only 7 Saturday's left!

So this past two weeks have been a struggle. So very much looking forward to this experience coming up. The emotions and preparations needed on this ride combined with family life  have made this already a version of  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.  If you don't know what it is: read it.  It's not a quick read but definitely a worthy one.  No you don't even need to know anything about motorcycles or motorcyclist behavior to understand it.

So lately I've been taking a lot of solo short rides. When I ride it's a way to clear my mind and soul and just be clear and peaceful.  There are some great roads where I live that force me to focus my machine through the terrain and turns, and then there are the straight country roads that allow my mind to search within itself.

On those twisties it's mostly adrenaline, and pushing my bike through the vortex of the turn no matter how deep it is or how much I have to lean.

On the slow, lazy country roads my mind is allowed to wander. Lately it's encompassed "what is my birth mother like?" Will we laugh the same? smile the same? would you even be able to tell we're related if we were walking down a street side by side?" . Perhaps I've passed her in life and never even known.   Did she ever want children after having to give me up for adoption?  What feelings do women go through when they have to give up a baby? I understand the obvious; but I'm the curious about the less obvious.

Did she know she was doing a great thing?  I hope so. If she doesn't; I intend to let her know.

I have nothing left to do except pack for this trip.  Going through Canada we've had to make sure our passports are all up to date and a Canada card for insurance on our bikes.  Planning our steam coaled cruise ship reservations, and getting the last of the stuff I need for luggage and bike maintenance (i.e. barrel bag to tie to back seat duffel to give lower back support and tire tubes).

It's really heartwarming to know the guys that are going with me. They are amazing wonderful folks and I can't wait to share the road, and this experience, with them.

Time flies T -60 days

For my whole life I have always imagined who or what my biological mother and father would be like, and of course that follows with the "what if I had the chance to find them and meet them".  What would I do? What would I say?  I still don't have that answer and  I've had just close to 40 years to think on that question.  Some things, I guess you just have to let things happen they way they will happen.  I don't think you get to write the script on this type of situation.

So my friends (who are coming with me) and I have a facebook group for just the four of us to chat about the trip. Today a post went up from Chuck saying "In 60 days we'll be pulling into Niagara Falls".  Reality of this dream coming to fruition is a powerful feeling. 

I've prepared myself fully for what I can prepare myself in the physical sense.  I have made sure I have my luggage for my motorcycle, that I've set up help for the farm for while I'm away, help for my job while I'm away, etc.  Chuck and I have also spent a few days going over our bikes with a fine toothed comb to see if we have any mechanical issues that need to be addressed.  We've flushed our radiators, emptied the puke tubes, checked tire tread, and last friday we did front brakes and a new barnett clutch modification for my bike. Here's what the inside of my bike looks like on the right side of the crankcase. 

I felt a few weeks back that there was some slipping on the clutch but wasn't sure of the full extent of the damages so I purchased everything necessary.  Clutch cable, clutch friction plates and springs.   After getting the case open we found the main problem was merely just worn out springs and that my clutch handle lever screw bearing was actually seized.  Not hard to fix.  After everything was replaced, the gasket seal applied, she was closed up and oil re placed.  The performance is night and day.  I found through this project that many folks were very helpful if I had questions along the way except for one.  Of all that I wouldn't have expected this from it was my usual bike mechanic!  I had called to inquire whether there was a gasket  specific for this side of my crank case or do  you use gasket goo? He was more than perturbed that I had bothered him on his work day to ask him a question since he wasn't going to be doing the job.  Looks like I'll be finding a new place to buy parts and tires from. 

A new helmet was a must for the trip coming up as well.  One that fits well to avoid head aches or tooth aches, has great circulating air flow , and can handle my gadgets.  My bike is equipped with communications that run to my helmet.  I have speakers in my helmet and a microphone so that I can talk from rider to rider  through cb radio, I can get my gps directions, hear my music (which is played through my gps system), and I can also take incoming calls from my cell phone.  Our Cb radio systems also have the ability to listen to weather channel radio so we can see what storms may be on the horizon.  I settled on a bell  that actually has a flip down tinted interior visor.  

So back to the nuts and bolts. My bike is ready,  my body is ready,  what about my brain?  I think this will be one of the most amazing journeys of my life coming up.  I just have no idea what to expect which is a little un nerving, yet also calming at the same time. I can't control this, so I just have to let things unfold as they unfold.  I am very excited to meet my birth mother.

Another tidbit. When I used to smoke cigarettes I used to smoke a brand that very few ever carried as they weren't popular. I used to smoke Salem Ultra Light 100's menthol.   Guess what my birth mother smokes?  Yep. Same ones.  I have never met someone who smoked the same brand as me ever.   Is there something to genetics? Is there the nature vs nurture?  If there's both, how does your make up pick what you will be bringing genetically to the table vs what you will learn through nurture?

And one more thing to leave you with... They are clearing some of the roads now to Glacier National Park... Heee heeee. Just last week they were still plowing. Click on the link below to see a few photos:

Glacier National Park