Zoom, Zoom!

Hello all. I am writing this morning as the precursor to our vacation. Those who have been reading this blog for a time know it has many faces, one of which is travel-blogging. We have been traveling on our motorcycles but have changed directions now. For sometime we have been debating selling the bikes and buying a convertible. The title of this post gives you the result. We bought a Mazda MX-5 and are selling the bikes. Why? Several reasons - each bike gets great gas mileage but two bikes going the same place are about the same as one car. The weather is a much larger factor when on two wheels. One cannot travel as far, as fast on a bike - we've taken about as many one-day trips as we can and it is beginning to get a bit boring. And, the safety issue is one every biker should be thinking about. Riding a motorcycle is not incredibly dangerous in and of itself. The skill and attitude of the rider can make a ride safe and enjoyable or an exercise in stupidity. But, when you add in the rest of the motorists on the road, the danger becomes extreme. True, we bikers, as a rule, are very safe and considerate. True, we have a right to share the road. True, the law is on our side in most accidents. But it is hard to fight for your rights when you are severely injured or dead.

What did we like most about riding? The feeling of freedom, the openess of vehicle, the connection with the road. What did we like least? Needing to wear the gear to be safe - it is constricting and hot. The weather concerns - a hail storm on a bike is no fun. In fact, even a very light rain can create a very hazardous condition - the rain causes the oil that has soaked into the road to rise to the top again - very slick. But what we hated most of all were the stupid, stupid, people who don't know or don't care that they cut off a biker or pulled out in front of one or stopped short. We tried to make ourselves as visable as possible. We always allowed an appropriate number of car lengths between us and the car in front until a car would squeeze into the gap.

My sweet husband and I have both been on the wrong end of a game of chicken with some thick-headed idiot. For instance, when we rode to Corpus last year, we were run into the shoulder and almost off the road by a group of cars who thought the 45 mph speed limit really meant 70. They didn't want to wait for a passing opportunty. They just took our lane.

So, here we are - getting ready for another trip. We are keeping the same travel mode - not a lot of trunk space but we'll be able to carry more than we could on our bikes. We'll check the weather report on Thursday to see in what direction we will head on Saturday evening. I'm thinking West. The mountains, the quaking aspens, the wide open spaces. But, it could be East to the ocean and family...



Or, possibly North...


It won't be South, that was last year...


***please note, all over these images are from the internet - they are not ours but only representations of where we may go. The pic of the car is accurate - ours is the smoky gray...