Dusk was upon us and as twilight fell some folks
headed out. I walked to the back of the yard and saw someone had put the fire
ring together, I don't know who but I thank them for that. Turbo was attempting
to ignite a small pile of twigs inside it, and I told him to follow me and we'd
grab some of the scrap lumber from beside the shed. I went to the house for a
fireplace starter, and soon Turbo had the fire going. Snag and I grabbed some
real logs from the woodpile near the house, and Karen brought out a bag of
marshmallows. The fire made a nice centerpoint for the evening's conversation
and reflections of the weekend's events. I started to nod, excused myself and
shuffled off to sleep.
|
Photo: EVLTWN |
Photo: EVLTWN |
I
awoke before anyone else as I remember. I had the coffee perking as folks came
out of their tents. I began cleaning up and as folks came alive from the
effects of the java, they pitched in to clear things out from under the main
tent. I sledgehammered the side stakes out, and EVLTWN was game to help me yank
the center pole. Once the canopy was down it was just removing the corner
stakes, unlashing the 2 canopy sides apart and folding them, putting them in
their canvas bags and piling bags, poles and stakes near the gate for pickup
later that day.
|
Photo: Willa |
Photo: John Schnupp |
Photo: Willa |
Photo: John Schnupp |
Photo: Willa |
Photo: Willa |
Photo: Willa |
Goodbyes
were said and as folks left I went to the garage for the mower and trailer to
start taking things back to the old store. Things that went back to the
University (save for the tent) I loaded in the pickup and returned. Karen
handed chairs and tables to me as I crouched under the camper shell and stacked
them for their return on Monday morning. We lugged garbage bags of trash and
cans to the side of the house.
The last thing to do before an afternoon nap
was to return the Whatzit to the garage. I kicked it over, let it idle while I
did a last check. The fire ring and portapotties were all that were left in the
yard. Time to stable my ride.
I took off across the yard to the back gate,
let myself through, closed it behind me and pulled to the garage door. I left
the bike running and pulled up the door. And there for the life of me I don't
understand why I didn't push the bike in like I have always done. I guess I was
too tired. Instead, I rode it in... straight into the lathe bench at the other
end of the garage. I had never heeled back on the clutch, and with both feet on
the ground, all I could do was to hang on to the front brake and turn off the
ignition. I tried to roll the bike back, but it was in gear. I got it in
neutral, tried rolling it back again and still I couldn't. The front fender was
crushed against the tire preventing it.
I put the Whatzit on it's jiffy stand and got
the 1/2" wrench from the tool cabinet, and laughing as much as cursing I
removed the fender and cut the wire to the lamp. I rolled it back and put it on
the centerstand, placed the disfigured fender next to the bandsaw, closed the
garage door, walked to the house and didn't even tell Karen about my stupidity
until days later when she wondered what was in the box that UPS left on the
front porch. By then I already had my old 3/4 bondo fender on and made sure
nothing was wrong with the front end and wheel.
|
Collateral Damage |
Ride
reports, made it home reports and photos of MAMBM have shown up in RMH and the
Yahoo group. Some folks are ready for the next MAMBM. Will there be one?
Karen has already mentioned things she would
do differently now that she knows better. We've talked about how many more
people we thought we could fit in the back yard before it would have to move to
a place with more room. She's already talked about what she would serve. She's
already packed things away saying "we can save this for next year".
There's still half a freezer full of ice. As
long as the old compressor keeps it frozen...
(Main photo: Roger Elmore)
On 6/13/02 I mailed a check to
Banker Bob for The Edward F.
Kieger III Charitable Trust in the amount of $430, the profits from
the party after T-shirts, tents, chairs, tables, johns, food and beer were
deducted. Some of the people that came to the party have said I did good, but
my offering was primarily my time. Money talks.
My thanks to the people who showed
up and gave the cash, and especially the people who registered and IMO sent in
more than the party was worth. They are the ones that made this donation
possible.
I want to thank everyone that
helped, those that I saw, and those I didn't. Extra special thanks to Kenny,
for taking on the Saturday cooking chores, and to Taz and John for helping him.
I want to thank Hilljack (again) for the knife, and Cher for the CD
I want to thank everyone for using
the ashtrays and garbage cans, cleanup was a breeze. Thanks for keeping cans
separate from trash, there were 5 bags of aluminum cans (uncrushed) put in the
collection trailer for the local Boy Scouts.
Last but never least I want to
thank Karen, my wife and partner. Even if she is dragging me to her class
reunion in return for helping with MAMBM. A deal's a deal I guess.
(Photo:
John Schnupp)
