Technically, the roads were dry enough for a Saturday ride.  But as Tropical Storm Ophelia passed over our area, the winds were still quite gusty, and the skies looked ready to open at any moment.  So we waited until Sunday and were rewarded with a fantastic ride.

            The skies still looked ready to open up on us, but we trusted the forecast which called only for cloudy skies and headed out.  As I went to mount my bike, a tiny Fritillary butterfly stopped by to dance around the handlebars.  Outside of the Cabbage White I saw as we drove over to my parents’ house, that little guy was the only butterfly I saw.

            The storm knocked down a lot of branches and left a damp scent in the air.  The greens were all dark, the flowers muted.  I did spot a blooming clematis crawling up a mailbox.  I keep expecting to see mums, but I haven’t yet.  We had to change direction as we headed down the long road because power crews were working on the lines; another remnant from the storm.

            I worked on my left turns as I was still not satisfied with my angle of approach.  They got better toward the end of my ride.  I had a warning light on the motorcycle; it’s due for another service at 1300 miles.  Bill stopped because he heard a rattling noise every time he hit a bump.  We later learned that the noise was coming from his helmet; he’ll have to figure that one out.

            Today, Bill signaled for me to head over into the gravel lot of the historic house.  I had fun working on my U-turns and just riding on the gravel.  He sat and watched me practice, so on the drive home, I suggested he work in the church lot while I work in the gravel.  But he said he enjoys watching me work the bike.

            I had one mis-shift into neutral but caught it in time to correct.  My on-street U-turns were a little wider than last week, but I realized I wasn’t focused.  I’ve become a decent enough rider that earlier in the week, I spotted a rider with poor technique.  He was coming to a stop.  I noticed the bike jerk a little and the rider throw both legs out to put both feet down.  The reason he had to throw both legs out was he was stopping with the front brake.  By using the front brake, the rider needs to make sure the bike is straight on.  Even so, the front brake causes the motorcycle to dive a bit in the front meaning the steering is not where one would expect.  Having watched this poor stop, I consciously worked on my stops; rear brake, left foot out and down before adding the right foot.  At one stop the bike lurched a bit to the right, but because I was using the rear brake to stop, I had control over the steering.

            It was a ride of scents.  In addition to the dampness left by the storm, we rode through someone grilling hamburgers outside, making my mouth water.  We also rode into a new parking lot that had just been resurfaced, so the bitter tar smell overwhelmed me.  We didn’t stay there long.

            I miss seeing the butterflies, but as the weather keeps cooling, I’ll have to enjoy the more comfortable rides with less beauty to look at.  I’m happy the storm left us Sunday for our ride; I even chose riding over watching the NFL.  This choice was a good one as my team, the Washington Commanders, didn’t show up to play against Buffalo.  As I told Bill, motorcycle riding always takes precedence over football; I have my priorities straight.

            Last week as we neared my parents’ house, the skies opened up and drenched us.  We finished the drive over on roads rapidly getting slick with the rainwater.  It was quite depressing, and it kept us from riding.  I still planned to write about the day, but I came to the realization that not riding put me in funk where writing about not riding was rubbing salt on the wound.  As the days passed, guilt crept in over top of the funk, but since I had a week off from riding, I accepted a week off from writing too.  But this week I was back in the saddle.

            The weather gods were appeasing us for the rained out weekend; the day was spectacularly sunny and comfortable with temperatures in the upper 70s.  Fully geared up, I was comfortable the whole ride, at least in my attire.  Half a minute into the ride, I had an uncomfortable left turn where I had a momentary fear of falling as I leaned the bike over to tighten up my turn.  I didn’t fall; I did realize I needed to analyze what I was doing wrong.

            I had noticed over the past few rides that in my left turns I had to lean the bike over more to manage the turn.  What I came to understand on today’s ride was that I am taking too wide an entry angle into my left turns, so I began working on beginning my left turns closer to the middle of the land I’m leaving.  Now the reason I was too wide on my left turn entries was to avoid cars in the opposite lane.  But that wide entry left me little room on my right for maneuvering.  The bad entry is part of why I almost crashed that day I mis-shifted into neutral on my left turn.  During today’s ride, I stayed near the center line of my exiting lane which kept me closer to the center line of my entry lane.  This position left me with plenty of lane to my right for corrections.  However, I was lucky there was no oncoming traffic as I practiced my left turns.

            I had a great second street U-turn, clearly two feet away from the berm.  But when we went into the library’s parking lot, I could only manage three spaces for my turns (two is considered primo).  I do need to get more comfortable with full lock on U-turns.  When I can manage that, then I might make the U-turn in two spaces.

            I was surprised early in our ride by a Monarch butterfly—my first of this year.  During the ride, I saw either one very busy other one, or two more.  At one point we entered a cul de sac and I saw about ten small butterflies wildly flitting about a Matgold bush.  There were Sulphurs and Fritillarys.  As we returned down the long straightaway, I saw two small Fritillarys seemingly dancing around each other.  I wondered, though, if they weren’t engaged in a violent struggle that to my eyes looks like a dance.

            Signs of autumn were evident as a few leaves fell, and I saw yellowing leaves on a small maple.  The crape myrtles have more leaves than blossoms now, though I am still seeing buds and blooms on the magnolias.  I would love for autumn to get here but only if it lasts a good long while.  I won’t miss the summer storms; there are more storms predicted for next weekend.  I hope I don’t have to stretch the joy from this ride over two weeks.  Let’s all cross our fingers and hope the storms arrive early or are delayed for next Saturday’s ride.

            Hurricane Idalia passed south of us luckily, so though we had some rain and wind on Thursday, we were left a gorgeous Saturday in the storm’s wake—sunny and 76 degrees.  Perfect riding weather is that which keeps the rider comfortably cool which is what I was.  At the beginning of the ride, I almost regretted keeping my jackets half-zipped because the air was so cool, but the bright sun soon warmed me up enough to make for a sensational ride.

            Bill was feeling better, so he was able to join me.  As we headed out, a Sulphur butterfly flew along the left side of us, slightly behind Bill and slightly ahead of me.  I think the butterflies might be attracted to the bright colors of our motorcycles—the bright crimson on the Triumph Rocket and the sunny yellow on the R Nine T.  Whatever it is that brings the butterflies around, I appreciate the chance to see and admire them.

            During my ride, I focused on the feeling of the handlebars as I counter steered through the turns.  I watched as the slight pressure on one side of the bars let the bike flick through the curves.  I also worked on my stops and my no-look turns.  I noticed how much improved I am on the no-look turns especially on the right turns.

            It turns out I can’t not pre-load the front brake, so I’ve adjusted my strength training to prevent hand numbness.  At the first tingles of numbness, I began releasing the front brake as I approached stops so I could flex my fingers and shake out my hand.  This strategy enabled me to complete the ride without having to stop and shake my arm out.  I also wondered if my improving grip is helping me ride longer without numbness.  I’ve been working at the gym on chin ups which is strengthening my grip.  I just realized that this may benefit me on my motorcycle rides.

            As we rode, I noted how the green leaves and green grass all seem a deeper shade than they did at the onset of summer creating a tranquil lushness.  We’ve had enough rain and cool days this summer to allow the crape myrtles, magnolias, brown-eyed Susans, roses, and clematis to bloom throughout the summer.  Though the increasing number of Canadian geese indicate that autumn is well on its way.  Luckily, I was able to see several more Sulphurs, a Tiger Swallowtail, some Cabbage Whites and, as I parked the motorcycle in the garage, I glimpsed a Pink-edged Sulphur.  I’ll enjoy the butterflies over the next few weeks rides because soon they’ll be gone.