Riding a motorcycle is relaxing and fun and renews the spirit. Most of the time. The times that go south though are so stressful that it makes me want to put my bike away for a few days and take a deep breath.
This weekend Ray had to work and instead of wasting what was the first really gorgeous weekend here on the West Coast, I chose to go on a group ride with some of the members of a bike club that we're associated with. We've been members for 2 years but this would be my first ride with them....it's just never worked out time-wise in the past to go on a ride. This would also be my first group ride without Ray.
It did not go well.
I guess maybe I've been spoiled by following Ray all this time, and following our good friends when I'm not following him. Also I've followed the Harley guys from time to time. Maybe I'm spoiled that I expect the leader to exhibit some form of safe riding. Spoiled by expecting people to use their signal lights when leading a group. By expecting the leader to notice when he loses half his group at a traffic light as soon as it happens, not 8 kilometers later (and then being pissed off at them). By expecting the leader to not exceed the speed limit by more than 20km/hour. By expecting the leader to respect playground signs that are as big as my freaking car. By expecting the leader to actually stop at stop signs and 4-ways. To wait either until the light turns green to turn right or until there is a gap large enough for the entire group to get through, not just yourself. Maybe I expect too much. All I know is that by the time I got to Ray in Horseshoe Bay (he had to work in the morning and rode up to meet me there for lunch), I was so stressed out and worked up I couldn't even begin to start talking to him for a good 5 minutes for fear that I would cry out of shear pissed-off-ed-ness.
I guess I've also been spoiled by the folks that we've been riding with because I have NEVER been tailgated as closely by a bike in my own group as I was today. I could see the guy's front tire out of the corner of my eye and we were doing 100km/h down the freeway. I've also never been passed by the entire group of 13 bikes when I was already doing 25km/h over the speed limit. I was so offended that had I had a clue where I was, I would have turned around and gone to Horseshoe Bay myself. Once I got passed by every single bike, I had no idea where we were going and by shear luck made the correct guess on turning to finally meet up with them.
All the safety issues aside, I was also dealing with the fact that my feelings were hurt. The leader is a friend of mine and I explained to him that I am still a little hesitant/nervous when riding without Ray or with strangers and I really expected that he would lead a ride that was reasonable and safe and enjoyable for everyone there, if only for the fact that I bared my vulnerability and told him I was nervous.
Whatever, I guess I expected too much.
Crappy day, I'm exhausted.
8:23 AM
8:44 AM
You know that feeling, when it's really hot outside and you jump into a perfectly cool lake or swimming pool and it feels almost like your body is drinking the water from the outside in? That perfectly refreshed, perfectly perfect feeling?
That's what riding in the summer sunshine is. When you're not wearing twelve layers of clothing and you can actually feel the wind up your sleeves, down your neck and through your jeans. That warm air that turns pleasantly cooler as you accelerate, that bright sunshine on your face making your freckles pop out, that cloudless sky and endless road.
That's perfection!
.
(picture above is from a vacation last year in 38C heat. Stopped for a picnic lunch at a park on the water and Ray, not being one to handle heat very well, decided a half dressed swim would make him feel much better. Fortunately in his haste to get drenched, he remembered to remove his keys, wallet and money. Proceeded to cut his foot open on a rusty barrel while trying to climb out of the lake and was just damn lucky he didn't need stitches or a tetanus shot. His girlfriend was NOT impressed.)
7:59 AM
Today is International Female Ride Day. All over the world today, women are hopping on their bikes and riding to work, for coffee or just around the block to celebrate ourselves, each other and our sport.In my opinion (and Ray's) there is nothing sexier than a woman riding her own bike. I'm not completely sure what it is except for perhaps the juxtaposition of a woman, delicate, gentle, pretty, riding a big powerful man's machine.
Being a woman on a bike, especially if Ray isn't with me, garners me the most looks, winks, waves and smiles than any other time. I get constant second looks and head turns when I'm sitting at a traffic light and the weird thing is that it makes me smile inside. Normally it would be lecherous or slimy having these guys give you a wink or a nod as they drive by, but on my bike it's flattering and a little bit hilarious. You see, I'm just a regular woman with a day job and laundry to do and dinner to make and a jog to get done. But put me on a bike and somehow I become mysterious and strong and sexy and those winks and nods and smiles are very empowering!
Throttle on, ladies!
2:48 PM
I'm Shannon. My boyfriend is Ray. We are the 'we' that this blog refers to.
We ride bikes. As often as possible. We ride them to places far flung, to the grocery store or sometimes just down the road to get an ice cream. Ray has had his license since before I was born and I've had my full license since September 2009 although I've been riding since February 2009.
I'd never been on or near a bike before we got together. Then that fateful day came, the day that would determine if we would keep seeing each other, the day I got on his bike for the very first time. Motorcycling is a very major part of Ray's life and had I hated it or been scared or disinclined to ride with him, our relationship would not have lasted long, that much is certain. I was so nervous that day but found out much later that Ray was even more nervous than I, praying that I would at least just not hate riding. It turned out even better than that, I loved it.
We spent much of that year going on long weekend rides, camping (we tow a tent trailer) riding for coffee, cookies, dinner or ice cream. Early the next year we decided that since we go long distances and just the two of us, it was irresponsible that I didn't even have basic knowledge of bikes and how to possibly go for help if necessary. After much back and forth I agreed to learn to ride, but ONLY FOR SAFETY REASONS. 3,000 kilometers later we went on our first overnight trip with two bikes and that was it. I'd fallen in love with the sport and I knew I had to have my own. I bought my bike two weeks later and we have put tens of thousands of kilometers on since then.
These pages will be filled with our adventures, food, roads, friends, vacations and whatever other interesting stuff happens to be going on.
These pages are our stories, our pictures, our life.
We ride bikes. As often as possible. We ride them to places far flung, to the grocery store or sometimes just down the road to get an ice cream. Ray has had his license since before I was born and I've had my full license since September 2009 although I've been riding since February 2009.
I'd never been on or near a bike before we got together. Then that fateful day came, the day that would determine if we would keep seeing each other, the day I got on his bike for the very first time. Motorcycling is a very major part of Ray's life and had I hated it or been scared or disinclined to ride with him, our relationship would not have lasted long, that much is certain. I was so nervous that day but found out much later that Ray was even more nervous than I, praying that I would at least just not hate riding. It turned out even better than that, I loved it.
We spent much of that year going on long weekend rides, camping (we tow a tent trailer) riding for coffee, cookies, dinner or ice cream. Early the next year we decided that since we go long distances and just the two of us, it was irresponsible that I didn't even have basic knowledge of bikes and how to possibly go for help if necessary. After much back and forth I agreed to learn to ride, but ONLY FOR SAFETY REASONS. 3,000 kilometers later we went on our first overnight trip with two bikes and that was it. I'd fallen in love with the sport and I knew I had to have my own. I bought my bike two weeks later and we have put tens of thousands of kilometers on since then.
These pages will be filled with our adventures, food, roads, friends, vacations and whatever other interesting stuff happens to be going on.
These pages are our stories, our pictures, our life.
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