scumdog & chrissie-bimbo in the USA [Archive]

scumdog

13th October 2005, 06:31

Hi guys, been here for a few days, at the library in Carlsbad (20 mins North of San Diego).
Just doing the general tourist thing (but not visiting Disneyland etc as have "been there-done that"), and enjoying ourselves, got a rental, a Chev Topaz which is about the size of a slightly larger Honda Civic coupe, cheap to run but not overdone in the power department.
Looked at prices of '60's cars, some Mustangs, Thunderbirds etc are within my price range - just! so will look at some later on.
Visited West Coast Choppers, very impressive but in some ways a bit 'production line' with some of their scoots, still top quality and the paint jobs are unreal, did notice that the choppers for sale had signs "not for sale in California" on them, unsure if it's an emissions issue or something else.

Didn't notice too many bikes in the L.A. area which given the climate is surprising but down here in Carlsbad there are quite a few, H.D.s, sprotsbikes including a lot of Dukes etc, never saw anything less than about 750cc.

Good thing about this library thing is the free hook up to the internet, will try to find the library in each town we visit and see if I can keep y'all updated.

BTW Petrol is $3 a gallon = about 74cents a litre which converts to about $1.05NZ a litre.

Cheers.
AND Tom is intrigued with the radio in the car as it gives the tune and the singer as well as the station on the screen!!

SARGE

13th October 2005, 06:39

have a great time scummy

Sniper

13th October 2005, 06:42

Nice to hear SD, hope the travells bring more stories.

13th October 2005, 07:12

You lucky lucky ... have fun Scumdog and unwind - you deserve a break from work. oh shit shouldn't have mentioned that W word.
If you run in to George W ask him to say hello to God from us Kiwibikers next time he speaks with him.

thehollowmen

13th October 2005, 07:18

Did you remember to take piccies?

Some people might need some inspiration.. Who knows, someone might kick out the frount forks on a GSXR if you show them how good it looks when it is done.
:dodge:

You've got satilite radio? ain't technology wonderful

marty

13th October 2005, 07:24

Cheers.
AND Tom is intrigued with the radio in the car as it gives the tune and the singer as well as the station on the screen!!

that is really common in euro/english cars - our Mini has it. quite cool really. do they interrupt the stereo with traffic updates there?

Lou Girardin

13th October 2005, 07:38

So you guys aren't missing winter part 2 back here in NZ?

Waylander

13th October 2005, 09:36

Wait till you get to Texas mate, before my dad left there little over a month ago gas was about $1.50 a gallon.

And when are you gonna ditch the cage and get yourself a bike to tour around on.

scumdog

15th October 2005, 06:09

Hi guys and guy-esses, back on line at Lake Havasu (where the relocated London Bridge is), it's 10.58am and its 88F degrees and climbing, will probably peak at 97F degrees (about 43 degress C or so).

Met an ex-pat Kiwi from Tokaroa (I think), he's a hot rod type guy, built alloy Cobra bodies for Shelby and the 'plugs' for the firbreglass funny cars run by Kenny Bernstien (Budwieser Bandit from memory) and had tea with him and his wife, saw some of his customers vehicles he's working on at present, VERY impressed by his workmanship.

Lots of motorbikes here, mainly cruiser, mainly Harleys, the odd sprotsbike, T-shirt, jeans (or shorts) and sneakers (no helmets) seem to be de riguer for riding here - so what the hell are you lot waffling on about helmet, back-protectors etc???ha!
With the heat here and the traffic lights etc I wonder how long you WOULD last if you wore the old traditional black leathers?

Off to Pomona today so I can have a look around the Pomona swap meet in the weekend.

BTW Waylander, if you saw the gear we are carting around you would see why we don't use a 'bike!!

Cheers, SD & CB

crashe

15th October 2005, 07:36

Scumdog and Chrissie Bimbo - Cheers for all the updates....
Enjoy your holiday...... but um.... how about some pics as you are travelling around.... you know of bikes, bikes and oh yeah bikes.

Ok maybe a pic or two of other things as well... lol.

Bonez

15th October 2005, 07:52

Glad you guys are having a great time SD.

Virago

15th October 2005, 08:11

Ah, you guys have it good!

It's 9am Saturday here, I've just gone out to the gate for the paper, and it's probably about 8 degrees outside at the moment.

Still, never mind, it's H-D demo day at Motorsport Otago - anything you want me to check out for you Scumdog?

Keep up the posting of your news, it's great. We hope you and Chrissie are having a good time.

K & L

Patrick

15th October 2005, 08:46

Scumdog "LLB" (lucky, lucky, Bas#@*d) Enjoy the Break. Skies just opened up here, and there's a group heading off for a ride to Whangamomona pub tomorrow, a world renowned trip if ya haven't done it, yet! Still, that's what we've got those gears for ay?

number33

15th October 2005, 18:59

riffer

15th October 2005, 22:42

What's this country coming to? Coppers should be hard on the grindstone fighting crime 24/7, not swanning round the world having fun. Have the NZ police no shame? A REAL policeman would return immediately. Paperwork is building up. Patrolcars need polishing. Jaywalkers need truncheoning. Cellblocks need hosing out...

fuckoff. Happy coppers write less tickets. :dodge:

Enjoy your break SD & CB. A pity New Orleans got wasted by Katrina. That would have been top of my US destinations (well maybe after Deals Gap) ...

Patrick

16th October 2005, 08:04

fuckoff. Happy coppers write less tickets. :dodge:

Enjoy your break SD & CB. A pity New Orleans got wasted by Katrina. That would have been top of my US destinations (well maybe after Deals Gap) ...

Too right...correct on both. :niceone: New Orleans, Bourbon, mmmmmmmmmmm :drinkup: Wait til they scrub her up a little, could be awesome deals going to visit there!!! (One hopes??)

number33

17th October 2005, 17:05

fuckoff. Happy coppers write less tickets. :dodge:

Enjoy your break SD & CB. A pity New Orleans got wasted by Katrina. That would have been top of my US destinations (well maybe after Deals Gap) ...

What are you guys saying? That unhappy cops write out more tickets to make themselves happy? That cops are quite happy not to write out tickets? That cops are unhappy when they do? That cops write out more tickets to get happy again? Is that how it works? huh? huh? :blink: :blink:

NodMan

17th October 2005, 18:44

What are you guys saying? That unhappy cops write out more tickets to make themselves happy? That cops are quite happy not to write out tickets? That cops are unhappy when they do? That cops write out more tickets to get happy again? Is that how it works? huh? huh? :blink: :blink:

I would be HAPPY to test out your happiness theories

you all would make ME happy if you pay for my trip to the Isle(of mann)
and Im sure that my disappearance for a couple of months would make a lot of my clientele happy as well

SARGE

17th October 2005, 19:11

fuckoff. Happy coppers write less tickets. :dodge:

Enjoy your break SD & CB. A pity New Orleans got wasted by Katrina. That would have been top of my US destinations (well maybe after Deals Gap) ...

ooooooo... deals gap.. the Dragon & Cherohala....god i miss those roads...THE DRAGON!!! (http://www.tailofthedragon.com/cherohala.html)

zadok

17th October 2005, 19:11

Good to hear from you. Have fun and don't forget the pics.

scumdog

18th October 2005, 06:30

Currently have just survived driving through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate which was on its best picturesque behaviour and now in Napa - wine country of course for Chrissy Bimbo.
Went to Pomona swap meet (5am start!!) and saw many interesting things including a mini with NZ number plates on it.
Running out of time in this library so will send more later.
SD & CB

scumdog

19th October 2005, 06:10

Hi gang, back again, this time from Yreka up near the border with Oregon, nice wee place.
Left Napa yesterday via a smaller road, Route29, man it has to be one of the best fun roads for bikes - smooth surface, tons of sweeping tight corners, (and lots of 'em) straight bits and a lot of up/down hill stuff, bloody magic!

Seen heaps of touring bikes, ratio of H-D to other brands would be about 70% H-D, came over a big pass towards this town, saw several sprots bikes on tour, the road had heaps of fast sweepers and would be fun at speed - big centre divider to make sure nobody cut to the wrong side of the road and 2 to 3 lanes wide.

Lou would love it here, most roads 70mph and if ya ain't doing 80+ your left in the dust, still see a few getting tickets so they must be the really fast ones.

Speed penalties double in road work areas and running a red light costs $230, better than NZ>

Gotta go,
SD & n

scumdog

19th October 2005, 15:37

Now at Kelso (no, not the one near Tapanui but in the state of Washington) and just been for a swim and a hearty Mexican meal.

Saw a radical 'bike today as it went past, looked like West Coast Choppers met Honda Gold Wing, had that cool radical custom look (Long vertical tail lights moulded into each side of the the long hangin-down-at-the-arse rear fender) and the engine APPEARED to be a Gold Wing unit.

Prices on 2nd hand Jap bikes look pretty good, I'll get a copy of the Bike Trader next time I check in and give you a few quotes.

Done 3,300km approx. of cruising around, tons more to go.

BTW, Dunno if i mentioned it but met HondaV2 at Dunners airport, magic photos of his trip!

Cheers,
SD & CB.

Virago

19th October 2005, 20:03

Sounds like a lot of fun over there - keep the news comin'! :niceone:

sels1

19th October 2005, 20:13

Good to see yr having a good holiday SC & CB, keep the reports coming.

Lou Girardin

20th October 2005, 14:34

Lou would love it here, most roads 70mph and if ya ain't doing 80+ your left in the dust, still see a few getting tickets so they must be the really fast ones.

SD & n

Too fast for me. I get palpitations at 100 k's. :bs:

Storm

20th October 2005, 15:38

Its the guilt thats been subliminally implanted from the speeding campaigns

Lou Girardin

20th October 2005, 15:50

Its the guilt thats been subliminally implanted from the speeding campaigns

As an ex - Catholic I'm well used to feeling the guilt and doing it anyway.

RiderInBlack

20th October 2005, 16:02

As an ex - Catholic I'm well used to feeling the guilt and doing it anyway.Gee I wonder what a confusion for speeding cost a Catholic. Still "hail Mary's" or do they take cash now (runs like fu*k, too late gets :dodge:).

RiderInBlack

20th October 2005, 16:05

I ask you to pick-up a radar detector for me SD, but that would be un-ethical:wait: Glad you're having a good trip and Chrissi is enjoying her wine:2thumbsup

Lou Girardin

20th October 2005, 16:09

Gee I wonder what a confusion for speeding cost a Catholic. Still "hail Mary's" or do they take cash now (runs like fu*k, too late gets :dodge:).

I never get confused while speeding, but I mumble some half-remembered confession to myself when I see a copper.
Bless me Father for I have sped...........................

Ixion

20th October 2005, 16:10

I never get confused while speeding, but I mumble some half-remembered confession to myself when I see a copper.
Bless me Father for I have sped...........................

You have done those klicks that you ought not to have done....

RiderInBlack

20th October 2005, 16:18

I never get confused while speedingI do:
"What me speeding."
"I cann't remember speeding."
"Must have been that other bike that I saw go flying past me."
"Yer, come to think about it, it did look a lot like mine."
"The pick must have stole it."
"Fuck I better chase after him."
"You can follow if you like and then you can arrest the pri*k for me."
"What do you mean 'Your sitting on it'."
"Fu*k so I am."

scumdog

21st October 2005, 06:52

Now at Salem, Oregon - came back down here (140km) to look at a '66 Ford Thunderbird, it is in really good original order, only major problem is leaking power-steering box. The Mexican owner won't budge on his price ($6,499 US) so we're off to Bend (3 hours away) to have a look at a '63 T'bird ($4,500 US)and pick the better out of the two.
Met an old guy (early 60's) in the bar at Salem, had a cool t-shirt "Still plays with motorbikes", had a yarn with him, he owns three choppers, a flathead, a panhead, and a Titan custom built chopper made in Arizona (I think), has the best of every thing S&S 97 inch engine PM brakes etc etc, and in the old guy words "then they put it all together for you in the way you want - and charge you about $10,000 for doing it".

Met the Chief of Police in Kelso yesterday, he was about 6' 4", muscular and had a handshake like a vice - just shows you they all ain't lardy-ass ( this IS the USA Hitcher) do-nut eatin coffee-swilling lay-abouts, anyway, back to the chase - I'm now the proud owner of a gen-you-wine US of A Police badge!!

Gas up here is about $2:67 a gallon vs $3:03 further south!!

Seen one live deer and a coyote from the road - and seen more dead ones ON the road as well as skunks, racoons, and possums - I bet y'all wanted to know THAT!!

All for now,
Sd & Cb

RiderInBlack

21st October 2005, 07:15

claire

21st October 2005, 07:23

Hey Scumdog

Glad you're having a good time. Its pouring down here and heavy rain warning for Hawkes Bay where the Pre 49's are this weekend (that'll impress everyone!). We're heading north to the T Bird convention so hopefully our weather is a little better!! Good luck with purchasing a T Bird, sounds like they're good prices.

Catch ya

Claire

Lou Girardin

21st October 2005, 08:18

You have done those klicks that you ought not to have done....

Forgive us our trespasses and forgive the IRD that trespass against our wallets.

Biff

21st October 2005, 08:29

It's great reading your write ups SD + CB, and to hear that you're both enjoying.

Oh - and that thingy with the radios where it displays the song title etc - RDS. Nice. Wish it was here.

Waylander

21st October 2005, 16:32

Seen one live deer and a coyote from the road - and seen more dead ones ON the road as well as skunks, racoons, and possums - I bet y'all wanted to know THAT!!

All for now,
Sd & Cb
Mate that's lunch right there your passing!!! lol.

crashe

21st October 2005, 16:36

Great write ups of your travels....

But where are the pics?

scumdog

22nd October 2005, 06:34

Went to Bend (inland Oregon) and looked at the '63 T'bird, sound car and price good but interior needed too much work ($$$$) so back to have a look at the '66, it's pretty damn good, two major problems though, leaking power-steer box and an engine miss which is likely fouled plug (or two) BUT may be a burnt exhaust valve, anyway, I ain't driving it back to L.A., getting it freighted and carrying on with our tour.
The problem I HAVEN'T mentioned before is that I consider the owner of the T'bird is kinda "slippery" imho so when I buy the car I'm putting it in storage elsewhere until the haulage firm picks it up.
Pics? well, I'll have to goad C.B. into trying to download them onto the site - we tried before but seem to have some problem that prevents us being successful, speaking of pics, took the scenic route to Bend through the most constantly twisty narrow road I've been on ion this country but at the top the view was spectacular and the pine trees gave way to a massive area of barren volcanic rock, miles of it, looked like the moon.
Little rental car is giving good mileage, abot 32mpg (and remember, the yank gallons are only 4 litres) so tripping around is quite reasonable - esp. as we have unlimited mileage. (Done over 5000km so far)

Cheers,
SD & CB.

Jantar

22nd October 2005, 06:48

Enjoy the tour SD and CB, just make sure that you do come home and don't get tempted into thinking that your "gen-you-wine US of A Police badge" can replace your good old kiwi one.

reat write ups on your trip so far, I'm enjoying the read. :niceone:

scumdog

22nd October 2005, 17:20

Well, I've done it now!! (no, C.B. ain't in the family way) but I bought the '66 T-Bird!!
The Mexican owner almost cried as I drove it away - no wonder, the price I paid would have bought a ten year old Bluebird in N.Z.!! I'm its 4th owner so it is pretty good inside and out but as mentioned before it needs a little mechanical work.
I almost cried at the amount of shit that happened while trying to buy this car, nakes arse I've aged about ten years today!!!!!!! tell y'all about it one day.
Never mind, it has: power everything and sequential rear indicator and oozes cool, got the original wheel-trims and new tyres but hmm, a set of mags might have to go on it before it leaves L.A.
Got it in storage until its trip to L.A. and then to N.Z.
Had a flash Mexican dinner tonight to celebrate - and a couple of high-octane drinks needless to say and then had a quick jacuzi and now off to bed.
Got followed up to Kelso tonight by a young dude on a sprotsbike who eventually passed me - medium sized back-pack,white socks and grey flannel trouser flapping in the breeze at 130kph!!

Cheers, SD & CB.

zadok

22nd October 2005, 20:36

Congrat's on the T-Bird. Keep having fun.

Mongoose

23rd October 2005, 09:36

Well, I've done it now!! (no, C.B. ain't in the family way) but I bought the '66 T-Bird!!
Cheers, SD & CB.

I bet your mother does not know about this "new" car!!
How much for the Mistral?
Or the Hogly
Or the, hell do I get first pick?
Cheers
Catch ya when Ya gets back

avgas

23rd October 2005, 10:30

Have a ball man

scumdog

24th October 2005, 04:55

Now in Victoria, Canada, staying with aunt and uncle who took us out for dinner last night, uncle tells me he discovered this "nice quiet bar with good food just along the road"

We all walked to said bar - but over here it was a Saturday night and you guessed it, the place was jumping with patrons - but wait there's more - the patrons were mainly white-trash/biker types (felt right at home actually!) but uncle and aunts eyes popped out a bit, they had never been in THIS type of bar before!! (and it showed)
Had good meal, a few drinks and a chit-chat with one of the locals, and an exchanged viewing of each others tattoos.

Mongoose, going to tell me mum about the above experience before revealing the purchase of car (to kind of create a smoke-screen!!) so don't blow it ya bastid!!

Oh btw, when purchasing ferry ticket the ticket-dude looked at my MasterCard (getting rather battle-weary by now!) and said "from New Zealand eh? where abouts?" I told him "south of Dunedin" and he said "well my mother in law lives in Auckland"! (now I would say in some cases that would be just the right distance away to have a mother-in-law).

Today being taken out for lunch across the harbour to another "quiet restaurant" (Yeah, right unc.!) at a place called Spinnakers who make their own beer! (and it's Uncs. shout - the old B. asked me at 0830am if I wanted the "hair of the dog" from last night! - these old ex military drinking types are hard men eh?)

Cheers,
Sd & CB.

Mongoose

24th October 2005, 07:26

Mongoose, going to tell me mum about the above experience before revealing the purchase of car (to kind of create a smoke-screen!!) so don't blow it ya bastid!!
Cheers,
Sd & CB.

The Mongoose is always open to bribes and a little corruption, in your line of work that should be a simple thing for scumdog to work out. In the mean time "My lips are sealed" :innocent: :msn-wink:

:doobey: :banana: :banana: Hahahaha, you cowardly bastid, 'fess up to your mother from a quadzillion miles away and hope she has calmed down by the time you get home :doh: ,BOY ARE YOU IN FOR IT
:2guns: :weird: :shake: , Dont forget, I know where your mother lives

scumdog

26th October 2005, 05:45

Hi guys, now at Ellensburgh, about 16 miles west of Spokane Washington, nice wee place and local made beer is A1!! Heading south-east to Sturgis area, be there in a couple of days or so.
Weather is cooler and foggy in the mornings now but at least we're heading south so should get better.
Saw three LIVE deer alongside the road yesterday, in a semi-rural area near houses, - they wouldn't last 10 minutes in NZ eh?

Saw a few more sprots bikes in Canada and also a mint BSA Goldflash being ridden in Victoria, saw aa anventure bike on the ferry coming back into the States but didn't catch up with the rider.

Having heart-burn trying to explain to the transport firm that (a) I won't be there when they pick it up and (b) they can pick it up at anytime the want.... argh!!!

Prices: '95 FLHTC with tour-pac, $9250. '96 Fatboy with bulk extras, $13,500.
'95 Honda CR500, $2,500. '95 Suzuki Intruder 1400, 8,000 miles, new pipes and tyres $3,600. '96 Yamaha Royal Star 14,000 miles, Supertrapp mufflers, travel bags etc $7,000 - how does that compare with NZ (at 70c in the US dollar)??

Mongoose, the old chook knows about the T'bird, not sure if she believes it but hey, being a hero I decided to tell here when she was still 12,000 miles away!!

Cheers,
SD & CB

Storm

26th October 2005, 06:12

Well done that man:D Enjoy the rest of your adventures-hows CB finding all the wine you've been sampling? ;)

Mongoose

26th October 2005, 08:01

Mongoose, the old chook knows about the T'bird, not sure if she believes it but hey, being a hero I decided to tell here when she was still 12,000 miles away!!

Cheers,
SD & CB

Last I heard from down that way was she dont wanna believe, unfortunately she also knows you so knows the chances you have are pretty high.
Ya still aint said wot toy yer gonna sell to make room for a T-Bird

ps, How many "Pink Hat Days" has there been, both Chrissy Bimbo and yourself??

scumdog

26th October 2005, 13:33

Lou Girardin

26th October 2005, 14:09

Hi, got about two minutes but we're in Superior in Montana, pop 700, we're in the bar of 4 Aces Bar drinking (again) - who would believe a bar in a town this size would have free i-net??.
Enjoying a local beer - and cruising at the legal speed limit of 75mph ('course you can get away with 85mph no problem if you want to as if I would do THAT!!
Gotta go
SD & Cb

75 mph!
It's a wonder you're not dead. That's 120 km/h in our money or almost certain death.
PS You may not have heard, your esteemed leader-Wobbie-got done for 97 in a 70 zone. Somewhere down south.

Waylander

26th October 2005, 20:23

Yup, 75Mph. Everything here just seems so slow copared to that. Have to constantly yell at my dad to slow down else he'll get ticketed.

scumdog

27th October 2005, 03:54

75 mph!
It's a wonder you're not dead. That's 120 km/h in our money or almost certain death.
PS You may not have heard, your esteemed leader-Wobbie-got done for 97 in a 70 zone. Somewhere down south.

Maybe it's something to do with the two-three lanes going in the same direction, no side-roads and big-arse concrete dividers between the directions of travel that make it safer than 60mph??

If N.Z. had multi-quadzillion people maybe they could afford roads like that?

Yeah Lou, good news travels fast and I heard all about Uncle Robbies speed ticket.

BTW can'r remember if I've already mentioned this but when I moved over to let a dude on a Superglide get past he got on front of me and to show appreciation he stuck his right (throttle) hand out pointing roughly at the road with his first two fingers extended before zooming off into the horizon, must be a secret Merkin than-you wave.

Off to Billings this morning - after the river fog lifts a bit, catch you all later,
SD & CB

Lou Girardin

27th October 2005, 07:53

BTW can'r remember if I've already mentioned this but when I moved over to let a dude on a Superglide get past he got on front of me and to show appreciation he stuck his right (throttle) hand out pointing roughly at the road with his first two fingers extended before zooming off into the horizon, must be a secret Merkin than-you wave.

So that's why Harleyista's don't wave. They think they have to use their right hand.
Instant engine braking - death wobble - "fuck I ain't doin' that again".

Waylander

27th October 2005, 08:08

Waving with the right hand is a sign of respect. They're showing you that while they are faster they will still take the time to appretiate you moving over for them. And he knows you're a biker.

Left hand is used for normal passing or when two bikes pass going opposite ways.

Just makes more sense to drive on the right now doesn't it? So you can use your non throttle hand to wave at oncoing bikes and they see it better since it's the one closest to them.

scumdog

27th October 2005, 14:28

Here at Billings, just back from a BIG meal (just call me blobby) at Texas Roadhouse. H-D dealership is just up the road so will pay a visit in the morning.
Saw a live deer grazing today - just to make up for the 2-in-1 roadkill scene I came across, cruised at a little over the 75mph speed limit and the traffic just flowed, surprisingly nobody seems too intent on travelling much faster.
Weather is still o.k. but the day started at 41 degrees (about 10c I think)

Most dangerous driving so far has been 3 women - and the worst two by far were in people-mover type vans, one mad bitch came up behind me on a four lane piece of freeway, went to my right then sliced across on front of me into my lane and almost took front off the car then over the next mile or so was all over the place like a mad-womans shit before (thankfully) swerving onto an off-ramp - still only 50 yards ahead of me!! There's good reason why I'm not allowed to carry an Uzi I guess!!
Speaking of that kind of thing, did I mention having a go with a 40cal PM5 while at Lake Havasu?? good fun but more than 5 rounds in a burst and there's no way to keep 'em all on target.

Cheers,
SD & CB

Mongoose

31st October 2005, 07:39

Last heard of thru the grape vine :psst: , scummy was playing at being a yanky cop, wonder if they worked him out and locked him up? :niceone: :headbang:

Rashika

31st October 2005, 07:46

Last heard of thru the grape vine :psst: , scummy was playing at being a yanky cop, wonder if they worked him out and locked him up? :niceone: :headbang:

yeah, but he might find it a wee bit different to little ole Balclutha.

damn ...sounds like they are having great fun over there.
I'm luving reading your posts Scummy! making me a bit jealous, hope you got some good pressies lined up for us....remember I LIKE tassles! :niceone:
enjoy the time you have left over there.....and be nice to meet you both in a few weeks! :spudwave:

scumdog

31st October 2005, 13:58

A bit of a delay in posting due to lack of 'puters but here goes; got to Sturgis ok, had a look around their local "plod shop" - lot better than ours (they are directly financed by the local city coffers) and apart from their accent were just like NZ cops - although they are split up into Police (the city area) Sherrif (county area) and Highway Patrol (self explanatory)
They have four H-D patrol bikes GIVEN to them by H-D!!!!! and updated regularly.
Went out for a night patrol with them - my eyes just about popped from their sockets at the number of whit-tail deer wandering around in town!! a couple of the buck were pretty good (in NZ they wouldn't last 10 minutes!)
Went to the motorcycle museum, well worth the visit, alo visited Deadwood, old type western town nearby, very cool!
Left Sturgis yesterday and after passing through Denver, Colorado we stopped in at Kermits Bar ( well known bikers bar) and stapled another US dollar with our names on it to the ceiling - same as we did last time 4 years ago! (the whole inside is lined with dollar notes (some rich bastards from NZ used a $20 NZ and $5 NZ notes) on the ceiling and walls.
Carried on over the Rockies today - up at over 11,000 feet and in snow (highway down to one lane each way and icy needless to say did not see a single 'bike!!) and now in Cedar City in Utah - off to Las Vegas tomorrow for a couple of days.
More later,
SD & CB

P.S. Mongoose, need to sell the Mistral, the race Anglia and my left 'nad to pay for the barge I'm bringing back!

DemonWolf

31st October 2005, 14:32

Sounds like you are having a ball Scumdog =)

Mongoose

31st October 2005, 16:08

P.S. Mongoose, need to sell the Mistral, the race Anglia and my left 'nad to pay for the barge I'm bringing back!

Dang, what are them boys thinking of, they shouldha locked you up :argh: , that way the evil Mr Mongoose could have got his pick of those vehicles AND the barge from the USofA!!
Good to hear yer still in one piece Scummy, yer Ma will be pleased to hear that.
Catch ya
Mongoose

scumdog

1st November 2005, 11:53

Well, in Las Vegas now, just about had another coniption dealing with Mastercard and All Amercan Auto Transport - just the usual scumdog hassles that nobody else in the world has!!
Now down the "strip" - lights, music, action and 1,000s of bloody foriegners wandering all over the place.
This place is a hoot, tacky and cheesy yet loud and colourful - sorta like the Californian wine that Chrissie-Bimbo bought and we had to water down with lemonade to make it drinkable (yes, and we drink some dang awful concoctions at times but this one took the prize).
Well, off to make my fortune in the casinos and have a few beers (or margeritas) so catch y'all tomorrow!! (this place NEVER shuts BTW)
SD & CB

Mongoose

1st November 2005, 13:07

Well, in Las Vegas now, just about had another coniption dealing with Mastercard and All Amercan Auto Transport - just the usual scumdog hassles that nobody else in the world has!!

Well, off to make my fortune in the casinos and have a few beers (or margeritas) so catch y'all tomorrow!! (this place NEVER shuts BTW)
SD & CB

Hopefully this time you do NOT come home with a new bride, CB would be rather pissed orf :ar15: :thud:

scumdog

2nd November 2005, 19:33

Well, had a loong day so far, got suckered into going to a time-share "opportunity" - wasted about three and a bit hours BUT in return we got free tickets to a Las Vegas 'American Stars' show (VERY top notch and enjoyable) a free meal (also good) and a ride up the tallest tower in the city (900+ feet).
Got to see the L.V Police deal with a drunk ass-hole (once again Hitcher, it IS the US) and the did that with no messing around - not like good old NZ where the guy is treated with kid gloves (amazing the convincing effect a Tazer has).
Bought some souvenirs and a real flashy leather jacket just the thing to go with a T'bird.
It's 11:30pm here and I'm getting knackered to see y'all later.

SD & CB

Mongoose

3rd November 2005, 07:42

Well, had a loong day so far, got suckered into going to a time-share "opportunity"
It's 11:30pm here and I'm getting knackered to see y'all later.

SD & CB

When Ya coming home fer a holiday Scummy? Although I guess it would have to be a working holiday to pay for this one :headbang:

scumdog

4th November 2005, 06:43

When Ya coming home fer a holiday Scummy? Although I guess it would have to be a working holiday to pay for this one :headbang:

Now in Phoenix, drove over some of the old Route 66 after leaving Las Vegas, stopped at a place called Wikieup for lunch - man, there are some big-arse cactus things in the land around here - just like the Western movies.

Contacted the storage place where I left the T"bird and the haulage firm had (at last) picked it up - and all going well it's en route to L.A. - though with the luck I've had with it I'll probably see it heading eastbound on the truck as I'm heading past Death Valley.

Re the leather jacket I mentioned in the posting a couple of days ago - it's a real o.t.t. Yank jacket - stars and stripes everywhere, USA on the back with a big-ass eagle above it, it has a nice soft lining and I think it will fit right in with the T'bird image. Might just wear it to a rally sometime just to get a reaction.

Mongoose, home on Nov 10th - just in time to get home for late-shift the next night - oh joy is mine!!!

Oh, by the way, I've forgotten who the female member is on this site that gets a big wet on for Tom Selleck but just thought I'd mentioned I'd actually touched the REAL car he used in the series Magnum P.I.!!! (C.B. says she watched an episode of it this morning.) The car is in Deadwood South Dakota near Sturgis in a museum.

PLan on going to a large (3 acres of it is in a warehouse) classic American wrecking yard just outside Phoenix today then head off to Blythe (towards L.A.)

Little rental car is filthy but giving us a good run, 33mpg @ 80mph - and that's the smaller Yank gallons (4 litres for 130km for metric minded newbies).

Well, off now,

SD & CB

SARGE

4th November 2005, 06:55

glad you are having a good time Scummy..

what is your impression of the American road system?

aren't we all just like they show in the movies?

James Deuce

4th November 2005, 06:56

Go back to Denver. Weed is now leggally bought, sold, and consumed there, as of 48 hours ago. Go baaaaaack.

Is every second word spoken in Deadwood REALLY profane like in the TV series?

Paul in NZ

4th November 2005, 07:26

Is every second word spoken in Deadwood REALLY profane like in the TV series?

Silly Boy... You KNOW everything in America is being filmed for a reality TV show so of course it's profane...

Mongoose

4th November 2005, 07:55

Mongoose, home on Nov 10th - just in time to get home for late-shift the next night - oh joy is mine!!!
SD & CB

Makes mental note, phone Scummy in the AM on the 12th Nov.
Sounds like a grand trip boy, catch up when Ya gets back

scumdog

7th November 2005, 11:35

glad you are having a good time Scummy..

what is your impression of the American road system?

aren't we all just like they show in the movies?

In Glendale, Ca. at the moment - spent last night in the seedier part of Burbank, only saw two roaches.
Yeah, Sarge, road system is pretty good BUT it only takes a minor hiccup to send the freeway system into a major hiatus, often you stop, sit for 5 mins, creep for about 3 miles then drive on like normal - without ever seeing the reason for the stop!!! (I guess you 'big-city' types are use to that eh?).

In the city shopping areas the motorists are extra good when dealing with pedestrians, often stopping where there is no pedestrian crossing if they see you waiting to cross the road.

Got to the wrecking yard in Phoenix - 40 ACRES of pre 1980 cars for parts!! Scored a rust-free trunk-lid (boot-lid?) and rear bumper for the 'bird.

Said T'bird arrived at the wrecking yard - except yet another crisis when there was a screw-up with my Amex card and the haulage firm refused to drop off the car until they got paid $670!!!! luckily my mate Pete was present and coughed up the needed amount. Arghhhh!!!!

Off to have a look at it tomorrow and arrange for any parts I might need for it, then it's packing up time (you have no idea how much crap just 'appears' in our car/suitcases!!)

Back to the land of the Long White Cloud on Tuesday (Wed. in NZ) night.

MAY have time for one more posting before we're home.

SD & CB

Colapop

7th November 2005, 12:27

And then there'll be the massive post with the millions of pics?

For those of us that have no life a are travelling vicariously through you.

Virago

7th November 2005, 19:45

Hey guys,

Have a safe trip home - we're looking forward to the photos and the full de-brief.:2thumbsup

crashe

7th November 2005, 20:00

A great write up.... and yep so looking forward to the thousands of pics for us all to look at...

But we are all still waiting for our postcards in the mail.

Enjoy your trip back home to good ol' New Zealand...:banana: :banana:

Dang it you had better not come back with a yankie or southern drawl accent. :rofl:

scumdog

9th November 2005, 07:14

Well, that really gapped my axe - I typed (slowly) a big posting, went to send it off and the effing screen told me I had not logged on !! WTF?? I HAD to log on to be able to start typing!!

Here goes with a shortened edition... Probably last post from the US of A, in Glendale in a i-net cafe writing this before we head off to torture our credit cards in the Glendale Galeria shops, - CB just NEEDS new pink cowboy (girl) hat so a mans got to do what a mans got to do eh?

Met three bike-cops yesterday, nice guys (even if they ride Kwaka 'work' bikes) and fairly big boys too (and I don't neam around the girth either), all real friendly and keen to ask about NZ - in fact up 'til now EVERYBODY I've had dealing with was friendly and wanted to know about NZ.

Watched a bit of 'Torque' last night on TV - argh, it's like every wannabe racer and runner from cops KBer has got together to make (poorly) and in haste a movie about how they think biking should be!!
I pretty soon switched channles and resumed drinking my King Cobra Malted Beverage.

Went to the wrecking yard to have another look at the T'bird and fix up Petrer for paying the transport firm, also had a look at a few wrecking yards in the area (Sun Valley- San Fernando area, ther'es hundreds of them) Memory Lane is worth a look as it specialises in pre ;80 cars and parts.

The only biking gear I bought was one of those cool (imho) skull face masks made out of some kind of wet-suit material, also got one of those oil tank temp. guages for the Sporty (can you actually read them while riding?) plus a few T-shirts (CB grinding her teeth here - I already have about a hundred of 'em so she says)

Well, all from SD and CB.

P.S. CB pointed out that this is the longest time EVER we have been together non-stop - and we're STILL married happlily so I guess we're well matched eh?ll

scumdog

9th November 2005, 12:00

Hoohaa!! At LAX waiting for our flight, boy things have really tightened up security-wise since our last visit in '01.
Managed to get through security ok, had some concerns which I'll tell y'all about later.
CB is away getting a magazine to read and I found this i-net thing, it has a ball and button instead of a mouse and the 'delete' button is in a different place but I'm muddling through.
In the whole trip from NZ and back to LAX I have only met three people I knew - and they were people I had arranged to meet - none of this 'hey, you're a cop aren't you? I know you're not on duty but.." kind of crap I get throughout the lower South Island when on holiday (and at a lot of other places).
First one at Winchester to say that line will get..... (name the nasty bit to suit this event)

SD & CB

Rashika

9th November 2005, 13:35

none of this 'hey, you're a cop aren't you? I know you're not on duty but.." kind of crap I get throughout the lower South Island when on holiday (and at a lot of other places).
First one at Winchester to say that line will get..... (name the nasty bit to suit this event)

aaaaaa....go on I dare someone to do it :Punk:

scumdog

10th November 2005, 13:49

Well, we're both back in the deep south again and unpacking our FIVE suitcases (started with two ) and personal baggage - amazing how the shit you buy on tour mounts up eh?
Been up about 34 hours with about two-three hours snooze on the plane which landed to late in Auckland for us to catch out connecting flight but never mind, we got put on another more direct flight which got us home an hour earlier.
Good to be back and even the weather is welcoming us as it's 22 degress and a little overcast and calm (almost like being in L.A. still).
Nice to get all the positive comments on this thread from KBers, I never realised that many people would be interested, given this interest I'll HAVE to post some pics eh?

Catch ya later..