NickDG

9:40PM . . . Even though there's more rain to come, I feel comfortable with saying the worst is over. Man, what a ride! Earlier today I walked around surveying the damage to our home where five days of hail, high winds, and pounding rains took their toll. I know the rest of the country has it worse than us here in So Cal but this event reminded me to cherish what we have and not take anything for granted. The attached photo says it all. Don't fret for us, I'm sure it can be fixed . . . NickD

Only in California . . . http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-396768?hpt=Sbin On a storm update front - the folks a block above us are still all evacuated (they were told this would last at least a week) and we are in a lull right now waiting for the next hit. I'll repeat what I'm hearing about this next one being the worst, but they've been saying that about every storm so far. Currently they are showing the latest press conference/thankathon/political-media-grab-fest. Kind of a joke really. So far the real heroes have been the local people like the lady who spent all last night schlepping hot coffee up to the agencies on the front lines. And the retired school teacher who walks the neighborhood once a day knocking on doors to make sure everyone is okay. They're telling us if the mud comes it will sound like a freight train headed our way. And yesterday I left the air compressor in the garage plugged in (which I never normally do), and yes it started up about 2:AM and scared the crap out of Julia and me. NickD

Thank you Carl, that's really appreciated . . . But so far so good here @ 11:40AM. I went up the street looking to see if anyone needed help getting out as this is an older neighborhood with lots of seniors. It looks like most people left sometime over night or early this morning but there were plenty who are going to ride it out. I can applaud a hearty spirit but I'm not sure they realize the gravity of the situation. Some of this I suppose is due to evacuation fatigue, as some of them have been evacuated several times during the fire and a previous storm. Both the large catch basins that bookend us are already full. And their outlet conduits simply can't empty them fast enough. The worst of the rain is almost upon us so the next few hours will tell the tale . . . NickD

We just found out we are one block outside the mandatory evacuation zone, but inside the warning area . . . Here's the video I mentioned up-boad and as you'll see this area has a long history of this sort of thing and it's well know by the residents here. (Regardless of what Warped thinks.) And the combination of the recent fires (the largest in LA history) plus the El Nino WX pattern is bumping this up into the "perfect storm" category. http://glendale.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=54 And I was going to paint Nina this week . . . NickD

>>California, where people think they are superior to everyone else, until it rains or snows or heavy traffic.

11:30 in La Crescenta: Thunder, lightning, and hail . . . NickD

Only a steady light rain since this afternoon here in La Crescenta and we just drove the two blocks up to the base of mountains, and the burn area, for a look-see. Some water is flowing down the streets but mostly in the gutters so nothing too serious as yet. Tomorrow afternoon should be the first big punch with the hillsides saturated. Earlier this evening the local fire chief held a briefing via the cities TV channel informing folks in our area to be ready to evacuate at anytime throughout the week. NickD

Happy B-Day, Wendy . . . NickD

Ramona! - We had a drop zone there for a few years in the early 80s. We dodged the bullet, as far as mudslides, during the last set of storms, so we'll see about his time. We are located right below the burn areas of the Station Fire in La Crescenta. NickD

Can't tell the difference, can you? http://www.babelgum.com/4022027/kids-reenact-mtvs-hit-series-jersey-shore.html NickD

Wow . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXHopCrs46U NickD

No matter the machine you decide on most will suggest taking a MSF Basic Rider Course, or at least buying the 'Ride like a Pro" videos . . . But I'll save you some money, here's all there is to know about riding a motorcycle . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENXMovIvr-o NickD

I used Gumby in all my first jump classes as a training aid. And he already comes with "bootie" feet too . . . NickD

More . . . And me with the EASY RIDER movie bikes. (Don't think they are the real ones but cool none the less!) Also they had Honda's new factory chopper there. I recall Honda saying in the 1970s that the V-Twin was dead. Now they are playing catch up. But the bike's all plastic, even the chrome bits. And the welds are horrible, almost hard to believe it's a factory build. The last photo is a close up of the neck and the welds look like they didn't even penetrate. NickD

Back home . . . The Easy Rider show was cool! By the time we left around 1PM the crowd showed up, but we walked through in the morning with the place almost to ourselves. Honestly I didn't see a bike I liked as much as Nina, and only one was there built on her frame. Long bikes were in evidence but it was mostly very blinged up bobbers and baggers. When I posted the photos of the Long Beach Swap Meet some complained it was all bikes and no babes so I took pains to include some this time . . . NickD

Wow, there's nobody here at the bike show. The economy maybe? BTW, first iPhone post ... NickS

Yeah, it's a look. But Nina will be a black girl with small red accents here and there . . . I'm off to the Easyrider show in Pomona. I'll be back with photos! NickD

Cool, a Guzzi, can't go wrong with something Italian between you legs . . . NickD

Cool vid, digging that chick . . . Thanks Gypsy! Got it blasting in the garage! NickD

Well, as Squeak pointed out winter number two begins in my part of the world . . . But another milestone is passed. I got my Belt Drive today. And I just had to quickie mock assemble the motor plate and pulleys to check it out. And it looks like the final assembly will go together without any shimming. They built this frame dead nuts on, so I'm really jazzed about that. I was going to mock up all the way to ride-ability but I've rethought that plan. With all the red Locktight that's going on the belt drive it's going to be on there to stay. So! Time for paint and bodywork! I'll start taking her apart tomorrow for prep and paint. I have a starter on order, a rear chain and sprockets, a shift linkage, and the pads I needed for the rear brakes. All I need now is a carburetor and I've got some good leads on one of those. The last hurdle will be Nina's wiring and the smoke test! But now all the spendy stuff is done, and thank goodness, between school, Nina, and my regular monthly bills I could now author a book of 99 ways to cook Top Ramon Noodles . . . NickD

Condolences . . . NickD

She was training female riggers . . . But she's in New Zealand right now as her dad is ill. It's Helliwell . . . NickD

Opened mine in the garage . . . Nina's glittered now . . . NickD

is a drink Bill Booth showed me about twenty years ago . . . But now I sit below the bare San Gabriel Mountains (burned off in the Station Fire) watching the rain come down. The next few hours should bring the heaviest downpours. They just evacuated a small part of the Tujunga Canyon which is a few miles west of here because the ground is starting to move. The forecast is for storms today, storms Thursday, and storms Saturday. NickD

I'm finally starting to appreciate Tiger's talent. I hear it's 12 now . . . NickD