Riding the Storm

[Dresden]

"There it is: The CoffeeHouse Amethyst..."

I pull off of the hardtop road into the empty parking lot, cut
off the ignition on the old Matchless/Norton motorcycle which has
carried me throughout the day and into this night. It has delivered
me outside of a not so unfamiliar place. At least anymore, it being
unfamiliar.
The engine ticks as it starts cooling down, a slight smell of
fuel from the Amal carbs. Leather creaks; a chorus between my jacket
and the seat, a duet often played but never finished. Stand swings
down and a swift pull puts the bike up to rest.
I fish out a crumpled pack of smokes, Newports, of which I
have a weakness for. I manage to find one unbroken, a miracle
considering their residence in my front pocket. The Zippo lighter
flashes itself in a chrome arc against my pants leg and unfailingly
sparks to life. With a *snap* it smothers itself. Smoke is drawn in,
the cool rush of menthol across my tongue.
I walk towards the door, feet crunching hollowly through the
gravel lot. I am not expecting any one to greet me and am not
disappointed. Hand upon the knob and a slight unproductive twist
tells me that maybe I have come too late, maybe the derelict
appearance extends far past the front façade.

Looking down, there is a light coat of dust upon my palm...

[Wes Wilson]

Post by Dresden
"There it is: The CoffeeHouse Amethyst..."
I pull off of the hardtop road into the empty parking lot, cut
off the ignition on the old Matchless/Norton motorcycle which has
carried me throughout the day and into this night. It has delivered
me outside of a not so unfamiliar place. At least anymore, it being
unfamiliar.
The engine ticks as it starts cooling down, a slight smell of
fuel from the Amal carbs. Leather creaks; a chorus between my jacket
and the seat, a duet often played but never finished. Stand swings
down and a swift pull puts the bike up to rest.
I fish out a crumpled pack of smokes, Newports, of which I
have a weakness for. I manage to find one unbroken, a miracle
considering their residence in my front pocket. The Zippo lighter
flashes itself in a chrome arc against my pants leg and unfailingly
sparks to life. With a *snap* it smothers itself. Smoke is drawn in,
the cool rush of menthol across my tongue.
I walk towards the door, feet crunching hollowly through the
gravel lot. I am not expecting any one to greet me and am not
disappointed. Hand upon the knob and a slight unproductive twist
tells me that maybe I have come too late, maybe the derelict
appearance extends far past the front façade.
Looking down, there is a light coat of dust upon my palm...

Hi Dresden -
Interesting style with a realism so detailed.
A friend of mine once bought a used 'Matchless' motorcycle - (circa
1956?) which had a 500cc single cylinder motor?
He took it apart at the dock in NY so he could carry the engine aboard
a passenger ship as 'a suitcase' - so the motorcycle body could be
considered a 'bicycle' and he be charged at a lesser rate. He said that
he could mostly fix any mechanical problems on his Matchless simply -
often using baling wire.
When he arrived in England - he put it back together again on the dock
and drove off for a summer of inexpensive sightseeing throughout Europe,
mostly staying in youth 'hostels.' He later told us that on the whole
he'd had a wonderful fun time in Europe with his Matchless.
- WW

[Dresden]

Post by Wes Wilson
A friend of mine once bought a used 'Matchless' motorcycle - (circa
1956?) which had a 500cc single cylinder motor?

Matchless used those big single motors, yes. They came in the model
designated G80, lovingly refered to as a Jampot for its distinct style
of front damper. The G80 model ran from 1949 to 1967.

Post by Wes Wilson
He took it apart at the dock in NY so he could carry the engine aboard
a passenger ship as 'a suitcase' - so the motorcycle body could be
considered a 'bicycle' and he be charged at a lesser rate. He said that
he could mostly fix any mechanical problems on his Matchless simply -
often using baling wire.
When he arrived in England - he put it back together again on the dock
and drove off for a summer of inexpensive sightseeing throughout Europe,
mostly staying in youth 'hostels.' He later told us that on the whole
he'd had a wonderful fun time in Europe with his Matchless.

Very nice, that. I took mine to the European continent as
well, traveling from my embarking point of Bremerhaven, Germany. I
concluded said trip in Frankfurt, but only after traveling through
many a country while there.
People there did not make much of a fuss over the bike, and I
lend this to the Europen mindset of motorcycles being favorable versus
the American stance that they are not in fact a viable means of
transportation and are widely viewed as a hobby.
I do not in fact own my Matchless anymore, it having been
retired to a collector. I do like to use it in writing, just as I
used my fondness of Newport cigarettes though I have quit smoking
nearly two years hence.

[Wes Wilson]

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
A friend of mine once bought a used 'Matchless' motorcycle - (circa
1956?) which had a 500cc single cylinder motor?

Matchless used those big single motors, yes. They came in the model
designated G80, lovingly refered to as a Jampot for its distinct style
of front damper. The G80 model ran from 1949 to 1967.

Post by Wes Wilson
He took it apart at the dock in NY so he could carry the engine aboard
a passenger ship as 'a suitcase' - so the motorcycle body could be
considered a 'bicycle' and he be charged at a lesser rate. He said that
he could mostly fix any mechanical problems on his Matchless simply -
often using baling wire.
When he arrived in England - he put it back together again on the dock
and drove off for a summer of inexpensive sightseeing throughout Europe,
mostly staying in youth 'hostels.' He later told us that on the whole
he'd had a wonderful fun time in Europe with his Matchless.

Very nice, that. I took mine to the European continent as
well, traveling from my embarking point of Bremerhaven, Germany. I
concluded said trip in Frankfurt, but only after traveling through
many a country while there.
People there did not make much of a fuss over the bike, and I
lend this to the Europen mindset of motorcycles being favorable versus
the American stance that they are not in fact a viable means of
transportation and are widely viewed as a hobby.
I do not in fact own my Matchless anymore, it having been
retired to a collector. I do like to use it in writing, just as I
used my fondness of Newport cigarettes though I have quit smoking
nearly two years hence.

Hi Dresden - You're German - in temperment perhaps cool but precise? I
had a German artist friend once - he died prematurely from a drinking
accident - a fall - his name was Wilfred Satty (umlot{?} - over the 'a')
- in San Francisco everyone just called him "Satty." He was born in
Germany - and he once told me that he had a piece of American bombshell
still stuck inside his head from a WWII incident - when he was just a
child living in (ironically) Dresden. - WW

[Dresden]

Post by Wes Wilson
Hi Dresden - You're German - in temperment perhaps cool but precise?

Oft times I am cool and precise. But I cannot stand incompetence and
will quickly have to calm myself down. Self control, to me, is one of
my greatest struggles. I know what is right, what is acceptable, what
is expected. Accomplishing those tasks is my responsibility.

Post by Wes Wilson
I had a German artist friend once - he died prematurely from a drinking
accident - a fall - his name was Wilfred Satty (umlot{?} - over the 'a')

That is an umlaut, and it looks like this: ä
His name should been pronounced Sotty, but the way it is written
without the emphasis gives me Satty, as in Patty, ratty, etc.
The umlaut'd lower case A is made by hitting ALT+132

Post by Wes Wilson
- in San Francisco everyone just called him "Satty." He was born in
Germany - and he once told me that he had a piece of American bombshell
still stuck inside his head from a WWII incident - when he was just a
child living in (ironically) Dresden. - WW

And how ironic is that? Very I would say.
My family is from Dresden & Rottweil, and hence the name(s). (You
would have to look at my email and know that Rottweil area of Germany
is famous for its RED terra cotta TILEs.)
I have been there, Dresden, but am American through & through, born in
NY, lived mostly in AZ & CA, and now reside in NC.


Wm

[Wes Wilson]

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
Hi Dresden - You're German - in temperment perhaps cool but precise?

Oft times I am cool and precise. But I cannot stand incompetence and
will quickly have to calm myself down. Self control, to me, is one of
my greatest struggles. I know what is right, what is acceptable, what
is expected. Accomplishing those tasks is my responsibility.

(Practically?) everyone makes mistakes. Therefore - with such
incompetence in this world there must be little or no relief for you -
from this largely thankless task and its weighty responsibilities.

Post by Dresden
That is an umlaut, and it looks like this: ä
His name should been pronounced Sotty, but the way it is written
without the emphasis gives me Satty, as in Patty, ratty, etc.
The umlaut'd lower case A is made by hitting ALT+132

Thanks for the correct spelling for "umlaut" - which sounds like 'umlot.'

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
- in San Francisco everyone just called him "Satty." He was born in
Germany - and he once told me that he had a piece of American bombshell
still stuck inside his head from a WWII incident - when he was just a
child living in (ironically) Dresden. - WW

And how ironic is that? Very I would say.
My family is from Dresden & Rottweil, and hence the name(s). (You
would have to look at my email and know that Rottweil area of Germany
is famous for its RED terra cotta TILEs.)
I have been there, Dresden, but am American through & through, born in
NY, lived mostly in AZ & CA, and now reside in NC.
Wm

A New Yorker born - what part I wonder! Now in NC! When did your family
migrate from Dresden?
-WW

[Dresden]

Post by Wes Wilson

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
Hi Dresden - You're German - in temperment perhaps cool but precise?

Oft times I am cool and precise. But I cannot stand incompetence and
will quickly have to calm myself down. Self control, to me, is one of
my greatest struggles. I know what is right, what is acceptable, what
is expected. Accomplishing those tasks is my responsibility.

(Practically?) everyone makes mistakes. Therefore - with such
incompetence in this world there must be little or no relief for you -
from this largely thankless task and its weighty responsibilities.

I stay aggrevated, yes. I am trying to change my views, though.
Living in a large city such as Raleigh, NC is, it has a tendency to
grate on ones nerves. I moved here from a town with only two working
traffic lights, and now there is roughly 1,700 signals and their all
turning against me. Couple that and the incompetence of the ones out
in it driving, and you have a recipe for high blood pressure. I drive
for a living, everyday, and the stress level is nearly intolerable.

Post by Wes Wilson
Thanks for the correct spelling for "umlaut" - which sounds like 'umlot.'

That would be correct ;)

Post by Wes Wilson

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
- in San Francisco everyone just called him "Satty." He was born in
Germany - and he once told me that he had a piece of American bombshell
still stuck inside his head from a WWII incident - when he was just a
child living in (ironically) Dresden. - WW

And how ironic is that? Very I would say.
My family is from Dresden & Rottweil, and hence the name(s). (You
would have to look at my email and know that Rottweil area of Germany
is famous for its RED terra cotta TILEs.)
I have been there, Dresden, but am American through & through, born in
NY, lived mostly in AZ & CA, and now reside in NC.
Wm

A New Yorker born - what part I wonder! Now in NC! When did your family
migrate from Dresden?

There are ALOT of NY'ers in NC, and even more Keystone State'rs. I'm
from the Jamestown, Mayfield area, along the shores of Lake Chataqua.

My family, they fled the Third Reich and was spared from the
incinerating of their city. They settled in Pennsylvania in... 1937?
Somewhere in that time frame. Both sets of parents are 100% Germanic.


Dresden

[Wes Wilson]

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
Hi Dresden - You're German - in temperment perhaps cool but precise?

Oft times I am cool and precise. But I cannot stand incompetence and
will quickly have to calm myself down. Self control, to me, is one of
my greatest struggles. I know what is right, what is acceptable, what
is expected. Accomplishing those tasks is my responsibility.

(Practically?) everyone makes mistakes. Therefore - with such
incompetence in this world there must be little or no relief for you -
from this largely thankless task and its weighty responsibilities.

I stay aggrevated, yes. I am trying to change my views, though.
Living in a large city such as Raleigh, NC is, it has a tendency to
grate on ones nerves. I moved here from a town with only two working
traffic lights, and now there is roughly 1,700 signals and their all
turning against me. Couple that and the incompetence of the ones out
in it driving, and you have a recipe for high blood pressure. I drive
for a living, everyday, and the stress level is nearly intolerable.

Post by Wes Wilson
Thanks for the correct spelling for "umlaut" - which sounds like 'umlot.'

That would be correct ;)

Post by Wes Wilson

Post by Dresden

Post by Wes Wilson
- in San Francisco everyone just called him "Satty." He was born in
Germany - and he once told me that he had a piece of American bombshell
still stuck inside his head from a WWII incident - when he was just a
child living in (ironically) Dresden. - WW

And how ironic is that? Very I would say.
My family is from Dresden & Rottweil, and hence the name(s). (You
would have to look at my email and know that Rottweil area of Germany
is famous for its RED terra cotta TILEs.)
I have been there, Dresden, but am American through & through, born in
NY, lived mostly in AZ & CA, and now reside in NC.
Wm

A New Yorker born - what part I wonder! Now in NC! When did your family
migrate from Dresden?

There are ALOT of NY'ers in NC, and even more Keystone State'rs. I'm
from the Jamestown, Mayfield area, along the shores of Lake Chataqua.
My family, they fled the Third Reich and was spared from the
incinerating of their city. They settled in Pennsylvania in... 1937?
Somewhere in that time frame. Both sets of parents are 100% Germanic.
Dresden

Hi Dresden - Cool! Nice to meet you! - WW