First Ride of the Season!

by Sandra
(Sandwich, IL)

Saturday's weather was just TOO tempting! After I got the house cleaned, I geared up and went out to warm up my White Dragon! :) She started right up (I started her several times over the winter and let her warm up in the garage) and I backed her out into the sunshine. I was SO excited, but not nervous at all. I remember last year as I would gear up the anxiety level would rise to near panic some days. Not today; I wanted to ride almost as much as she wanted to RUN.

I turned her around and slowly let out the clutch. There was a moment where my right hand cranked on the throttle a bit and made her roar as I was seeking the friction zone. I had a flashback of our maiden voyage - this is just about the point where my mind went blank that day and my dragon took off out from under me, dumping me in my neighbor's front lawn - but today was not to be a repeat of such follies. I responded instantly to her roaring, backed off the throttle and eased her into a slow roll out the driveway. We headed south and ... it was pure JOY! I took her out in the country a bit, swung back toward town, then took a turn leading me north out of town completely. She kept wanting to RUN - 65 or 70 every time I took my eye off the speedometer! Come on, girl; slow down and enjoy the WIND! Just went a few miles out of town, and "around the country block". We were only gone about 30 minutes. By then my fingers (under 2 pair leather gloves) were frozen solid. We reluctantly headed back home.

I have a weight loss goal and I'm only 15 pounds away; I had set up a reward of a new pair of leather chaps to match my coat. After Saturday's ride, I KNOW it will be a good investment - my legs were COLD when I got back inside...wish I could go again today!! :) Come on SPRING!