A Long Ride Alone
Monday, June 1st, 2015
Some people just like riding alone.
We met Sharon in Crater Lake National Park last week, sharing a four-plex cabin. Of course I took note instantly that one of our neighbors was on a Harley, and the fact that it had a Maryland plate make it that much more interesting. First I saw this middle-aged woman fiddling with the bags and assumed she was riding behind someone else. Then it became clear she was by herself. You bet I had to talk to her.
Sharon took early retirement and bought a motorcycle. Then she decided to take a long trip. “When will you be home?” her family asked. “When I get tired of riding,” she replied. She agreed with me that that might be never.
Yes, she had come from Maryland, the long way around. It was not her intent setting out but she was essentially doing a four-corners ride, having started by coming down the East Coast, then across the southern U.S., and was now going up the West Coast. After all this time alone she was going to meet up with a friend in Portland and another soon after that. Then she would be heading to Colorado.
“Are you going to the Steel Horse Sisterhood conference?” I asked.
Her jaw dropped. Up to this point I had not mentioned anything about the fact that I also ride a motorcycle.
“How do you know about that?” she asked. And yes, she is going to the event.
So I filled her in. Told her I’d be seeing her again in a few weeks.
Then we talked motorcycles. Of course. She asked if Judy rides and I told her only behind me–she’s afraid she’d crash and kill herself if she was operating the bike.
“Fear stops so many,” Sharon acknowledged.
But obviously it doesn’t stop Sharon. She was 5,000 miles and counting and wasn’t even thinking about heading home yet. I had to ask her if she knows Alisa Clickenger, one of the most gutsy women riders I know, and she said not in person but by email. She’s looking forward to meeting Alisa in person at the conference. I think they’ll have a lot to talk about.
As we pulled out Sharon was walking by and I called out to her, “See you in Loveland!”
“See you in Loveland!” she replied. And we will, very soon.
Biker Quote for Today
That road is fabulous, I wish to test it.
