"Biker Babe"

One of my accomplishments is the fact that in 2003 at age 54 I got my motorcycle license. Yep, I did. Charlie had been riding for a while and I would ride with him - as in - on the back of his bike. I kept thinking "I think I would like to have my own bike." He had taught me several years before  how to "ride" on a Honda 250. I didn't keep that bike very long because I lost interest and it was small. There was another couple that would ride with us and she had her own bike. I guess that is what spiked my interest.


As always with me, there are some side stories that are way more interesting than me just telling you that I have a motorcycle license. In order to get my license I had to take a motorcycle safety course. The one I took was at Moody AFB - me and 11 other military GUYS. Should have known this was going to be very interesting. I refer to it now as the "class from Hell".  One particular maneuver involved weaving our bikes through some cones. Needless to say I was having some difficulty and the instructor (Did I mention he was an officer in the Air Force?) pulled me over to the side and said "What's wrong?" I told him that I just could not do it and I was so frustrated I wanted to cry. I literally was on the verge of tears. He shouted "CRY". Just about the time a tear rolled down my cheek, he said "That's enough! Now get back out there on that course!" And guess what? I did just as he said. It didn't get any better but I survived. I can laugh now but it wasn't funny then. The next day he had us doing figure eights - yes, all 12 of us doing one figure eight together.


I passed the course. I got my license. I got my bike - a pretty red and black Yamaha VStar 650.

 Told you it was pretty!  

(I rode it to church one Sunday.)

I rode for about  a year and a half and then decided that I really did enjoy riding on Charlie's bike with him - so much more relaxing for me and I actually think he enjoys having me back there.

This blog was almost titled "Leather, Lace and Southern Grace". I guess it would have gotten some interesting conversations but we voted and "Lace and Southern Grace" won out. More adventures on some of our rides to come later.