THIS IS YOUR HISTORY PAGE ... (04-18-24)
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Read the info above to learn about the Quivirans ... as they say, "this one really is cast in stone"!
It was yesterday morning, I was motoring across the area grasslands, I was "makin' miles" ... on my way to this week's MOTO-COFFEE to be held at Dorrance, Kansas, just south of Wilson Lake, TT was 12:40PM.
Yup, I was "on the clock", as it is important to arrive by the official table-time (TT). In this life, one can be fashionably late for lots of things but nobody wants to be late for lunch!
Open country abounds in this area. A rider's common view is a visual line of aged asphalt undulating over and about the heave and swell of the rolling countryside. Reduced to a "Single" moment, it can seem to go forever, the rhythmic "thump" of the single cylinder motor providing a mesmeric backdrop to the open road ...
I was "makin' miles" when I went by the sign that you see above. It was located at an unsigned and little noticed junction of a narrow dirt road with the road of my choice.
Of course, I rode right by, without even the slightest reduction of throttle. I was livin' the dream, it was a beautiful morning with little wind, I was ... Whoa, it hit me! I gotta go back and read that sign! It's why I ride, not to get somewhere, but to experience the day, the setting ... life.
After making sure it was safe to do so, I turned the KLR on its heels and rode back to the intersection and dismounted.
The sign (above) was in a grassy area off the road a bit, cordoned by a multiple strand barbed-wire fence on the front two sides, south and west, and with tubular metal fencing panels on the north and east. The fence posts were old and gray, the barbed wire twisted and rusty, a mute testimony to how long that fence had been there, but as in the photo above, the sign looked new. Despite its appearance from the road, it has probably been there for decades, the difference being that granite ages much slower than metal, eh?
I opened the section of barbed-wire that was fashioned as a farmer's gate, the 12 foot section held to the corner post with wire hoops that held tension until lifted up by someone curious enough to get closer ... me. In the process, I snagged my riding jacket numerous times, that barbed-wire is dangerous stuff, worthy of a ton of respect!
History is really life that has happened ahead of us, this example happening some 483 years ago by my math. The stage is similar ... land, sky, people ... and the day.
I am humbled by history. It drives home the point that I am a very small piece of a very large puzzle. I am so glad I stopped...
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From last week, published here for your review:
REMEMBER "WANNA PLAY THE GAME?" from last week's History Page... In response to that, view the photo above, sent to us by member #5403, Wes - KS.
"This (above photo) got a lot of attention and was just parked in the parking lot" ... of the Augusta, Kansas Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum who were having their annual Open House/SwapMeet.
The Game? This week's "letter" was published in last week's FSSNOC website ... the letter "A".
Note the "A" as in Augusta ... and the "A" in Halcyon and the "A" in JANUS - VIOLA! A triple score!!!
See how it works? This week, the letter is "P" ... locate a destination in your area or wherever that begins with that letter, squeeze off a photo that includes a Thumper (of course, grin) and email it to us here at: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
Maybe it'll be your photo we choose for this site next week? Will you be world famous? Well, maybe...?
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Hi Jack,
Check is in the mail for one of the new club caps with my #262 on it. I will wear it proudly as I thump happily on my newest bike.
Picked up a 2023 Honda Trail 125 in December with 223 miles on it. They can be hard to find but I got lucky and found one about 60 miles away with a young guy who bought it but didn’t have time to ride.
I got mine for a good price but I am reading on the Trail 125 forum that some people are paying $5000-$6500 OTD against a MRSP of $3995! I have already started to farkle it and am searching for every dirt road in this area. It’s maxed out at 50mph on flat ground so I’m keeping my DR650 to ride to ThumperCafes.
Thanks,
Gene B. FSSNOC #262 - GA.
(REPLY) Good choice, Gene! That Honda Trail 125, you, and a new FSSNOC cap ... how can you beat that? Ya' can't! Thank YOU! I've already reordered more caps, they are going at a brisk pace, and that's a fun thing! Great to hear from you, #262! - #000
P. S. - Post us a photo when you are out on your next backroad adventure? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On with the show!
Finally, we have a NEW club cap ... Yes!
Carrie and I love ours! Order yours today ... if you are a current member of FSSNOC.
Mail your purchase request with a check made out to: FSSNOC, INC.
at: P. O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks. 67504-1809
Details:
First of all, it is called black but due to the pre-stressing effect it is more of a charcoal to me - an excellent choice as it should be slow to discolor with hard use, eh? Toss it into my tankbag? Stick it under my riding jacket? Wear it proudly every day? Yes!
Secondly ... It adjusts with a strap that disappears into a slot (as opposed to using that sticky velco) and it is said to be designed to fit many different head sizes.
Third ... In gold, "FSSNOC EST. 1986" is up front. On the example above, one may observe the FSSNOC member number on the left side. This is an optional service to each individual member upon their request and payment of an additional modest fee. It'll proudly exhibit your membership number and it will identify your cap from another member's FSSNOC cap when tossed onto a nearby table at a gathering ... both excellent reasons to choose that option.
Fourth ... Yes, it is as affordable as it is comfortable (it was day three when I began to forget I had a new cap on my head, matter of fact, I am wearing it as I write this ... and, (grin) that aforementioned affordability is important to we Thumper riders, eh? It's always fun to make a good deal! Read on...
$20.00 for each cap, mailing (only to USA addresses) is via a polybag mailer for $6.00 per cap.
Add your FSSNOC member number for $5.00 additional per cap. This makes your cap unique as we talked above.
Should you wisely desire to purchase additional caps at the same time to save on the postage, yes ... a great idea. Add just $2.00 per cap to cover the additional mailing costs.
Dollars here are in US funds. So, order up ... opportunity knocks. Tell the world that you proudly belong to the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC).
Carrie did insist I remove mine at bedtime ... no sense of humor, that girl! - #000
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ENJOY A LITTLE OF OUR OWN HISTORY ... CHECK IT OUT, RUNS AN HOUR AND MAYBE A BIT MORE, MIGHT TAKE THE PLACE OF SOME BAD TV, EH? - #000
A THUMPER RIDER'S PODCAST ...
To view the podcast ... CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZb4CgjfmEk
The podcast above was generated by Janus Motorcycles in Goshen, Indiana. EP.#1 ... In this podcast, FSSNOC #000 (Jack) is the guest being interviewed by Richard and Grant from JANUS MOTORCYCLES.
Play/View time is a tick over an hour so some popcorn might be nice, I like the chocolate drizzle kind, btw. Formal wear (FSSNOC club t-shirts, cap, etc...) adds to the mood, but not mandatory. Contact your friends, invite them in, share as you like. No cheat sheets, no prompt boards, no prior discussion and no Thumpers hurt in the making of this podcast.
574-538-1350 JANUSMOTORCYCLES.COM
And, this podcast is for entertainment only...