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Back to Basics

/ kthebikerswife / 1 Comment

I’ve been struggling to get back into the weekly blogging habit since returning from our trip to Alaska. I really enjoyed writing about that trip, and the reality is that my background is factual writing, so chronicling our daily exploits came easily. But magicking a topic out of thin air every week has proven to be a challenge. Biker encouraged me to remember why I started this … to help other women who spend time on the back of a motorcycle. As usual, he’s right. But shhh … don’t tell him I said so.

So my topic this week is one that’s been weighing on me for a long while. Literally. It’s about how NOT to gain weight while on a motorcycle outing.

If you spend any time on the back of a motorcycle, or on any long driving trip for that matter, you have faced the choices. And they aren’t pretty.  While many fast-food and sit-down restaurants offer healthier options these days, they usually aren’t that appetizing. And convenience store snacks are the worst.

So, here are my suggestions for keeping up with that great work you’ve been doing on being good with your food intake, while still finding flavorful options you can enjoy while the boys are eating hamburgers, candy bars and pie.

I’ll start with what seems like the most difficult – convenience stores. A mecca to all that is … well, convenient – these places are brightly-lit, candy-colored-lights diet blackholes. The key here is finding something as natural as possible or with as few ingredients as possible. I’m not a fan of beef jerky, but it’s one of the best options if you like it. Natural, no sugar added nuts are also a good choice, as are some of the higher-protein bars. And if you get really lucky, some of these stores have fruit.

Now let’s talk fast food. Again, even though the tried-and-true favorites like Arby’s, Chick Fil A and Subway have long offered “healthy” options in sad side salads that consisted mostly of wilted iceberg lettuce and a couple of mealy tomatoes, today’s outlets truly do offer some real options. Grilled chicken sandwiches are a solid go-to, even better if you pass on the mayo and take off one bun. Most places also now offer side options like fruit, which is obviously a healthier choice than fries.

Finally, cafes and other sit-down restaurants. These might actually be the hardest, because of the yummy choices. One of the best things about riding motorcycles is finding the out-of-the-way mom-and-pop cafes that make the best food and are super welcoming to a group. We certainly have our favorites – like the Mexican place in the middle of nowhere Texas that makes one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. But the yummy factor often equals diet disaster. Again, the best choices here seem to be grilled chicken and, if you can get it, grilled or steam vegetables. Even veggies cooked in butter are better than fries. Of course, the dessert case in these places is also usually pretty lethal, and most of the time you should say no, but it’s also important to have a little fun in life, so if the pie or cake looks amazing, it’s probably worth it. 🙂

Now, you can always pack your own snacks and even a lunch. I have taken snacks occasionally but I’m not the type to bother packing a lunch. I admire those who have that discipline. If you have the space in a side bag or trunk, a small pack of snacks can be very helpful and keep you low in calorie intake or Weight Watchers points.

So, in closing, making good choices can be done. But I also believe balance in life is important and sometimes it’s important to enjoy tasty, bad-for-you food. When the freedom of the open road  calls, that same freedom is there for food – choices abound, no restraints, blaze your own path.

 

Planning is Hard, Ya’ll

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We loved Alaska. But sometimes it was a bit like that line from the Gilligan’s Island song – “no phone, no lights, no motorcar, not a single luxury.”

The isolation, the lack of routine roadside services, the lack of wifi, and what appeared to us as pretty constantly wet roads has made us reconsider a motorcycle adventure there for next summer.  I hear you … that’s why people venture to Alaska. It’s one of our last unspoiled places.  But going there in a car with supplies at hand or with a group is an entirely different situation than venturing there alone. On a motorcycle.

We’ll continue to discuss (ahem, Biker), but for now, a few words about considerations when planning a trip. A great trip meets the following criteria:

  • It’s someplace you want to go. Enough said.
  • You can get there, enjoy it and get back in whatever timeline you have. For those of us still in the work world, that typically means it can fit within a one- to two-week vacation window. For those who are retired, the options open up.
  • It needs to be the right time of the year for that locale.  The weather must be good and ideally it won’t be packed with tourists. There are high seasons and low seasons in nearly every popular spot; these impact pricing and crowds. People with kids are usually forced to travel during high season because of school schedules. Those of us whose kids are older can usually find that sweet spot at the turnover from low to high season and when the weather is getting nice at that destination. These “shoulders” can make all the difference in your experience and your cost.
  • It needs to meet the needs of those traveling with you. Whomever you’re traveling with should have a say. We used to occasionally do a full-on vote in our family; we would discuss a wide range of options and narrow it down, then everyone would cast a written ballot. It didn’t always work (two for skiing, two for DisneyWorld; tiebreaker? Mom!). But it was fun to discuss and debate, and the boys felt like they had a vote. They’re probably reading this now and saying, “I KNEW it was rigged!”
  • It needs to be able to meet your basic needs. I’m not a camping girl. I gave it a good go when our boys were little and in Cub and Boy Scouts. BUT …  I don’t have to do that anymore, so I won’t.  I have stayed in some fine, fine hotels in my business days, but I can also go without all the bells and whistles. However, I do require a roof over my head, some sort of bed structure and a bathroom. And it needs to be relatively clean. These are non-negotiable. Some people can camp, and power to them. Whatever your non-negotiables, stick with them when traveling.
  • It has to be someplace safe. Today’s world seems to be getting pretty scary. These last few weeks, there’s a terror-related incident every few days. And beyond that, basic conditions like cleanliness of water, illnesses like Zika, and when you’re a motorcyclist, good road conditions – they’re all a must.
  • It needs to fit your budget. This is stated last, but is certainly not last on anyone’s list. Travel can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. Look for travel deals, swap a home with someone, think about what’s really important in your trip and put your money there but save on other items.

As for how this impacts our trip next year, we’ll see. With what I saw in Alaska – isolated stretches of road for miles, wet roads, animals wandering close to the roads, and the worst phone service I’ve ever experienced – I’m not exactly comfortable going there on a motorcycle with just me and Biker. And I’m certainly not comfortable with him going alone. Yes, he’s a big boy and should be able to fulfill his dream. Just maybe when a few others want to join.

 

 

 

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.