Sheldon's Ural Deco Diary

Sheldon's 1998 Ural Deco - Week Eleven

"Work" or "Only a Working Man"
(Charlie Chaplin 1915)

Day 55, Sunday March 28, 1999... Worked, had board meeting, worked.

Day 56, Monday March 29, 1999... Worked from 6:00 a.m. till 12:30 a.m. Tuesday

Day 57, Tuesday March 30, 1999... Worked from 6:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. and by 10:00 I couldn't even think straight. Was sleeping by 10:30...

Day 58, Wednesday March 31, 1999... By noon today I already had 55 hours in this week, and the week is just 1/2 over. This is a little too much, but when one is working a "real" job at Owens Forest Products, and building a business, InRed LLC, at the same time there is just no way out of working your life away. It is difficult but in a couple of years I may be able to devote a lot more time to my bikes than I can now. Today is in the 50's over the hill although we are expecting a bit of rain this afternoon. I have no jobs that I "have to work" tonight. There are jobs I "could do" but none that I feel I have to. So maybe, just maybe, I will be able to get a ride in. We shall see..

Day 59, Thursday April 1, 1999... Just another up in the morning, work all day and work all night, kind of day. The weather has deteriorated. The next few days are supposed to be fog, rain, drizzle, snow, ice, high winds and typical Oregon weather. Except this isn't Oregon!! Not much riding to be done today.

Day 60, Friday April 2, 1999... Had dinner this evening with Earl and Diane Clevan from southern Minnesota, and Ben and Sue Craeger from Barnum Minnesota. We are working on the planning of the first ever Minnesota MotoGuzzi rally. We are having it three weeks after the NARMA rally at the same campground. It is kind of fun watching that rally come together at the same time as we are organizing the NARMA rally. We had dinner at Jim & Jo's restaurant. It is a very unusual place. At one time I was the Director of Transportation for a six billion dollar company. I had people fly in to see me from all over the world. One man in particular, from New York City, used to love to come here. We have very good restaurants and some of the best scenery in the world. One time, when he got here he asked, "Where are we going for dinner". I told him I had a surprise for him and we headed out to the country. Near Carlton Minnesota I pulled into the KOA campground. He looked at me, said, "You have to be kidding". I said, "I'm tired of all those high priced restaurants." And we went in. Right inside the door there were stairs going up to the vending machines, and a stairway to the basement. I paused, looked at the vending machines, and he looked at me with horror in his eyes. I shook my head and led him to the basement, of the KOA campground building!! Where he had one of the best dinners of his life. They have a restaurant that is spectacular, and quite low priced. Our bill, including drinks and tip, and he drank copious amounts of alcohol, was about $38.00. For weeks, every time I called his office, his secretary had to tell me that our trip to the KOA was "all he can talk about."

Day 61, Saturday April 3, 1999... More fog and drizzle, certainly not typical Duluth weather. I have to work a job today on the other end of Duluth, then Judy and I are going to go eat popcorn at a movie house. Looks doubtful that I will get to ride today or work on them.

Next week

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