11.28.2010

Who Says You Can't Get What you Want for Your Birthday?

Today was beautiful, cold, but beautiful.  There were no big patches of ice on the streets.  There was no snow or rain to contend with.  It was perfectly sunny with blue skies that contrasted against the lack of color caused by the loss of greenery and leaves.  A quick jaunt around the lake for us and at least six others who were out to enjoy the weather break we'd been thrown.  I always enjoy looking at the lake (a little too much sometimes) and the water that looked warm, blue and inviting only a few months ago was suddenly a drab, murky gray.  You know, that shade of gray you get when you're doing water colors or acrylics in your rinse cup?  Yeah, it was like that only with angry little, crisp, white caps.  Like even Lake St. Clair was not entirely happy about the approaching winter freeze.

All I had to do was pull the cover off of my bike and start her up.  Some days, you just get to grin and everything works out just perfect.  Today was one of those days.  I can't believe my luck.  It's my birthday today and I got to go for a pre-winter birthday ride with my dad.  I felt the frost nip at my fingers & nose, and I warmed my hands by my engine warm glow.  What a way to begin a new year!   The only thing that would have made it better would have been to go from 40 degrees [we have a sort of rule about not riding unless it's at least forty degrees Fahrenheit, we stick by it most of the time ;-)  ] to 60.  Oh, and while I'm dreaming maybe a week or two on the road to truly enjoy it, however sometimes life just throws you a perfect curve ball and all you have to do is reach out and catch it.

Today was just such a day.    Happy Birthday to me!

11.27.2010

So Sad, the Motorcycle Stands Alone

Happier Day- coming down out of Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado '07
It's been a sad month or more.  The daylight has fled for winter, leaving much shorter day time available.  The temperatures have been erratic, but dropping constantly, and the wet, wind, and other weather has been a complete bother.  I do believe that we are skipping most of fall this year and going directly into winter.  I must say, winter is my least favorite time of the year.  Holidays aside, it basically blows, because here in Michigan our riding season can seem quite unfairly short.