No fancy dress up, no heading out to a candlelit dinner, no champagne although I did get beautiful flowers that included roses. No, I got what I really wanted for Valentine’s Day—a gorgeous, sun-filled day in the upper 50s and a chance to ride.
All week long, Bill and I had been checking Saturday’s forecast, and as we got closer and closer to the weekend, the forecast kept improving with clouds disappearing Thursday and the temperature hitting over 55 by Friday night. Three weeks is a long time not to ride one’s motorcycle, and I was happy that both the weather and my health cooperated to let me out on my R Nine T.
It wasn’t just the weather suggesting that Punxsutawney Phil might have gotten it wrong. I spotted a small flock of Canadian geese as we headed over to the garage, lots of birds flitting in and out of trees, mallards in the river, and a robin zooming by. And Bill and I weren’t the only ones out taking in this spring-like day. The playground at the school was packed, some kids even wearing short sleeves and shorts in celebration of a warmer day. I was comfortable in my flannel turtleneck, leggings, and leathers, no lining needed in my Schotts. I wore my mid-weight gloves and realized I could’ve worn the light weight ones with the heated grips on, but I need more practice in the thicker gloves. And I have improved my throttle work with only one accidental roll on during the ride.
My riding skills evinced a three-week hiatus. My on-street U-turn hit the grassy berm on the first turn. And I messed up my two-parking space turn in the gravel lot, having to stop, push the motorcycle back, and regroup. I even dabbed once during a U-turn. I think in part I was a little extra zoomy during the ride having waited three weeks for the chance to zoom again.
The best part of the ride was knowing I was with my sweetheart and that he was having as much (if not more) fun as me. Looking ahead, the warm weather is planning to stick around, so hopefully I’ll stay healthy and there won’t be another hiatus in our motorcycle rides. Valentine’s Day is a day we reflect on love, and I can honestly say I absolutely love riding motorcycles!
Flutterby Biker 