Year Round Rider

My name is Gail, and it's been 6 weeks since I've been on a motorcycle ride. "Hi, Gail".
I got my December ride in today, and it was...well, cold. Not Alaska kind of cold, more like, I sit in an office all day long, and anything under 50 is cold, kind of cold. (It was about 40)
I had my Gerbing tops and bottoms on under my Rev IT riding gear. I had ski socks on under my Oxtar boots. But I didn't exactly put any of this to the test as I "braved" the elements for all of 25 miles. LOL.
My Shoei RF1000, is very airy, as I rolled on the throttle down the entrance ramp, I could feel the wind sneaking in the cracks on the face shield. And then there were my fingers. Brrr. I had a pair of thin liners on under my Olympia winter weight gloves, but the fingers get cold quickly. Yeah, yeah, I need a new pair...it's a Catch 22 really. I don't ride all that much in the 30's, so I don't want to spend the $$. And I don't ride much in the 30's because...duh...I don't have good cold weather gloves. Sighhh.
It was a nice little ride, we stopped at work for a photo op. No side of the road to speak of these days, so I figured the quiet campus at work would be a better venue. Then we bailed on the idea of a long ride to the coast, and took a quiet back road directly to a coffee shop. Let's face it, all my winter rides are just excuses for a cappuccino!
See you out there next month, if the sun is shinning and the road is dry and the spirit is willing.

Happy New Year!

For some time now, most of this decade in fact, I reflect back on the year just finished, and I’m satisfied to know it was so much better than the year before. Experience has shown me, that the year coming up will somehow be better the year just completed.

Once again it’s the end of a very good year, much better than 2006, and I’m optimistic that 2008 will somehow be better.

I accomplished many things in 2007. Taking a 5 week vacation with my daughter was the highlight of my personal and my riding year. I got to know some new people and was the recipient of some outstanding hospitality! I was employed the whole year! It was close at times, but I pulled it off. All the bills from my trip are paid, much to the dismay of my credit card company. I won a seat on the MOA board. Had some articles published and started a blog. This was the year I stopped putting miles under my tires for the sake of miles. I chose more roads less traveled and reaped the benefits of it. . My main squeeze and I did some fix and repair work together and are now the proud owners of a well tuned relationship. I even like riding with him. Definitely more of that next year.

I’m not big into goal setting. But I have ideas, and I have a vision of the kinds of things I’d like to do. This won’t be a big trip year; I expect I’ll be thinking about something for 2009. Keeping the big trip to every other year seems like the fiscally prudent thing to do.

Did you have a better year this year? Do you have plans for next? Is a big trip in those plans? You (and only you) can make that big trip happen. It takes a commitment to do it, don’t listen to the nah-sayers! Be specific about what you want to accomplish, line things up to make it happen! Have a Happy New Year!

Moto Ski

It is not to late for Santa to buy me (or you) this!! Do you think they make these for K bikes?

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful

When I was a kiddo of ten or so, I remember that every winter I’d carefully scan the newspaper (a method of obtaining news pre-internet) every day in hopes of spotting some news about the Red Sox. December and January where the toughest months to find even an inch or two of Sox news. It’s kind of like that with motorcycling. Oh yeah, there are the motorcycle shows, but I’m not into that scene. I have a nice line up now, and no bike envy, no money burning a hole in my pocket. Even if I did, a bike show would not be my style. I hate crowds, and let’s face it they are not marketing those bikes to me anyhow.

I last went bike shopping in August of 2005. I spent two years lusting over the 2003 K1200GT. I must have test rode that bike once a quarter for two years. It’s a wonder the people at Max BMW put up with me. Anybody that knows me, knows I won’t be buying a new bike any time soon. But never say never. My car was so new when I bought it, the shipping paper, from the boat, was still covering it. So there are times when the lust gets to intense, and wins over the Yankee frugality.

So I don’t really understand the whole bike show thing. If I want to look at new bikes, I’ll go to the dealer. As far as new farkles, I’ll seek out what I need. The last thing I need is to “learn” about new stuff for the bike… I just as soon remain in the dark about them. It would only lead me into temptation.

We’ve been hit hard, early and often with snow this year. For the first month in about 4 years, it looks like I will not be getting a ride in. I’m ok with that, it’s only bragging rights, and in the big picture means almost nothing. I’m enjoying my cold winter months practicing my Photoshop skills by cleaning up my pictures and writing stories. I’ve even edited and posted some of my 2004 Spokane, WA trip pictures. Can you believe I only have 20 good pictures! Then again I did not have a back seat photographer.

Have a good time if you go the show, or anything else you find comforting this long winter. And if you do get out, put in an extra mile for me!!

Just for Fun

Click on the picture to link to Flickr and find out how to make
one for yourself.

Stars Align

The job search worries are over. I've landed a new assignment. It's another contract position with the same company, but it's located 3.7 miles from home. I'm a numbers person, do you know what this means? About $3,000 a year in gas money is going into my pocket. Hey, what a coincidence, that's just about what a nice used K75 costs. I'm so excited to work in my own community again. I've been gone for about...20 years. Good grief.

I am going to miss my books on tape! As far as I can tell, it's been the only good part about spending 10-12 hours a week in the car. I imagine I won't be needing them for the 5 minute ride.

I think I can go forth and enjoy my holidays a little more!

I start in 2 weeks!