Adventures in Motorcycling, Part One

Posted in reverse order so they can be read in the order it happened! Hope you all enjoy Courtney’s stories about our Harley Davidson adventure!

courtneyisms

I’ve developed a certain fondness for adventure over the last couple of years.

Fondness?  Maybe insatiable appetite would be more fitting.  I crave it.

My husband bought a motorcycle a year ago figuring that he would enjoy the opportunity to ride on those rare occasions he’s allowed home (he’s an OTR truck driver). It was basically built for one.  He didn’t realize, however, that once he took me for a ride, that one seater would be getting replaced with a couch built for two, and he would need to add a back rest.

A little less that a year later, we found ourselves with a bigger bike equipped with plenty of room for me to carry my essentials (my crap), a nice little stereo, and plenty of room on the back for me to feel safe and comfortable.  So comfortable, in fact, that I’ve nodded off a few times!

At…

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Adventures in Motorcycling, Part Two

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We left the hotel for the next part of our trip and headed over to get a bite to eat.  Drinking is one of my most favorite pastimes so I was well acquainted with the need for bacon to fill my aching tummy after our night on Whiskey Row.  We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and discussed how long our drive would be as well as the rain clouds that were looming overhead.  Yes,  we would be in for a wet ride today.

 The clouds were gorgeous, but sure enough, we got rained on for most of the way to our first stop in Jerome, Arizona.

Jerome is an unusual little town that has houses built into the side of the mountain.  It would have been quite an experience to do more exploring but I urged Robert to get us back on the road and head to Sedona (only 10 minutes…

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Adventures in Motorcycling, Part Three

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I neglected to mention the fact that our room number was also my birth date.  We enjoy funny coincidences, especially in Sedona where the word ‘vortex’ is used in everyday conversation and they are thought to be locations that have a certain spiritual energy flow that exists on, what some believe, are multiple dimensions…

The entry to our abode.

Where all the magic happens

 

After a bite of breakfast at the hotel, we were ready to head on out and do some meandering about town.  Of course, we knew it would rain yet again but rain is some of my favorite weather and we certainly don’t get any at home so I knew I would enjoy it, regardless.

 The breathtaking views even made the public parking lots beautiful!

There are so many shops to visit and each one is unique-gemstones, jewelry, art, knickknacks, paddy-whacks…you name it.  We even found…

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Adventures in Motorcycling, Part Four

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After bidding Sedona a fond farewell, we hit the road traveling towards Flagstaff, Arizona.  Now, I know this was my mom and dad’s favorite place to stay whenever they would head out of town but to me, it just doesn’t hold the same appeal.  I suppose they best part to her was just spending time alone with my dad and now that he’s gone, those memories make Flagstaff seem even more magical. But for me, I was ready to just blow on by. Well, after my coffee and snacks, of course.  It was chilly on the road so when we stopped to fuel, I was drooling for something hot to warm me up and something nutritious and filling like, TaDa! Pork Rinds!

  And to ensure that I would be able to drink my coffee while riding and not have it spew up in my face, voila!  Straws work wonderfully!

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Adventures in Motorcycling, Part Five

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Bright eyed and not so bushy-tailed, we knew today we would arrive back at home-to kids, dogs, cats, and the realization that Robert would soon be back on the road, alone, in his truck.  Neither one of us wanted our vacation to end so soon but, alas, bills must be paid.

The wind was horrible and I needed to keep my head tucked down and against Robert’s back to minimize the feeling that I’d be blown right off the bike into oncoming traffic. There were gusts expected upwards of 30 mph and for a new rider like myself, that news was far from good.  I did the best that I could to hold on as tight as possible and when we finally hit a rest area, my muscles were feeling strained from holding the same position for so long. I was glad for the break to rest a little.  Robert’s…

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And then there was that time I did Roller Derby…

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I was approaching my fortieth birthday when it occurred to me that I should do something badass.  I wasn’t going to go buy a sports car or anything crazy like that-but after going to watch the local roller derby team practice for an evening, that seemed to hold just the proper amount of tough girl I was looking for.  Camaraderie, cute socks, and little shorts combined with roller skates seemed like the perfect mix for me.  Why not?  Life is too short to not give it a whirl.

After talking it over with Robert, who was in full support, I decided to contact the team and see what I needed to do to get involved.  Just because I hadn’t been on skates in, oh, 30 years, was no reason to be nervous, right?  I got in touch with the captain and she encouraged me to come to the next practice…

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