I'm going to call it "still riding." Even though the calendar has turned to a new year, this is still the end of the last riding season, as I've not really put the Valkyrie away.

The last time I put it in the garage, a previous late season record of December 28 (yes, even after my last post!), I did ride the last half mile or so with the fuel valve turned off to drain the carbs. I did park it in "rear first" to be as out of the way as possible, and I had resigned myself to a season-ending ride.

There was a bit of snow between then and now. Still, a week does not a winter make, right? The alley was covered with car-crushed ice, blocking the bike in the garage, but a warm weekend melted it all away, including the small glacier on the north end. The south end is blocked by the ever-shaded alley parts behind the parking garage there; it'll be ice until May, I'm sure.

The temperature was neary 40F degrees when I left the house this morning, and the forecast looks to be as warm tomorrow. How could I not hop on? I did proceed with the necessary care and extra diligence given that people have stopped expecting motorcycles for a few months.

This does mark the first January day I've had the opportunity to enjoy. Previously I've ridden into December before its gotten too cold or snowy (really, too sandy) to ride any more. I have ridden in February, when the winter's been warm enough, and the alley clear enough to escape. Of course, that was when I was foolhardy and would ride out atop the glacier instead of my new rule which dictates a clear path to the street.

January has been elusive, hiding between freeze and thaw. This year, though, global warming has shown its weird head and kept the grass exposed, and the streets clear. Higher than normal temperatures help, too.