Good times this last week.

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I haven't posted much except for the cat pictures in the last week or so. We have been busy. Last weekend was the second annual Bro's and Frau's Wallace Falls State Park camping trip. Troubadour and I and his brother Barrie and sister-in-law Lisa all met at a central location last year and shared a cabin for a long weekend of camping and hiking. We had such a great time we planned it again this year only a month earlier as it was too darn hot at the beginning of July last year. This year we even decided to invite Troubadour's mom Mavis and stepdad Chip. The more the merrier.

The inlaws all have dogs and there is only one pet friendly cabin so we had to have a private cabin. Oh darn. It was nice to have a place to retreat to to be by ourselves each night. It helped that we brought a fan and an electric coffee pot.

Saturday morning at 5 am we packed our little Nissan Versa hatchback up and headed out by 7 am. East to I-5 we went then North on I-5. Made a quick stop in Wilsonville at Starbucks for yummy decaf soy lattes and also at Chevron to fill the car. Made it through Portland and Vancouver, Washington with little trouble and finally found a rest area closer to Olympia. Why is it that Oregon's side of I-5 had a lot of rest areas and no state troopers on the road and the Washinton side of I-5 had a ton of state troopers but rarely a rest area? Good thing we didn't order a vente coffee.

Troubadour was rocking his kilt so when we stopped at Fred Meyer in Monroe to stretch our legs, and yes, have another Starbucks he received several comments. One was a "daaaamn, you are looking fiiine." You know it is a good day when you can get a two syllable damn. We didn't get any pictures of him in his Clan McLaren tartan kilt but here is one of him in his locally made Celtic Warrior Kilt on the hiking trails.

We finally arrived at Wallace Falls State Park and waited for the family and to check in to our cabins. Emptied out the car, hurried the cleaning crews along and relaxed. Barrie and Lisa were the first to arrive from Kelowna, BC with their dog Bailey.

And Mavis and Chip arrived from Eastern Washington a few hours later with their dog Boomer. We all had some good food and relaxed around a great campfire. Thank you Chip for hauling the wood. It was hard to get Mavis to pose for a picture so Chip helped her out on this one.

Sunday morning we got up and had a simple breakfast of bagels and muffins and started our 5.5 mile round trip hike up the falls. We made it to the middle falls. We were hoping to go to the upper falls and take the railroad grade trail to Wallace Lake but we had to be considerate of the ages of our fellow hikers. Next year, maybe we'll get there.

I guess since everyone else's picture is in this post I'd best put one of me in here.....

Here is an almost group picture that Troubadour took. Unfortunately we did not get one that had all 6 of us in it.

We spent a few hours out on the trail and headed back to camp for a good lunch and more lounging around. I must say I loved my Keen hiking shoes. They were perfect for the trail. Headed to bed a little earlier and got up Monday morning to start breaking camp.

Everyone headed out just after noon and we had an uneventful trip home. We made it home by 7 pm after getting stopped on I-5 by Chehalis for a rollover accident. As soon as we got to the Oregon State line it clouded over and started to rain. How rude. It has been hot and muggy every since with thunder and lightning the last few days.

We did manage to get both bikes out last night and ride to American Dream Pizza for Corvallis Bike Night. The first Wednesday of every month we all get together to talk bikes and plan rides. Yes, I rode my new bike. Too hot and muggy for my riding pants to so I got to ride home in the pouring rain at 8 pm with my Cortech jacket and blue jeans on. The good news is my boots were waterproof. I took my safety class in the rain in November so it didn't really bother me. Man were we soaked when we got home. Troubadour had on his mesh jacket so he got the worst of it. It was a great night with about 20 of us crowded around the table and hanging out.

We have a ride to the coast planned for Sunday for chowder and I pick up my new helmet in Hillsboro on Saturday so stay tuned for more pictures.

-Au Revoir

"Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong." - George Carlin

Cat Wisdom #5

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Baxter learned ...... always take advantage of a warm dryer

-Au Revoir

"Curiosity killed the cat, Satisfaction brought it back!" - English Proverb

We Learn By Doing

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So, now that we have purchased a starter bike for me, the training begins. I have been endorsed for 6 years but in all that time had not ridden my own bike until this past Monday. As you know from a previous post, Troubadour rode it back from Beaverton for me on Sunday. Monday morning he took me out to a local parking lot so I could once again familiarize myself with the controls.

I wear a grey Cortech textile jacket and Troubadour thought it might be a good idea to make me a little more visible for my street riding. He graciously lent me his green high vis vest. We had to cinch it in quite a bit and it makes me look like I've gained 20 lbs but it screams newbie and that is what we wanted.

Tuesday night we went out once again, this time Troubadour did not have to double me anywhere. We started out in the driveway, he on his Triumph and me on the Nighthawk. 

I followed him for a few laps around the neighborhood. I found out that first gear is really low on the 250 and that as soon as my feet are up I am shifting to second. After a few rounds of the side streets we went off on the main roads to downtown Corvallis to my work. Circled the parking lot and took some back roads south of town to get me used to a little faster speeds and some bumps and hills and curves. I topped out at 45 mph and fourth gear that night.

Last night, Wednesday, we headed out again. No laps of the neighborhood this time, just straight downtown following the same route. This time instead of turning to go home we headed down another back road where the speeds get to 55 and there are more corners and hills. We went a lot further last night and I made it to 60 mph and hit fifth gear. Yeah for me.

I have to admit that I wasn't really enthused about getting all suited up when it was 80˚ F outside and I'd rather be in shorts and a t-shirt, but once I was out on the open road I was truly enjoying myself and was imaging all of the trips that Troubadour and I will take over the coming years and I had to smile. 

If you have confidence in yourself and your ability and you are lucky enough to have a supportive spouse you can do anything, and life really is good.

Will we go out again tonight? Probably. Will we go further than last night? Probably. Will we remember the camera this time? Hopefully. Will I enjoy myself? Most definitely!

PS: If we do remember the camera I'll post up a few pics later.

-Au Revoir

"That's all the motorcycle is, a system of concepts worked out in steel."
~ Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Happy Bike Day to me.......

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Well, after an extensive search and many months/years, we finally pulled the trigger and bought me a bike.

All day Saturday of our long weekend was spend driving to Salem, Woodburn, and Hillsboro wandering around motorcycle shops, sitting on this, sitting on that. One shop in Salem had a new 2009 Suzuki TU250 that was pretty cool. Kind of a retro Triumph looking bike.  Here is a stock photo.

They also had a slightly used 2007 Suzuki Boulevard S40 that was pretty nice. It is a 650 single. More powerful that the TU but still wouldn't have gotten me into any major trouble. Again, here is a stock photo.

Both were fairly comfortable and in our price range.  One more of a standard and the other a criuser type. We couldn't quite make a decision on either so off we went. Nothing of interest at the shop in Woodburn so up to the suburbs of Portland we went. Stopped at a shop in Hillsboro as they were the ones who had the 2008 Honda Nighhawk 250's on cheap. Turns out they were not just demo's. Unfortunately, they had been used in training courses. Of course they didn't tell this to Troubadour on the phone when he inquired about them. Now, if you have ever taken a training course, you know the shape these "new" bikes were in. I don't think there were any parts left unscratched, uncracked or undented. We hummed and hawed and also sat on a used S40 there and the 2009 TU again. Something just wasn't right so we left, made a Starbucks stop for an iced coffee and headed home.

Troubadour was looking on Craigslist Sunday morning and spotted a listing for a Silver 2006 Nighthawk 250 with under 900 miles on it in Beaverton. He sent an email reply and received a call back right away. We were off to look at the bike. Murphy's Law.... we'd just driven through Beaverton the day before. Troubadour packed his gear into the hatchback of the Versa and off we went.

We got there just before 11 and the bike seemed in really good shape. A little tiny scratch here or there and a bit of electrical tape on the cracked front turn signals, but overall was a brand new bike. We decided to buy the bike. Made an offer, he countered and it was done deal. Stopped at a gas station to add air to the front tire (thanks Chevron for charging $0.75 for that).

Wasn't too bad a trip home. Stopped at a Walgreens in McMinnville for a cold drink and snapped a few pictures. 

Then homeward. The bike won't win any races but Troubadour sure kept ahead of me on it. I don't think it was quite the same as his America though. He was nice enough to wash it for me Sunday afternoon too. I am so spoiled.  I was too tired from two days in the car to take it for a test run.

Yesterday we headed out to a parking lot close by for a practice run since it has been 6 years since I took my safety course and received my endorsement. To be safe he rode it down there. Not as much power with the both of us on it. I rode it around for about an hour getting used it it, shifting, and getting my feet up quickly on the take off. Troubadour had me practic some emergency stops by throwng gloves down infront of me when I wasn't expecting it. Worked great. Here are a few pics he took of me riding around.

You can't see it, but I do have a huge grin on my face. After about an hour my grass allergies started getting the best of me and we headed home. 

Tonight, if I am not too tired ( aka lazy) after making dinner and doing the dishes, I may suit up and head around the neighborhood. Then watch out, as I'll be on the roads. Troubadour will guide me around some bckroads and then I can take it back and forth to work too as the office is only 3 miles away. If only I can figure out how to make helmet head half decent for the office.

I will try an update with how I am progressing.

-Au Revoir

"Whatever it is, it's better in the wind." ~ Author Unknown

Almost had it.

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Troubadour and I have been hunting for a motorcycle for me for several months now. He has been keeping a close eye on Craigslist and we have made several trips to local motorcycle shops up and down the valley from Eugene to the South, to Salem and Portland to the North. No luck so far.

We are waffling between pulling the trigger and getting a new bike (although a modest one), and getting a older model (but not archaic), gently used bike.

Well..... he spotted a sweet deal Wednesday night and called about it yesterday morning. At 7:15 last night we were set to go look at a 2007 250 Honda Nighthawk that had under 300 miles on it for only $2800. Complete with a plexi windshield, center stand and custom luggage rack for the back.

Apparently someone else thought it was a sweet deal too bacuse the seller called back by 6:30 and said it had already sold. I guess it wasn't meant to be. I know we will find a bike suitable for me, but what really irks me is that the seller did not have the decency to let us know there were other people looking at it at an earier time. Considering he is the one that specified 7:15, I think it would have been a nice courtesy. If he had told us we were part of a queue to look at it, we wouldn't have been quite so excited, but still interested none-the-less.

So, the hunt continues. We did some research on the net last night and Portland has a few 2008 250 Honda Nighthawks, no miles on them, still new stock and at the dealer. They are supposedly blowing out for under $3,000. Troubadour may give them a call this afternoon and if they are still there we may drive up there tomorrow and take a peek. Sounds like a good excuse to go to Hot Pot & Sushi for lunch and, oh look, it is right by IKEA. Which also happens to be right by a BMW/Triumph dealer. 

Then there is still the BMW G650GS we are both coveting. I like the light weight and low center of gravity of having the gas tank under the seat. Troubadour likes that it is large enough we wouldn't have to sell it in a year, has heated grips, ABS and he could play with the big dogs on the forestry trails. 

Guess we'll just have to stop by the dealership to pet all the new shiny pretty bikes and try not to drool. But, the other side of the coin is we could get a Nighthawk now and in a few years sell it and get a BMW. Damn us and our fiscal responsibility. Decision decisions....

Stay tuned for updates.......

-Au Revoir

"Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk."- Chinese Proverb

A Motorcycle as an "objet d'art"

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It is amazing what you can find on the internet even when you aren't looking.

Some pictures are worth a thousand words ...... others simply leave you speechless.....

-Au Revoir

"Our hearts are drunk with a beauty our eyes could never see." 

           ~George W. Russell