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….

Regretfully, my partner has been very sick for a long time. I have learned that he manages to do better, remains more calm, and is more lucid and rationale when I am around than times when I have left him alone for a few hours, or arranged for a sister or senior pal to stay with him. He hates being “babysat.” Thus, his need for me to be with him almost constantly imposes severe restrictions on just how far off I can wander on any given outing (smile.) (Also explains why my website doesn’t get updated much.)

Oh well, I can have dreams — one day, my partner will be well. One day, I can find at least one other person who would be willing to ride with me at MY pace, and then we can take off to explore a little bit of my lovely country on two wheels.

Meanwhile, I live vicariously through email descriptions of rides that my buddy S sends to me from New England, funny stories that a bike cop from L.A. sends to me from time to time, adventuresome stories from a cousin who is touring the world on $50/week, and from images that I see of my fellow riders in my club — riding and having fun in lovely places.

Life is short: dream and one day, realize your dreams!