Must We Drive?

Yesterday I met a lady rider who is perfectly contented riding her Honda Rebel 250 to work and back, and going on longer tours as a passenger on a cushy Goldwing while her husband drives. She likes listening to music inside her helmet and enjoys not having the stress of driving separately over long distances.

Lots of women riders encourage others to "get up and off the back"-- to drive their own motorcycles. They love the sense of power it gives them. I share that passion.

Does that make it wrong to sit on back and let someone else do the driving?

Not to get into feminist politics here ... nobody likes being called "bitch."

But isn't it OK for a woman to enjoy riding behind her man?

I like the challenge of controlling my own ride. It's fun, but it can be stressful. On a long trip, I can relax knowing my more experienced husband is watching out for me. He's amazed that I can almost fall asleep on the pillion of his Vulcan Nomad, cuz I don't sleep in the car -- especially when he's driving!

It's even romantic riding two-up. Sometimes I rub his shoulders or give him a squeeze around the tummy. It makes us feel close, and that's good for our relationship. It's good practice for me, too, to put my trust in someone else; to know that I can let go and not have to do everything myself.

In my basic rider course, the coach made a point right up front: Nobody HAS to ride a motorcycle. And some people shouldn't. They're dangerous to themselves and others. So it is a source of pride when we do it well.

With experience, I hope to be able to drive my motorycle on longer cross-country trips. That is my goal. But I'm not there yet.

To those who do, I salute you.

Like a Ball and Chain

There's a problem with having a temporary permit. When it comes to riding my motorcycle, I'm quite tethered to my husband's schedule. If he's busy or doesn't feel like riding, I don't ride.

And that's not even considering my own busy schedule, with two jobs and after-work meetings I attend at least weekly, I have only so many daylight hours available. Summertime is even busier, with graduation parties, weddings and other social obligations.

This became an issue in the past week. I've been trying to ride every good-weather day I can, which has been Tuesdays and Thursdays after work and weekends. But last week, his whole family came together for weeklong reunion, and aside from riding together to his sister's house on Sundays, he was there while I was at work. With my car.

It was fantastic last Sunday. I had given blood Saturday and was still feeling kind of punky the next day. But the moment I got out there on two wheels in the air and sunshine, I felt renewed. It was wonderful.

Tuesday he was busy. Thursday, he planned to take the day to go to Cedar Point with his sisters, brother, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law and nieces and nephews. While I was at work. With my car. So I got to thinking I would just go to Boomers in Waterford to see the Nick Lee burnout show. Then he changed his mind; they weren't going to Cedar Point after all, and he offered to bring my bike up to my work so I could ride over to his sister's house. He would follow me in the car. Hmmm ... that's something I haven't done. Might feel almost like I was on my own -- without him there to run lane defense for me.

So I took him up on his offer and swapped the burnout show for the opportunity to ride. It was great. Felt good. But what a tease. Next day, all I kept thinking on my whole drive to work was I wish I was on my bike. I had SERIOUS motorcycle envy all day long. And it continued the next day.

Saturday there were thunderstorms in the forecast, but it turned out gorgeous, hot and sunny. Too bad, because he was at his sister's once again and I had a wedding shower to attend all afternoon. I love my friend and wouldn't miss the party, but once  again I lost a perfect riding day. Sigh.

Yesterday, another forecast -- this time even more dire -- for thunderstorms. Ironman was dubious as we sat watching the local Fox-2 weather report in the morning, but I decided to risk it. And was I glad we did. It was even better than before. I feel like I'm really driving now, not just worrying about balance and shifting, but really interacting with the road and traffic. I want to do it EVERY day.

I'm committed to my July rider course (my third try), and I'm confident I'll pass the state test this time. But I'm impatient. Three more weeks. I already marked on my calendar the day I'm going to get my endorsement.

Nick Lee Burns it Out

This guy is smokin' hot.

"Burnout King" Nick Lee does his thing tonight at Boomers Road House in Waterford Township, performing his world record-winning motorcycle stunts, with exhaust pipes rising to more than 700 degrees.

No kidding. He says he burns his leg doing it.

Lee's steel-and-rubber performance art begins 8 p.m. Boomers is at 6650 Highland Road, Waterford Twp., (248) 666-6080.

Lee, from Green Bay, Wis., travels the country with the World Burnout Tour, entertaining audiences at motorcycle events. His WBT trailer was already set up in Boomer's parking lot last night, hauling a collection of bikes and equipment valued at more than $2 million.

He is appearing here by invitation from Ron Finch, a legendary custom motorcycle fabricator who has lived and built custom bikes in the Pontiac/Waterford area since 1965 -- long before the Orange County Choppers hit the airwaves -- and his Custom Styled Cycles designs are nothing less than art.

Finch is to be inducted into the motorcycle Hall of Fame in Sturgis, South Dakota, this summer.

Nick Lee is the world record holder for the longest motorcycle burnout -- a noisy, smoky old-school stunt done by revving the motor up to as much as 10,000 rpm while holding the front brake firmly. He travels the country in a custom coach and NASCAR trailer, displaying his museum-quality collection and selling T-shirts and such at biker events. He performs a variety of styles of burnout, such as the free-standing powerhouse, smiley face, peace sign and spirals.

He has a sponsorship for Duro tires. Good thing; I would hate to have to pay his tire bills.

I've been told that Lee has about 17 bikes, though not all of them are really motorcycles. He has a number of "bar stools" -- actual bar stools -- mounted on top of a motor. One is a 1,000-horsepower V8 with nitrous oxide.

This man sounds insane.




Check out Nick Lee's biography and watch videos at at the World Burnout Tour site.

A Little Road Music

I don't know about you, but I carry a jukebox around with me everywhere I go. There's some kind of music playing in my head just about 24/7, and I never know what's going to come up -- Tchaikovsky, Led Zeppelin, TV theme songs or the latest beer commercial. Lately, it's that men's Dockers ad: "I wear no pants! I wea-ear no pants!" I turn it into opera late at night.


So it's only natural that when I'm traveling down the road, if I'm not listening to the radio, I'm listening to my own personal radio.A  sign on the side of the freeway might trigger a Beatles song in my brain. And it comes out.

One of my favorites riding two up with Ironman is -- naturally -- "Getcher motor runnin' ... head out out on the highway ... lookin' for adventure ... in whatever comes our way ..."
 

 When we bought our Scala bluetooth headsets, I warned him that he'd very likely hear me humming, because that's what I do on long, straight stretches of road. Later, when we were traveling on our two motorcycles, he said to me, amazed, "I'm picking up music from somewhere."


I asked, "Is it 'Help Me Rhonda'?"

"Yeah -- that's it."

"That's me."

Ironman tells this story. When we rode up to Port Austin last month, we met a couple of other biker teams -- one guy was riding a big black Harley-Davidson, and another was on a BMW dual sport bike. My husband got to chatting with these guys as I was wandering and talking to the Lady Harley rider. The men were comparing their onboard stereo systems.

The Harley guy was talking about his radio, which he had bought online, made especially for Harleys to fit into the bat wing fairing, under the windshield. The other was talking about the stock stereo that came with his bike.

The BMW rider "said he was looking online at the radio that the other guy bought, and he decided not to buy it," Ironman says. Each was happy with his choice. They were kind of bragging, as guys like to do. Then it was my husband's turn to describe his onboard sound system.

"My wife hums in my ear."

Ride to Work Day

Happy Ride to Work Day! Hope you took your two-wheeled transport with you today.

This website, Ride To Work.org, celebrates and promotes the annual Ride to Work Day on the third Monday of June.

But I first learned about it in the book "How to Ride a Motorcycle" by Pat Hahn, which says it's the third Wednesday in July. That sounded good to me, because I expect by then to have my real motorcycle license. See, I'll be taking my third (and final? -- I HOPE!) basic rider course the weekend of July 16-18, and if I pass (crossing fingers and toes) I can get my full licensure that Monday. Which means I can legally ride my bike anywhere I want, anytime I want.

Until then, I have only a temporary permit that lets me ride with an escort, and my escort is surely not going to accompany to my office in the morning, wait around about nine hours and escort me home again.

When I started this journey of motorcycle training, it was my goal to ride to work in July. That's still my aim.

I was puzzled about the difference in the newer logo above and the one in my book, dated from 2000. Just in case you think I was mistaken about that discrepancy, I scanned the logo from my book. Looks the same, except for the date, and the year. So I guessed that meant the annual day was moved up a month.

Then I looked it up on the Ride to Work site:

"The first Ride to Work Day event date was July 22nd, 1992. For several years various motorcycle businesses informally promoted every third Wednesday in July as Ride To Work Day. These early advocates included Road Rider Magazine, Dunlop Tires, and Aerostich/Riderwearhouse. The event continued to grow as an informal grass roots demonstration every year until 2000. That year a non-profit organization, Ride to Work was formed to help organize and promote Ride to Work Day. The first Ride to Work Day event led by this group was the third Wednesday in July of 2001. This day was the annual day until 2008, when it was changed to the Third Monday In June. This change was made to climatically better accommodate riders world-wide, and to give more riders an opportunity to participate."

OK ... but I'll plan to ride in July just the same.

My new motorcycle blogger buddy, Torch, says there are a number of Ride to Work days, which seemed funny, but it's OK by me. The more bikes on the road, the more driver awareness of their presence.

There are good reasons to ride to work -- not just for fun or to show off.

Torch posted this on his site, Midlife Motorcycle Madness:
"Motorcycle and scooter riders' 19th annual commuting day is this coming Monday, June 21st. Participation in the yearly demonstration is estimated to triple the number of riders on the road. Motorcycle and scooter groups and organizations actively encourage riders to commute by cycle on this day. On Ride to Work Day, motorcycle and scooter commuters seek improved employer recognition and support for this form of transportation and increased public and government awareness of the positive value of riding.

"Adding more commuting motorcycles and scooters makes urban parking easier and traffic flow better, according to Ride to Work, a non-profit advocacy organization. Studies have also shown that across the same distances, riders reach their destinations faster than those using automobiles. Most motorcycles and scooters also consume less resources per mile than automobiles."

A Demon Bites the Dust

 My first demon bell was silver, with vaulted designs

What the heck happened to my demon bell?

After my Ironman bought just the right bell for me, and I carefully threaded its jump ring onto a low part of my motorcycle's frame, a few weeks went by before I noticed that it was missing.

It disappeared! But when? Where? What could have pulled it off my bike?

That must have been some HUGE demon.

Now that I think about it, I haven't had a serious crash since then. Glad the bell did its job.

So Ironman bought me another, a plain brass one, very inexpensive, very small, at the Hellcreek Ranch Blessing of the Bikes in Hell.

This morning I saw the Lone Motorcyclist blogger in Ontario wrote about giving a bell to his son after an accident. He says he doesn't believe in such totems, but conceded that if others do, it may help them stay safer. I'm all over that! So I went to the garage to check for my bell, but I couldn't see it there in the dark.

uh-oh ... demons lurking in my very own garage??

But by this time I was late to work, and had to put it out of my mind. Later, when we pulled the bikes out to take a ride up to Fenton, I saw it was there, still hanging where Ironman had hung it -- on the rear this time.

Ha. Gonna leave those demons in the dust.

The new bell is plain brass, crudely molded, but with a cute little tinkle.

The White-Glove Test

Once upon a time, ladies wore white gloves everywhere they went. Especially when they went to evening affairs. Sometimes the gloves were long ones, rising nearly to the shoulder. Oh, how elegant. I'm pretty sure I have a pair of them myself somewhere, though I never had an affair elegant enough to wear them to.

Recently, while learning how to ride my motorcycle, I learned about ATGATT -- all the gear, all the time. It means we protect our bodies when we go riding, from head to toe. Boots, helmet, jacket, gloves. That's fine when the weather is cool, but when it's warm out, I see bikers shed their coats, their gloves and even ride in sandals and shorts.

Not for me, man. I value my skin. But I don't like to sweat, either.

I took inventory of the motorcycle gloves I have. There's a knit pair with a Harley-Davidson logo on them. OK for cool days riding as a passenger, but not for driving -- they have no grip at all. Then I have a pair of all-leather gauntlets that come halfway up my forearm, with a little red accent cuff. Neat looking and good in medium temperatures. There's also my favorite pair, warmly lined leather gauntlets with fringe that look sweet and feel good, but are too warm for hot weather, for sure.

This spring I bought a pair of textile gloves with "Lady Rider" printed on them; cute but not real functional.

All of them are black. Black, black, black. Black is hot in the sun. So I reasoned, why can't I get a pair of riding gloves in white, to will reflect sunlight and protect my hands without roasting them?

"They'll get dirty," Ironman warned me.
"So what?" I replied. "I can wash them."

I found one pair of white gloves on MotorcycleSuperstore.com, but they were for cold weather. And they look TOUGH, though they have the dainty name of "Roxanne". Padded with gel and Kevlar, composite armor over the knuckles and digits ... whooo-whee. They're $45 on sale and look mighty sturdy, for danger riding. But, nah ... those I might want in black, to WARM my hands in the sun. See how this works?

Today, while working on this entry, I found another pair of white gloves (wouldn't you know, now that I've already found something else?) with a little bit of protection and a lot of light airiness, and they look like something I'd like to try, too. They're Icon Pursuit gloves for women, and they sell for $55.

But it was hot and sunny a couple of weeks ago and I didn't have what I wanted. So I looked at motorcycle shops. Black, black, black. Some fingerless -- but I didn't consider those. I'm kind of attached to my fingers and would like to keep them.

 I asked Barb, the owner at American Road Shop, if she had any white gloves.

"They'll get dirty," Barb warned me.
"So what?" I replied. "I can wash them."

Then I got an idea. Baseball batter's gloves. They're not padded OR armored. They're not even 100 percent natural leather. But they're perforated, only cost $30 and they're white. I like 'em. They even have a sporty red swoosh on the fastener tab.

They're dirty. So what? I'll wash them.

A few Victory laps for local guys

I don't know these fellas, but we got a press release about a contest by Victory Motorcycles, in which a number of people were given bikes to ride this summer on the True American Road Trip.

Randy Stephenson of Southfield, Mich., owner/engineer of RMS Studios, an audio production company, and Dean Saigeon, a senior editor at Communicore Visual Communications in Birmingham, Mich., were among 350 entrants from across the country. Ten video entries were chosen as the most creative and they were each given a complimentary lease for the remainder of 2010 for one of two new touring motorcycles, the Victory Cross Country (photo below) or Victory Cross Roads.

Saigeon’s and Stephenson’s entry featured footage shot on a motorcycle trip the pair took last summer.

“Randy and I both really love our Victory bikes, and this gave us the opportunity to show that while flexing some creative muscle,” Saigeon said in the press releas.

Saigeon and Stephenson already visited the Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie. Later this month they head out for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio; in July they'll ride the Blue Ridge Parkway -- a trip I would LOVE to take on my motorcycle -- through Gatlinburg, Tenn.; and in August, they plan to visit Mount Rushmore. in South Dakota.

From May through August, the two are documenting their experiences with photos, videos and text, along with the experiences of the other nine riders at the True American Road Trip website. Visitors to the site will be able to view content from each trip, as well as maps of the routes traveled, inspiring riders to create their own adventures.

While you're checking it out, don't miss the adventures of lady riders Allison Linns of New Jersey,  Jayne Drinan of Oregon and Syndey Sheppard of California.

Allison, Jayne and Sydney (aka Fishy)

 

Follow Dean (left)  and Randy's trip on the Victory site

Getting Better All the Time

Cousin George Sees My Shadow

It's been 11 weeks since I bought my motorcycle, and for me the learning curve was steep. But it really is getting better all the time.

We did a short ride of about 26 miles round trip on Thursday, to the Zukey Lake Tavern in Hamburg, where we see enough bikers on a regular basis that there is designating motorcycle parking in the lot. We traveled as we usually do, with me in front, generally in the left third of the lane, and Ironman in back toward the outside, observing and commenting ("Turn off your turn signal") via our Bluetooth two-way headsets.

We rode in moderate traffic, and I didn't make any major blunders. When we got home, Ironman commented that I did well. He noticed I was leaning more and accelerating more confidently in the turns.

The first turn was a little hairier than usual, too, because the road had just been graded and the gravel was loose. My rear wheel skidded as I accelerated slightly into the turn, and all the way down the road the front tire bounced back and forth as it hit rocks. But it was OK. All good practice.

Then on Saturday, we rode about 52 miles to my cousin Dee's house in Plymouth. My old-time biker cousin George was there, and he was stoked about my riding a motorcycle. So was their mom, 88-year-old Aunt Virginia, who's hard to hold down. She wasn't feeling well that day, and as she left I hugged her and she said, "I'm glad you got to ride your bike. I wish I was your age."

Awww ... what do you say to that? "Me too -- then we could ride together!" So much for thinking I'm a little old to take up riding. She likes to ride on back of George's Harley Classic, and she is an inspiration for so many women. Like my dad's aunt Madeline, who danced at Dee's wedding when though she was almost 90.

It was a hot day on Saturday, but George, my husband and I stood on the street for a long time talking about motorcycles. I made a short video of him, but after several hours and many tries in various formats, was unable to get it to load here. Bah. Finally I just captured some screen shots for y'all.

George is always good for suggestions, and he had a new one for me: purposely hit a few potholes and cracks in the road, so they won't be scary later when they can't be avoided.

On the way home after the party, we stopped for gas, and Ironman reminded me that the bike will handle differently with the few gallons of extra weight. That was all it took to make me think about dropping her again. Sure enough, when I came around that final U-turn in the driveway I lost my balance and couldn't hold her up. Before I got the engine turned off, the tire started burning rubber in the gravel. Interesting smell ... like speed without going anywhere.

That bummed me out. There went my all-too-brief record for NOT dropping the bike (so, what does that make one, or two dozen times now?).

But it's OK. Nobody hurt, not even my confidence this time. Next day I was just waiting for my legally licensed escort to take me on another ride.

And I realized something as we went ... why didn't I realize this before?

When I first started learning, the bike seemed big and powerful and heavy compared to weak little me. And I thought I had to be tough and fight it all the way. But now I see it's really a very sensitive machine that responds to slight input. Too much input and it goes over.

So I have to treat her gently, be "lightfooted," as my coach taught me, and have faith that she will do as I ask, as long as I ask properly for what I want.

"Nice bike,
Nicki. See ya
out there."

Capt. Kirk's Motorcycle Adventures

If you're a "Star Trek" fan like me, maybe you might like to buy a piece of William Shatner's heart?

The U.S.S. Enterprise's Capt. James Tiberius Kirk -- a.k.a. William Shatner -- is selling his custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle in a couple of weeks, and YOU, my friend, could be the lucky buyer.

I never really liked Kirk -- always thought he was an arrogant ass with a penchant for taking women he had no right to. But you just can't truly hate a guy who rides a motorcycle, now can you?

The sale is part of an auction to benefit the Roddenberry Foundation, which makes grants to support children, education and the environment. The late "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's collection of personal effects and show memorabilia will go up for auction June 27 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, administered by Julien's Auctions.

As part of the sale, the 79-year-old performer and pitchman is selling his custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle, his Golden Globe nomination certificate and the plaque he received when he got a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1983.

"I handed the motorcycle over and it was a part of my heart, but that's only figuratively speaking," Shatner is quoted as saying.

Bids on the Harley start at $6,000, but Julien's Auctions estimates it will sell for $12,000-$14,000. Here's the pitch:

Boldly go where no man has gone before ...… riding Williams Shatner's 2005 Harley Davidson FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom motorcycle. The first FX Super Glide was produced by Harley-Davidson in 1971. Designed as a Cruiser, the Dyna chassis was originally introduced in 1991, fashioned after the limited edition Daytona. 2005 the saw the return of the FXDC model via the Super Glide Custom to the Dyna family. This motorcycle is reputed to be the first factory custom motorcycle offered by Harley Davidson or any other motorcycle manufacturer. The powerplant is four stroke, DOHC fuel injected, 1450cc EFI big twin cam engine with manual 5-speed transmission. She sports front and rear disc brakes, a silver frame finish, color matched fuel tank console in black pearl with LOTS of chrome and black leather saddle bags. The Super Glide is a bike that respects and keeps continuity with Harley Davidson's long history of street legal motorcycles from mild to wild. 

Join Julien's email list to stay informed of the auction start
Shatner will appear for photo ops and autographs at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (P.S.T.) that day in the Star Trek Exhibition at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas. A portion of the proceeds will Benefit William Shatner's Hollywood Charity Horse Show.

Shatner tells in this video how he first learned to ride motorcycles by stealing his downstairs neighbor's bike when he was a teenager in Montreal and pushing it up a hill in the middle of the night.

Helmet Law Protested at Safety Rally

I had forgotten about this rally in Lansing yesterday -- naturally I couldn't go because of work (which always seems to get in the way of my LIFE).

Hundreds of riders rallied at the Capitol steps in support of the stalled legislation to lift the mandatory helmet law. The rally was organized by ABATE (American Bikers Aiming Toward Education) of Michigan, based in Milford.

In my motorcycle Basic Rider Course, RiderCoach Scott Durant encouraged us to join and support ABATE, which I knew only as the organization that opposes Michigan's mandatory helmet law. Since I believe in helmets and wouldn't ride without one, I didn't think much of ABATE. But Scott set me straight, pointing out that ABATE fights for the rights of all riders. It's not that the organization is anti-helmet, it's just that ABATE supports the right of each rider to choose, to ride "free."

Scott pointed out that one of the battles ABATE successfully fought is the right to purchase and install after-market exhaust systems. Seems there was a proposal to ban them because of the noise many bikers use to announce their presence. The famous Harley-Davidson rumble is not stock -- it comes with an aftermarket retrofit. But people who need to replace their old mufflers would be forced to pay more for original factory pipes, and in fact will be hard-pressed to find them if they have vintage bikes.

Another fight ABATE took on was an overnight ban on motorcycles on certain residential streets. So if that were my street, I'd essentially have a 10 p.m. curfew. And I don't even have loud pipes on my bike. Honest!

The rally gets a lot of attention because of the helmet issue. But it was really about more than that. It was about rider safety, as well -- making the point that safety is based on education and training.

For some reason I can't find a story about yesterday's rally from The Associated Press on our news wires, but The Lansing State Journal covered the rally:

Motorcycle enthusiasts rally in support of right to choose to wear helmets 

Alisha Green/Lansing State Journal

What's a Bike Night Without a Bike?

 Barb Beaubien, co-owner of American Road Shop in Waterford
Township, chats with a patron at Bike Night in Highland.

Well, this proves I'm not the only one who doesn't like to ride in the rain. Last night I went to Bike Night at 59 West, and there was not one bike in the parking lot when I arrived.

Barb from American Road Shop said a few had showed up, but they'd left before I arrived, around 7:30. The event always starts at 6 p.m., and that was the earliest I could get there after work. My friends Mark and Denine weren't there, either -- he had a work conflict himself, and she said she'll never intentionally take her Honda Shadow out in the rain.

It was barely drizzling outside. But Barb says that's how it goes whenever it rains. Although there were plenty of trucks in the lot, and a sprinkling of Harley T-shirts in the bar, she didn't even have enough participants to do a 50/50 drawing.

"We did get to eat before 10 p.m.," she said, laughing. Her husband, Tim, was there, too. They own the Road Shop together and sponsor the Tuesday bike nights.

So Mark didn't get to enter his bike in the best custom custom paint contest. He'll get another chance July 20, Barb told me. I hope to get a picture of it to show you another time. It's decorated with a green dragon. Maybe you've seen it on the road?

Meanwhile, here's the schedule for Bike Nights at 59 West -- assuming the weather dries out.

June 15-Most Chrome

June 22-Oldest Bike

June 29-Best Ladies Bike (bet Denine will be there?)

July 6-Most Patriotic (dress up yourself, or your bike)

59 West is just west of Milford Road on M-59, 786 West Highland Road, Highland, Mich., on the north side of the road. Bikes are most welcome on Tuesdays, rain or shine.

Earning my Wings

It's all too easy to find Harley-Davidson branded ... well, I was going to say apparel, but it's EVERYTHING -- shot glasses, picture frames, baby blankets, playing cards, automobile floor mats ...

I don't even ride a Harley, and I have two pairs of Harley-brand jeans and a pair of Harley-label knit gloves. I also have a long-sleeve T-shirt with the Kawasaki name on it, which is only right because I ride with my husband on his Vulcan Nomad. He has a black turtleneck with the logo stitched on the neck, too. He looks hot in it.

But I have a Honda Shadow. So it's fitting that I should have at least one article of clothing with the Honda wing logo. There are a couple of Honda dealers near me, but showroom hours are the same as my usual work hours, so it's hard for me to get there. Instead, I looked on the web for something suitable. But for some reason, when I searched for Honda apparel, I found either Honda cars or general motorcycle stuff.

While Up North on vacation, I figured it should be easy enough to find a Honda dealer somewhere along the way. Right?

Wrong.

We passed a couple of Harley dealers. And we passed Kawasaki, Yamaha, even Triumph. But no Honda. Again we looked on the net for local dealers. Lots of dealers listed, but they turned out not to be Honda ones.

At a coffee shop in Charlevoix, I found a good old-fashioned phone book. Aha! At last I had the address of a true Honda dealership. Just up the highway from where we were. So we hit the road. Got to Zampich's Honda in Pellston, Mich., by 4:30 on Saturday afternoon and found it closed.

We'd driven 90 miles from our hotel in Traverse City just to find a locked door.
Guess I should've called first.

 

When the Rain Comes

OK, mock me if you must, but I admit it. I am a fair-weather biker.

It's one thing to be out on a ride and get caught in an unexpected shower; it's an entirely different thing to plan a trip when thunderstorms are in the forecast. That's why even though I've been looking forward to this trip to Traverse City for two months, we -- alas -- are leaving the bikes behind.

I know, I know. I'm as broken up about it as you are. But the fact is, riding in the rain isn't much fun. Not only is there less of the limited traction you have on the motorcycle, but even with a nice expensive rainsuit, it's sloppy, cold, difficult to see, and even a moderate rainfall HURTS at speed.

The good part about traveling in the car is that packing for a bike trip is a real challenge for this bag lady. In the car I can take all the junk I want -- a cooler with snacks and cold drinks for the road, music to listen to, books to read in the evening, my laptop computer and DVDs, my curling iron, a change of clothes! -- all the comforts of home you can't fit in a saddlebag.

Still ... I can't fit the bike in the car. I'm gonna miss it this weekend.

Old dogs, New tricks

While in Frankenmuth over the weekend, we saw dozens of dogs of all kinds competing in events and just hanging around in Dog Bowl 2010 at the River Place Shops.

Well, I'm kind of an old dog learning some new tricks, too. I'm sorry I didn't catch the name of this act, but this Chihuahua rides a Harley way better than I do!




And here are a couple of pooches who know how to chill on a hot afternoon. Enjoy!