On Tuesday I was out riding my mini bike doing some exploring, when out of the blue, my wheel bearing blew out and stopped me in my tracks. It threw my chain, causing my rear tire to skid in a somewhat sketchy fashion. Broken down, I was left with no other option than to push the bike back at least half a mile to my house in 80-degree heat. It wasn't a fun time. 

With my recent mechanical failure, I figure it's a good time to give an update on the status of all my fun stuff. Aside from that little incident today, the mini is just about as good as ever except for the front end. Someone crashed it somewhat hard a while back, and it hasn't quite been the same since.

Getting into the rest, we'll start with the boat. It's been a little more than two weeks since I've had her out on the water. It's an ongoing project with lot's left to do in terms of restoration, but it floats and the motor runs great. I'd like to have at least one more boat day before I winterize the vessel, but we'll see what the weather has in store for us. All that I really need to do to the boat is pull that old two-stroke Suzuki off for the winter and wrap it up, so I'm calling it good for now! 

Next is my lawn tractor, a classic Simplicity Broadmoor from the early 70's. I love that thing, but it's not without its faults. I've been using it as a "mud mower" riding through the woods tearing up the trails. It's slow but otherwise very capable off-road. I have the deck detached and have never actually used it to mow. Anyways, the key broke off in the ignition, my starter isn't working, the paint is getting a little scratched up, the tires need air, and I just recently lost all braking. I'm hoping it's a linkage that came undone or something else simple. I've got a buddy who is supposed to come check it out, and he was the one who got it running originally, so I'm crossing my fingers we can get that sorted out at a minimum. I plan to do a full restoration on the Simplicity one day and get it set back up to mow the lawn, as I no longer have a zero-turn. 

Next is my go kart, affectionately known as The Joe Kart. Of all my powersports, it is the closest to my heart. I did a full build on it with brand new parts from the tires to the engine, and currently it's actually not broken! It's fast and fun, and I cannot wait until the icy wintertime weather when I can do some drifting. I've got quite the story for you coming up in a future blog about a little incident I had with the kart out on the frozen Turkeyfoot Lake a few years back. 

I also have another new go kart that I traded a snowmobile for, but it needs a lot of work. I've been trying to get the steering together and buy a powerplant for it, but lately my priorities have shifted. It's not something I'll shove in the corner and forget about, not only because it's a massive two-seater buggy that's bigger than a Smart Car, but also because I think it's gnarly. 

Last but certainly not least in terms of brokenness, is my quad. It's an old Honda Recon 250 2wd that has been put through the ringer. I routinely abuse that machine, from plowing snow to regularly getting it stuck deep in mud holes. With how rough I am on it, it's no surprise that the old four-wheeler needs quite a bit of TLC. This would include fixing the brakes, repairing/remounting the winch, securing the axle, replacing bearings, rewiring my aftermarket reverse light, replacing a missing hub cap, installing fresh rear tires, and routine maintenance. In the two years I have punished it, I've never even checked the oil, let alone changed it... it's a Honda. 

This blog came out to be a lot longer than I expected, but hopefully it can serve as some encouragement to you if it seems like you have too much on your plate. I didn't even mention the work my Civic needs done to it (stupid E-check), but I'm not overwhelmed by all of this. It's just the nature of machines to break after time, and the work I have ahead of me is totally doable. My perspective on owning "boy toys" as such is this: you either have to have a lot of money or know how to work on your stuff, and let me tell you I'm by no means rich! Creating a garage to-do list has alleviated anxiety and helped me tremendously, and if I may, I'd like to suggest to you to do the same for whatever seems to be hanging over your head. Afterwards, prioritize that list. If it's time, motivation, or finances holding you back, just remember to take it one thing at a time!