Just some pics

My Life Has Changed......

My heart was pounding as I pulled my riding boots on. My fingers were sweating and I donned my HD vest. I went to the key rack and went through all the keys that we have had hanging for so many years, some keys we long since forgotten what they were for. I saw the HD key first and ran my trembling fingers across those black HD letters….the key to my new life. I then fumbled through the many keys to find the one to our shop across the yard. No not this one, not this one either, gosh…what is THIS one for? Ah ha!! There is the key. I swallowed hard, knowing that my next steps would be out the door to the shop which housed my 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Low Anniversary Edition. I bought this bike back in November and have put 415 miles on it. Well ok, so my husband put on about half of those…ok I said it. I had been waiting for the times my husband would come home from work to ride with him on his Heritage Softail Classic. Only thing is, my husband works out of town and does not come home but every other weekend. This made for some long times between riding as on some of those weekends we had other commitments and could not ride. It has just dawned on me that if I’m ever going to be a serious rider and get experience, then I’m going to have to ride it by myself much of the time. Besides, the thought of riding on my own without having to worry about someone watching me, or trying to keep up with their speed, going down roads that I choose to ride on, sounded very appealing.

I stuffed my drivers license, my credit card, my cell phone and my house keys in my pocket. Dang, I’m going to have to find another way to tote these things, I thought to myself. Then out the house I went.

With each step toward the shop, my heart beat faster and faster until I thought it would jump from my chest. Oh gosh, I can’t do this! What am I thinking of? What if something happens? Ok, well I’ll just at least go crank it up and see how that feels.

There she sat, all beautiful 1200 ccs of her black and copper glory. Sitting there as if to say, “What the heck you waiting for? This is why you bought me, isn’t it?” How could I argue?

So, I unhooked the battery tender, nice thing to remember don’t you think? I put the key in and unlocked the forks then put it in the ignition. Then I sat down. Yeah, it still feels good just like all the other times I sat on her. Ok, I’ll crank it up. Varroooommmm babooomm babooooommmmmmm, oh yeah, she still sounds good with slash cut mufflers and the Power commander I had installed. I put it in neutral and pondered how I would make the sharp turn and hump over the exit of the shop to get the heck outta there. Hmmmmm. I sat there……and sat there….and sat there, my heart pounding again and the smell of gas fumes getting the best of me. So I cut her off. I tried to walk it out of there, but the hump was too big so I cut it on, swallowed hard, eased the throttle and eased out the clutch and I was outta there! Stopped and got off and put the garage door back down.

Now you might wonder, what is all that special about all this? Well, I’m ashamed to say that every time I rode with my husband, he got it out of the shop and brought it to our driveway all ready to ride. And I let him spoil me this way. Only thing was, I was doing myself a great disservice by this. So now I’ve already reached a milestone before even getting out of my drive!

I eased up to the edge of the road and off I went! Hey, so far so good. I rode down a road that has very little traffic. Oh man, here I am alone on the highway with my bike!!! The feeling of exhilaration that overcame me is indescribable! I’m free….blasting off on my bike all alone….shifting gears ever so smoothly and feeling the power beneath me. (I’m good at gears, I have a stick shift car, ha!!) Then onto the main highway I went. I felt sooo comfortable pulling up to stop signs and taking off, so much more as I was on my own. I don’t know, I just felt like no one was watching me and I was free.

I rode on the two lane road, turned off, went down many, many back roads, then my gas light came on. Ohhhh….I’ve never gotten gas by myself before with my bike. Went into our little bitty town and drove up to the gas pump. A very busy store. I got lots of smiles, surprised looks and so on. I’d never pumped the gas in my bike myself and of course I overflowed it getting gas on my tank. I walked to the other pumps trying to find a paper towel dispenser with no luck. A man said “what are you looking for?” I told him and he tried unsuccessfully to find one for me. So I said that was ok, I’ll just smell like gas! Thanked him anyway. I cranked her up again, realizing I had not cut the bike off completely and the lights had been on the whole time. Oh well, a lesson for the future. A car was in front of me and I didn’t want to back out, so I waited….and waited. Seeing that it might be awhile, I decided I would go around to the other side, which was a small space. But I did it and did it well I thought and I was off again! I rode down some more back roads and got onto the busy 4 lane, which I have ridden many times before. After awhile I got bored with the straight ahead driving and turned down a county road and made the way with lots of turns back to my home.

I turned into the drive, got off, opened the garage and drove that puppy in there over the hump and all without any problem. I cut her off, and backed her back into the space beside our Heritage where I got her from. I put the battery tender back on, patted her and made my way back into my house. Only the person that walked backed to the house is not the same person that walked out of the house to the shop where my bike is. She’s changed. She’s a woman that knows she can ride her own ride, live her own life, dream her own dreams with or without someone riding right beside her. I am liberated.

This is such a significant milestone for me, especially as my life is taking on a new frontier as I sent my youngest girl off to college 2 weeks ago.

Now riding with my husband will be so much more comfortable now that I had some alone time with my bike. I can’t explain the reason I feel this way, but I do. I do know one thing though, I will never hesitate to go it alone again and plan on doing much riding alone and with my husband.

On my journey with my bike, I got so many smiles and waves from so many people. Men mowing their yards, in front of me, women in the cars with their men, just so many and I was so proud of myself.

I rode 58 miles alone today. The most important 58 miles of my life…….

(I wrote this this past Friday)

The story of how our love of motorcycles began

I wrote this story after we got back from a tent camping trip back in 2001.

The Blue Ridge Parkway....The Beginning Of A Dream

May of 2001 marked the beginning of a dream for me and Allyn, my husband of 20 years. That spring we took our daughters, age 15 and 11, on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. We had been there many times before, since we live about 6 hours away in southeastern North Carolina, and have always loved it. But this year something was different. We noticed there was so many people on motorcycles there, riding throughout those mountain roads and about 90 percent of them were Harley-Davidsons. We saw how beautiful they were, all the many different styles of the bikes, and especially the absolute joy the riders had on their faces as they rode. We had seen motorcycles there before, but there was just SOMETHING that clicked inside of both of us on that trip. We were captivated. At one point, when we saw this big group of Harley riders parked at a scenic parkway, Allyn said, “Just look at that Rhonda, we could be doing that same thing....right here in these mountains! Wouldn’t that be great?” I agreed, and at that moment, a dream began.

A week after we got home, we went to our local Harley-Davidson dealer, Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson in Wilmington, NC. We looked at all the models on the showroom floor and we were helped by a very friendly salesman named Don. He listened to what our wants and needs were and helped us decide on a model. We got a catalog and within the week we put an order in for a brand new 2002 black Heritage Softail Classic. We were told it would take 6 months until it arrived, so needless to say, our excitement grew with every passing day!

As we waited, we thought back to the time when we first got married. We had rode motorcycles (a friend’s Honda) back then some, and Allyn had even owned a Harley-Davidson for a time before we met, but it had been at least 19 years since we had rode. Our lives got so busy, our children came and there was just hardly any time to ride anymore, so we didn’t. Now, our girls were getting older and more independent. We wanted something to do together that was special, and the thought of the adventures that this motorcycle would bring was special indeed!

On October 12, the long awaited call came (2 months ahead of schedule!) Saying our bike was IN! The next day we were down there to get it! We hauled it home on a trailer since Allyn was not used to riding any longer and he didn’t want to start off riding right in the middle of a large town, so on the trailer she went. As Allyn tied her down onto the trailer, the look on his face said it all. The joy of finally getting this beautiful bike, the thrills that awaited us, they were all evident on his face. There she sat, in all her shiny chromed beauty. All the adventures of the road seemed to await us then and there.

We thoroughly enjoyed the mild NC fall and winter that allowed us to ride frequently. We spent our free time riding and enjoying ourselves. Then we went to the Myrtle Beach Bike Week in South Carolina in the spring. We rode to the local lake, beaches, country sides, and quickly added on the miles to the bike. He became proficient and comfortable with driving, and the joy that we had at the start began to grow even more. But, even during all of our rides, there was one thing that remained foremost in our minds, and THAT was the trip we planned to the Great Smoky Mountains on our bike, where our dream was born in the first place.

Allyn’s work schedule began to get tough, and time off became few and far between. So we opted to take the trip during the time off we finally did have and that was July 4,5,6,7, 2002. We decided to stay in Asheville, NC as it is at the center of where we wanted to go. The ultimate goal? The Blue Ridge Parkway! This parkway is a very scenic drive in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It starts in the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina and ends in Virginia. It is filled with the most beautiful mountain scenery that one can imagine and is a biker’s dream! There are motorcyclists that come here to ride the Parkway from all over the country. NO commercial vehicles are allowed and there are no advertising billboards littering the view. It has continuous smooth winding roads.

On our first full day, we road the Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee, NC. I just want to say that the trip to these mountains was NOT the dream we had hoped for...It SURPASSED it!! I cannot begin to tell you what joy that riding through those mountains on “our baby” brought to us. We became one with the open winding roads, the hills, the mountans, the valleys, the meadows, and trees. The freshness of the mountain air filled our senses. The purr of the engine, the feel of the bike as you ride of it was unimaginable. If the ride, and the scenery, was not enough, what was even more amazing was the friendliness of each and every person we met along the way. This Parkway is filled with many points f inters and scenic views can stop at. You can stop to see the view, rest, and to talk, etc. Each time we stopped, we talked with many different people, all age ranges, men, women, couples, lone riders, and groups. I have NEVER met nicer people and from all over the country! It’s as if we immediately all had something in common. The comradery was unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. Not only were our fellow motcyclists friendly, but even the people we met along the way that were not on a bike were friendly and genuinely curious and interested in us, our bike, and our journey. For example, there was the well dressed lady that sate beside us at breakfast at the IHOP in Asheville, just before me and Allyn got onto the Parkway. I noticed she kept looking over at us and smiling. We had our jeans, boots, and Harley0-Davidson T-shirts on. Allyn had his doo rag on and it was obvious what we were doing that day. After awhile, she finally said, “are you both on a special trip?” I told her yes, and told here of our trip. She went on to say that she couldn’t help noticing our shirts and thought we were riding a Harley. She relayed to us that a child in her neighborhood was a spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the child thought the Harley-Davidson company and all the people that rode them were wonderful. This lady made it very well know to us just how highly she thought of Harley-Davidson and its’ riders, especially due to the charitable sponsorship it gives to MDA. She made us feel great! I was almost moved to tears of pride. Then there was the elder couple from Florida we met. No,, they didn’t’ have a motorcycle, but they talked to us n one of our rest stops overlooking the mountains. The were so nice and interested in us. There was the guy from Michigan, who stopped beside us during a rest beak wanting to know if we were enjoying ourselves. He said he had a brother with a Harley that had thought of riding the Parkway and wanted to know what we thought of it so he could tell him. Of course, we told him it was heaven! And then there were the waitresses at the restaurant and coffee shops we stopped at...wanting to knowhow our ride was. And there were the many fellow motorcyclists we met. Oh man...the instant friendship, the instant “knowing” that one shares with another motorcyclist. The compliments to their bikes, and the glowing with pride from the compliments made about ours, the stories of where they came from the miles they traveled, what got them started riding....all was included in the special experience of meeting them all. We met on e couple that rode from Detroit , Michigan. She on her Heritage Softail Classic, he on his Ultra Classic. They, like many we met, were a couple very similar to us.....taking an adventure together. This is only a small sample of the many nice people we met.

On the second full day, we left Asheville and took the Parkway north. As we rode, we passed lush, green forests, which soon unfolded to scenes of the open mountains and valleys. The mornings were crisp and cool and then warmed into the 90s. However, the mountains and valleys hold onto cooler air which made the ride very comfortable. The weather was beautiful! There were many areas of mountains that revealed why they are called “The Great Smoky Mountains.” And that is due to the “smoky look.” There were many, many miles where it seemed that it was as wild and untamed, and untouched by man as it was 100s of years ago. The only thing to remind us of anything different was the pavement we were traveling on and the occasional tunnels that ran through a mountain. Then there were the beautiful rolling green pastures, complete with split rail fences and horses grazing. An occasional cozy, rustic Inn or two would also come into view. We rode to Mt. Mitchell (the highest mountain east of the Mississippi) as high as we could, then parked in the parking lot there, then walked to the top. We continued to a sweet little mountain town called Blowing Rock, where US flags were waving all over celebrating the fourth of July weekend. How wonderful it was to roll into town and watch all the folks celebrating the 4th!! Then we headed back to Asheville on the Parkway. Stopping many times to talk with fellow motorcyclist, looking at the glorious land around us and enjoying its gifts. And then, our journey was over and it was time to go home, leaving the rest of the Blue Ridge Parkway further north and into Virginia to be explored on our next trip.

Yes, we have been to these mountains before, and even drove some on the Blue Ridge Parkway by car, but nothing could compare to what we experienced on our Harley-Davidson. It was nothing short of magic. And our marriage, though it has always been strong, was strengthened even more by our experience. Two people, riding this adventure together, never knowing what lies next, one enjoying it as much as the other.....was truly magic. There are many more dreams and adventures yet to explore for me and Allyn on our Harley....but this will always be a treasure in our memories...on the Blue Ridge Parkway....the beginning of a dream.

I love a busy campground

Here's something I wrote after we got back from Walnut Hills Campground in VA a few years ago.

I Admit, I Love A Busy Campground



Now donʼt get me wrong, I love the peacefulness of a nice quiet campground. The serenity I feel when I am somewhat at one with nature, with only the sounds of a bird, a babbling brook,or the wind blowing through the trees. My soul needs this regeneration. Itʼs as if I am renewed once again. As if nature somehow recharges all that I have used up during my busy, hectic life.

However, though my soul needs this peacefulness, I also find that there is much for the soul to be had during very busy campground times such as the 4th of July, Labor Day, and some of the busier camping times. Oh I know, lots of folks think that those busy times are a true RVers nightmare. A time when all the novices are about going around bumping into each other like wild people trying to get that one vacation in for the summer. Oh, but I find it to be so much more!

My husband and I also RV during these busy times of the season. We frequently have only the luxury of a holiday long weekend, or the middle of busy summer season to camp. So we find ourselves, many times, in the midst of this mad rush. But just like the quiet campground offers peacefulness, a busy campground, to me, offers such a treat.

My heart thrills to the sight of children frolicking about as we enter a campground, bicycles & tricycles being ridden, floats and towels being held by folks on their way to the pool, ice cream cones being held, the sound of children laughing and playing as I wait in the truck while my husband checks in. As we roll away from the camp store in search of our site, seeing all the activity around. Yes, I do kinda like it when we are trying to get into our site that our neighbors try to help (even though we donʼt really need it) and a fellow bicyclist stops by to chat as my husband is still in the drive getting ready to back in. I think itʼs great that folks find our setup so interesting that they canʼt wait til we park. I know this may be annoying to some, but we like it. What a wonderful part of human nature to want to help.

As is our custom, we usually walk the entire campground more than once in the late afternoon. This is one of our favorite things to do, and a busy 4th of July weekend or the like is so exciting. Walking around you get glimpses of folkʼs lives. Here you have the couple with the neat campsite, complete with wooden sign, sitting together watching the passersby. Next you have the couple with the 3 children, and other members of the family, perhaps grandma & grandpa are along. . It looks as though they have brought every toy from their house to the campground and sprawled it ever so messily about their campsite. They just wanted to make sure nothing was left at home that could possibly be played with at camp. Thereʼs your vintage travel trailer. It looks like it was made in 1960, but the owner has put out USA flags and tiki lights and a welcome mat as proudly as it were made in 2005. And he very well should be proud. We see people walking their dogs. The family dog, brought along because how in the world can they leave a part of the family behind? Walking by we smell the hamburgers cooking, we see the vast amount of cooking pots, campfires, and every kind of cooking contraption known to man, at folkʼs sites. The corn on the cob is being eaten, the watermelon cut. Then thereʼs the tenting areas. Those are really interesting too. Mostly young families with small children. Big, giant tents with a big screened in area next to it with all kinds of things in it. And little bitty tents that you wonder how in the world two people can fit in. Walking by each one.....tent, 5th wheel, TT, Class A, Class C, we glance into just a brief moment in peoples lives. I feel the excitement that each family feels. Itʼs special.

At the end of the holiday and our last day, we pull out of camp, as do many others.. We see the couple folding up their tent, folks looking around and picking up their belongings, packing up all the memories that they have made on this one special trip, all tucked safely away in their hearts and minds, each family with their own experience. This is to be remembered for a lifetime. As we pull out, I am comforted in the fact that yes, there are families in this world that care enough about their children to take them camping, couples that care about each other enough to go somewhere this special, to celebrate the 4th of July, or Labor Day, or Memorial day, here all together. I am fortunate enough to experience it myself, and watch others do the same. .

So yes, I do like busy campgrounds. I get to see so many families have the time of their lives. It gives me peace in such trouble times of the world.

How it all began.....

I just want to tell you a little about me and my husband Allyn so you can kind of see where we came from and how we got started on the life we have now. We were married May 15, 1981 and so far have had 27 wonderful years together. We had our first daughter, Stephanie in 1985, she's now married and lives in Wilmington, NC. We had our second daughter Kaitlyn in 1990 and we just sent her off for her first year in college two weeks ago. We are so proud that she graduated valedictorian of her high school class. We are now empty nesters. I'm 48 and Allyn is 54.

Anyway, we were busy working, paying bills and raising our girls. We never really took vacations until 1990 when we started going on yearly vacations to Disney World. There were some wonderful times had with our family at this Happiest Place On Earth!

Then our girls got bigger and on one fateful day on Memorial Day 2001 weekend I finally talked my husband into taking us all tent camping. We bought a tent (which leaked) and headed up to the mountains to Cherokee, NC. My oldest girl who was 15 by then was unimpressed, our youngest did enjoy herself but by FAR the most impressed persons were me and my husband. We saw motorcycles and RVs and our taste for both was born. This was in 2001 and we ordered our first Harley immedidately when we got back home. This lead to wonderful times on it. Then we started dreaming of toyhaulers to haul it with and to camp. We bought our first toyhauler in 2002 and we have upgraded several times since then and now have a nice 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire motorhome.

I now have my own bike, a 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Low Anniversary editiion, and my husband has a 2005 HD Heritage Softail Classic.



So...that's how it started.

My ride to HB Spokes

Just a quick ride report today. My husband is home today, so feeling good about myself since my 58 mile ride alone on my Sporty Friday, I thought it might be nice to ride on down to HB Spokes. I don't know if you all know of the place, but it's a really nice and popular biker bar and grill in Longs, SC near Myrtle Beach. We only live about an hour away. http://www.hbspokes.com/

We took the back roads all the way there and it was SO nice! He went on his Heritage, me on my Sportster. I kept up with him, went around curves fine, turns fine and just had a really great time. (drove an average of 50 to 58 mph).

We got to HB spokes about 1100 a.m. but we and another couple were the first ones there. We went in, I beat my husband in a game of pool (I swear it was the first time I ever beat anyone in pool!) and we had a nice lunch. (him--BBQ sandwich and fries, me a nice grilled chicken house salad with tea). Then I bought a T-shirt, lol! Gotta commemorate the occasion, right?

Then we headed on back home and I had just as much fun on the way back.

I'm not overly confident, but my confidence has grown 100 fold and I'm just LOVIN' it!! We rode 100 miles exactly!! Here's some pics!