The Economy SUCKS in California- Don't Believe What the White House is Telling You

Please explain to me how well our economy is doing Mr. Biden.

Denny's Restaurants just announced this week that they're closing 150 locations. CVS is closing 300 stores by the end of the year. Walgreens is closing 1200 stores! In 2024, California is the 5th largest economy in the entire world. And we have the most billionaires living here. But grocery and gas prices are still on the rise. PG$E bills have doubled in just the past few years. Home and car insurance have both raised their prices significantly! Home insurance companies are dropping policies, because they're losing money. Highway 1 is closed off in Big Sur. There are roads that I used to use in my local area that are closed and have not been repaired for YEARS, because California doesn't have enough money to fix them? Bridge tolls are going up AGAIN, claiming that they're still in a deficit from the Pandemic. BART is raising their prices again. Both Oakland and San Francisco are MILLIONS over budget (SF $800M and Oakland $80M) and can't close the gap. Where are all my California taxes going???? I am paying over $14K in property taxes alone this year!! These are ALL reasons why I am planning my move out of California, a once glorious state- the state where I was born.

These are all signs of a good healthy economy? Don't drink the Kool-Aid.

Yes, the stock market is at its all-time high, but the stock market IS NOT an indicator of the economy.

I Think I Have Time For That... I Retired!!!

So I did a crazy thing the other day. I went ahead and quit my job (because it sucked)- I decided to get on with my retirement. Until recently, I was an MRI technologist working for the Big-K (Kaiser Permanente) in Oakland, California. I actually really loved what I was doing, but was not crazy about my employer and management. A few years back, I used to train MRI techs and I would always teach them on the first day- make no mistake about it, healthcare is a business and all the decisions that are made are business decisions a.k.a. it's all about the money. They don't necessarily care about the welfare of the customers, it's all about the money.

And that is Kaiser in a nutshell- not giving staff enough time to properly do their jobs, not having the proper equipment on hand, forcing the techs and staff to do things against what they're supposed to do. At Kaiser, I would constantly say that they're just pushing their luck waiting to kill a patient, THEN maybe policies will change, at least for a little while. (I worked there for two and a half years and NEVER ONCE did we EVER do a CODE BLUE drill! I would spot check staff about the procedures and no one knew what to do!) And that's exactly would did happen. Again and again. The pandemic made things worse in that we were constantly short-staffed. And the more short-staffed we were, the more morale would decline and more staff would call out sick. When staff individuals quit, most of the time the staff member would not be replaced. Management style was reverting back to the late 90's. It was a thankless job. I actually wanted to quit a year and a half ago, until I realized that if I didn't achieve at least 5 years, I would not vest and all my miserable time spent working at Kaiser would add up to nothing with the pension.

So I tried applying to other jobs outside of my normal job scope. I applied for 10 months for just about any office position until I finally got a call! I took a job as a cashier in the Eye Center. When I arrived for my first day, they asked me if I would mind cross-training into scheduling. I didn't know better, so I said okay. They didn't tell me that there was very little training involved and I would be talking to 100 angry old people who couldn't hear you on the phone! It was literally 45% of my MRI pay. After 3 days, I figured that if I was going to work a job that sucked, I might as well get paid for it, so I returned to my former sucky position.

But that also spurred me on to start working on a retirement forecasting spreadsheet that recorded all my assets and liabilities. The forecasting projected through my 90 's (as well as my wife's). I came up with a plan and calculated that as soon as I crossed my 5-year line with Kaiser, I could "retire" at the early age of 59. I knew that I would not have Medicare for another 6 years, but I built that into my plan. Most people don't really know where they stand with their retirements- they just know that they don't want to run out of money, so they keep working. I was able to see that even quitting at 59-years-old (my wife already stopped working 3 years ago), we would never run out of money. By my calculations, by the time we're in our 90's, we should still have tons of money in the bank, and all along we should have enough money to live like we already do- toys, vacations and all.

My point is: if I can do it, you can do it! With the way things are today, working isn't what it used to be. Figuring out your retirement isn't rocket science- it's strictly math. You have all the tools to forecast and plan it. If you have a good plan and the discipline to follow it, you're golden!

Mounting the ARB Awning, Again!!!

Today I was set on getting my ARB awning on the Jeep. I called in sick today, since my body (and attitude) has been so worn and beaten from work for the past three weeks. I've got a lot of little projects to get done and I just don't have that many free days off to get things done. I truly needed this mental rest day just to sharpen my saw.

I already had the Rhino rack on the Jeep from the iKamper installation. The awning is so long that I really wanted to add a third rack rail to the top to give the awning more stability, since I will be taking the "overlanding" setup rock-crawling. I had another Surco rack set laying around and figured that I could reuse the front rack assembly. When I bought the used Rhino Rack bars from ExtremeTerrain, I somehow ended up with an extra (third) bar for free! So I thought it would be nice to get that into the mix. But when I tried to attach it to the feet a few weeks ago, the inserts would not work right, so I went ahead and ordered some more off of Amazon. I bought some Chinese knock-offs to save some money. What could go wrong?! Lol!

The idea was to mount the third bar in a manner that I would later be able to use it to carry traction boards or extra Rotopax fuel cans. I removed the Surco bar from the feet, then tried to attach the Rhino bar to them with the new kits from Amazon. As it turns out, the screws were too long, so I had to hunt through the garage for some suitable replacements.

I got the new bar assembly onto the top of the Jeep. Then I tried attaching the awning. I mounted both front and rear awning stays on the tops of the bars. There was a difference in heights between the Rhino and Surco rack bars. The Rhino setup has such a low profile that the awning mounted at a downward angle front to back. Hmmm...something I hadn't really considered. Okay. So I mounted the front awning stay to the bottom of the Surco bar. Much better! Close to perfect, but now the awning sat so low that the driver door couldn't even open. Also when mounting the stay to the bottom of the bar, the stay was so long that it ran into the mounting foot, so it was sticking out away from the roof quite a bit!

I decided to whomp on them awning stays and do some cutting and drilling. I drilled three new holes in each 1 inch higher that the original holes. I also took the front stay and cut 2 inches off its length. I sprayed a little satin black paint on them to keep the rust away, then it was time to mount.

In order to mount the stay on the front, I had to remove the rack from the top and slide the foot aside, so I could have access to tighten the bar mounting screws. At this time, I also measured 8" off the RTT so that the Rotopax will fit comfortably when mounted. The rear stay was a bit more work. One of the awning stay bolts was buried under the RTT, so I had to unmount both left and right mounts for the tent, just so I could lift the tent assembly to give me access to tighten the bolt! Of course after I had it all tightened up back together again, I realized I needed to undo it again, so I could be able to tighten the bolts that attached awning to the stay! Argh!!!

Once it was all back together and tightened up, the awning was mounted solidly and level! Yay! The mounts were far enough apart that they will have plenty of support when things get rough. 

My Honda CRF300L- a Little Horror Story.....

After riding the CRF300LA for one dirt outing, the bike had an issue with the ABS system. I had decided that the bike needed a different kickstand, since it made the bike sit so high that I always thought it would just fall over if a light wind hit it. I bought an adjustable replacement from T-Rex Racing and installed it. I used the youtube video from JaketheGardenSnake, which also showed how to disable the factory kickstand engine killer safety device. The device is designed to kill the motor if the rider tries to put the bike in gear with the bike running and the kickstand is still down. After I finished doing the kill switch bypass, I gave it a quick test by starting the bike and putting the bike into first gear with the stand still down. To verify that the bike was truly in gear, I slipped the clutch and let the rear wheel spin a few rotations at a slow speed. Well, after that, the bike was never the same. From then on, the ABS light would be constantly flashing no matter what.

I went online and tried to do combination button resets, riding the bike past a specific speed, etc. Nothing would reset the light. It was probably tripped because the computer thinks that there is an ABS deployment case, when the front and the rear wheel are turning at different speeds. I asked the forums and got radio silence. Some forum informations suggested that it was an OBD issue and that the stealership can just hook up their reader and reset the light. I realized I was over my head and that I should just take it to Honda and let them reset it.

After calling around, the only local Honda dealer that had immediate time slots to reset the light was in Berkeley, so I rode the bike there. After a couple of hours (I got there just in time for the techs to take their lunches), Carl, the service department rep, informed me that it wasn't as easy as a quick reset. and that the system was reading a speed sensor error code. They needed to order the part and they would call me when the part arrived. I rode back home with the problem unsolved. Two weeks later, I was back again to install the speed sensor part.

Again I waited a couple of hours. Apparently the new speed sensor did not fix the problem either, so the tech was on the phone getting advise from Honda, the mothership in Ohio. They finally told me that they needed to order a couple of more parts to try on and that again they'll call me when the parts arrive. Again, I rode home issue still in hand.

A couple of weeks later, I loaded the bike on my hitch rack and I was back at the dealership, but this time, I was advised that they would need to keep the bike, while they'll have to correspond with Honda to get the problem fixed. I called them every week hoping for progress. They swapped out more ABS parts including the rear ABS disable switch. Nothing seemed to work. They had to order another ECU, thinking that could be the problem.

Five weeks passed. FINALLY I got the call that the bike was ready for pickup!! When I picked up the bike, I asked Carl if they ever figured out what caused the problem. He told me that nothing that they replaced fixed the issue. They even tried a different (new) ECU and that didn't do the trick either. Then suddenly the blinking light went away! I could've been a loose/bad connection in the loom and that by messing around with it so much, the connection finally seated. Who really knows? He said that if the problem comes back, I can always have them check it out again. Well, that's just swell.

So if I never brought the bike back to Honda, there is no way that I would ever have intentionally fixed the blinking light. Maybe over time, it could've fixed itself. This also means that for anyone with this bike (or me in the future), this problem or something worse could happen to them/me, more than likely after the warranty has expired.

I'm Going Fuckin' Crazy

Having a puppy means that often I can't even have 2 minutes to myself to think. I'm not just training the puppy, I am training my wife to train the puppy. She is having more problems with Toffee than me. Toffee likes to jump up and down on her and bite. Me? Not as much. When I need time, I have to steal it by going into the garage to work on the bike. At this point, work is a better place to be.

It's so frustrating trying to blog, while my wife and the dog are around. I usually can't even finish writing a full sentence. And when I actually have to explain to Emily why I need time to myself, I need extra time to calm down, before having my alone time. Argh!!!!

CRF300L- My First Dirt Ride

It's Christmas day. Like most people who work, I have the day off. This Christmas is unlike Christmas days of the past- for the first time ever, I have nothing scheduled! My dear mother moved to SoCal to retire in the warmer climate (and to be closer to my sister and her grandsons) and Emily's family scheduled no get togethers. Her sister made a last minute announcement that she's heading out of town (pre-planned unannouncement). I was determined not to let this day go to waste. It hasn't rained in a week, so the trails should be in pretty good shape, so I decided to take the bike out to a nearby park and test out all my new equipment.

I mounted up the Versahaul on the Jeep yesterday, so I wouldn't have to do everything all on the same day. I wanted to see if I could omit the hitch drop/extender this time to bring the bike closer to center, reducing leverage, increasing stability, but I wasn't sure if the handlebars and pegs would clear. Also I needed to test a method of getting the bike up the ramp, since the Jeep is so tall. I got a few sturdy milk crates lined up along the side of the rack, so I could elevate myself as I walked the bike up the ramp. I also needed to turn the bike on and clutch it up the ramp in first gear, but it got up there and indeed it fit just fine without the extender! I loaded up all my gear and off I went to Frank Raines OHV!

It took about an hour to get to the park. It's a bit of a drive down Hwy 5, then there's still another 16 miles of windy roads to get into Del Puerto Canyon. Carnegie is much closer, but I know that park is harder and for my first time out, I wanted to be somewhere that I was familiar with. Also Frank Raines is not as popular, so I figured there would be less traffic out there on a Christmas day.

When I got to the park, I saw that there was one other vehicle in the parking lot- a big dually truck with a giant toy-hauler. I found an incline at the back of the parking lot and used that slope to help get the bike off the rack, reducing the steep angle of the ramp. I found a nice picnic table and got situated over there, so I could lay out my gear and get organized. I used the document cubby on the bike to carry my cell phone, Garmin Mini and car keys, leaving everything else behind. I elected not to wear the chest protector. I did try it on, but it just seemed too bulky and I couldn't even pull the jersey over it. I had also already decided to return it to Amazon, so I didn't want it to appear as worn. I got dressed with all my other new gear, hopped on my bike and headed out to find a trail.

I started on the East Ridge and climbed up the hill. After a bit, it forked off to Fire Road. And then I encountered a couple of puddles in the road. I had the option to select the road to the left and avoid the water altogether, but I was feeling like that optional road might take me away from the Fire Road, so I elected to negotiate the puddles. How deep could they possibly be anyway? I picked the one on the right. I slowly entered and I found that it was about 16" deep! Yikes! The front wheel started to wash out and then the rear wheel lost traction and the bike fell over on it's right side! I didn't get trapped, as I already tried to put my right foot down to help the bike stay upright, but the mud was too soft to even stand in. The engine stopped by itself. My boots both filled with water. I took a couple of seconds to compose myself, before attempting to get out of this mess. I restarted the motor and tried to walk the bike out in first gear. The bike only starts in neutral with the kickstand up (which is kind of fucked up) and I was on the right side of the bike, so I had to start the bike in neutral, reach over the seat and pop it into first gear, as I was holding onto the clutch with my right hand, then switch hands again to get my hands on the handlebars. The rear tire was stuck in a hole and the bike would not make forward progress. I tried 2-3 times with no success- the rear wheel was just digging deeper. I knew if I kept attempting like this, I would just make my situation even worse. So I directed the front wheel 30° to the right and sure enough, the bike slowly worked its way out. My socks were soaked with muddy water. My pants and right glove were covered in muck. I shook it off and headed back to the Jeep. Wow! Right off the bat! Into the mud hole!

On the way back to the Jeep, I decided I wasn't going to let this incident get the best of me. Once I got to the base intersection, I headed up West Ridge trail. There were some steeper and loose stuff, but nothing that was too scary. I learned that the throttle was very sensitive in first gear- throttle pop and chop. Second gear was much smoother. I got to the part where the road takes a sharp left and heads steeply down the hill. I didn't feel like attempting this today, so I walked the bike around and headed back down to the parking lot again. Before getting there, I encountered a very steep decline, where my rear tire was losing traction. Nearer to the bottom of this hill, I thought I was going to stack, so I let off the brakes slightly and just ran it out. A good save!

I'd only been out for about half an hour, so I decided to try East Ridge again. This time, I tried the split to the left- a good choice! The road took me to the Jeep playground, where I saw a JKU trying out his suspension on the big tires. I continued on with the trail where I caught up to a big blue GMC. After trailing him for a few minutes, he let me pass by. As it turned out, the road only went for about another 1/4 mile. At that point, I turned around and headed back to the parking lot after passing him again, and then the Jeep also that was making his way up the road.

Man, I couldn't wait to get those cold wet boots off my feet! I stripped down to my bicycle shorts and changed into a dry t-shirt. I took a few minutes to warm up and collect myself. When it came time to load up the bike again, I drove the Jeep to that incline, but when I tried to position the bike higher up on the slope, I had issues- the ground was soft and while trying to turn the bike around, it almost dumped on top of me. Luckily, there was a big side-by-side that saw me and the guy came over to give me a hand. He immediately recognized that I was new to this, so he just did it for me and gave me some tips for next time. On my way out, I drove by and gave him and his wife a "Merry Christmas!". 

After I got home, I unloaded the bike and all my gear and went in for a hot shower. I left the rack on to take off another day. That night, I washed all my gear by hand and let them hang dry. I also rinsed out my boots with fresh water a few times, then left them upside down to drain out and dry.

Well, I got the first day down in the books. and I got the first major drop of the bike out of the way. The bike needs a good wash, then I'll hit the reset button and wait for the next dry period to take her out again!

How Low Can You Go?

In the tradition of dirt bikes, this dual-sport enduro is plenty tall. Honda specs the seat height at 34.6", but it sure seems higher than that. (I think I have a 29" inseam.) Even just trying to keep ONE foot partially on the ground and the other on the bike is pretty impossible. But I bought the bike with a game plan :)

I wasted no time in working on the first part of the plan. I had done some research on just how much I can cut down on the seat. The bike came with a fancy expensive Seat Concepts premium comfort saddle, but I didn't mind shaving it down. I bought an electric turkey carving knife from Walmart and went to town on that seat. I took my time and was deliberate about my measurements and my cuts. The hardest part was getting the staples to stick back in the seat to hold the cover back on. Some areas took 4-5 tries, but I got it in the end. The entire project probably took about 3 hours with the going back and forth to the bike to try it out and all. I effectively cut just over an inch off the seat.

Part two of my lowering strategy- working with the suspension. I have looked at all the different options of how to lower that rear shock. Most popular are the lowering bones (because they're cheap), but they tend to change the leverage on the spring, therefore making it feel softer. Also some report that it enables the rear tire to bind into the fender, if taking a hard hit. The best option is probably purchasing a whole new shock that can be custom built "shorter", but the cost is anywhere from $600-$900. Yikes! The third alternative is to drill a different mounting hole in the shock bracket, therefore lowering the bike. Simple. This solution does not alter the characteristics of the shock or spring. And this mod is completely reversible! I just popped the bike on my stand, removed the rear shock, drilled the two holes (one on each side, so the bolt can go through). No need to remove any panels! The whole project only took just over an hour. This lowered the bike another 1.5"! I reciprocated with the forks by raising them 18mm in the triple clamps. This only changed the head angle from 27.5° to 27.0° a very nominal change!

Between the seat and the rear shock mod, I reduced the seat height by over 3"! Now, I can sit pretty comfortably on the bike with one foot almost fully flat on the ground or two toes on the ground! I'm not looking to flat-foot both sides (that would be utterly ridiculous!), so this is going to work out just fine for me!