I Did A Thing

I did a thing on Monday.

It wasn't something I did without much thought, prayer, discernment, etc. In other words, it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing and it didn't come "out of nowhere". Now, if you don't know me well or are just getting to know me, you may not understand that this dream is not new. So, I'll share some of that here too.

But, you might want to know what "thing" I did, right?!

I bought a 2003 Honda Rebel 250.

It's not my first bike. In fact, it's my third. I have the "M" on my driver's license to denote I'm a motorcycle rider, too. I never let that go. I guess you might say that I never let the dream go of having another bike. For me, it was a "dream deferred". I was open and honest with the Holy One on that too. I said take away the desire. It had not gone away. You can read about "A Dream Deferred" here: A Dream Deferred from August 6, 2016.

I have been looking on and off for a while now. I was seriously considering a Honda Rebel 300 or 500, but then this 250 came across my path. It had a windshield and a sissy bar already, was used with low mileage, and was about 1/2 the price of the new one I was considering. That was important because we still have a college kid in his last semester of undergraduate school and that is a financial priority.

As I considered this Honda Rebel 250, I asked the owner some questions. Then, I asked my brother to go take a look at it with me on Monday. He knows bikes. I trust his judgement. If there were any red flags, he would let me know. I was ready to walk away from it or ride it home.

My brother test rode it after we checked it out. I test rode it after him. Everything was good for what I need and want at this time in my life. So, I bought it and rode it back to Dalton, where I will keep it, since I am there about 1/2 the week. (Thanks, bro!)

The ride from Cleveland, TN to Dalton, GA was about 30ish miles, maybe 33. I forgot to look at the odometer for exact mileage. I also didn't look at my time piece for when left and arrived, but I would say that with traffic, it was about a 40 minute ride. 

It was a GREAT ride! The weather was in the 60s on Monday. Though it was a bit windy as it was getting later. I wore my riding jacket, a thick brown leather jacket. I had my riding gloves and my helmet. I also wore my Timberland boots that I used to always wear for riding.

Highway 60 getting out of Cleveland was a bit nerve wracking, as there was some traffic. I don't like traffic. The turn signals aren't as easy to push as my Yamaha 750, so it will take some practice. But, I navigated fairly decently. 

I kept a good pace and stayed the speed limit. A trucker and a whole line of cars were glad when we hit the Georgia line and a secondary lane to the right. I pulled into the right lane and they all passed me. I was going the speed limit, but they were wanting to zip on to their destinations. 

My goal isn't speed. My goal is enjoyment. I love to feel the wind "beneath my wings", so to speak. I enjoy being out on the back roads. I talk about being on two wheels as one of my spiritual practices. And, for me, it is. Anything that draws us closer to the One who Created us can be a spiritual practice. And riding a motorcycle became that for me. 

To be back on one this past Monday filled a space within me.

It felt good to be back on the road. Another thing that confirmed it for me was the first time another motorcycle passed me in the opposite direction and gave me the "motorcycle wave". That felt so natural and awesome as I gave the wave in return. It's a feeling that isn't easy to describe, other than it felt right.

One of the reasons I wanted a 250 was because of my shoulders and hips. I went through a 3 year period of frozen shoulders and I have had hip replacement on one hip in 2015. I still need the other side replaced, but so far, so good. I needed a bike that I can hold up when I stop, that I can lift back up when it falls (it is bound to happen-- I dropped my Yamaha once in the University parking lot and needed help getting it upright). This bike is a perfect size for me and weight. I forgot to mention my height. I am one of those "short people", height challenged, so a lower to the ground seat is perfect for me. The Suzuki 650 and Yamaha 750 bikes that I previously had were perfect in that area too.

Monday's ride back to Dalton without any stops was a tad bit long for my hips, though they did well. I will need to figure out what length ride they can handle. I will also need to get back into my stretches. 

If you want to see some photos of my Yamaha 750 Maxim, you can read the post I mentioned earlier "A Dream Deferred" from 2016. You can also read Two Wheels Again from May 28, 2015. It was great to get that bike fixed and going again. It was devastating for me when it kept breaking down every time I rode it home. So, I gave it away. For free. To the shop. 

I don't know where photos are of the Suzuki 650. It's a bike that we bought when we lived on Long Island and brought down to TN.  We rode it around Dayton, TN quite a bit. It wasn't working when we divorced (first marriage), so I got the bike. Then, we I got pregnant, I decided I shouldn't be riding anymore. So, I got it worked on and sold it. 

Then, the desire to ride came on and a bike came my way. I rode my kiddo on it, commuted back and forth to the University where I taught on it, rode on back roads, took my kiddo to TaeKwonDo on it (wearing the gear bag over my shoulder), rode it to Howard High School when I went to tutor kids, etc. As I've mentioned, I rode that bike until it started having issues. It was an '81 model. Then, I took it to Chattanooga State and let them work on, stripping it down to a skeleton and rebuilding it. 

Back in the saddle again, as they say. Now, I still have my two wheels bicycle and I will still be riding that. I got back into riding during the pandemic and will keep on riding those two wheels. That is just as much a spiritual practice, being in the wind, under tree canopy, time with the Creator. 

On Monday, I posted some photos and this on my social media:

"So, I did a thing today.
I wore celebratory tie-dye to commemorate the occasion.
This rebel that you see in the photos is my 3rd bike. I have gone from a Suzuki 650 to a Yamaha 750 to this super cute Honda 250 Rebel. I rode it back to Dalton today from its home in Cleveland, TN. My first time back on a bike since my Yamaha died and I gave it away to a bike shop. I am super excited to live into this spiritual practice once again. You will probably see a blog post coming soon. #outdoortime #spiritualpractice #motorcycletime 🏍"

The celebratory tie-dye that I wore on Monday came from a shop that I have recently come to know: Schaffer's Creative Chaos-- Tie Dye. I have been wearing tie dye since I was a little tyke and have been adding to my collection over the years. Now I have some fresh pieces. 

Oh, a couple more things about motorcycles...... I have ridden them since I was a kiddo. My Dad had them, so I grew up around them. I most likely mention that in some of the posts, somewhere. My Dad rode us on the bikes and he also had Enduro races at his campground. I have memories of riding. My brothers had a little Honda 70-- it was yellow-- that they rode at our family farm. I rode it some too. Our cousin Hank had a dirt bike in Tifton, GA and I rode it once. Unfortunately, I popped a wheelie (unintentionally) with a friend on the back and she got some exhaust pipe burn (as I remember the incident-- sorry!!!)

I share the above to let you know this is NOT any "mid-life" thing. This is me.

In fact, I did let go of my bucket list to jump out of a plane (sky-dive) for this 59th year celebration, in order to compromise for the bike. Yes, that was on my bucket list for this year. And, in case that seems odd to you, for my 49th, I went hang gliding-- a GREAT experience. I think I wrote about that too.

• Flying-- A Dream Come True-- Hang Gliding Part I-- October 11, 2013
• Hang gliding part II-- video clips-- October 11, 2013
• Hang gliding part III-- more video-- October 12, 2013

You might say that I enjoy adventure. Life is an adventure. The adventurous journey continues. Thanks for sharing it with me. 

Rev. Deb
Proud new owner of a Rebel 250

Other posts about my previous motorcycle:

• 2 Wheels Again!!--June 17,2014
• On Two Wheels Again Tonight-- August 28, 2012

More pictures: (I got it cleaned up and detailed yesterday-- thanks, Tim!!)

before cleaning

quick ride around "the block" after it was cleaned on Tuesday

 

after Monday's ride

after Monday's ride

after Monday's ride from Cleveland, TN

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

2 Wheels Again!!

Motorcycle in shop 4/22/13

Motorcycle in shop 8/23/13

Motorcycle ready for pick up 6/16/14
 

At gas station

 

I got the call last week from Chattanooga State that my motorcycle was ready!  AWESOME!  But, it was a rainy day.  And, I was leaving Thursday morning for KY for an intensive weekend of CH 501 (Church History).  I knew I wouldn't be getting my bike just yet.  More waiting.  In the big picture, what was a few more days when I had been already waiting for over a year?!?!  That's right.  A year and about 2 months.
I took my bike to the students to get worked on at Chattanooga State.  It's a great deal.  They work on your bike and learn about it.  You pay only for the parts.  Well, my bike is an older bike.  Or, let's say "vintage".  It's a 1981 Yamaha 750 Maxim.  Because I hadn't been able to ride it due to my frozen shoulders, it sat under the carport for about 2 years without being ridden.

If you go back to a post I wrote on 8/28/12, "On Two Wheels again tonight!", you will see the joy in riding after my frozen shoulders.  Then, when I got back on the bike again in October, she leaked gas like a race horse and that's when I started looking into getting her into Chattanooga State.  It took until Spring to find a connection.

I had three different mechanics working on my bike, plus the instructors.  Ed told me when I picked it up the other day that my bike was problematic.  I heard that as 'what a great learning opportunity' for the students.  I learned lots about ordering parts and getting parts made here in town.  Maybe I'll even write about that one day.

But for now, here is how it felt yesterday when I got on my bike and left that parking lot:  AWESOME!  To be on two wheels again felt INCREDIBLE, WONDERFUL.  I was excited!  I was also a little nervous.  Add it up and I haven't ridden much over the past several years.  But, with the security that my bike is in tip-top shape, I was able to not be too nervous.

As I rode up the ramp and onto  Dupont Highway to head home, I let out a "yahoo!"  It echoed inside my helmet, but I doubt anyone else heard me.  Nor do I think they could see the ear to ear smile on my face.

It felt natural, you know... like riding a bike. ☺

I am grateful to my Dad for the motorcycle rides he took me on growing up as a kid, for the Enduro races held at his Trails Inn campground in the 70s that he and my uncles rode in, and for the opportunity to ride a little tiny Honda fat dirt bike around the farm property. 

I am grateful to my first husband for buying that Suzuki 650 on Long Island and bringing it back down south when we moved to TN.  I got my learner's permit in NY and rode that bike in NY and in TN until I sold it when I was pregnant. 

I am grateful to my current husband for his support of my interest in riding, though he did tease me quite a bit that he was paying Chattanooga State to keep my bike there as long as possible.  He often helped me acquire parts and made trips to the campus with me to deliver them.  Yesterday he took me to campus and took pictures of me getting my bike back and taking off. 

I am grateful to Chattanooga State for working on my bike and getting her in running condition!

As I rode her home, I stopped for some 100% gas.  After I had filled up, I noticed the repair tag was still on the rack on the back of the bike.  I took it off.  About that time, my husband drove up and asked how it was going.  It was neat to know he was near and cared enough to stop by.

I was a little nervous pulling out into traffic onto Hixson Pike from that gas station.  Gauging traffic on two wheels isn't something I'm used to.  I probably should have given that van a little more space before pulling out behind him.  Sorry dude.

Then, I was nervous about riding on the grated pavement.  I had avoided it last summer when I rode by going back roads around the neighborhood.  Because the grated road goes up and down a hill, I have been hesitant to ride it on two wheels.  But I took the challenge head on yesterday and did it.  It was a tad shaky and I won't say that I enjoy riding on that uneven pavement and feeling like I'm wobbling around, but it's doable and I did it.

My grin was still ear to ear when I got home.  Riding my motorcycle and feeling the wind while I ride is one of those spiritual connections for me.  It's not quite the same as my quiet times or getting into the woods, but it is definitely one of my Creator God connection times.  Maybe it's the wind connection. Or the silence.  Or the solitude.  Or a combination of all of those.  I don't know.  It just is.

What are your Creator God connection times and ways?  How do you live into taking and making time for that relationship?

Thanks for allowing me to share one of mine with you.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

P.S.  I did notice a slight drop of gas on the fuel gauge when I turned it from reserve to on at the gas station and again when I got home.  This is something to watch, but hopefully it won't need to go back in the shop for a while. ☺

On two wheels again tonight!

Taken tonight, 8/28/2012 after my ride. dd

Taken in 2007. dd.

Oh the joy, the freedom, the exhilaration!  Along with the nervousness and anxiety and anticipation!

After two years of not riding my bike due to my frozen shoulders (adhesive capsulitis), I was able to take my bike for a spin this evening. 

For Christmas (2011), I got a new battery from my husband so I could get the old girl running again.  She had been sitting idle too long and the battery was dead.  If I had thought about it, I would have kept her on a trickle battery or at least started her up every now and then.  But, my frozen shoulders (and then an ankle injury in the midst of it, along with anemia) took my thoughts.

I have felt ready for a while now (thus the battery at Christmas after having begged for it!).  But, it has taken a while to get it in.  My dear husband was kind enough to put it in for me today after I had attempted.  I think it's time for me to take a mechanic class so I can learn more about my bike! 

It took a while to get her into neutral, much less started.  But, she cranked and roared, after sputtering some.  There was black smoke spewing. 

I found my helmet... at least I think it's mine.. it could have been Charlotte's.  They are very similar.  I found the 2013 sticker for the bike.  I put on jeans and my riding boots. 

I took her for one spin around the cul-de-sac.  She felt good.  Then, I headed out of the neighborhood.  I took a right at the end of our road because I'm not ready for the wobbly pavement that is permanently on a nearby road now.  The front tire felt a tad shaky here and there.  But, I know from the last time I had it looked at that a front tire was a needed item in the near future.  She has a brand new back tire. 

She could probably use a tune-up and a cleaning.  It's an older bike.  An '81.  It's rusty.  It has scratches from myself and previous owners.  It's a Yamaha 750. 

I used to ride it back and forth to UTC when I taught Spanish there.  I have ridden it quite a bit, but not recently.  I have missed the freedom of riding on two wheels and the cheaper gas.

Riding my motorcycle is another one of those spiritual adventures for me.  It's a time for me to be out in God's creation and to enjoy some silence and solitude.  I feel, see, and hear the wind and the road. 

I'm looking forward to spending some more time on my bike!   I'm just happy to have it running again and to have accomplished my first ride again.

Blessings on your journey!  May there be wind in your wings!

~Debra