Apr 11 - another birthday goes by

April 11 is always a date that gives me pause -- my Dad's birthday. May 12 was my Thompson grandmother's; October 29 is my Mom's ... they are the only ones that stuck in my mind. I do know mine, Sandy's, David, Stef, Jeffrey ... but don't have their spouse's or our grand-daughter's memorized. I know most months. Oh yes, I also know my brother's and sister's. I know one more ... Alexander's ... from and to.

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The 11th was a busy day for me and the Harley, since it was my mode of transportation all day.

I headed out to the BMW dealer in Daytona, which is located close to the Dermatologist to find out if they had the nut required to attach the uninstalled control arm. Nope. It would have to be ordered. I told the guy that I'd see if I could source the nut and he said as long as it's self-locking M10, I'd be good to go ...

From there I headed to the dermatologist and things went south. I'd checked the address online before leaving, to get a visual on where they were on Clyde Morris Blvd, but couldn't find the location. I called them and found that I was in the wrong city ... they're in Ormond, not Daytona. Rats ! I'd not paid much attention when Googling the address and Daytona popped up. Ormond is just down the road and of course the numbers start over again. I was going to be late ... they rescheduled for May 2. Rats.

Back home, I had lunch and then went to Fastenall, buying not only the nuts (they have a 5 piece minimum) but washers in case I couldn't salvage the one on the car. $5 later I was on my way, probably less than it would have cost for the one "special order" nut from BMW :).

Still on the bike, I went to the UPS store and dropped off the hub going back to White Industries that I'd pre-packaged and then Publix to pick up some bandaids to decorate my knees that are starting to heal.

Home again, I got the X5 up on the stands and proceeded to cut off that nut. It would have been easy except that there's not much room to work, but eventually I got there. Leaving that for the moment or else I'd be late for my next appointment, I washed up and headed to see the optometrist.

My eyes checked out ok, first appointment in 3 years, I think. My prescription hadn't changed very much so I'll probably just keep my existing sunglasses and everyday glasses. I am, however, going to do something about my riding glasses. I tried on a few pairs and decided to leave it until I come back with my bike and helmet, so that I can be sure that this is going to work. Hopefully I'll be able to do that today.

Back home, I finished up that control arm, only taking a few minutes to install the new one -- getting good at this -- and got the car back together (wheel on) and out in the driveway, vacating the garage. I still haven't decided whether I'll tackle the tie rods. I was going to stop at Tire Kingdom yesterday but it looked pretty busy when I drove by.

So I put about 100 miles on the Harley yesterday, no doubt saving some gas in the process. I probably produced just as much pollution, however, since these things aren't as clean burning as today's modern cars.

We had chicken for dinner and then watched the end of a movie while I laced up new wheels. The spokes and rim had arrived from Excel Sports so I brought up an online site that explained how to do a 3-cross lace and now understand the concept of leading and trailing spokes. It does make sense :). That's now done but of course the spokes are loose and I have to go through the truing process -- perhaps I'll do that tonight, another in-front-of-the-tv type job !

Sheryl and Jimmy arrive tonight; Sandy will be picking them up at Orlando Sanford airport. Today I hope to get out riding again and on the way, stop at the optometrist and check out those glasses.

Onward ?