Open Thread - Friday, July 14, 2017
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
I am back! Did you miss me? It is nice to sit still for a couple of days. The long ride, and solitude, gave me a chance to think. I think most of humanity takes itself too seriously. Especially, the pious. Thank goodness for we who provide a funkin' counter balance.
Being alone, to think, is therapeutic, but I think being alone is unhealthy. Myers-Briggs indicates that I am an introvert, who defers to logic over emotion, who does not like to color within the lines and prefers fewer, but closer relationships. I think the explanation for my gravitation to C99 shares some of the same comfort zones.
I sought out the goonies for our meet up. A couple of them thanked me for instigating the get together. I planted the seeds for a fall ride up and down the Appalachians.
The AMA Vintage Days were a hoot! It was refreshing to be among a bunch of people who were practicing Hedonism. The Vintage Days are a campground event for many attendees. People either ride in, trailer in a vintage show piece or bring a bunch of vintage dirt bikes. Twelve hours a day, there is a parade of interesting and eclectic motorcycles. Plus, the organized activities.
The campground buzzed from sun up until after midnight. There was an impromtu dirt track where dozens of mini-bikes, scooters and motorized contraptions would circle endlessly. Early evening, after the organized racing was over, would have endless heats involving dozens of kids, old guys, women and eccentrics.
I set out the afternoon of July 4. It was oppressively hot and the thunderstorms caught up with me near Roanoke, VA.
Wednesday morning, It rained from Roanoke to Warm Springs, and again later in the day.
I made the scheduled Fairmont, WV rendezvous, and we rode in and out of rain all day Thursday. Regardless, we had a great ride from Fairmont, WV to Ashland, OH. Including the gas stop where we left the Harley riders huddled under the overhang, as we rode on.
The track is very near 
. I could feel the vibe.
Our campsite grooved throughout the weekend.
It was great catching up with old friends. Some of us go back 35+ years. There was plenty of story telling and smack talking.
I rolled out Sunday afternoon and rode the Muskingum River scenic byway from Zanesville, OH to Marrietta, OH. It was a gorgeous day. Sunday through Ohio and Monday through West Virginia was clear blue skies with temperatures in the high seventies.
Monday, it was on to WV47, then US33 across the ridges and into the Shenandoah Valley. Traveling WV47, I came upon a fawn standing along the road. There was a steep hill on one side and a creek on the other side. Together, we ambled slowly down the road for about 1/4 mile, until the fawn found a navigable escape route.
The solitude and occupation with driving cleanses the mind. I missed seven news cycles and upon my return, learned that the inane soap opera persists. I think, I may give up on pop culture and our artificial reality. It is maddening.
All I need is a couple days of recovery and it will be time to set out again.
That's funkin' it! Have a great weekend!
Comments
Enjoyed traveling on the trip trip this morning
Looking forward to the next ride. - thanks
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Thanks SOE
I feel funny writing about inane stuff I am up to, but I have purposefully been rationing Internet consumption and pushing myself to keep busy. Between Sue's passing and the sad state of the world, I figure it is better to play out my hand on my terms.
My previous responsibilities kept me around the house and until this spring, I had not been on a motorcycle in several years. One of the best things about motorcycle touring is that you are in the environment. You can smell the countryside, feel the temperature changes and sense changes in the insect population density. Thursday, it rained hard. We stopped at a red light and the smell of rain on a hot motorcycle hit me. Who cares about being soaking wet? It's that feeling of being alive, that's the point.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Glad to hear
you came home with bug stained teeth.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
Good morning, Tim ~~
Sounds like a great trip. Glad you are getting together with friends. I, too, am an introvert according to the M-B. I get my strength and rejuvenate from being alone. However, I do tend to isolate myself, so it's good I'm working, right now.
I look forward to enjoying your future adventures on the road. Thanks for sharing.
Have a beautiful day and weekend, everyone!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hey RA
I test introvert, but most people do not think I am an introvert. I have used the motorcycle to stimulate social contact. My work colleagues disappeared into the fog while I was caring for a dying spouse. I don't miss the right wingers, misogynists and racists, nor the corporate age discrimination and human devaluation. While Sue was sick, I decided to move on. I hated corporate world anyway, and I am seeking Nirvana. Funk work.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
the word FUNK has a strange meaning to me ...
... I remember being introduced to all things funky by the James Brown man back in 1968.
I had a record back then, which I lost (darn I regret that). But here is a great video from his 1967 performance in Paris.
[video:https://youtu.be/EBLNYuKLYD0]
Peace and a good day to all.
Good Afternoon
I hope all is well. Friday Funk is a carry over from the old dailies at TOP. Besides, Joe has the blues franchise. Ultimately, genres are just labels, like dividing people into categories based on physical charactaristics.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
and one youngster in my extended family
got all crazy about young Michael Jackson for his moves some 25 years ago, I think, he emigrated to the US from Germany and lost his mind and life there. ... just for the great foot work... James Brown knew what he was doing ... seducing...
[video:https://youtu.be/K4mqJ7Amq24]
Funk
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
lest we forget
Iron Mike appears at 1.17.
eom
Thanks!
The wanker in me instantly went to, ooooh Mike Stern solo. Micheal Brecker works.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
only players on that stage.
some skunk funk, indeed.
Good morning my soul (fine) friend.
Talk about a couple of biker souls: you and my hubby! Loved reading about your ride, and looking at the pics! Getting soaking wet doesn't faze me; getting chilled and too close to lightning does. You haven't missed a thing avoiding the CMSM. It's much healthier IMO. So is getting out and dancing to some great summer tunes!
Such as this:
https://youtu.be/CdvITn5cAVc
and this:
https://youtu.be/EHk5UEqkseY
Hope everyone has a fun and peaceful weekend. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hey OBF
This bunch of guys were my old dirt riding buddies. We went trail riding one Saturday a month for most of the 80's & 90's. We all rode on the street, but only did a Columbus Day weekend ride together.
One of the guys rode his ST1300 for the Fairmont meetup, and I was on the big BMW carring tent, and what not. We rolled into the campground in between thuderstorms, and just before it turned to mudsville. A couple other guys vanned in with cooler, chairs and dirt bikes. Saturday morning, they were supposed to go to the track, grab breakfast and come back. Allowing the street riders to use the dirt bikes to go grab breakfast. They "forgot". After walking from the campground, to the track, we happened upon their dirt bikes. No need to hot wire, just kick start and go! At least they enjoyed the walk back.
I have been trying to follow Bob's advice.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Today would have been our 30th(?) anniversary
His death day was also this week, how convenient. Acknowledgment days, not mourning days now. I move on.
More rain overnight, but the kind to sleep to, unless your driveway is already gully-washed. Driving up is approaching hill climbing. Surprise!
My bell got rung that last fall. I have difficulty tackling bills (all of which I can pay) and cleaning up 5 months of accumulation and dust and dog fur in the house. And can be the outside critical observer of all. Just difficulty getting started (and please, don't say just start). My face still hurts a bit and my balance is iffy. But no more falls. After a face-on I have gotten deliberate in my movements.
Tim, do ya get a callous on your butt? I rode on the back of a Harley once, and some where between cool air/warm air wafts on the road and impending dark, realized I had set myself up for rape. That did not happen, but a cold ride back on the back.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Hey RL
A big part of my staying busy and keeping moving, is to not get stuck in the rut (motorcycle analogy) in my mind. Thursday, our rain gas stop was in Cambridge, OH. Sue and I lived there from 82-85. It was good to head right back out, into the rain. I did not want to drive into town, go past the old place or anything like that.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Thanks for The Road missive, Tim. Tried to see Soul Brother #1
for the first time in the late 80's at the old Lonestar Roadhouse in NYC.
Arrived to find that James had cancelled. A friend and I saw the tour bus parked there and went over to see if we could find any band members. One cat in the band told us that James was dealing with a bad trip and was back at his hotel or something. He seemed pretty frustrated and there was a sense that this wasn't the first time something like that had happened.
Man, all your travels lately have got me itching so bad to get Back In The Saddle again (I'm half way through the Joe Perry bio and his story of that all-time fave Aerosmith songs confirmed what I sort of suspected, that the origins of that wildly funky, gypsy freakout stomp were crystalized in complete form during a heroin trip as he lay on his back on the floor). A summer ride through WV sounds so great. That locale was probably my favorite on my solo trip a decade ago up from FLA to NYC.
Just went to look for a record that, for me, has one of the most mesmerizing and mystifying grooves of his I've ever heard. Was as I feared, lent to a friend years ago and never returned.
Had a refrain in it, something like, "I, stay in the jungle, every night," and other lines that rhymed, with the last line of each sang with a harmony. It's not on the "In The Jungle" album, which I have.
Starts with a strong, heavy bass line, not unlike the surging, descending line at the beginning of the riff on Zeppelin's "The Crunge." What makes the drumming so amazing to me is that it's not a pulsating groove. But rather a tight hi-hat thing playing only on the upbeat "and's," with the most amazing double-stroke drags on the snare drum, broken up with the coolest syncopation play with the bass drum. I would try for lengths of time to cop it and couldn't, without losing the crisp, sparse hi-hat thing.
Another memory of appreciating James Brown that sticks with me was getting to do so for a few moments with bassist Christian McBride, who used to come up and visit while I was at Billboard. I remember hearing a live gig playing in the office somewhere, and looking over to see him smiling and shaking his head and going "man, listen to these guys just stop on a dime. So tight." Really sweet and deep music cat, eminently approachable and such an unflinching fan of music. Now he's a pretty big shot, heritage jazz artist who makes all these big appearances. Good times.
Wish I could find that tune...
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Houses of the Holy
Is practically a JB tribute album. On the one.
I was off the motorcycle, when I had to shuttle kids, and care giving for Sue. Now, I hardly use a car. When I got back from Vintage Days, the phone had a message that my 1982 BMW R65's makeover was finished. It cost me about the same as the 1982 motorcycle price. Forks rebuilt, new fork springs, fork brace, carbs rebuilt, new shocks, fluids, filters and paint touch up. Happy 35th birthday! Wednesday, I went over and rode it home. It felt tiny, but awesome. Sticks to the road like velcro. It goes, not accelerate like the Duck or R12 though, you have to go to the whip and keep a roll on. Smile inducing none the less.
Speaking of Aerosmith, it sounds like you will be:
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
James took the Zep to that "confounded bridge,"
where they very believably found their own funk.
Have a bootleg of them in Tokyo '72. In the middle of one of those great jams Plant calls out to "do the James Brown," and they cut into what would become "The Crunge" on next year's album.
Bike sounds great, Tim. Enjoy the hell out of it.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut