Year in Review

Well it sure has been an interesting 2008. I was accepted into the 2009 IBR on my first try. I submitted my application and was drawn, that's when all the fun has started.

I started the year with a cane after a hip injury keeping me off the motorcycle for 2 months. Then as I really got started again, I joined a new riding group and helped them set up there first IBA ride a saddle sore 1000. The team started with 7 riders and 5 finished. I rode out and met them at the finish 1111 miles in 23.5 hours.

Then as the year progressed and it looked like I was really getting into a groove; I had my motorcycle accident. I broke my left collar bone, 5 ribs, partially collapsed my left lung and reinjuried my right hip what a fun time. There I was most of July laid up. Well this time, I was only off the motorcycle for 5 weeks of course it was a new motorcycle. That's when I made the change from an ST1300 to a FJR1300. I have to omit it was fun checking out motorcycles 2 weeks after the accident. Every shop I went into the sales people just looked at me weird when I asked them to hold the bike because I could put both hands on the grips.

So here I sat no motorcycle and injuried with the IBA national meet coming up and my biggest LD ride coming up in September(RWYB). With a lot of work and help from my family, I was able to attend the National meet in Tulsa and get my FJR ready for the RWYB. I completed the 5 Days 5000 Mile rally and was pleasently surprised by coming in 9th place.

Things were starting to look up after finishing the RWYB I had 9000 miles on the new FJR and I was starting to feel like my old self. The next rally was the NMLOE in October. Again trouble headed my way with my first DNF, I was half way through the ride when the FJR started acting up. I called in letting them know I was out but that I would be at the finish line, to wave at everyone coming in. It was kind of sad to not complete the ride but like Brian said better to make it home safely then not at all. The frustraiting point was once everyone was in I found out from one of the other FJR riders that my bike probably missed a recall on the ECU and the issues I was having could have been easlily fixed by shuting off the FJR then turning it back on.

I also started setting up the FJR for the 2009 IBR. I received my new fuel cell, wiring in a fuse block and hard wiring my Garmin, XM-Radio and a future for a radar detector. I built the fuel cell mount with a friends help and plumbed the tank. After the New Year, I will make the connection into my exsisting fuel tank and start testing the new setup.

In 2008 I met some new friends Jeff and Milinda, Brian, Matt, Dale, Steve, and Bob and Sylivia, they all have been very helpful and encouraging.

As I go into 2009 I have set a few goals, I'm planning to attend three rallies with a goal of no DNF's. I'm planning to attend the IBA Pizza Party in Jacksonville, FL., complete a couple of long 2-3 day rides building up my seat time and being a finisher in the IBR.

Take care for now hope to see you on the road in 2009.