I just got out for my first ride of the season when the temperatures climbed to the low 50s (F — 11C).  I spent time checking out my Harley since I have not ridden it since before I had my hernia surgery in November. The controls, lights, cables, brakes, and tires all were fine, though I double-checked the air pressure in the tires to be sure. The trickle charger that I kept on my bike all winter maintained the battery so the bike’s engine started on the first try, and rumbled to life with its throaty Harley roar.

I donned my Dehner Field Boots to break them in with a pair of lightweight CHP leather breeches (and I have to admit, I wore longjohns underneath!), and my Taylor’s Cop Jacket, gloves, and full-face helmet.

Riding alone is a good thing when you need some “me time.”  It gave me a chance to think about my aunt who recently passed away and enjoy the scenery, as stark as it was (grey, snow mounds still on the side of the road.)  But it was GREAT to get out!

Sorry, good friend and fellow biker in New Hampshire (you know who you are), I do not mean to rub it in, but when we have that occasional warmish day in winter, I’ll get out and ride when I can.  I thought of you and had you with me in spirit (if that helps!)

Life is short:  RIDE!

Only another biker knows how I feel when I look at the back of my garage and see my beloved Harley tucked in safely from the cold, with a Battery Tender connected.  Only another biker would know the irony of having the Harley’s Battery Tender propped up on a snowblower stored next to it…  🙂

Some words for how this biker feels this time of year, when it is cold, icy, snowy, and non-conducive to riding:

• Forlorn
• Sad
• Heartache
• Sigh
• Cabin Fever
• F’kin Winter’s never gonna end!

Oh well… that’s how us bikers feel this time of year.

But I vowed that I will remain positive, so I will continue to repeat this phrase, “Spring will come,” “Spring will come,”  “Spring will come,”  (… and the partner won’t cram my limited weekend time with so many chores that I can’t ride!!!!)

Life is short:  keep dreaming.  And to my fellow bikers:  I know how you feel!

Here are some photos that were taken on some motorcycle rides that my club goes on.  I didn’t take any of these photos because I wasn’t on these rides.  The rides were too long and too “spirited” (that is, too fast) for me to be comfortable, within my riding limits, to go on.  Nonetheless, it’s great to see the scenery and the fun.

In one way, I’m gonna miss being photographer for the club next year, because you get to see all these great photos.  However, I’ve announced that I don’t want to continue in this position for a fourth year.  The job isn’t as much taking pictures, but it is gathering them, assembling, cropping, editing, resizing… it takes many, many, hours and to be honest, I’m kinda burned out.  Time to turn the reigns over to someone else.  

Meanwhile, enjoy some cool ride shots taken by some of my friends.

I went on what I think was the last group ride (for me) of the season yesterday.  I say that because it is predicted to rain a lot this coming week, so I won’t be able to ride mid-week.  This coming weekend, I’ll be so busy I won’t be able to ride.  Then the week after that, I will have my hernia repaired, so I will not be able to ride for several weeks after that.

Today’s ride was rather “spirited” — meaning it was rather fast for what was supposed to be short, casual, non-highway ride.  And there were a lot of us in the pack — some 21 bikes and 25 riders (that means four passengers).  I was planning to have a passenger, too, with my friend LC, but he wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t able to join me.  I am sorry that he couldn’t make it, but some of the turns and some of the riding was challenging to ride on my own, much less with a passenger.

So there I am, in full leather — started off with a t-shirt and leather shirt with my motorcross jacket, my leather riding pants, medium-weight leather gloves and while you can’t tell from this photo, I had on my 17″ Chippewa Hi-Shine boots.  We stopped along the way for riders who got divided by a tough road crossing to catch up.  While stopped, I took off the leather shirt, as the temperatures were climbing, and put my jacket back on with thinner Damascus leather gloves.

It was a fine, unexpectedly sunny, very pleasant day.  The temps by mid-day were 75°F (24°C) — absolutely wonderful on a great autumn day.

While I was rather tired by the time the group pulled into a parking lot at the destination late lunch stop, I was jazzed because we all had a good time, including me.  What a great end to my riding season.

Life is short:  RIDE!

I got to go play hooky yesterday and go for a motorcycle ride with some friends.  Typical attire among bikers:  me in leather breeches, companions in chaps, one in jeans, and all of us in boots (I was wearing Dehner patrol boots).

Though a bit cool and overcast, it was great to get out for a ride. Our riding season is drawing to a close, so I am trying to take advantage of every opportunity I have to get out when I can.

Companions faces blurred to protect the innocent.

Life is short: RIDE!

I was pleased to be contacted via my website by Leather Chad (“LC”), who lives in the Washington, DC, area, near where I live.  We exchanged some messages, and in one of them, I invited him to join me for a ride on my Harley.

I’ve said that on some postings in various places that I like to take people either on my bike or ride with people who share similar interests — boots & leather.  Well, I have to be honest, five years now with that message “out there,” and this was the first local contact I’ve had that has actually worked out — someone joining me for a ride.

“LC” is a very handsome, intelligent man who is very interesting to speak with.  We got together yesterday afternoon.  I gave him a ride on my Harley through the Maryland countryside.  The leaves on the trees are beginning to change colors, and the weather was delightful — perfect “leather weather.”  (I was in leather breeches, a pair of Dehner Boots, a leather shirt and vest.)

We stopped to take a break and talked about a wide variety of things, then rode back.  What a pleasant afternoon with a really nice guy!

“LC” had a nice pair of harness boots and a great leather jacket.  He promises that the next time we ride, he’ll wear some leather pants.  Great — but what’s most important is that we will have that next time.  I enjoyed meeting him, and look forward to more rides with my buddy.

Life is short:  ride!

I led a motorcycle ride yesterday of a small group that joined a much larger group to ride to a national memorial in my home state where we paid tribute and gave thanks to firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.  Firefighters protect us every day, and we should be thankful for their contribution to helping us be safe and take care of us when fires and other emergencies happen.

It was a lovely day, weather-wise. Perfect for my leather riding pants, leather jacket, and comfy Chip Firefighter boots.  The tribute was meaningful and moving for the thousands of us bikers who gathered and rode in memory of those who have died, and in tribute to those who protect us.

Life is short:  pay tribute.

A biker buddy sent me the following quip at the end of an email:

Remember, put off to tomorrow what you should have done today and ride!

That’s a nice thought… just go for a ride and say, for a day, “to heck with responsibilities.”

…heh heh heh, … I wish. It’s just not within me to blow off caring for my aunt or getting other work done on a Saturday when my partner is available to help. Much as I would have enjoyed going for a ride instead of doing chores and caring for my aunt, as I so often do, I chose the latter instead of the former.

Life is short: do what you have to do, and dream:

Question: why would my little sister put on my new, tough, thick cowhide biker chaps?

Answer: because she wanted to ride on my Harley, yet her pants were so thin that the heat from the bike was hurting her legs.

Here’s the story. My little sister asked me to pick her up on my Harley at the Metro station, then go visit our aunt, then go to another sister’s house for the regular Friday night family dinner.

When I arrived at the Metro station, I saw that sis had on a pair of dress slacks that were thin. I was a little concerned, but she hopped on the back of the bike, donned a helmet, and said, “let’s go!” Off we went.

The visit with our aunt was great, but as we were leaving her home, sis explained that her legs were feeling really hot from the heat of the bike’s exhaust.

I offered to take her to my local K-Mart to get some jeans. When we arrived in the store’s parking lot, she was changing her mind and suggested we go back to my house and get the truck and use that to go to our other sister’s for dinner. But as this sister is known to do, she changed her mind again and said, “I’m having too much fun. I want to ride on your Harley!”

That’s when I said, “well, I have a pair of chaps in the saddle bag. You want to see if they will protect your legs while we ride?”

Well, there she is, all wrapped in custom-made chaps in my size. She is half my size and half my weight soaking wet. (That’s why I call her my “little” sister, even though she’s four years older). She and I both laughed our heads off. But it worked…she was safe and enjoyed the ride to Outer Slobbovia to sister’s house for dinner. The family saw our arrival and roared.

We are all still laughing. What one does for family.

Life is short: protect those you love and show them you love them!