Leaving South America. Returning home? We were ready; however, apprehension of the oncoming onslaught of emotion of the transition and work yet to commense piled up into our minds as we emerged back into a world which had been very far away for a very long time. We would soon find out if we were even the same people we had been when we had left.
Landing in Knoxville, Tennessee is like sweet tea on a hot afternoon. It is a wonderful place for us to get our feet back under us after launching ourselves off the planet that we had previously known. Coming back to "reality", as so many people say, found us in good hands. Below is Mike watching Mikey Barillaro try to start a bike that had been in hybernation for many months. They had hope, for "I sprayed the kickstand!", Mikey said.
First order of business: transportation.
We needed wheels, and they lay around in garages or in pieces here and there. So, it was time to dig up anything that could help get us going, for there is no time to waist when the excitement of an epic adventure drips from your fingertips.
The Lead Sled.
It is getting very close to time to introduce you to an event of extreme proportions, or at least extreme fun intertwined in bad ideas...but not yet. The Lead Sled is the first hint. This is a 1972 Honda CB350 that was brought to life last summer. The sidecar was built from scratch and attached for a cross-country run from Knoxville to Portland, Oregon in the fall of last year. Mikey and Mike created this articulating contraption for less than $500 in total.
Mikey Barillaro. He is a 3rd generation welder whose rapid fire wit and mechanical skills are amazing inspiration for some really terrible ideas. They got the rig fired up and we were off for a spin before pulling off the car for everyday transport.
The sidcar rocked a fully functioning '57 Ford Fairlane tail section.
Oh yeah, and this is an articulating pivot, so the bike can still lean.
Mikey's garage is a hot rod haven. Note the bike in pieces sitting on the shelf in the back it: is the beginnings of something great to come.
Mike Fairman's Green Pile is another project that is in the works that you will see again in time. There are some interesting ideas at work here.
Mikey has his own projects up his sleeve. He's not shy to make something out of nothing, literally. By his own hand, he restored, customized, and painted every inch of this
1956 F-100. The only other hands on this truck were that of the pin-striper and the leather interior which he did not have the time to learn himself. Their Hot Rod shop is the Barillaro Speed Emporium (
http://www.barillarospeed.net/ )
So with the Led Sled running and the side hack disconnected, we have one bike ready for the road.
Next stop: the house of Who the Hell is the Handsome Headless Kansas City Dave Walker (KC or other variations for short, or longer). He has been holding a pile of mine that has been handed down from a friend. Not running, it has some major repairs to look forward to. This bike has some history as well.
