My only company on that freezing but memorable Birthday were two wolves who retreated in a hail of fir cones. To celebrate the occasion I had foolishly purchased a bag of ice to keep my beer cool. In the morning I swear there was more ice than I bought the previous day. At day break, I went through the usual ritual of lubricating and adjusting the chain. A constant problem in desert conditions.
Shaft drive is really the only sensible solution for such arduous travel.
I headed for California to keep an appointment with a motorcycle legend. Dave Barr was sitting in a seedy beer joint covered in grease. I offered him a beer but Dave does not drink or smoke, and puts his faith in the Lord. My immediate and wrong impression was we were not going to get on. He proudly showed off his 25 year old Harley Davidson, still in daily use, but looked as though it should be in a museum.