The geese were everywhere on this gorgeous fall morning. As we turned into the neighborhood, we came upon a lady feeding one group of Canadian geese, pulling them across the road and into our path. Turning onto our next road, there was a herd of at least twenty geese moving across the road. On my riding road, there was a small clique of four, and we passed yet another gaggle as we drove over to pick up the bike. Clearly the word has gone out that Pembroke is the place to be if you’re a goose.
Even as I started my ride and came up my street to practice my right side U-turn, I had to detour up another street because the four had set themselves out in the middle of my turn around. I didn’t mind as that gave me a good reason for my road practice.
We were earlier this morning, which might explain the gobs of geese, but it also meant that no one was at the neighborhood park. The park has a small (4 car) gravel parking lot and is inclined, so my ride on it was a little more challenging than the historic houses’ gravel lots. I also went across the street for my little off-road patch, and I was able to make multiple runs.
The morning was in the low 60s, so I appreciated all of my gear (4 layers) and I had to keep my visor down on my helmet for the first time. I returned to my street and was able to herd the 4 geese out of the road so I could practice my stops—I’m up to 22 mph—and my U-turns. I rode back over to the park for one more round of off-roading and, as I was heading back to my street, one of the gaggles launched off the roadway, forcing me to slow down and realize that if I impacted a goose, I didn’t have the protection of the 4 steel doors and windshield of my car. And as I realized this, the second gaggle took off, and I could appreciate the beauty of the birds flying into their V-formation. That is one of the many wonderfully amazing things about riding a motorcycle—the immediacy of the nature you’re riding through. It is so much more a presence than when you are sequestered inside a car.
With those flights the geese were out of the neighborhood and the only living obstacles were the many squirrels running about burying their acorns. The day was so beautiful I kept expecting my boyfriend Bill to be waiting to head over and get the R NineT. I kept circling back by the house, but no Bill, so I ventured farther and farther. I road over into my parents’ side of the neighborhood for my first solo ride. I even ventured into the next neighborhood and rode the 35-mph road solo as well.
This time when I circled back, Bill was waiting, so we headed out together to enjoy our beautiful ride together. When we ride together, we always take a small break on the gravel lot at the Lynnhaven House. As we took our break, Bill had to lift his visor too, proving that it was a cool riding day.
I didn’t see any butterflies on this ride. I did see a cabbage white and an Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly on the bicycle ride we took the next day. What’s better, we saw two beautiful bald eagles soaring above the water. Riding, whether a motorcycle or a bicycle, is so much fantastic fun!
Flutterby Biker 