January 9, 2011

Last night we had the pleasure of spending the evening with friends celebarating Lucille Wilders 50th Birthday. Lucille is the first of many of my friends to reach that milestone this year. I have been concerned about turning 50 but after seeing Lucille do it with such grace, my fears have been calmed.

So waking this morning and realizing you are only as old as the things you accessorize with, I decided to just stay in my jammies. Standing in the living room this was the view at about 11am today.

Seeing the beautiful day and knowing I am only as old as Iaccessorize - I accessorized with leather and my Honda!

Mike and I headed out at about 12:00. We had a few things to drop off for friends so that was the ride. Into South Burnaby from Coquitlam. We didn't see another bike. Is it really that cold?

While Mike was doing the deliveries I sat in the sun and warmed up. Our bikes look great in the sun.

Mike doesnt look to bad either :-)


We then headed back toward home. Now the roads were full of bikes, all enjoying the great winter weather. What an awesome day.

We stopped for coffee just before getting home. Great coffee and a nice sit in the sun. Unfortunately the sun went very low while we were sipping coffee and that last leg to home was extremly cold!

Stats - 44.5 Km; 3.5 hours; Temp 3

First Ride of 2011

Jan 3, 2011
It is a beautiful winter day. There is week old snow on the ground, just a dusting and only on the grassy areas. The morning starts with very frosty roads but as the sun rises the frost disappears and the roads clear.
Mike heads out at 11:30 to a noon meeting on his bike. I take time dressing very warmly - leggings, and jeans. Tank top and sweatshirt. Leather jacket and winter gloves.

My bike seems to protest starting in the winter weather but once started sounds good.

Backing down our steep driveway and getting straight on the road at the bottom has been my challenge. There is evidence of such in the minor scratches on the side of the bike :-(

So today with frost and an audience of about 8 street workers I mount up and plan for a perfect start! Slowly down the driveway, stop at the bottom to let a car pass, straight back across the road then a sweeping turn to the left and I am off! Plan worked!

The main roads are clear and dry and there is not a lot of traffic.

While waiting for Mike at Shaunessy and Lougheed, I confirm a full tank of gas and reset my
trip odometer 1 to 0 for 2011.

We head out toward Pitt Meadows, Mike in the lead as always. We ride some back roads south of the Lougheed. As we near Harris Road my legs are chilly and Mike`s finger tips are freezing! So we head north on Harris to Old Dewdney the to the Lougheed and home.

It was a short ride - 30Km, but with the beautiful sunshine a quiet roads it was a great ride.

looking forward to more winter rides :-)

My Ride Blog

Hi all,

I have decided that this year I will blog about our rides. Just a way to keep track of the adventures we hope to have.

Some background, in the fall of 2009 I bought a brand new 2008 Honda Shadow. I bought it much the same way I bought my first car, no licence!

Mike and I had decided to take lessons in early 2010. I went into the lessons thinking I would be able to do it. Half way thru I was sure I couldn't! I must here give kudos to all the instructors and staff at Pacific Riding School. They stuck with me and in the end I just needed to relax. I passed my motorcycle test with no demerits at all.

The switch from the schools little 250`s to my 750 was...... interesting and a story for another day.

Just before we finished classes Mike bought a Harley Road King. Big Bike! I dropped it the first day in the carport - oops! It is much to big a bike for me.

We spent the summer riding when we could and getting more and more comfortable. The farthest we have ridden is to Mission. We have stayed in the lower mainland, but hope to branch out this summer.
By the end of the summer I was riding to work - 30Km into the downtown core. The ride in was hard work with traffic but the ride home was always fun.

We did the Toy Run with a bunch of friends - That was awesome and a little intimidating



During 2010 I dropped my bike more than I wish to admit to and stalled more often than not but those event became further apart with more miles.

I ended the year with 2500km. Not a ton of miles but a good chunk. Mike ended the year with twice that.

As we move into 2011 - We look forward to more riding and more adventures.