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(This is copied and pasted directly from a Facebook/Myspace blog I keep to amuse myself. I live in Adrian, MI, which is just north of Ohio and about 45-50 miles west of Lake Erie- the destination for my first real road trip.)
A big reason I bought a motorcycle in the first place was really to give me an excuse to go somewhere, without the waste of gasoline brought on by bringing a truck. I've always wanted to travel, even for no reason other that to simply travel, but before I bought my bike, it was a bit- difficult. Okay, so difficult isn't the right word. More like..... awkward.
Well, no more.
I had the day off work today, so I figured, "Why the hell not- let's go somewhere". That somewhere turned out to be someplace I'd been before (in my truck), plus a little extra. Why not see if we could hit Lake Erie?
I already knew the way to Erie Mason (having been there once or twice), and I figured how difficult would it be to find the lake? Just head east until the engine dies and I start to drown. Or maybe stop just before.
I set out to accomplish another first- find the other end of Carleton Road (the road I live on). This turned out to be disappointingly anti-climactic. Like any time you lose your virginity, it was over before I knew it. Ah, well. The longer journey was still ahead of me. Off to 223, and my journey... eastward.
My first time on a major highway (okay, mediocre highway) was interesting. The speed and traffic weren't bad. The 300 mph wind out of the south? That was a different story. I think I had my bike at a permanent 45 degree angle all the way to Luna Pier, which was my eventual destination.
Once 223 petered out into the various back roads around Whiteford, Erie, and Luna Pier, the ride became even MORE fun. Potholes, lumps, bumps, you name it. When I rode my motorcycle for the first time, I thought the suspension was soft as hell. After riding down a few of those roads, I had changed my mind.
Once I made it through Erie, I found myself in uncharted territory- for all of about five minutes. After that, the road pretty much ended, and I found myself- here.
Yeah, so it's not that exciting of a place. There's a few reasons it's pretty cool to me, though. First off, I love the Great Lakes. There's something about seeing an uninterrupted horizon that's humbling. Second, way back when, when I was but a wee lad, my Great Grandma used to live in Luna Pier. Sometimes, when she got particularly boring, my dad would take my brothers and I to this very pier. This chance to walk down memory lane was something kinda cool.
Funny. It seemed so much bigger back then.
(Just to prove I was ACTUALLY there)
Of course, I wouldn't have went anywhere without this guy (who continues to run like a champ, despite being almost 30 years old and was "fixed" by a complete nincompoop- me).
The ride back was much the same as the ride there, except for a few more learning lessons.
- Riding west is a lot windier than riding east.
- My bike has enough acceleration in ANY gear to fling me off the back, should is so choose.
- I need to get my throttle lock fixed, so I'm actually able to flex my right hand occasionally.
- I'm not sure if I'm EVER going on the Freeway without a fairing. 60/65 mph is bad enough.
- I'm terrible at reversing into a parking spot.
- Definitely need to work on getting my back stronger should I want to do some longer rides (and I do, eventually).
When I got home (after stopping for Wendy's), another surprise was waiting for me. A new key chain I had ordered special for my bike. I can't wait to get on the road with it!
Yeah, I'm a bit of an aviation enthusiast as well.
(Of course, immediately after this my alternator, or whatever passes for one on these bikes, decided to take a crap on me, so the battery no longer charges. Found THAT out the hard way today, when it decided not to start halfway through a trip. Finished the trip by towing it back home on a trailer. Guess I got plans for the rest of this week!)
A big reason I bought a motorcycle in the first place was really to give me an excuse to go somewhere, without the waste of gasoline brought on by bringing a truck. I've always wanted to travel, even for no reason other that to simply travel, but before I bought my bike, it was a bit- difficult. Okay, so difficult isn't the right word. More like..... awkward.
Well, no more.
I had the day off work today, so I figured, "Why the hell not- let's go somewhere". That somewhere turned out to be someplace I'd been before (in my truck), plus a little extra. Why not see if we could hit Lake Erie?
I already knew the way to Erie Mason (having been there once or twice), and I figured how difficult would it be to find the lake? Just head east until the engine dies and I start to drown. Or maybe stop just before.
I set out to accomplish another first- find the other end of Carleton Road (the road I live on). This turned out to be disappointingly anti-climactic. Like any time you lose your virginity, it was over before I knew it. Ah, well. The longer journey was still ahead of me. Off to 223, and my journey... eastward.
My first time on a major highway (okay, mediocre highway) was interesting. The speed and traffic weren't bad. The 300 mph wind out of the south? That was a different story. I think I had my bike at a permanent 45 degree angle all the way to Luna Pier, which was my eventual destination.
Once 223 petered out into the various back roads around Whiteford, Erie, and Luna Pier, the ride became even MORE fun. Potholes, lumps, bumps, you name it. When I rode my motorcycle for the first time, I thought the suspension was soft as hell. After riding down a few of those roads, I had changed my mind.
Once I made it through Erie, I found myself in uncharted territory- for all of about five minutes. After that, the road pretty much ended, and I found myself- here.
Yeah, so it's not that exciting of a place. There's a few reasons it's pretty cool to me, though. First off, I love the Great Lakes. There's something about seeing an uninterrupted horizon that's humbling. Second, way back when, when I was but a wee lad, my Great Grandma used to live in Luna Pier. Sometimes, when she got particularly boring, my dad would take my brothers and I to this very pier. This chance to walk down memory lane was something kinda cool.
Funny. It seemed so much bigger back then.
(Just to prove I was ACTUALLY there)
Of course, I wouldn't have went anywhere without this guy (who continues to run like a champ, despite being almost 30 years old and was "fixed" by a complete nincompoop- me).
The ride back was much the same as the ride there, except for a few more learning lessons.
- Riding west is a lot windier than riding east.
- My bike has enough acceleration in ANY gear to fling me off the back, should is so choose.
- I need to get my throttle lock fixed, so I'm actually able to flex my right hand occasionally.
- I'm not sure if I'm EVER going on the Freeway without a fairing. 60/65 mph is bad enough.
- I'm terrible at reversing into a parking spot.
- Definitely need to work on getting my back stronger should I want to do some longer rides (and I do, eventually).
When I got home (after stopping for Wendy's), another surprise was waiting for me. A new key chain I had ordered special for my bike. I can't wait to get on the road with it!
Yeah, I'm a bit of an aviation enthusiast as well.
(Of course, immediately after this my alternator, or whatever passes for one on these bikes, decided to take a crap on me, so the battery no longer charges. Found THAT out the hard way today, when it decided not to start halfway through a trip. Finished the trip by towing it back home on a trailer. Guess I got plans for the rest of this week!)
(More than once...)
(Sold back to Maximan)
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