Jerry Smith, writer, motorcyclist, Sophie's dad.
@jerrysmith6559.bsky.social
Freelance writer/editor, motorcyclist, motojournalist, dogfather, optipessimist. jerrysmithauthor.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Sophie had the same reaction. "Seriously? That's all that stands between me and going hungry? Your IMAGINATION?!"
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Sophie had the same reaction. "Seriously? That's all that stands between me and going hungry? Your IMAGINATION?!"
The KLR's drive train is finally sorted. I got a chain with a clip-type master, the first I've had in many years. KLR gurus assure me it'll be fine. It's not like the bike's sheer horsepower is going to fling the clip off. I may safety-wire it anyway (old racer's trick). #motosky #motorcycle
November 10, 2025 at 5:29 AM
The KLR's drive train is finally sorted. I got a chain with a clip-type master, the first I've had in many years. KLR gurus assure me it'll be fine. It's not like the bike's sheer horsepower is going to fling the clip off. I may safety-wire it anyway (old racer's trick). #motosky #motorcycle
After a 60-mile round trip to Harbor Freight and a fruitless conversation with store employees who didn't know any more about it than I did, an $80 tool I'll probably never use again whipped off the stubborn countershaft sprocket nut in about 3/5 of a second. I swear I heard it laugh at me. #motosky
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
After a 60-mile round trip to Harbor Freight and a fruitless conversation with store employees who didn't know any more about it than I did, an $80 tool I'll probably never use again whipped off the stubborn countershaft sprocket nut in about 3/5 of a second. I swear I heard it laugh at me. #motosky
Waiting on just two parts to get the KLR back on the road. Would already be riding if the local Kawasaki dealer wasn't TOTALLY EFFING USELESS. Three new KLR650s in the showroom, zero parts for any year KLR in the parts department. No wonder they lose sales to the internet. #motosky #motorcycle
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Waiting on just two parts to get the KLR back on the road. Would already be riding if the local Kawasaki dealer wasn't TOTALLY EFFING USELESS. Three new KLR650s in the showroom, zero parts for any year KLR in the parts department. No wonder they lose sales to the internet. #motosky #motorcycle
Sophie is a dog of simple tastes. She doesn't need a big toy order from Chewy to be happy. Give her an old bedsheet and she's in pupper paradise. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Sophie is a dog of simple tastes. She doesn't need a big toy order from Chewy to be happy. Give her an old bedsheet and she's in pupper paradise. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
Completing Kill Fee leaves a hole in my day previously devoted to writing. My dog is happy to get more of my attention, and my motorcycle moves quickly now toward roadworthiness. But dammit, I miss inventing people and complicating their lives. I NEED AN IDEA! #booksky #motorcycle #dogsofbluesky
November 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Completing Kill Fee leaves a hole in my day previously devoted to writing. My dog is happy to get more of my attention, and my motorcycle moves quickly now toward roadworthiness. But dammit, I miss inventing people and complicating their lives. I NEED AN IDEA! #booksky #motorcycle #dogsofbluesky
October 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Sophie loves her Chuckit ball, but she REALLY loves an old bedsheet I was going to toss but gave to her to sleep on. She's never slept on it but she wears herself out with it two or three times a day, dragging it around the house and throwing it in the air.
October 28, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Sophie loves her Chuckit ball, but she REALLY loves an old bedsheet I was going to toss but gave to her to sleep on. She's never slept on it but she wears herself out with it two or three times a day, dragging it around the house and throwing it in the air.
I began my riding career on a Kawasaki dualsport ('70 F3 Bushwacker) and may well end it on one ('04 KLR650). Read about everything that happened in between--riding, racing, writing, crashing (ouch)--in Rolling Stops, for $2.99. #motosky #motorcycle #autobiography
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNQ792H
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNQ792H
October 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I began my riding career on a Kawasaki dualsport ('70 F3 Bushwacker) and may well end it on one ('04 KLR650). Read about everything that happened in between--riding, racing, writing, crashing (ouch)--in Rolling Stops, for $2.99. #motosky #motorcycle #autobiography
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNQ792H
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNQ792H
Sophie interprets her new bed privileges very liberally. She hops up, curls into a furry ball, and slowly flattens and spreads like a stain until I'm clinging to the edge. I told her she can have half of the bed, but not the half in the middle. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
October 22, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Sophie interprets her new bed privileges very liberally. She hops up, curls into a furry ball, and slowly flattens and spreads like a stain until I'm clinging to the edge. I told her she can have half of the bed, but not the half in the middle. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
Sophie once again fails to accept that in order for me to throw the ball she must first let go of it. #goldenretriever #dogsofbluesky
October 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Sophie once again fails to accept that in order for me to throw the ball she must first let go of it. #goldenretriever #dogsofbluesky
Checked the valves today. All within spec. (Who's relieved? [points thumbs at self] This guy!) Will check the doohickey next, then it's back to the chassis--chain and sprockets, rear tire--and after that it's on the road. Might actually get a ride in before 2026 rolls around. #motosky #motorcycle
October 16, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Checked the valves today. All within spec. (Who's relieved? [points thumbs at self] This guy!) Will check the doohickey next, then it's back to the chassis--chain and sprockets, rear tire--and after that it's on the road. Might actually get a ride in before 2026 rolls around. #motosky #motorcycle
Cracked open the KLR's engine today. The cam lobes are smooth and shiny; with luck the bearings and caps will be, too. Will check clearances later. Right now I need a break and a couple of Tylenol. Feels like I was never as young as I used to be. #motosky #motorcycle
October 14, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Cracked open the KLR's engine today. The cam lobes are smooth and shiny; with luck the bearings and caps will be, too. Will check clearances later. Right now I need a break and a couple of Tylenol. Feels like I was never as young as I used to be. #motosky #motorcycle
New brake pads join the new fork seals and tire at the front of the KLR. Looks good until you remember the KLR's front brake is deemed by many to be an awful POS. Upgrades (fresh fluid, braided brake steel hose) will come later. Next up: deep engine stuff (valves, doohickey). #motosky #motorcycle
October 12, 2025 at 12:15 AM
New brake pads join the new fork seals and tire at the front of the KLR. Looks good until you remember the KLR's front brake is deemed by many to be an awful POS. Upgrades (fresh fluid, braided brake steel hose) will come later. Next up: deep engine stuff (valves, doohickey). #motosky #motorcycle
The sound of silence. Well, not exactly silence, but a lot quieter than the D-Day racket from the old SuperTrapp. I'll still wear earplugs when I ride--always have, always will--but no one will wince as I putt past them. There are noisier lawnmowers on my block. #motosky #motorcycle
October 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The sound of silence. Well, not exactly silence, but a lot quieter than the D-Day racket from the old SuperTrapp. I'll still wear earplugs when I ride--always have, always will--but no one will wince as I putt past them. There are noisier lawnmowers on my block. #motosky #motorcycle
Recently I realized I started my riding career on a Kawasaki dual-purpose bike (1970 175cc F3 Bushwacker) and may well end it on another Kawasaki DP. Back-up plan: When I get too old and creaky for two wheels I'll put a sidecar on the KLR and buy Sophie some Doggles. #motosky #motorcycle
October 8, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Recently I realized I started my riding career on a Kawasaki dual-purpose bike (1970 175cc F3 Bushwacker) and may well end it on another Kawasaki DP. Back-up plan: When I get too old and creaky for two wheels I'll put a sidecar on the KLR and buy Sophie some Doggles. #motosky #motorcycle
I'm glad you're enjoying it. Here's a much younger me on that trip, enjoying being treated as if I were a much more important person than I actually was.
October 8, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm glad you're enjoying it. Here's a much younger me on that trip, enjoying being treated as if I were a much more important person than I actually was.
"Is that...a piece of food? A crumb?"
That's dog hair. Yours, if I'm not mistaken.
"Are you sure? It might be food."
Taste it, then. Go ahead.
"Can you just hand it to me?"
I'm not your butler.
"But I'd have to get off the warm, soft couch..."
I'll get the vacuum.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
That's dog hair. Yours, if I'm not mistaken.
"Are you sure? It might be food."
Taste it, then. Go ahead.
"Can you just hand it to me?"
I'm not your butler.
"But I'd have to get off the warm, soft couch..."
I'll get the vacuum.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
October 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Is that...a piece of food? A crumb?"
That's dog hair. Yours, if I'm not mistaken.
"Are you sure? It might be food."
Taste it, then. Go ahead.
"Can you just hand it to me?"
I'm not your butler.
"But I'd have to get off the warm, soft couch..."
I'll get the vacuum.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
That's dog hair. Yours, if I'm not mistaken.
"Are you sure? It might be food."
Taste it, then. Go ahead.
"Can you just hand it to me?"
I'm not your butler.
"But I'd have to get off the warm, soft couch..."
I'll get the vacuum.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
"I want you to throw the ball but I don't want to give you the ball."
This is what's known as a paradogs.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
This is what's known as a paradogs.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
October 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
"I want you to throw the ball but I don't want to give you the ball."
This is what's known as a paradogs.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
This is what's known as a paradogs.
#dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
Winzer could read but he moved his lips.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Winzer could read but he moved his lips.
While removing the old front tire from my rescue KLR650 my back and shoulders made the kinds of noises that have, over the years, helped put three chiropractors' kids through college. I'm sore tonight. Tomorrow I'll be immobile. #motosky #motorcycle #waytoooldforthisshit
October 5, 2025 at 3:06 AM
While removing the old front tire from my rescue KLR650 my back and shoulders made the kinds of noises that have, over the years, helped put three chiropractors' kids through college. I'm sore tonight. Tomorrow I'll be immobile. #motosky #motorcycle #waytoooldforthisshit
This reminded me that I once posted something with a spelling error and five minutes later my ex called me on the phone to make sure I was all right. #booksky #amwriting #authors
October 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This reminded me that I once posted something with a spelling error and five minutes later my ex called me on the phone to make sure I was all right. #booksky #amwriting #authors