Not Quite

Didn't make my goal of 90 miles on the Ninja
yesterday, but only missed it by a few 10ths.
I'd wanted to get as much pleasure into Sunday
as I could since it was my only day off.
Working Saturday sinks... but with no relief
in sight, (no one in the parts dept. wants to
work Saturdays either), I have to accept a six
day work week for the time being.
58 degrees doesn't sound very cold does it?
In fact, come February that temp. will feel
like a heat wave, but on a motorcycle it's a
tad nippy when the speedo reads 50mph and your
under dressed.
Not only I'm I acquiring experience with each
mile I ride, I'm learning what to wear to keep
from freezing to death!
And, now I know, why smart people wait for the
day to warm up before heading down the road.
And why you see more motorcycles on a autumn
afternoon compared to an autumn morning.
Live and learn.

Working six days, and having a motorcycle, has
taken a bite out of my time, and that in turn
has taken a toll on speed skating.
You could say my thoughts have been else where.
So has my body.
This time of year I usually question why and what
I am doing, and what my goals are.
The days are get shorter because it gets dark
earlier, and I find myself fighting the urge to
hibernate along with the bears..

Rebel With A Cause

And it's not me, it's my son.
When I'm out shopping in town, I'm often asked by
young cashiers if I have a son in High School. They
know him and recognize my face through his, which
they know much better.
My son is a thinker, has a naturally inquiring
mind and is constantly bringing his teachers up
short with questions.
He wants to know why, or why not.
Who, what, where and when aren't questions, they are
part and parcel of the blood that flows through his
veins.
He and I are enough alike that not much surprises me
about what he is interested in, but I was taken a back
recently when he chose not to have his picture taken
for his senior year book.
In fact, as a proud parent, I was disappointed.
You see, I don't have a picture in my senior year book
either. Because I left school in 11th grade and didn't
graduate High School.
And, well, I was looking forward to his being among
the graduating class of 2008.
Proof, that my son made it where I hadn't..
Well, he surprised me last night,with news he felt pretty
good about.
His classmates voted him "Most likely to change the world".
For that he is willing to be in his senior yearbook.
I can only hope he changes the world for the better...

Illusion

Had to laugh!
Riding home on the Ninja Monday, I passed a group
of High School aged girls walking down the opposite
side of a narrow back street in Frenchtown.
Nothing very exciting about that.
The speed limit was 15mph and perhaps I was doing 20.
As I got closer I couldn't help but notice that they
were checking me out.
Huh?
I've never seen that look in a girls eyes aimed in
my direction before !
Poor things..they only saw the bike, the mirrored
helmet, and the black jacket.
When I realized that they were mistaking me for some
hot guy, I turned my head in their direction, which
only intensified their preening. I laughed to myself
and thought of flipping open my visor and waving.
Instead, I let the illusion stand and enjoyed the smile
it put on my face.
I could be their mother, but that's not what they saw.
Why ruin it...

Night Ride

It wasn't intentional. After I put the grocery's away I
told my son I was going to take the Ninja out and headed
for the garage where my little pony is stabled.
The night previous,I'd finally found a helmet that fit,
and even if the graphics were not something I would have
chosen, they were something I could live with.
Scorpions would not have been my 1st, 2nd or even 3rd
choice of helmet decor..
Starting the bike is easy, if I remember to turn the key
to the ON position and not just stick it in the ignition,
which I have been doing. :O
My Kawasaki is cold blooded, and like people who need time
to get going in the morning, she needs time to get her
juices flowing too.
Once warm, I'm finding her ready, willing, and able.
Maneuvering out to the road, from where the garage sits
behind my house, I ride the narrow line of concrete pavers
that makes up my sidewalk.
If I'm not careful, running into the side of my house
is a distinct possibility..
For the first 20 minutes I traveled back roads around
Lehigh's Goodman Athletic Fields, ones I've grown
comfortable on during my past handful of rides.
Then I made my way over to Main Street, out into traffic
and pointed my Ninja in the direction of the rink.
This was to be a practice run, but with out my skates.
Obeying the posted speed limit all went smoothly.
Except for the guys in the huge truck who laid on their
horn when passing on my right as I was making a left
turn.
Did I do something wrong?
Or were they just being idiots?
I'll never know for sure.
What I do know, is what is a small thing car to car, takes
on different meaning when you are on top of a motorcycle.
Anyway, I got to the rink in one piece, without scaring
myself, used the bathroom, then turned around and headed
back home.
It was getting dark and it was a good thing I had my clear
face shield on and not my tinted one.
Headlights worked great, as good as the ones on my car, and
the high beam was even better.
It's not that I plan on doing much riding at night but with
the season changing, daylight is getting shorter. It's
good to have some time under my wheels in that condition.
Riding a motorcycle has given me a new appreciation for
sharing the road with others. Just like riding a bicycle
did.
"Walk a mile in my shoes" or ride a few mile on two wheels,
sharing the road with 4 wheeled vehicles. It will open your
eyes as a driver of a car.
You will never quite understand the complex issues between
both forms of transportation until you do.

71.8

That's not my temp, nor the temperature outside or inside
my office.
No, it's the miles I've personally put on my pony sized
motorcycle.
There's not much else I think about these days, well, I
am engaged in my son's Air Force recruitment goings on.
But it's Ninja this and Ninja that, almost all Ninja all
the time.
I've ridden three times since I got her home and I'm working
on remembering to cancel my turn signals right away and to
be smoother on the throttle.
She's sensitive and despite her diminutive size, she has
better pickup than my car..
Yee Haw!

My Yellow Pony

The Pony Express of the American west comes to mind
when I ride the Ninja 250. She's small, fit's narrowly
yet solidly between my legs, and is quick to react
to input. Ready when you are to crank up the rpm's,
I find her nimble and responsive.
With 60 miles on the trip odometer, we are only just
beginning to get to know each other, but I expect our
relationship to be a strong one.
Weight wise I couldn't have made a better choice.
Slightly over 300lbs dry, I can pick her up myself if
I drop her, which I've already done,much to my chagrin.
That incident took place in a section of rutted gravel
driveway, while I had my feet on the ground and was
standing still.
Of all things!
And before I'd ever even gotten her out on the road
no less :O
Looking back, I realize that I should have taken greater
care with where I stopped. Flat is better than gravel
craters for both you and your bike.
Take my word on that..
Anyway, with helmet, leather jacket and gloves on, with
the bike warmed up and with my friends at my back, I
drove off the stony driveway at "J&L Cycle" and made a
left onto the smooth blacktop of Rt.12.
Less than two miles ahead was the dreaded metal grated
bridge I had to take to cross from N.J. into PA.
Why did it have to be so freaking long?
Bob had a plan if I wussed out at any point and I was
thankful for his practical, down to earth attitude.
He never makes you feel bad for being afraid.
With the knowledge that help was there if I needed it,
I made the dog leg through Frenchtown and headed for
the Delaware River.
The first half really wasn't bad. It was only at the
half way point that the Ninja seemed to wander more
and it was an unnerving sensation.
Ever felt sick in your heart?
That's how that second portion made mine feel..
Careful to keep my right hand and foot off the brakes
till both tires where on solid pavement again, I rode
down the short exit ramp and came to a smooth stop.
On the whole, it hadn't been as big of a deal as I'd
thought it would be. And it's one I need to get used
to. The only way into New Jersey is across the river,
and I want to ride my bike to work this fall.
Fact is, I want to ride it to work by weeks end...

To be continued

Road Trip

As the Beetles sang, "I get by with a little help from
my friends".
And so, it was with the help of mine that I rode my Ninja
home yesterday morning.
Bob and his daughter April drove me to "J&L Cycle", where
Joe, a scruffy looking Harley guy, with a heart of gold,
was waiting for us.
Opening the overhead door, he rolled my little yellow pony
express bike out of the dark of his shop and into the light
of day.
That's the moment I felt like I'd gone from a bike buyer,
to a bike owner.
It was mine.
Mine to ride home, mine to take responsibility for, on the
road and off.

To be continued..