Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Time passes, kids grow up, motorcycles come and go, onward flows the passage of time finding us all at another Christmas.

Here's wishing you and yours the best of Christmas holidays, may you get what you wish for, may you get to spend time with loved ones, and equally important, may you get a few good rides in before this year is history!

Speaking of time passing:

2006:  The long 30+ day of snow captivity for Maria, my 2004 BMW R1150RT and I; trapped by snow and unable to reach the main roads.

2006

2007: Only one motorcycle in my life at the time, Maria, she was a quite the mileage crusher; but she was not a suitable motorcycle for snow...

2007

2008: Still solely on two wheels, now mostly riding Brigitta, the 1987 BMW R80 Airhead and still easily trapped by snow.  Maria was still around but not for much longer...

 2008

2009: A year later, now not so easily trapped by snow and well on the way to embracing snow days, learned a lot about wrenching on a 1996 URAL Sportsman, really a lot....her name was Natasha.  I got her in trade for Maria.

 2009

2011: Natasha breaks one too many times (I really should have kept her) and Vikki, a 2004 Suzuki V-Strom and later Yoshie, a 2006 Suzuki V-Strom with the same Dauntless Sidecar come into the picture. They took a while to sort out into a good snow rig but she got there.  Fast, powerful, but in the end, not a URAL.

 2011

2012: Valencia is now in the picture and I was back to being a Uralista, along with still riding Yoshie the V-Strom sidecar rig sometimes.

 2012

2013: Valencia continues to provide much three-wheeled enjoyment, takes me to Alaska and back (though with some major mechanical work involved).

 2013

2014: After a trade-in deal I couldn't pass up, Yoshie and Valencia go to other owners and Scarlett enters the picture.
 2014

2015: Scarlett remains in the picture and doing well, Brigitta, the R80 Beemer remains as well, relegated to mostly dry and sunny riding conditions.


24 comments:

Unknown said...

Ha-haa! "ChangGang" Nice.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Dom! :)

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to you as well!!!! From Matt in Toronto on a Yamaha FJ-09.... living vicariously through you on 3 wheels!! Keep the great photos coming! Love em!

Unknown said...

Merry Xmas to the Chang family! .... from Matt in Toronto on an FJ-09. Living vicariously on 3 wheels through you.... oh...and the mountains too! Keep the fantastic photos coming.... love'm!

Canajun said...

And a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016 for you and yours. As for getting a ride or two in - might just do it this year as we have no snow and the temperature tomorrow is forecast to be +16C (about a million degrees above normal for this time of year.) Cheers!

Spat said...

Beautify overview of Christmases past. Many miles and smile in the New Year.
Merry Christmas to the Gang

Trobairitz said...

I enjoyed the look back at the Christmas pics. Merry Christmas to you, Martha, and the kids.

Rachel said...

Great pictures! Looks like an amazing road trip. I would love to do something like that some day. Thanks for the post!

VStar Lady said...

And a very Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. Happy riding! (Sadly we have the weather, but I don't have the bike!)

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Ry, that's actually the name of Martha's blog: changgang1.blogspot.com

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Matt Dynes, glad you like the stuff.

redlegsrides said...

Thanks David Blackburn, now go get some riding in!

redlegsrides said...

Hi Spat (John), thanks and hopefully we'll get some riding in together soon!

redlegsrides said...

Glad you liked the look back Trobairitz! Christmas greetings to Troubadour and thanks for the analog Christmas card!

redlegsrides said...

Thanks for the kind words Rachel

redlegsrides said...

Thanks VStar Lady, too much hassle to ring the motorcycle online?

SonjaM said...

Dom, it was great to meet you and the gang in Heidelberg back in June. Wishing you guys lots of health and happiness for 2016.

Steve Williams said...

Our blogs allow us a unique view back in time on things -- like how we embraced a holiday. And how much time has passed. Your post is a lovely reflection of those things and the specific journey you and your family have traveled. Thanks for sharing it and best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks

redlegsrides said...

Thank you SonjaM, the same and more for you, Roland and yours...

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Steve for the comments, our Christmas this year is a bit different, more to follow on that.

CCjon said...

Merry Christmas to the ChangGang and a Happy long riding New Year.
Hope you have some new adventures planned for 2016

redlegsrides said...

Hope you and toes had a Merry Christmas CCJon!

RichardM said...

Merry (day late) Christmas! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. More farkles under the tree?

redlegsrides said...

Thanks RichardM, Scarlett got two-into-one header pipes from Santa. They'll probably be installed next month.

redlegsrides said...

Sorry for the late reply Matt Dynes, missed your comment somehow, hope all is well and thanks ....