More Story Time!
Last night while at the store getting provisions for the camping trip today, an old timer in his late 70's early 80's, sees me pull in and stops at the front door to wait for me to walk in. He asks me as I'm walking up to the store "What year is that bike?" "It's a 1958 Trailblazer. Enfield built model." "I remember back in 1960 or so, I bought an early 40's Indian. Just a little 250 single cylinder. Had to wear boots to start the damn thing because it kicked back so hard it'd about break your foot." Paul arrives to meet me to get our needs, and this older gentleman just slowly followed me in to the store reminiscing on his younger years. It really put a smile on my face and I look at Paul and say "Dude. That's totally going to be me when I'm in my 80's."
As we're leaving, Paul and I are standing in front of my bike talking about final plans for the trip, a lady in her 40's comes up and says "Oh My God! What a beautiful bike! It looks just like the one my dad used to own. What year is it?" Finish that conversation and look at Paul and say "Every time I ride it." He chuckles and replies, "Well it's a bad ass bike, and super rare." No sooner he says that, and the old timer from earlier comes walking back out of the store over to the bike and says he'd like to hear me start it. So I fire it up on the 1st kick (go Thorspark Ignition!) and his face just lights up with joy and says "You have a great weekend" and I said for him to do the same. It was a great feeling knowing that I was able to take an older man back to his youth just by sharing my story of an old bike I restored. What a great weekend so far and I haven't even left for the trip yet!
Scottie