Two wheels again!

Last Thursday morning I was able to go down to Fort Oglethorpe, GA to pick up my motorcycle from the shop where it had been for three weeks.

Three weeks earlier on May 1, I had been able to take a break in my studies to call Carlos Hampton of Two Wheels Towing here in the Chattanooga area.  (You can check out the website I linked to in the previous sentence or go to Carlos' Facebook site here: Two Wheels Towing Tennessee.)  He came with his incredible towing outfit and took my bike to RT Cycle in Fort Oglethorpe.

Why was Two Wheels Towing necessary?  Didn't I just get the bike out of the shop late summer, early fall?!?!

I rode it home that day from the student shop at Chattanooga State, yes, where it had been for 18 months.  Then, I rode it another day.  That day, when I got home, I noticed some leakage from the fuel gauge.  I made a mental note of it.  My husband and I ordered parts and fixed it ourselves.  Then I went out to ride another day and it died on me at the bottom of our neighborhood, where I sat for a while.  I ended up calling my insurance folks.  But then my neighbor across the street who rides came in.  He hooked up the bike to the truck.  Because I was nervous to ride the bike like that, he let me drive the truck.  He is a motorcycle rider himself.  We got the bike home and pushed up our driveway.  Then, another day I tried to get her going again and she burst out with liquid all over the place.  There's a saying, 'peeing like a race horse'; that was my motorcycle. 

This was in the fall.  With my crazy study schedule and my paper writing for commissioning and interviews, it was not high priority to get my motorcycle fixed, but it was still a priority.

Finally the time opened up.  I learned about Carlos and his towing company.  He got my bike to RT Cycles.  They fixed it.  When I say they fixed it, what I mean is they needed to redo some of the work that was done, they fixed stripped screws, etc.  It made me sad that my bike had passed inspection of the professors at the shop, but that's life.  Because it is an older bike ('81 Yamaha 750 Maxim) and hasn't been ridden consistently now for several years, I was given strict orders to ride the bike... ride, ride, ride.

I can do that!  Well, as long as it's not raining.  I'm a fair weather rider.  I ride to feel the wind, to enjoy the road, to see and smell the outdoors as I'm traveling along.  I'm not about speed on the bike.  I prefer less traffic.

Last Thursday (back to where I started), a friend took me to RT Cycles and I picked up my bike.  The guys had a little difficulty getting her started.  She's older and runs cold these days.  They got her going and I rode home, down highway 27, through Chattanooga, taking back roads and taking my time. 

Later that same afternoon I got out for a short ride because I would be gone over the weekend.

When we returned from our weekend, I had difficulty getting her started, but charged the battery (a fairly new one) for a while and was able to get it started just as the rains came.

Yesterday there was a break in the rain, so I took the bike to go visit my brother, though he wasn't there and then took the opportunity to ride around some of the back roads in the Soddy Daisy/Middle Valley area.  It was a great ride.

Being on two wheels again feels good.  It brings joy.  It is freeing.  As with all freedom, it comes with much responsibility.  I don't take that responsibility lightly.  But I do enjoy it.  And, truthfully, it is one of the ways I connect spiritually with my Creator.  It just is for me. 

I don't know what aspect along your journey you've been missing that you are hoping to reintegrate in your life, but I hope you are able to take the steps to bring it back.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra