Birdie and Peppermint's Excellent Motorcycle Adventure

Birdie and Peppermint's Excellent Motorcycle Adventure –2011

Wednesday, June 22

Flight day for me, work day for Birdie. I had a bit of a problem checking in with my luggage, but soon got it all straightened out. I'm not used to checking any luggage when heading out for a motorcycle trip since I have duplicates of everything in Arizona. Then it was on to the security checkpoint. I saw Birdie from a distance and waved.

I had everything out of my pockets, my computer, cell phone, camera, sandals, reading material, journals, all in the bins. I still set off the bells and whistles. I thought it was my earrings, large silver ones, until I remembered ... and the security person said it was lower than my head ... that I'd had the knee replacement and was sporting a chrome and titanium knee. So, it was the total checkout for me. I was thinking of Zookeeper and how he'd be revelling in the patdown from head to toe, that bit of affection and attention that he craves. Soon I'd been scrutinized to the security agent's satisfaction, and laughed at from the distance by Birdie. I'd make her pay for that, or maybe not share the Starbucks coffee card I'd gotten from my good friend Spinner as a retirement gift.
Being hungry, as usual, I stopped for a chicken Caesar salad at Humpy's prior to finding out if I was going to be flying, compliments of Biker Bill, and boarding my flight. This will probably be another of those trips where I try the Caesar salad everywhere, looking for ones better than those I've had before. One of the best is in California, and maybe I'll get there again. It's at the Four Seasons Bistro and Wine Shop in Calistoga. Jaz and I went there a few years ago and I kept the card because I'd enjoyed it so much. I'll say Humpy's Caesar at the airport is not in the Top 20.

Birdie came and spent a few minutes chatting while she was on her break. We'll meet again in Alberta, at the Bluebird Motel on Tuesday, June 28. I've got the reservation. The reason to meet at the Bluebird comes from Two Bike passing this motel multiple times on his way to and from Sturgis, and never being able to stay because it always comes too early in the day. I passed it on my ride back in 2010, and it was the wrong time of day for me, too.

It's in Claresholm, north of Lethridge and is the kind of motel many of us like – small, one story with a door for each room so you can park right outside, load and unload easily, and just enjoy the small, comfortable and cozy feel of a mom-pop kind of establishment. You usually meet some of the most interesting folks in these places.
At boarding time, I was lucky enough to get first class on the Anchorage to Salt Lake leg of my journey. Roomy seats, lots of water, and yes, a meal. Of course I'd be fed. I'd already eaten. Taking one for the home team, I ate again, but not all ... chicken Marsala, some type of rice that I didn't eat, aspargus, a beautiful salad with spinach, craisins, feta cheese and walnuts with a raspberry vinigrette, pretzel roll (new to me, but good), and tirimisu, which I took a bite of ... and didn't finish since I don't care for that ... yay, my diet aid for the day.

So, I'm sitting here at 30 or 35,000 feet, enjoying the sun streaming in through the windows to my right, and starting the blog writing.

Thursday, June 23

I got here safe and sound last night, as did my luggage. Verlie was waiting for me, and we headed off to get a salad, talk and catch up a bit and then head home. I was really tired. She had to wake me this morning. I'd heard her hair dryer as she got ready for work, but then zonked out again. Oh well. I'm on vacation. Not retirement right now, but V A C A T IO N!!!

Verlie has gone to work, I'm drinking coffee, and while we plugged my little computer in, I can't connect. I believe it's because I'm set up for wireless and don't know how to do the landline thing for the computer. That's okay. I'll post on FB from my phone until I get to a wireless connection once I start the bike trip.
Today I'll relax, maybe get in the pool, go through my stuff and get packed up partially for my departure on Saturday or Sunday. By my reckoning it's about 1500 or so miles to get to Alberta and the Bluebird Motel. That should be fairly easy in three days, or a few long days if it's further. Not like that hasn't happened before where I've miscalculated. Lol. Just another good day's ride.

Temperature at 9 a.m. was already 90 degrees. Supposed to be 110 today here in Phoenix.

Same old dilemma ... what size jeans will I wear? I have eight pairs stored at Verlie's, 10s, 12s and 14s. So I always have to try them on to figure which ones to take. While I can fit the 10s and they're comfortable, the 12s are the ones I'll take ... more comfortable when riding for hours and hours and hours. I think this time I'll bring the others home with me. I've had a complete wardrobe here, with doubles of everything else like electrics and boots, gloves, jackets and the like. Time to downsize a bit. So that's the major clothing issue out of the way.
The next one is determining which swimsuit to take with me ... the turquoise or the brown/tan multi-color. Oh the decisions one must make while traveling. But traveling on the bike is different. There's only so much space, and the cop Road King does not have all the storage I'm used to on the Ultra. It's a solo seat, so no extra bag on the back seat, and no tour pack. Joe (Ver's husband) fixed me up with a bag on the luggage rack, so with that and the saddlebags, that's it. And I carry more stuff now ... computer, cell phone, tracker.

Time to go check out more stuff and make more decisions.It's 3 p.m., and the temperature is 108 degrees. I've spent a busy day, relaxing a bit, but doing things getting ready. Even so, it has not been without event.
I went in the pool after choosing the suit to take with me, and was doing water aerobics. After a bit of time bouncing up and down, stepping sideways, and swimming across the pool a few times, something just did not seem right. Yep, I'd bounced my top end right out of my suit. Believe me, I'm glad there is a high fence between the neighbors and my friend's place. Strapped myself back in and continued on. It was fun, and very refreshing at that time of day.

Scooped a bit of stuff from the pool, ate cereal, talked to the 2012 Rally Coordinator for the HOG rally to let her know I'd help, sorted clothes some more, showered and got ready for the day, played on the phone games and then decided it was time to go through the bike as I was hoping to lighten the load some. I was able to toss some things, and set others aside to take home. Lighter is better as long as I have some warm clothes, my electrics and raingrear stowed in a saddlebag somewhere. While I wasn't out in the sun directly, I was in the garage and eventually had to seek shelter inside as sweat was running down my forehead into my eyes. I can finish some of this later as most of the sorting is finished. Now it's mostly just loading up what I take for the trip. And drink, drink, drink ... water, of course.

Verlie got off work and so we went shopping to get a few of the last minute things I always need. It also included dinner at Cracker Barrel which is one of my favorites, and the grilled catfish. From there to a grocery store, and when I went to pay I realized I did not have my credit card. P A NI C!!! With a capital P. We tracked back but it wasn't anywhere to be found. I looked on my phone and located a phone number (I love my phone), called and they had it in the safe. We'll pick it up in the morning. How I hate doing stupid stuff like that. The clerk handed me my receipt but not my credit card. My sstomach settled down ... but it was a hard 15 or 20 minutes.

Ver and I came back and hopped in the pool about 11 or later. It was so nice, in the dark watching the stars. We're all looking at the same stars, you, me, her.

Friday, June 24

Slept in until about 7:30. That's really late for me. Loving that for a change. We had coffee, got ready to go and then went to pick up the credit card ... definately first item on the list for today.

Then it was a busy but ordinary day ... Mexican food at a place called Abuelo's where they gave me the senior plate of a chili relleno. Did I really ask for the senior plate? I think not, but I got it, ate it all and it was wonderful. I should have ordered two of them.

We got pedicures. Good thing. My toe nails were so long I probably could have scaled a tree. But now my pretty little cranberry-painted toes have white polka dots. I be styling now ... and will cover them all up with motorcycle boots. Then shopping for an outfit for Verlie for a wedding, picking up the last few little things and home to enjoy the pool. I'd also heard from some folks who live down here and we'll meet them for breakfast in the morning, and then I'll head out ... north on 17 to Flagstaff firstly. At least I don't need to stop at that Harley shop. Been there, done that, bought more than one T-shirt and a pair of white sunglasses one trip. So I'll pass and ride on north, north, north, Canada is calling and my friend Birdie is starting out on her ride south.

For dinner? Kettle corn, the best cantalope I've eaten in a while and strawberries. Hey, I can do that. I'm on vacation. I believe in vacationing from retirement because ... you can.

Saturday, June 25

Up at 6:30 and packed and ready to go at 8 a.m. Verlie and I went to meet Shelly and Doug for breakfast. They had their grandbaby with them. Was so nice to see them and have a chance to visit. Hopefully Ver and I can ride with their group when I come back through.

Got on the road a little after 10 running the slab, 17 to 89. It was hot, then hotter and hotter. It was at about the 5,000-foot elevation that it cooled a little, but didn't really feel good until I reached 7,000 feet. It didn't last nearly long enough, though, and it was back down the hill. I hit hellacious winds, and was pretty much running sideways. There were dirt devils hundreds of feet high, looking like brown sand tornadoes, and sand blowing across the road. It was not a super fun day ... but guess it's still better than working.

I decided to overnight in Page, AZ, up near the Utah border. I got tired of fighting the wind and sand and heat, and decided to stop and go try another chili relleno ... maybe this is not the Caesar salad run, but the chili relleno run? That's two of them in two days. They are soooo great.

I'd wanted to get into Utah today, but tomorrow will work.. North, young woman, go north.