One huge difference between the two (aside from the terrorist aspect) is that the only ones hurt from Mt. St. Helens were those that refused to evacuate the area over the weeks of increasing activity building up to the blast.

Those killed in 9/11 had no warning.

The blast of St. Helens may have been 100 or even 1000 times the power of 9/11 but it was less deadly.

You used to ride?

So did I. Every coupla months I threaten to go buy a new bike and my wife tells me go ahead, she's gonna be real popular with the boys with all that money I leave her.

It's not that I mind her being popular...I just don't want to give her yet another chance to say "I told ya so".

Oh.

Never mind.

I thought she meant switching Cap'n Crunch for her Grape Nuts.

Virago 750. I think it was a '90, but I'm not sure. That was back when I lived in NH. Lots of wide open spaces to ride without worrying about some moron blindsiding you. Around here, there's just too much traffic and too many idiots on the roads.

Honda 750 in SoCal

Not very wide open, practically no rain and splitting lanes on the freeway during rush hour was a blast.

BTW, I once saw a bike carrying a human and a large dog on the 405. The dog was looking for a window to stick his head out of :)

You guys USED to ride? Cool...if we were all in the same area we could start some kind of Referee biker club! ;)
I used to ride all kinds of flavors of bikes but, finally got my dream bike back in 98...94'Harly Davidson Fatboy FLSTF.
Are there any other officials out there that would like to "join" our club and what type of bike do you prefer?

I thought she meant switching Cap'n Crunch for her Grape Nuts.

[/B][/QUOTE]Grape Nuts is a male-only venereal disease. Don't you know nuthin'?

Trail Bike.
 

JAWA 350.

I did a lot of motocross, short track & road racing back in the late 60's & early 70's - still have an original YZ250 in mothballs.

I haven't done much riding of late, but with gas prices the way they are I'm considering getting another bike. Don't want something real big - probably 500cc or just under. The Indian line was revived a few years years ago & I might take a look at what they have to offer.

That is one of the better links.

I've got a bunch of aerial photos that I shot somewhere in my negative archives. When I get a chance I'll see if I can find them & scan a couple.

My favorite way to show people the area was to load them up in the 182 & make a counterclockwise circuit of the mountain at around 6000-8000 feet. As you pass the ridge & first see the blast area, the effect was pretty awesome - even after seeing it dozens of times. The trees for 10+ miles miles in the direct path of the initial explosion were all laid out in rows radiating away from the center of the blast - from the air it almost looks like someone took a giant comb to them.......

[Edited by TimTaylor on May 22nd, 2004 at 08:59 AM]

Yes I remember what I was doing that morning.

I live "as the crow flies" about 100 miles from Mt, St.Helens, we had a scheduled baseball game that day, needless to say we didn't have the game, Huge distraction.

The ash fall-out ruined the engine in my 1970 Nova

Originally produced right here in Springfield, MA!!

I hear you -- try the northern VA / DC area!

Ride when I can. '86 Honda Magna althrough I wouldn't mind having a new Honda ST1300 (sport touring).

Music to my ears . . .