Street Party Keynote Speaker Deb Gray

I liked this gal, she gave a great speech at the Street Party!!

Deb Grey's memoir of a motorcycle life

DEB GREY

Deb Grey with her Honda Valkyrie.

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Former MP speaks to Women in Motorcycling conference

Aug 22, 2009

DEBORAH GREY

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

This is an edited excerpt from a speech given Aug. 21, 2009, by Deborah Grey, former MP and Order of Canada recipient, to the American Motorcyclist Association's International Women and Motorcycling Conference in Keystone, Col.

Her keynote was a highlight of the International Street Party, organized by the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada.

The MCC is a national advocacy organization committed to uniting motorcyclists and to promoting, protecting and preserving motorcycling.

We are extraordinary women. In riding motorcycles, we have learned to do something that only a very small percentage of the female population has done.

So, whatever we fear, we can face it, then forget it – put it behind us, and move on.

Here's my RIDE: Relatives. Instructor. Dared to run. Exit stage right.

Relatives – My father was an alcoholic; my mother raised five kids single-handedly in Vancouver in the '60s. I spent time on my little bicycle, thinking, talking, screaming, praying, and forgiving.

I could ride it off and ride it out. My sister had a friend who took me for a ride on his motorcycle when I was 13, and I was hooked for life. This is my 42nd season of safe, trouble-free miles.

Instructor – I moved from Vancouver to north-eastern Alberta to teach at Frog Lake Reserve. Instead of being just a teacher, I became a learner, and had my Grade 4 students teach me how to fish with my bare hands. I had lots of challenges, and faced them by going for long motorcycle rides: thinking, talking, screaming, singing, praying. Whatever the fear or challenge, I could ride it off and ride it out.

Dared to run – After teaching for 10 years, a neighbour dared me to run for the new Reform Party. I was terrified; I knew nothing of politics and wondered how I had ever won. Six months later, I looked across the aisle in Parliament and wondered how they had ever won!

I learned to face my fears and deal with issues and the media directly, relying on my gut for wisdom. The most valuable lesson I learned in my political career is that "not all of your colleagues will be your friends." Learn it now and learn it well.

My bike became my safe place: thinking, talking, screaming, singing, praying. No matter what, I could ride it off and ride it out.

Exit Stage Right – After 15 years, I felt it was time for a new chapter. I faced the fear of not knowing what I could do now.

I feared it, faced it and then forgot it.

I went out at the top of my game and did not look back. I have no regrets. I have more time for riding, doing charity rides, being home with my husband. When I get scared, or frustrated, or discouraged, I ride my motorcycle: to think, to talk, to scream, to sing, to pray. I can ride it off and ride it out.

How about you? Any regrets? Quit your job if you hate it – you're not fooling anyone. Quit the toxic relationship if you have tried to make it work, but it is sucking the very life out of you. Re-connect with someone, make a call, send a card.

Somebody mentored you – now you go and mentor somebody else, whether it is riding, responsibilities, retirement or relationships. Be a bridge builder. Live your life forward so you never regret it backward.

The Long and Winding Road....NAW, it was STRAIGHT!

Ain't no curvy roads between Littlefield and College Station.  I swear you can stand in Sweetwater and see straight into Temple.  If it weren't for the road construction vehicles, that is.  

I left the home of Waylon Jennings early with the sun coming up, with never a chance to investigate if all they have of Waylon is a billboard.  They did have a great hot tub though at the motel, a good view of the fingernail moon, replete with sounds of  goats bleating next door.  Not your average spa night, but different!!

As promised, I did retake the pictures of the awesome wind farms north of Sweetwater.  Hmm, some of these pictures might have been taken at speed, that explains why they are so crooked!  

Guys, I know where your doves are!!  In those sunflowers fields, flying erratically, trying to bash into defenseless motorcycle riders!

I was back in the familiar Texas heat around Gatesville and the push was on to see whether fatigue or the heat would tire me quickest.  I learned several things on this trip, one being, that a hot V-twin engine can raise a welt on your leg through your mesh riding pants as you get off the bike at a gas stop causing you to yell out a most unladylike term.  This is unfortunate say, if, there are road crews standing around, laughing about it, offering to help with their first aid kit.  I, on the other hand, am secretly wondering, if this might be a good opportunity to practice my newly acquired "kill you with a water bottle" technique".    But instead I just gave them a sweet smile.  

I also learned that loads shift during riding.  I had my Monkey Butt powder in the outside pocket in case of any Monkey Butt emergency.  Well, during all the wind and bumpy roads in our beloved summer session of road construction, my load had shifted to make my Monkey Butt canister ride sideways instead of sitting straight up and it had come open as well.  So, I'm riding along and checking my mirrors every so often to make sure nothing sneaks up behind me....like a DPS officer.  And I see little puffs of white smoke coming out every time I hit a bump.  Oh great....what would cause white smoke????  I can't imagine.  It can't be coming out of my pipes, they're too low....so I stick my hand back there and take a look at my glove, which is covered with powder and sweet smelling MONKEY BUTT POWDER!  Everytime I hit a bump, I'm poofing Monkey Butt powder out the back.  It can only happen to me........the little engine that could!!!  By the way, I'm out of Monkey Butt.  

So, I made it home but not without more drama.  As I came into the area north of Gause I could see a massive thunderstorm with lightening draping the area I would soon be riding into.  I made it to Hearne (the armpit of the world).  It was pouring so I sought shelter at the high school, called home and got a weather report.  It was moving fast so only had to wait about 10 minutes.  

Finally got to town and discovered the AGGIES are back.  The town is infested.  

Glad to be home.....more tales to tell....stay tuned

MotorcycleBelle

Song for today.....Magic Carpet Ride, Steppenwolf

A Test of Mental & Physical Strength

It was hard to leave Margaret's after being welcomed back so warmly by her family and treated to a fabulous dinner at her parent's gracious home in Santa Fe.  They were having a dinner party with family friends and let me attend even though I looked like the dickens after being on the road for 8 hours.  Margaret, being sly, knew not to tell me anything about this, knowing I would keep on going rather than stop and have to present myself looking like something the cat dragged in.  But I went and had a great time and tried not to gobble the delicious food.  

I tried to dispel all "biker myths" and prove that motorcycling women can clean up well and carry on in polite society.  I think I did well since they did invite me back.  

They all tried their best to get me to stay another day but the clock is ticking and I need to get home.  The weather forecast did not look good for Santa Fe either so I needed to get going.

I got a good start, but the winds kicked up early.  It was cold until I got to Santa Rosa where it was in the 80s and I realized I had 3 shirts on, my leather jacket and the liner in my riding pants.  I was roasting.  I pulled over at the Santa Rosa Car Museum I had spied on my way up and start shucking clothes in the parking lot.  Then I realized 2 shirts down, I had my pink lacy tee on underneath and had to leave it.  Dang. Plus, no place to put the riding pants liner.  Changed my leather to mesh riding jacket and the pile on the back of the bike got taller.  Now I really look like the Beverly Hillbillies going down the road leaning into the wind.  

Still hadn't remembered to open the vents in my helmet so my head is still cooking, visor fogging.  Finally got a clue on that.  The wind was brutal all day.  I didn't make it to Lubbock.  Part of motorcycling is knowing when to stop.  So I'm posting tonight from Littlefield, Tx, the home of Waylon Jennings.  A pretty welcome sight for my eyes.  I couldn't go another mile.  A plus was the pool, with no kids in sight....YEA!

The Santa Rosa Route 66 Car Museum is pretty cool.  I have many too many pics to post of the great cars they have on display.  So many fabulous Mustangs (my favorite).  I'm only posting a very few of my pictures.  When I get home I will post them to photobucket or somewhere and post a link where you can see them all. 

I knew I was back in Texas when the first two things I saw were.......a dead possum in the road and a Blue Bell Ice Cream Truck!!!   YEA!!!!!  And, of course, a guy hauling hogs.  

I got a toot toot from a choo choo today and a big wave at the Texas border too.  It's interesting that the very border between Texas and New Mexico at Parmer is 4 railroad tracks all put together.  

Let me hear you all cheering for me to make it all the way home tomorrow.  480 miles.  Lord willing, and the wind don't blow.  

Song for today, Texas, Our Texas, William J. Marsh

Across the Great Divide...updated

Just a quick update......

I left Keystone at a little after 8AM this morning and got to Margaret's in Santa Fe today at 5PM.I crossed the Great Divide at Wolf Creek Pass stopped only for a picture and a quick chat with a couple from Canada and the only other stops were for gas.  It rained all the way from Chama, NM to Santa Fe.  Just had to stop once for the rain.  

I'll post the pics soon.....well, I had the couple from Canada take my picture with the bike and we all looked at the picture with me in it to make sure we got it but now it's gone.  I can't believe it.  Well, somebody rode that bike up there!!!

  

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

The last day of the conference was a blend of local tourist fare and the closing ceremonies tonight.  I had finished with the seminars so I got to go to the Jazz Festival in River Run and do some sightseeing in the ski village.  It is beautiful.  I wanted to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain but with the ride home beginning tomorrow I could not risk any altitude sickness.  The tiredness I have had at this elevation is enough.  

Well, the pictures have loaded backwards.  The gal in red is Lois Pryce, one of the reasons I wanted to come to this conference.  She is a Brit who rode a Yamaha 225 from Alaska to Argentina all by herself.  She was tonight's Keynote Speaker for the closing ceremony.  She and her husband are currently touring the US of A in a Ural sidecar rig, while doing a boat tour of the world.  Truly an inspiration and a very vivacious girl.  Her slideshow was astounding!!  After she did the A to A trip she upgraded to a bigger bike......a Yamaha XT250! HA! and rode the length of Africa through the Sahara desert to the Cape of Good Hope.  I got nuthin...

How do you like that fluffy Michelin man with the helmet???  I gave him a hug for a safe ride home!  Now if I could only figure out how to make the picture rotate.  Who knows??

Back on the road tomorrow headed back south.  

Song for today......Ridelicious by Motoroadeo

MotorcycleBelle

Bike Show Beauties, not just Bikes

For the last two nights my life has been enriched by meeting the two women editors, owners, and all around "knock your socks off babes" of Helmet Hair Magazine, an e-zine for all things on two-wheels.  Becky and Cara Mae are from San Antonio, so naturally we bonded immediately.  I've been reading this online mag for quite some time and have always enjoyed it's eclectic collection of stories, artists, advice, and all around goddess-ness!!!  

I have also had the pleasure of meeting Lesley Gering, international photographer and writer for motorcycling magazines.  Her words of wisdom will carry me home like the flight of the dragonfly.   Professionally known as Motorgirl in Canada and abroad, her art is internationally known and recognized.  She is the shizzle!!!

The bike pics did not turn out since they were in the shade by the time I got through shmoozing with the celebrities.  I'll have to see if I can find the bikes later on today and take some more pics.  I'm sure they'll all be at the Closing Ceremonies when Lois Pryce speaks.  This gal I can't wait to see!!!  She rode an adventure ride all the way from ALASKA to ARGENTINA!  Can't wait to hear about it.

Keep forgetting to post those songs.....let's see.  Life is a Highway, Rascal Flatts

MotorcycleBelle

Mayonnaise, AK47s, and an Unlikely Assassin

I survived!  It was a day filled with informative and entertaining seminars.  But first, a little maintenance.  My helmet visor has been giving me trouble.  I finally had the time to look it over and it's a good thing I did.  Two screws fell out of the base plate holding the visor on and the whole visor, base plate and all fell off.  Good thing I wasn't riding.  That might have made a good ride a little too exciting.  I took it to a vendor selling helmets like mine and asked for help and it was graciously given.  The guy couldn't find anything wrong with it except that the mechanism wasn't sliding well so the visor could go up and down smoothly.  Not having any lubricant, he grabbed a little packet of mayonnaise from the lunch cart and now I smell like a sandwich, albeit a sweaty one!  But it works great!  So, onward!!!  And much thanks!!

The Survive Institute Seminar is truly the most entertaining and empowering seminar I have ever attended.  Taught by Debbie and Mike Gardner, former law enforcement officers, using a courage based crime survival mind set every person should know.  Taking back personal rights and not having a victim mind set in America is one of their basic tenets.  I was selected from the audience as one of their "criminals" to watch out for, the assassin.  The most dangerous criminal, I was given an AK47 and told to spray the crowd with bullets.  I happily did this.......it was a water gun!  A more unlikely assassin they have never seen!

How to defend yourself from this criminal?  In a school setting, in an office?  Use your schoolbooks, your backpack, your purse, office files, reams of paper.  They showed us a film where they did a demonstration using automatic weapons, .357, .45,  and shotguns.  Three schoolbooks were effective in stopping every bullet from penetrating completely through the books.  A 500 sheet ream of paper stopped the bullets as well.  Laptop computers were less effective but did help some.  Anything you can put between yourself and a bullet will, of course, lessen the velocity and, hence, the damage.  

Tell your children, attend this seminar, look it up on the internet.  It's worth the price of her book.  She teaches if you are attacked, your family and loved ones are being attacked through your skin.  If you want to know how to kill someone with a highlighter or a bottle of water, ask me.  

I went to a few other seminars today as well.  The Bike Contest and Bike Gear Fashion Show is tonight right out in front of the condo.  There should be some good pictures.  

There are some OVER THE TOP bikes here.  The bike at the top is just a little teaser.  WOW!!!!

My Heart Doesn't Beat, It REVS!

That's on the t-shirt I got today from BMW after the 2 demo rides I did today.  One of the F650GS lowered.  Pretty cool but a little top heavy.  (right pic)

Then the dream bike.  The R1200R. (left pic) Azure blue, sparkling like the mountain lakes reflecting the rhinestones on my riding jacket.  yum, yum, yum.  You can feel the torque of that big boxer twin engine twisting that bike to the right.  Perfection.  Just needs a little taller windscreen.  It eats up the twisties and almost makes you believe you are in Bavaria.  

They don't waste any time on those demo rides.....they get right down to business...down to the red light, left onto the mountain roads.  For two hours today I got to ride BMW bikes.  What a pleasure,  and got the t-shirt!!!

As I was signing up for the Ducati Monster ride tomorrow, Genevieve Schmidt came along to interview the Ducati dealer who was talking to me about the bike.  I was sitting on the Monster, Genevieve, who is the Editor of Women Rider Now, the Harley Magazine for Women, interviewed me for her magazine piece about the Ducati.  WOW!  Look on the website for mention of my name soon.  How exciting!  No picture though, thank goodness, my hair was a fright!

The Barn Dance was tonight at Keystone Stables.  Much line dancing, horseshoe throwing, and a pitiful exhibition of women trying to rope a hay bale.   Dollar Store cowboy hats and green Kawasaki bandanas were the favored attire.   It was very chic.  

I saw a most inspirational sight today.  A woman in a wheelchair rolling in the parking lot towards a trike.  She rolled herself up to the trike.  Put herself onto the trike, disassembled her wheelchair, loaded it onto the trike, fired up that baby up and zoomed off down the road.   How's that for not letting your disabilities keep you from enjoying motorcycling?  We all gave her 2 thumbs up.

Song for Today......The Impossible Dream by Mitch Leigh from the Man of LaMancha

Opening Night

It's the first night of the AMA Women's Motorcycling Conference in Keystone, CO. A more beautiful site they could not have found. I'm very tired today having ridden up from Gunnison through Leadville, maybe it's the altitude, maybe it's the excitement seeing so many women riders together. They are on every kind of bike from Harleys to KTMs complete with Happy Trail packs, Spyders, trikes, sidecars, FJRs, ST1300s, BMWs, you name it, it's here and has a woman rider with bling, fringe, tassels, and custom paint.

Leslie Porterfield was the first speaker, holder of a Land Speed Record at 209 MPH, and recorded at a speed of 232 MPH at Bonneville. She gave a great speech and is gorgeous as well.

Karen Davidson spoke about her family and the history of Harley Davidson, completely decked

out in leather.  

Ashley Filek, 18 year old National Motocross points leader for 2009 and inductee into the AMA for 2009. She is truly an inspiration having been deaf from birth. She is a groundbreaker for women in MX sports having led the way for women to turn pro after competing and graduating the amateur circuit.
The rest of the week is full to overflowing with demo rides, seminars, vendors, and parties. 

I'm off to the demo bikes tomorrow to ride the Ducatis and BMWs....the Harley riders are hugely over-represented here.  Hopefully there won't be a rush to sign up over at the exotics!!!

MotorcycleBelle

Song for the moment......Goodnight, Irene by Lead Belly Ledbetter

How Long Ago Was This Morning?

It seems like this day has lasted forever.  So much fun has been packed into one day I can't believe it.  It was 37 degrees leaving out of Gunnison this morning.  It was cold.  I don't even think it gets that cold in Texas.  It was so cold I forgot to get gas.  Then when I remember to look it was not good.  I prayed over the gas tank and finally got to a little town in the mountains with one gas pump before it was too late.  That's when I discovered I could put my sweatshirt hood on my head AND get my helmet on over it.  Barely.  

The views were magnificent again and thank goodness there was hardly any wind.  Arriving in Leadville, elevation around 9,000 feet, the temperature was still very cold.  I was frozen and needed a hot meal and hot tea.  Thank goodness I got both.  

I finally arrived in Keystone, buzzing with women riders around 3.  Then began the comedy of errors.  How to hold the directions to the condo on the bike.  OK, memorize it.   Underground parking sounds heavenly, doesn't it?  Well, turns out, you need a key card to get into the garage.  I get the key card out, slide it in, garage door opens, put the key card in the tank bag, put the bike in gear, start to go, garage door closes.  Back up...begin procedure over again.  Be quicker this time.  Slide key card in, start to put key card in teeth, instead smash key card into face shield.  Garage door closes.   Look skyward for answers while crowd gathers.  Sigh loudly.  Fog face shield.  Begin to rethink underground parking.   Finally get in without getting my head taken off my the garage door and get into the most beautiful room in the place overlooking a little miniature golf course and of course, the mountains.  

On to the conference!!!

MotorcycleBelle

Song for this post....Are you Tough Enough....I don't even know if that's a song but I keep hearing it in my head and I'm too tired to look it up.

Over the Top and Then Some!

After pulling up behind another lady rider at The Hampton in Durango last night, riding a purple Harley, no less!!, we instantly made friends and went out to dinner after unpacking the bikes and putting on our "leatha" bad momma riding jackets and jeans.  (Michael, start singing the song from "Wild Hogs"!!)  We went cruisin' downtown Durango for some meat.....steak, that is.  OK, so we had surf n' turf at The Ore House.  It was great.  There were lots of people on bikes downtown but we had to skedaddle back to the motel, not being the sort to ride after dark.  But we did make Cindy rack the pipes on the Harley just a teeny bit.  Much giggling ensued.

Today we were up and on the road by 8AM.  This will no doubt astound those that know me very well.  I'll have you know I even ate breakfast.  It was 47 degrees in Durango this morning.  And 29 was the low in Silverton!!  It was cold on that mountain.  But it was the best ride I have ever done. The twisties were superb, the roads are excellent, just don't look down!  Ouray is as beautiful as ever.  The mountain streams are sparkling and you just know they are bone chilling cold.  I know the breeze coming off them sure is!  

After a Dr. Pepper and some divine chocolate fudge in Ouray it was on to Montrose.  BIG TOWN!  They even have a JCPenney's.  We did stop at Target, just to, you know, touch home base, but didn't buy anything.  They all have the same stuff.  

Then on to Hwy 50 to Gunnison and another Scenic Byway.   GORGEOUS again.  The Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Oh, beautiful!  More twisties and then a huge lake.  On the way back I'm going to go down by Lake City and South Fork way.

No words can describe the grandeur of these mountains, nor pictures capture the vastness. Riding through it on a motorcycle is a wonderful experience.  Seeing little chipmunks dart out across the road in front of you, smelling the pines, pinons, and...roadkill.  

There are lots of lady bikers on the road of all description converging on Keystone, riding in groups, stopping to gab at the gas stations, all asking, "Are you headed to Keystone?"  Hugs all around, "See you there!!" and ZOOM, off they go hair a-flying, pipes blasting, grinning from ear to ear!

As we came into Gunnison we could see the afternoon storm forming and the winds increased significantly so we stopped early in the day, to tired to push on through the 120 miles to Keystone.   Tomorrow, a half day of riding, up over the Continental Divide through Leadville, the old mining town, and down into the ski basin of Keystone.

Since I forgot to put a song in for yesterday, today we have two....

America, the Beautiful by Katherine Lee Bates

specifically the part about the purple mountain majesties and the spacious skies

AND

my favorite hymn...

This is My Father's World, words by Maltbie Babcock

specifically the part about the music of the spheres

you can really hear it right now because of the wind.  

MotorcycleBelle

Back in the Saddle Again

And we're off to Colorado.  Leaving the gang at Margaret's was hard.  That's Daniel, the gate attendant who watched over my bike with Margaret.  What great people, don't worry I'll be right back!!!

The ride up to Chama was charming.  Since we drove up the high road to Taos last night for dinner I just did what my "magic eight ball GPS" told me to do and went straight up Hwy 84 to Pagosa Springs.  It is not happy when you stray off it's intended route, it gets all sulky.  

The Abique Lake was gorgeous and I stopped at Ghost Ranch and actually drove down a pretty long dirt road to get to it.  No problems.  Ghost Ranch is where Georgia O'Keefe lived and did some of her paintings.  It's beautiful but my pictures won't do it justice.  

Pagosa was quaint and it was only 2pm so onward to Durango.  I can see the big mountains right up close.  Ouray is only 74 miles away.  That's on the TO DO LIST for tomorrow!

MotorcycleBelle

Sante Fe, NM

The ride up from Texas was hot.  North from Sweetwater was lovely with dotted with mesas and lovely wind farms.  I don't know why people get so up in arms about the wind mills.  They are so beautiful.  Thousands of them for miles and miles turning lazily in the wind.  But then as you get further north into the plains, the roads get straight and the wind gets rank with the smell of natural gas from the pump jacks.  Lubbock is nothing to speak of expect a welcome place to stay the night.  Watching the thunderstorm roll in was beautiful, I was thankful I didn't have to ride in it.  Unfortunately my pictures of the wind farms did not turn out.

Crossing the NM line was uneventful.  No sign marking the event.  I was hoping for a cute picture depicting the "LAND OF ENCHANTMENT".  No such luck.  Just a railroad crossing and a bad road.  Clovis, NM is a city of horrible roads.  

Route 66, the Mother of all Roads is now known as I40.  I wanted to get a sticker for my bike but no such luck.  Just another interstate with the same old chain stores.

The wind was a bitch coming up 84 to Sante Fe.  Thankfully not many people on the road.  Not much to look at either though.  Mountains in the distance.  

Sante Fe has to be the  most beautiful city I have ever seen.  I am not kidding.  I am in love with it.  GORGEOUS.  Margaret, my friend is the most perfect tour guide.  

I have been on a shopping expedition all afternoon.  Rested to the max.  Feasted on the most excellent New Mexican food and Margaritas.  I don't know if I can leave!!!

I have been to the Sanctuario de Chimayo and to El Paragua in Espanola. I have toured the St. Francis Cathedral and the Loretto Chapel.  I have shopped in the Square and the galleries of Sante Fe and viewed the trikes and bikes of same.   It was glorious.  I have stayed in the most glorious home ever built in the mountains near the Opera of Sante Fe.  

Anyway, I leave tomorrow for Pagosa Springs, CO,  if I can tear myself away from such luxury and hospitality.  

Stay tuned....

MotorcycleBelle

And We're Off

So we look a little like The Clampett's going down the road with everything piled on, but hey, you gotta have stuff!  Warm clothes in one side bag, summer clothes in the other, my leather riding jacket in the bag on top along with the computer and all other various and sundry jacket and pants liners and rain suits.  ONLY 2 pairs of shoes, that's gotta be a record for me!  And NO HIGH HEELS!  It was really a test to leave the Stuart Weitzman's at home.  Very painful.  

The ride was rather chilly at first (for me) but warmed up quickly.  North of Sweetwater the most beautiful mesas appeared along with the really artful wind farms.  The wind generators are so majestic and there are thousands of them!   I took pictures but something is wrong with my format....gotta look into that.

Then the sunflowers patches south of Lubbock were beautiful and that was the last of the scenic beauty until the thunderstorm started rolling in across the plains.  

Lots of well wishers along the way wondering where we are going.  

No problems unless you count the turn signal that started flashing rapidly at 6AM this morning.   Gotta look into that tomorrow.  

The song for today is......On The Road Again by Willie Nelson......what else?

MotorcycleBelle

The Inspiration

Of course none of this would have happened if I hadn't heard about the Women's Motorcycling Conference, an event sanctioned by the American Motorcycling Association. 

And my wanderlust was piqued by reading ADVrider.com.  All those posts by guys having ALL the fun, taking off on their motorcycles with barely a change of clothes, a tent, and a bottle of water.  Oh, and extra gas!!  

THEN I noticed a post by a woman who spent an ENTIRE SUMMER by herself traveling in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Arkansas with 2 bikes, a tent, and a lot of guts!!  I read it over and over.  Then I found another one by a woman who is 61 years old from British Columbia who rode her V-Strom to Moab, Utah by herself because she had to see it!  

Well, howdy do.  Then I met a lady from Austin who rode a bike just like mine all the way to MAINE by herself.  I actually met her in person too!!  Hmmm, I thought.  These are real people, just like me.  Women even.  Living large....right out LOUD!!  Not waiting on life to come to them but charging out to grab it by the throat!!  

I've since found 2 more women who have recently completed a major ride to Colorado and beyond by themselves.  These women are my inspiration.  

My goal is to take a series of day rides, stringing them together into a trip to the Women's Motorcycling Conference and back.  

The song to go with this post......Get Out of My Way by Copperhead

Thanks to the Pit Crew

My sincere thanks go out to my mechanic PAT who checked out my bike in the Bike Spa, I mean Shop, and ensured me it's ready to go the distance.  

Thanks also to Michael, who rides the very modern equivalent of the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" bike.  He provided the essential GPS and mount and even hardwired it to my bike.  Truly a rewarding experience for all of us on a hot afternoon!  Small bikes provide big hands with new challenges.  A special thank you for the headlight changing lesson too!  

Thanks to Steve aka The Camel, because he NEVER STOPS, and "the Collector of Many Bikes and All Gear", for dragging me around the state farther than I've ever been before and making me like it even though I griped a lot.  I had 3,500 miles on the bike on July 8 when I took the bike in for service.  I went to Austin the weekend of July 11.  The next week Steve and I rode Tuesday, Saturday, & Sunday and I had 5,000 miles all of a sudden!  

Saving the best for last!!!  To my husband who is patiently waiting for bird season to begin. Thanks for letting me ride.  I'm having a blast!!  

And the song for this post is......Shotgun Seat by Gluecifer

MotorcycleBelle

My memories of Colorado

I've been to Colorado before, of course, what Texan hasn't?  Didn't you ride to Colorado in the back of an Oldsmobile station wagon when you were a kid?  I did, we went every summer.  

Driving that endless highway across the Great Plains begging Daddy to please STOP Daddy PLEASEIHAVETOGO!!!!  Somebody always needed to stop...3 girls in the family.  Where in the world was that motel with those huge seesaws and swings in the front?  It had to be in the Panhandle somewhere because the wind blew so hard.  

Every summer was a different part of Colorado, Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, Royal Gorge, The Sand Dunes, the Million Dollar Highway.  Of course, as kids we wanted Six Flags and DisneyLand but never got to go to DisneyLand.  I'm glad.  The beauty of nature was what we needed.  

I loved going in all those gift shops and buying a neato turquoise ring.  Or a ROCK!!  Man, let's get a rock!!  One with glitter in it!!!  None of those in Texas!  Or some GOLD.  

By far, the most memorable thing to ever happen to me in Colorado was being arrested by a Park Ranger in a National Park.  My offense?  Picking wildflowers for my great grandmother. We learned in Vacation Bible School how to press and dry flowers and my great grandmother was in the hospital so I decided it would be a terrific gift to have flowers from Colorado.  

Well, I was 9 years old or something and didn't know I was committing a crime by harvesting the wildflowers for my own personal use.  I learned, though, when the Park Ranger, took me by the arm and marched me over to the Ranger Hut for a little lecture.  I had run ahead of my parents to complete this little endeavor so they were viewing my unfortunate incarceration with alarm from a little ways behind.  When Daddy arrived at the Ranger Hut to bail me out, I had been relieved of my gift for my great grandmother, educated sternly in respecting nature and conserving the flora and fauna for others to enjoy;   and was steaming mad because the Park Ranger had stuffed the flowers in the TRASH!   I didn't think THAT was very respectful of nature!  And, of course, I SAID SO right out loud.  Daddy was used to clamping his hand over my mouth and picking me up with the other hand in one swift motion, so we got right outta there before any fines could be assessed.  

I always said if they ever kick me out of Texas, I'll go live in Colorado, at least in the summertime.  I don't know about that snow part.  

I'm looking forward to going back.  It should be spectacular on the bike!!  And the song for this moment should be........Where You Lead by Carole King

MotorcycleBelle

The Welcome

Well, you knew the blog would be pink didn't you?  

It seems everyone has a blog nowadays.  Someone suggested to me that I blog about my upcoming trip to Colorado and I've been reading a blog that another lady motorcyclist is writing about her trips so I thought I'd give it a try.  It's certainly a lot easier than writing in a journal.  I never was any good at that and every time I would go back and read what I wrote it was always so pedantic.  I'm sure this will be just as boring but at least we have some good subject matter this time.

I hope you enjoy my travels, if not, you can always navigate away and read something of real literary value!!  Or, go for a ride!!

Oh, and the song for the moment is....of course......Rocky Mountain High, by none other than.......John Denver

MotorcycleBelle