The Start

8-12-97


The Chinese say that even the longest journey begins with a single step. I took that step on Monday, August 12th. Unfortunately, one step was all I got. I had planned my trip to Alaska to go through Deming, New Mexico so I could have some routine maintenance done on the BMW. I stopped at Deming Cycle to get the work done and to visit with Don Cameron, the owner. Not long into the work, I got some bad news. Somehow, water had gotten into the transmission and was rapidly doing damage. There was no choice but to repair the transmission.
I have been riding in a lot of rain lately and assume a seal had failed. Now, the bike is in lots of pieces waiting on parts to be shipped into Deming.
There is a silver lining to every cloud. The New Mexico Moto Guzzi National Owners Club representative, Cynthia Standlee, lives in Las Cruces about an hour away. Don loaned me a Honda Shadow and Cynthia put me up for the night. We've had a great visit. Something I normally wouldn't have had time to do.