introduction

My first endeavor at reporting motorcycle stuff on the net occurred around the turn of the century.

THE HOME PAGE OF A FOP-HF (A FOOLISH OLD PERSON HAVING FUN)

No sounds or songs or dancing clowns - just words and pictures.

For all FOPs entering their second childhood -- Let us Pray.

After more years, more weight and less hair than one likes to admit, and as the FOP (Foolish Old Person) that one has become, I find myself entering my second childhood - although - perhaps I never left my first. Over time we have attempted a variety of experiments or endeavors which some call

"learning experiences"

usually after some failure or catastrophe.

Our typical questions at such times are "Why did we start?"; How can we stop?" and; "How are we going to clean up the mess?"

We have carved a totem pole with a chainsaw; stomped a tub of wild grapes barefoot, to make wine (which exploded and gave us a purple kitchen ceiling); raised peafowl, (one of whom became egg bound and required "treatment"), pheasants (which we did not have the heart to bring to the table and so released and who we still see around with their offspring), ducks (several of whom succumbed to a raccoon raid one night - if you don't ask we won't tell what raccoons do to ducks) and; geese (two of whom managed to drown themselves, bird brains that they were) and other fun(?)things.

Us? We are, married (to each other), early retired, Wisconsin residents (she from Hermantown in the Gopher State, he from the Bluegrass via the Show Me State). In addition to a dog we have 4 cats, several large koi and several varieties of grapes and fruit trees. Several years ago one of the koi developed an ulcer under her right eye that grew and did not respond to medicated water in a hospital tank. We anesthetized her, stretched her out on the kitchen table and (very quickly) cleaned, disinfected and packed the wound with dental packing. Our treatment must have worked as she healed and is with us yet. Enjoy making sawdust and applesauce, reading, watching nature with a river running through it.

One of these days when we can find the right tool (a round 2it) we hope to add pictures/links re. ponds, critters, geneaology an other stuff, maybe even try a hand at e-bay or whatever else strikes a fancy.

Genealogy (GERHARDT, MATTES, JENSON).

My second childhood has, recently, been marked by the relearning of the art of the motorcycle. (Paint? What paint? What house? Where? The Hiway calleth - paint? Maybe next year.)

Therefore, let us pray, not only for safe landings for myself, but also for all the other FOPs in the world, regardless of how they pursue their own, personal second childhoods.

Sheldon Aubut, writer, actor, historian and side car driver counts, amongst his numerous other talents, those that include computer mastery and web design. Whatever happens on these pages should be construed as his fault and the blame should rest solely upon his shoulders as one should simply not give fine tools, an unlimited forum in which to express oneself or even sharp implements to those who remain perpetually immature. So sayeth one who/whom recently learned that left thumbs have arteries, when he severed it, and wonders how much chaos we can create here.

The “We” consists primarily a group that has been described by Uptown (-e) Al as the fuzz balls that are found hanging off the very fringes of society and that we do, in addition to “hanging off” our “rigs”. We are all motorbikers, but motorbikers with a difference: as sidecarists we feel incredibly sorry for our biker brethren, who are doomed to ride to ride motorbikes, one wheel short of a rig. As motorbikers we find ourselves on the fringes of society, as sidecarists, we find ourselves on the fringes of motorcycledom and as members of the SKUNKs (Side Kars Up Nort Klub), we be even on the fringes of the sidecar community.

The “Chaos” just seems to come naturally to some people and I be easily led astray. It was Jerry who/whom some years ago, upon my early semi retirement got me into long distance touring, in the rain, wet and cold, misted helmets, campsites with rivers running through them and an appreciation of the fine waterproof and Wisconsin winter proof items offered by Aerostich.

It was Uptown (-) who/whom several years later got me into sidecarring and now Sheldon has provided the opportunity to recount the misadventures of these and other fuzz balls at the end of the fringe as we seek adventure. Be warned, no one is safe.