lovin it on 2 wheels

This blog is moving...

2012-02-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hey friends!!

If anybody out there is still subscribed to this lovin' it on 2 wheels blog, I wanted to let you know I started a new blog about my life on the road, which started with my motorcycle tour in 2011.

I'm calling it:

Ramona here and there

You can find it at http://ramonahereandthere.blogspot.com.

On the Ramona here and there blog, I'll be writing about a greater variety of life experiences and travels, within the "SCOPE" of "here and there." With or without a motorcycle, I'm still Ramona...

And I'll be seeing you here and there... as I like to say on the new blog.

The content from lovin' it on 2 wheels has already been imported into the new blog, and itinerary pages for 2012 and 2013 are up, so if you are interested in my non-motorcycle travels, be sure to check it out!

Thank you for joining me on my journey!

- Ramona - Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
-Mark Twain

B-B-Bigger Ch-Changes

2011-07-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

Bye Bye, Belle!

Ch-Ch-Changes

A few weeks ago, I wrote about some "big" changes I made to my itinerary in Ch-Ch-Changes. In a nutshell, I decided to skip the National Parks in Utah and Wyoming in favor of a cruise to Alaska.

Now I'm making even bigger changes...

Sadly, I have said "Goodbye" to my 2-wheeled companion for the time being, and sold my motorcycle here in Santa Rosa!

I bought an old 2003 Subaru Forester for the next leg of my journey!

This is a huge departure from what I had planned... I am on a MOTORCYCLE TOUR for cryin' out load!!

BUT WHY??

WHY did I sell my motorcycle, and take up with a 4-wheeler?

It has to do with my medical insurance. As of July 1, I cannot get adequate insurance for medical coverage in a motorcycle accident. Then, only a few days later, I actually had a motorcycle accident, illustrating for me that I should not be riding at all without adequate medical coverage.

Thankfully, I was not injured in this accident, and did not need it. But I think it unwise to take that kind of risk. So, I have given up my bike for a while, until I can get my insurance situation straightened out.

Part of my commitment to myself during this wandering phase of life is not to collect possessions that I do not need or cannot use. I decided that buying a car meant selling my bike.

So that's what I did.

As much as I loved riding this bike, it was the right decision for me for now.

On to Seattle...

I have fulfilled all my responsibilities connected to my July 11 accident: I signed over the insurance check to the repair shop, and I turned in my rental car.

Now I'm making final preparations for the next leg of my 2011 Tour which will take me to Seattle (in my car), Alaska (on a cruise), and then south to Pasadena (also in my car).

Since I am traveling by car now, these preparations mostly involve buying things I couldn't carry with me on my bike, and repacking my luggage to fit my new cargo space. It has been fun buying a few extra clothes and kitchen stuff.

I am also working on setting up a mobile office. An office in a suitcase - what a concept.

Here is the new set of wheels:

I think I'm going to name her SILVER STAR.

STAR for short.

I'm sure this won't be the last vehicular change I make!

Stay tuned...

I leave for Seattle on Friday!!

lovin' it on ~~two~~ wheels
ramona denton

Point Reyes Lighthouse

2011-07-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Point Reyes Lighthouse. I finally made it!

This is where I was headed when I had a little accident the other day...

I first tried to go to Point Reyes Lighthouse in July 2010. I was on a long weekend ride on my Honda Shadow, in San Francisco for a Susan Enan concert. I got most of the way to the lighthouse when I ran out of time, and had to turn back!

I tried again this week, on Monday, but a getting the side case knocked off my bike in a collision prevented me from making it to the lighthouse.

Today, I finally made it all the way! In my rental car!

It is about a half-mile walk to the visitor center from the parking lot. (There are a few closer parking spaces for the handicapped.)

Around the corner from the visitor center, there is a staircase of 308 steps, equivalent to a 30-story descent, to get down to the lighthouse!

I'm a tourist, right? Gotta get a shot of myself here...

There are more photos of my trip to the lighthouse in my Facebook photo album.

Check out my recent Facebook photo albums of my other adventures in the Santa Rosa area:
From Forestville to Bodega Bay
Petrified Forest (near Calistoga, CA)
California Wine Country Hot Air Balloon Ride
Russian River Adventure
Safari West (African Wildlife Safari in California)
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Shasta Dam, Lake, Mountain

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

The best kind of accident

2011-07-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

My side case was knocked off today in a little fender bender! A lady pulling away from the curb hit my side case as I passed by.

There is a great line in an episode of the original "Bionic Woman" TV show, where Jaime goes to a south american country in a helicopter for a rescue operation. When the helicopter crashes enroute, the pilot (played by Andy Griffith) walks around the damaged helicopter, scratches his head, and says:

"Not great, Summers! Not great. But any landing you can walk away from is a good one!"

That sort of sums up how I feel about my accident.

Both of us involved walked away uninjured! That's the first and most important thing.

Second, my motorcycle was not too damaged to drive. The other driver called a tow truck, but the tow truck driver popped her bumper back on, and she ended up driving her up the street to a local garage.

The CHP (Motorcycle) Officer said it was the best kind of accident to have. No injuries. Minimal property damage.

I have to agree!

It was all kind of surreal...

I was making a left turn from the Coast Highway into downtown Point Reyes Station. And suddenly I saw something white in my peripheral vision, approaching my right side case...

And I was thinking "That bumper is too close." and "It looks like it's going to hit me."

Then I felt the jolt, and it was more like "Oh no. I'm hit. I'm hit."

"But I'm still up..."

"Well, I guess I don't have to panic and fall down..."

By that time, I had parked my bike, dismounted, and was walking toward the other driver, telling her I was OK.

When I turned around, I saw something like this:

I think she was terrified when she saw she hit a motorcycle. Tons of MC's stopped momentarily as they rounded the corner to ask if I was OK.

The sheriff who responded complimented me for not dropping my bike when I was hit!! I'm sure that prevented additional damage to my bike.

Update: my motorcycle repairs cost $3,000+. Paid for by the other driver's insurance.

Not only was I uninjured, but I got away without a scratch or a bruise!!! I did have to jimmy-rig my broken side case on with bungy cords.

If you want to see the close up shots of the damage, you can view them on my Facebook photo album.

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Ch-Ch-Changes

2011-06-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

On the way to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico (temp 107F).

Maybe it's the heat in the desert.

Maybe it's the wind.

Maybe it's road fatigue.

Or maybe it's just time for a change...

In front of Marjerie Glacier, Glacier Bay, Alaska

I've toured about ten thousand miles so far.
And I have reservations for another 90 days on the road... or at least I did until a few minutes ago!

I just cancelled them all!

My heart has been pushing forward, thinking about what changes I'd make if I did "another" long motorcycle tour like this. My brain framed these thoughts in plans for "next year."

You know, next year, I think I'm going to...

But I've decided not to wait until next year.

My heart keeps bringing me back to Alaska. And I have been thinking of spending a year in Alaska. I'd love to experience all four seasons there.

Especially WINTER in Alaska... The short days. The long nights. The cold. The community of people who live through this experience together year in and year out...

I fell in love with Ketchikan last year when I visited there on a cruise, so I want to go back there, and see what it feels like to me now. So, I've booked a 14-day Alaska Explorer cruise in August to check it out!

Alaska Explorer Cruise
Holland America Amsterdam
August 5-19

Aug 5  -  Seattle, WA
Aug 6  -  cruising Inside Passage
Aug 7  -  Ketchikan, AK
Aug 8  -  cruising Tracy Arm
Aug 9  -  Juneau, AK
Aug 10  -  Icy Strait Point, AK
Aug 11  -  at sea
Aug 12  -  Anchorage, AK
Aug 13  -  Homer, AK
Aug 14  -  Kodiak, AK
Aug 15  -  cruising Hubbard Glacier
Aug 16  -  Sitka, AK
Aug 17  -  at sea
Aug 18  -  Victoria, British Columbia
Aug 19  -  Seattle, WA
cruise itinerary

After a short rest in Santa Rosa (June 27 - July 7), I'm going to start wandering northward towards Seattle for this cruise.

My apologies to the people I was still going to visit this summer, who are in locations I just cancelled! I'll miss you! I really will.

One of the main points of this trip is to follow my heart. So I need to keep it flexible. I hope you understand.

And so the adventure continues...

In Ketchikan, with a cardboard cutout of a famous Alaskan...

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Carlsbad Caverns

2011-06-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

I went to Carlsbad Caverns National Park today.

Wow!! Such a beautiful place.

I don't have all that much to say about it, because I don't know anything interesting to tell you about caves or caverns and the many different types of formations within them.

It took a lot longer to get there from Roswell than I expected. Unless I misread the clock or something, it took me almost three hours. It is only 103 miles, but about the last 50 miles are under construction and limited to 45 MPH.

The temperature in Southeastern New Mexico today was around 103-107F, so I was delighted to find the caverns in the 50-60's temperature range. What a relief!

I was pretty tired after my cave explorations, and was really starting to wilt in the hot, hot heat on my way back to Roswell. Driving back took only about two hours, plus the time it took to stop for iced coffee at McDonalds. After cooling off in the A/C cooled restaurant and finishing my iced coffee, I SO did not want to go back into the heat!

But, wouldn't you know it, my ride back to Roswell from there was the best ride I've had since Pensacola! In spite of the heat, I was comfortable, sporty, singing my song and laughing at the wind!

What a fantastic day it was!

OK. That's all. Here are the pictures already...

If you want to see a few more photos, check out my Facebook Photo Album. This is a public link, and does not require FB membership.

p.s. To all the folks out there who wear glasses...
My glasses fogged up something terrible while I was in the caverns. If you are going to the caverns, apply a defogging treatment to your glasses before you go in!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

My Days in Dallas

2011-06-05T16:00:00.002-07:00

I really didn't DO that much during my few days in Dallas.

At least not the "FUN" touristy stuff...

I met up with a few different friends in the Dallas area, and managed to take exactly ZERO pictures of my meetings with them... crazy, huh!

Dallas Highlights

My first task in Dallas was to go to the BMW Motorcycle Dealer and get my 6K service. I can hardly believe Belle and I have gone 6,000 MILES! In Shreveport, I noticed my odometer was all 6's, so I had to pull over and take this picture...

One touristy thing I did do in Dallas was to visit the Stockyards in Fort Worth.

The Stockyards, while not as flashy as Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park, is more "Texas" and more unique.

I walked around for a couple of hours and then enjoyed this fantastic Ribeye Steak Dinner at Cattlemen's.

I also bought a keepsake for myself. The first one so far on this trip. A nice bolo tie.

I have always liked bolo ties! I think this one will dress up my plain touring clothes for those special occasions when I want to add a little bling! I'm not typically a very BLING-Y person, but I thought a bolo tie would be a nice addition to my traveling wardrobe.

NOTES ON THE JOURNEY

If you read my post about The Whys and Wherefores of my Motorcycle Tour, you know that I've just started a new season in my life.

I'm living on the road, on my motorcycle, traveling from place to place to see the United States and maybe come to a new understanding of who I am, what life is about and how I fit in to it all.

And, for the most part, I could not tell you how I'm doing from day to day.

Today is one of the days I can tell you...

Sort of.

* * *

What I really enjoyed most in Dallas were the people I spent time with.

It was so good to spend some time with friends. And talk. And laugh. And talk. If there's one thing I miss about normal life, staying in one place (where my friends are), it's this kind of fellowship. Conversation. Connecting with people in person and sharing in the joy, laughter, concern and empathy of whatever we're going through. Just sharing our lives.

I felt deeply renewed by these encounters!

I had "fun" in Orlando - and New Orleans, for that matter - but both places left me feeling bored and empty and like "there has to be more."

One thing about being in either of these places: there is so much to do, that you don't have to spend much time alone with your thoughts, unless you really WANT to. And you don't have to spend much time talking to real people about real life. You just move from one line to the next line and stand in line to experience the next thrill.

By the time I was headed to New Orleans, I was already tired of being A TOURIST. And when I arrived, I had a problem parking and getting checked in, and I got mad. Really mad. I was so flaming angry that I yelled at a hotel employee in the hallway.

She asked me how my stay was going... so I told her! But I should not have lost my temper like I did. I was in tears by the end of my tirade. And I sulked in my room until dinner time.

I was fairly cranky the whole time I was in New Orleans, and I was pretty glad to get out of there after staying 4 nights in a hotel I hated. As I rode away I began thinking about why I was in such a snit.

Certainly, the sugar and starch I ate played its role in giving me a bad attitude (and making me feel like a hungover slug!). But I actually got angry and put on my cranky hat BEFORE I'd had any New Orleans indulgences. So, what's up with that?

As I continued driving through Louisiana toward Dallas, I started to wonder what in the world I'm doing on this road trip.

What am I really hoping to find?

Am I really expecting any answers or insights that I could not find living in one place?

I wanted to write and I'm not writing. I wanted to ponder life and I'm not pondering. I'm just going through the motions. It is really taking A LONG TIME to get where I want to be (mentally, I mean)...

Then I got to Dallas, and met up with some people I really care about. And we talked. And we shared food together. And our lives intersected in a meaningful way.

My friends, the happenings of their lives, their abundances and shortages, their concerns... still linger in my heart.

And life seems to be right side up again.

The day I left Dallas, I posted this status in Facebook:

TODAY, only today, have I truly started to feel like I'm on a real adventure... I woke up this morning excited and expectant, believing more deeply than ever that I'm on the right path, and that my journey is worth everything it cost me to get here.

One final thought
My sister, best friend, and nearly constant companion, died 197 days ago. That's six and a half months. During those six months, I have found it difficult to get too excited about anything, because everything pales in the shadow of the huge hole in my heart.

If you have lost a loved one, you know...

Dinner will be late.
OK.

I ruined your favorite sweater.
Whatever.

The water heater broke.
No big deal.

The basement is flooding.
It can be fixed.

The car was totalled.
It can be replaced.

I don't care.

Nothing touches the pain...

I have been numb for six months. Emotionally paralyzed.

In New Orleans, I got mad about something. Something fairly minor. Something that time and money could easily fix.

In Dallas I felt deep empathy for another human being. And the space in my heart in which I carry love and friendship started to grow again.

So, that's how I'm doing. My frozen, broken, paralyzed heart is starting to defrost, mend and grow.

Big THANK YOUs to my friends in the Dallas area: Pete, Cher, Robert, Sonia, Donnie and Becky! Your friendship has been a healing balm to me.

How is my journey is going?
In the right direction...

I couldn't resist posting another picture of my bike...

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Next Stop N'awlins

2011-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS is known for Music, Art, Cuisine, Booze, Candy, Pirates and the Cultural Heritage of the Cajun and Creole peoples. And, since 2005, New Orleans is known for the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina when the levies and floodgates burst.

Their music is JAZZ. Their cuisine is SEAFOOD. Their booze is BOURBON. And RUM. Add together Pirates and the sugar trade... and you get RUM! Their candy is Pralines. Sugar again.

Their climate is hot and humid. Their land is mostly swamps and wetlands. What land they have is below sea level. Usually protected from floods by a series of levies and flood gates surrounding the Mississippi River and other waterways.

I was there for three days. I took a few bus/boat tours, but, when not on tour, mostly stuck to walking around the French Quarter. And to and from my hotel a few blocks away.

PARKING, by the way, is truly a nightmare. And driving isn't much better.

If you are going to New Orleans, I recommend getting a hotel room in the exact area you want to visit and then paying the appalling price for valet parking charged by most hotels... and then let the valets park your car and you walk everywhere you go.

Since valets do not park motorcycles, none that I've met do anyway, I had to park my bike several blocks away from my hotel, and walk back and forth. This convenient service cost me $28 a day. (I don't recommend my hotel, by the way: The St. Christopher Inn. This is a BEST WESTERN PLUS, but I found the service lacking there.)

Most of the streets in the French Quarter are ONE WAY, and subject to various traffic jams. My bike almost overheated just trying to get to my hotel on the afternoon I arrived. As I, too, almost overheated, sitting in traffic jams in a temp in the high 90's and over 90% humidity.

Oh the smell!
Once I got parked and started walking around the French Quarter, I noticed the horrible smell of stale beer and urine.

The shop keepers hose off their sidewalks every morning, adding steam to that smell. Nauseating.

Getting past the smell, or moving on anyway...
Walking around the French Quarter has a San Francisco feel to it:

The night life of a city like New Orleans, or at least the French Quarter, is totally wasted on me. As much as I've always been a night-owl person more than an early riser, I have never stayed out late in jazz clubs, drinking (and apparently peeing) in the street until almost dawn.

So, that's probably enough about what I didn't like...

How about something I did enjoy?

THE FOOD

New Orleans is home to many celebrity chefs and fine dining establishments. I visited a few of these. I confess that New Orleans cuisine is pretty much wasted on me too, because I don't like seafood and I don't drink much alcohol.

But I did eat some great food in New Orleans. And I enjoyed it immensely!

I ate dinner in a nice restaurant each night, tried local street food for lunch and usually ate dinner leftovers for breakfast.

I sampled two very famous local street foods.

The first "must do" local specialty is the coffee and beignets (French donuts) at Cafe Du Monde. They have a special blend of coffee and chicory, and are famous for their Cafe Au Lait, which they serve hot, cold (iced) and frozen (blended). I had mine iced (and decaffed).

Note to future visitors of New Orleans:
You can skip the beignets! You really can.

Yes, it's the New Orleans THING to do... OK, fine. But they are just plain donuts. They are hot and fresh, and if you eat this kind of food, go ahead and go for it if you must. But, if you have any itty bitty reason for not eating them...

DON'T BOTHER.

And don't let anybody give you any grief for it! I ate way too much sugar and starch when I was in New Orleans, and these beignets gave me a stomach ache. They were so not worth it.

The other New Orleans "original" I had to try was THE MUFFULETTA.
This Italian cold cut sandwich was born at the Central Grocery Company in the French Quarter. And has since become the signature sandwich of New Orleans.

As a low-carber, I think the Muffuletta is one of the best breadless sandwiches you can make. With these spicy Italian meats, you get a great-tasting "sandwich" with all the flavor, and even chewy-ness you like, but without eating the carbs or the gluten in the bread. I did taste the Sicilian bread served on this one, which was great, but then I scraped off the delicious olive spread, off the bread and onto the meat, and enjoyed it even more without the bread!

I had outstanding steak dinners at Bon Ton Cafe, Besh Steak and Morton's. All of these had fantastic ribeye steaks, cooked to a perfect medium rare! (But you don't need to see a picture of that, do you?)

The non-steak highlights of these meals were:

- The Rum Ramsey cocktail and the creamed Cauliflower (Mmmm. Cheesy!) at Bon Ton

- The bread pudding at Besh

- The "center cut" (wedge) salad at Morton's. Not especially gourmet, but Morton's has GREAT bleu cheese dressing, and I just really enjoyed it!

My guess is rum, sweet and sour mix and just a splash of butterscotch schnapps(?). Certainly it can't be that simple, though...

This is BESH's Brioche Bread Pudding. It is topped with hot toffee sauce, candied pecans, and Irish Whiskey ice cream. A brilliant version of this very common New Orleans dessert. The Irish Whiskey ice cream is so much more delicate in flavor than the whiskey sauce that usually tops this dish.

The other meal/restaurant that absolutely must be mentioned is Brennan's, where Bananas Foster was born!

I had a three course breakfast there consisting of Strawberries and Cream, Eggs Hussarde (another Brennan's original) and Bananas Foster.

Click PLAY to see the FLAMING Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster. Worth every bite, but just once!

Three days isn't enough to do everything.

I ate some really great food. I took a few tours, saw the city and some Katrina damage and rebuilding. I barely scratched the surface of the many things you can do in the town they call THE BIG EASY.

More pictures of New Orleans are posted in my Facebook photo album.

Here's one last image for you to ponder...

Joan of Arc
Maid of Orleans
1412-1431
A gift from the people of France to the citizens of New Orleans.

Joan of Arc is one of my personal heroes...
She is the only person, of either sex, to hold supreme command of the military forces of a nation at the age of seventeen. In that office, she led France to multiple military victories, having never held a rank or position lower than General, and having never a single day's military training. (paraphrased from The Recollections of Joan of Arc, by Mark Twain)

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
New Orleans
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Back Through the Florida Panhandle

2011-05-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

At the National Naval Aviation Museum
Pensacola, Florida

Panama City Beach
I spent a couple of days in Panama City Beach, planning to relax and "do nothing." I ended up going on a sunset cruise and a jet ski tour, where we swam with dolphins and went snorkeling on a small island.

The cruise was fun and relaxing. And the captain let me drive the boat for about 5 minutes.

Just before I got on the boat.

Look Ma, I'm drivin' the boat!

The real captain kicks back and drives the boat with his feet.

Sunset

Swimming with dolphins was very cool in its way, but I didn't get any closer than a few feet away. So, the dolphins probably rock, but I don't...

Snorkeling was a bust, because the water was only 2 feet deep, and there was nothing there but white sand. I thought the point of snorkeling was to see the cool stuff like in tide pools when they're under water.

Pensacola
It was only a day or two before I arrived in Pensacola that I found out there was a cool Naval Aviation Museum at the Naval Base that is the home of the Blue Angels. So, I made it a point to go.

A Blue Angel Plane

A cool little 2-seater helicopter

What Bikes Dream About

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
Orlando Helicopter Ride
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Harry Potter Rocks!

2011-05-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

My first glimpse of Hogwarts

I'll say it again...

HARRY POTTER ROCKS!

My first day in Orlando, I went to Universal's Islands of Adventure Themepark, to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Wow! Fantasic fun!

The first "Harry Potter" thing you see is the Hogwart's Express in Hogsmeade Station.

Butterbeer, Anyone?

You don't have to walk far into the wizarding world before you come to the first Butterbeer stand. It's cream soda, but they add a foamy head on top of the soda, which is butterscotch flavored. I would have loved this concoction as a sugar-and-soda-addicted teenager!!

At this point in my sugar-controlled life, it tasted too sweet to me. But I have to admit that Universal did a really great job of creating a beverage that just about everybody who walks through is going to have to BUY ONE.

The shops and rides were great fun for me, huge Harry Potter fan that I am!!

Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey was just awesome!!
It is an amazing mix of real motion, physical objects and filmed action. State of the art fun. This is the ride at the castle.

The dragon tri-wizard ride is a WILD roller coaster.
In fact it is two roller coasters in the guise of "duelling dragons." Apparently it is not a new ride. My friend, Nick, told me that the ride predates the Harry Potter attraction, but they redecorated it to fit in with the HP decor. I would have REALLY LOVED THIS when I was 17. It was great, but as I get older I don't prefer quite so much head-baning g-force to get my thrills!!! Breathless! Wow!

Almost two weeks in Orlando, and I netted the following amusements:

-Universal's Islands of Adventure
-Universal Studios Orlando
-Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
-Epcot Center
-Disney's Animal Kingdom
-Disney's Hollywood Studios
-Kennedy Space Center
-Swamp Tour/Airboat Ride
-Helicopter Sightseeing flight over Orlando
-A fabulous dinner with some friends from the low-carb cruise

The Space Shuttle Endeavor launched while I was in Orlando
I saw it launch on TV with the rest of you, AND I also saw a few seconds of it LIVE from my hotel room balcony. It was a tiny fireball, rising on the horizon. I was about 50 miles away.

I had a lot of fun in Orlando!
It is a great tourist/vacation destination. But, as the saying goes, I wouldn't want to live there. I don't really like the weather in Florida. The heat. The humidity. If you've been there, you know. If you haven't the reality defies explanation.

I ended up staying in Orlando an extra day so I could go to Kennedy Space Center. The next day, I drove right past Gainesville, and rode all the way to Tallahassee.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS...

I usually don't mind PEOPLE in my touristy snap shots, like this one.
But, what I don't really like is a bunch of goons
all standing there taking the same picture I'm trying to take...
It just looks silly.

As I drove across alligator alley, this was the picture in my head...
T-Rex coming out of the Everglades to chomp down an alligator!
And oh, LOOK, a human on a motorcycle...
YUMMERS!

Universal Studios

The Icon of Epcot Center...
A Golf Ball?? No!
It's Spaceship Earth! Whatever that is...

Goofing around at Epcot...

More goofing around at Epcot...

Still goofing around at Epcot...

Sleeping Beauty's Castle at the Magic Kingdom

The token souvenir picture...

The token silly posed picture... with the silly plastic character.

The Liberty Bell
Liberty Square, The Magic Kingdom.

My dad was a bell collector, and this was his favorite bell. Not this copy, I mean the original Liberty Bell

The iconic Disney Magician's hat is the symbol for Hollywood Studios.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

At Downtown Disney...

I walked into a helicopter ride place, looking for another single rider who might join me on a ride, and I found Roger!

My first helicopter ride. Ready for takeoff.

On my Airboat Swamp Tour.
Boy Howdy! Check out how intense that lady is...

Looking for alligators is a little like whale watching.
You come home with pictures that look like a lot of nothing and little bit of "so what." Just a few little lumps in water. Very unimpressive.

But look at these strange creatures. Who would have expected to see these critters on a Swamp Tour? Cows in Florida. Who knew?

Love Bugs on the Windshield of my tour bus, by the time we got to Kennedy Space Center.

A Saturn Five Rocket

The Space Shuttle Explorer. I think it is the real thing...

Launch Pad 39B, where the Endeavor Launched only a few days before I was here.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
Orlando Helicopter Ride
Carried Away with Hats
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Overwhelmed in Orlando...

2011-05-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Carnival Freedom, my home away from home May 1-7, 2011
from Mystic Moutain, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

OK I'm back from my cruise, and I've arrived safely in Orlando, the most popular vacation destination in America!

I picked up some theme park brochures on my way up from Fort Lauderdale, and I've got to say

IT IS JUST OVERWHELMING

The number of things you can do in Orlando!

I came with a pretty good list of stuff I wanted to do here:
Universal Orlando/Harry Potter World
Disney World/Epcot Center
Sea World

Now I want to add:
Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral
Day Trip to Daytona Beach
Swamp Tour of some kind (airboat, helicopter, ???)

Another "problem" is that every theme park BRAND has four or five (vs. two or three) full-sized theme parks that require different tickets. There are just too many choices!

Right now, I'm catching up on blogging and uploading pictures, while I decide what to do...

I have twelve days here, so I can probably do a lot!!

And I'll start by telling you about my cruise.

The cruise was awesome!

This is the second Low Carb Cruise I have been on.

What is a Low Carb Cruise?

A Low Carb Cruise is just a normal cruise, which, among the 2,500 or so guests on the cruise ship, about 100 of them try to get seated near each other at dinner, and join together on the "at sea" days to hear news and information from a few of the world's top experts on carbohydrate-restricted diets.

The chef made us low carb cheesecake almost every night this year!! YUM!! The rest of the food is normal, and we are on our own to eat the low carb offerings and shun the sugar and starch.

If you want to hear more about the cruise, or especially more about the low carb part of the cruise, check out my Low Carb blog. I'll probably get to that within a few days. I also have a Face book photo album of Cruise Highlights. I have only posted a few pictures so far, but that will grow as I find time to upload more stuff.

Key West

I started the cruise with a cold, so I stayed in bed the first day (when we were in Key West) to try and get better for the rest of the cruise.

Since I was going to be in bed anyway, I sent my clothes to be laundered. They have self-serve laundry, but I was sick, so I sent mine to the concierge, and paid the ridiculously-high prices PLUS 50% to get them back by 5:00 pm the same day!

Now the funny thing is that I really didn't have anything else to wear. I hunkered down in my underwear, and sent them all my clothes, and hoped I'd get them back in time for dinner at 6:00 pm.

Well, I'm sure you can see this coming... 5:00 came, but my clothes didn't!

I called my room steward, and he was going to check on it...

5:05 and no clothes! 5:15... 5:30...

He brought my clothes at 5:36. I asked them to remove the 50% surcharge for getting them by 5, since they didn't deliver. Actually I lost my composure just a little and yelled at him... but they took the charge off my bill. And I got dressed for dinner.

My dinner partners... (only the front six) Sharon, Marilyn, Stacey, Sandy, Becky (and ME)

Grand Cayman

In Grand Cayman, I joined some new friends, Jim and Linda, and visited the Cayman Motor Museum. Jim and Linda were very cool. They visit car museums and presidential libraries.

I met them on the shuttle bus to the cruise terminal. The invited me to join them at the Motor Museum, and we had a blast!!

The museum has the original BATMOBILE (1966) from the 1960's TV series with Adam West. Jim was particularly interested in the antique cadillacs, so he was very excited to see the original, FIRST CADILLAC.

Yes, I have pictures!!

Linda, Jim and me at the Grand Cayman cruise terminal

Jim and Linda in the first cadillac

Jim and Linda with the Batmobile

Me with the Batcycle

In our matching museum shirts...

Ocho Rios Jamaica

In Jamaica, I joined Becky and Sandy on a sky car (ski lift) ride up to Mystic Mountain for some sightseeing, shopping and relaxation.

On the sky car (L to R: me, Sandy, Becky)

The scenic ride was fun, and we really did get to see a lot of great views. And it was so beautiful at the top! A garden. A swimming pool. A restaurant. A gift shop... It was a very nice day!!

The cruise was good fun, and I anticipate my next cruise (Hawaii on September 29) with great delight!!!

Now back to Orlando and my list of tourist traps!

Where ever you are... have a great day!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
Cruise Highlights
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

At the Southern Tip

2011-04-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

At the Banana Cafe in Key West, Florida

My ride across Alligator Alley was uneventful - which is GOOD, but boring. You remember the last time I had eventful riding, no doubt. I got stuck in New Mexico for three days. So, uneventful is good.

Alligator Alley looks exactly like all the other highways I've seen in Florida. Better fences, maybe.

I did get a really great shot of the clouds at a rest stop:

My hotel in Florida City is great! Free hot breakfast every morning! And such a beautiful pool area.

In Florida City, I went to an Alligator Park, took an airboat ride, rode my bike through Everglades National Park and caught a cold. So my last day here, I've just been resting!

Here are some pictures of my adventures:

On the airboat ride in Everglades Alligator Park

At Everglades National Park

Tomorrow, I'm going to a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, to meet my Low Carb Cruise gang. And we will embark on May 1 at Port Everglades, the busiest cruise terminal in the United States (and maybe the world!).

So, I'll talk to you when I get back!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
Everglades National Park
Everglades Alligator Park
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

The Panhandle and the Gulf Coast

2011-04-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Belle and me by the pool in DeFuniak Springs

DeFuniak Springs was my first overnight stop in Florida, where I'm spending the rest of April and most of May.

I did the panhandle in two stops: DeFuniak Springs and Tallahassee. Then my 2 wheels took me to Gainesville, Tampa and Naples.

Even though I've entered a lot of new territory on this trip, I've been making my way across Interstate 10 all the way from Los Angeles.

I grew up with interstates and road trips, and I trust the road to take me where it says it will. So I-10 has been a sort of umbilical cord to home.

And this week I cut the cord!

From Tallahassee, I turned off the I-10, and headed south to explore the gulf coast. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself... so let's go back to DeFuniak Springs.

I told you in my last post that a beautiful swimming pool outside my room beckoned me, and I jumped in as soon as I was checked in. Well, it happened again in Tallahassee.

The oppressive humidity combined with a couple of nice pools started my addiction, and I was pretty much looking forward to swimming every day while in Florida! It is a great thing to do after a few hours on the bike.

It cools you off. Stretches the stiff muscles. And just basically feels amazing!!

They say (I don't know who THEY are, but they do say a lot!) that it takes 21 days to form a habit, but I think I formed an instant habit in just three days...

Eat. Bike. Swim.

But when I got to Gainesville, no pool.

Pout, pout.

OK. I got on the internet and checked my next few hotels, and switched to hotels with pools!

I've been staying in Extended Stay America branded hotels so I could cook my own meals, but, with the weather here in Florida being what it is, I'm giving up my kitchens for swimming pools. La Quinta and Best Western are the other two brands I use (and get rewards!).

So, I checked my reservations for Fort Lauderdale, and found my hotel for the first few days to be at the far north end of the Fort Lauderdale area, and without a pool, so I cancelled that too, and made reservations for a few nights at the Best Western in Florida City, at the very southern tip of Florida. This will be a better home base for exploring both the Everglades and the Keys.

Then I went to dinner at a local roadhouse, which turned out to be a small local chain. It was called something like Gators Roadhouse. I was underwhelmed by their beef ribs, which they really play up in the menu as something special.

I took my first really big indulgence in the form of Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie. It was quite a bit like normal pecan pie - delicious! And there was a subtle bourbon flavor, almost an aftertaste. It must not hit the taste buds until you chew a little... It was very good!!

I left Gainesville on Easter Sunday headed for Tampa, but I took the opportunity to visit a church in Gainesville before I left. I googled local churches and found Creekside Community Church. The people there were wonderful, friendly, and I very much enjoyed worshipping with them for Easter.

I'm going through Gainesville on my way back, but it will not be on a Sunday, so I doubt that I can visit Creekside again! However, there is a museum of natural history in Gainesville, and I do intend to visit that on my way through later in May.

Tampa

On the way to Tampa, I ate at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant for the first time. Cracker Barrel is a "country store" and restaurant. They are usually right off the highway, and cater to travelers.

They usually have a long porch full of rocking chairs where you can sit and relax before hitting the road again.

It was Easter Sunday, and many places were closed, and I didn't want McDonalds...

I was delighted to find a LOW CARB section on their menu.

I had a ribeye steak with salad and green beans. The green beans tasted like CANNED, and were way, WAY OVERCOOKED. They do get one bonus point for having some flavor beyond the beans: bacon. The ribeye was a strange texture, as though it sat too long after they seasoned it.

They did have excellent Southern Peach Iced Tea sweetened with Splenda, which I tried. YUMM!! I don't like tea much, even iced tea, but this was great. I liked this enough to drink too much of it!

Once the little pork basket was filled, I went on to Tampa!

Eat. Bike. Swim. Sleep. Repeat.

Actually there is a lot more eating than that... but I think you get the idea.

Between Tampa and Naples, I hit the mating zone in mating season of these NASTY LITTLE BUGS:

A hundred or so of these critters met their ultimate destiny on my windscreen!

I stopped at a rest stop, and they were all over me...

YUK!

Tomorrow I make the trip to Florida City, by way of Alligator Alley, The Everglades Highway!!

So looking forward to this. Maybe I'll see a gator in the wild!

If you want to know what it's like to ride a motorcycle on Alligator Alley, check out this video. This guy rides the same model I do, the BMW 1200RT.

TURN DOWN THE VOLUME BEFORE YOU START THE VIDEO!

Can't hardly wait!!!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
DeFuniak Springs
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Welcome to Florida

2011-04-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

I did it. I made it all the way across the country from California to Florida!

Getting up each day and packing up my bike and riding off into the horizon seems as normal as anything I've ever done in life.

I'm totally lovin' it on 2 wheels!!!

I really am!

My first overnight stop in Florida was in DeFuniak Springs, which turned out to be a quaint little town in Florida's panhandle, between Pensacola and Tallahassee. I did stop in Pensacola, briefly, at the Harley Davidson Dealer, to get a half helmet for around town.

Check it out:

DeFuniak Springs is the first hotel I've been to that had a gorgeous, inviting swimming pool, right outside my room. And as soon as I got checked in, I went and jumped in!

After that, I goofed around with my tripod a little... and took some pictures of my favorite topic: MYSELF! Uh, I mean, MY BIKE!

DeFuniak Springs was a two-night stop, so I did some sight-seeing on the second day I was there.

What a cute little town!! Not much to see or do here, but the little they have is cute and peaceful, and a wonderful place to set a spell and recharge...

Here are a few fun facts:

Lake DeFuniak is a natural SPRING, and is almost completely round. (I couldn't really capture it in a picture...)

The Walton-DeFuniak Library, built in 1886-87, is the oldest structure in Florida built as a library and still serving as one.

Check out my Facebook photo album of DeFuniak Springs for more pictures of DeFuniak Springs.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

More pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
DeFuniak Springs
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

On to the South

2011-04-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

At the USS Alabama Memorial, in Mobile, Alabama

The South

Texas was the first state on my tour that I had never been to before, and from here on out, it's all new territory.

Louisiana

My first night in Louisiana was just over the border from Texas, in Lake Charles/Sulphur Springs. I arrived late in the day, and didn't really do anything there but leave the next morning.

My next stop was Baton Rouge, the capital city!

I stayed in Baton Rouge for two nights, so I could catch up on laundry and get my last before-cruise haircut. The point of this is to get the final haircut cleanup long enough before the cruise, so it doesn't look "just cut" when I get there. I also bought a hair color kit, and colored it after the cut.

I told the haircutter to trim a little off the top and use a number 3 on the sides. She started out just fine, and then looked at the sides, and just flat out told me that there wasn't enough comin' off the sides and she was goin' to use th' number 2.

She took too much off part of the top, and not enough off another part of the top, and left most of the bangs, which I don't really like. I like my bangs to be pretty much as short as the rest of the hair on top. Luckily, it still grows back!

If you're thinking it looks like every other haircut I've have since I went ultra short... you'll just have to take my word for it. It's worse. It's just a bad haircut!

I'll get it fixed in Orlando, after the cruise!

Arizona and New Mexico are desert. The plants and wildlife there has adapted to the harshest desert conditions. Texas is desert, but more foresty, and not as dry. There are a lot of trees in Texas that are not desert trees.

In Louisiana I drove through my first swamp and my first Bayou. And I was surprised to find them so green and lush, and jungly. I guess I was picturing swamps as sort of brown and gray places, but not so!

There are also LONG BRIDGES along Interstate 10 through Louisiana, and I didn't try to stop for pictures on the bridges, so I hardly have any pictures of Louisiana... but I did stop and take a couple before I hit Mississippi.

Except for some swamps, bayous, lakes and rivers, the highway looks like this all the way across Louisiana. Very green. Lots of trees. It smells sweet. Not at all like stagnant water, or what I imagined a swampy smell to be like.

Mississippi

When I got to Mississippi, I finally captured my first state WELCOME sign in a decent picture.

Welcome to Mississippi, Home of America's Music

I drove through Mississippi in only a couple of hours, but I stopped for breakfast at the Waffle House along the way.

I walked into The Waffle House, and the employees had all watched me dismount my bike, and come in. A waitress, looking to be in her mid forties asked me (in a perfect southern drawl), "Are you out on a joy ride, or are you travelin, Baby Girl?"

I didn't tell her I was 48. I just let her call me Baby Girl and Sweet Thing, and the like...

I gotta tell you, too, that the cook, came over from behind the grill two or three times to ask me if my food was good. These Mississippians took a lot of pride in a job well done!

Through Mississippi, and on to Mobile, Alabama, my last night before Florida!

Alabama

In Mobile, I found a battleship and submarine that I could go on, so that's where I went. The USS Alabama Battleship and the USS Drum Submarine.

The USS Alabama

I love stuff like this, climbing all over the inside of a submarine!!

The USS Drum

You can see the Drum is completely out of the water now. Sitting here in this field. (The SCORPION, a Russian Foxtrot class submarine at the Queen Mary, in Long Beach, CA, is floating in the water next to the queen.)

I explored the Drum first, since I got there late in the day, and I was pretty sure I would not have time to see everything there. Then, I checked out the air museum fairly quickly, and rode on their flight simulator.

Then I walked through the self tours on the battleship until they called us back to the gift shop. There were three self-walking tours A, B and C. But I only got through A and the first four stops of B before they called out the end-of-day ten minute warning... so that was that.

The USS Alabama's Print Shop. I was a printer for 17 years, so I couldn't pass up a picture of this!

I have a nice photo album on Facebook with more pictures of the USS Alabama, USS Drum and the memorial complex.

I enjoyed my introduction to The South in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, but the weather gets hotter and more humid as I keep going east.

I already find the humidity pretty oppressive.

I wonder what Florida will be like...

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
USS Alabama Museum
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Are we having fun yet?

2011-04-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Do you think my tour looks like fun?

Do you think motorcycle touring looks like too much work to be fun?

What with flat tires, wind storms, oppressive heat and humidity... am I having FUN?

You bet I am!

My first few days didn't seem like all-out FUN, to me. I was hot. I was carrying too much stuff. I got a flat tire. It took me three days to get the sand out of my hair...

The first few days were tiring. Not really difficult, but not FUN like a roller coaster. I wasn't just riding through the desert going, THIS IS SO MUCH FUN I CAN'T STAND IT. No, I could really stand the amount of fun I was having.

In fact, I was sort of asking myself if I was really having that much fun.

I got stuck in New Mexico for a few days, and I wouldn't have called that FUN, exactly. But, looking back even a few days later, it seemed like more fun than it felt like at the time.

After I finally made it out of New Mexico, somewhere in the middle of Texas. I must have hit my stride. And I realized I WAS HAVING FUN!

Riding my motorcycle through the desert is FUN. Riding my motorcycle into new towns, and up to new hotels is FUN. Seeing the new sights is FUN. Stopping for the day is FUN. Starting again the next morning is FUN.

Telling everybody I meet that I'm living my dream is FUN!!

I am loving this!

I'm having fun.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Pictures of my motorcycle tour are in my Facebook photo album(s):
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
Phoenix
Saguaro National Park
San Antonio, Texas
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2011-04-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

At the Alamo

I love Texas!

It took a few days to get through Texas, but not because of a break down.

It's because Texas is SO BIG. Duh.

I stopped in El Paso, Fort Stockton, Sonora, San Antonio and Houston.

In El Paso, Fort Stockton and Sonora I got up and left before dawn to avoid the high winds that were kicking up by late morning. And I was eagerly anticipating the day I could get back to enjoying the leisurely tour I planned before I learned about the windstorms.

I thought there would be more to do in Fort Stockton, but it is really out in the boonies. Nothing much to do there. It is mostly just a stopping place between other places. Sonora, too, was a great stopping place between other places, but not much there.

Then I got to San Antonio.

What a great place.

I'd love to go back to San Antonio, and spend a month or two! I was supposed to be here for more than one day, and was going to visit friends in Austin, but I had to make up for the days I was in New Mexico, so I only had one day to try to see some of San Antonio.

As I drove into town, I stopped at the BMW Motorcycle Dealer to get my bike looked at, and get my oil changed. By then I was hungry, so I stopped at "The Worst BBQ in Texas," Rudy's, for a bite or two.

After I checked into my hotel, I found out that I was there during Fiesta, and the downtown area had tons of closed streets for multiple parades! So, I took a cab to check out the Alamo and a tiny bit of the Riverwalk. I walked to a Mexican restaurant that was GREAT! And then I took a cab back to my hotel.

I did a little more sightseeing on my way out of town next morning, and found Joel's BBQ along the way. YUM!!

Houston
In the Houston, area, I stayed with a friend, Becky! (THANKS, BECKY!!) Becky drove me around town and showed me some sights. And, I had a wonderful time just being a part of her family for a day! That's not something you can get at any hotel!!

Becky's sister, Marilyn, has really cool dogs, named Coco and Sugar, and I got a really cute picture, so I have to share it with you:

Sugar is the one hiding in the back.

After a nice visit, I left Houston in the late afternoon, on the way to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Deep in the Heart...

As far as the towns go, I liked San Antonio the most and El Paso the least.

As far as the food goes, I found great food all over Texas! Especially steaks and BBQ joints. (Shall I say it again? Duh.) Probably I had the best food in San Antonio, but that was Mexican.

As far as the people go, I loved them!! I actually sort of fit in. It's ok to be a biker girl with blue jeans and short hair in Texas. The female "tom boy" persona is cool here!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Texas:

Sunrise over El Paso

You can see more pictures of my motorcycle tour in my Facebook photo album(s):
San Antonio, Texas
U.S. Motorcycle Tour
These are public links. You should not need to join Facebook to view them.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Off to a very slow start...

2011-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

When I said I wanted to experience a slower pace of life, I didn't really know - at all - what that would include.

The way I pictured it, I could go as slowly as I want. No deadlines. Nobody rushing me. Nobody telling me that I don't deserve the air I breathe unless I produce, produce, produce. And right now!

I was thinking about having time to sit on the porch and ponder life. Time to talk to strangers, not just asking directions...

Time to savor my coffee, before I did... well, whatever I might end up doing.

But, somehow, I was holding on to the notion that I could still get lightning-fast service when it suited me.

I was still visualizing a world where products and services were available 24/7, and other people could be hussling in the background, as long as I didn't feel their hurry sickness infringing upon my peaceful existence...

Well, as I told you in my last post, I got a flat tire near Lordsburg, New Mexico. In a dust storm. On a Saturday afternoon. In a place where they really do live at a slower pace.

Here's what life at a slower pace really looks like:

Once the police knew I was broken down out in the storm, a local state cop came to me, and let me sit in his police unit until the tow truck came.

The tow truck guy came out into the storm, towed my bike to his shop and drove me to the hotel of my choice. He told me not to worry about the money, that we'd settle after he towed me to the motorcycle shop, and I was all fixed up.

Yes, you read right. He wouldn't take any money. I offered twice!

The whole town suffered a power failure for a few hours, and I heard they shut down the interstate where the storm was the worst. Between Lordsburg and Deming.

Yes, you read right. They shut down the interstate when it's not safe!

Most of the service places are closed on Sundays, including my tow truck guy. But I was able to get good coffee shop food at the restaurant next to my hotel.

Monday morning, by late morning, I was on the phone with the guy who owned the only motorcycle shop in town, and he had called around to find me a new tire. He was going to drive 2 hours to Tucson, to get me a new tire.

It just so happened that, when he got there, the tire was more $$$ then they told him on the phone, and more than he told me... so he called a shop in Las Cruses, where his wife happened to be shopping that day. And SHE picked up a new tire for me for less than the price he quoted me on the phone.

My tire came to Lordsburg (with the wife) after end of business that day (still Monday). And since these people have lives besides fixing my tire, they lived their own lives, and left my tire for the next day. It was still there.

Tuesday morning, the tow truck guy towed my bike to the motorcycle shop and the motorcycle guy replaced my tire. But I'm still at the hotel...

Well, the tow truck guy sent his wife to pick me up at my hotel and take me to the tow shop to settle my bill. He charged me only $80. For BOTH tows...

Then she drove me to the motorcycle shop to get my bike!

I paid for my motorcycle repairs and was on my way.

This is how life goes at a slower pace.

People have time to give a ride to a stranger in distress. People take the time to drive four hours to get a tire for a stranger who broke down on the road outside town. And he didn't charge me for his time!

Everybody in Lordsburg was so friendly. They all bent over backwards to help me get back on the road.

But it still took a few days...

I loved New Mexico!

Even though I broke down and had a BAD experience.

It was a great experience!!

In Contrast

If I had broken down in Los Angeles, I would have been back on the road in a few hours, maybe but for twice as much money! But any tow truck I've had come for me in Los Angeles, makes me pay up front. No money no tow. (Unless you have AAA or something... but that's a form of payment, right?)

A few days in Lordsburg have given me a chance to reboot my expectations!

And, I am really loving the slower pace! I don't sit in restaurants wondering why the service isn't faster. And I'm not glaring at my watch every few seconds while I wait for the "next thing" to happen, standing in line or whatever.

I'm not trying to control every detail of my tour. I'm trying to enjoy every experience that comes along!!

Next stop: El Paso, Texas

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Quite a Day!

2011-04-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Leaving Tucson

I left Tucson on April 9. It was my third overnight stop, and my 4th day on tour.

It was about 8 am, and it was raining. Lightly. Very lightly sprinkling.

I had spent the previous day hunkered down in my hotel room, repacking my luggaqe, trying to get rid of some stuff so I could travel LIGHTER. I had returned my huge rolling duffel for a smaller rolling backpack/suitcase (still from REI) that was about half the size.

The Tech Beast Rolling Duffel (left), and my new Stratocruiser Wheeled Backpack (right).

The Tech Beast weighs 10 lbs, measures 32 x 16 x 14 inches, and holds 7,550 cubic inches. And when packed on my passenger seat, it blocks my view of the lane behind me.

My new Stratocruiser weighs 7.5 lbs, measures 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches (just a hair over carry-on size 22 x 14 x 9), and holds 2,750 cubic inches. Less than half the volume of the duffel!

The Stratocruiser is mainly a rolling suitcase, but it has backpack straps for places you can't roll. The backpack straps are not really adequate for hiking over much distance, but they'll get you up the stairs of a hotel without an elevator... much more easily than dragging it up the stairs.

OK, so back to leaving Tucson...

I packed up my bike, and put on my rain suit, and started out.

It was windy, but not as windy as the previous day had been in Tucson. And the wind was colder. I thought Tucson was supposed to be hot. I was sort of surprised.

I got to a place where a sign said something like

BLOWING DUST AREA NEXT 30 MILES

There were short bits that were pretty calm, and longer bits that were windy. And I was leaning and steering to the right a lot.

I stopped at a rest stop about 20 miles into the 30.

It was gorgeous there!

Before I started off again, I put on my windbreaker between my shirt and my raincoat. And I took off my rain pants. The wind was cold and I was feeling cold. And I felt like my legs were wet under the rain pants, and decided that I'd be warmer dry, even with my legs (wearing jeans) exposed to the wind.

I was right. It only took a few minutes for my jeans to dry out in the wind, and I was no longer feeling cold. Maybe because I put on an extra layer on top.

During the last 10 miles (of the 30), the wind seemed to get really bad. So bad I was sort of afraid to stop. I had noticed at the rest stop that the gusts of wind were strong enough to knock me around while I was sitting still on my bike, and I wasn't sure stopping would really be better than getting through it. Only ten more miles, right?

WRONG!

The 30-mile long BLOWING DUST AREA took me to the Arizona border. As soon as I was in New Mexico, I was notified by New Mexico signage, that I was now in a region prone to:

HIGH CROSSWINDS

BLOWING DUST

ZERO VISIBILITY POSSIBLE

USE EXTREME CAUTION

It was not too long before I felt the first really harsh gust almost knock me over.

And it wasn't a momentary gust, it was a gusty windy attack that lasted... half a minute or more. OK, maybe a quarter of a minute. It lasted longer than most earthquakes do. And it keeps coming again and again.

I felt like I was riding sideways. Literally. Though maybe only a few degrees. It was exhausting. But I was still thinking it would be better to get through it than to stop, especially in the middle of nowhere.

When I saw the signs for Lordsburg, I decided to take my courage in my hand and stop for gas.

I had 60 miles to go to get to Deming, my next scheduled stop for the night, and not quite enough gas to get that far. So, I stopped, filled up, and hit the road again.

A few miles down the road, I felt my rear wheel run over something. I had been concentrating very hard on leaning and steering into the wind, so I hadn't seen what it was. But a few minutes later, my tire pressure indicator started blinking at me that my rear tire was losing tire pressure.

I had a flat tire!

I pulled over and parked my bike in the emergency lane, and called BMW Roadside Assistance.

I have an iPhone app for BMW Roadside Assistance. When I "registered" my bike through the app, it looked really cool, like it would transmit my ID and location to the dispatcher. In reality, all it does is look up a phone number and dial it for you.

When I called them, they needed me to tell them my name, the color of my bike, the last 7 digits of my VIN number, AND MY LOCATION.

What was the app good for anyway? I thought the whole point of the app was to transmit this very information, which I had used to "register" my app when I installed it in the phone. And why doesn't the app tap into my MAPS app and send the dispatcher my location???

Pathetic!

I didn't know exactly where I was. I had TWO GPSs with me, for cryin' out loud, and I still couldn't give my location to the Roadside Assistance operator. My MAPS app didn't seem to work while I was on the phone. My Garmin "BMW" GPS doesn't have any menu item to give me my coordinates. I know IT KNOWS WHERE I AM, but it won't tell me!

So, after I was put on hold, and my phone dropped the call, I checked on my MAPS app, and my trip meter, which I had zeroed when I filled up. I was 6 miles East of the Lordsburg Municipal Airport on Interstate 10 Eastbound. I figured any decent tow truck driver would be able to find me with that description. I've been found by tow trucks with much worse directions than this!

Throughout all this, I'm standing in a wind storm with 40-60 mph winds, with various amounts of dust blowing by, and visibility changing dramatically from moment to moment.

The operator can barely hear me. I can barely hear her...

Finally, she tells me that I'm in a dust storm (as if I didn't know this...), and that she will not be able to dispatch a tow truck in a dust storm. She told me to call 911, and get local help to get myself out of the dust storm to safety...

What?

And leave my bike on the side of the road in the middle of the desert?

Really?

So I'll skip a few details now...

My 911 call
A truck driver who stopped to help me
A police officer who let me wait for the tow truck in his unit, out of the wind. He also told me that they'd probably be closing the interstate for the rest of the afternoon.
The Roadside Assistance Operator calling me back to tell me a tow truck would be coming within 180 minutes to take me to the closest BMW Dealer (in Arizona) to have my tire replaced.
Once I was safe in Lordsburg, with my bike, I called Roadside Assistance and cancelled my call.

The tow truck came from Lordsburg, and took me to an auto service shop in Lordsburg.

Loading my bike onto the platform.

The view from inside the tow truck, out the back window, on the way back to Lordsburg. Visibility was pretty bad at this point.

Back at the shop... This is Bob walking the bike down the platform.

The shop owner, Fernando, called the local bike shop, just as they were about to close down for the day. The whole town was closing down because of the storm.

The bike shop said they could fix my tire, or replace it, Monday morning. They sold their only tire that size last week, but they could get another one Monday.

So, Fernando drove me to the Best Western to await my repairs...

More Goes Wrong

By this time, it was around 4-4:30, and I hadn't had any lunch. I was very hungry, so after I checked in and dropped off my luggage in my room, I walked over to Kranberry's, the restaurant next door to my hotel, and had a chef salad. I was expecting to return to Kranberry's for dinner, but thought of getting a side of cottage cheese to go.

I paid for my lunch with cash because their computer was down and they couldn't take a credit card. As I walked out the door with my cottage cheese in hand, I asked how late they'd be open for dinner.

"We're closing in a few minutes," was the unexpected answer.

They had already stopped letting people in, and they were just waiting for their current guests to finish and leave before closing.

I carry some food with me in an insulated lunch bag, but I didn't have the fixin's for DINNER. In fact, I had about two ounces of cheese, two ounces of cream (typically for my coffee), a stick of butter and a bag of pepperoni. And now a double side order of cottage cheese.

I walked across the street to see if I could buy something at the mini mart. There was a sign on the locked door that said, "Closed. Computer down."

I walked back to my room and unpacked.

So, here I was in Lordsburg, in the midst of a wind storm, a power failure, and a computer connectivity outage. We had some power. But my air conditioner/heater did not work. My coffee maker did.

I made a cup of coffee.

I plugged my phone into its charger.

Turned on my computer. Plugged in the charger. But the computer would not charge. Oh bother!

I tried it in a few different plugs. Nothing!

After I checked a few websites, and copied a couple of files onto a thumb drive, I powered down with 69% (1:29 hours) left on my battery, and set it aside.

Then I called a friend who laughed with me about all my mishaps...

rain in Tucson
wind on the interstate
a flat tire in a dust storm
a roadside assistance app that barely assists at all
two GPSs that won't tell me where I am
no dinner
no computer

And then, I made another cup of coffee, and ate my dinner of pepperoni and cottage cheese.

It was only my fourth day on tour, and what a day it was!

Lordsburg, New Mexico

View Larger Map

There isn't a lot to do in Lordsburg, especially without a vehicle. There are a few places I'd go check out if I had transportation, like a Red Rock Monument of some kind. Most of the tourist pamphlets in my restaurant lobby are for Deming (NM), El Paso, (TX), various places in Arizona, and other places that are 60+ miles away, so not taxi/shuttle distance.

Well, not here, anyway. 60 miles is shuttle distance in Alaska... or even 100 miles! Because everything is so vast and spread out. But they are not set up for that here. Lordsburg seems to be mostly a way station, where people stop for a few minutes, or an hour or two, on their way to someplace else.

The view from my hotel room.

Kranberry's Restaurant is on the right. And a gas station mini mart is straight across the street. And the beautiful clouds are up in the sky. It was windy (15-20 mph) and cold (43F) when I took this picture at 8:30 this morning.

The power and computers are back on today, and I'm just taking it easy in Lordsburg, while I wait for my repairs.

SO, now you are caught up!

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Check out my photo albums on Facebook
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Saguaro National Park
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Thoughts on my first day's ride...

2011-04-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

I made it to Arizona in about 5 hours, including a one-hour lunch stop.

4 hours/200 miles was OK. But I don't think I'd like to keep up that pace for too long. Most days I have less then 150 miles to go. I think I'll like the slower pace better.

The ride itself was uneventful in a good way, meaning nothing bad happened.

Here are some details...

All ready to leave Pasadena... I had a few pieces of mail in my pocket. I was supposed to drop them into a mailbox on my way out of town, but they fell out of my pocket. So, I'll have to stop payment on two checks...

Not a catastrophe, but not exactly how I wanted to start my tour.

I stopped for lunch at Bob's Big Boy in Calimesa. My mom used to take me to Bob's in Reno, where we went every summer to visit her family. Good memories.

The Bob's "Big Boy" Double Decker Hamburger. Mmmm.

This is my key in the ignition. At a rest stop where I paused for a quick potty break, I found my key in the ignition, when I returned to my bike.

Bad Ramona! I'll have to do better on that. A stolen bike would ruin my day and delay my tour, so let's just not go there...

The GPS is totally cool, if it knows where you're going.

I admit I programmed my first few days into the GPS a few days ago, and forgot that it did not understand the address of the hotel in Ehrenberg.

Exit 1 I-10 S. Frontage Road. So, I went on a little bit of a wild goose chase, as the GPS directed me to some unknown point in Ehrenberg, where there was no Best Western Desert Oasis Hotel.

I turned around and headed back to Blythe, and got directions to my hotel from the agent at the California inspection booth. When we were kids we called it the Cootie Station. Because they checked to see if you had cooties...

(I hope cooties isn't one of those things we said when I was a kid that turns out to be some kind of non-PC racial slur... if so, I deeply apologise to whomever it slurs!)

You would not believe how many times I packed up my stuff, and threw out more stuff, and repacked... And still I arrive at first hotel with a bag stuffed to capacity, that I can barely heave onto my bike.

And too heavy to lift up the stairs. And yes, my very first hotel has no elevator!!

Some of this is going bye bye tonight!

So, those are my first thoughts about my first day on tour. It was a good day! And tomorrow it's just going to get better!

Sunset in Ehrenberg, Arizona

One last thing...

The Welcome to Arizona sign was in such an inconvenient place, that I don't think I can get a picture of it. I'm going to try to park on a frontage road where I can get a picture of it tomorrow morning. No guarantees, but I'll try!

UPDATE

OK, here is the Welcome to Arizona sign... I can sort of see it from my hotel parking lot.

Look below the Best Western logo, and you can see part of the blue and orange sign... above the silver car's trunk. It's small.

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Well, I'm off

2011-04-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

I said it all in the title...

I'm off. I'm gone. I'm outta here.

My tour starts TODAY!!

My first day's ride will take me from Pasadena, California to Ehrenberg, Arizona.

217 miles. 4 hours or so, depending on how much traffic I encounter as I leave civilization...

While in Arizona, I guess I'll have to turn my clock back to Standard Time!! Then back to Daylight Savings Time when I get to Texas.

My iPhone will probably adjust to these local peculiarities automatically and seamlessly... Also my GPS, which reads the time from the satellite, I think.

But my laptop may need to have some help from me to keep track of local time. I'll find out as I go.

I'll try to do the "biker on tour" thing, and get a picture of my bike and me at the WELCOME TO ARIZONA sign. I will have a tripod with me, so I can get some of these shots even in the absence of kind strangers.

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

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The Whys and Wherefores of My Motorcycle Tour

It's almost time to go!

2011-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm in Pasadena, waiting out my last few days before my big journey begins on April 5.

I've been getting a few last accessories for my bike, like a stereo with speakers, mostly so I can use the audio features of my new GPS unit. I get 3 months of free XM Satellite Radio and traffic with my GPS, so I might have that activated once I get on the road. Traffic reports would be very useful in several places.

I still have a little more packing to do. I'm mostly packed for the trip. Mostly... But I still have a few things to pack up in boxes, and give to the people who will be keeping them for me. I'll finish that up today, so I can relax tomorrow and Monday.

Enjoy a few nice meals out with family and friends.

Get a Swedish Massage to get the kinks out before I start my new life on 2 wheels.

Then I'm off!!

Come Tuesday, rain or shine, I'm gonna roll...

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

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The Whys and Wherefores of My Motorcycle Tour

My Rain Suit

2011-03-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

"The Storm-Prodigy rainsuit will keep you dry even in the heaviest downpours thanks to its waterproof, breathable coating. Wearing this rainsuit will also make you safer on the road----the blaze orange material, the white stripes, and the reflective piping on the front and back of the jacket increase daytime and nighttime visibility. The jacket and pants are sized to be worn over motorcycle riding apparel and are sold together."

Lightweight, 100% waterproof nylon.

When I bought this rain suit, it was mostly because it was affordable and it came in orange - my trademark color.

Now, before I get too far ahead of myself, let me back up and tell you about my first rain test...

If you know me, or have read my recent blog posts, you'll know that I'm about to start a very long motorcycle tour. In fact, I'm going to be living on the road, on my bike, indefinitely. Or, at least, for the forseeable future.

I definitely need something that will keep me dry.

My First Rain Test

I was talking to my BMW dealer about my upcoming tour, and I asked him about getting rain gear. He suggested that, before I buy anything, I should zip in the "rainproof" liners that came with my favorite air-mesh riding suit, put it on, and stand in the shower for about 15 minutes.

SO, I did.

Underneath my riding suit, my clothes were soaked.

My Magnum waterproof tactical boots filled up with water.

I was drenched.

I'll be the first one to admit that my favorite riding suit is designed for hot weather, not rain. It is an air mesh suit, designed to let the air go right through the fabric to keep me cool as I ride.

Fieldsheer High Flow II Mesh Jacket

Tourmaster Airtracker Pants

I'm from Los Angeles, where hot weather (even sunburn!) is a much bigger concern for bikers than cold or wet weather. Still, the manufacturers label these liners as rainproof, so I tested them out.

Thanks, but no cigar!!

My Storm-Prodigy Rain Suit Test

Today, I tested my Storm-Prodigy rainsuit. It cost me $50. I never imagined it was super high-quality. But it is designed to keep a motorcycle rider dry in the rain, right?

It sort of failed my test.

I started out my putting on my rain pants and my new Red Wing waterproof boots

Then the coat...

THEN...

I put my wallet in one of the jacket's waterproof pockets, and my iPhone in the other. I put my phone in a ziplock bag, since I wasn't sure how waterproof the jacket would be. And a good thing, too!

I went outside, put on my helmet and my waterproof gloves, and got on my bike. And took a ride.

I drove a big loop around the city for 30 minutes or so, and then returned to my hotel room to see how dry I was.

THE RESULTS

My gloves kept my hands warm and dry! A+

My helmet and the jacket's hood kept my head and hair dry... A

But, my face was still exposed, so I'll need to get a face cover if I'm going to be riding in much foul weather.

In the waterproof pockets... The ziplock containing my iPhone was pretty damp. My wallet was soaked through on one side. F

On top, my bottom layer, was wet in a few places, like my tummy and lower back. It wettest parts seemed to be along the elastic waist of the coat. I'm guessing the stitching for the elastic is the weakest link. C-

On bottom, my bottom layer was dry except for a small patch on the seat. It sort of looked like I wet myself... Since these rain pants are specifically designed with a special reinforced seat to keep the rider dry, they have to fail the test if the seat of my pants got wet underneath. F

And at the very bottom, my Red Wing boots were awesome. My feet were completely dry and warm! A+ for Red Wing!!

On another note, I found wearing the suit to be rather stuffy. Not at all "breathable." I know it can't have vents, because that would let water in. But aren't there supposed to be new technologically-advanced fabrics that are waterproof and breathable? I guess 100% waterproof nylon isn't one of them!

So, that's my rain test.

Clearly I need better protection if I am going to ride all day in the rain, or in cold rain.

On the other hand, I have made the pace of my tour pretty slow and easy, riding no more than a few hours per day, with only a few exceptions where I might ride up to 5 hours. Unless there is really heavy rain, this rain suit might just be enough...

And I could always buy something better along the way if I need it. Los Angeles really isn't the place to get the best rain gear.

According to a friend of mine, the best rain gear is made by Arc'teryx. Even though it's expensive, I'd love to get one of their rain suits, but I don't think they have my size.

Another friend recommended Frogg Toggs, and they look pretty good, actually. And they come a size or two larger than the Arc'teryx.

All this just convinces me that I don't want a rain suit at all, especially a "shell" that is designed to be worn over all my other gear. It just gets too bulky!

What I really want...

is a good motorcycle jacket, that has a waterproof element AND good vents, that I can wear on both dry and wet days. I would entertain the idea of the removable liner for extra warmth on cold days.

The motorcycle version of a 3-season jacket.

Something like the Tourmaster Transition Series 2 Jacket.

• The 3/4 Length 600 Denier Carbolex® and 600 Denier Ballistic Polyester shell incorporates reflective Phoslite® material panels for strength and increased nighttime visibility

• A waterproof and breathable Rainguard® barrier allows dryness without perspiration buildup
Hopefully...

• Collar anchor snap eliminates flapping while collar is open
Something I was just mentioning to a friend this week... I wish my leather jacket had these!

• Waterproof zippered 3-position shoulder vents combine with chest vents, sleeve vents, rear exit vents and the Pipeline Ventilation System to provide flow-through ventilation
That's a lot of vents. Enough to keep me cool in the summer?

• Durable 2-way main zipper closure with dual wind flap seals out the elements

• Wide reflective strip across the back and chest, reflective sleeve piping, Phoslite® material panels and Tour Master's signature reflective rear triangle increase nighttime visibility

• The Microfiber-lined collar and cuffs are soft, yet durable

• Adjustable sleeve take-up straps at the forearm and bicep help to secure elbow armor and material
These are essential, since I buy large sizes, but have short arms!

• Removable, CE Approved armor at the elbow and shoulder with an articulated triple density back protector

• Tour Master's Z.O.Q. (Zip-Out Quilted) Liner features warming 100 gram Polyfill insulation

• Vertical zippered chest map pockets, zippered hand pockets with flap closure, internal media pocket, dual zippered fanny pack and sleeve key pocket
It sounds like I could carry a whole suitcase full of junk in all these pockets!

• Adjustable waist belts with TPR pulls help to fine tune the fit
Fit adjustments are always helpful.

• Includes a jacket/pant zipper attachment with the pant side included

lovin' it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

My Triquetra Tattoo

2011-03-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Classic Trinity Knot by Pat Fish
Tattoo Santa Barbara, March 9, 2011

I've always been fascinated by tattoos.

And I have always wanted to get one. I finally got one in April 2009.

It is a cross on my right wrist.

It is a little hard to get a good picture of both my face and the tattoo, because every reasonable pose involves twisting my wrist. And that makes the tattoo look all twisted.

And the tattoo "faces" away from me, so it is easy for it to look more like a sword on my wrist. I got it that way, so people facing me would see it right side up. Well, only if my arm is hanging down. If my arm is bent upward, like in the picture below, it is still upside down.

Ever since I got my first tattoo, I've wanted to get another one.

Part of the reason for this might be that this tattoo was very plain. I chose a plain design on purpose, of course, but I wanted a fancy one, too! Something colorful and beautiful.

As my cross tattoo was healing, I did some online research about how to take care of a new tattoo, and found a tattoo artist who was known world-wide for her Celtic and Pictish tattoo designs.

Her name is Pat Fish. She has some great information online about getting and taking care of your tattoos. Not only post-tattoo care of your skin and emblem to make it last a lifetime, but also about medical safety, avoiding infection, making sure your tattooist uses only single-use equipment. That sort of thing.

She also has an extensive portfolio of tattoo flash you can buy and download, so you can have her tattoo art installed by local tattooists.

I decided right then, that I would like to get a tattoo from Pat Fish.

I have an affinity for Celtic Knot designs, especially the one called a triquetra, or Trinity knot. Similar to Native American art, and many other cultures, Celtic artwork has a lot of threes and triangles in it, signifying the triple nature we observe in many things.

Body, Soul, Spirit

Mind, Will, Emotions

Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Just to name a few...

Triquetras are often presented with Eternity Rings incorporated into the design. Pat's online portfolio has a number of these designs, and I soon chose the one I wanted. Then I waited.

After all, I had just gotten a tattoo...

That was almost two years ago...

And now I am embarking on a new journey, a new season of life. So, I think this is a great time to get my Triquetra tattoo installed.

I made a appointment with Pat Fish, of Tattoo Santa Barbara, and had my triquetra installed yesterday.

Pat's assistant, Colin Fraser, took a couple of great pictures of me and my tattoo, and emailed them to me as an souvenir of my visit to Tattoo Santa Barbara.

The closeup is at the top of the post.

Here is the portrait:

And here is a picture of my triquetra before we added the color:

Pat and Colin were both wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting my tattoo!

The icing on the cake was to ride my new bike up to Santa Barbara to get the tattoo installed! I spent last night in a hotel in SB, and then rode home this morning.

I had beautiful weather both ways!! And, now I'm home, my home base in my hotel in Arcadia, safe and sound, with my new tattoo.

And check out the beautiful sunrise I enjoyed this morning as I walked to breakfast.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

The Whys and Wherefores of My Motorcycle Tour

2011-03-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

Many of my friends and acquaintances don't realize that I am living in a hotel. And many know, but don't really understand why.

The roots of my current status are long and deep. It has been many years since I first wanted to WANDER. And when I lost my job at the end of 2009, I wanted to spend some of my down time WANDERING. Vagabonding. Traveling. Touring.

I have many desires that are connected to wandering.

As a poet and songwriter, I feel called to wander as I ponder life. As I pen my memoirs.

My entire existence has been lived in the city. The suburbs. South Central Los Angeles. My adult life has passed me by at a blinding rate. At a speed that is toxic to the poet's heart within me. I want to slow down. Awaken the heart of poetry and love within me. Stir up my heart to sing new songs.

As a motorcyclist... a BIKER, I just want to have fun.

Riding along the highways and byways on my bike. Enjoying the freedom of the open road. The joy of the ride. The poetry of the journey.

As a human being and United States citizen, I want to see more of my beautiful country!

I feel like I haven't seen much our our great country in my 48 years on planet earth. And I want to.

I want to see the Liberty Bell. And Mt. Rushmore. And Niagra Falls. And so much more...

I want to go to Gettysburg. Roswell. Disney World. The Harry Potter theme park.

I want to see a show on Broadway. The Aurora Borealis. Yellowstone National Park.

I want to ride my motorcycle up the Pacific Coast. Historic Route 66. The Keys Highway.

As a Christian, I want to meet other believers. Lots of them.

I want to be like Jesus. I want to go from place to place, doing good.

I'm not saying that all Christians should abandon their homes, quit their jobs and wander around "doing good." Maybe some should. Maybe I should. But I'm not making a policy statement. I'm merely describing what is on my heart. For me. For now.

I saw a book about a guy who grew a beard, wore a robe, and traveled around the states for a year "being like Jesus," and I thought "How stupid!" Wearing a robe and a beard are the most superficial things that could possibly be construed as "being like Jesus."

If he really thinks being like Jesus is the same thing as DRESSING UP like Jesus, he is really missing the point.

I'd like to visit churches in different parts of the country. Different traditions. Different denominations. Different people. I'd like to worship with them. Pray with them. Fellowship with them.

I'd like to enter a new city, and pray for the Lord to send me somebody who needs help, who needs prayer. Maybe I can pray with them. Encourage them. Cry with them. Give them $50 for their electric bill, so their power doesn't get turned off today. Whatever.

I think if I step out in faith, open to anything, I might find some really interesting things happen.

Maybe even some GLORIOUS THINGS.

I would like that.

As a middle-aged woman, I want to escape the meaningless drivel that has been my experience of Corporate America.

According to experts, it is normal for people to transition from the pursuit of competence and achievement to the pursuit of meaning and purpose during the years of midlife.

I guess some people make this transition more gracefully than others...

If you think this is just fancy talk for a "mid life crisis," you're in good company. Many people who know me are thinking the same thing. And, honestly, if you want to call it that, it's ok with me. I'm in midlife. And, I'm in crisis. Of sorts.

Over the past 2-3 years, almost everything I use to identify myself in this world has been lost or is changing.

This is the normal human condition, of course... It just seems like I have more than my share heaped on my plate at the moment.

I lost my job, which is a big personal identifier for most of us.

I lost my home, which is the main personal identifier for almost everybody who doesn't use their job to define them. I sold or gave away my furniture and moved in with my sister in preparation for unemployment and job hunting.

No, I wasn't homeless. Yes, I was housed and fed and clothed. But I was certainly not living in my own place. And I wasn't a roommate, or an equal partner. I lived in somebody else's home. Which is different.

I thought this would be an ideal time to wander, being unemployed and sort of homeless. No responsibilities... OK, FEW responsibilities.

But I couldn't make it happen. Something was holding me back.

I also lost my church. I didn't lose my faith, my religion or my God.

But I lost something significant.

The place where I worshipped was primarily my Sunday school class. For those of you who don't attend church, Sunday school isn't just for kids. This was a class for adults, and it is where I have met the majority of my friends over the last twenty years. It was my favorite place to be.

My favorite hours of the week were spent there.

The pastor who led my Sunday school class was fired, and there seemed to be no provision for the members of our class to continue in attendance there.

Just as quickly as I lost a church, however, I also gained a church. My pastor, with most of us from our Sunday school class, started a new church. Which is wonderful. But different. And as wonderful as it is, it didn't come without pain and loss.

Job. Home. Church.

My health is changing as I traverse the murky waters of midlife. My childbearing years are gone. My ability to adapt and heal physically is in decline.

Job. Home. Church. Health. Gone. Changing. Declining.

Just when I thought I had lost everything I was going to lose...

My sister died suddenly and unexpectedly.

When I say suddenly, I mean one minute we were walking through a CVS to get a prescription filled, and then next minute she lay dying in my arms on the floor in the cough and cold aisle.

(I wrote more about her on my other blog. If you're one of those people who like to get the whole story, check it out.)

So, after spending a month or two in total numbness, I got up and decided to start my wandering.

And here I am.

I continued to live in my sister's house for a few months, and then moved to a long-term residence hotel closer to my church. Close to my friends. I just didn't see any reason to rent an apartment and make a home when I'm leaving on an extended season of travel in only a few months.

Hence the hotel.

As I have been dealing with my sister's possessions, I have started to make final preparations for my life on the road. I have sold or given away most of my possessions. I bought a motorcycle to take on tour with me. The few possessions I am keeping are stowed with friends and family against the day I might come to reclaim them.

And I am now sorting through the last few boxes.

People ask me how long I will be gone. And I want to tell them I'm never coming back. But my friends don't want to hear that.

But, it doesn't mean that I'll never come HERE again.

It just means that I'm moving forward. It means that I expect to grow as I wander. It means, that the next time I come to Southern California, I'll be a different me.

I'm not coming BACK. But I'm probably coming around again...

I'm living on the road indefinitely. For the forseeable future. When I'm ready to stop, I'll stop. And I'll rent an apartment or buy a house.

I don't know where or when that will be. And I don't want to know right now. I want to find out as I go.

I don't just want to get to the destination. I want to DISCOVER the destination as I FOLLOW THE PATH.

In the meantime, a lot of roads lead to Southern California!

So, I'll probably keep coming around for a long time...

If you want to follow my wanderings keep your eyes on this blog. My itinerary is on my 2011 Tour page.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

I bought a BMW R1200RT

2011-02-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Check out my new ride...

A BMW R1200RT

I have been riding a Honda Shadow 750 for almost a year, but I have been unable to make enough customizations for touring comfort. The big problem for me was having my feet so far out in front of me, which would be a problem with any cruiser. My back (and my back side) were in pain after only about 45 minutes on the road.

I added saddle bags and a touring seat. The seat was a big improvement, and enabled me to ride for an hour or two in relative comfort. But I decided, if I am going to drive this thing back and forth across the country, I'm just going to need a different kind of bike. So, I started looking around to see what kind of bike I might get for real cross-country touring... one that positioned my foot pegs directly below my seat.

I ended up buying this BMW R1200RT - the same model used by the California Highway Patrol!

She's just beautiful!

My tour leaves on April 5. Don't miss it.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

My first motorcycle trip: Los Angeles to San Francisco

2010-07-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

I'm driving up the Pacific Coast next week, going from my home in Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Here's my itinerary:

Wednesday, July 7
Los Angeles to Arroyo Grande
For all practical purposes, this is my home turf. I drive as far as Santa Barbara frequently enough to know the road pretty well. But this will be my first trip this far on my motorcycle.

Thursday, July 8
Arroyo Grande to Monterey
I am planning to go via the Pacific Coast Highway. This is, by almost any standard, one of the most beautiful drives in North America.

I have not been on this part of PCH for more than 20 years!! I am so looking forward to the curves, cliffs and bridges along the beautiful coastline. And it will be all the more fun on a motorcycle!!

Friday, July 9
Monterey to San Francisco
I have not decided which route I'll take for the last 100 miles. My hotel is in the Burlingame/San Mateo area near the SF International Airport.

If I'm tired after two full days on the road, I may take the most direct route to my hotel, and rest a little. Maybe upload my pictures.

If I'm still energetic and haven't too many riding sores, I'll hug the coast as far as I can, maybe all the way up and across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then come back down US-101 and to my hotel.

Saturday, July 10
Sightseeing in San Francisco
Susan Enan Concert

This is the reason for this trip. Well, for the timing of it at least.

I wanted to go to one of Susan Enan's house concerts in her "Bring on the Song" house tour, and the one in SF is the closest one to LA. So, what a great reason for really taking my first Motorcycle trip, after I postponed my previous motorcycle trips.

If you don't know Susan Enan or her music, you should definitely check out her webpage, SusanEnan.com, or her first CD:

After a day in SF, a Susan Enan concert and a good night's sleep, I'll do it all again in reverse...

Sunday, July 11
San Francisco to Monterey
However I come up, I'll probably try a different way back to Monterey.

Monday, July 12
Monterey to Arroyo Grande
Looking forward to the southbound run. More sights, more curves and a second chance to conquer the bridges of the Central California coast.

Tuesday, July 13
Arroyo Grande to Los Angeles
Back on my home turf for the final leg of the journey... Gotta try to find some good Santa Maria Barbecue at some point.

Here's the gear I'll be packin'

Fieldsheer High Flow II Mesh Jacket

Tourmaster Airtracker Pants

Both these products are made of very strong nylon mesh, which will let the air flow through the fabric to keep me cool, but has great scuff resistance to protect my skin in case I fall, skid or crash.

Motorcycle Luggage

National Cycle Paladin Backrest and Luggage Rack

I ordered a Paladin Luggage Rack about two weeks ago, but it hasn't even been shipped yet, so I'm definitely NOT going to be getting it in time for this trip.

As a customer of an online vendor, I'm extrememly dissappointed!

As an adventurer... a biker on my first week-long solo journey, I'm a totally exicted. Next Wednesday, I'm going to hop on the back of my Shadow, and hit the road with nothing more than what I can carry.

How exciting is that?

How much stuff do I really need for one week, anyway??

One change of clothes, road snacks, water, and my Starbucks thermos coffee cup. That will all fit in my tailbag and backpack.

This tail pack actually holds quite a bit as is, and three of the compartments will expand.

I'll have my camera and tripod, of course, and will post pictures of the amazing scenery, and a few of myself and my bike, as I go.

One picture I really want to get is my bike, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. I'll have my tripod with me, too, so I should also be able to jump into the picture myself!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Disclosure.

A new trip is scheduled

2010-06-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

I have scheduled my next - actually my first - motorcyle trip!

I am going to San Francisco, and this trip will not be cancelled. I have my pre-paid hotel reservations.

I have ordered a new luggage rack for my motorcycle, and it should be delivered in a few days.

The Paladin Back Rest and Luggage Rack (without the saddlebags)

If this one fits, I will install it, and be on my way...

If it does not fit, I will return it, and pack whatever fits in my backpack. And I'll just go on my trip with less stuff. It's only a few days, how much stuff do I need??

My trip is scheduled around a Susan Enan concert.

Susan Enan is a very talented young artist, who has just produced here first album. She has just completed a house tour across Western Europe and Great Britian, and is now working her way across the U.S.

I think the San Francisco concert is the closest she'll come to Los Angeles, so I'm going. How often do you get a chance to see a house concert?

Since it is my first motorcycle trip, I want to keep the pace nice and slow. So, I'm taking it easy at around 200 miles a day.

So, if by any chance, anybody reading this is going to the Susan Enan concert on July 10, I'll see you there!!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

It didn't fit

2010-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Luggage Assembly I bought didn't fit, so I postponed my trip to figure out what to do...

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

I ordered motorcycle luggage!

2010-04-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have scheduled a trip to Mojave Desert National Preserve. I'm going to ride around and check it out for a couple of days.

For my trip, I have finally ordered some motorcycle luggage.

When I started shopping for motorcycle luggage, I wanted to get this Paladin Back Rest and Luggage Rack with the Cruiseliner Hard Saddlebags.

This system was going to cost me about $1,400. Since I am unemployed, I chose a less expensive option for my first summer on the road...

Cobra Mini Sissybar and Luggage Rack

This sissy bar is supposed to be only 12 inches tall. I could also have gotten 14- or 17-inch ones. When I start strapping more luggage onto this, I hope I don't regret getting the shorter one.

This cost a little under $400, with both pieces and shipping.

Nelson Riggs CL-700 Expandable Tail Pack

Unexpanded
10.5" L X 9.5" W X 11" H (capacity 18 L)
Expanded
10.5" L X 9.5" W X 18.5" H (capacity 30 L)

This seems to be a discontinued model, which I got on special for about $90 on clearance, including shipping.

MEI Voyager suitcase

I also have a soft-sided MEI Voyager suitcase that I plan to strap onto my back seat, that has built-in backpack straps and waist belt. I am a light traveller, so I think this will be enough for my first trip.

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Disclosure.

Note that I linked to Amazon products primarily for the pictures. My actual order was for accessories appropriate for my 2008 Honda Shadow Spirit 750.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Expands Curriculum

2010-04-02T08:00:00.001-07:00

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Unveils Expanded, Comprehensive Curricula; Recommends New CORE Curricula for Riders

Three MSF CORE RiderCourse Programs Offer a New Paradigm

IRVINE, Calif., March 31, 2010 – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation today unveiled greatly expanded, comprehensive curricula, including the “Essential CORES Curriculum,” which the MSF recommends as the minimum training for every beginning rider. The Essential CORE Curriculum includes the current MSF Basic RiderCourse, the new Street RiderCourse that takes students into real-world traffic, and the new Basic Bike-Bonding RiderCourse that features skill drills to help students handle their own motorcycles.

Read the whole article: http://www.msf-usa.org

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

Highlights from the MSF BasicRider Course

My Honda Shadow

2010-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

I just bought a 2008 Honda Shadow Spirit 750:

Me on my Shadow at Point Magu
Malibu, California.

My First Ride on my Honda Shadow

I bought this motorcycle on a Saturday, so I had to wait until Monday morning to call my insurance agent to add it to my policy. After having it in the garage all weekend, I wanted to go for a ride as soon as I got the insurance taken care of.

I live in Los Angeles, so I chose to ride up the Pacific Coast Highway a little ways. I was thinking about going up from Santa Monica to Malibu. I made it up as far as Point Magu, about 50 miles from where I started.

I stopped a few times to take some pictures, both of my bike and of the stunning scenery! It was such a beautiful day for a ride.

This shot is also at Point Magu State Park in Malibu. I loved the two-toned water here. It was so peaceful standing there in the wind, listening to the waves crashing on the rocks below.

Shifting Gears and Shifting Sands

I didn't start riding yesterday! But I have never had a clutch before, because I have been riding scooters. See About Me for pictures of my bikes.

My Shadow is my first bike with a clutch. So, one of my goals for this ride was to practice shifting gears. I stalled only twice, and only hit bad gears about three times. I was thinking I did pretty well, but I have a ways to go yet, before I can say I'm used to it.

I did have one near-miss, though. When I pulled off the road at the Point Magu vista point, and started to park in the sand. I lost my balance a little when I turned the handlebars to the left to park. With the handlebars already turned, I started to raise my left foot to lower the kick stand, when the whole bike started to fall down!

The bike was about halfway between upright and on the ground, and I was holding on. I was standing there wondering if I could lay it down gently enough to avoid scratching it up. Then, with the leverage I gained by not straddling the bike, I'd be able to lift it up much more easily.

I decided to go for lifting it up from the straddled position without setting it down in the dirt. I just didn't want to lay it down on my first ride!!

Life is a long lesson in humility.
- Sir James M. Barrie

So, I concentrated for a moment, and then hopped up as hard as I could. And I gained an inch or so! I did it a couple more times, and I was up! I lowered the kick stand, just as a biker drove up and parked next to me. He kindly took a few pictures of me on my bike.

So, here's one more picture...

A little south of Point Magu

I hope you enjoyed the ride!

lovin it on 2 wheels
ramona denton

(c)2010 Ramona Denton

Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.
- Tennessee Williams

How NOT to Drop a Motorcycle

How to Pick up a Dropped Motorcycle

On the Road Again Motorcycle School
http://www.lrn2ride.com

welcome

2010-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to lovin it on 2 wheels!

My name is Ramona Denton, and I have been on 2 wheels for a little over one year.

This is my bike: a 2008 Honda Shadow Spirit 750

Me on my Shadow at Point Magu
Malibu, California

This blog is going to be about my life on 2 wheels.

I'm planning to do some touring before the end of this summer, so I'll blog about that. I'll write about mini rides. Whatever else comes up that is related to my life on 2 wheels is also fair game!

I hope you'll come along for the ride!

lovin it on 2 wheels
loviniton2wheels@gmail.com
ramona denton

(c)2010 Ramona Denton

Welcome everything that comes to you,
but do not long for anything else.
- Andre Gide