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I don't know what I would do right now if I didn't have my bike. Although the financial strain is a bit much, hey... I will cut out things in my life to afford some sanity. lol

This bike is my salvation, my redemption, my be all end all of my world right now. I will go without food to pay the damn note! lol I don't care!

I am putting the car non-op and making the bike my sole sorce of transpo for a bit. I just can't beat $5 getting me to LA and back (140miles round trip).

Today I ran into a few folks in a bike group and
got the heads up in the local nights here in the AV. So, Wednesday & Friday nights will be checking out the groups.

All I want to do is ride. Ride. Ride. Ride. Maybe if I ride far enough or fast enough, I can ditch these demons that are nipping at my heels. My helmet keeps the demons out of my head. The wind blows them out of my heart.

Today I pushed myself harder and faster than I have in
a long time. Cornering is getting better. I got her up to 95mph and realized I was taking her to an edge I wasn't ready for. I was with a group and had to slow down and wave them on. Don't wait for me.. just go. I will catch up at my own speed. They were cool with that and said they would have someone hang back with me (damn.. I forgot how awesome the 'brotherhood' can be even if I am a girl). After they all gassed
up, I split off from them as they headed over to a private house to hang out. Not ready for all that yet either. It was cool cause they altered their route to ride with me as far as they could and still stay somewhat on course. I promised to hook back up with them when I got back from Atlanta. :)

A friend blogged about not 'dating' and yeah.. I know what she means. I get hit on all the time on the bike.. but when I am on the bike is NOT the time to come on to me. It is about
me and my Gypsy. I don't want to be distracted. I only get mad when someone trys to come between her and I. Well.. I take that back. I will let another person on a bike ride by me, talk to me, hang out with me... connect with me as we ride..and afterwards. That is awesome. I did that a few times today (with several different groups) without saying a word to the guys. We just rode together and reading their body
language and watching them mesh with their machine... it just is beyond words and totally a turn on. When they turned off to go one way and it was not on my route... our time was over. It was pretty simple. A wave goodbye and we parted. No clue who they are, their names or what they look like (except that HOT ass in front of me! lol)

Being the loner has its drawbacks.. then again... it lets me sample the buffet of people and places as I please. I hang out at the local bars and the bouncers laugh at me and say "Damn girl! You can't sit still can you?" Cause I am there for maybe 30 minutes before I am ready to bail on to the next place. They know I am making my rounds. In some way, I know I am hunting.. if I don't find anything worth it.. I move on. This town has some pretty slim pickins I tell ya! Haven't felt the alpha energy I seek yet. Tons of beta males though. *sigh*

Anyways.. I am up too late and already dead tired. I feel good.. haven't thought about the upcoming trip too much. Not sure where I am at with all of this.

Here is where I blog for advice.

Right now I am not about racing through the canyons or knee dragging around corners. The bike is my baby and a source of transportation.

I have to ride about 70 miles into LA at least twice a week. My destination is usually business meetings with the County of LA. Which means I have to be in "business" attire when I get there. I pulled off the last meeting with a pair of cop uniform style Dickies. However, I was not pleased at all with the look. (yes.. I am a female damn it!)

I ride a crotch rocket (as if you didn't know..lol) and showing up in full racing leathers (with all the knee pads and things of that nature) just won't work. I can't ride with just business slacks. I am not that stupid. Bike chaps look dorky as all hell on me on a crotch rocket but bar chaps (zipper on the inside) are nice. Down side to bar chaps is the scratching of the paint job by the zippers.

I can do the riding jacket with no problem. Just gotta find one that is comfy and price is right. It is the pants that I am trying to figure out. I have my Harley boots and they work great. So... any advice on how I can still look professional when I get to the meeting and not be wrinkled all to high hell or have to change when I get there? (which would mean my pants would be wrinkled after being strapped down to the bike.

I swear back in the day I was stupid enough to wear business outfits with high heels and ride. I shit you not. Yeah.. really smart. What can I say?? I was 20 years old!

With the winds gusting up to 50mph out here, I decided to take the train into LA yesterday. Better to err on the side of caution.

Today the high wind advisory is still in effect.

Wind is nothing new for the desert. I am just not ready to jump in and re-learn the technique to ride in it while it is tornado force! lol Ok, I know that is an overstatement, but damn it might as well be a tornado when it feels like I am making the longest left turn of my life!

I just want it to calm down and let me get back on my bike!

It never bothered me before. Rain, snow, wind... all of it didn't matter one bit. I don't know if it was ignorance or passion. Maybe I grew up and I am a bit more reasonable. Or just maybe..lol.. it is because this time around I have options. Back in the day my bike was my only mode of transportation. I had to ride to work and anywhere else I wanted to go. Now I have car and the train.

I sat on the train looking at the trees bending in the wind and saying "I could have made it!" lol

The weekend found me on the back of my bike, but staying close in town. Friday night I had the clarity of mind not to ride and thank god because it started raining pretty good. I am learning wind right now.. not water! lol One element at a time!

Saturday morning/afternoon I didn’t feel like going anywhere. I sat around the house doing some re-arranging of my furniture. lol Oh so exciting. I had a social event to get to, so I of course rode over there. Ok.. so Saturday I did a lot of night driving.. yeah I know.. bad me!

Sunday I got up and decided it was a beautiful day for a long ride. I went over to the local Fall Festival but really didn’t want to stop riding. So, I bypassed the Festival and headed up to Lake Hughes. The roads were awesome! Nice scenery of hillsides, lake and farm animals. It is beautiful up there. I was headed to The Rock Inn.. formerly Harley’s Rock Inn.

I know my cornering sucks right now. I drive a crotch rocket like a damn grandma! lol I am in no rush though to be a speed demon. Slow cornering is just fine for me at the moment. She has a really touchy throttle and if I am not paying attention it isn’t pretty..lol. Until I have a good feel for her, I don’t want to find out any of her quirks at the wrong time..lol.

Anyways, I am in love with the ride up to The Rock Inn. It is a good 30 minute drive I would guesstimate. Curves (some tight some wide) and straightaways.. enough variety to be a great source of re-training for me. I got up to the place after having to pull over one time to let some kid with Daddy’s sports car get by me. Well, I pull up and I could hear the band playing. Man, that place has some major memories for me. But this time I was there on my terms and by myself. I wasn’t there as an oogler at the bikes.. I was one of ones being oogled. The owner of the place came up before I ever got off the bike. He commented that they just didn’t get very many of “my kind” up here. He meant chicks..let alone a chick on a crotch rocket. I smiled and said hello. He bought me a drink (diet coke only!). I didn’t make it in the door before I had made five new friends who asked me to come and sit with them. Mine was the only crotch rocket there. But, nobody gave a damn. I was one of them.

I have always been really corny about one facet of the biker lifestyle. What other mode of transportation elicits such a brotherhood? You don’t see people with PT Cruisers waving at each other on the road. Oh wait.. Bus Drivers do it. My bad. (I think they do it just to prove they don’t have a beer in their hands!) That simple hand gesture as you pass a fellow rider on the road..it feels good. Now, I don’t get all dumb and start doing some frantic waving in the air..geez. I do the super cool hand down nifty lil..ready to freak & grab the handlebars at any second…hiya wave! The first guy that did the lil wave to me when I got my bike.. hehe.. I giggled for about twenty minutes! I had forgotten about that!

So.. on with my day. I watched the band, ate a bit.. and ITCHED like hell to get back on the bike! Folks asked me if I rode alone and I had to tell them the truth. It is pretty simple. I won’t be pushed into riding harder than I am comfortable with and I also don’t want to hold up a group with my grandma pace. When I get better and can be sure I can keep up, then I will find folks to ride with. Till then.. how ‘bout I just meet you all there.. hehe.

I head out. I went to the store to get a new hoodie. The shirt I was wearing during the day was pink. It got people’s attention quick. Aside from the attention whore thingy I have going, I could see the perks in wearing pink! People take notice of a chick on a bike. Wearing pink on a bike let’s most people know it is a girl. They pay attention to me! Know what that means??? THEY SEE ME ON THE BIKE! They know I am around! They are looking out for me (or looking at my ass….either way, they see me and my bike!). So, I am using the color pink to my advantage and bought me a pink hoodie. Works like a charm! You know it is working when the entire passenger seating of a car turns around to look at you. You see people pointing at you and talking to the driver. GOOD! Let him/her know that I am nearby.

I was going to go to the bike night they have out here on Sunday night. Naaa.. I just went home and fiddle diddled around. Impromptu trip to LA to see a friend… yeah.. had to take the car. Booooring. But I wasn’t going to drive back up to Lancaster at 6am freezing my ass of on the bike.

Rode the bike into work this morning. About 150 miles away from needing her first 500 miles service!

She will be broken in in no time! Question is… will I???!!!!

I'm not one to be patient in any way. heh I am spoiled like that. Since I have read on this site that things are to remain "family friendly" I must adhere to and respect that. No problem. :)

I am a Leather Woman and for those unsure what that means, google it..(or "wiitwd") lol.

So, of course my search is going to be aimed at finding others with similar interests to ride with. Not that it is a requirement, but I have found just in my general life that those who have a closed mind or should I say a less liberal view of life, don't generally jive with me.

Well, I started a group elsewhere to find others like me that are local so I can meet up with them and go riding.

Of course this website is going to have a link on the page to direct people here! lol

I am not one to wait and have someone give me what I want. I will get it, make it or whatever... myself!

(edited to add).. just because I am a Leather Woman...please do not asssume I am a lesbian (you would be half right though) or aspire to be one of the Village People (no desire there!) lol

Gonna put in the last three blogs I wrote elsewhere. Figured I would start keeping my journal here if it is about the bike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 10th - 5:00pm
What’s been going on??
So, I have my bike. Joined a few bike groups online that meet up in real life. Started talking to some folks in the area that ride. :) YAY!
Got my motorcycle permit today and then got insured. Hey! I have full coverage insurance for the first time in my life! Which means I own something WORTH having it on! lol
Going for a ride in a bit.
Signing up for the CHP Course in a week or so. Should be fully licensed to ride in no time at all!
Bike still makes me nervous. But, I have to get over that.
Ok.. off to ride!
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October 10th - 8:00pm

Adventures with Gypsy
Current mood:  contemplative

(get past the day by day stuff and the meat of this is towards the end)

Yeah.. that is her name. My bike. Call me crazy.. but it embodies my spirit. I'm a nomad at heart. I tried to touch down and grow roots. It just isn't in me. Maybe some day I will.

The first day I sat on her I didn't shake. Not like I normally do when I sit on a bike. The only other bike that didn't make me shake was the other Ninja I owned. That was some 15 years ago plus. This one felt right.

 Day one, rode her down the street once. Parked it. Rode it around the block and almost crapped my pants. None of it was coming back to me. Not like I expected it to. I did a lot of positive self talking. So, I rode it around the block twice. A little better. When I made that trip down my street, albeit a short one.. it was a moment for me to face my fears. I realized then that I truly lacked the confidence to really have at it like I used to. I guess that is a part of the process. I should have gotten back up on a bike immediately after the accident seven years ago. The sooner the better they say. I didn't do that.

Day two, rode her around the neighborhood for about 15 minutes if that. I needed some time to myself. It was hard having people over and I didn't have anywhere to run to. Gypsy called to me to just go with her somewhere, anywhere.. for just a minute. It was exactly what I needed. Still unsure of myself. I went slow.

Day three.. nothing. Didn't push it. It was a great day for a ride. But, I knew I didn't have a license or insurance. So, I would risk losing her for just a moment's pleasure. It wasn't worth it to me. I have worked hard to get this far in my life and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize it. So, she stayed parked in the garage. *sigh*

Day four, rode her to work. Hahaha.. too funny! I ran out of gas about 50 yards away from my office! I laughed my ass off at the powers that be telling me to knock it off. No biggie, I called AAA and had them bring me some gas. Thankfully I am a Plus member so it didn't cost me anything. I had to pay rent during lunch and decided to go to the bank on the bike. Just a quick little ride before I put her away. I took her home and drove the car back to work. I originally was going to the DMV and justified taking the bike to get the insurance inspection done. Yeah right.. I wanted to show her off to my co-workers. Let's be real here. lol

Day five (today), left her at home and got my permit and insurance (no inspection needed). I had a feeling that having those two things would make a big difference in my confidence while I was riding. It really did. Now I am legal and covered. So, I took her out for the last hour of daylight to ride around. I went to the bank and then over to see a friend at the local gay bar. Had to show Steve my new baby. He wanted me to come in and hang out, but time was not on my side. Light was fading (no night driving on a permit). I took the long route home.

I have a choice to make tomorrow. Ride her to LA on the back route (no freeways on a permit either) or take the car. Am I ready for such a long trip? Am I confident enough for a long trip? I don't know. Is it just a matter of jumping in with both feet and committing to it with no way out? Or do I take it slow and build up to it? If I go slowly will I ever find my balls to just do it? I have a lot of thinking to do tonight.

Unlike my cocky bitch days of past, I am fully aware of what can happen. Right now, I am afraid to fall. Which is exactly what will happen if I don't get my confidence back. Hell, I don't think I have gone over 50mph yet. I am not sure I am ready for the mean streets of downtown LA. I don't know. There is no rush for me to jump on that bike and go for broke. Well, except for the cost of gas and taking the car vs. the bike.

I am nothing like what I was expected to be by others. I am not some bat out of hell crazy bitch rider. The lack of trust and confidence in ME (by others) and my learning experience eating asphalt really bothered me for a while. Now it doesn't matter. I have my Gypsy and she means everything to me.

It's ironic, I got my last bike right after I broke up with my oldest daughter's dad. It was the loss of my first real long term relationship. It healed all my deepest wounds and brought me a sense of independence I never thought possible. The universe understands that I needed that again. I can face anything and anyone now.. now that I have my Gypsy.

Any pain I may feel can be eased flying down the road. Just me and her. Lost in the rush of power and solitude. No music. No cell phone. Nothing. ANY emotion I may feel is for my Gypsy and me to share together. I need to harmonize with her.. become one with her.. understand her quirks and what makes her sing. Yes, she is my companion and my best friend. We will become one entity, blending together and create one body, mind and soul. Yes, she almost sounds like a lover, doesn't she? I will take care of her and she will take care of me. I will learn all about her.. inside and out.

She will take me to the places I need to go to find out who I am.
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October 11th - 9:00p

The long road home
Current mood:  accomplished

I am exhausted. I woke up too late to take the train. Well, actually…lol… I woke up ten minutes AFTER the train left the station.

I could have taken the car. Sure.

I took the bike.

I headed down the back roads and it took flipping forever just to get to Via Princessa! So, I made a choice and went for it.. I got on the freeway. Yeah, I know.. not supposed to go on there with just a permit. I was doing really good and feeling comfortable with my skills coming back to me pretty quickly. I jumped on and merged onto the 5 fwy and rode it all the way to the Cesear Chavez exit. I did a little bit of white lining. Only when it was safe and I was confident I could maneuver the bike right. I walked in the meeting with my helmet in hand and raised quite a few eyebrows. It sorta disrupted the meeting because I got there late. I missed Public Comment and approval of the minutes and agenda. Big whoopee. The part that was bad was missing Roll Call. Anyways.. this is my bike adventure.. not work.

Haha.. I finally got her over 50mph! I looked down at one point and I was doing a bit over 70mph. Since when did I grow up? I told myself I had to slow down!! WTF?? Naa. Really though.. she isn't broken in and I have to take it easy the first 1000 miles. Break her in wrong and well.. bad bad bad.

All meeting long I just was itching to get back on her. Two hours of riding in the morning wasn't enough. I went into ChinaTown to pick up some herbs that I needed. I forgot how tripped out people get when they see a girl riding a bike. Hehe.. the parking attendant at the lot showed me a special spot for me to park in and then said "for you it is free!" hahaha Hey, it felt good! I never denied being an attention whore. This bike surely does feed that beast in me. My vanity doesn't win out over practicality. I hated my outfit today. But I have to be protected.

So, heading home I was chasing daylight. I got on the 5fwy (after several times around the city trying to figure out how the hell to use the side streets). It was pretty packed, but.. whatever. I cruised along and when I got to a point where I figured I could get home from the surface streets, I got off. OMG.. I had to PEE! Had to hold it till I got to Placerita Cyn. And it was not easy..lol.

The wind picked up, the sun was setting and I was having issues with getting sore. Man, it was a long ride. I am trying to break old bad habits and relearn the right way. Which means I can't hitch up my feet behind me on the back pegs and ride. Both hands have to stay on the handlebars and go the speed limit. I got home a little after dark. Ooops.

Anyways, I did it. I committed to making the trip and it was close to 200 miles round trip instead of the 140 that it usually is because of taking the back roads. 200 miles of riding is a lot of practice time. haha I am proud of myself. I didn't go beyond my skill level and I pushed myself to trust the skills I do have.

I remember singing a verse of a song or two along the way. But for the most part I can't really remember one thing I really thought of on the trip. My mind went blank. It was nice not to think of anything or anyone for hours. Just paying attention to the bike, road and the total IDIOTS that are out there.

Coming home to a quiet house was a blessing. I have time to write and relax. Then I am going to bed early. I am wiped out.

Tags: Adventures