Patience, Patience - April 23

Monday, April 23

Phone calls and emails reveal that the MZ might arrive today or tomorrow, and eventually, tomorrow. Kaj is on their case too, and being in the business of transport, he has a less benevolent view of their explanations for the delay. For my part I run some chores, and borrow a bicycle to ride to Long Beach, where there's a motorcycle shop. Gotta see if one can get two stroke oil over here.

Kaj had offered to lend me his Nimbus, but sightseeing is better done while pedaling. So I note all the different architectural styles, a few interesting old cars, business signs and such, while trying not to get run over by cars. This is all very exciting, so better enjoy it, because it'll be normal and boring in a few days.

Riding along the coast I also see probably thousands of private sailing boats and speed boats. It's an affluent area, with beachfront properties and nice houses, yet not so filthy rich that they also can afford much of a garden between said houses. Then across the street there may be some industrial hellscape with oil pumps and refineries, just as the occasional oil pump is seen situated smack in the middle of some suburban development.

A poorer neighborhood, predominantly black and Hispanic, appears, and eventually I reach the Triumph workshop I was aiming for. A rider shows up, the owner it turns out, tells me all bike shops are closed on Mondays. Talkative chap, gives me a rundown on the area (oil rich, lots of customs shops for cars and motorcycles) and mentions that aside from running and wrenching on the new Triumph twins, he's also a Corvair man. This gets my attention. He owns a stack of Chevy Corvairs, including some of the vans.

Porsche Speedster down the street, the real deal rather than a kit car.

Beach view, without yesterday's surfer waves. Note one of several oil rigs out at sea.

Quinessential oil pump in a residential area is a common sight.

Dave of A & E motorcycles, with his high mileage twin. The modern versions may be extremely civilized, compared to the original ones, with their balancer shafts and all, but once worked upon they will show heir fangs, he claims.