Sometimes you should listen to the voices

I've admitted it, I've said it out loud, I've even tried the whole thinking positive to put good thoughts into the universe and so far none of that has worked! Yes, I'm still on a rant about curves! Late Saturday afternoon Adam and I went for a ride. We took off and headed for the back roads where there are a lot of curves. You know, I have come to hate those road signs with the arrow and speed limit on it! I mean really, don't I have enough to worry about without adding anymore stressors. When I see the sign I immediately look at my speedometer and slow down because in the back of my mind I'm thinking the speed limit is on there because some fool probably on a motorcycle went to fast and now we all need to be reminded how fast we should take the curve. It's just like the tag on a hair dryer that warns not to use in the bathtub....Oh yeah, all that goes through my mind so you know what I mean about added stress. Anyway, about 30 minutes into the ride I decide to take a different approach. I start singing really loud and concentrate on the music then somewhere in the back of my mind I hear a voice, no not one of the normal ones this one was different....Look through the curve, readjust your eyes....well, hell what do I have to lose! I started looking further ahead so far ahead I saw tomorrow coming and I be damned it began to work! I started picking up a little more speed....still way behind Adam but I felt more confident. Am I cured? No. Am I on the road to recovery? I think so! What did I learn from this ride-sing really really loud,look way ahead....and don't let anybody tell you different...the voices can be a good thing!

Kicking the habit

Adam informs me Saturday that he thinks I'm to dependent on him when we ride and that it may be a good idea for me to go for a ride by myself. Huh??? What??? Well ain't that a blip?! Am I going to walk into the room and an intervention is planned? This was a lot for me to digest but after giving it some thought I decided he's right. Fast-forward Sunday afternoon, I decided to just do it. Believe it or not my biggest concern was..what if I drop my bike who's going to pick it up? Seriously, I will leave it where it lays and call a cab. So it's decided my destination will be my daughter Ashlea's. She lives about 15 miles away and I have to go through several curves to get there. I give her a call tell her if I'm not there in 45 minutes tops call for help. I give Adam my route (you'd swear I was heading out across country right?) and I'm off.
O.K. I'm not sure what the Guinness book record is for holding your breath but I'm pretty confident I beat it. Once I got to the main highway I felt a little more relaxed by that I mean I had loosened my grip so that the blood was flowing back to my fingertips. I was cruising along feeling pretty good and then damn here comes a curve. I have a little panic attack because I usually follow Adam's helmet through and now where the hell was his helmet???? Oh that's right I'm going cold turkey, no Adam no helmet just me...greeaattt. I start literally talking myself through the curve....you should have heard that conversation....finally success! One down and God knows how many more to go! Why the hell couldn't she just live off the interstate? Well, I made it to Ashlea's and back home obviously with very little mishap...yeah go me!!!! So what did I learn?
1. Being dependent on Adam was becoming a habit
2. I can ride by myself for at least 30 miles round trip
3. I can do curves without following Adam's helmet but the conversation in my head is really loud.
4. I need more practice!!!!
Finally...
5. If you squeeze your butt cheeks tightly together through a curve it doesn't help it only makes your butt sore ;)

I Can See Clearly Now

Wow its’ been a long winter. I’ve been cold since October. I’ve lost count of snow days….yes snow days. Gray skies are giving way to blue skies and we can ride! Our first ride of the year! We left around noon and the weather was beautiful still a little chilly but bearable. The first few miles I was a little shaky just trying to get my groove back. We stopped for gas and as we were leaving the station I swung wide into another lane….scary thank goodness no one was coming. That took me a few miles to shake off. The rest of the ride I felt pretty good about with the exception of those darn curves. We ended up riding 150 miles so I think I’m off to a good start for the year. My goal for the year is to log 5,000 miles. I may not have as many miles logged as most folks but that's o.k. I'll get there one day at my own speed.

Something New

After a few months of searching we found a toy hauler! We wanted something to haul our dirt bikes and four-wheeler in and our street bikes on long trips. Not an easy thing to find. It’s a 38 ft long fifth wheel, has a separate garage, sleeps 10 and has a ton of extras. It is definitely my way to camp. I love the outdoor shower feature and the outdoor stereo. I can’t wait for it to really warm up for us to take it out. Don’t get me wrong I really like riding but the drawback is if the weather turns nasty once you get to your destination you’re pretty much stuck unless you want to rent a car to salvage the trip. With this we can haul our bikes, camp and use the truck if we need it. I think it’s the best of both worlds!

Birthdays and Milestones!!!!

Yeah go me! Today we are going to met up with the B’s to go eat at Satterfields. The weather is sketchy but I am determined not to sit at home. We head out and of course have to pull over within minutes at a car wash to wait out a quick shower but I’m still optimistic. I have not even given thought to the route for this ride, I’m a little proud of myself. We meet the B’s at our preplanned spot and wham it hits me…I have to go over the freaking BRIDGE!!! Seriously, WTH was I thinking? No, this is not good and I am looking for a quick way out of this. I’m wondering if I can talk everybody into gas station cuisine because I’m good with pork rinds and a diet coke for my birthday dinner right now. We discuss the fact that I am scared *()&*^&^ but I agree that it’s time to do it. As I approach the bridge my palms are sweating and all I’m thinking is please don’t let there be an accident and we have to stop because this is one hell of an incline. Before I knew it I was up and over….piece of cake….ha….not….my knees shook for at least another mile. The ride was great we stayed out of the weather and I enjoyed the scenery. We arrived at the restaurant and had to go down a very steep embankment to park well I pulled over parked my bike looked over at Adam and said it can stay here or you can take her down. I wasn’t even going to try it. We had a great lunch it rained while we ate but cleared up by the time we were through. When we left the restaurant we headed out the opposite direction we came in and I thought o.k. we’re going to make the circle to go home. So here I go riding along minding my business then CRAP it hits me we have to get on the freaking FERRY!!!! What are these people trying to do to me???? Here’s how I see the ferry – steep embankment + gravel + grated entrance + zero turning area+ everyone watching = I rather take the bridge! We are lined up and it’s our turn I’ve gotten all the advice I can handle- 1st gear, back brake, use your clutch, yada, yada, yada,….don’t they get it? I can’t hear them because of the blood rushing around in my head and the sound of my heart in my ears. It’s my turn, down shift, clutch, brake, pray, pray, pray, I’m on……THANK YOU JESUS. I’ve hit 2 milestones a bridge and ferry in one day! I’m worn out and done for the day. CRAAAAPPPP I have to get off this thing!!!!!

It’s Hot, My Pants are Wet and I’m Thirsty

O.K. I know I don’t like cold but riding when it’s this hot is ridiculous! Yes, I realize I am fickle. I know I can’t have it perfect every time I ride but crap 100 degrees is a bit much. I’ve don’t know how other women do it especially the ones who wear all the “proper” gear. There is no way on God’s green earth I am putting on a jacket to ride in this heat. I would pass out and then where would I be? Can you say 6 foot under? I bought the beads for my seat to help stop the “wet” pants syndrome…well guess what? They don’t work. I still get off my bike and I still look like I haven’t been potty trained. WTH! To make matters worse I have this nice cup holder installed it looks nice but I can’t keep a bottle of water in it because Lola vibrates so much that the bottle falls out. So I just watch with envy as Adam takes his cold water out of his cup holder and takes long sips. I no longer say anything negative out loud about Lola because Adams response is you want a Harley instead? No, I don’t. I love Lola just sometimes she gets on my last nerve.

Slacker

Wow I haven’t written in awhile but really we haven’t ridden a whole lot. Adam has had headaches quite frequently lately so we’ve only been able to sneak in a few quick rides here and there. I’m a little disappointed I’ve only put a little over 3000 miles on my bike in a year. I say that because when I talk to other riders they do like 500 miles in a weekend. I can’t imagine I’m lucky if we do 200 a month. I know that has a lot to do with my riding ability…..I have to get out and practice!