He asked How and Why did I get into Motorbikes?

Thanks Gary for the invitation of your question.

Years ago as a small child my brothers all had bikes. They would take me on rides and I loved it, but thought that only boys rode these things.
Well in 2007 (many many years later) I came home from visiting my children and grandchildren, out in CO and my husband had bought a Shadow 1100. I enjoyed riding on the back for the summer and then asked if he thought I could handle one for myself. He said sure, so Sept. of that year I found one I liked also a Shadow, a 750 Aero, on ebay. I won the bid and brought it home that weekend. It only had 3800 miles on it. So excited, once we got it home I jumped on without any training and rode up and down my road, but then on our first real ride, all geared up, I dropped it on the first big curve. Och, what a shocker, I decided to back off and I take the class. Got that done in Oct. but still scared when I would get on the 750. I would take to parking lots and ride and ride, but I could not conquer that fear. I found a 250 Rebel, and rode that the next year when ever I went out by myself and the 750 when riding with my husband. By 09 I only rode the Aero. I now have 30,000 miles on it and love the freedom of riding. I would love to hit every state here in the US some day. I am a 51 year old grandma of 9 beautiful grandbabies and 2 more on the way, that loves to get out and explore the roads less traveled.

More back roads

Nice trip again with many back roads to explore.

Back Tracking

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So a few post back I talked about riding past some woods that were a bit strange, but I did not get any pictures of them.   Well I went back and found them.  The first ones of the platforms in the wood with chairs and benches on them were on Wood Rd. just off of 47 near Richwood.  I often have to go up there to pick up parts for Paul, so I checked it out this last time I went up, was in my cage.

These remind me of a game I once played called myst.  There were paths in the woods with little platforms  for resting.

These other woods are on Church Rd. off of 245 and after showing Paul the pictures he said it must be a Maple syrup collecting woods.  This building was near the woods and it was a large woods with these lines all over it.  

Here is another holding bin, I would like to know more about how then go about collecting it all.  None of the lines seemed to be in the trees, just tied around them.

Just thought it to be very interesting, it took me a while to find these woods.  I had ridden past them once before but was not sure where I had seen them.  Did google earth to see all the woods in the area I had ridden and then found the biggest woods and headed there on my bike for this picture taking ride.

Fall Ride

This ride was coming home from our church women's retreat.  Was up near  Bellefountaine  very enjoyable ride home, after a great time with some wonderful women.

At the retreat we were able to ride horses so about 1 hour before this shot I had been on a horse  doing a 1 hr trail ride.  Was fun coming upon these horse getting refreshed in the water.

Was a great ride today,  I took my camera but forgot the memory card.  So this picture is taken with my phone.  I rode to pick up a combine part for Paul up near Richwood. I did 47 to Prospect and then down this road, River Rd.,  it was so peaceful.  I used ear plugs today and everything seemed so much softer and peaceful, my pipes, my music, and my attitude.  As I drove slowly down this road  the leaves were falling,  loved it.  I so enjoyed this God time. Talking with Him  is one of my favorite things to do as I ride alone.
I rode yesterday also for a couple hours in the afternoon and found many new roads.  There are so many out there with not much use, just waiting for travelers to pass by.  I did saw 2 things that were a bit strange and I should go back and find them. One was yesterday, a forest with lines or strings  going all through it.  That would have been near Bellefountaine off of twp rd. 187 or Church Rd. or there abouts.  The other was today I think it is on Boundary Rd. near Prospect or maybe it was Woods Rd.   It had platforms through out the woods and they had white chairs on them.  Strange, I should stop and take pictures when I see such things but for some reason I keep right on going and then ponder on it and wished I had stopped.   I should try to find them again and get photos.

Triple Nickel for the third time.

We met at Motohio at 9:15am, I took the freeway there the whole way.  270 south all the way till the east side then onto 70 then to Brice rd.  Margaret, Dru, Susan and I.  The Officers Ride.  
Margaret lead us to Zanesfield traveling mainly 204, was a very nice drive.  Once we got into Z we got gas and then decided to eat before we head to 555.
We ate at the Nicol's Resturant, I have wanted to go there a long time because of the name.  After lunch they all thought they better get thier rain gear on.  I didn't because I didn't bring any.  We finally head out and get to 555 going south.  I have driven 555 2 times before but always came up north.   Going south seemed alot tougher then north.  Not sure why but I enjoyed it soooo much.  Was so fun.  I need to do it again.  There were a couple times that I felt scared a bit.  Once we got down there we ended up on a small road right along the Ohio river.  We found a parking lot to take off the rain gear and check the tires.  Susan and I wanted to get  back as quick as possible so we took off and got on 50 then 33.  Stoped and got gas soon after Athens.  Then drove straight home which was a long stretch with out stopping, 117.  I usually stop every 75 to 100 miles, so this was long for me, I was hungry and tired and thought as soon as I get off of 270 I would stop but I just decided to push on home.  Got home around 5:20pm/  Great ride!!!

Annie Oakley

We had a nice ride to Greenville today, there were 6 of us that went to celebrate Annie Oakley's birthday.  We visited the Garst Museum then a park monument, grave sight and then her birth monument.  On our walk to the museum we came to the Maid Rite restaurant and stopped to eat.   They were packed with ppl, and the place was cute with the gum wall, but the sandwich was kinda weird.  We could not figure out the attraction.  Other then its been there forever.

After all of that we head back since we are north we shoot over on 47 to Bellefontaine  and stopped at a DQ which was around 4:00.  Jumped on 33 highway for home, I was home by 5:30.  Weather was great, good time!  Will post pictures later, to tired tonight.

This is the back side of the restaurant, with gum, all the outside walls have gum on it.   

The grave site.

Our Guest

This morning we said good-by to a new friend a fellow traveler that enjoys the road less traveled.  We joined a group called Motorcycle Travel Network.  Which is all over US and Canada, maybe even other countries, I am not sure.  Anyways it is a great way to travel and save on lodging and meet like minded friends.  Last night we had our first guest and she was a wonderful person that was fun to get to know.  Coralee has traveled 25000 miles or so in the past 2 1/2 years. She came around 5, got her settled and then went out to eat. Came home and visited on the front porch and then I took her for a small ride around the country side to see our covered bridges that are close by.  This morning then we had breakfast and then she was on her way.  We so enjoyed her stories and hope to continue a friendship.  I hope to ride with her someday soon.
Really excited about the MTN, hope to use it a lot.  Coralee has used it many times in her travels.

More back roads.

Beautiful day, the weather was perfect for riding.  I planned to meet Annie to show how I do my mapping with my Tomtom in Reynoldsburg.  So I thought I am going to make a full days ride out of this so I mapped out a route that took me up into Amish country, through Sunbury and Uttica, then over to rt. 60 out of Warsaw. I really enjoyed to ride, saw horse and buggies and little Amish children.   I wish I could have taken pictures of it all.  Also at one spot a deer stepped out of the woods and just looked at me I honked my horn a few times and he headed back into the woods.  I need to hang my camera around my neck instead of attached to the bike then I could aim it at things I want to get better.  Well I was enjoying my ride so much and I thought I was on schedule but I really missed up.  And some how with all the turn arounds, missed turns and road closings.  I was an hour off on my estimate of when I would get there. I took 70 instead of 40 over and that helped me get there sooner just because I traveled much faster on the freeway.  Did not enjoy that part of my ride at all.   She had to wait an hour for me,  Oh I felt so bad. I hate being 10 min.  late, this was really hard, we talked on the phone when I still had an hr to get there.  I told her she did not have to wait on me but she was very nice about it and she waited.  Here are some of my pictures. Notice the beautiful sky!!

Sat. 6/18/11

So I went riding thinking I was meeting up with a group, but they canceled due to the forecast.  Well here I am on the south east side of Columbus, rode the freeway here and I am not going to back track.    

 I head south and west and figure I will  just travel below and around Cols.   I discover nice farm land on small back roads.  I really enjoy this kind of travel.  Just head south and west.   These are the pictures I took as I was driving along.

 The sky was starting to look scary, but it seemed much further south and I felt I would make it home before it hits.  I drove into known territory between London and West Jefferson.   As I get closer to home it starts raining, so I stopped under a car port at Rosedale college.  Darn, this is the 3rd time this week of getting caught in the rain, always when I am heading home.  Well, I get my suit on and it looks like it is getting lighter, so I take off.  Oh my, it is coming down hard, on rt 4 I passed 4 cars stopped because it was so hard.  I drive on.

 I get home and I am totally soaked all the way through.  The suite is no good.  Gotta get a new one.

cute little church

look at those clouds