Ginny's Motorcycle

My first experience on a motorcycle was many years ago when we had a clothing store in Pelham. We found that putting advertisements in paper boxes throughout local neighborhoods was the best means to increase business, so we did it pretty often. All the stopping and starting was tough on our car, plus I always had to find someone to go with me . . . one to drive and the other to put the "handbill" in the paper boxes [we started off putting them in mail boxes but "discovered" that the post office didn't really like us doing that!]. We found an inexpensive Honda 200 [new, still in the crate but several years old] at a dealership and purchased it so that I could go around on my own to do "handbilling", without wearing out our car. The first time I rode Jim sent me down the street where we lived at the time, which was very hilly. I did fine going up hill, but when I got to the bottom I tried to turn around in a driveway and didn't know how to maneuver it. A lesson or two would have been nice . . . . but in no time I had it all figured out and was riding my motorcycle to help increase business at our store. It never dawned on me then that you could ride a motorcycle for fun! 

Years later, Jim got his first Harley. I was amazed at how fun it was to take motorcycle trips riding on the back of his bike. One weekend we went over to the 100th anniversary Harley Rally/Expo in Atlanta. On the way over, I was still a happy camper riding on the back of his bike. To this day I am not really sure where it came from or how it happened, but on that trip I became intrigued with the idea of getting my own bike. At first I only considered getting a sporster, which is the smallest Harley they make. Once I sat on one though, I found it to sit up too high. It didn't feel very comfortable so I moved "up" and purchased a Dina Lowrider. I had that bike for a couple of years and although I enjoyed riding it, I never felt 100% comfortable on it. They came out with theSoftail Deluxe model in 2005 and after reading about it Jim became convinced that it was the bike for me. I was timid about getting another bike, concerned that I wouldn't like it any better than the bike I already had which would have been a huge waste of money! Jim purchased the bike for me without me knowing about it [Christmas of 2004]. On my own I don't think I would have ever taken the plunge to get a new bike, but I am so glad that Jim "knew" that it was the bike for me because it truly is. I have been riding my Softail Deluxe ever since and LOVE it! It started off in a classic black and white color scheme which we later changed out to a custom paint, black with blue flames. 

Even though I still can't explain it and there is a bit of mystery about it even for me, I absolutely LOVE riding my motorcycle. Prior to getting into riding, I would have never thought it would be something that I would enjoy doing. I guess it is my "alter ego" as it is a little out of character for me . . . but it is something that I enjoy more than I can really explain. When you blend a love of riding with seeing the sights that we have seen and riding on the fun roads we have ridden on across the country . . . all I can say is amazing. Motorcycling has added a fun dimension to our lives that Jim & I both enjoy, we are hoping that many more trips are still ahead in the future!