I got up and everyone was gone. Today I had to replace the sprockets and chain on my motorcycle. The front sprocket was down to about a quarter of the original sprocket tooth. I would never make it home this way. The chain was stretching two turns of the adjusting nut a day. The normal adjustment was maybe ¼ of a turn in three to four days. So everything was junk. Get this: I carried the replacement sprockets and chains with me thinking that if I broke the chain or needed to replace the sprockets I could do it alongside the road because I had all the necessary tools. I removed the guard that covers the front sprocket, undid the lock securing the nut holding the front sprocket on and went to find the socket to loosen it. I didn’t have a socket large enough to fit the nut. The largest socket I had was 24mm and I needed a 27mm socket. I said to myself now don’t I have egg on my face. Imagine what a pickle I would have been in if I had needed it in Russia. I had to put a “smooth move, slick”, on myself. I left the guard off and took a quick trip to the nearest parts store to purchase a 27mm socket. Luck was with me because the first store I stopped at had the socket. It took me about five hours to remove, clean, replace the sprockets, install the chain and adjust it with full weight of my load on it. I went into town looking for a place to change my oil and after being turned down by three motorcycle shops I changed it out at Linda’s home. Everyone’s biggest fear was I was going to spill all the oil over their pavement and make a huge mess. I would always just smile and leave. Later that night we ate supper and then had ice cream. I called my sister and made arrangements to see her the next day at her job. I went to bed.
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