Let the rides begin!

April 6, 2014 - first day of riding!!!  Beyond excited, so happy, can't stop smiling. After a very long and cold winter, which is not over yet, and tinkering with Blackie, she was ready to hit the pavement. I spent the last few days chopping ice and putting down ice melt in the driveway so that the stretch of ice I would have to cross would not be too long. Success! Put down a piece of card board to cross over the hump of ice immediately outside the garage. And off we went.

First on the ride was a stop for the first ride of the year photo.What more fitting than to park her with Mount Snow in the background.

Blackie at Mount Snow

Then it was off to the gas station to fill her up and get a fuel receipt. This year I'm participating in several rides and in one fund raiser that entails to "collect" miles and raise money - the MS5000. The challenge is to ride 5,000 miles (or more) in 50 days. It started on April 1 and ends on May 20. Since I could not get out until April 6 I have some catching up to do.

The MS5000 - Ride for a Reason is a fund raiser for Multiple Sclerosis and the brain child of Paul Pelland who has MS and rides all year round. I'm excited to be part of this event and will do my best to raise money and log those miles.


If you are so inclined to support me in my efforts and have a buck to spare you can donate right here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/DiYFundraisingEvents/MAMDIYEvents?px=12814367&pg=personal&fr_id=22662. I thank you in advance for your support.


Blackie and I hit the road and she was purring. To the sounds of it I may have been succesful in putting her back properly. We rode over Searsburg and the crystalized tree tops were sparkling in the sun. The road was clear and it was a wonderful feeling to be back in the saddle. We stopped for some groceries in North Adams before turning around and heading home over the Mohawk Trail. One of my absolute favorite roads. I love how the road sweeps and dips and has nice twists and turns. Not to mention the views.


I was singing and shouting of pure happiness. It is a feeling I can not describe! My cheeks still hurt from smiling the entire ride. 105 miles later we pulled in to the driveway. Needless to say - it was a fabulous ride to start off the season with.