So, now I had a bike, but she was in Ohio, and I was in…. Tennessee! Now what? Fortunately, I’m blessed to know some incredibly generous people with, not only skills, but also large race car trailers, who routinely make the trek from Ohio, past Chattanooga, to Atlanta – a straight shot down I-75. A … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, On Her Way
I don't know where this man came from, how massively I lucked out when we got together, how I recognize it more and more as the years go on. He's so supportive of me. It overwhelms me sometimes, just how loved he makes me feel!! He multiplies my every happiness. Today, he drove from Oxford, … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Found My Girl!!
Exhausted through and through from two days of intense concentration in the brutal Tennessee heat and humidity, taking the motorcycle safety course. Body parts hurt that I didn't know existed. Giddy delight won out and I ran myself over to the DMV this morning anyway - girl now has her motorcycle license!!!! Wow, that feels … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Major Milestone
Oh, the SHAME!! When you finding yourself the ONLY ONE sitting, head hung low, on the water cooler, banished to the far end of the motorcycle safety course, while everyone tries to not meet your eyes across the acres of concrete, continuing on with their practical test, when you've... FAILED!!! As in, you punched the … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Day 2: Motorcycle Safety Course
Today was the day!! Gulp. Our little class of about 12 people spent a couple of hours in the classroom, reviewing the answers to the questions in our Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Ridercourse handbooks. That’s right up my alley! No stress or anxiety there!! But, then… Time to hit the parking lot!! Hopefully only figuratively, … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Day 1! Motorcycle Safety Course
Popped down to the mailbox this afternoon, taking a break from work, to find… Happiness in an Envelope!! My girlfriend had seen a Facebook post about me taking a motorcycle safety course. And, what do the people who love and support you do? The don’t drag you down, they don’t fret at you or … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Finding Support
Today I finished up studying the motorcycle course material. The feeling has now become a familiar one – that “drinking from a firehose” feeling, that there is so much to know, so much ahead of you to practice. There’s the fear at not being able to assimilate it all quickly enough for how fast you’ll … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Wrapping up study prep
I was signed up for the motorcycle safety course at the Chattanooga State Technical College. It was a requirement of the course to show up having read the booklet they sent to you and having answered all 175 of the questions in the back. I spent a week of evenings reading, studying the material, and … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Hittin’ the Books
It’s one thing to ride around for a few quickie motorcycle rides over a weekend with an experienced rider, getting a little happy on. It’s quite another to decide to toy with starting down a similar path yourself. I’d been recounting the thrill of the weekend with David. I’d poked around on the internet to … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, First Tentative Step
Sometimes everything changes from the smallest of new beginnings, radiating out from the tiniest, unexpected experiences we have, the ones that go on to thoroughly capture our imagination. I’d had the opportunity to go to West Virginia to tackle the 280’ via ferrata route at Nelson Rocks, with both a college and high school friend, … Continue reading Motorcycle Riding, Small Beginnings…
Smarter-Not-Harder U 