Good morning Kossacks and welcome to Morning Open Thread.
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Today I said goodbye to my motorcycle. There were tears, of course. I can now really appreciate what my mother went through when she decided to quit driving and sell her car, but I can't tell her because I never told her I rode a motorcycle. I had been riding for six years before my cancer diagnosis, and my bike had been sitting in my friend Don's garage since last May. I thought I would get back to riding this summer, but a series of things made me realize that the best, and safest, decision would be to sell the bike. I've had a lot of great experiences, and I've made some awesome friends who will always be friends. So, I treat you to a history of my biking career.
This is my first bike, a Honda VLX, which I bought with money from my dad's life insurance.
My first ride with the group, AKA the High Plains Drifters.
This is the bike I said goodbye to today, on the day I bought it in January, 2008.
My cats always knew when I was going on a trip. I got to see a whole lot of the country.
Like this BBQ joint just outside of Dallas. The wind was so strong it blew me a couple of feet sideways on the road, but I stayed upright!
And this road on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. What a ride!
We rode in all kinds of weather. I guess that's the definition of a real biker.
Then there was the trip out west in 2010. Here's my bike in the Badlands of South Dakota.
Riding through the Badlands, heading for lunch at Wall Drug.
A view from the side of the road...
Our group stopping to enjoy the sights.
You can't be a biker without going to Sturgis at least once. This was a week BEFORE the rally. We got out of town as soon as we could. Been there, done that, didn't feel the need to get the T-shirt or a tattoo, although one of us did. Whatever...
This is the closest I'll ever be to being "middle of the road."
Other sights I've seen on my rides:
Goodbye, friend!
Jibber (sniff), Jabber (sniff, sniff).
5:25 AM PT: UGH!!! Overslept again!!! Good morning all!