It’s no use denying it … since I fell in love with motorcycles, my other two wheeled bike sits unused and collecting dust. In 5 years, I have ridden less than 100 miles on the bicycle that I chose carefully and used to ride almost daily, 12 miles before work and more on the weekend. Charleston is the perfect place to explore by bicycle and I loved riding it over The Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge.
What a joy to be in Charleston in the spring! Temperatures in the 70s, and the smell of Jasmine everywhere.
This is the fourth and final post about Myrtle Beach Bike Week and my experience as a first timer.
One of the things that was a bit of a surprise to me about my trip to Myrtle Beach is that actually going to the beach did not seem like much of a priority. Me? At the first sign of the ocean, I pulled the bike over, breathed in the ocean air and relaxed into the view. I’m an Outer Banks, NC kind of woman … the Outer Banks is “beautifully natural, formed by centuries of wind, water and sand blown from the Atlantic Ocean, and home to a rich history; a place that inspires a true sense of adventure” (http://www.outerbanks.org/)
Even though Myrtle Beach is vastly different than a less developed beach community, it was during the very early morning hours that I found the ocean experience that I love.
We rode our bikes to the 2nd Avenue Pier, enjoyed breakfast at the Pier House Restaurant, and marveled at the view.
There’s just something about a beach, whether developed or more remote and quiet, that makes me so incredibly happy.
As did this fun time away with friends that I adore.
Sometimes I’m home at just the right time to catch the evening light on the rhododendrons outside my front door. I wish I could take credit for them being there, but they came with the house when I bought it 16 years ago.
Different Colors / Different Evenings.
This is the third in a series of posts about Myrtle Beach Bike Week and my experience as a first timer.
No doubt, the people and the bikes are a big draw to Bike Week, but it is also the bars, restaurants and music that make for happening times. Our first stop was SuckBangBlow, the bar whose website boasts the fact that “you can ride through the front doors, right up to the bar, and order a cold one!”.
The food at The Dead Dog Saloon was so yummy!
And there is an entire wall devoted to photos of beloved dogs that have passed on.
At The Beaver Bar, Brooks Paul, The Prince of Rock, the 12 year old lead singer of a rock band (the rest of the members are adults) played Journey, Foreigner, Queen, The Who and Led Zeppelin.
Almost as soon as I got to Myrtle Beach, my friend Billy told me that he had a few things he needed to teach me about Bike Week. One of those lessons? The folks who keep the Porta Johns clean expect to be tipped.
Need to pee? Bring a dollar! I’d never heard of such a thing!
On the other hand, I’ve used a lot of Porta Johns at football games and outdoor concerts and it can be a scary experience. These potties? Sparkling clean! And you get to choose from a variety of hand cleanser, lotion and sunscreen once done! Great Deal!
At the Causeway Grill and Bar, we heard the Josh Brannon Band.
And finally, on a beautiful Monday evening, we heard Sunny Ledfurd at The Boathouse.
This little one enjoyed the music as much as we did!
Warm summer days and nights. Inexpensive beer. Music, outdoors, with no cover charge.
No complaints!
Coming up: The Fourth and Final post – The Beach of Myrtle Beach
This is the second in a series of posts about Myrtle Beach Bike Week and my experience as a first timer.
Myrtle Beach Bike Week – motorcycles, music, people, bars (some only in business during bike week / 2-3 weeks per year) and restaurants – so many sites to see and things to do. I was there for less than 48 hours and still managed to walk on the beach, log some miles on the bike, listen to fun music, enjoy good food and drink, and spend time with great friends.
People watching is a favorite activity. Find a rocking chair, a beer, and watch the bikes and people go by.
The problem I had with the rows of rocking chairs is that they were lined up right in front of where I had to back the bike into a long line of bikes. Do you know how unnerving that is? Angle the bike wrong and the whole row goes down … or at least that was my fear. Knowing everyone was watching made me even more nervous. Deciding to make a positive out of a potential negative, I jokingly asked the crowd for a little love. Everyone began to cheer and clap and I backed in without problem. Phew!
Once the bike was parked, I was able to grab a cold one, hang with my friends and get down to some serious people watching.
Juli and I with our multi-tatted friend
Then there are the bikes! The models, colors, styles, and sheer individuality of them would keep you busy for hours.
Of course for me, the best part was having an unplanned, extra day off from work and using it to spend time on the bike and with friends. It was a fabulous mini-vacation!
Next Post: The Music, Bars, and Restaurants
This is the first of a few posts about the experience that is Myrtle Beach Bike Week.
I was anxious to put some significant miles on the bike. Because of the constant rain, I’d only been able to ride a total of 450 miles since purchasing my Softail Slim on March 29th. I’m not opposed to riding in the rain, but I’m still learning this new bike and wanted to get to know it better before riding on wet roads.
When friends told me that they would be heading to Myrtle Beach, it seemed like a good opportunity to get those much needed miles. I’d ride down Saturday and come back Sunday, accumulating a minimum of 700 miles. Most folks go for the week; I would go for 2 days.
Saturday morning dawned and it was still raining off and on … but I am nothing if not game, and decided to go for it anyway.
I followed my friends Lake and Juli, who had decided to trailer their bikes and gear down in preparation for a week long stay.
We’d not gone 2 miles when I noticed that the mirrors and cables were loose. Thankfully, Lake had tools with him and fixed me right up. I do have a couple tools on my bike but not an Allen Wrench … lesson learned!
Despite the weather, I was so happy to be riding and I was loving the new bike!!
Thankfully, by the time we got to Rockingham NC the rain had stopped and the sun was shining most of the time.
I was shedding clothing with each stop.
By the time we got to the beach, I was down to t-shirt and vest and that first view of the ocean from the deck of the house brought even more smiles to my face.
The ride back 48 hours later found me layered up and leathered up, too. I usually like to take my time and explore the route, but the further north I got, the more the temps dropped.
I took a few moments to shoot some pics in a cemetery in Blenheim, SC.
And a couple more of Pilot Mountain, NC
The views were beautiful, but it was 50 degrees and that makes for cold riding at 70 miles per hour. By the time I got home, 850 miles and 60 hours later, I was chilled to the bone. A hot shower was what the Nurse Practitioner ordered and it felt great!!
Even with the less than optimal traveling weather, it was a wonderful first road trip!
Last evening, the 10th Annual Ride of Silence rolled across the globe.
And I do mean literally … across the globe!
This year’s Ride of Silence (ROS) was held in 368 locations around the world, in all 50 states, and in 26 countries.
During the ROS, cyclists take to the roads in silent processions to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
The Ride of Silence organization exists
We held the first Ride of Silence in the City of Radford in 2008, after the death of Fess Green. Fess was a Radford University professor, and an active member of Pathways for Radford and the New River Valley Bicycle Association. He commuted on his bicycle almost every day and was killed after being struck by a car on the way home one evening. In his honor and memory, the two organizations created a Ghost Bike which is displayed for a week before and after the ROS.
The 2013 Ride of Silence was the 6th one held in the New River Valley. Individuals, families and folks of all ages gathered to receive pre-ride instructions, and to hear a few words from local leaders and cycling advocates.
After a “Moment of Noise”, an opportunity to cheer and shout out our love for the ride, we descend into silence and begin our procession. In the New River Valley we are fortunate to have the support of our local governments, and in particular, the Radford City Police Department.
We ride silently, in a long slow procession to raise awareness … cyclists have a legal right to ride on public roadways.
We ride silently, to remember loved ones we have lost. It is a solemn, inspiring event.
I’m slowly working my way through the 290 photos I took over just 2 days …wow … too bad I have to go to work!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 