It’s the time of year to pause and to be thankful for what we have. Winter is around the corner and planning the next season’s rides helps me take the edge off. I will also be writing ride reports for the 2024 RetroTours and posting one or two each month to the updated website: www.retrotours.com. The 2025 ride schedule should be on the website by 12/15, and I hope you will consider joining us for a ride.
    We usually take on several interesting projects over the winter, like the 5,000 mile, pristine, 6-cylinder, 1979 CBX. It has been treated as a museum piece by the past few owners, but now, the latest owner wants to ride it, as do I. With a full carb overhaul and fresh rubber, this bike exudes a late ‘70s superbike vibe. As the tach climbs above 5,000 rpm the banshee wail from its 6 into 1 exhaust system (the perfect stock system is on the shelf, along with the original tires) gets right into your gut; it is addictive.   
    Have you noticed that your world is shrinking? As I get older, I seem to be falling into routines that vary very little. Each day is much like the last. Breaking the pattern by getting out for a few days on a RetroTour is a welcome diversion. Otherwise, I might stay stuck in the shop doing maintenance and repairs until the end of time. Isn’t it good to get out on an adventure every once in a while?
     Another reason to join a RetroTour is the camaraderie. Since Covid have you noticed that friends don’t get together very much anymore? We all got so used to staying isolated that it seems to have become a way of life. It’s all too easy to just plop into the couch and watch TV or read a book or do anything other than getting out to interact with other humans. I got a pretty severe case of Covid early on, before there were any vaccines or even a clear understanding of the disease. It was a rough patch; I considered that I might die. But I didn’t. But worse perhaps than being very sick for several weeks is the loss of companionship that has followed the Covid Era. I mean Lynn and I used to get together with other like-minded couples several times a month at least, and I would frequently stop by friends’ houses or entertain visits from local riders. But now, well, it just doesn’t seem to happen. We try to co-ordinate with our friends but usually without success.
     Health experts tell us that regular exercise is important, and few would argue. Interestingly, these same experts also claim that regular social interaction is equally beneficial to physical AND mental health, happiness, and longevity, perhaps even more so than exercise. It is really very depressing to me, this loss of companionship. I get sad just thinking about it. When will our society rebound; when will we resume interacting?
    The days are quite short now but will soon daylight will begin to increase. An effective strategy for dealing with the wintertime blues is to plan upcoming spring, summer, and fall rides. I invite you to visit the website in December and check out the 2025 schedule. If nothing suits your fancy, I can create a custom tour to fit your desires. Plan to ride in ’25! Pop in on a friend!

   And speaking of going stir crazy in the winter, here is a contribution from dear friend and avid rider Peg P, just for your entertainment: “I keep forgetting to tell you of the theme song I started in my head from the RetroTour: To the tune of "To dream the impossible dream" ….

…To ride the unrideable bike, to shift on the left or the right, to stop, when the brakes are not listening, to ride, the unrideable bike. To hope you are not going to stall, to know, you are not going to fall, the bruise from the kick starter lever, SUCH FUN that was had by us all.
………………….Yes, I am going stir crazy……….. Peg