How providence has conspired to get my Scrambler rolling

I really felt that way today.

To preface, I'll tell you that it was two days before I saw the ad posted that my mind started turning towards getting a motorcycle. I wanted to spend $400 or less and then, there she was - The 1973 Honda Scrambler. I was the first to get to the guy's home and buy it.

So, since then, my gas tank has made its way to Center City Collision, Kevin's shop and he's undenting the can and repainting it as original. (Sweet!) He's a good friend and a badass pastor, btw. Props to you, bro.

I put a damaged camera for sale on Craigslist yesterday. Here's the ad:

5.0MP, 3x optical zoom and 32MB of internal memory (you can also add a memory card for even more space, but the internal mem will allow you to take up to 20 photos at a time.

Takes sharp, hi def pictures and it comes with the easyshare loading dock, manual & software installing cd.

The one issue the camera has does not interfere with taking photos - the directional thumbpad (like the thing you use to move mario around on a Nintendo) is not working. It was dropped and a connection was probably loosened.

Because of this, you cannot delete pictures while in the field and you can only view the last photo taken. This doesn't stop it from taking beautiful pictures still & the easyshare software is so easy to use & makes storing, dowloading & sharing photos a breeze. The camera looks new except for a few light scratches.

Please email me any questions. I'm willing to take $50 cash or a trade. An old mountain bike? Electronics? Make me an offer I can't refuse.

So, a couple of people respond including this guy, Mike, who wants to trade an old Ross mountain bike. I've never heard of ross, but what the hell? It's a cheap bike for a broken camera, huh?

We're all set to do this and the camera mysteriously stops working. Sucks and I can't get it to power back on at all. So I call him and say, at least it wasn't you calling me tomorrow thinking you got screwed, and he agrees, and we start to talk what else I've got for trade, because he really wants to unload this bike. He takes care of his mom who is very ill and needs to take care of himself and can't risk an accident, he says.

Anyway we get to talking about trades and craigslist sales and I mention the Scrambler. "A CL350, right, he says?" and I'm like, yeah, that's right. Anyway, dig it: He's had several similar Hondas and is Mr. motorcycle guru and tells me all these great tips to get the old girl running. Way cool! Plus, he says, he has other stuff to sell or trade and he still wants the camera, even if it is broken. He's looking for stuff to tinker with things.

(He knows Linux and how to make wifi work with too, but that's another story.)

Anyway, I traded my 1gig ipod shuffle and the broken camera for a sweet Ross bike - circa 1985 but in better shape than my Raleigh. It's nimble and quick, too. He also threw in two OEM Honda saddlebags for the bike and his and her helmets with plexiglass visors. And a Honda motorcycle jacket and a Harley D. rainsuit!!

Awesome deal.

Anyway, he says I can de-rust the tank by putting in gravel and something else (I have to call him cause I can't recall what the mystery goo is.) and then rinse with gasoline. A gas and mystery goo mix can clean the carb all at once, he says. No rebuild needed. And, silicone in the handlebars will dull the high speed vibes typical when taking Scramblers to highway speeds.

Anyway, I'm very excited.

Later, I had a wonderful dinner date with my dear wife. I love her so.

- Steve