The rain defeated us on Saturday, so we crossed our fingers that the windy Sunday forecasted would dry out the roads and allow us to ride.  By waiting until the early afternoon, we were able to get our ride in.

            As we drove over to pick up the motorcycles, I noticed several cabbage white butterflies flitting about, enjoying the sunshine after Saturday’s rain.  I was hopeful to see some during the ride, but I was surprised when I spotted one down by the R Nine T while I was putting on my gear.  I grabbed my phone to try and get a photo of the butterfly right above the bike, but by the time I had the phone in hand, the butterfly had flitted its way across the street and into someone’s backyard.  I still got to see the butterfly drawn in by the bright yellow and red colors of the motorcycles, so I was smiling even without a photo.

            The butterfly blessing came a few moments later.  Bill and I had mounted the bikes, and I was waiting for the tether check.  Recently, Bill has taken to tugging on the attached tether for his Helite airbag vest while looking over for me to do the same.  This check ensures we both have the vests attached which means, should either of us go flying off the motorcycle, the airbag will deploy.  While I waited I naturally was looking toward Bill on the Rocket.  I noted a shadow on the ground and thought it was the butterfly flying over us.  When I glanced back, there was the little cabbage white, blessing complete, off to find actual colorful flowers to play among.

            Off we went on a shortened ride.  I had been ill all week and was just starting to recover, so the ride was shortened to keep me from overdoing it.  Due to the shorter ride and the massive road equipment, we skipped the curvy road.  Our first U-turns were the in-street turns, and I was as successful as lasts week in staying on the pavement.  I again marveled at the balance of the R Nine T with its low-slung boxer engine as I worked my turns throughout the ride.  The roads were drier than last week, so I did work in the gravel lot, almost completing a U-turn inside the large wooden beams that mark off the handicap parking.  Next week I will try the full turn inside the beams.

            My stops into restarts got better though I realized I’m not stopping hard enough.  Bill wants me to stop hard enough to feel the anti-lock brakes shudder.  I wasn’t stopping that hard. 

            My hopes of seeing more butterflies weren’t realized.  I did see another cabbage white moving among the camellias toward the end of my ride.  I was surprised to see some azaleas already in bloom; I guess they liked the mild winter and all the rain we’ve had.  Usually I see the azaleas blooming after the cherry trees, and I suppose the majority of them will, but it is a fun sign of spring to see some azaleas alongside the sugar magnolias, apple blossoms, daffodils, and forsythia.  Of course, the best part of spring and summer will be the butterflies.