Last Sunday Karolyn's posse did its first long ride together travelling south to Coalinga. We took 101 south to Highway 25 near Gilroy. We followed 25 to the edge of Fresno County where 25 meets with Highway 198. From start to finish, the ride was about 300 miles, and we took our slow sweet time about it so we were gone all day. The whole ride was just a joy for me because I didn't have to care about where I was, I was surrounded by people who either knew the area, or had a sense of direction. In my next life I want an internal gyro. If that means I have to come back as a male, well, it might be worth it.

The route was filled with long sweeping turns, some turns in interesting sequence, and some nice long straightaways. I am very very glad that Karolyn took me out on tight twisties only during my formative months. I think that if my early experiences had been solely on sweepers, I would have gotten into trouble when I encountered tight twisties, and probably developed an aversion that I would have had to overcome.

Once we were out in the middle of nowhere, with just wonderful weather, well-paved road with practically no one on it, Karolyn and Peter paired up, and Dennis and I paired up. Dennis and I went ahead, with Dennis setting with what I thought was an aggressive pace until I realized I was keeping up, and not sweating it. At one point we came up behind a car that didn't seem to get the hint that we wanted to pass. Dennis waited until it was safe and passed. My turn.

Bike: C'mon, c'mon, for chrissake, just pass the bugger!

Me: I'm not ready.

Bike: You have one mile visibility of the road, there is no one in sight. Are you waiting for the second coming to show you the way?

Me: That wouldn't hurt.

Bike: (sigh)

I got on the gas. Jeez. I touched 90 mph. How did that feel? Well, any fool can get on the gas and go fast in a straight line. All I seem to have associated with the experience is the sound of the engine. Something like:

Bike: Yahoo!

In one turn, I watched Dennis shift his butt off the seat, and lead with his left shoulder. Okay, it's time. But deciding to do, and doing are two different things. I got half a butt cheek off the seat. Whoa! I came out of that turn much faster and on a much better line that I expected. Hmm, hmm, hmm. Much as I wanted to try that again, it didn't happen. I guess I need to let that settle into my body.

I also tried slowing down enough to start a turn at a speed that would allow me to roll on the throttle throughout the turn. In order to do that, I needed to be in the right place to start the turn, which happened only a few times. At least I'm beginning to understand the variables better. Heck, each time I get on the freeway going to work I can practice, and I still haven't ridden that banked turn as well as I would like.

* * *

Long rides are great for people watching. At an interesection in Hollister, a Harley dude roared by, followed by a female companion on her own bike. Her bike had an unusual customization, a box on the back designed to provide an airflow perch for two miniature poodles, each with their own fringed leather body harnesses, complete with studded collars. No goggles, though. You want to talk about happy dogs? Maybe somebody you know has a cat that rides on their bike, but there is no way I can see my cats on my bike, ever.

* * *

In anticipation of autumn I put blue reflective stickies on my helmet. Within a few weeks I found myself riding home at night after a database class. I had never needed to use the high beams before, and now here I was, on Foothill Expressway, with no one in sight. I pressed the high beam switch. Pop! Hmm, no light. That's bad. I flipped the switch back to normal. No light. Major league sub-optimal. So I rode home with the emergency flashers (both turn signals) going.

My bike must be either an Octoberfest bike, or a "3:30" bike - that's when BMW mechanics are allowed to start drinking beer, or so I'm told. CalBMW has now replaced both wiring harnesses on my bike, its whole spinal column has been rewired. I think the service guys and Jim the mechanic must want to run and hide when I show up. The bike was fine on the Coalinga run, and I did test the high beam switch.

* * *

On November 1st, the sign ups for Keigwins' at the track open up. If the Commerce gods continue to smile, I'll sign up for all the Novice Days. Too bad the first one isn't until April. I won't be sticking to Thunderhill, but I'll be there a lot. Speaking of Commerce gods, I now know what it feels like to need unemployment benefits, and it doesn't feel good. Although I've been paying into the system for twenty odd years, and the money is mine, it felt like welfare. The first check that appeared threw me into a week-long depression even though it enabled me to pay my half of the mortgage, and make the monthly payments for my bike. Just a week ago I landed contract work that will likely take me through the end of the year. I am profoundly grateful if for no other reason than I'm probably easier to live with.

I can't remember getting so hot under the collar as when I was trying to communicate with the Unemployment Benefits people. You would think that they would get behind the idea of a worker taking some classes to improve/add to their skill set, and if that is how I choose to spend my time while on unemployment, that should be my choice. But no, there are rules. And if I wanted that check, I had better follow the rules. I would be stupid to think that this will never happen again. It might happen as soon as January if the contracts do not renew, or nothing else comes along, but the next time, I'll know that my work ethic will be proctoscopically examined, and I'll just relax and take it.

A final note, Trackjunkie.com published an article I submitted - it is a re-work of my journal entries for my two track experiences entitled "Two First-Times on Thunderhill".