my solo journey

I traveled 1337 kms in 3 days on my motorcycle down the Crowsnest highway from Medicine Hat to Hope, and then down the busy #1 to Vancouver.

It was an amazing drive, with lots of heart-stopping twisties. It was also very cold in the mountains! I wore my rain gear even when I didn't need it, and I still couldn't feel my legs by the end of the day.

When I travel alone, I like to stay in B&Bs, for a little company.

The first night I stayed at the Three Bears Bed and Breakfast, in a little town called Jaffrey, just shy of Cranbrook. What a beautiful spot. Doug and Doris were friendly and chatty, the wildlife were plentiful, the breakfast was hearty and delicious. I can't wait to go visit them again.

The second night I stayed at the Italian Garden Bed and Breakfast in Osoyoos. Maria is a feisty little Italian woman with the most amazing garden in her back yard. The rooms are nothing special, but eating a breakfast of fresh fruit & vegetables under a canopy of grapes is! I would go back again, even just to eat her fresh figs.The highway west of Osoyoos is flanked by picture-perfect vineyards and fruit stands. I wish I could have lingered.

I can't wait to explore more wild and winding highways on my motorcycle! In a few weeks, I will be riding down to Portland, Oregon. It's just a quick jaunt to see a show, but I'm told there are some amazing back roads there.

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!

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!

you must be THIS BIG to go on this ride

OK, I've finally cooled down enough to post about this.

I broke my bike.

It's too heavy for me and I can't maneuver it properly. I'm fine while it's moving. It feels great while I'm cruising down the road, but it becomes a problem when it's stopped.

I dropped it.

Twice.

Both times on an uneven road surface. My right foot was just a little further away from the ground than my left, it started to tilt, and that was the end of it. It takes 2 people to pick it up.

The first time I dropped it there wasn't even a scratch and I was so relieved. The second time things must have been weakened by the first fall. The front brake leaver and the right foot peg snapped off, I scratched up the right mirror, handle bar end, and there are some tiny scratches on the tank from the snaps on my jacket when I fell.

Now I have to pay for replacement parts and try to sell it, then go looking for another bike.

I feel like a huge loser.

I was so eager to ride, and I didn't want to be stuck on the back of Matt's bike. I really did think it was a good fit, and I don't think even a test drive would have convinced me that it was too big. I thought I just needed to adjust to it. It took over a week before I was certain that I couldn't handle it.

Even Matt has difficulty getting it in and out of the garage, and a 3 point turn is tricky indeed. I think you'd need to be over 6 feet tall and have some nice big muscles to really do well with this bike. None of the reviews I read said anything about how top-heavy it is.

If anyone knows of a used 2006 Ninja 650R for sale, please let me know. Now I really have an itch to ride, and every day that I look at that thing stuck in the garage is torture.

I know lots of people survive just fine without a motorcycle, but this was a big dream for me.

Thanks for letting me whine. I promise not to write about motorbikes for a while.

new wheels

OK.

I took this photo with the timer on my camera, so I had no idea that I was obscuring all the important bits of my new Kawasaki Versys with my body and helmet.

I will take another picture tonight and stand behind the bike, so you can see it properly.
This sucker is a lot heavier than the Ninja 650R that I tested. I've been having huge difficulty getting it in and out of the garage. I feel very wimpy. I'm also a little disappointed that I had to buy brand-new instead of used. The break-in period is a real drag.

It is super comfortable to ride, though.

I can't wait 'til my first road trip.

my bike

I bought a 2007 Kawasaki Versys, black, 650 cc.

My first choice was a used BMW F650 GS, but they are hard to come by.

It's big and shiny and intimidates the hell out of me right now.

I'll post a photo tomorrow.

moto-snobs

Motorcycle riders in Medicine Hat are snobs.

Riders in Edmonton are just so happy to have good riding weather, and to see other riders out, that they'll even wave at bicyclists sometimes.

Down here, while buzzing around on my little red scooter, not one person on a 'real' motorcycle has acknowledged my existence.

Well, Friday I'm getting my own motorcycle, and I'm going to be damned-sure to wave at every scooter rider in town.

Hmpf.