Looks like two in a row

Yep, its another Diner Drive-in and Dive story, I almost forgot about this place. Lake Effect Diner, in buffalo, New York. 

Awhile back the wife and I were on a road trip to Maine, we stopped off to see Niagara Falls. 

To our surprise Lake Effect Diner was just down the road.  The Diner itself looked cool, something right out of the 50's or 60's. 

We got there around lunch time and the place was packed, standing room only. We had a good wait, somewhere around 45 minutes for a table. 

Food was ok, we had a couple of sandwich's with fries. 

But after we order we noticed all of the locals were ordering breakfast... I think that was what they were famous for, not lunch. 

SORRY, I did not get any photos of the inside of the place, but the place is SMALL, VERY SMALL and very crowded. I'll do better next time.

Well I'll going to keep this one short and sweet
Till next time
Big All

Diner, Drive-in and Dive Manci's Antique Club

That's right time for another post, this time we are in Fairhope, Alabama at yet another DINER, DRIVE-IN AND DIVES, Manci's Antique Club. 

Just down on a short weekend get away, we stopped by... first thought of the place, Dive Bar! Let me start off by saying we got there at an odd time around 3:30 p.m.,  so we had the place to our selves. 

This turned out not to be a good thing, here's why, when we walked in the door we walked right in a very dim lit bar. The bartender was a grumpy old man that seemed to be annoyed by us walking in, eventually we did get a seat in the lunch area. 

Only to be greeted again by the same grumpy bartender, it appeared he was the only one there. He took our order and let us know that the server did not show up; but he had called someone in on her day off. Soon our waitress showed up and told us how bad she hated coming in today. 

The place itself, well it was dirty, very dirty, the kind of place it seems everyone had just given up on. They had nic-nacs hanging everywhere, this was cool BUT everyone of them was cover with an inch of dust, spider webs everywhere. 

Took a couple of quick photos of ourselves 

The wife put on a pretty fake smile

Me on the other hand, well I was not happy and it showed.

The menu looked good and had reasonable prices and to our surprise the food came right out... well SURPRISE was right (kind of like the new guy dropping the soap in the shower at prison)

The shrimp were raw and the fries were more grease than potato. Wow, what a disappointment. 

Before ending this I would like to say, everyone has a bad day, except for the dust, maybe it was just that... A BAD DAY!!!

Till next time
Big Al

long, Long, LONG over due Motorcycle Vest Review

Time for a review, where to start, where to start? I know by thanking the good people at  MOTORCYCLE HOUSE
for their gifts I received many, many months ago in the mail. It's riding time again so here is my review, and as asked, it will be an honest one.

Let me get straight to it, have you ever wanted to buy a leather motorcycle vest that did not cost you a fortune

and did not make you look like one of the Village People once you put it on...

well here it is Viking Cycle Gardar Motorcycle Vest

(just click on the link and it will take you right to it) its just one of the many products sold by MOTORCYCLE HOUSE
and I was lucky enough to get one.

I've been a pretty heavy rider since 2008, and have thought of investing in a leather vest, but the price has always scared me away. Well until now, the local vest were running anywhere from 100 to 300 dollars. For that kind of money I start thinking about parts I need for my bike. 

The good news is if you have clicked on the vest link above,  you already know by now it is a reasonable price of $59.99. Not bad at all for what you get. 

Let's start with the pockets, there are 6 of them, that's right 6 and its only a vest. 

2 upper (see above)

2 lower (see above)

Best of all 2 inside pockets, big enough to carry most anything... Did I mention that my colt government model fits with room to spare. (see above)

In the photo above my colt is tucked away in the inside vest pocket, no bulge and no heavy feeling at all on my shoulder. (Note: a CCW Permit "concealed-carry weapons permit" would be required to do this legally) wink, wink. 

The stitching and the leather seem top notch to me, as well as the snaps.  As for the sizing,  I went with a 3x and it fits perfectly (I normally wear 2x so I did size up 1 size), that is saying a lot as I'm a big boy at 6'5" 270 lbs.   It even fits me in the length, got nothing but good things to say about the vest;  it gets a double thumbs up from me. Be sure to surf on over to MOTORCYCLE HOUSE
and check them out.

Till next time
Big Al

Oh yea, motorcycle Bag review coming soon.

There is a cold wind blowing this morning... But yet there is something warm moving this way.

Hmmm, what could it be...

Maybe its an adorable puppy?

No, that's not it. I already have one of those, not to mention a great help to me when I'm working on my bike, always ready to make a tool run with her dad. Good girl Izzy. 

Maybe the little wife just ordered me a new 2015 Lamborghini for a late birthday present. 

Ok I just threw that one in for giggles. Not going to happen...

Then what could it be...

Now I remember, the good people at MOTORCYCLEHOUSE asked me to do a review on a couple of products that are on their way to my house as we speak. I'll admit I have never heard of the site before, but IF their products are legit, I'm sure it will become one of my new shopping grounds for everything motorcycle. Their prices are hard to beat, as I snoop around  the site. Click on the motorcycle house link above and check them out. 

Just so you will know I was told to give a honest review of their products, and that my friends is just what I plan to do. Oh yea for you haters out there, yea I know I'm still in my T-shirt in my thumbs up photo, started writing early this morning, got a busy day today. 

Get ready, the products and the review to come soon.

Till next time

Big Al

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, HOW ABOUT THE 250 DOLLAR BOLT.

Yep its been awhile, again??? Trying my best to get back to blogger. I just think I needed the time away from the blog. Had a couple of quick stories I wanted to share… 

First story, went by Hattiesburg Cycle to get an oil change on my V-Star 1100

As luck would have it the deanship was having Indian motorcycle test rides. 

So after dropping off my bike I quickly put my name on the list to ride the 2014 Indian Chieftain

I got to admit I had never really consider buying and Indian mainly due to the price compared to the Harley and Victory, both about $ 4000 dollars cheaper than the Indian. Well wow how quick my mind can be changed, 

the Indian road like a dream with power to spare. Loved almost everything about it. Damn nice ride.

Ok story two…
My poor little V-Star needed a much needed oil change and new front tire. Well being being the good father I am I was going to change the oil myself (Ok I'm cheap). This is where the 250 dollar bolt comes in, well all I can say is I tried for four long days everything I could think of to get that possessed oil drain bolt out… 

I mean everything, from screaming at it, using a jack to move the wrench, beating it with a hammer and taking very nicely to it. The bolt just would not move, so I took it to the dealership… Long story short, the dealership had the same problem (I have to admit this gave me some small satisfaction)

 Well satisfaction, until i got the bill for the oil change… 

Yep you guessed it 250 DOLLAR OIL CHANGE and yes they got the bolt out with some drilling and a blow torch. Hmmm that Indian is looking better and better.

Till next time
Big Al

This is just too good not to share…

Some of you may or may not know for the last month or so I have been doing battle with what I have been told a tumor the size of a grapefruit growing on my right thyroid in my neck.

Well last week I had to have a biopsy done (where they stabbed me with 5 needles in my neck) to check to make sure it was not cancer. Good news, doctor gave me the results yesterday…NO CANCER!!! The tumor still has to be removed as it is crushing some veins in my neck blocking the blood flow to my brain.

Ok now I’m getting to the good part…the doctor just put me on some medicine (shot a day to the stomach…ouch) I was just reading the side effects…see # 1 in yellow…hmmm

Seems crazy to me to get on a drug that the # 1 side effect is the condition you are trying to cure…DOCTORS!!!

I guess there comes a point, do doctors really know best?????

Till next time Big Al

I'M BACK

I'm back, its been a long time...LONG time since my last post. Hopefully I'll be getting post out on a regular bases. Got a few new toys since my last post, new iMac computer and a Go-Pro Camera Black Edition.   It should make blogging a lot more fun. 

I’ve been spending a lot of my free time in the gym lately 

but the weather is warm now and time to dust off the old bike and get some rides in

and of course video taping and snapping photos along the way. I’ve done a complete remodel of the Compound (story soon) not to mention I’ve been to a bunch of Diner, Drive-in and Dives, yes lots of photos of all of them and stories to follow. 

That being said, stay tuned till next time.

BIG AL