I couldn't live in a nicer place. I have a quaint little house surrounded by trees overlooking the ocean. The Gary Oaks are squeezing out new leaves. I have family and friends on this island. The streets are full of blossoms and every kind of flowering plant. They are also filled with the aroma of fresh espresso. I couldn't have it any better.
And yet.........................yet.....................
I think...................I ponder.....................and I dream..............
If one is not tied to a job, and if adventure pulls at your spirit like the sun tugs the leaves from their buds, then why resist it?
There is a time and a place for the hitching rail. For each individual it is different.
To quote my friend, 'I'm not going to waste anymore time, I haven't got that much of it left.' And so.............................I thought about that, I really meditated on that..........
And I think, I'm pretty sure, that this is going to be an extraordinary year for me. A plan is formulating in my mind and if you keep peeking in here once in awhile you might glimpse bits and pieces of that plan. Of course, the Rain Meister will not be left out of that plan. We are joined at the hip.
........and here I sit at Serious Coffee with a Vanilla latte and a bran muffin. Yes, I am home! I look around me and can't believe that I have been gone for four and a half of the best months of my life. The ride over the Coquihala was cool but sunny. I followed my kids home who had been visiting in Kamloops. We waded through the traffic of the Fraser Valley and missed the 3:00 pm ferry by about one minute. But finally........
I enjoyed my grandkids on the two hour ride to Vancouver Island.
So once again I am on the ferry....this time my wheels are pointing toward home instead of away from it. The lush growth of southern BC is refreshing after spending so much time in a desertlike place. I am glad to be home. Time for me and my Yamaha to take a break from the road.
And so I end this journey with a smile on my face and amazing memories wafting through my mind like feathers floating on the breeze. I will always remember the winter of 2011/12 as one of the best of my life.
Remember to jump at the chance of an adventure, you never know what kind of glittering sands the winds will toss your way. It could change your future in big or even small ways.
ps: You may want to keep checking this blog periodically because you never know when I will get the urge for a new adventure. My two wheels will not stop turning.
Throughout my winter road trip I have been called "brave", "courageous", and "adventuresome". A young yugoslavian man even told me he"honoured" me because of what I did as a woman. I have never considered myself to be brave, adventuresome yes, but on Tuesday I did think myself to be crazy. The deep snow banks on the sides of the road were radiating frigid air and for some reason my grip warmers decided it was time to give up on me. I stopped beside the road and ran up and down the hill to get the circulation going again. I was reflecting on why it was that I had chosen this route home, which I knew would be colder than the road closer to the coast. But now that I have been in Kamloops for two days I know EXACTLY why I came this way....................................
Dessert is always better after liver and onions.
These are only a few of the good reasons for coming home through Kamloops.
On the weekend I will be returning to home suite home in victoria. I miss the island but after being spoiled by all that sunshine in Arizona I'm not sure how much I will enjoy the spring rains. Come on Victoria, please be sunny for me!!!
Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.
Trusting the Weather network is like nailing jello to a tree. OK, that is not my own saying, I got it from a sign I saw in Oatman.
But for me, raising teenagers was more like....ummm......nailing a chocolate bar to a tree. And let.s say that chocolate bar is a Snickers. Ya, that would be more like it. Because I like Snickers and I like teenagers and they make me laugh.
Where was I? Oh ya, the weather network. Yesterday was supposed to be the third day of my good weather window to make it home. There was a wide variety of weather but very little sunshine. I had to beat the snow before it hit Crater Lake, but it rained on me for two hours,
Rubber gloves are good for more than just washing dishes and toilets. Over my leather gloves they keep my hands warm and dry.
Because of my last experience in the sind tunnel east of Palm Springs, I was mortified to now see another swath of windmills in the distance. As I got closer I could see them all turning and I knew the wind was going to bat me around again.
My brother and his son, who are very professional with their photography have the most awesome photos of these monster windmills. They are amazing machines.
After riding through one more rain storm that incidentally was worse than it looked from the distance Terry, I made it to Yakima and spent the night there. If the weather is good to me I should make it to Kamloops today. I am very excited to see snickers...I mean my kids and grandkids who are all there right now. Yippee! That is enough to spur me on.
It was quite coincidental that after I was packed up this morning, the radio was playing "Hit the Road Jack". That's how it all began!
Behind me is the trailer that is hauling two Harleys back to Canada. I was given the offer of hauling my bike back with them. It was tempting but I said "no thank you". I was teased about wanting the bragging rights of having ridden from Victoria to Cabo and back. HELLOOO.....WELL Of COURSE!
About 30 minutes into my ride I had to stop and gear up. It was cold with a 40 mph wind. On came the sweater, scarf, jacket, chaps, raincoat and pants. Hard to believe that a few days ago we were riding sleeveless in a furnace of heat. I got sand blasted and the wind blew up into my full face helmet lifting my visor!! There is a wind tunnel forested with windmills just west of Palm Springs. I have driven past it many times in the past but have never seen even half of them turning. Today all of them were spinning in the wind, quite a sight to see.
I had to quit riding early much to my chagrin, because I felt it wasn't safe to go on. Tomorrow the wind is supposed to be 15 mph.
Do I really want to ride into........
THAT?!!!!!!!! Help! Which way did that toy hauler go?
"I feel so lonesome, I wanna go home...la la la...." Yup! It's time to get serious about hitting the road Jack, It's time to go back. I have a few days to prepare for my trip back to Victoria. I looked on the weather network today and the rain is finally starting to let up between Me, point A, and Victoria, point B.
I considered trading the Meister in for the fully loaded version of the Harely touring bike. What do you think?
But then this sweet ride caught my eye. I could call this baby Ethel, or Pink Prada. Isn't it just so ....ME? But THEN!!!!.......
This one would go with my full body panther tattoo that Sarah is designing for me. Ah...maybe this is the one.
This HOnda really did appeal to me but I didn't have $19,000 kicking around in my pocket. And Sooooo........
I dressed up my little 1300 Yamaha Rain Meister with a few things that will add to my comfort on the road. The back luggage rack will give me a lower load. I was feeling a little crowded without it.
I also added some foot pegs on my engine guards. It will make the journey more comfortable as I will be able to stretch my legs. I also bought some night glasses and a better pair of sunglasses.
I must take full advantage of the heat of the sun and cool of the pool these last few days. It will be awhile before I feel sumer on my skin again.
Here's hoping that I get some warm dry weather on my way home. Suck hard woman, it might be your last lemonade in Arizona.
RSS Feed