The key part of game, lost by a sweep.

Thursday, late morning. a day early of an exact week that I lost the key to GIN. If you're following this, you'll recall that last Friday I took the slo-zuki, a.k.a. "GIN" on her first ride on the freeway. 405 South from Canyon Park to Bellevue, exit number 12. This was about a 20 mile ride from my place. GIN shook almost like a true Milwaukee machine than the Japanese heritage that runs through her frame. In that trip the key that operates ignition, helmet lock and opens the gas cap was spit out by vibration. Along with that the nut worked itself off (I'm guessing)the bolt that attaches the front brake lever. Well being the out of work and now... CHEAP man that I am, I made several attempts to find it along the center median of south 405 with no success. I can be a persistent guy, so I looked three times while traveling the #1 lane (some call this the "fast lane") as both a driver and passenger. I also rode the carpool lane with Ali driving while I was on the look out. Then I took the bike out today in the hopes of spot checking several areas that I might have seen something resembling my old key and fob the previous two expeditions.

I found that a blank key could be purchased off e-Bay for less than $20. This included shipping. Not a bad price... if you've disposable income! After shelling out dough to get a new key, then you have to have a locksmith re-key the 3 cylinders to accept it. So some may have a better idea why I was trying so hard in hoping to find it. So where were we? Oh yeah, I was riding the nimble single (she ain't that nimble)trying to re-trace the route and try to better eyeball 3 spots I noted may have had the glint of the lost key. As I rode up on the first spot which is just before there's a break in the jersey barrier before 124th in Kirkland where the troopers hang out, it turned out a negative. Not my key. so I revved on to the next potential, that had appeared rather promising as a key, if not a motorcycle key. As I got close to the spot after zooming under the 124th overpass, hear the center median turns from asphalt to concrete, probably the bridge over 116th, it was evidently clear that a wash-DOT sweeper had been by!!! It would figure! Sure enough, only about a mile and a half down were the flashing beacons of the chase attenuator vehicle and the sweeper some 30ft ahead. That did it, I gave up. I figured I'll chock it up to lesson learned and money out the window. Looking at the bright-side, I recognize that Peter Egan who has the Leanings column in Cycle World magazine, who's style I'm trying to emulate, not only writes about the cool stuff that he does as well as his triumph's. I'm not referring to just the brit-bikes either but his successes. What likely makes his column ring with those of us who don't have 10 motorcycles waiting to be ridden in a heated workshop in the winter, the ability to fly a plane, test and drive some amazing cars and write about that also, a wonderful wife who barely gives him a mild look when he wants to buy a new like a different or even previously owned bike back (I'm sure that "Barb" his wife would contest that with me. In print though she almost let's him have anything he wants it seems)and the ability to get paid for telling us "schmoes" about his adventure in print! Besides that, Peter Egan tells us of his shortcomings. The things he regrets, bike's he sold or have been put out of commission either by himself or by others. He let's us know that he, like the rest of us are just human. I'm sure he's lost a key to an old rattly bike in his life. AND IF NOT! I don't wanna know. I'll keep living my sunny-side up motorcycle, blog, dream-life, that I'm hoping will be interrupted by an offer of full-time work for more that $10-16 bucks an hour. With benefits. Two weeks vacation to start? And a motorcycle to commute with, preferably a Honda! Plus a trip to Disneyland for two. Just kidding. I just need a job to support my family. The extra's like a trip to Disneyland... That's just over the top.