Ask Walter

Dear Walter,
          Hello from Iraq. We get biker magazines over here and your column in FT is read a lot. We love the humor and answers. I hope to be stationed in Ft. Benning upon my return and pick up a brand-new ride. Any suggestions for day rides from there?
          I'm going to make a special ride to Atlanta to meet my favorite Canine Writer and share a beer or two.

SGT Franklin C. U.S. Army Baghdad IRAQ.

Dear Franklin,
          Hope you make it back safe. Lots of great day rides from Columbus, GA. It’s a short hop to Panama City Beach, FL., Warm Springs is just up the road north and swing over to 441 and head to Mt. Cheaha. Andersonville is also close; great parks in the area. Take a two-day weekend and ride the North GA Mountains. Make that special ride to Atlanta and we'll swing by my favorite place for a cold PBR and some hot wings, items that Heaven provides that you can't get in IRAQ. Now don't you feel sorry for the people that live there? I think a Hooters would go over well in Baghdad, may mellow them down a tad.

Dear Walter,
          I've been riding about three years now and traffic still scares me. It seems cars just want to run over you on purpose. You have a lot of miles under your belt; does it get any better with time? I love my bike and don't want to give up riding but I want to live also.

Charlie K. Atlanta, GA.

Dear Charlie,
          I could just lie and say "yes", but until the drivers of "cages" become more educated and learn to share the road, "No." All we bikers can do is pay more attention to what the wacko's are doing around us. My buddy "Maddog" has been riding over 50 years and the morons still scare the "Hell" out of him. Wear protective clothing; leather is great and cheaper than having skin replaced in the Hospital. A good helmet to protect what little brains we have left, keep your headlight on bright and learn to play dodge-car with the yahoos who have the cell phone glued to their ears and are steering with their feet. Contact your local Congressman and make sure they enforce the laws that protect us on the highways. They have nothing else to do but sit on their fat butts all day and collect the money we pay them; make ‘em work for it for a change. Too many times a biker has been hit and the cage driver got a slap on the wrist. Maybe they need a slap up side the head to get the point across.

Times are getting hard for all of us out there, don't forget the people and animals that need your help. No matter how bad things get there is always someone worse off than you are. The poor folks in Baghdad don't even have a "Hooters". No wonder they're blowing themselves up. Lets have a great 2009 and look out for the other guy.

Until next month, respect from your humble Canine reporter,
Walter "the Weasel"
Keep the rubber side down and the chrome clean.

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