Author: kthebikerswife

Day 1 – Seattle

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As per the travel brochure, Seattle was cold and rainy. IMG_0542But we didn’t care one bit cause we were here to see our Jakey. After a quick stop at the hotel to drop off our bags and add another layer, we set out to meet up with him. His apartment is functional and in a secured building, but other than that it’s nothing to write home about. He’s a young man; it’s 10 weeks; he’ll be fine.

We set out on a walk to investigate downtown and Jake’s daily routine. IMG_0560He walked us the route he takes to work every day and he showed us his favorite spots along the way.
The building he works in is about a 15-minute walk from his apartment; the side of the building he works on gives him a great view of the Space Needle and the bay. Biker and I wanted to know how much time he spends daydreaming while looking out that window. Don’t worry, Amazon, he says it’s minimal. 🙂

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Our walk took us past cultural spots of several varieties. At left is the Seattle Art Museum IMG_0564
and at right, well, as you can guess, Biker took that photo!

 

After a few stops to check out various touristy spots and to get cups of coffee and tea at Starbucks – hey, when in Rome … – we finally found a great pizza place. Cause you know, that’s what my boys want to eat at all times possible. IMG_0577Anyhow, this pizza was amazing, and the owner was a hoot. Thanks, Italian Family Pizza. If you’re ever in town, I highly recommend this place.

We ended our great night with Jake, and said goodbye. He’ll be home in eight short weeks. Love you, bud.

On our way

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After a little travel snafu this morning – left a bag in the Uber driver’s trunk and had to get him to return to the airport – Biker and I are settled comfortably in the United Lounge, enjoying a pre-cocktail cocktail.  We fly to Seattle today for a quick stop to see the oldest chickadee, who’s interning K at airportat Amazon this summer.  Tomorrow morning, we’ll take the train to Vancouver where we’ll board our ship.  We’re very excited and ready to feel that cool air and take in the beautiful scenery. Stay tuned …

The Power of Friends

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A friend of ours died a few weeks ago. He was a part of the motorcycle group we ride with regularly, but his death had nothing to do with motorcycles. His loss is felt deeply by the group.

Motorcyclists are a motley crew. While people often think of the old Hell’s Angels, out causing trouble and up to no good, the reality is that most of us are average everyday good citizens. We are engineers, accountants, IT specialists, and in the case of our dearly departed friend, a pilot for a major airline.

The experiences we share — the love of a great ride, the discovery of a fun road, the latest bike someone buys, an out-of-the-way diner that becomes the weekly ritual — these are the things that bind us. Our friendships extend  beyond the regular Sunday ride and the few annual trips that take us further from home for a long weekend. We become friends. We count on each other. We stand by each other through good times — kids graduating and getting jobs, grandchildren being born, retirements, new marriages. And we turn to each other in bad times, like the death of our friend.

A number of us attended his funeral. We mourned his loss as a group, and then we went out for dinner afterward and toasted him. He was a good man, a kind man, and a hell of a rider. He will be missed.

RIP, Jeff.

Let the Negotiations Begin

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Next year is our 25th wedding anniversary. I recently mentioned this to Biker and asked if we should plan a trip. He notified me that he has been discussing a trip next year to Alaska with his buddies. Um, I think not.

Let the negotiations begin.

Deciding where to go, when to go and who to go with is a big deal. Compromise is the key. I don’t mind going on a motorcycle-based vacation, but not the one-two week, big-get-away-from-my-job-every-year, thankyouverymuch.

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Edelweiss Best of Europe, 2010

And yet, as with many things in marriage, give and take is important. Seeing the other person’s point of view is important. And sometimes, agreeing to do the motorcycle thing is important. So, if you want a 2-week vacation to France, maybe one week in France and one week on a motorcycle trip in Europe is the way to go. We’ve done that twice. Motorcycle trips with Edelweiss are amazing. If you have a desire to do the moto thing anywhere outside of your home country, I highly recommend them. We did a week in Paris followed by the Best of Europe in 2010, and a week in Venice followed by the Best of Italy in 2014.

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Biker, in his new Valentino Rossi jacket, looking out on the Adriatic Sea, Edelweiss Best of Italy, 2014.

Both were fantastic trips that we’ll never forget. We made some great friends that we still keep in touch with. He got his thing, and I got mine. And we spent two glorious weeks together making both happen.

 

So, for 2017, I’m stumping for two weeks in New Zealand with Edelweiss. He’s still going on about Alaska and now trying to get me to “join the boys.” It’s on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Journey Begins with a Single Step

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“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu never rode a motorcycle. And yet, his famous comment rings true thousands of years later for those who are preparing to set out on a two-wheeled adventure.

As with many areas in life, planning is crucial. For a motorcyclist, it’s all about the roads. Whether your jam is tight twisties or long sweeping curves, finding just the right roads is paramount to having a great trip. Equally important is making sure these roads are well paved and maintained, and knowing how much traffic you might encounter.

Today’s technology makes it easier than ever to plan a trip. There are numerous websites where you can find great information with comments from actual riders who’ve ridden where you’re interested in going. And you can get up-to-the-minute road information and turn-by-turn help from a navigational device attached to your bike. But for the true connoisseur of planning, nothing beats consulting an old-fashioned map first.

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My husband is a fan of maps. I won’t bore you with the details, but I’ll just say we actually have a room in our house devoted to maps. This is where he keeps the hundreds of paper maps and map books he’s collected over the years. I’m even in the process of framing maps that showcase actual trips we’ve taken, in order to hang them in this room. The price one pays for a new house. But I digress.

Paper maps definitely have their advantages. You get a really large-scale view of the area where you’re going to ride. The elevation differences are easier to see, as are national parks or other points of interest. You can easily segment your trip if reaching a certain destination on a certain day is important.

I like to then look online for suggestions from riders in the areas I’m interested in. Here are some great sites:

iPhone pics 110Once you have your broad view on paper and your specific roads via the web, you can build your trip on a navigation tool like a Garmin or TomTom. Of course, you’ll still have those times you have to stop for the all-important map consultation.

My husband and his buddies are famous for this. Ahem.

In closing, I also must say that with all this planning, there’s also something freeing about just choosing to take a certain road, spur of the moment, and see where it leads you. A beautiful lake, a peaceful forest, a weird sign on a dead end road that’s just enough scary to make it interesting … these are memories to be built and will definitely be part of your trip story.

So plan your trip, but leave open the possibility that the uncharted road is worth 30 minutes.

Oh, and hang your trip maps. After all, the journey of a thousand miles … well, you get it.

 

Introduction

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I have things to say. Experiences to share. Frustrations that need to be aired.

I am a biker’s wife.

Sometimes I ride along for a day, a week, two weeks. Often I stay at home and manage our lives, our family, and my time alone. I’ve watched bikes being purchased, I’ve sat in hospital rooms with chewed nails, I’ve looked to the sky on a beautiful day and thought, “This right here? This is why I ride.”

I started this journey with my husband 10 years ago. I had never been on the back of a motorcycle before, so at nearly 40 years old, I was a bit nervous. For both of us. But he had been riding off and on his whole life and has such a passion for it. So I had a choice to make — cross my arms and let the wedge slide between us … or hop on.

A decade later, I’ve been on multiple rides. I even learned to ride myself, and for a while had my own Can Am. Great freedom, but I quickly realized that I’m more of a passenger. I like to look around. I like to zone out while staring at the sky and the tops of trees. I like being a second set of eyes when it’s twilight and the deer are out, or when we’re in heavy traffic, or when we’re looking for a place to eat, sleep or take a break. In my professional life, I’m a take-charge kind of woman. As a mom, a wife, a daughter and a sister, I get shit done. But on the back of a motorcycle, I like the relaxation of being the passenger.

So, here I am, 10 years later. My husband is on a long weekend ride with his buddies. I’m at home alone. I have things to say. Let’s go.