Monday, June 7, 2010

Heidi Survived her First Solo Ride on Her V Star...

Night before last, I took Heidi's V Star down to another friends house... who lives "On the Pavement"... so she wouldn't have to fight the gravel road... on her first "On the road in traffic" ride.

'Till now... all her Motorcycle Ridin' has been in parking lots... Saturday night was her first out on a Ribbon of Highway! :o)

I've got no memory of my first "traffic ride"... it's been a lot of years... but Miss Heidi... was juuuuust a mite... uhhh... agitated!

She did fine... Covered 'bout 25 miles up the road to Wellington to fuel up... and back... I'm thinkin' it's gonna take her a few rides to settle into a bit of a comfort zone... though... She was shakin' like a 13 year old kid on her first trip to... second base! :o)

I've told her... I don't think it's real healthy... to get 'Too' comfortable in traffic... Maintaining a certain level of "discomfort" when it comes to riding in traffic... is a good thing.

People on four wheels just don't pay close enough attention for a Biker to go gettin' comfortable... If you keep your wits about you... and ride like you're Invisible... assuming them other folks don't... or won't see you... You'll keep the paint on your bike in a lot better condition!

She says her 'nervous' is a lot like what I told her 'bout obstacle courses in the Army... how my nether parts were blowin' kisses at the world... barely hangin', almost upside down, on a wobblin' cargo net... 50... 60 feet off the ground... or climbing the outside of a wobbly, shakin', three story, tower, with nuthin' twixt you and the ground but.. Air...  "Yeah" she said... "Just like that!" :o)

So... just gonna take a bunch of miles for her to find out which way she wants to roll... does she wanna truly "Ride Her own"... or rather occupy the Thrown behind me... or maybe... split her time twixt the two...?

Time's coming closer... The wildflower celebration, down to Ouray... with a week of 'chillin' before hand... and followed by this Ol' Buster realizing... after so long... my long held dream... Riding that Ribbon of Highway... all the way up the ALCAN... to Homer on the Kenai! Hoo! Ya!

I feel kind of guilty... some folks close to me... are still taking awful hits, and it hurts me... while my personal world seems to be moving toward Shining Times...

It makes me feel guilty... and nervous!

I want their troubles to go away... I ache for it... If there was something I could do to wash their sorrows away, I would, and damn the cost... but I can't... and I can't wait on that... Not while I have the opportunity to find some things I've hunted for... for too damn long.

Makes a man truly appreciate the good things he has. The Music... the Motorcycles... The People around him... without which... the rest is worthless...

Take Good Care
Brian

Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road

Share your experiences, Boondocking on Freedom Road with us!
... Your RV Destinations
...  Your Custom RV
...  Reader's RVing Tips
...  Reader's RV Recreation Activities

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What plans are you making for staying connectedwhile on the ALCAN? Verizon does not have any service either in Canada or AK, and unless you have Canada in your plan the costs are steep for both voice and especially data. When we go to BC we just turn our phones off for the few days there but you have a following. If we ever take this trip we can learn from you how to do it. Rich

Sharlotte said...

Tell Heidi congratulations for me. I know when I took that first solo ride, it was scary, I didn't have anyone with me. Be thankful for you.

Brian said...

Thanks Sharlotte!

Rich... yeah... a few folks have warned me 'bout that... I'm thinkin' on it... I may have to fall back on finding Libraries and such... for wifi access to upload posts... I've got a little time to work that out... somehow...

Anonymous said...

Just got caught up on the last few posts. Where did Heidi get those awesome red and black boots?
Pamela, RVer in IL

Brian said...

Pamela... they came from Sheplers in Denver :o)

Box Canyon Blogger said...

Yee haa, C B Brian. The world comes to those who can wait it out and never give up on their dreams. We are so looking forward to your stories and photos. I'm guessing you'll be sleeping in a bear proof tent... a big one tried to get into our bear proof trash can last night but wasn't smart enough. Hell, half the time I can't even get the dang thing open.

Brian said...

nah... don't need a bear proof tent... just lay on the Raider with the engine idling! and my hand on the throttle! :o)