RC77: Chapter 6 Family, Uncle Paul, Frame work.

Every post should start out with family, right?

First food?

Special friends.

 Matt catching the fever.

 New darlings.

 Hammock hangs.

 Chilling' with Jane.

 Moon Family shot.

 Trail blazing.

 Dreyer Honda event.  

Gentlemen ran like a champ.

 Kentucky Kickdown 2015.

This was a first for us and we will probably make the trip next year too?

This easy rider cb77 was legit......and so was the CL77 next to it.

 Wabash walkabout.

 Moms, cats, and an Atlas.

 Atlas' first motorcycle ride?!?  

 The best helper.  

A gasket and some Italian wizardry and poof, it's fixed!

 Shooting the shooter.

 Figuring out my rake and trail.

Don't judge me.

Stop it.

 Ready to pop this one off too!  

Where is that tank?

Let's do this!

 Casey scored this jig.

Must have been fate that I was looking for one.

Atlas is always psyched to help in the workshop.

LumberAtlas.

 A lot of this.

   I spent a Saturday at an auction a few weekends back near where my dad grew up.  They had a couple bikes and some random goodies.  Ended up with a lock instead of a bike in the end (thankfully) but the people watching was the best.  Since I was close to where my uncle lives, I gave him a call just to see what he was up to.  Dad and him had always talked but really reconnected after dad retired.  They were flipping wrecked cars, building boat lifts and all other types of building repair and construction.  The truck and car I drive as well as the van my sister totes her 3, soon to be 4 children in were put back on the road by their handy work. Not surprisingly, my father had a list of things to do when he got back from Hawaii and the list included adventures with Paul.  I think about Paul a lot these days and wonder how he is holding up and what he is working on.  When I called that day I was in shock for a second.  I didn't realize how similar they sound both in tone and word choice.  I miss calling dad for no reason and asking what he is doing or for advice on all the random things I try to fix.  Paul's voice that day reminded me though that I still have a number of messages my dad left me on my phone.  I haven't listened to them in a long time but it is somehow comforting knowing that they are there.  Paul called me back a few weeks ago just to see if I won anything at the auction.  It was nice to know he will also be calling me.
I am going to keep calling Paul randomly just to hear what he has brewing in his workshop.  Maybe he will have a story to share with me about dad sometimes.
Later on in the build, I hope to have him put the base coat on my tank when I get it figured out and also clear it after its all done.  Paul and dad worked together on that triumph chopper I have posted pictures of.  It will be nice to have a little of his handy work on this bike.

RC77: Chapter 4 Family.

<--love-->

Florida Fam. represent!  Jane looking good in the motorcycle den.

This will be a picture to replicate at some point.  Atlas looks so confused.

Honda Z600.

This is probably going to be too rusty to get on the road.  Picking it up was a journey.  Matt and I to Ft. Wayne.  Figuring out this crazy trailer.  Dragging this green mass onto the trailer.....

Dad was a lot more excited about me buying this car than he ever had been about my vintage motorcycle purchases.  He and his brother had been fixing up cars for fun and I was looking forward to watching him get excited about it......That was a big part of the excitement.  In the end he didn't even get to see it in person.  The conversation we had that weekend while trying to get the trailer hooked up was one of the last times we spoke at length, and probably the last time he ever taught me how to do something.  It's hard to believe it has been almost a year.

I was looking forward to leaving Atlas with grandpa for adventure time as he grew up.  It's hard to believe that this was the last time they saw each other.  It makes my role as his role as his father that much more difficult knowing I will never be able to call my dad for advice.  

Love at first cuddle.

I love you, pops.

I I had to include this one too.  Grandpa and great grandson.  Looks like Atlas is about to box.

Tell your parents you love them tonight.