12741.4 - 11875.3 = 866.1

I must have changed my mind at least 3 times this weekend. Ride our bikes - it will be fun. Take the car - it will be more comfortable. Just ride Ray's bike - it will save on gas. But I would have been so dissappointed in myself had I not made the effort, so ride we did.

Every time I don't want to do something, I always remember the book "Feel the Fear and Do it's Anyways." So I got on my bike and rode to Chestermere anyways. It was my friend Lana's birthday and for the past week I had been in cahoots with her hubby via text. Saturday morning at 10:38 I text him to to say we have packed the bikes and are headed to Bow Island to fuel up.

After a quick visit with Rob and Tellisa, who didn't even recognize us, I texted Evert to say we were leaving (11:35) and headed west. Cool! Bow Island now has a traffic light! Then it was north onto Hwy 879 and over the river (ew, being afraid of heights and crossing the bridge sent my stomach into my throat) and travelled past all the kids on highway cleanup of the ditches (slowing every time we encountered a group, who waved in appreciation) and we met a couple of other bikers at Hwy 524 and stopped for a quick visit before heading west again until Hwy 36 and turned north. We always stop at the Oasis outside Ranier for a bite to eat and today was no different, other than the fact that we needed to. My bike will only go about 100 miles before running out of gas. After lunch and catching the tail end of the Boston/Carolina game, I text Evert (1:30ish) and it was back on the road to the #1, then westward ho! 110 Km speed limit. I kick her up to 120.

Now I'm never one to be intentionally rude, but I refrained from waving to oncoming bikers. I mean, they are across a divided hiway, 2 lanes away. Don't expect me to release the tight grip on my handle bar while going 75 mph! I've asked Ray the rules of the road when it comes to that. Do Harleys just wave at other Harleys? Is it okay for me to wave when I am on a Yamaha? Ray's explanation was; Bikers wave at Bikers. Truckers wave at Truckers. Farmers wave at Everybody! I only wave when I am comfortable to do so, which is becoming more and more often than not!

After a quick stop on a roadside turnout to adjust my helmet (darm pony tail holder felt like a knife in my head under my helmet) we fueled up in Strathmore (3:15ish) and pulled into the birthday girls driveway just before 4 and beeped Happy Birthday in unison with our horns, then sang along for a second verse! No one in the house had an idea what the racket was (what are you tone deaf Beierbach's?) but apparently the neighbours were impressed. It was a first for them! and Ray and I are definitely all about firsts. (That and killing two birds with one stone)

So after more family arriving, dinner, hockey (Chicago/Vancouver) and crib, we were all tuckered out, but more so our hosts who partied into the wee hours of the morning the night before! After a good nights rest, it was brekky, then Seven Persons Sausage for lunch, more crib (at least I let the birthday girl win. lol) and it was back on the road again.

Just as we were heading out their gate, Ray informed me we were taking a different route home, and going through Lethbridge. I didn't think anything of it. That is until we got to Vulcan to refuel. I was already looking for an escape route. The windiest city in Alberta and you are taking me there? It's like searching for the eye of a hurricane! Driving towards a Twister! And to find out right then that his daughter had to work and going through Lethbridge wasn't even necessary? I grin and bore it. I was cursing him under my breath all the way south as I leaned to the right as it became windier and windier and it kept trying to push me into the oncoming lane. (Now I have practice in wind gusts from either side! Last trip it kept trying to push me into the ditch!) But I made it through Lethbridge (with my crib face on) and with the wind at my back on the #3 we stopped in Taber to refuel, then to Bow Island to visit Ray's brother and sister-in-law, top up the tanks and I was almost home.

NOW I can start to relax, and I start to be daring. I slide my glove off my left hand (can't release the throttle with my right), tucked it under my crotch (tmi?), grab my cell phone from my pocket and capture a picture I thought I could only get from the back of Ray's bike. But I did and now I never have to do it again. But I DID it again down the Etzikom highway, with the sun at my side and my man at my back, and my second trip under my belt. 866.1 Miles since it was registered just 20 days ago and at least 406 just this weekend.

The farthest I've been and the most confident I've felt, other than the 50 miles in wind that makes biking so not fun, and me so not happy. How would 50 DAYS of no fun and no happy sound to you mr razor?!? KIDDING, KIDDING! Just check the weather forecast before you take me anywhere. I can be a fairweather biker if I want to! Can't wait to get my licence so I can ride my bike to work. On the warm, sunny, calm days that end in Y!