Dan, Chad and I got up and hit the road in search of much needed maintenance supplies for my bike. While Dan ran a few errands I changed the oil, lubed and tightened the chain, washed the bike and generally showed the girl some love after the abuse of the last ten days. After a bit Dan and his buddy Mark (RC51 owner) showed up so we could leave to go to the airport. One question, why does everyone in LA drive like they're pissed off? I mean, really pissed. Anyway we make it to the airport with about an hour to spare and after we get the flight info, we go upstairs to get a few cold ones. After we offended the waiter by not ordering food we paid and went back downstairs. Within a few minutes I hear from down the corridor "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi". The future men have arrived. I think it was Bucket yelling like that, something about not getting his cavity searched. After his first "Durry" on American soil, we left for a welcoming party at Biffs house. I would like to thank everyone who came out to welcome us to Cali. MrBiff, Night Train, Harley, FnSquirrel , GlennC, SonnyBoy, DirtyYamaha, MarkRc51, and Kaluka. The drinking started with a flask of Crown Royal Cast 16 I had brought with me from the east coast. After that I started helping Bucket with his bottle of Makers Mark. Evidently we weren't the only ones getting hammered as Dano tried to relive Buckets famous shorts pose.
Great food, great people, great dog
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made for a great evening that had to end far too early. I sometimes forget that most of these people have to go to work the next day. Sorry. After a little while on the interstate back to Dans house we introduced Bucket and Leggy to the bikes they've owned for the last six months. Leggy, the older and more mature world traveler of the two, promptly jumps on the Super Hawk and blasts to the end of the parking lot and back. The cops showed up not too long after that so we moved the party upstairs and tried to finish the Makers Mark. Almost did it too.Dano says:
We roll out for supplies to service Hockey's and Chads bikes. While we were out, we stopped in at Qdoba's Mexican for a bite to eat. David says he isn't to hungry, well you sure made fast work of that lunch! Hockey was a blessing from above, he wrenched on the bikes like a mad man without any hesitation. I almost think he likes wrenching. If it wasn't for David, I would have had a melt down. I was burning the candle at both ends with a blow torch and he took so much heat off of me. Looking back I don't see or remember the stress so much, because (you) David helped me so much... not only then, the WHOLE trip when you were around. You my pal are a great person, my hat goes off to you.
We cleaned up and waited for Mark to pick us (David and I) up to go to LAX to meet the Aussies. We arrived at LAX, parked and directed ourselves to the nearest beer dispenser. All that we could find was a foo-foo restaurant upstairs, so we sat down and ordered a few rounds. We demolished a few baskets of the "free" appetizer bread. The waiter got a bit agitated that we ate the bread and drank just beers. Time to go meet and greet the foreigners, it wasn't long before I smelled a foul stench, and sure as hell, Leggy(John aka Chewie) rounded the corner. I saw Chewie easily as he towered above everyone, wondering where Bucket(Greg aka Grubbery) was I asked "what is that smell?" He pointed down, and THERE was Bucket, all 5 foot-2inches of him. He might be small, but he makes up for it in smell. Hey Bucket, are you French?
So handshakes and hugs all around before we get the luggage, we head out to the parking structure. As we are about to climb into the truck, Bucket asks to have his first smoke on 'Murrican soil. After his nicotine fix I tell Chewie to get in the front passenger seat of the truck. He goes over to the front drivers side and stands there next to Mark, I say again...."Chewie, sit in the front seat". So he stands there again looking at Mark. HaHa...we both had brain farts as he was trying to sit in the passenger seat in an Australian car,(whoops wrong side) and I didn't realize that he didn't make that connection.
We load up and tear ass to MrBiff's house to the SoCal welcome party. We arrive to the party and then make a run to the beer store for more beers. Bucket and Chewie are stunned at the prices of everything, Bucket loves America all ready because of the cheap whiskey prices. I must admit that we have some GREAT peeps here in SoCal, thanks everyone for showing up on a week night to invite these Aussies into 'Murrica. The party was excellent with awesome local BBque and plenty of tasty beers/whiskey. The cast of characters never cease to amaze me, they threw out the welcome mat to both the Aussies AND Hockey. I sure had a good night, thanks everyone...MrBiff, MrsBiff, Night Train, GlennC, Sonnyboy, Dirtyamaha, FnSquirrel, Nimec, Harley(and her girl), Kuhlka, MarkRC51,
thanks so much to everyone that made that night awesome. Well the time was getting late and we had a hour drive back home, so we headed out. When we arrived to my place, the Oz fellas wanted to see their bikes. As soon as I opened the garage, Chewie had started the SuperHawk and tore ass down the parking lot and back. The cat was outta the bag Chewie can't fool me, from that stunt I knew I was dealing with an experienced rider haha. Bucket had "enjoyed" to much of the Makers Mark to test ride the Sprint, he just sat on it and started it to hear it run. I of course had to fire off the RC51 with its 2 into 1 Jardine pipes, well lets just say that they aren't exactly quite, and within a whole 30 seconds of bikes running at 10:30 at night we had disturbed the neighbors, yes the PoPo made did a drive by and warned us to stop making noise late at night. No worries, as we wanted to continue the drinking. So upstairs we go to finish off the bottle of bourbon and beers. With the dwindling supply of drinks, we made a liquor run with a Del Taco intervention, tacos and burritos for everyone. I took control of the situation about 2:30am and said its time to call it quits....Bucket said he wanted a drink or two more. Ok, but we are going to bed. With the lights off, this is what I heard. Bucket opening the balcony door, walks to the kitchen, the freezer door opening, ice falling into a glass, the cap on a bottle of bourbon being unscrewed, bourbon being poured, coke poured, the mixed drink being stirred, Bucket sipping the drink, Bucket saying, "that's the good shit", Bucket walking back outside for another durry. Ok, who was he talking to? With a beginning night of drinking like this, I knew that we were going to waste a lot of brain cells on this trip. BUCKET says:
I remember as we were flying into LA, WTF look at the size of this place. After a 13-14 hour flight, with a baby crying a lot of the way(no not Leggy)it was great to get off the plane. After getting through customs (which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be) my beatches were there to meet us. Dano, Hockey and Dano's mate Mark. Instantly we were made to feel at home and started talking bulls#*t straight away. Then it was into Mark's truck and into the LA traffic. OMFG, talk about crazy fn Mericans. I think I had wet myself about 3 times by the time we got to Mr & Mrs Biff's house where the SoCal crew were waiting. Again, a great bunch of peeps who made us feel at home. Thanks everyone for coming to meet us. Biff had ordered in barbecue everything which we gorged ourselves on and we drank and talked a lot of s#*t. Much appreciation to all the SoCal crew and Mr Peabody. Then it was back to Dano's to check out the bikes, I was too tidly by then to take the Sprint for a lap but Chewie roared off down the parkin lot and got the cops called on us, fn trouble maker. Then we settled into some serious dranking and bulls#*ting, the rest is kinda blurry.
(wave smiley)
