Choose Sides? Choose Sidecars!

Monkey

Hacking Away

I have been waiting to post about the Ural because the Anchorage Daily News may run a story I wrote about it.

But things tend to happen when we let go of them and concentrate elsewhere. Still, just in case the story makes this Sunday's edition, I will refrain from writing about the Ural another week and post a few pics instead.

Quite an interesting debate on whether the plans for the Russian-made Ural were stolen from the Germans BMW plants during WWII, and then reverse-engineered, or, were actually sold to the Russians pre-war.

Since we are not discussing the Ural we are wide open to suggestions for a topic...

I was only looking for a sidecar so Sadie (the dog) could join me. Any sidecar would do. It was the sturdiness of the Ural frame, the engage-able sidecar wheel to create two-wheel drive power, the 'price/what you get for price' ratio, the retro look and cool name, the trunk, and the fact that there is a dealer in Alaska who went out of his way to help me understand and begin to learn the bike, which led me to the Ural Patrol you see in these photos.



As those of you who have followed this blog from earlier days, you may remember that the title (Barnyard Devil) has nothing to do with Satan, or working on a farm.

It came from a (currently unpublished) novel I had written based on the polarization of opinion within the United States. The 'Barnyard Devil' is a dog in the story, who began, as all of us do, a 'Gentle Pup'.

Hence the web-address (see your address bar above).

Here's what I have discovered thus far about the Ural: It is fun... My gas mileage has averaged between 24 - 28 mpg (sidecar with windscreen, and driving mostly along Turnagain Arm to Anchorage, which is often windy)... I have done all of my grocery shopping via sidecar since I bought the thing (it has a good-sized trunk and racks on which to strap down stuff)... It is a lot of fun... With little or no wind I can cruise at 65 if I'd like, but the bike seems to love 55-60, which is a great way to enjoy the ride anyway... In a headwind I am dead in the water though, and have to pull over often as larger vehicles threaten to run me over from behind... Speaking of being tailgated, I hope it's because people think the rig is cool and want a closer look. Otherwise it means they have little regard for the fact that should I need to stop suddenly they will run me over and kill me. Yes, you win. Kind of... But as long as that doesn't happen, it is tons o' fun!



Do we really all begin as innocents? I think so.

Hollywood sometimes portrays a villain as Satan-ish right out of the womb.

Maybe there are a few of those, but I have found most people, throughout the world, just want to get through their day.

Many are vilified who don't believe they are villains.

Do Harley riders vilify non-Harley riders? Maybe that is too harsh a word. But they seldom give the 'biker wave' to non-Harley riders. Or, when they do, it's begrudgingly...

"Crap. I hope no other Harley riders see me waving at that dude on the Honda."

When I am on my Ural however, Harley riders talk to me...

"That thing kind of looks Harley-ish. It's pretty cool I guess. I'll give the guy a quick chat...Wait a minute, what kind of gear is he wearing? Is that Euro-style dual-sport crap? He does have some leather mixed in though."


An acquaintance wishes to polarize me. He told me that, "Other people don't like 'fence-sitters'. They can't tell what side of the coin you're on".

Same coin though.

An old boss once found out I didn't agree with him on a political issue and acted astounded. Based on what he knew about me he said he thought I was always 'one of the good guys'.

I asked him what he thought of my actual actions in life -- And he agreed that, based upon my actions in life, I did seem to be an all right guy. Helped others. Had a good work ethic. Was fair in dealing with others. Gave up shop-lifting at an early enough age that it was acceptable.

It was only later that it hit me.

One of the good guys!?!

I didn't have a motorcycle at the time, so couldn't go for a ride and let that shit roll down my leg and out the bottom of my Euro-style dual-sport motorcycle pants.

I settled for my bicycle. Actually had to break a sweat.

This 'biker wave' thing. Yeah, we are all brothers and sisters on the road, but on a road filled with bikes (like the Seward Highway during summer) there are a lot of brothers and sisters.

I especially like guys waving when I'm headed into a corner...

"Crap, he waved. Better wave back...Whoa! Maybe not."

Recently watched 'Waltz With Bashir' again. Couple moments always get me in that film.

Just like the little girl in this always gets me.

Of course, I shouldn't be on the internet. I should be hiking.

Riding my Honda or Ural certainly doesn't get me in shape.

Even though the Ural is Russian-built, the headquarters are now based in Redmond, Washington, USA. The engine size on Urals is 750 cc (they used to make a 650cc version as well). The Ural 'Sportsman' had a limited-slip differential. They no longer make the 'Sportsman', but they do make the 'Patrol' and the 'Gear-Up', both of which have engage-able two-wheel drive.


If the Anchorage Daily News publishes my story, and you are reading this blog because you noticed the mention of my blog in my byline, then this Ural stuff is redundant.

Here is an older entry.

Fireman's Poem For Iris

Out of all styles of writing, poetry is not the most popular. Why did I choose that entry out of all the possibly 'more-entertaining' entries?

I mean I have an interview with Tim 'Dr. Hook' McCraken! And it is the NHL finals after all.

So, why the poem?

When I was researching the history of the Ural sidecar-motorcycle, it threw me into World War II. Anytime WWII is brought up I cannot resist. It is too powerful, full of too many stories. Not just the stories and events from during the war, but those that led up to the war. The polarizing within nations. Vilifying people who (for the most part) were only trying to get through their day. Like the characters in 'Barnyard Devil'. Living in a polarized nation with little room to move in the gray areas. The name 'Barnyard Devil' actually comes from a poem within the story. I don't read much poetry myself.

Today's Ural ride along Turnagain Arm included a stop at Windy Point trail. Sadie and I took a good, heart-pumping hike along the cliff-band, out past the cave and to the waterfall for a drink...


Then back out to the point overlooking Turnagain Arm and the Seward Highway, where we sat and watched other motorcycles drive past below us...

Sadie put her nose in the wind and wondered why the fuck we don't do this kind of shit more often.

I bought her BBQ on the ride home.