The Biker, The Blues & Down Time

I woke up at the local No Tell Motel, throat parched and I stumbled into the shower to do my daily three S’s (sh*t, shower and shave). The hot water felt good but the bar room jalapeno poppers were still talking to me. I hadn’t pulled back the sun blocking window curtains yet so I wasn’t quite sure what the day looked like outside. I got out of the shower dried off and stood in front of the steam filled mirror and thought man you are one ugly SOB and you ain’t getting any younger baby. I broke a brief smile and walked into the double bed motel room and placed my sleeping pack up on the bed. Took out my cleanest dirty shirt and skivvies , put them on and moved toward the window to pull those curtains back. It was indeed a nice morning for sure. I packed up my things and made my way outside to the beautiful red bandit. She sure looked good and still clean too another good sign for a nice morning. Then it happened she was turning over but not getting any gas. I run an S&S carb and I fooled around trying to get the problem solved as the fuel was making its way to the carb but not getting into the throat. A little more prompting and she kicked over but none the less spitting and sputtering. I jacked around with the needle valve but it was as clear as the morning skyline I wasn’t going far. Back inside and I did an online search for a model number and found a few places that had in stock. I thought about rebuilding it but the more I thought about it maybe now was a good time to just replace it. So that is what I did, I ordered the new carb. The only problem was it would be two days before it would arrive. I went up to the front desk and said I would need to stay two more days and they were cool with that so no problem with a place to stay. So now what do I do with myself for at least one day in Lincoln Nebraska? I asked the desk clerk where he would go to hear good blues and he said everyone around here would tell you The Zoo Bar and so that was covered too. Ok one more job at hand sneak the bike into motel room so it doesn’t come up missing at night. Well sometimes you just go for it and that’s what I did. I remember being in Las Vegas and needing to bring the red baby into the motel room. I was concerned about the maid diming me out so I spotted her some jack and that turned out cool. So that has to be my plan here too. Not bribery let’s just call it incentive. I remembered The Zoo Bar from being here once before and thought that could be cool again and it was indeed. Really great atmosphere, a real life blues joint that attracts blues lovers from all over the U.S. Their annual Zoo Fest kicks ass as well and fills the streets up in the Lincoln area. So back in the motel room and with time on my hands a nice time to burn a cigar and do some listening. Grabbed a chair from the motel room table, opened the door and placed it just outside. The parking lot was pretty much still full of cars and one of them was an older station wagon with the rear door swung down. Two kids were sitting on it and someone was inside moving things around. A guy with a early model Chevy Truck was putting his stuff away too and soon only a handful of cars remained. Then came the maid…ok time to swing into action but not come off like I am looking for a good time, just paying for silence. You have to understand that in that position one could easily think that I am the pervert that I am but hey this is not the time nor the place. So I smiled, she smiled and when she looked inside she saw the bike and looked back at me. Ah my chance. I stood up and took a twenty out of my pocket, smiled and offered it to her. The moment of truth was upon us. She extended her hand, looked at my bike again and looked back at me. So I did the continued on next page