Sorry to hear 'bout your dad. When I hear people moving when in bad health, I more often hear them moving to California than from! What's up? As expected, I have no first hand info on the Ozarks. You could probably e-mail Leslie and ask. OOPS! Just remembered! Leslie's in Alabama, not Arkansas. Sorry about that!

Hey, if you can still stand my presence after our arguments about the MSF ;-), maybe I'll hitch with you up there, BJ. Keep me informed as the summer progresses and plans become more final. I am definitely going on some kind of trip this summer. I'm negotiating with a company right now to start working for them as a full time employee--one of my requirements is going to be two weeks off this summer. I'd like to go out East, maybe we could ride as far as Missouri and I could leave from there and go exp ore the Deep South?

One of the best rides I ever had was through the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. I rode thru Arkansas with the idea of staying off the interstates, and picked up up state hiway 65 after weavin' and wobblin' my way over from Memphis on back roads. Then I hit 62, and rode it on up to the area around Rogers. I spent 3 days camped there, while I explored Pea Ridge National Battlefield, and the area back over toward Carroll County. I want to go back up and take state hiway 6/63 all the way across the top of rkansas...only thing is some of the counties up that way are dry, if that is an issue. I broke a piece of shift linkage on the beast coming down off one of the Ozark twisties 'bout 45 MPH or so...did you know you can suck a Harley seat right up your butt??? I was able to fix my problem with a piece of wire (gee, wonder why I had that?) after I stopped. There is a GREAT aftermarket place in Fayetteville that had the piece I needed to get right. The Harley dealer in Tonti-town just outside Fayetteville as such a jerk...trying to sell me a transmission rebuild for a linkage part. I told them they were nuts, and he kept telling me it was the only way it would get fixed. I hope they have folded...bought the part at the aftermarket in Fayetteville and fixed my bike at the campsite. Other than that, the Blaster liked his time in the Ozarks. The only regret I have about my 3 days in the area is that I wish I had ridden up to Branson, MO to see who was appearing. Ed

Jon, hey now sweat buddy, I love opinon's that's what makes us different. Yea, I will let you know how the plans unfold as the year goes along. Hope the company picks you up, sounds like a good deal. Ed, thanks Iam not sure of the difference between the Ark.& MO. side of the Ozarks but I will get the "tourist information" and do some checking. Sam, the UnGodly price of living in Southern CA. has been real hard on Dad, he lived in Orange County (ie: LA/Anahime area) but was forced to move up to Perris, CA. (high desert) by the high cost's of rent, ect. He needed to get out of the "killer paced" rat race called life in Southern California and my step-Mom was for MO. so they decided due to his health that a "slower lifestyle" might be benificial. Tailwinds, BJ

California just ain't what it used to be, I guess. I hear that Hollywood has become a really depressed area, a place to avoid! People leaving California for their health (or sanity , or pocketbook), Hollywood being a place to avoid, oh, the times, they are a'changin! They said: Californy's not the place we oughta be...heeheehee

Yeah, and they're infesting other parts of the world, especially Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. It's a swarm!

Do they broadcast the Beverly Hillbillies in Jamaica? Cool! That's my all time favorite sit com. Sue me!

Wonder if their address was 90210? That truck is like totally wicked dude! hehe

Whoa, California is a big place. Only Texas is bigger in the lower 48 (Alaska is 2.5 times as big as Texas, though Texans don't believe that..hehe). N.CA is like a different state than S.CA. I wish they'd split the state, but S.CA needs our water from up north (damn them anyway). I understand BJs father's concern easily. Several places in CA are quite pricey. Many in S.CA and the Bay Area here up north. I've seen many people sell (if they can) their houses in the Bay Area and buy a grand size place here in the Big Valley with the same money. The cost of living in MO would allow BJs dad to relax and do more for a lot less. Hope he does well there BJ.

Thanks Special K, yea unless you have been there you have no idea on the massiveness of Southern Califorina. It took me 3 hours (and that was splitting lanes) to go 70 miles from LA to Riverside, CA. on my last trip out there! I can cost from $1,200 to 2,000 a month for a "one bedroom apartment" in the LA/Orange county area. Dad was smart to get out and be able to enjoy what life he has left! Tailwinds, BJ

2.5 times? Wait a minute--I know Alaska is bigger (they'll probably hang me in Austin for sayin' so....), but are you sure of your figures?

Jamaica got, at one time or another, a lot of American sitcoms, usually when they were more than ten years old... For some reason or other, my brother lives in Orange County, CA.

Yeah Jon, I'm absolutely sure of the figures (I used to live there from 79-81). Alaska is a vast land of many landscapes. Has anyone ever tried to figure out what the most western, northern, southern and eastern states are in the US. Rather than wait for a response..here it is. Northern: Alaska (obvious) Western: Alaska (the Aleutian chain stretches out way beyond Hawaii) Southern: Hawaii (farther south than Miami or Brownsville) Eastern: Alaska (the Aleutian chain stretches beyond the Intl Date Line into yesterday) Texans think everything is bigger there, but Alaska has this one down pat.

Doesn't the International Date Line separate the Aleutian Islands from whatever the Russians call their side of the Aleutians? I know that the Date Line zigzags around Hawaii... The westernmost and easternmost points in the U.S. must be practically indistinguishable! I will continue to say that the easternmost state is Maine; the sun does set on the American empire (in winter, at least!)

Guess I'm going to have to pull the Atlas out tonight and double check that one Sam. I always thought the Aleutians were bought and paid for a long time ago and that US territory stretched beyond the IDL. You have to admit, buying Alaska for a measly $7,000,000 was a deal/steal. Heck, Michael Jordan makes more in endorsements per year than that. The Alaska deal rivals the Louisiana Purchase adding to what is now the lower 48 states. American Empire, eh?

Remember the following points: 1. The Louisiana Purchase was for $3 million. 2. $7 million 120 years ago is NOT $7 million dollars now! The U.S. GDP then was probably only slightly more than Jordan's net worth now!

Well, if I remember correctly, America now controls more territories than the U.K. does.

Kevin, you missed Saipan. For sure the furthest west US Territory.

If you include territories, the sun *doesn't* set on the "US Empire". Saipan is atleast 15 hours west of here, meaning it would be daylight there when it's dark here.

That's true, and as of last July, the sun has set on the British empire...

Hey - we dont celebrate the 4th of July - we just sit at home and SULK! :(?

"Remember, remember The fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot..."

Yeah - the only man to enter parliment with honest intentions! Guy Fawkes - for those who have lost the thread - plotted to blow up the British houses of parliment - my memory is awfull for dates and history so I cannot remember which year - but I bet Sam knows!

That's true on the dollar worth in a way Sam. But overall, buying Alaska was one of the best moves we could have ever made..otherwise Russia would border Canada and be extremely close to the US (which wouldn't mean as much now with the Cold War over) and would have had dire consequences I don't want to think of. Same goes for the Louisiana Purchase. Bought half of the lower 48 for $3 million..not bad. Even if it related to $3 billion today it would be worth it. Jon, I wasn't including territories. I guess the US has more of those than the UK does now..though some of them want us out bad, like the Phillipines, Guam, etc. There was also a lot of talk about making Puerto Rico a state, which I don't think they or the US want. PR gets to many benefits not being a state..besides..it would screw up the layout of the US flag, hehe.

Erm... just thought you should know, Kevin; the Republic of the Phillipenes is a sovereign nation, not a territory of the United States (anymore). I forgot to check; does the IDL zig around the Aleutians the way it does around Hawaii? And no, Sheb, I don't know the year either.

PR has three choices: statehood (representation, which means TAXES!!!), independence (they look at Jamaica and the Dominican Republic and say "No, thank you!") or their current territorial status (best of both worlds; U.S. citizenship without federal taxes!)

Looks like the Ozark trip will have to wait till 1999, just ain't gona have the vacation time. So it looks like we will be going up to Cody WY. during Labor Day weekend to hook up with a couple of chapters of M.O.R.A. members doing a "camping thing". Oh, M.O.R.A. is the Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, just so you know. I belong to the local Southern Colorado chapter and am a charter member. Sam, you are one knowleadgeable guy for sure and you can get us so far off a topic so fast it's uncany! Get that bike back together or were gona have to start a FUND RASIER and buy you a nice used bike, ha ha! Tailwinds, BJ

Sam, I know the Philipines isn't a territory, but we still have some military bases there (but maybe not for long). You're also right on the money as why PR wouldn't want statehood or independence..why screw up a good thing. As far as the IDL, I need to look at a map. I've always thought that the further most part of the Aleution chain went beyond it..which extends probably 1000 miles or so West of Hawaii. BJ, sorry to hear your trip (which sounds great) will be delayed. I'm also partly to blame for Sam and I getting off subject..but what the heck.

Can a fund raiser buy time? Or dispel sloth? What I need to do is get off mi bum and START!! This is much easier said than done. I tried once, and l;ost momentum when I couldn't find the parts! By the time I found where they were I was too drained to get back to it!

You could just have well mentioned Japan. BTW, what's the situation on Okinawa nowadays?

Ramblinman you still here?

Hello RM!

Ramblinman you still here?

YSRRider, what's your problem? Leave your message & he'll get back to it!

Sam, he's from the moto-directory list, where you respond instantly, gona take him awhile to get the hang of this list's way of doing things, ha ha. Happy New Year, BJ Ondo Ramblinman

Welcome YSRguy!