daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
Today I set up a new waterproof bag for Kiki, and I am really happy with how it turned out. The bag is thirty liters and fits perfectly on the passenger seat and rear rack. I love my North Face Base Camp duffel, but at seventy liters it is enormous. It will be great if I ever need to haul a mountain of gear for moto camping, but for everyday riding it is way too big. For carrying my tools and a spare inner tube, this smaller bag feels just right.
Kiki, my 2007 BMW F650 GS, and I went out for a quick spin to fuel up. It wasn’t a long ride, but it felt great to zip around the neighborhood for a bit. Even short rides always put me in a good mood!
Later in the afternoon, my son and I went to see Tron: Ares, which had plenty of awesome motorcycle scenes – both real ones and the new+classic light-cycles. It was such a cool movie! The original Tron was one of my favorite films growing up, so it was a real treat to see those old-school computer graphics make a return for a few scenes.
Today Kiki and I went for a fun ride around North Austin, cruising through some of our favorite roads before heading out west and then back home. Check out the video to ride along with us!
Today I went to look at motorcycles with my friend and I spotted what might be my future bike, or at least the same model. This one only had 200 miles on the odometer and a few add-ons, so it would be a great find for someone. I prefer a different livery for the Triumph Speed Twin 900, so I wasn’t too tempted to buy it. What really caught my eye, though, was a little bell attached to the bottom of the frame.
It turns out this is called a gremlin bell and it’s meant to keep away mischievous gremlins that cause mechanical trouble. The fun part is that you’re not supposed to buy one for yourself. It has to be given to you by someone who cares about you. It’s like a protective charm with a built-in story.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for a rider in your life, there are some great options like the Guardian Bell, the Angel Rider Bell, or even plain styles. What a neat tradition!
I came across a post in the Austin Motorcycling subreddit called “100 mile burger,” where riders share their favorite burger spots that are just far enough away to make the ride feel like an adventure. I saved a handful of recommendations and decided to check one off my list today.
The ride out to Tex Miller’s in Cameron took about an hour and a half, winding through Hutto and Taylor. I’d been that way a couple of months back, so I already knew it would be a good route.
Tex Miller’s is a cozy, family-run spot serving up tasty smashed burgers. I went for the bacon cheeseburger, and it did not disappoint – juicy, flavorful, and just the right amount of messy. Paired with an ice-cold root beer, it was the perfect reward after cruising through the Texas heat with temps pushing into the 90s.
