Wednesday, September 22, 2010

My Motorcycle Man



This is my hubby astride one of his prized possessions. For those of you who are into motorcycles it is a 1981 Honda Goldwing 1100. He bought it new in 1981 and we used to ride on weekends with a group of friends. We would go to Pella, Iowa to the Tulip Festival and out to Colorado to the Garden of the Gods. One summer we toured on it for 19 days. We left Kansas City, went through the Dakotas, Montana to visit my family, then in to Seattle to see my mother, down the coast of Cal. on Highway 101. While we were on 101 we had a forest fire creeping right up to the highway. We didn't know it was in back and in front of us. By the time we arrived in Cambria, CA where my hubby's Mom lived they had closed the road both in back and in front of us. In retrospective I am sure we should have not been riding.

Life changed like all lives do and we weren't riding much. So he put the bike in a warehouse to keep it protected and safe. Time flies and it remained in storage for 12 years. Last October he brought it home and spent the winter completely rebuilding his bike.

He now rides it every day when the weather permits. He says before we are too old he wants to take another tour. I wasn't sure I would be able to do it since I hurt my hip. But on Saturday I decided to give it a try. Fortunately, with little effort, I was able to swing my leg over the seat. We rode to Lawrence, Ks., had lunch at a small Mexican restaurant, and returned home.

It was a beautiful sunny day in the 80's with just a light breeze. I do love to ride. To me it the closest you can come to riding a horse. You can see everything, smell the sweet fragrance of golden rod and other flowers (and some not so pleasant odors),and feel the sun on your back and shoulders. I think hubby is right. We do need to make one last trip to somewhere.

14 comments:

Rebecca Nelson said...

Hi Miss Stella...

Thank you for visiting me today and for your sweet note about my girl as a beautiful bride...

I think your hubbs is doing the right thing getting that bike out! Ride that bike and enjoy every second of it...life is ticking away!

Blessings~

xo~Rebecca

Bearly Sane said...

Wow Stella! Who ever would have thought you were a bikey!! You go girl...sling that leg over and hit the road...life's too damn short to sit around. LOL!
All jokes aside, I loved the story and it just shows you...you are never too old to have fun.
Warmest Hugs,
Sandi @ Bearly Sane

Unknown said...

G'eve Stella ~ What fun. Glad you were able to go with a problem. I love riding ...

Have a lovely eve ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Jean Tuthill said...

Go, Stella, Go! Have fun while you can....Obviously, you enjoy it very much. Your Hubby does, too, so go and do that trip, you'll always remember it. We have to make beautiful memories, after all.

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

I am so glad you were able to get on board and go for that ride! What fun times! I am sure your husband just loved having you snuggled up on the back! I signed up to follow your fun blog...hope to hear more about your motorcycle riding adventures and more!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

You go girl! That's just great that it worked for you -- I'm so glad. Your hubby looks very happy on his pride and joy even -- I can imaagine how happy you both look when you're on the road!!

Anonymous said...

You are so brave! Did he do Bikers for Babies? Mine did, he rides a Harley. I rode it once, till we got to I70. Then I looked down at the pavement whizzing by and thought of 5 my poor orphaned children. I yelled take me home! That was 12 years ago and I have never been on it since. I wish I was brave like you! Have fun!

Dawn said...

Good for you! It sounds like so much fun. I bet the trip down 101 was amazing along the cliffs. Pretty scary about the fire though!I hope you get to make trip soon.

Mimi said...

HI STELLA!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post!!LIVE And RIDE!!that is so awesome, so glad you went for a nice bike ride, I for one am SCARED to death of motorcycles, we have 4 wheelers and a Yamaha Ryno that we ride in the forests of Northern AZ and on the desert in the winter months, but on the road scares me. GOOD FOR you!!
Love that bike too!!
that is so awesome you guys kept it!!
i say ride forever!!
I am not a saint, but gave up bread, candy and soda, the first few days weeks were the hardest, now I do not even crave it, I have 8 pounds off and 7 more to go!!I have gained 15 pounds in 2 years, Hate MENOPAUSE!!
SO just trying to be proactive and I do not think I will gain it all back on the cruise, I plan on exercising while on board!!!!
It is far to hard to get off to slack off and gain it all back!!
Halloween candy--just 1 bite, I have heard dark choc. if very healthy for you --so maybe 1 darl choc a day!!haha
have a great day
hugs,
jamie

myletterstoemily said...

well, you are a brave soul. my husband
would love to have a motorcycle.

maybe i should rethink my position. :)

Together We Save said...

Oh I had an uncle that had a Gold Wing... just something about it makes me smile.

Marfa (Crafting Marfa) said...

Stella, I LOVE the spirit of adventure. I say go for it! I've never been on a bike before. What I would love to do is ride one of those...what do they call them? Off road vehicles? You know, the kind that you ride on dirt roads and leave everybody else in the dust...lol

Unknown said...

No one’s old enough to ride a motorcycle! So, when will you be having your motorcycle tour? By the way, your husband did a good job! His old motorcycle looks new now and there’s no hint of it being stored for almost 12 years.

-Max Piedra

Clare Westby said...

I hope you were able to do the trip. What I love about your bike is that it has a great background story. Motorcycles are awesome machines to start with, but it transcends into something else once you create memories with it. Ride on, Stella!