Good Morning!!!! 53F @ 7:45AM. Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 64F. Winds light and variable.
Weather guessers are forecasting a series of storms starting Sunday afternoon that could bring a couple inches of rain. This would be the first real rain we've seen since summer, and we really need it.
It was an early start yesterday morning to be at the RAM dealer's for a 7:50 appointment. They're an hour south of here, and I'm using them because the local dealer won't work on the ProMaster vans. I had the little Yamaha enduro bike in the back, and for the first time I walked it up the loading ramp under its own power. Went right in with no issues, something of a relief. Not sure I have the courage to try that with a larger bike, though. Went to leave and couldn't find the key to the van. Looked all over the house in the usual places. Thought it might be in the courier bag but a quick search didn't turn anything up, but to be sure I put the bag in the van and the keyless ignition started right up. Looked more closely in better light and there it was. How women every find anything in their purses is one of the great wonders of the modern world. I can barely keep track of a wallet!
No worries on the trip down, and sections of new 4 lane pavement on CA70 are now open. Huge improvement. Once in Marysville and Yuba City, though, the bank signs were showing 37F. Gulp! My electrically heated jacket is down in Orcutt, and the bike's alternator isn't powerful enough for electrically heated grips, so it was gonna be a chilly ride home. Briefed the service writer on the issues, then he hands the paperwork over for a signature and it has a hundred dollar charge on it. What? No free maintenance for 36K miles? The Toyota came with it, but not the RAM. So I said thanks anyway, I can change my own oil and rotate my own tires for a Benjamin. Just fix the problems, OK?
Got into my leathers and zipped everything up nice and tight, then headed off to find a Mexican restaurant for some breakfast and to kill some time while the weather warmed up a bit. Found a little hole in the wall with a good sized line of cars waiting for takeout, and got a spot right in front where I could keep an eye on the bike. The pollo asado burrito was excellent, with just the right amount of heat and beans and rice to boot. And the brief ride to get there wasn't that bad, so instead of hanging out for an hour I decided to head home, promising myself I'd stop midway to thaw out if necessary. My fingers and toes got a little frosty; I was really missing those big air cooled cylinders over my feet from the BMWs I usually ride.
I was hoping for a phone call on the van later in the afternoon, and it finally came at about 5PM. They hadn't fixed anything, but did apply a software update. He mumbled something about being half way through replacing some kind of sensor or computer module buried deep in the dash somewhere, and maybe having to order another part. I thanked him for the update, then decided to check the weather forecast. That's when I saw the rainy week in the offing, so I called back and asked if I could pick the van up the next day to avoid getting wet. He said they'd have done all they can by then, so I'll ride the little bike back down there this afternoon and pick it up. And once they have the new parts, I'll see if I can wait on the repair instead of having to use the motorcycle shuttle. Or maybe bring the touring bike with the big fairing back with me when I get back up here after New Years.
TGIF gang!
