Category Archives: Motorcycle Ride

Riding Solo

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Yesterday was a stunningly beautiful autumn day. Fortunately, my partner was stable so I knew that I could leave him for a while and go for a ride on my Harley.

I saw a ride listed on my club’s ride calendar, but unfortunately, the ride was being led by someone who rides too fast for me, and I have always felt uncomfortable on his rides. I decided not to go on his ride. I don’t like feeling pressure of trying to keep up when all I want to do is sit back and have a relaxing ride.

I sent emails to some biker buddies to ask if they wanted to go for a ride with me, but all replied saying they couldn’t make it, “perhaps another time.” I understand. I’m often in the same position.

But this is weird… usually I am the one whose calendar is so chock-full, he can’t ride. This time, I have time and interest, but no others to ride with. That’s okay, I leathered up…
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Rider’s Dream

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Readers of this blog know that I enjoy riding my motorcycle, though with restrictions imposed by a chronic health condition, I cannot ride for long distances any more. I have to stop often, stretch, pee & poop, eat something, drink fluids… all that takes time. If I don’t do it, I get so sick that I would require medical attention.

No one in my club or any bikers I know want to “ride that slowly” — that is, take so many breaks — so I have not been able to test out the full “touring class” of my Harley. I don’t know if I ever will. I dream of it, such as in this photo taken by a friend on a recent trip sponsored by my club (these are my fellow riders in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina or Tennessee).
But I continue to dream….
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Ridin’

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My partner’s health situation was stable, so I felt okay leaving him at home while I led a motorcycle ride yesterday. We went to a little town on the West River near Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, to a restaurant on the water. I wanted to get steamed Maryland blue crabs, but they were too expensive (US$50 a dozen? How nuts is that???).

I had fish instead. It was great. But what was even better was great weather, good friends, my twin brother J being with me, and not getting lost (despite the GPS directing me to go “off road” just as we were crossing a dam. Yeah, right!) You know, it’s funny how I found this location. I have a visitor who reads this blog regularly who comes from a town near this place. I looked up where that was, then found this restaurant, and decided to ride down there and see it for myself. Very nice! (Too bad I don’t know who this blog visitor is, but you live in a pretty area of our state!)

Life is short: RIDE!

Stopped By a Motorcop

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I was minding my own business, thank you very much, when I was riding my Harley yesterday to the gas station to fuel up.

I noticed in my left mirror that another motorcycle was gaining speed and headed right for me. I thought to myself, “oh great, here’s another sport biker who has to go faster than me.” I have learned long ago not to try to hog up a lane and prevent them from passing if they want to — doing that causes many of them to make dumb maneuvers which could risk their life, and my own. I pulled toward the right side of the lane I was in, so if he wanted to pass, he could do so safely.

Then I noticed as this motorcycle drew closer that it wasn’t a sport biker after all, but a huge Harley… with red and blue lenses instead of running lights, and a guy with tall patrol boots riding it. A cop. Pointing at me with that “pull over” signal. Oh crap!
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Gone For Corn

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I led another successful ride yesterday, about 50 miles (80km) north of my home, to join an old-fashioned corn roast held at working mill and homestead that dates back to 1797, which is located in the northern/ central part of the state where I live.

Eleven others from my motorcycle club joined me, and they all said that they thought the ride was great.
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Sturgis Time Again

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Yep, that time of year has rolled around once again for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the largest gathering of bikers anywhere… in the world. This event is centered around the town of Sturgis, South Dakota, USA, but spreads for miles — from Wall, South Dakota to the East to Devil’s Tower, Wyoming to the West. Many thousands of bikers show up at this event every year.

My opinion?
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Sixth and Cruise

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Yesterday I rode my Harley “down” to my brother’s home between the South River and the West River near Annapolis, Maryland, our home state. Great ride with bright sunshine and little traffic. I kicked the Harley up to sixth gear, engaged the cruise control, put my Chippewa Firefighter boots up on the highway pegs, sat back comfortably against my backrest, and cruised for an hour. Soon enough, I had arrived.

My twin great nephews were having their first birthday party, and I enjoyed sharing their joy (and cake!) with them, their parents, and their grandparents (my brother being the granddad.)

Great “time out” for a Sunday. Back to work today… but joy and smiles from this visit will last a long time.

Life is short: show your family how you love them.

Friends and Safe Riders

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I had the opportunity to lead a motorcycle ride for my club on Sunday. I was delightfully surprised by the large turn-out. 17 people and 14 bikes showed up. These rides are listed on a website, and people decide if they want to come as they have time and availability.

This was a great ride for me, and let me live up to a self-challenge. I admit, I have problems with…
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What’s the Best Motorcycle Ride?

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Every biker has a different opinion about “the best” ride. Some like to take long journeys by themselves; go where they wish, stay as long or as little as they like at pit-stops and final destinations. Some like to travel with friends, so what to them makes a great ride is the joy of sharing it with others. Some like to seek out new sights, while others like to discover roads seldom traveled in their back yard. Some like to challenge their riding skill by “running through twisties” while others prefer more gentle hills and curves on their route.

The answer to the question subject of this post is…
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Watching Cops Compete

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Readers and friends are aware that I enjoy watching skilled motorcycle riders — motorcops — compete in what is commonly called a “police rodeo.” I have had the pleasure of watching many of these competitions and serving as a judge for the past two years at one of the largest such competitions held on the U.S. East Coast. So naturally, a friend asked, “are you going to attend the motorcycle skills competition on the 23rd in Wayne, New Jersey?”
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