New Years Resolution #6, Sort of just got checked off the list

At the beginning of the year I had mentioned that I wanted to buy a house in another state. That was my number 6 new years resolution. You can view my list on that blog I wrote back in Jan by following this link. That said, I did not "buy" a new house, however I have moved out of state. So, I will sort of check that resolution off the list for now.

For those of you that do not know by now, my husband and I relocated to New York state, in an area called Broome County. It is known as the southern tier. It is a very different place than the Philadelphia area that I moved from. We are basically in an area where rural meets rural-suburbia (if that's a thing). For reference, the Philly area was more urban and/or urban-suburbia (if you will). As you can see, that means I have gone country.

Now "going country" is not a bad thing at all. It will just require some adjusting. I have been discovering that Uber doesn't exist here. I can't order Peapod or Amazon Fresh for home delivery. There is no railway system to take me to Binghamton or Ithaca or even Syracuse from where I live. Also, there are no reasonably priced flights to anywhere without selling your kidney first. In addition, there are General Dollar stores everywhere. Seriously, I mean everywhere. If you find you are in the middle of no mans land, don't worry, you are soon to see a General Dollar store.

This might sound like a terrible place to live to you. A place that is far out of touch with society. An area that perhaps is stuck in time compared to larger more progressive areas of this country. Well, there are some positives.

They have a lot of free WiFi hot spots, whether entering into a small village or town, or shopping at any one of your favorite retail giants. Traffic! Well that does not exist here. I was living in gridlock in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. Going 3 miles took 15 minutes there or more. Now I just breeze through town without any blockades. Life is simple. There is no feel of the hustle and bustle that the larger city areas create. I feel like I can breathe again. Oh and that is another thing, fresh mountain air. No more allergies, or asthma issues. I consider that I huge win towards a better lifestyle.

Also, the roads! There are no pot holes! It's a miracle to say the least. Pennsylvania was like driving on the moons surface. You can see local tax dollars better spent in Broome County NY. In addition, the roads are beautiful for motorcycle riding or even just taking that Sunday drive in your car or truck.

Along the Susquehanna River in Owego, NY.

There are also tons of lakes for water activities. Some of the most popular are located in what is called the Finger Lakes region. That is located just north of where we moved. My husband and I love fishing and can't wait for the season to start next year. 

We visited Cayuga Lake, part of the Finger Lakes. This view point was in Ithaca, NY.

Now watching the sunrise over the mountains to our south, has seriously been the most amazing thing so far!

Sigh!

Not to mention the breweries and wineries that exist in this area. There are so many, that there are bus tours offered to both. Yes, you can't get around transit wise from city to city, besides the local public bus system, but you can get from brewery to brewery or winery to winery. How ironic right? I'm not complaining! There is a website called "New York Craft Beer". It is your starting point for what they call the "New York State Beer Trail". Who knew there were that many breweries in this area. Step aside Colorado! 

My visit to Ithaca Brewing Company. I loved their selection of craft beers!

As for wineries, there is a website set up called "New York Wines". Everything you need to know about the local wineries, where to find them, what events they are hosting and what awards they won. I have yet to go to any of them. However, this site has allowed me to map out the ones in my new backyard.

What ever the future holds for us here in New York, we at least welcome the new adventure. 

Cheers for now my friends! 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We use to say this every single day. This use to be mandatory in schools. While many protested it, it was a daily reminder that we were one Nation! I don't care which "God" you believe in or if you don't believe in anything. The meaning of what this was, was that we were one nation, one power, equal to one another under a power so great that it defines us as a whole. The one power that is so strong it makes us all stronger. Stronger to defeat hate, racism, prejudice, and evil in this world.

But that is no longer the case my friends. We hide, we find rocks to crawl under, we run the other direction. We no longer face this evil together. We watch a few take this evil on and we watch them get defeated over and over again. We cannot defeat this evil with the same hate, prejudice and violence. they show towards us. This evil is everything that is out there in this world today that is keeping humanity from living free. Keeping humanity from moving forward.

Time, over and over again repeats itself. We know this, we were taught this in school. However, I don't want to believe this any longer. Time does not have to repeat itself. We can push forward. We can move time. We do not need to keep rewinding to a past filled with unrest. and hate. We must move time. Move time to an era we once again, as educated people of this land, "pledge our allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

Finding Pure Zen

Have you ever found yourself missing a place you once lived in or visited? Then you find yourself there again, only to realize that you missed it more than you thought you did. Well, this happened to me while I was in Milwaukee over the weekend. I know what you're thinking, it's cold as hell there, how do you even love that place. Fair question, let me explain.

Back in 2013 I did a motorcycle ride to the 110th Harley Anniversary party. When I left Milwaukee to head back home to Pennsylvania, I went by way of Canada. Prior to crossing into Canada, I had stopped for gas. A lady pumping gas into her car kept looking at me. She eventually got the guts to walk over and start a conversation. She had noticed my bike fully loaded with gear and dirty. She asked me where I had been, and where I was headed. We talked about the places I had been and all the people I had met. She asked me where my favorite places where and why. At the end of the conversation, she said she lived where she felt relaxed. Where she felt like part of a community. I told her I didn't feel that in Pennsylvania, and that was probably why I always ended up back there and then left again.

After that conversation, I drove across the Canadian/American boarder and was cruising along. Then it hit me. A thought hit me so hard, I about lost control of my bike. It was like a movie scene, when all of a sudden you are holding your arms out and rotating 360 degrees and there is a light that shines down on you and the scenery behind you is just all white or blurred. It was a total ah huh moment, to say the least.

While I was riding, I was looking around at this new country. Which did not feel new. It looked like America, I mean there were stores, shopping malls, gas stations with different names. All in all, it is the same shit. This had me thinking of all the places I had traveled to in the USA. It was really all the same. The landscape changes, and so do the faces....that's it! That's all that changes! So, that brought me to question, where do I love the landscape and the faces! Ha, I know it sounds silly, but this was the ah huh moment.

So, what does all of this have to do with Milwaukee? Well, I love the landscape! I'm in love with the people, the food, the city, the community feel and the cultures. It seemed to be such a perfect blend of all of these things. There are no mountains, but Lake Michigan has a magical feel to it. It is hard to not be attracted to the purity of water. I feel like I have found Zen being around the water. Out of all the bodies of water these eyes have seen in my 39 years of living, its these waters I crave. It was hard to leave, it's been hard adjusting back to PA life.

Pennsylvania just has nothing zen about it. I feel like I am suffocating each and every single day. Sure I have plenty of family and friends here. I mean, this is where life began. This just doesn't seem to be a place that inspires, or cultivates creativity. It masks happiness and creates struggle. I see it everyday in peoples eyes that I pass walking in the street, or seeing their faces while driving their cars, or just people watching at the gas station. You just feel the anxiety, pressure, routine, all of these things that breed the "keeping up with the Joneses" type of mentality. It is in the air, and seems to be suffocating everyone.

Once you cross PA state boarders, and I don't care who you are, it is as if you dropped all the boulders off of your shoulders. People change, you sense happiness again in folks. I don't know what it is, but something must change!

Oldest Brewery in PA? Move over Yuengling!

Well last week I had the opportunity with some friends to visit one of the oldest brewery's in Pennsylvania and even the United States. It is called Bube's Brewery. You pronounce that "boobie's", yup, tits folks! That is the best way to remember how to say it and t-shirts in their gift shop play off of this as well. Follow me as I take you for a tour.

Main entrance

Bube's Taps on the original bar at the hotel attached to the original brewery.

Original bar at the hotel attached to the brewery. It was a Men's only bar. The hotel was also used a brothel. 

The pictures below are the original beer barrels used to hold the beer during fermentation. They are no longer used, it is just a room with about 4 of these barrels. They have access doors at the bottom, that little children or small men were hired to get in there to clean. Whoever was hired to scrub the insides of these barrels during rotation, was always sent home for the rest of their shift due to the fumes of the alcohol. So, basically everyone knew you were drunk and you got paid to go home and sleep it off. Where is this job now!! ha-ha! Sign me up!

Now follow us down into the caves. The cave area is where the beer was stored at a cooler temperature. I honestly do not recall how many feet we were under the street. Once you follow the stairs down to the caves, you see that it is basically a dinning hall now. It is a really large space, and the venting for the caves is still there. There use to be a tunnel that led out from there that was part of the under ground railroad system, as well as prohibition. Occasionally it was your get out of jail ticket too when the brothel was rated by the police. 

After going underground we were taking outside to the courtyard. What a beautiful set up. It was raining when we were there, so we did not get a chance to enjoy it.

The brewery bar. 

Well friends, that is Bube's Brewery. The food wasn't the greatest, and they ran out of their own beer, but it is a staple in beer history and I recommend you go.

Cheers! I got the last of their Pineapple IPA! 

Luke Liked it, He really, really liked it!

Luke, my husband, passed his motorcycle permit test this past Saturday. Wahoo!! Every since I bought the RX3 Cyclone, he's taken an interest in motorcycling. As I stated in my last blog, I couldn't wait to see him at my right flank, and boy was that one hell of a feeling yesterday. 

Love on two wheels has officially begun. All I hear now is "I want to go ride". Ha-ha! Life is good! 

First Ride on the CSC RX3 Zongshen Cyclone

After about 2 weeks of waiting on the DMV in Pennsylvania to send me tags I finally got them in order to ride the bike. For those that have not been following along on my social media rants, PA refused to give me temporary plates at time of registration. Stating that some "special ops" unit in Harrisburg had to review for approval. Whatever! Considering that 2 other RX3 owners in PA walked in to register their bikes and walked out with tags. Another example of inconsistent policies. Okay, enough about that because I feel like that is all I have talked about. I have been dying to ride this damn bike that I have been staring at in the garage and yesterday I finally got my chance! Here is how it went.

First I had to get gas. The bike shipped with "some" gas in it. I do have a one and half liter Biltwell fuel bottle that I did fill up in order to add a bit more fuel. The gas station was a further away than the gas in the tank would have been able to accommodate. Don't worry, I bought a center tank protector to replace the silly warning stickers.

Nonetheless, once leaving the gas station my first journey officially began and WOW was I blown away. I have a 600+ pound Harley Davidson Dyna, and this RX3 was just so light and nimble. The clutch was so smooth, and the exhausted just rumbled in my ears. I may need to wear ear plugs. Since it is higher sitting on this bike than my Harley exhaust is on my Dyna, I feel that it is just louder. It was also crazy getting use to the front end fairing not moving when turning the front wheel. On my Dyna the whole front end moves with each turn. It was just a different thing to get use to. The seat sucks, just like I have been reading on the forums. I confirmed that only 20 miles into my ride. 

                     

 

After enjoying some twisties and a bit of light gravel, I had to make my way to show off the bike to my family. Of course everyone asked to sit on it, my nieces and nephews loved it. Although one of my nieces says she still likes the Harley more. Here and I spent lots of saddle time on the Harley together, so I don't blame her for her comment. Hopefully this bike will just allow her to realize that liking different bikes makes motorcycling more fun.

Another positive thing that came with this bike, is my husbands new interest in riding. He has recently passed his permit test and is signing up for an MSF class. In addition, I've picked him up some safety gear to get him started. This bike just changed my life. Even if he's riding it and I'm on my Harley, it is a win win. I look forward to looking at my right flank position and seeing my husband right by my side. Now that friends is a great beginning to a new moto chapter.

Ride safe friends, and ride far!

Update: New Years Moto Resolution #7 - Check!

If you read my New Years Moto Resolution blog that I posted back in January, then you know #7 on my list for 2016 was to buy some type of Dual Sport or Adventure bike. Well, I am happy to report that I did it! I just pre-ordered an RX3 Cyclone Zongshen motorcycle. Wahoo!

A CSC photo

If you are not familiar with the RX3, then you must be living under a rock or just don't read a lot of motorcycle news/blogs. These bikes are like the best bang for your buck motorcycle, that is finally now being imported to the USA by CSC Motorcycles located out of sunny Azusa, CA, a suburb of LA.

The Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) however, has been around in southeast Asia for a few years. Zongshen Motorsports or as public traded, Chongqing Zongshen Power Machinery Company, has been around since 1992. It was founded by Zuo Zongshen from Chongqing, China. Just like most overseas motorcycle or scooter manufactures, they focus on small displacement bikes. The RX3 has been one of the more popular bikes in their lineup, which seems to be the reason they were put on the radar of many in the western hemisphere.

This bike might be a 250cc bike, but it has an upgraded stator to run a full set of heated gear, auxillary lights, and even electronics (cell phone, gps charging port). Not only that, but it comes with engine guards, luggage guards, and a skid plate for protection. And the icing on the cake, it comes with a full set of panniers! No joke! This is stock! So, for $3800 bucks you get more on this little puppy than you do spending $16k on a new BMW. Granted, you are probably laughing about my comparison, but at the end of the day, I have a full ADV bike for a fraction of the price and weight of the big boys. I can't wait.

Well now that I got all that out of the way, I'll close by giving you the specs and features as listed on CSC's site.

• ENGINE: NC250
• ENGINE TYPE: Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, 4 Valve Water Cooled, Overhead Cam with Balance Shaft.
• MAXIMUM POWER: 24.8 hp
• MAXIMUM TORQUE: 16.6 ft. lbs
• PISTON SWEPT VOLUME: 250cc
• COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.5:1
• IGNITION SYSTEM: US Delphi EFI Electronic Ignition
• CHAIN: Racing Type Oil Seal Chain
• FRONT SUSPENSION: Dual Lubricating Inverted Forks
• REAR SUSPENSION: Adjustable Central Rear Shock Absorber
• HEADLIGHT: 3D Anti-Fog Fish Eye Headlamp
• FRONT BRAKE: SINGLE PISTON CALIPER, SINGLE DISC, 262mm (10.31")
• REAR BRAKE: SINGLE PISTON CALIPER, SINGLE DISC, 258mm (10.15")
• SEAT HEIGHT: 31.3"
• GROUND CLEARANCE: 8.3"


Features


• 2 YEAR WARRANTY: 2 years parts and 1 year service
• LENGTH/WIDTH/HEIGHT: 83.8" x 34.2" x 49.6". 
• WHEELBASE: 55.1".
• FUEL CAPACITY: 4.2 Gallons. 
• WEIGHT: 385 lbs. 
• MAXIMUM LOAD: 330 lbs. 
• MAXIMUM SPEED: 84 mph. 
• TRANSMISSION: 6 Speed, Internal Gear Shift. 
• BRAKE SYSTEM: Disc, Front & Rear. 
• FRONT TIRE/WHEEL: 100-90-18. 
• REAR TIRE/WHEEL: 130-90-17. 
• MUFFLER: Stainless Steel Waterproof Design. 
• INSTRUMENTATION: Siemens Chip LCD Smart Speedometer.
• IGNITION SYSTEM: US Delphi EFI Electronic Ignition