Category Archives: The Bike

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Additions to the Shrine

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A few months after the wreck, I realized that I had unintentionally created a shrine of sorts, to the bike.

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The shrine contains the helmet I’ll never be able to use again;

the one remaining glove, the other left behind in that intersection;

the photo of me, taken on the morning of my last ride on that bike,

the camera that somehow survived,

and a box filled with the many, many cards I was so grateful to have received.

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How nice that, through the joy of blogging on WordPress, I was gifted with wonderful additions to that collection.  Debby, from Apple Moon Creations, sent me what I like to call Book Art.  She folds the pages of books into familiar and favorite things.

For me: a motorcycle and a camera

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Debby is so clever and if you want to know how she folds these books into art, check out this link.

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Debby made the comment that it is hard to photograph a folded book and I very much agree!

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Blogging has brought gifts of friendship, and more blessings than I ever thought imaginable.  In addition to the connections with people from all over the world, I have gained insight, been inspired, and grown as a photographer.

Thank you so much, Debby!  Everyone – please check out Apple Moon Creations!

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Planning for the Near Future

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We woke to a brief but lovely snow the other morning.  The few flakes that fell were gone in an hour, but it was peaceful and pretty while it lasted.  Lynda (Life on the Farmlet) – those sparkles are for you!

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For some reason, the pace of life has kept me from spending much time with my camera even though I carry it with me everywhere.  I am so ready to improve and have the outcome match my vision.  No negativity here … I am patient (sort of!).

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I do have some trips, for both pleasure and business, coming up in the next 6 weeks and I look forward to sharing the journey with you.

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And then, of course, I’ll be test riding some bikes and hoping the joy of the wind in my face is far greater than any anxiety I might feel.

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Luck of the Dog!

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What a lucky guy!!

He rides around in this padded cart and his motorcycle drivers told us that they go nowhere without him.

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I’m telling you … it was so cozy in there, I almost wanted to get in there with him and ride along!

Isn’t he a sweet old guy?

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And since my camera is in the shop (no photography) and my bike is totaled (no rides- are you feeling sorry me yet 🙂 ) I’m finally posting these photos which have been in draft since September.

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The Last Ride … For Now. The Great Smoky Mountains!

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October 18th dawned clear and cloudy with temperatures in the 40s.  Not one to typically wear leathers, I’d borrowed my friend Martha’s chaps in anticipation of a cold ride.  I pulled out of my driveway at 8am, excited about my 4 day ride on the bike.  The plan was to spend alot of time with my camera and also with friends along the way.

Little did I know when I posted to my blog that morning, that the trip would end the way it did.

The ride from my home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) typically takes about 4 to 5 hours.  I rode the interstate for the first three hours and had to pull over 3 times just to warm my hands and feet.  By 10am though, the fog was gone, the sun was shining, and I was much more comfortable.

My first glimpse of the Smoky Mountains was so exciting and of course, I just had to pull over.  The tops of the mountains were hidden by the clouds and I couldn’t wait to get there!

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Before entering the park, the main drag through the City of Galtinburg has to be conquered. I wish I had a photo to share, but I was not about to try to find a place to park just to photograph the crowds of people walking and driving up and down the street.

Clearly, I had not done my homework.  I would be entering the most visited National Park in the United States during the most visited weekend of the year – “peak weekend” for fall leaf color.

Oh my …

I successfully navigated Gatlinburg and entered the GSMNP.  It was a beautiful day, and I prepared myself for a fairly crowded, bumper to bumper ride.

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My first stop was the Sugarlands Visitors Center for the purchase of a helmet sticker.

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I love to sticker up my helmet. It serves as a fun record of many of the places that I’ve visited on the bike.

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Then, it was off to enjoy the ride.

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I overheard someone complaining that the colors weren’t as pretty as in the past.  Really?  I was just so happy to be riding through these gorgeous mountains.

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I kept stopping along the road and would laugh out loud with the pure happiness of being there.  You’ve seen my photos of the park in B&W, but the landscape was stunning in color, too.

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Despite the crowds, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

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For those who are planning a visit, know that most of the crowd action is between Gatlinburg and Newfound Gap.  It seems that most people drive up from the city, and then turn around and go back down.  Once over the Gap, I kept on going, and I felt as if I had the road to myself.  The sweeping curves made for wonderful riding and I was oh, so happy.  Of course, I still continued to stop.

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The ride over the mountain from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC is only 35 miles, but it took me a few hours because of the many stops that I made.  One day allows you to see just a tiny fraction of the park.  My friends, Sheila and John, have been hiking the trails in the park, over many visits and several years. This visit, for me, was just a small introduction.

An hour and a half later, I was in Weaverville, NC with my friends Delores and Gary, enjoying a delicious dinner after watching a lovely sunset.  It was an amazing 350 mile day!

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The next morning I hit the road to visit with more friends, this time in Flat Rock, NC.  Gary took the last picture of me on my beloved 2013 Softail Slim.  6500 miles, no drops, no pipe burns … just one big wreck.

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Donna, Joanne, Janet, and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch in Hendersonville, NC and after several laughter filled minutes of getting me back into my borrowed chaps, we posed for a photo … the last photo of my original smile.  I rode along some beautiful roads, intending to meet up with my friend Christine and her family in Boone, NC.

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Who knew that just 3 hours later, I would be in a bike wreck, hit while riding through an intersection.  Thank goodness for DOT approved helmets, good fortune, amazing family, and wonderful friends!  The bike is totaled, but I am not.  I am healing from my injuries and hope to return to work in a week. I have much to process emotionally, and the wreck has caused pain, tears, time away from my patients and several life changes, but for now …

I am grateful to be alive.

And I will ride again.

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Peak Weekend in the Smoky Mountains

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In my previous post, I promised that I’d be sharing details and photos from my trip to Great Smoky National Park (GSNP).  Somehow I just haven’t been able to get that done.  I don’t know … maybe it was the extensive oral surgery I just had 🙂  (excuses, excuses!)

I’ll get it done soon, but for now, let me know what you think of these.  Leave it to me to post 2 images in B&W, despite the fact that I was in the GSNP during “peak weekend”?  And as you photographers always say, they really do look better if you click on them (I learn so much from you all)

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Gratitude

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I’m grateful, my blogging friends, for your incredible words of support, love, healing, and care since my motorcycle wreck.  These are the unexpected blessings of blogging.  You all bring joy to my life through your gorgeous photography, your beautifully written words, your stimulating ideas, and your love for the world at large.

Thank You.

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Next Post: The Great Smoky National Park – America’s Most Visited NP

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The First Glimpse

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This was my first glimpse of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  After a chilly, 4 hour ride, I was so excited to be getting close, I just had to pull over alongside the highway and stare.

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This is also my first real glimpse of the photos from that fateful ride.  I look forward to the weekend and an opportunity to spend more time reviewing and editing the images.

After the weekend: my first oral surgery!!

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Photography: From the Bed

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Since I can’t get outside, and I definitely can’t get on the bike (it was declared totaled …sadness!), I’ve been shooting from the bed.  I’ve received so many beautiful flowers and they’ve brightened up the room and my spirits!

Thanks for all the lovely messages of encouragement and support.  Now that I am able to use the camera and the computer at intervals, I am anxious to visit your blogs!

You’ll be seeing my comments on your posts – SOON!!

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I’ve Fallen And I WILL Get Up

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The last you heard from me I was heading off to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I did indeed have a wonderful ride over the mountain and through the park (more on that with photos later). That evening, I enjoyed dinner with Gary and Delores in Weaverville, a small town outside of Asheville.

On Saturday, after meeting Donna and friends for lunch in yet another small town in North Carolina, I headed out to Boone to visit my friends Christine and Bill.

Unfortunately, I had a “slight mishap”, just one mile from Christine’s home while going through an intersection.

Trip aborted and I am home recovering.

I consider myself incredibly lucky.  While I suffered injuries, I am fortunate that they are not more severe.

I have missed reading your posts (and I miss you!) and look forward to catching up with you in a few weeks.

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(Thanks go to my friend Amy for typing for me!)

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Fall Back to Summer

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I love that the colors of summer still shine brightly against the beauty of the changing leaves. 

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As Alys counts down to Halloween, I count down to this weekend’s ride!

Three Days!!