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