Back in the saddle

After a unplanned hiatus from riding due to bike maintenance that I couldn't do myself and severe back issues (don't ask) I'm finally back in the saddle again. Wohoo! Did a couple of shorter rides this past week to try out the back and slowly but surely I felt comfortable enough to do a little bit of a longer ride.

Having felt the effect of not riding, yes it is a real downer, and feeling the need to really ride I planned a little route for this weekend. I'm fortunate that a friend welcomed Bailey (the dog) to her house so I could take off. I think she saw how much my shoulder ware slumping and that sad puppy eye look I had...

Originally I was planning on doing a big loop and score some major bonuses for some of the Team Strange Airhead tours I'm doing but as fate had it things change and I found myself on a loop that would bring me to meet two people I only know by name and email/Facebook interaction. Long story short it was meant to be and happen. I am a firm believer of that people come in to your life for a reason.

I had a great but hot ride that took me past two minor league baseball stadiums to score points for the Touch Em' All Tour and one stop in a town that provided me with some letters for the Team Strange Anniversary Tour. I also scouted some bonus locations for Hammy's Road Trip Rally. I followed the Hudson River for part of the way, some nice country roads through eastern New York and the Taconic. No LEO's in sight!

On shore of the Hudson

Somewhere around Hastings On Hudson my GPS decided to change the route (can't trust those electronics!) but fortunately I realized quickly what was going on. At this point it was very hot and I was feeling it so I asked the GPS for the fastest way to Mike and Donna's. Unfortunately it put me on I-95 but luckily traffic wasn't too bad. Most people were probably by some water hole cooling off. I know I couldn't suck down the water in my camelback fast enough to stay hydrated.

275 miles after I left my house I arrived at Chez Vella-Samson and my first sight was a smiling Donna watering her plants. Shortly thereafter I met Mike. Now remember, these are two people I have never met until this moment - and yet it felt so right to be there. There was a sign on their front door so that I would know I had arrived at the right place. RTE = Rite To Eat. :)  It made me smile.

This is what is so amazing about the long distance riding community, and motorcycling in general. Mike and I

have "met" online by pure coincidence. I posted a logo on Hammy's Experimental Rallies Facebook page. Mike liked how it looked and contacted me asking if I could help him with the "logo" he was working on for his Into The Light Ride. Truthfully, he had already done the hard work by picking an awesome photo as the background and he had the text, so I all I had to do was to pick a good font, color and rearrange it. The end result was to Mike's liking and I had some stickers made that would fit the side bags of his motorcycle. Oh, you may wonder what the Into The Light Ride is? Mike embarked on a journey to Alaska and while riding he also wants to raise awareness for Suicide Prevention and raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). You can find out more about Mike's journey on the Facebook page he created: https://www.facebook.com/IntoTheLightRide/timeline

Had a wonderful evening with Mike and Donna. Tasty food and some really great conversation. I felt like I have always known these two. It was so right, so comfortable and so meant to be. After a good nights rest and some more conversation over coffee I geared up to head back home. I had a few additional locations to visit for both the Touch Em' All Tour and also for the I've Been Everywhere Tour. My goal was to make it home before the rain which was coming from the west. I purposely routed my return home to stay off the highway as much as possible and got to ride through some beautiful country side in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. It was a nice and leisurely ride home. I got "sprinkled" on the last 10 minutes of the ride and rolled in to the garage with 457 miles of riding and a smile. A big smile - thankful for being back in the saddle and for the time spent with two great people. Oh how lucky I am.

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