I have a feeling I’ll be coming back to this post every so often to update it but wanted to get the list down now while I was thinking about it.
Unlike my brother, I don’t have a picture of every vehicle I’ve owned and detailed records of every aspect of every vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, I wish I did, really I do, I just didn’t get that particular gene.
Sunday was a great day for a ride. I made the excuse of needing some Apple Cider, knowing that Laurelville Fruit Company was “conveniently” located on SR56 several miles from home. While out, I made a quick stop at Ash Cave and the Hocking Hills visitor center to pick up some information needed for a project. We the wound our way around to Laurelville to pick up the Apple Cider and have the prerequisite “Apple Cider Slushee” (oh nom! nom!). Got to chat with a fellow motorcyclist on a Valkyrie who interestingly enough also owned a VStrom. My desire to own a Valkyrie was greatly increased when the fellow took off on the bike with a pleasant rumble coming from the pair of 3 into 1 exhaust pipes. All in all a beautiful day topped off by a stop at Gibby’s in Circleville (amazing how these “out of the way” places become “convenient” when on two wheels) for some exceptional Buffalo Chicken Pizza.
Took the same route back home, traffic was light, air was cool but not cold. Riding was stress free and the mind in idle, which is needed some times. Only one event for the day left me with a “rider’s moment”, and even then, it wasn’t a person doing something intentional, it was just a manner of driving that find exceptionally annoying. It’s that person who has their turn signal on for a half mile before they turn, and then practically come to a stop in the middle of the road before actually making the turn. Not bad only having one complaint for an afternoon of beautiful scenic riding.
Every year it occurs to me that there should be some basic instruction to drivers on the road, some enlightenment about courtesy and respect for your fellow travelers. Specifically when it comes to dealing with motorcycle riders.
Yeah, I know there are some “bikers” out there that are unsafe and ride in such a manner that infuriates “cagers”. But, for the most part, we are all out there just trying to enjoy the ride and be wary of those four wheeled hunks of metal that can ruin our day while only leaving a dent on their bumper.