I am back....

Well it has been some time since I was on my blogg.  It has seemed that when things happen in life, you - well at least I, tend to simplify life in order to get through and cope.  Nothing has happened - its just I seemed to have so many things going on that by the time I got home at night, I was ready to just read relax eat and sleep.
My riding has become an obsession for me - is that bad?  I seem to gravitate to anything motorcycle oprientated and in the process the great thing is, I have made an entirely new set of friends.  My life has totally changed and for once I feel like I am me!
I think about why I didnt start riding earlier.....well basically, I never had time to think about what "I" wanted to do, let alone the fact that finances would not have allowed it.
I think we all eventually get to a time in our lives where, its time to do something for yourself.  Those of us who are mothers, parents, caregivers, we all put family and others ahead of ourselves.
BUT now I feel like me again, I have put 10,500kms on my little bike in 6mths.  Not bad considering that was through the winter months eh?  I am actually pretty proud of myself for accomplishing this.
My little Suzuki DR200 dual sport has been wonderful to me and putting up with all I have been putting her through.  She is really designed more for gravel roads and trails, but I have ridden her exclusively on pavement.
I finally tried my riding 2 up.  My son needed a ride to a party one evening when his truck was in parts and my car engine had reacently blown while he had been driving it.  He said I would be fine using him as the guinea pig for my first trail, 10pm at night!  So I did - and I was fine!  My son told me he was very impressed and that he had even more respect for me now that I rode a motorbike. :)
So with that under my belt, my grandson said all he wanted for his birthday was a ride on grandmas motorbike, so the next day I granted his wish.  Here we are....

Here is my camping and now riding buddy grandson Darren on his 7th birthday.  This is the photo of when I asked him if he liked his ride.  We were having date night also and stopped at his favourite restaurant "White Spot" after the ride for dinner.

I have been doing lots of rides with friends, alone and in group rides.  I still have to take my first road trip and hope it will be soon now that the weather is so beautiful now.

And above I was able to participate in my first International Female Ride Day - what a great day we all had.  We had many ladies riding so we broke into two groups.  One did a rural west coast ride and the rest of us did a rural peninsula ride.  I was asked to lead the rural peninsula ride since I had mapped the ride and pre ridden the ride.  It was exciting to lead, but also stressful.  I was worried the whole time about the riders behind me and was I doing everything right and was I doing the right speed and what was happening back there????  Yikes what did I get myself into??  Its harder than I thought.  I had to balance looking in my mirrors, watching ahead, looking for obstacles and to signal them to the group. Phew, I enjoyed the ride, but I was glad to finish the ride and relax.....

With so many options available for roads trips - I feel at a loss as to what to do first.  I have 3 weeks of holidays and Im scared to use them up in case something else comes along that I want to do hahaha...

I know that I have to go into the states and ride because I hate to admit this - I have lived in Canada for 24 years and I have only been into the states twice.  Once for a day trip for work training to Seattle and the other time was across the border in White Rock for a couple of hours to buy an ice cream and back.  Pretty sad eh?
I have a passion to ride the Oregon coast and go down to California.  The only thing holding me back right now is Im a little afraid to go alone as I am terribly directionally challenged and could end up totally lost never to be found again!!  And Im waiting on a friend to get back from his vacation as he knows the states so well and is willing to be my guide.
Well the reason I am able to sit down and write my blog and catch up is that I ave been housebound with a case of Shingles!!!  Why why when the weather finally is beautiful????  I think I may go back to work tomorrow IF I can get my helmet on my head with out it hurting.  I got the shingles on my head and around one eye.

So now that I have caught up a little, I hope you will all keep track with me again.  A few photos follow of what I have been up to since we last chatted......enjoy