A Week in July… Summer 2009,
Even after having two motorcycle accidents (and having recovered…) , which I attribute to my learning curve (not recommended though:) in riding motorcycles, that there is not much that I have experienced that compares to the exhilaration of being on a motorcycle particularly a fiery-red, Ducati GT-1000. My previous accidents have educated me about paying attention to our weather; like when’s the best time to take a motorcycle trip. So I wanted to take a process-work oriented psychology workshop in Portland, Oregon. Getting there by Southwest Airlines in 80 minutes sounded too boring. So why not take the “DUC”? Going shopping for rain gear, SmartWools, face weather protection, extra motor oil and different riding gloves was like preparing to play golf in Scotland last Spring. One doesn’t know what the weather will blow in…I must say I was a little anxious leaving on that Wednesday morning, packing up the bike with two bags on the back seat with netted bungie cords.
Boots, leathers, safety-vest, gloves and helmet on, imagining and visualizing my route and off I go to I-15 North merging with the morning traffic, watching all the people rushing to go who knows where. The further I was from Salt Lake City the more comfortable it was to ride, but just had to watch out for those semi’s slowing down in the slow lane. One could pound into one of those babies…not recommended:). Through Boise, Idaho Falls and onto Highway 20 into Oregon and onto Burns. Stopped in a small town, can’t remember it’s name, had a taco and brew while talking to some welcoming servers. After having my “butt rest” then it was onto Burns. While riding at dusk one needs to make sure that you see the deer before the deer see you. Safely found the “Silver Spur” motel, checked-in and had some dinner and drink. Although I thought of camping out a bed sure did feel real good.
Upon waking up having some morning coffee hit the spot, packed the bike, checked all the securing and off to Bend, Oregon and the McKenzie Bridge Highway. Probably saw about five cars in an hour and had the whole road for myself just whizzing along seeing the McKenzie River, forests and infinite blue sky along with our sun. It was just glorious. Then had to stop at Paradise Campground, which was an ol’ favorite place to recline when I attended the University of Oregon. By that time it was about 4 o’clock, “butt rest” and brew, which sure tasted good. Back into the saddle and onto Portland. I was aware of the time of the day that I was arriving in Portland with their rush hour traffic. I was always interested in avoiding cars, traffic, road congestion (learned that from one of my previous motorcycle accidents). Arrived at my destinationed Portland youth hostel. Did some unpacking, had a delightful shower and explored where dinner was going to be. Portland is such a great town, fun to walk with many cafes and they even have a Trader Joe’s.
The Process Oriented Psychology Workshop was wonderful. There were about eight of us from different parts of the country…great sushi & sake lunches….it’s all about that “process”…
I was excited about the workshop, but equally excited to get back on the bike. I had been off it for three days and it had three days to rest. Monday morning arrived, had my coffee and in some light rain headed back out onto the Freeway heading West to Tillamook, Oregon (cheese town), although I wasn’t in the mood for sight-seeing a cheese factory, but found it pleasurable having a hommade cheeseburger, fresh soup and some tea. After my respit I was now riding along the Oregon coast, breathing in the Pacific Ocean air, seeing the waves crashing on the surf and wathcing where I was going. Weren’t too may cars and what a rush to see the ocean. Past Newport and Waldport Beaches and headed to Yachats, one of those special places on this earth. To the Drift Inn (a great place) for lunch…salad, another cheeseburger and Oregon’s pinot noir. Yummy, followed by a walk over to the beach, ocean-waves and viewing the houses for rent. Maybe we’ll do that some day…
Seeing the Oregon coast was just so beautiful while slowly zooming along on the “DUC”. Being on the bike it another way of being “out-there”, feeling the air in my face, smelling baked goods at the local bakery or visualizing and smelling that next Italian dinner.
Stay tuned for the next trip…
Trip #2 was pretty short – rather embarrassing to share, but what the hell! Have you ever done one of those real clutsy things? Well, see if you can top this one!
After attending a chiropractic workshop in SLC about a month ago or so, and I was so excited to have a chance to get out in the sun. So I thought let’s go for a DUCATI ride, and to enjoy simple pleasures, why not put some gas in the bike. Well, have you ever not paid too much attention to those different colored gas pump handles, sometimes they’re on the right side and sometimes on the left side, and these particular ones usually don’t fit into your car gas tank, but these do fit into a motorcycle gas tank…yea, I put diesel fuel into my motorcycle. I never experienced that before, and I found out first-hand after three blocks what happens to a motorcycle running on diesel fuel. At first it coughs and chokes. The the coughs and chokes become stronger, then it starts to buck like a horse. Luckily I was only a few blocks from home, where the bike laid to rest. After syphooning out as much diesel fuel as I could, and adding extra lawn mower high test, and after taking the bike for a ride with the hopes of burning out the diesel fuel and stopping at a gas station to put real gas into the bike, the bike and I made it home…with sadness and disappointment there lay my motorcycle only to be picked up the next morning by Salt Lake Motor Sports – Ducati dealership. After 2.5 hours of surgery with fuels lines cleaned with new spark plugs and filters, the DUC is a s peppy as ever and did it’s inaugural 2K10 ride passing Hogel Zoo and heading up and over immigration canyon to 80 East – and excited for bike riding this up-coming Spring…
A Zen Koen: I will always be more mindful of what color the handle is of those gas pumps…