Life without an escape (riding)

[Mr Jensee]

The bike has been down and unridable now for 2 weeks. Already I am in withdrawls. I don't know if it is a result of the weather being cool and perfect for riding or just enviously watching other riders on their Harleys out enjoying themselves with some skinny chick on the back. Whatever it is it is killing me. I look at the Voyager in the garage in pieces with no saddlebags on it and want to cry. I don't understand what I did to make it hate me so much that it would leave me in a McDonalds parking lot refusing to shift but I am sure it has a story to tell. It's just that right now I am not in the mood to hear it.

All year I wait for two specific riding periods. early spring and fall. It is the only time in Louisiana where you aren't breathing the humidity or seeing your own breath. Well now it is fall. The temps out there are ranging from 45 degrees and 78 degrees. Rain is scarce this time of year here. Three times I rode in Arkansas this time of year and savored each moment of it. Not this year. No not for at least two more months providing I can accumulate the funds to make the trip to Florida.

Don't get me wrong, I relish getting to meet Carl Leo, and I really look forward to spending a week with my old buddy Leo (different Leo). I always love Florida. I don't care for the idea of sinkholes but as long as I have warning I can negotiate around them. I just hate having to make the trip in the dead of winter. I wonder if I brought our helmets if I could sneak a ride on his 2001 Concours while there. After all he has 2 bikes. Riding one just seems to right thing to do. After all he cant keep them running well all by himself.

I miss not riding. I never really thought much about doing it. But when you absolutely cant it changes the whole dynamic of your reasoning. It is like the guy who loses his legs but still thinks he can just get out of bed and run down the driveway to fetch the paper, then realizes he cant. I have been riding motorcycles off and on since I was 14 in 1966. I was 120 lbs and scared to death when I was handed the 50cc Riverside to ride home from Wards after the mechanic assembled it. I had NEVER been on a motorcycle in my life and now I was expected to ride it 5 miles to my house on busy Lafayette streets, filled with looney Coonass drivers who ignored motorbikes. In my mind all I could do was plot a course through every backyard and sidewalk along the way. I didn't of course but never the less sweated the entire route. At that time I didn't even have a license, car, motorcycle or otherwise. What if I got stopped?? And what do I do with this clutch thing again?? I tried to remember the instructions the mechanic gave me but in my panic I couldn't remember. Oh yeah, like a car, clutch before you shift, ease it out upon starting out. Got it!

Somehow I did make it home. I was rattled but at the same time exhilarated. The bike would stay parked for a week while I studied for the motorcycle exam. But it didn't stop me from sitting in the garage late into the night just admiring it. It was an ugly bike. But you couldn't tell me that. to me it was Venus DE Milo. Now today I have a real beautiful machine sitting in my garage that has rebuked me, and after all the love and care I have given it. How should I feel? Hurt? Dismayed? Angry? No I just long to be on it riding. I realize because of my current condition going anywhere fun is pretty much out of the question but I want to feel that wind on me, hear and feel that power plant under me and watch the scenery slide past me.
Two months. Actually only 34 more days but it's still too long. Fall will not wait.

[VoyKimmer]

Get it to Carl . You'll be fine.

[hank43]

Know what you mean, here are a couple of pictures from one of our rides, click on them to expand:

hank43

[voyager55]

Time to order a 2018 Goldwing. Update that antique!!

[cushman eagle]

Yes,Mr Jensee,I can relate to your withdrawal symptoms during our Ohio winters .That is when I do my winter service,so I can at least be doing something bike related Since it was a whole week from my last bike ride[6 miles Monday on the Cushman not counting]I took my Voyager on a 70 mile service call today at 37 degrees.I was good till the last 10 miles

[VoyKimmer]

I know how you feel Mr. Jensee . You love your voyager. I can tell by your posts. Carl can fix it. That's why I have 2 voyagers. My 2002 was down all summer so I rode my 96 and drove it to Florida. I had some small issues with it on the trip but Carl fixed all the issues in less than 2 hours. I helped of course but he was the brains.

[Mr Jensee]

Know what you mean, here are a couple of pictures from one of our rides, click on them to expand:

hank43

Thanks for the scenery of the beautiful landscapes Hank. You just cant experience the same in a car.

[Mr Jensee]

My friend in Florida Leo is in the hospital. From the preliminary tests it looks like he has Pancreatic Cancer. Today they plan on an MRI before going to surgery and doing a biopsy to rule it out one way or the other. So far I have lost 2 motorcycle friends to cancer as well my father in 2005. Right now I am numb. I am here in Louisiana and cannot go there to comfort him and his wife. The two have only been married a little more than a year. Yesterday when I heard the news I just sat at the kitchen table and cried. Leo and I rode to Texas just before I needed dialysis. We rode all over nearly every weekend. We worked together for years on the Global Main Pass 4 drilling rig. I consider him my closest friend. I actually encouraged them to move to Florida because Angie got a job offer they couldn't turn down.

Folks if you can spare some heartfelt prayers for Leo and Angie I would appreciate it. Maybe it wont change the outcome but if God can lay a hand on Angela at this time and in the months ahead it would be of great value.

[cranky]

Comforting and Healing Prayers for your friends. God Bless

I just lost a 50 year long friend to the big C.... sigh

[cushman eagle]

Mr. Jensee,I will add Leo and Angie to my prayer list Please keep us posted.

[keith]

my prayers are with all of you.lets pray for the best.