Gearing Up for Summer

Our luck with the temperatures finally ran out; the weather was typical for Memorial Day weekend in southeast Virginia—hot and humid. Actually, for us, low 80s isn’t too hot, but the humidity was up and the sun was bright making this ride warm and sweaty. I learned a valuable lesson with my riding gear on this warm, nearing-summer day. Do not wear the leather riding pants when the temperature hits 80 or above; it can lead to chafing.

Usually when I wear my Rev’It Ignition 3 leather riding pants, I wear a pair of tights underneath for an additional layer of warmth. Knowing that the ride was going to be warm, I opted to skip the tights, wear some knee pads to protect my knees, and wear the leather pants. Not a good idea. My right inner thigh about halfway through the ride began to rub a little raw. I stood up and shifted a bit to move the pants around, but I realized that I either wear the tights and get sweatier, or it’s time to switch to the Klim riding jeans.

I did think about wearing bike shorts under the leathers, but that solution still adds another layer of cloth and more to sweat through. Today’s ride was an experiment in what constitutes too hot for the leather pants, and I’ve determined 80 degrees or higher. Switching the pants isn’t a big deal, but Bill really likes me in the leathers.

It was a warm enough day that I kept my jackets partially unzipped. And it was my first really warm ride to feel how the ventilation on my Arai helmet worked. I made sure I had opened all the vents fully, and I was comfortable enough while we cruised, though on slow-speed maneuvers, I opened up the visor some. I did have a red, angry mark across my forehead when I removed my helmet, but to prevent that much like the chafing, I would need to add more layers when I’m already toasty.

As I was gearing up in the garage, a cabbage white flew by, almost flying into the garage. I chased after her to try and get a picture, but every time I was close enough to snap the pic, she moved herself in front of something white and disappeared. She was only the first of many butterflies I saw on this bright, sunny day, including an eastern tiger swallowtail, and possibly a Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly. It certainly was dark enough.

With the sunshine and all the flowers in bloom, of course there were lots of butterflies about. I also saw some dragonflies, a real harbinger of summer as the dragonflies means the mosquitoes are coming. I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago, I saw a small dragonfly in the garage. I wondered if the bright reds and yellows in my helmet had attracted it.

The Canadian goslings have reached the teenager stage and are almost as tall as their parents. A young child of about three was watching the gaggle in fascination. We encouraged a couple of mallards to move away from the edge of the road as we zoomed past. And I almost missed a turn when I spotted a beautiful osprey with wings full spread in the blue sky.

As we rode, I worked on trail braking. Actually, what Bill had asked me to work on was feeling the dive of the front end of the bike when I pull in the front brake and then the release as I trail off the brake. I still tried a little bit of trail braking in some of my turns, and I am getting a better understanding of the importance of having some of the front brake engaged in a turn so that if something goes wrong, I can continue my braking while straightening up the motorcycle.

Someone was having a party—graduation or Memorial Day—so our on-street U-turn road was blocked on both sides. But I did my best ever U-turn in the handicap spots on the gravel lot; I am finally learning to trust the R Nine T and my ability to accelerate on the incline. My right arm did start to go numb. I am wondering now if it is the pre-load position; however, I don’t want to give up pre-loading the front brake to find out. I do have my left fingers extended over the clutch, but I don’t pre-load that, so I am not exerting pressure until I am ready to shift gears. My gear shifts were a little odd; I didn’t miss a gear, but at least three times during the ride I felt as though I had. Of course, the R Nine T doesn’t have a gear indicator other than the neutral light, so I’m always in a little suspense as to what gear I might be in until we stop and I can shift down to first.

Another riding mystery to be solved, and the only way to solve it is with more rides which I am always ready for!

Another Cool Ride

Having grown up in southeastern Virginia, I’m accustomed to summer arriving early. Usually in May, especially by mid-May, we’re already dealing with hints of the summer heat to come. But again we were blessed with cool air in the lower 60s, perfect for riding motorcycles.

Of course the cooler air keeps the butterflies at bay. I saw a few cabbage whites flitting about as I drove over to ride. But during our ride, I didn’t see any. I did spot three more goslings out with the family toward the end of our ride, but except for the many people out walking, I didn’t spot much in the way of wildlife. Except, of course, for squirrels.

I do tend to look about as I ride enjoying the beautiful plants and flowers and trying to spot various forms of animal life. But I also work on my rider awareness. During this ride, I got extra practice on my sudden stops when a squirrel that had been safely standing in someone’s yard decided that he needed to cross the street at the exact moment Bill’s Rocket was riding past. We both got our sudden stop practice in on that one.

Later, in the gravel lot as I worked on my U-turn in the two parking spaces, I had to skip my first attempt because of a squirrel balancing on the beams that frame the parking spaces. I did not want to be mid-turn and have to come to a stop because the squirrel wanted to play chicken with the R Nine T. So I looped around the lot and gave him time to reconsider his perch. I was still cautious and looking out for the little gray furball as I went into the lot. I had one good turn and one foot dab.

I did do better following Bill in the S-turns inside the square parking lot. I’m doing a better job of judging my distance and speed and setting up my lines so that I don’t overrun his path. And I’m improving in my sudden stops and gos.

I did have an issue with the numbness again, though. I did not go to the gym Thursday or Friday due to being under the weather, so I wasn’t pumped up from the gym. The numbness wasn’t as bad as the week before, but it was enough that I do think the slight lean in the riding position coupled with my pre-loading the front brake is causing something to get pinched somewhere in my arm.

Next weekend I’ll try a different undershirt; I’m starting to think I might need something sleeveless. Also next weekend is the Memorial Day weekend. Please be on the lookout for all the motorcycle riders riding out to honor our fallen service men and women. And enjoy your holiday too!

Watch Out for Goslings!

After a brief sampling of summer heat, we were blessed with a perfect spring Saturday for our ride. The temperatures, hitting over 90 during the week, had dropped to a cool mid-60s vibe, enough that I wore my fleece shirt under my jacket. Cool enough for comfort, but warm enough for nature to put on a show.

As I was gearing up and heading down to the R Nine T, I saw an osprey hunting above the river, circling, diving, soaring up, and diving again. By chance I glanced back over my left shoulder as I headed down the driveway and caught sight of the bald eagle flying away. I hoped for another glimpse of the eagle when we headed out, but I wasn’t that lucky.

But speaking of gearing up, I was amazed to realize how easy strapping the Arai helmet has gotten for me. I’ve gotten such a good feel for the straps that I can now even snap the snap closed. The only aspect I don’t like about the helmet is putting it on, but even that’s getting a bit easier. I am curious how good the air flow will be in the summer; I think it’s probably good that I accept bad hair day Saturdays.

The skies were partly cloudy, so I knew I’d see some butterflies and I did. The air was heavy with the sweet scent of ligustrums and honeysuckle, both big draws for butterflies. The first cabbage white butterfly took off at the same time we did, and I spotted the second one half a block later. I spotted a pair of what I think were Eastern Comma butterflies; they danced right in front of me and then I zoomed by. As we came to the duck crossing between the river, we came to a stop as a family of Canadian geese crossed the road—the mama, the papa, and the gosling. I only saw the one gosling and wondered what had happened to the others.

As for my ride, my on-street U-turns were all asphalt because I trusted the balance of the bike. During the first turn as I came around to the other side of the street, I made the decision to push further into my lean and let off the clutch rather than play it safe and ride wide into the grass. And the boxer engine didn’t let me fall. Later I struggled in the two-spot turn in the gravel lot, but that struggle is due to turning and having to get the bike up an incline rather than a flat turn. I need to let on a bit more speed to compensate for the fight against gravity.

I had to take a break during the ride when we went into the hospital parking lot. My right arm became numb, and I needed to shake it out. I think the issue may be in my Friday lift at the gym. On Fridays I work my arms, and I may have some vascular swelling that causes unusual tightness leading to the numbness. I will be switching up my lifts during the week to see if that alleviates the issue. I still also believe some of the issues stem from the R Nine T riding position of a slight lean. However, since I don’t experience the numbness on my left side, most of it must be due to my lifts. And I need to work on balancing my lifts since clearly my right side is working harder than my left!

I was reminded during this ride of the time I almost dropped the 310. The magnolias are really blooming now, and I love the clean scent of them. I was off alone on the 310 taking my turn back when we only had the one motorcycle. I was in a court for a turnaround that had a huge magnolia tree to the left side. I thought how nice that I could stop the bike, lift up the helmet visor, and get a whiff of the blossom dangling across the court. What I did not know was that the pavement of the court dipped down at the edges to allow for water runoff. As I went to set my left foot down, I discovered the ground wasn’t where I expected it to be but a few inches lower. The 310 began listing heavily to the left but, because it wasn’t too heavy of a motorcycle, I was able to catch it. I never did get to smell that magnolia blossom, but I have decided to sniff what scents are blown through the breeze. It is much safer that way if a bit more boring. But with all the sights, sounds, and scents surrounding me, I’m never truly bored when riding.

May the Ride Be with You

Lots to celebrate on this Saturday’s ride. It is Star Wars Day, also International
Women’s Ride Day, and the eve of Cinco de Mayo (so Quatro de Mayo). It is also the third anniversary of my
becoming a motorcyclist.

The day was
partly cloudy, so I was hopeful of spotting some butterflies during the ride,
and I was not disappointed. I saw six
cabbage whites out flitting about and one small Atlantis Fritillary butterfly
near some deliciously scented blooming honeysuckle. One of the greatest benefits of our slow
rides through neighborhoods is the time it gives me to notice and appreciate
the beauties in nature.

As we
headed down the long straight road, I glimpsed a large bird of prey ahead of us
in the sky. I was hoping it might be the
golden eagle, and it may have been, but I never got close enough to make sure. Other than that small glimpse, I only spotted
one turkey vulture out and about in the skies during our ride. However, as I was unloading my gear from the
car, a shadow passed overhead, and I looked up to see one of the osprey
cruising by.

I’m
noticing much more variety in the flowers in bloom. In addition to the clematis, irises, and
roses, I’ve seen chunky white peonies, vibrant pink rhododendrons, a few day
lilies freshly planted, and even some magnolia blossoms opening. I spied some pretty white flowers on bushes,
almost like five-leafed dogwoods, that might have been potentilla, but I’m not
sure. My later internet search didn’t go
so well, and potentilla was the closest match.

In three
years I’ve ridden three different motorcycles—the BMW G310GS, the Ducati Desert
Sled Scrambler, and the BMW R Nine T.
For comfort I would rate the 310 the best; I rode in an upright position
on a fairly lightweight motorcycle. The
Ducati Scrambler riding position was similar, but that was a taller bike with
the weight of the engine up higher. It
was also extremely hot, which felt great in the winter but was really awful in
southeast Virginia summers. The R Nine T
is the best-balanced motorcycle of the three, but the riding position has me
leaning slightly forward which puts some pressure on my wrists.

I really
appreciated the balance of the bike during my on-street U-turn. As I came around to finish the turnaround, I
felt as though I could almost stop the motorcycle completely and remain upright
(at least for a second or two). That
doesn’t mean I don’t still have moments when I feel more of a list than I like
and start to dab or dab my feet to keep the bike upright, but I find I don’t
have to dab as much on the R Nine T as I did on the other two motorcycles. Perhaps some of this feeling is due to better
riding skills after three years practicing and riding, but I do credit the R
Nine T as being a well-balanced bike, and it creates in me a bias toward the
boxer engines of several BMW brands.

I do still
want the 1300 GS. The more I practice
with the current boxer engine, the more curious I get as to how the adventure
bike would handle. Or, more precisely,
how I would hand the adventure bike. But
I think several things would have to occur before I can own one. For one thing interest rates would need to
come way down. It would also be
helpful if the price and packaging
prices dropped some, BMW. But the final
stopping point is that Bill would have to tire of the Rocket and want to return
to the R Nine T. And right now, he’s
having too much fun playing on that motorcycle.
But that’s a good thing because I am having a ton of fun riding out with
him on the R Nine T.

author riding the BMW R Nine T Urban GS 40th anniversary edition motorcycle in yellow and black

Late Afternoon Ride

A sushi dinner delayed our ride to late afternoon. We wanted to ride then grab our takeout, so we didn’t start until after 4:00, very late for us. The day was much like last Saturday with cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 60s. I need to make the most of these cool, comfortable rides as they will be ending soon; the week ahead has 80+ degree days.

I set off not expecting to see any butterflies, and there were no surprises. The later afternoon gave a muted softness to the green leaves and colorful flowers. The irises are enjoying their heyday, and I saw some gorgeous roses that I wished I could stop and smell. I also spotted large clematis blooms climbing up mailbox posts, and one clematis forming a small bush. I love clematis because they are such happy-looking flowers with their bold center stamens and four tepals (which I normally call petals but I learned the term tepals in my research). Bill bought me a clematis a few years back, and it blooms every year, but I have more shade than it likes. So I really love seeing the abundance of flowers on clematis in full sunshine.

We had to stop a few times during our ride because of indecisive squirrels. Twice a squirrel sat on the curb wavering between safety and leaping out in front of the Rocket. Luckily, both times, safety prevailed. Because of the late afternoon, I didn’t spot any raptors. However, I did get to watch a snowy white egret sail across the road on its way to the river.

As I rode, I practiced steering with my knees some. On today’s ride I particularly felt how much of my muscles are at work steering the motorcycle in tight U-turns and circles. I overdid my triceps at the gym, and I felt the use of them as I steered the bike. My on-street U-turn strategy worked; I delayed some to let Bill get his turn started, and I was able to complete both street turns on the street—no grass.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about torque and horsepower. The torque is the immediate pull of the motorcycle, and the horsepower is the speed. My R Nine T has less of both than Bill’s Rocket, so if he wanted to, he could leave me in his proverbial dust. I feel the 85.5-foot pounds of torque sometimes when I accelerate very quickly. It gives me the feeling of being thrown back on the motorcycle. Bu that torque isn’t even half of the Rocket’s 221-foot lbs. or torque. It is close to a roller coaster thrill to feel that torque kick in and the motorcycle try and pull away so that I have to hang on tight.

As for the horsepower, I don’t have a rev limiter which would enable me to see if I reach maximum horsepower at peak, but I don’t travel on roads or tracks where I should be reaching the speeds to let loose the 109 horses. But I find it interesting that I have been riding now almost four years and I feel like I could push the R Nine T in the speed if I were to do a track day.

However, I will enjoy my little speed burst on the “fast” road and keep enjoying all the beauties of nature I can clearly see on my slower rides.

purple iris — Photo by Delfina Baj on Pexels.com

Cloudy Skies Means No Butterflies

A short morning shower nearly derailed our riding plans, but after a few hours delay, the roads had dried off and we were able to ride under cloudy skies. The day was warm like last Saturday, so it was a surprise to me when I realized halfway through the ride that I hadn’t seen any butterflies out. They must prefer the sunshine.

We did get to see an osprey with a fresh catch fending off some crows as we headed onto the curvy road. The road construction throughout the neighborhood had abated some and allowed some roads to open up. I kept my eyes peeled for the bald eagle too, but I didn’t spot him. I did get to see some beautiful, tall, yellow Japanese irises in bloom. And I did see a pair of ducks probably scoping out nesting sites.

On this particular ride, I noted how easily I can shift gears with the R Nine T. I wonder if it’s because it is a dry clutch or if it is because I first learned to drive on a manual transmission, so I am used to shifting gears. Whatever it is, I don’t miss the sputters of the 310 or Ducati, nor the stalls I often had on both of those motorcycles.

As we rode, I noted that the azaleas are past peak bloom, but the roses are filling in to replace them. I did spy black tulips at least super dark purple tulips, which I thought was an interesting shade. And it’s good to see the tree leaves coming in; hopefully, my allergies will soon disappear. I did figure out a different way to keep my neck tube up over my mouth when I put on my helmet. Usually, I try and hold the neck tube in my mouth as I pull on the Arai helmet, but that results in the neck tube down at my chin. I need my nose covered while my allergies are still so active, so for today’s ride, I pulled the tube up over my eyes before putting my helmet on. My nose stayed covered, but I had to do some awkward adjustments to keep a piece from sticking up over my right eye. Never let it be said that I look super cool gearing up for my ride.

Most of my ride went terrific. I did go wide on the first on-street U-turn, but I believe that had more to do with a last second adjustment when it looked as though Bill had pulled up. Next ride, I’m going to hang back a little more so if he does adjust, I don’t have to over adjust to recover. My footless stops went really well, and I feel as though I am restarting more quickly.

As we headed home from the ride, we had the phenomenal sight of a bald eagle swooping down on the road in front of us to snag a dead squirrel. It was only about 20 feet away which allows me to appreciate just how large a raptor it truly is. This fellow was pestered by several angry crows trying to get the squirrel for themselves, but he was able to soar away from them with his prize. At least the clouds don’t keep the raptors at bay, but I do hope the forecasted sunshine will allow for some butterfly sightings on my next ride.

Attunement

I was back out of the leather and wearing the Klim summer jacket for this week’s ride. It was a Saturday made for riding motorcycles with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees and bright sunshine. There was wind, quite a bit as we had a violent storm pass through overnight Thursday. But the roads were dry and the wind didn’t make it too chilly, though I did wear a thermal shirt under my jacket to stay warm.

What I noticed during this ride was how important it is to learn the motorcycle. When I get in my car, I might think about features like the window controls or heated seats and I develop a feel for the steering wheel, the acceleration, and the brakes. But I don’t have to develop a feel for if I’m balanced in the seat, and I don’t consciously develop my grip on the steering wheel. Perhaps if I drove a more high-performance car or drove as though I was starring in the next Fast and Furious film, I might develop a finer attunement with my car. And even though I don’t take my R Nine T to a track to zip along as though I was in MotoGP, in order to ride successfully and safely, I do need to be attuned to the handling of the motorcycle far more than with my car.

As we headed out on this day meant for motorcycles, I actually was preoccupied with thoughts about house and yard work. I had spotted what I think was a Monarch butterfly as I was loading the gear in the car, so I should have been focused on possible butterfly sightings. What brought me out of my chores reverie wasn’t the cabbage whites I saw flitting here and there nor the gorgeous azaleas at peak bloom. No, I left the thoughts on bathroom scouring and weeding behind when I realized that I had been turning, stopping, leaning into curves, trail braking, and counter steering without any conscious thought to do any of it. I was riding my motorcycle naturally, comfortably, and confidently.

Well, not entirely comfortably. My right arm did get tingly and need some shaking out. But as far as steering and maneuvering went, I was mostly comfortable. I did go wide on the first on street turn because I didn’t turn my head far enough around. But now when I do make a mistake, I am much better at identifying what I did wrong and make the correction. My quick stop-starts went really well. Near the end of our ride, Bill led us into my old practice street, the one I had to use when the school didn’t want us using the parking lot. I flashbacked to how nerve wracking it was to do my U-turns between the curbs on the little 310 even as I easily navigated the turn on the larger R Nine T. As Bill explained after our ride, he could really tell how much his skill has developed on the Rocket by completing the U-turn on the practice street. That led me to realize how important our practices are for learning the handling of the motorcycles. I have nearly put 1,000 miles on the R Nine T, not much by most people’s standards, but much more than I ever rode on either the BMW G310GS or the Ducati Scrambler. So it is no wonder that I feel more attuned to the R Nine T, and I look forward to more fine tuning next weekend!

Road through trees from the cockpit of a motorcycle — Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

Two Rides Week

I had Thursday off this week, so we were able to work in a bonus ride. The weather was cooler with highs in the mid to upper 50s, but on a motorcycle that’s perfect riding weather. Though there was some building clouds on Thursday, the skies stayed dry and let us finish our rides.

On Thursday I spotted a butterfly, not a cabbage white, as I sat on my bike waiting for Bill to gear up. It stayed too far away for me to make out what kind of butterfly, but it still made me smile because it means more butterflies are coming out. I also spotted on my Thursday ride some kind of hawk, but I have not been able to identify it. When I first saw it circling, I thought it was just a turkey buzzard. But a few moments later, I saw the raptor diving toward the ground about 30 feet away, and it had the head of a hawk. It has dark brown feathers, and I’ve seen a similar one around my home.

Saturday, however, I didn’t spot any raptors and only saw one cabbage white butterfly who was five feet from my right shoulder. I did get to enjoy the blooming azaleas in their pinks, fuchsias, soft purple, and whites, and the dogwoods contrasting with the leafing Japanese maples. Some horticulturist with a great eye must’ve realized how complementary the white leaves of the dogwood blooms are against the rich burgundy of the Japanese maple leaves.

Of course as I ride and admire the beautiful sights of nature, I am also keeping my eyes on the road and checking my surroundings. This awareness allows me to see the kids waving to us as we ride by and, this week, the middle-aged lady walking her dog and giving us a thumbs up. It’s great to see such average Americans living in a very middle class, suburban neighborhood enjoying the sight and sound of our motorcycles.

During Thursday’s ride I did another super tight U-turn on the gravel lot. However, on Saturday the lot had several cars in it, so I didn’t get another chance to practice. Bill did take us by the neighborhood pool’s gravel lot, but I wasn’t comfortable riding in it. I’m not sure if it was because of dampness or because it was early in our ride and my mind wasn’t ready for the gravel.

I did note on Saturday’s ride how much physical effort my turns take. I think I was sore from my gym lift, but I really felt my arms and chest muscles working to manipulate the handlebars. No wonder I’m so hungry after our rides; it is quite a workout.

I also noted the location of the beehive—just one, but I’ll keep my eyes open to see if they start selling fresh honey.

I’ll have to enjoy this two rides week; it’ll be months before I get the opportunity for another one. Of course with summer approaching, the heat my keep us at only one ride but I hope not.

Riding Nirvana

Happy Easter! We have been blessed with beautiful weather for this weekend, and this gift of sunshine and warm temperatures made for a blissful ride. It’s funny to think how just last week, I was riding in almost full winter gear but yesterday’s ride let me dress as though for a summer ride.

We had gone just over a block when I spotted my first cabbage white butterfly. I hoped I would also see the bald eagle again in the gorgeous blue sky, but I didn’t have that kind of luck. As I rode up the curvy road, I enjoyed the feel of the counter steering. The cherry trees were past their peak bloom, but I spotted the dogwoods just beginning to open up. More azaleas were blooming, and more tulips were out.

The ride was lovely, perfect temps except for a little warmth creeping in when I worked in the gravel lot on my turns. I completed my tightest turns ever including another one in the blocked off parking spaces. Usually while I practice in the gravel, Bill watches me from a neighboring parking lot, but on this ride he headed off to work on his own slow speed turns. Later he told me it was too warm for him to just sit on the big Rocket engine in the sun. I was glad because I feel a little guilty that he just sits and watches me.

Bill wasn’t feeling great, so we had planned a shorter ride, but it didn’t feel shortened. We didn’t go up a few back roads, but we were out where I caught a quick glimpse of what I believe was the first Canadian Tiger Swallowtail of the season. It was fluttering up high in a tree and, by the time we turned around and passed the spot again, it had fluttered off. But it was exciting to see another species of butterfly because more will be on the way.

We did go in the hospital lot where I worked on my sudden stops and starts. I think they are getting better, but I would still like to restart more quickly. I saw an interesting site while I was practicing. In the church parking lot across the street from where I was practicing, I saw a beekeeper! I haven’t seen a lot of beekeepers in my lifetime especially all geared up, and this gentleman was holding his helmet not wearing it. But I now want to see if I can spot beehives behind the church.

As we headed back to the garage, I also saw something I hadn’t seen for some time—a family was out in the field by the school flying a kite. That is almost as perfect an outdoor activity as riding a motorcycle but, having done both, I’ll pick riding every time.

PS—When I was walking down to the car to leave, I looked up to see four ospreys soaring above—riding nirvana!

Rain, Wind, and Riding

The forecasted rain arrived Friday evening and stayed past noon on Saturday. I was bummed even though I was sure we’d be able to ride on Sunday. So in order to mitigate the wait time from Saturday to Sunday, I decided to go check out the 2024 BMW R1300 GS. As luck would have it, by the time we headed over to the BMW dealership, the roads had mostly dried out. But I had set my sights on seeing the new motorcycle, so we headed over.

When we arrived at Adventure, they had over 15 motorcycles outside on display including the 1300 in the GS Trophy edition. This edition is in a red, white, and royal blue color pattern that looked good on Youtube, but for me the colors didn’t quite fit on the motorcycle that well. Because they had a large inventory of bikes, I was able to sit on the 1300 and then sit on a 1250 to compare. On both bikes I was on my toes, but when we went inside, I was able to sit on a Triple Black edition that featured the adjustable seat height. I was happy to see I could flat foot the bike and have a bend in my knees, close to my position on the R Nine T. The adjustable seat height is a feature that automatically lowers the motorcycle’s suspension as the rider slows down to stop. Harley-Davidson introduced this feature with their adventure bike, the Pan America, and it is a very smart feature that, should it gain increasing popularity, will make motorcycling open to more riders.

When I expressed disappointment at not seeing the 1300 in the Aurelius green metallic, Rick, the sales manager, told us he had one in the back and led us back there to see it. I’m glad he did because between the Trophy colors and the green, I much prefer the green. The lines on the tank are smoother and Bill likes that the frame is black not white.

Because of the recent rain, and because Rick was helping us not Clayton, there was no offer of a test ride. I would like to go back and test ride the green one, but I have to come to grips with reality. The green bike, known as the Option 719, is an upspec motorcycle with a ton of features and would cost, before dealer fees and taxes, $28, 545, so over $30,000 once the additional fees are added. It is amazing how much the motorcycle has increased in price. The 1250 GS would have run around $23,000 with added features. I may have to wait for some used 1300s to show up on CycleTrader to make it a reasonable dream.

Of course I really can’t complain. I have the beautiful R Nine T to ride, and ride I did on another windy Sunday. I remembered to check the wind chill, so I was dressed appropriately in my full leather jacket with the liner, warmest shirt, and Rev’It Factor 4 pants with the liner. Because of the chill, I wasn’t expecting to see any butterflies never mind as many as I saw last week. But I was surprised; there was one cabbage white fluttering around before we left, and I did spot one brave little guy as we rode.

As we turned around on at the end of the curvy road, I was watching a pair of Canadian geese in someone’s yard when my eye was caught by movement in the sky. High aloft the bald eagle was cruising on the strong winds. I stopped to watch, but Bill, who hadn’t seen the eagle, had ridden ahead. It was one of the few times I’ve wished we had a communication system.

Leaving the curvy road, I continued looking up in hopes of seeing the eagle again, but half a mile away and he was gone. Shortly after, though, Bill and I spied two osprey fighting over a fish in the sky. I was happy Bill got in on these raptors, and I began to have a hope of maybe seeing the golden eagle again. I didn’t, but I did see lots of crows.

I also saw more azaleas beginning to bloom and more tulips flowering. The cherry trees had reached full bloom but, due to the heavy rain and strong winds, their blossoms were not as full as they could have been. But the cherry blossoms in their transience remind me of my rides; the rides are wonderful while they last, but they are over all too soon. Of course, like the cherry blossoms, they return.