Today’s scavenger hunt photo got me to thinking about my time stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB. The thing I miss the most?  NC-style BBQ! Just outside of Goldsboro, NC is a restaurant called Wilbur’s.  They served the best pulled pork sandwich I’ve ever had.  The BBQ you get in NC isn’t like BBQ I’ve had anywhere else.  It uses a vinegar-based marinade instead of the red sauce most people associate with BBQ. It’s an acquired taste, but if you wind up hooked on it nothing else compares.

And that got me to think further… is there any way a fellow in Seattle, WA can get his hands on NC-style BBQ?  Turns out the answer is a resounding YES!  There’s a famous BBQ place in Kinston, NC called Kings BBQ that will ship it anywhere in the country via FedEx! So, when I get back from my road trip next week, I’m ordering up a batch!

This week’s Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt theme is “looking up!” And often when I’m looking up, it’s because I’m at an airshow.  So… guess what you get this week!

Yep, an aviation photo! This is a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. It’s a two place fighter bomber. The pilot sits in front and the weapons systems officer sits in the back. This photo was taken at the Abbotsford International Airshow in Canada this year. This particular aircraft is special because it’s from Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC. This happens to be the last Air Force base I was stationed at before I got out. At that time they were flying the venerable F-4 Phantom and just about to start transitioning to this new bird.

I love this time of year in Seattle. The weather becomes a real crap shoot, it’s cold at night, the leaves start to turn here and there. It’s more dynamic. Yes it gets grey and wet, but I like that.  Call me odd but sunny, warm weather just isn’t what I long for.

I went out to grab dinner earlier this evening and the wind was really picking up.  It had been cloudy, cool and a bit wet all day. I don’t know why, but it invigorates me somehow. Now it’s raining gently out.  I have the window open and I can hear the rain hitting the driveway outside. It’s so peaceful…

This time next week I’ll be packing up my saddle bags and finishing the prep work on the bike before heading out for Baker City, OR. I can’t wait! I’ve managed to stretch things out to a five day trip. Two days down and probably two days back, even though it’s not that far. I’ll be taking the long way there and back.

A confession… I use these trips as an excuse to buy new motorcycle stuff. I can’t help myself, I love new toys! This trip I’ll be trying a new camera system, a new fleece layer for under my riding jacket and new underwear. Yes, I said it… new underwear.

Underwear is important when you’re spending all day in the saddle. Chaffing is not your friend! Neither is sweat. This is the unglamorous side of riding. I use a product called BodyGlide already to help out with this. I also wear a pair of the best riding shorts you can buy, called LD Comfort. They’re designed for riding. They’re also pretty darned pricey at $45 a pair! So I’m trying a less costly compression short from Under Armour this trip to see how they do. Only $25 a pop. I already wear Under Armour shirts under my jacket and I’ve been really happy with them. I’m taking my tried and true shorts too, just in case. So now you know more than you probably wanted to know about what’s UNDER the riding armor!

More on the camera system later this week when I get around to trying it on the bike. It’s a low cost attempt to solve an irritation with the way I’ve been shooting video through the windshield. We’ll see if it works.

The new template has been installed.  I still have tweaking and customization to do but it appears to be working. I was ready for a change!

I have to confess, I’ve been really torn about posting at all regarding the events of 9/11.

On the one hand, the loss of life was tragic and I mourned along with everyone else. On the other hand, I think that our society has changed in fundamental ways since this horrible event. There is a pervasiveness of fear and a willingness to discard freedoms that are foundational in our constitution. All in the pursuit of a mythical safety from those that would seek to harm us as a country. I can’t help but think that “terrorists” would be happy to see the changes the 9/11 attack has caused.

Finally though, I concluded that focusing on the politics of the situation we find ourselves in is probably the wrong approach for today. So for me personally, I’m just going to meditate on the event itself and the sacrifice of those that responded. In that vein, I leave you with this song from Yellowcard that pretty much sums up how I feel.

This week’s Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt theme is “Food.”

This photo was from my daughter’s 10th birthday earlier this year. It’s one of my favorite photos that feature food!

I’m feeling the excitement build! My next trip is coming up later this month, September 21-24. I’m heading down to Baker City, OR for a regional motorcycle meet with the sport-touring.net folks. It’s really not that far away, but of course we never go the direct route. It will probably work out to be around 1500 miles round trip, including a few local rides while we’re down there.

This trip will be a little more complicated in a way, as I’m hooking up with a friend riding down from Canada. We’re going to try to coordinate a meeting along our mutual route so we can ride the rest of the way down together. It will be interesting to see how well that part works out!

I think this may be my favorite photo from my track day. I’ll probably wind up buying all of the originals just to have them.

I’ve had several people, including close friends, comment recently that I seem to make an adventure out of everything. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes it almost seems like they are taking me to task for this attitude. My response is, “What’s wrong with that?”  Frankly, I think anyone that doesn’t tackle life with reckless abandon is the one with the problem.

I confess that it took a series of life shaking events to bring me around to this way of thinking. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in worrying about tomorrow that we forget to enjoy today. I don’t want to suggest that I am completely irresponsible. I still maintain a budget, pay for insurance, things like that.  But I have definitely shifted my priorities in life.

For me, this means taking the time to do things I enjoy on a regular basis. Weekend trips, spending time with my kids doing fun things, riding as often as I feel like, and trying new things that pique my interest. In the past I would have said, “Someday wouldn’t it be nice…”  Now I say, “Today, I’m going to do this!”

My advice to you, don’t put off the pleasurable part of life. Enjoy each and every day. Tomorrow can be snatched away in the blink of an eye. Personally, when I check out I want it to be with no regrets for lost opportunities.