I'm NOT calling this Lisa's Motorcycle Diaries

OK.

I've had over a week to recover from my holiday, and I got up extra-early this morning, so I have no more excuses to postpone a blog entry.

I love my motorcycle.

My first long-distance trip went very well. As I was zooming along, I kept catching myself thinking,

"I'm doing this! I'm really doing this!" and then,

"Why am I doing this?!"

My end conclusion was always the same: because I can.

My body won't be pliable and compliant forever. I can't guarantee that five years down the road I will have my sight, or all my limbs, or even breath left in me. If I want to ride a motorcycle, I better do it now.

We drove 3400 km.

The first night we drove to Calgary. The gusting winds were increadibly strong. I clung to the bike for dear life. I'm glad I had to go through that at the beginning, as it got me over any nervousness about the wind right away. It took way longer to get there than I expected, and I got chilled once the sun started to go down, but I did enjoy how much easier it is to maneuver through stupid Calgary traffic on a bike.

Day two we headed for Kamloops - an overly ambitious goal. We stopped in Banff for a really nice lunch on a roof-top patio. The mountain air was cool. Why didn't I take my jacket liner? Why did I only bring tank tops? Well, my first highway ride was in 35 degree heat, so I didn't realize how cold it would feel at more normal temperatures. Oh well.

It is hard to describe how much more connected you feel to the world around you on a motorbike compared to a car. Everything looks closer, more real. You can smell the wildflowers, trees, water, cows (and, unfortunately, the odd roadkill).

As we got closer to Golden, BC, I finally got to experience some 'twisties'. Yay! This section of the Trans Canada Highway always made me tense driving in a car, but on the bike it felt mellow.

The only injury I sustained on the whole trip was on this leg. Don't worry, it was not bike related. As we stretched our legs at a rest stop overlooking the new section of bridge near Golden, I was walking backwards to fit more into a photo, tripped over a curb, and hit my head on the pavement. Yup.

I remember feeling glad that I wasn't wearing my $600 helmet. Priorities, you know.

I was dangerously tired as we pulled up to our motel. I had learned that 7 hours in the saddle was past my limit.

Another motel patron saw Matt's Ducati and came over to chat with us. Ducati lovers are a special breed of motorcycle enthusiasts. I wouldn't be surprised if they have secret handshakes and other hidden rituals.

Stay tuned for day 3 and my first rain gear experience!

gotta sing!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog made me happy.

We were on holidays, so we just missed getting to see it for free, but I was happy to pay 6 bucks to watch the latest Joss Whedon creation.

See what it's all about and download it from itunes.
Joss, if you see this, you should really set yourself up on Paypal so that I can send you more money. I would have gladly paid full movie theatre price for two to see that!

get your motor running, head out on the hightway...

Last weekend I took my motorcycle out onto the highway for the first time.

It was an intense experience - so different than riding in town! The wind reminded me of that time I went skydiving, when they first opened the door of the plane and expended me to climb out.

We just drove an hour to Elkwater, at the edge of the Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial Park. We wanted to have a meal at the lodge there, but it turned out to be closed when we arrived, and we didn't want to wait around in our riding gear for 2 hours until it opened again. It was over 30 degrees that day.

Now I have my confidence back for riding that big, heavy beast. I'm going to need it.

This weekend we are riding our bikes to Calgary, Kamloops, Prince George, and Edmonton over our 2 weeks of vacation.

Pray for good weather, and wish me luck!

When you assume...

I think the only way I will be able to get people to stop asking when I'm going to have kids is to start wearing a t-shirt like this:I know, it's offensive. It's insensitive. But so are people who ask such a personal question of someone without thinking that maybe the issue is a point of stress for them. I often feel tempted to burst into fake tears so that they will never ask anyone that question again.

I am well aware that they mean no harm, but I wish people would think before opening their mouths.