Ron center and I was sweeping iin a formation that DIN not allow any cars to pass us. And no cars honked or protested coz tis was 3 Harleys leading all the way. No one messes with Harley Riders in America.
Was a cold rainy windy ride. Jenn pulled up at a 100 years old Post Office cum Coffee restaurant. Gratefully, we went inside, warm and nice. The Coffee was great …only Riders know the value of each sip of hot coffee, what it means to be warm. Ron got his for free as I told the counter lady that it was his Birthday.
We headed out to Monroe…here I was in the lead with GPS in pocket with earfones. But the noise of Suzie’s engines drowned the voice of the GPS. I lost my way and we stopped to cross check the GPS. Done with that and Jenns bike would not start!
We decided to park her bike at a Vet hospital, locked and Jenn held my GPS in her hand riding pillion on Ron’s bike. Ron was feeling bad that we were now late to reach home. I assured him that this was an Emergency and the family will understand. ETA home was 20:30 hrs we made it at 23:00 hrs.
Oh sure the Chitnis Mafia was glad to have us all home. Ron enthralled them with the ride story….
I told Jenn and Ron…”Look a nice ride to Leavenworth and back makes for a boring trip log…..tis when you have incidents and rains, fog and cold winds, unexpected twists and turns, that makes for a great trip log…..We will remember this ride for a long time to come some years down the line.”
Few days later Ron sent me an email
“Captain -
Thanks for the kind words.
It was a crazy birthday for me. Your calmness made it and adventure. Without you it would have been classified a disaster!!”
2008/06/10
DRIVING IN PARADISE WITH BRANGELINA
GPS Magellan RoadMATE 2000 T
24th May, to June 01 was a long wait. I was constantly in touch with Ron (Flickr ID Fuzzy) via fone and emails.
After returning Suzie Q to HD, there was a strange void in my life. Was this really happening? Me, the Harley, Ron and Jenn. Or was it just a dream?
I told Ambarish I needed a GPS a week before Suzie Q was hired. He was smart and ordered a reconditioned Magellan Roadmate 2000T, great price of $ 100/- only, with amazing features of a $ 300/- GPS.
It arrived without a power cord via Buy.com. Ambo ordered a new cord. That too arrived in good time.
This GPS was later to be our savior during my ride out with Ron and Jenn.
BRANGELINA
To get a bit more familiar with the GPS I hired a car, an Aveo Chevvy, much the same like on the streets of India, only automatic and plenty of power under the hood.
For want of a better name I called her Brangelina arbitrarily, and christened her near a Church at Duval.
VIRAL AND RAKESH : LOVE JOSHI CONNECTIONS
That very night, Medini and I had a dinner invitation with Love Joshi’s sister, Viral and her husband Rakesh at Bothell, some considerable distance away from Redmond. Was a evening night drive there and the GPS was spot on. Viral and Rakesh were perfect hosts and we chatted the night away, as if we knew each other for long. Hey Love, thanks for the introduction Man.
Next two days, I drove Brangelina around everywhere on the hills and mountain roads, to the Snowqualmie water falls to the Rly Museum for route checks and GPS checks.
Water falls at Snowqualmie
Railway Museum, Snoqualmie
I had a wild idea of taking my grand daughter Anika with me. But Ambarish and Archana would not allow me to do that, coz Anika is just 11 months old and they don’t trust me to take care of Anika, though I was reasonably confident of handling the baby and the bath tub…what ever that means…
Ambarish talked to Ron a day before they arrived at Seattle. It was decided that we should ride some 140 miles from Redmond to a nice German town Leavenworth through the awesome Stevens Pass. I drove Brangelina for a route check….all ok.
I was ready for Ron and Jenn.
Finally, finally June 1, 2008 dawned, one of the most exciting day of my life….
Suzie Q welcomes Ron and Jennifer Mathewson at 226th Street, Redmond Ridge, our residence.
Ron n Jenn Roll in
GPS Magellan RoadMATE 2000 T
24th May, to June 01 was a long wait. I was constantly in touch with Ron (Flickr ID Fuzzy) via fone and emails.
After returning Suzie Q to HD, there was a strange void in my life. Was this really happening? Me, the Harley, Ron and Jenn. Or was it just a dream?
I told Ambarish I needed a GPS a week before Suzie Q was hired. He was smart and ordered a reconditioned Magellan Roadmate 2000T, great price of $ 100/- only, with amazing features of a $ 300/- GPS.
It arrived without a power cord via Buy.com. Ambo ordered a new cord. That too arrived in good time.
This GPS was later to be our savior during my ride out with Ron and Jenn.
BRANGELINA
To get a bit more familiar with the GPS I hired a car, an Aveo Chevvy, much the same like on the streets of India, only automatic and plenty of power under the hood.
For want of a better name I called her Brangelina arbitrarily, and christened her near a Church at Duval.
VIRAL AND RAKESH : LOVE JOSHI CONNECTIONS
That very night, Medini and I had a dinner invitation with Love Joshi’s sister, Viral and her husband Rakesh at Bothell, some considerable distance away from Redmond. Was a evening night drive there and the GPS was spot on. Viral and Rakesh were perfect hosts and we chatted the night away, as if we knew each other for long. Hey Love, thanks for the introduction Man.
Next two days, I drove Brangelina around everywhere on the hills and mountain roads, to the Snowqualmie water falls to the Rly Museum for route checks and GPS checks.
Water falls at Snowqualmie
Railway Museum, Snoqualmie
I had a wild idea of taking my grand daughter Anika with me. But Ambarish and Archana would not allow me to do that, coz Anika is just 11 months old and they don’t trust me to take care of Anika, though I was reasonably confident of handling the baby and the bath tub…what ever that means…
Ambarish talked to Ron a day before they arrived at Seattle. It was decided that we should ride some 140 miles from Redmond to a nice German town Leavenworth through the awesome Stevens Pass. I drove Brangelina for a route check….all ok.
I was ready for Ron and Jenn.
Finally, finally June 1, 2008 dawned, one of the most exciting day of my life….
Suzie Q welcomes Ron and Jennifer Mathewson at 226th Street, Redmond Ridge, our residence.
Ron n Jenn Roll in
2008/06/09
RIDING Out With SUZIE Q
PART I
The Genesis
Before arriving at Redmond, WA, USA, I was in touch with Mr. Ron Mathewson from New Jersey. Two years back we had met on flickr.com via a riding group. Over time we became great net friends.
Ron offered to fly out from New Jersey to Seattle and ride with me with his wife Jennifer. June 01, 2008 was decided as the date for us to ride together.
I therefore became imperative for me to become familiar with the Harley Davidson bike before they arrived.
Hiring the HD Sportster
May 24th 2008….the day dawned …Ambarish; my son (Microsoft) drove me to the East Side, Harley Davidson, at Bellevue, for renting out a Bike.
East Side Harley Davidson, Bellevue
I made an honest declaration to Mr. Alex.
I informed him “I am nearly 57 years old. This is my son Ambarish, he works here and I am visiting Redmond from India. Though I have plenty of riding experience in India, I had never ridden a bike more than 350 cc. Secondly; I have no experience of riding on USA roads at all. I need a light bike much below 1400 cc that I see here in your showroom……..”
Having said that, I saw a grave expression on Alex’s face…Had had I blown it up? Will he rent me a bike?
Alex ignored me completely and spoke direct to Ambarish.
“Listen, I am glad you are here. Your Dad, he does not care for paper work. He wanna JUST RIDE…so you and I we take care of the papers and let him just ride…OK?”
Alex, a big Harley Man from Eastside HD, handed over the a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster (880 cc) to me. A quick Safety Briefing followed and very gingerly I rode her around the Harley Davidson building, 4 times…she looked like a bike after my own heart… my heart was pounding like a 24 year old, when I brought my first Jawa 250 cc bike, second or third hand. Was this really happening or was it just a dream?
I have this old habit of making my dreams come true…
Alex warned me “Do not under estimate this bike…she has only 889 cc motor but she is very very fast…..” That was (889-350) 539ccs more than an Indian RE T Bird…WoW!!!!
Back drop
Before coming to USA, I had discussed the issue of renting bikes in USA with Dr Arnob Gupta (Limca book of World Records, Dr Arn has 2 entries maybe more). He told me to ride a light bike preferably a Japanese 400 cc bike…there were none here in Bellevue. Just as well coz in America tis Harley all the way…tis bout Patriotism, Pride, the American Flag, Harley Davidson…. They killed the Indian Chief, but Harley…NEVER….Can’ happen….
SUZIE Q and the Solitary Rider
I followed Ambarish back to Redmond; some 12 miles to our home….the ride was fine…
Had a hot cup of coffee at home, calmed my nerves. Loaded my back pack with my camera and I headed out to rural less traveled roads of Duval. Here the traffic is thin, roads are twisties and flats. Keeping to the right side of the road was an issue. I made a few mistakes, but got that right eventually. As for the Bike, she rode much like our RE Thunder Bird. No problems there except vibrations. I gradually found the sweet spot of each gear down to the fifth to reduce the vibes to a minimum. I could feel the Rhythm Devine of this bike up my spine. The sheer freedom of riding in Paradise dawned on me. Practiced breaking front and rear, gear shifts, throttle, turns and twists, steering and counter steering. These are the things I learned from BikeNomads and Rubber Smoking Angels. I have always been a good student except in School.
I stopped the bike for a butt break. Smoked Camels, took a few pics…
And promptly name the bike….SUZIE Q…….
Q for the big Question…can I ride a Harley in USA? I had to find the answer; the hidden laws of probability were always against me.
The dice had been thrown, I had gambled before in Casinos…..won some lost some…I had dealt the Jack of Diamonds…the rest of the cards were with the House……..I knew I had to play the INNER GAME and win. That was my only hope…I had done that before and Won when all odds were neatly stacked against Me. I had to do this again.
In retrospect riding a mo bike in America is the easiest thing, provided you follow the rules of the road. But on Day One, I was shitting bricks. Just as well, overconfidence can KILL.
Tis the age of DESTRUCTION……Suicide toxins run in my blood.
I got back on Suzie Q….this time I had to ride her at 70 MPH on a flat….was easy. Suzie’s sweet spot on the fifth gear was around 65 MPH. I had Suzie Q reasonably under control.
Then while heading home on a left turn, I followed the road on the LEFT, like in India, on a crazy uphill twisty and saw a car running down at me….I hit the barrier at slow speed and stopped. Let pass a few more bewildered confused cars and got back on the road. …tis in my muscle memory riding on the left side of the road…..I was shaken….
Rode up to Starbucks, for a cuppa hot coffee. The pretty ladies at the service bar were very nice to me…after all I was wearing a Harley Jacket, a helmet in hand and a close cropped head….a goatee beard. Perfect Harley Man……
They were surprised to learn that I was from India AND riding a Harley. We got talking a lot of this and that….of course I did most of the talking and saw them stare wide eyed at me……Grand Father, India, Harley, Nikon 80 D round mah neck..….this Matrix was a winner all they way.
It was then that I decided that I WILL SHOCK THE SYSTEM!!!!
I had the Weapons to do that…and the key weapon that I had was the Riders ultimate weapon ….HUMILITY…Ashwini Khanna of 60kph.com taught me that.
The next two days were nice and easy rides on the same roads….some 300 miles…
I was thoroughly familiarized with Suzie Q
I returned Suzie Q to HD and asked Alex to rent her to me on June 01, 2008…..he did..
PART II FOLLOWS………
PART I
The Genesis
Before arriving at Redmond, WA, USA, I was in touch with Mr. Ron Mathewson from New Jersey. Two years back we had met on flickr.com via a riding group. Over time we became great net friends.
Ron offered to fly out from New Jersey to Seattle and ride with me with his wife Jennifer. June 01, 2008 was decided as the date for us to ride together.
I therefore became imperative for me to become familiar with the Harley Davidson bike before they arrived.
Hiring the HD Sportster
May 24th 2008….the day dawned …Ambarish; my son (Microsoft) drove me to the East Side, Harley Davidson, at Bellevue, for renting out a Bike.
East Side Harley Davidson, Bellevue
I made an honest declaration to Mr. Alex.
I informed him “I am nearly 57 years old. This is my son Ambarish, he works here and I am visiting Redmond from India. Though I have plenty of riding experience in India, I had never ridden a bike more than 350 cc. Secondly; I have no experience of riding on USA roads at all. I need a light bike much below 1400 cc that I see here in your showroom……..”
Having said that, I saw a grave expression on Alex’s face…Had had I blown it up? Will he rent me a bike?
Alex ignored me completely and spoke direct to Ambarish.
“Listen, I am glad you are here. Your Dad, he does not care for paper work. He wanna JUST RIDE…so you and I we take care of the papers and let him just ride…OK?”
Alex, a big Harley Man from Eastside HD, handed over the a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster (880 cc) to me. A quick Safety Briefing followed and very gingerly I rode her around the Harley Davidson building, 4 times…she looked like a bike after my own heart… my heart was pounding like a 24 year old, when I brought my first Jawa 250 cc bike, second or third hand. Was this really happening or was it just a dream?
I have this old habit of making my dreams come true…
Alex warned me “Do not under estimate this bike…she has only 889 cc motor but she is very very fast…..” That was (889-350) 539ccs more than an Indian RE T Bird…WoW!!!!
Back drop
Before coming to USA, I had discussed the issue of renting bikes in USA with Dr Arnob Gupta (Limca book of World Records, Dr Arn has 2 entries maybe more). He told me to ride a light bike preferably a Japanese 400 cc bike…there were none here in Bellevue. Just as well coz in America tis Harley all the way…tis bout Patriotism, Pride, the American Flag, Harley Davidson…. They killed the Indian Chief, but Harley…NEVER….Can’ happen….
SUZIE Q and the Solitary Rider
I followed Ambarish back to Redmond; some 12 miles to our home….the ride was fine…
Had a hot cup of coffee at home, calmed my nerves. Loaded my back pack with my camera and I headed out to rural less traveled roads of Duval. Here the traffic is thin, roads are twisties and flats. Keeping to the right side of the road was an issue. I made a few mistakes, but got that right eventually. As for the Bike, she rode much like our RE Thunder Bird. No problems there except vibrations. I gradually found the sweet spot of each gear down to the fifth to reduce the vibes to a minimum. I could feel the Rhythm Devine of this bike up my spine. The sheer freedom of riding in Paradise dawned on me. Practiced breaking front and rear, gear shifts, throttle, turns and twists, steering and counter steering. These are the things I learned from BikeNomads and Rubber Smoking Angels. I have always been a good student except in School.
I stopped the bike for a butt break. Smoked Camels, took a few pics…
And promptly name the bike….SUZIE Q…….
Q for the big Question…can I ride a Harley in USA? I had to find the answer; the hidden laws of probability were always against me.
The dice had been thrown, I had gambled before in Casinos…..won some lost some…I had dealt the Jack of Diamonds…the rest of the cards were with the House……..I knew I had to play the INNER GAME and win. That was my only hope…I had done that before and Won when all odds were neatly stacked against Me. I had to do this again.
In retrospect riding a mo bike in America is the easiest thing, provided you follow the rules of the road. But on Day One, I was shitting bricks. Just as well, overconfidence can KILL.
Tis the age of DESTRUCTION……Suicide toxins run in my blood.
I got back on Suzie Q….this time I had to ride her at 70 MPH on a flat….was easy. Suzie’s sweet spot on the fifth gear was around 65 MPH. I had Suzie Q reasonably under control.
Then while heading home on a left turn, I followed the road on the LEFT, like in India, on a crazy uphill twisty and saw a car running down at me….I hit the barrier at slow speed and stopped. Let pass a few more bewildered confused cars and got back on the road. …tis in my muscle memory riding on the left side of the road…..I was shaken….
Rode up to Starbucks, for a cuppa hot coffee. The pretty ladies at the service bar were very nice to me…after all I was wearing a Harley Jacket, a helmet in hand and a close cropped head….a goatee beard. Perfect Harley Man……
They were surprised to learn that I was from India AND riding a Harley. We got talking a lot of this and that….of course I did most of the talking and saw them stare wide eyed at me……Grand Father, India, Harley, Nikon 80 D round mah neck..….this Matrix was a winner all they way.
It was then that I decided that I WILL SHOCK THE SYSTEM!!!!
I had the Weapons to do that…and the key weapon that I had was the Riders ultimate weapon ….HUMILITY…Ashwini Khanna of 60kph.com taught me that.
The next two days were nice and easy rides on the same roads….some 300 miles…
I was thoroughly familiarized with Suzie Q
I returned Suzie Q to HD and asked Alex to rent her to me on June 01, 2008…..he did..
PART II FOLLOWS………
2008/06/01
Vintage airplanes pre 1950 build approaching for landing at the Museum of Flight, Seattle
Vintage airplanes pre 1950 build approaching for landing at the Museum of Flight, Seattle
Originally uploaded by Captain Nandu Chitnis, BikeNomads
Now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell
They've seen places beyond my land and they've found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand
And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
As all good friends we talk all night, and we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything
There's no limit to what I feel, we climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is it all real?
;Is it true I'm an eagle?
Is it true I can spread my wings?
And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please
Abba: Eagle
2008/05/31
Seattle Street and Cultural Festival
This lady is American. She did an amazing dance to Bollywood tunes...
2008/05/30
Sultans of Swing: Eyes on the ball on the down swing. The ball has a nce DRAW in flight.
Sultans of Swing: Eyes on the ball on the down swing. The ball has a nce DRAW in flight.
Originally uploaded by Captain Nandu Chitnis, BikeNomads
2008/05/23
Ohhhh .......Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q Baby I love you
Suzie Q
I like the way you ride
I like the way you talk
I like the way you ride I like the way you talk
Suzie Q
Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true and never leave me blue
Suzie Q
Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine Baby all the time
Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q, Baby, I love you
Suzie Q
I like the way you ride
I like the way you talk
I like the way you ride, I like the way you talk
Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q Baby I love you
Suzie Q
I like the way you ride
I like the way you talk
I like the way you ride I like the way you talk
Suzie Q
Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true
Oh say that youll be true and never leave me blue
Suzie Q
Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine
Oh say that youll be mine Baby all the time
Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q, Baby, I love you
Suzie Q
I like the way you ride
I like the way you talk
I like the way you ride, I like the way you talk
Suzie Q
2008/05/21
SHE IS A KIND OF MAGIC
One dream, one soul, one prized goal. A golden chance has come her way.
She thought this was going to be her finest moment in her young life.
To take that Golden Step forward to Happiness.
I did that, and never regretted that STEP……now tis NOT BOUT me…but HER.
but yes…it is connected…strange are they ways of contradictions…
Oh yes, this was her finest moment. Elegantly dressed for the occasion, she picked up
a Crystal Glass filled with the finest bubbling wine. She thought
This was her Magical Moment.
She sipped from the crystal …
And the Crystal glass dropped.
In a flash, her life laid shattered into a thousand pieces, in most unexpected ways.
My Take
Well I have traveled the World and the Seven Seas
Everyone is looking for something……
I know what Sweet Dreams are made of….Illusions …Mirages
Read On: Her Story
She bends down, tears flowing torrentially down her chiseled, Goddess like face. The beautiful make up, melts. It is now Mud on her face, a big Disgrace. Inside, the Blood arteries have burst, the flames have begun to burn, engulfing her. She is about to turn to ashes.
She steadies herself, picks up the thousand shattered pieces and painstakingly begins to join them bit by bit. It takes a few years, sleepless nights, the tides of the Ocean turn against her, despite her best efforts…her Gods, have they deserted her? They well may have, but her FAITH NEVER WAIVERS. Yes there is confusion and anger…
But time waits for no one…she knows that.
Lord, she just Kept The Faith in You…….
My Take
I laugh….Lord, Faith, God, Power, I laugh, anger welling inside me..….
Where was YOUR GOD when He drained you, took your dignity away… Forgive me…I do not buy that…Man Created God….Go take a Walk…..It is so easy for me to laugh…after all, I did NOT start The Fire. It was always burning…
Pessimism is my forte.
It is SHE not ME that suffers…..Tis the age of DESTRUCTION…..Battles can be won not the Wars….just Shock the God damn System, is my way…..Toxins in her mind, the Demons will never go away…..
Tis night, in a lonely room…Everybody needs somebody to love, some one to hold her in strong arms…someone to lean on…
She has No One….she has suffered for her anger,
She is broke, forgive her Lord…….and yet
She Keeps The Faith. HAAAAAAAA….Crazy….
This is DELUSION…tis hard to be strong under these circumstances…
SHE is a Gonner, in the dustbin of unwritten History…just another statistic..Go JUMP ……be done with...You are a nowhere Woman….
Read On: Her Life
It takes a few years, bouts of depression continue to plague her. At night, her pillow is wet with a thousand tears…..
Only this time, these are the tears that will steel her body, mind and soul.
The CRYSTAL GLASS of life is Done…but the Wine has long since drained….
My Take
Some of us want to use her, some of us want to abuse her trust.
“Hold your head up! Hold your head high !” is the echo she hears in the depths of Darkness.
Now why would I lie to you? Tis the way it was...abstract…dark…pessimism, optimism, desperation….the pendulum swings one way to happiness, the other way to depression…that is how I see it.
There is NO HOPE…No one to help her, she has to do that herself…she cant do that…
She is WEAK……
Read On: Her Life
It is a cause to meditate, to Study and to Find the Answers….the Road Ahead, the hidden laws of Chance. She plays the Game, as God in His Wisdom taught her to Play that Game.
The hidden laws of a probable outcome, the dice is loaded…... against her.
Time…time is the healer, Wisdom is the healer, Faith heals, the power of the Inner Game heals…..the Power Within….it is a complex Matrix that we mortals don’t understand.
And Study she did, and the Battles she won, one at a time…..
Tis a Kind of Magic..Or is it?
My Take
Wasted summers, wasted winters. You can win Battles, you can never win the War.
This attitude of HER simply sucks. I don’t care who rules the world, the Universe…tis my attitude…
Read On: Her Story
She preserves….Her TRUST SKILLS are astonishing. UNSHAKEABLE FAITH in non entity called The Almighty remains undiminished…
!!!!!! And then…The Magic HAPPENED !!!!!!!!
One Dark Night…she walked up the Mountains; it was a wet track…
She slipped down, held on to jagged rocks, bruised her hands and face, was all Blood everywhere. It is mud on her face all over again, her clothes all torn…and yet against all odds, She reached the Apex and stood still...
Then She raised her hands high closed her eyes and looked sky wards beyond the Universe…
Hell fire smoke and burning smoke!
Magically, the Heavens began to thunder, lightning struck through her spine, the Earth began to shake under HER feet.
This Time, this time there were torrential Tears falling, not HER tears, but from the High Heavens. Rains……..
She steeled her body, fists held tight, in a perfect V.
!!! VICTORY!!!!
And through the thundering reverberating skies, she heard a Voice say…..
“ !!! Walk Down…Go Home….You Are Done…!”
She was TRANSFORMED……… forever.….
End of Story
My Take
As I said, it’s a kind of Magic…one Dream, One soul, one goal…
One golden chance……..
Trust me, Can be done…why should I lie to you?
MY TAKE II
Phew…..Lord, whosoever you are, I am Done.
I shut my lap top, shift it away. I have a glass top table in front of me, a Crystal Glass full of the finest wine….
I drink a deep toast to HER VICTORY…
And then:
With all the fury at my disposal, I fling the Crystal against the Glass Top Table, raise my fists in perfect V and smash the God Damn Glass table, destroying it to 100 thousand pieces…
I told you, TIS THE AGE OF DESTRUCTION
My Energies are released…Sanity returns….
I close my eyes…I am at PEACE………
Did I pick up the pieces like SHE did?
No, because long long ago, I had been down that ROAD myself…. A different road..
The only difference, SHE did that her MAGIC fast, I took a lot time longer…..but then I was much much younger…..
It’s A Kind of Magic……her Magic, My Magic…….
OUR Magic…….
We are DONE………….
The doors of TIME have opened
FREEDOM…liberation…..
I told you…..yes you know…now you know
Tis for you to do YOUR kind of Magic…..
Post Script
Who is this WOMAN? Go figure that out yourself, and when you do, let me know.
As for me…I have never met her.But she EXISTS.
Captain Nandu Chitnis
Master Mariner
BikeNomads
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
In most of my writings and experiential learning I draw heavily from what Inspires Me, be it a book, Music, a person, whatever…but once I am convinced that what I have read or heard or seen, is right for me, I get in the ACTION MODE, without any delays. I DO NOT THINK OR ANALYSE COSTS, RISKS..whatever….I just DO That and kill my Demons…and move on….
Once my inner self speaks to me, THEN NO POWER CAN HOLD ME BACK…That is the Inner Game, that I learned myself…
Lastly…I am A SRONG ATHEIST….I belong to the elite club of Jawahar Lal Nehru, George Bernard Shaw, and my Step Father, Mr Madhukar Ranadive, ex Chairman Bank of Baroda, now dead, who I deeply respect for the man he was. …..and many more…
But I am deeply SPIRITUAL……………………..
One dream, one soul, one prized goal. A golden chance has come her way.
She thought this was going to be her finest moment in her young life.
To take that Golden Step forward to Happiness.
I did that, and never regretted that STEP……now tis NOT BOUT me…but HER.
but yes…it is connected…strange are they ways of contradictions…
Oh yes, this was her finest moment. Elegantly dressed for the occasion, she picked up
a Crystal Glass filled with the finest bubbling wine. She thought
This was her Magical Moment.
She sipped from the crystal …
And the Crystal glass dropped.
In a flash, her life laid shattered into a thousand pieces, in most unexpected ways.
My Take
Well I have traveled the World and the Seven Seas
Everyone is looking for something……
I know what Sweet Dreams are made of….Illusions …Mirages
Read On: Her Story
She bends down, tears flowing torrentially down her chiseled, Goddess like face. The beautiful make up, melts. It is now Mud on her face, a big Disgrace. Inside, the Blood arteries have burst, the flames have begun to burn, engulfing her. She is about to turn to ashes.
She steadies herself, picks up the thousand shattered pieces and painstakingly begins to join them bit by bit. It takes a few years, sleepless nights, the tides of the Ocean turn against her, despite her best efforts…her Gods, have they deserted her? They well may have, but her FAITH NEVER WAIVERS. Yes there is confusion and anger…
But time waits for no one…she knows that.
Lord, she just Kept The Faith in You…….
My Take
I laugh….Lord, Faith, God, Power, I laugh, anger welling inside me..….
Where was YOUR GOD when He drained you, took your dignity away… Forgive me…I do not buy that…Man Created God….Go take a Walk…..It is so easy for me to laugh…after all, I did NOT start The Fire. It was always burning…
Pessimism is my forte.
It is SHE not ME that suffers…..Tis the age of DESTRUCTION…..Battles can be won not the Wars….just Shock the God damn System, is my way…..Toxins in her mind, the Demons will never go away…..
Tis night, in a lonely room…Everybody needs somebody to love, some one to hold her in strong arms…someone to lean on…
She has No One….she has suffered for her anger,
She is broke, forgive her Lord…….and yet
She Keeps The Faith. HAAAAAAAA….Crazy….
This is DELUSION…tis hard to be strong under these circumstances…
SHE is a Gonner, in the dustbin of unwritten History…just another statistic..Go JUMP ……be done with...You are a nowhere Woman….
Read On: Her Life
It takes a few years, bouts of depression continue to plague her. At night, her pillow is wet with a thousand tears…..
Only this time, these are the tears that will steel her body, mind and soul.
The CRYSTAL GLASS of life is Done…but the Wine has long since drained….
My Take
Some of us want to use her, some of us want to abuse her trust.
“Hold your head up! Hold your head high !” is the echo she hears in the depths of Darkness.
Now why would I lie to you? Tis the way it was...abstract…dark…pessimism, optimism, desperation….the pendulum swings one way to happiness, the other way to depression…that is how I see it.
There is NO HOPE…No one to help her, she has to do that herself…she cant do that…
She is WEAK……
Read On: Her Life
It is a cause to meditate, to Study and to Find the Answers….the Road Ahead, the hidden laws of Chance. She plays the Game, as God in His Wisdom taught her to Play that Game.
The hidden laws of a probable outcome, the dice is loaded…... against her.
Time…time is the healer, Wisdom is the healer, Faith heals, the power of the Inner Game heals…..the Power Within….it is a complex Matrix that we mortals don’t understand.
And Study she did, and the Battles she won, one at a time…..
Tis a Kind of Magic..Or is it?
My Take
Wasted summers, wasted winters. You can win Battles, you can never win the War.
This attitude of HER simply sucks. I don’t care who rules the world, the Universe…tis my attitude…
Read On: Her Story
She preserves….Her TRUST SKILLS are astonishing. UNSHAKEABLE FAITH in non entity called The Almighty remains undiminished…
!!!!!! And then…The Magic HAPPENED !!!!!!!!
One Dark Night…she walked up the Mountains; it was a wet track…
She slipped down, held on to jagged rocks, bruised her hands and face, was all Blood everywhere. It is mud on her face all over again, her clothes all torn…and yet against all odds, She reached the Apex and stood still...
Then She raised her hands high closed her eyes and looked sky wards beyond the Universe…
Hell fire smoke and burning smoke!
Magically, the Heavens began to thunder, lightning struck through her spine, the Earth began to shake under HER feet.
This Time, this time there were torrential Tears falling, not HER tears, but from the High Heavens. Rains……..
She steeled her body, fists held tight, in a perfect V.
!!! VICTORY!!!!
And through the thundering reverberating skies, she heard a Voice say…..
“ !!! Walk Down…Go Home….You Are Done…!”
She was TRANSFORMED……… forever.….
End of Story
My Take
As I said, it’s a kind of Magic…one Dream, One soul, one goal…
One golden chance……..
Trust me, Can be done…why should I lie to you?
MY TAKE II
Phew…..Lord, whosoever you are, I am Done.
I shut my lap top, shift it away. I have a glass top table in front of me, a Crystal Glass full of the finest wine….
I drink a deep toast to HER VICTORY…
And then:
With all the fury at my disposal, I fling the Crystal against the Glass Top Table, raise my fists in perfect V and smash the God Damn Glass table, destroying it to 100 thousand pieces…
I told you, TIS THE AGE OF DESTRUCTION
My Energies are released…Sanity returns….
I close my eyes…I am at PEACE………
Did I pick up the pieces like SHE did?
No, because long long ago, I had been down that ROAD myself…. A different road..
The only difference, SHE did that her MAGIC fast, I took a lot time longer…..but then I was much much younger…..
It’s A Kind of Magic……her Magic, My Magic…….
OUR Magic…….
We are DONE………….
The doors of TIME have opened
FREEDOM…liberation…..
I told you…..yes you know…now you know
Tis for you to do YOUR kind of Magic…..
Post Script
Who is this WOMAN? Go figure that out yourself, and when you do, let me know.
As for me…I have never met her.But she EXISTS.
Captain Nandu Chitnis
Master Mariner
BikeNomads
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
In most of my writings and experiential learning I draw heavily from what Inspires Me, be it a book, Music, a person, whatever…but once I am convinced that what I have read or heard or seen, is right for me, I get in the ACTION MODE, without any delays. I DO NOT THINK OR ANALYSE COSTS, RISKS..whatever….I just DO That and kill my Demons…and move on….
Once my inner self speaks to me, THEN NO POWER CAN HOLD ME BACK…That is the Inner Game, that I learned myself…
Lastly…I am A SRONG ATHEIST….I belong to the elite club of Jawahar Lal Nehru, George Bernard Shaw, and my Step Father, Mr Madhukar Ranadive, ex Chairman Bank of Baroda, now dead, who I deeply respect for the man he was. …..and many more…
But I am deeply SPIRITUAL……………………..
2008/05/17
!! No Free Meals In America !!
"You want Harley, then mow the booody Lawn...and don't run the mover over the wire!"
My Son
My Son
2008/05/05
Tulips In Skagit, USA
Generation X, Y, Z all together
Gen x: Me
Gen y: My son Ambarish
Gen z: Anika my grandaughter.
Gen x: Me
Gen y: My son Ambarish
Gen z: Anika my grandaughter.
2008/05/04
2008/04/29
Aeriel View: ~Om Shaanti~
They, my wife and kids told me to have a very close hair cut before arriving @Seattle as barbers are expensive. So I googled for barber shops in Seattle and San Francisco...found they charge $ 60/-....
So this was the best thing to do to beat barbers tab.
Now they tell me barbers charge only $12/- !!!
So this was the best thing to do to beat barbers tab.
Now they tell me barbers charge only $12/- !!!
2008/04/21
2008/03/20
Sea View: Best seen large size.
Mumbai
I have been in Mumbai for 45 days but not really done Mumbai so to say, notwithstanding the Boat Show, the Vintage Car rally and Barcelona, which is not really Mumbai.
I plan to do Mumbai over the next few days. This morning I was out on Street Fighter at 05:30 hrs and headed to the Taj Mahal hotel. Got a few shot out there. The Gateway is under repairs.
Next was a by lane at the end of the road. I got the shot of the day here, in low water, of the Mumbai harbor inner bay and beyond to Karanja Island.
Next I skidded to the fish market to witness the auctions at the Sassoon Dock but no luck with pics. Very noisy auctions, but the docks vibrate with energy, the noisy tough Koli women fight hard to buy the fish. Plan to repeat that later.
Photographing inside the docks is forbidden. Maybe a good cell phone can beat the Security.
Let’s see what I get over the next few days. Will definitely skip Malabar Hill, the Queens necklace. Will look for lesser known nooks and corners.
I have been in Mumbai for 45 days but not really done Mumbai so to say, notwithstanding the Boat Show, the Vintage Car rally and Barcelona, which is not really Mumbai.
I plan to do Mumbai over the next few days. This morning I was out on Street Fighter at 05:30 hrs and headed to the Taj Mahal hotel. Got a few shot out there. The Gateway is under repairs.
Next was a by lane at the end of the road. I got the shot of the day here, in low water, of the Mumbai harbor inner bay and beyond to Karanja Island.
Next I skidded to the fish market to witness the auctions at the Sassoon Dock but no luck with pics. Very noisy auctions, but the docks vibrate with energy, the noisy tough Koli women fight hard to buy the fish. Plan to repeat that later.
Photographing inside the docks is forbidden. Maybe a good cell phone can beat the Security.
Let’s see what I get over the next few days. Will definitely skip Malabar Hill, the Queens necklace. Will look for lesser known nooks and corners.
2008/03/19
2008/03/14
Tribute to Ladakh: Best seen large
TRIBUTE TO LADAKH
She stands at “Savdhan” admiring the blazing blue skies and the mountains beyond. Tis a lonely road. It’s a kind of Magic. Ladakh! Leaves many brain dead. The call of the Mountain is strong. Nirvana.
She called last night from thousands of miles away…she talked Ladakh, Buddhism, Peace, Flags, this dung La that dung La. Strange. No golf. She’s an Alice in Chains for Ladakh.
It was a day in July, in the high mountain passes. Loneliness. Was it a dream?
Ladakh provokes thousand different thought to different people, in so many ways.
Blessed are the glaciers, the raging rivers, pristine treeless surroundings.
Tis so easy enjoying pics like this in front of my comp, laid back in comfort. How did I feel that day? BETTER coz Pappa was a Rolling Stone. The Solitary man and his Woman. Biking. Mountains. The meaning of Freedom.
Some of my young biker friends on Flickr go back again in again, the magnetism of Ladakh has that pulling power…. Lets Just Ride. Like Mani Babbar, Motographer. Will they ever stop? They are very talented with their cameras.
I can at best view my pics again and again. Tis the snapshot in the family album. The best there is, is Ladakh. No doubt.
Will I go there again? No. Choice one is Vegas. There is a beggar on Flickr who lives in USA. He is a guest of honor at Caesars Palace. I will deal the Jack of Diamonds to him on the table. Although the Clubs weapons are more.
The memory all fades now…..
She stands at “Savdhan” admiring the blazing blue skies and the mountains beyond. Tis a lonely road. It’s a kind of Magic. Ladakh! Leaves many brain dead. The call of the Mountain is strong. Nirvana.
She called last night from thousands of miles away…she talked Ladakh, Buddhism, Peace, Flags, this dung La that dung La. Strange. No golf. She’s an Alice in Chains for Ladakh.
It was a day in July, in the high mountain passes. Loneliness. Was it a dream?
Ladakh provokes thousand different thought to different people, in so many ways.
Blessed are the glaciers, the raging rivers, pristine treeless surroundings.
Tis so easy enjoying pics like this in front of my comp, laid back in comfort. How did I feel that day? BETTER coz Pappa was a Rolling Stone. The Solitary man and his Woman. Biking. Mountains. The meaning of Freedom.
Some of my young biker friends on Flickr go back again in again, the magnetism of Ladakh has that pulling power…. Lets Just Ride. Like Mani Babbar, Motographer. Will they ever stop? They are very talented with their cameras.
I can at best view my pics again and again. Tis the snapshot in the family album. The best there is, is Ladakh. No doubt.
Will I go there again? No. Choice one is Vegas. There is a beggar on Flickr who lives in USA. He is a guest of honor at Caesars Palace. I will deal the Jack of Diamonds to him on the table. Although the Clubs weapons are more.
The memory all fades now…..
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