It was time, we had a plan and a destination. We decided to ride down to my old National Guard Post for their annual Muster Day. I prepped for my first ride with a passenger. When I say my first ride with a passenger, I don't mean first ride with "S" and I didn't mean first ride on this bike with a passenger, it would be my first ride with a passenger ever.
So yes, I was concerned with our safety. I checked over the bike...did a short safety brief...oh wait...forgot my helmet...damn it. I guess you could say I was a little too focused making sure that "S" was taken care of and that her first ride was going to be an enjoyable safe ride.
Skid lid and jacket...check...keys...wait...damn it...no wait...got'em, off to "S's" house. So we geared up and "S" hopped on back, all Harley Leather with fringe and a big grin under her face shield. So we ease out of her parking lot and out onto the road.
The V-Twin rumbled as we putted up to the stop sign. I put the blinker on asked if she was ready and after a thumbs up I pulled out onto the road. vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 2nd) tap on the back of my helmet, "Sorry," "S" exclaimed! vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 3rd) tap..."Sorry!" vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 4th) tap..."Sorry, Again!" I'm chuckling because every time our helmets smacked together I'd hear that sheepish little sorry from "S".
So we drove around the neighborhood to get acquainted and then out and onto Loop 1, Mopac towards Camp Mabry. I noticed that I was being pushed forward and my hips were somewhat immobile in the saddle as "S" clutched me with her knees and leaned into me. (Note to self, need to get that Sissy Bar, quick!)
When we got to the base, the line to get in was backed up so we decided that baking in a mile long line was not what we wanted to do. So off we went to the Hula Hut for some grub and ice- cold tea. We turned onto Exposition Blvd. and started south towards Lake Austin Boulevard.
I didn't remember Exposition being this hilly. Hmmmm...I need to make a little adjustment to my clutch work when leaving the traffic light on an incline. Ooops, bogged the take off. The ride to the Hula Hut went off without a hitch, until I missed the parking lot on the right so we headed down Lake Austin(Lake Austin Blvd. is a beautiful winding, hilly road along the Lower Colorado River) to find a place to circle back. Really hilly now. Hold brake, rev a little, ease out the clutch....damn stalled it. Got it on the second try, though. (At least "S" understands clutches and the difficulty of a smooth takeoff from such a position, she drives a standard, herself.)
After lunch we rolled down Enfield to 15th street towards downtown. I turned on the access road at IH-35 and down to 6th street. We eased down 6th the rumble of our exhaust reverberated off the buildings. God, I love that sound! I could see our reflection in some of the large plate glass windows as we cruised by...this is too cool. Right on Congress towards the Texas State Capitol. There's nothing like the view of the Texas Capitol, heading north easterly up Congress, except doing it from atop a bike.
Then we went back out to Mopac and eventually turned northwest and up loop 360. We crossed the Loop 360 Bridge (voted the Second Best Texas bridge to cross in 2008 by a Ride Texas magazine poll) which affords a great view of what Austinites call Lake Austin, which is really part of the Lower Colorado River. (We can't call it Colorado River when it runs through Austin, now can we?)
I decided to take her to one of the best little stretches of road in Austin called Spicewood Springs Road. This little piece of blacktop heaven is 3.4 miles of stables and rural country road on the north side of Loop 360 that hasn't succumbed to the developers. It is a road covered by an arboreal canopy and meanders along Bull Creek.
There are several low water crossings that when it rains is no place you want to drive but when it is running under the road you are almost on water level with the babbling creek. It is absolutely beautiful! It's only 35 mph and it affords a prime opportunity to just cruise along and enjoy the scenery. "S" indicated later that this was her type of ride.
After close to 30 miles, we turned for home with a short stop at the Arboretum Barnes and Noble for an iced Chai tea and a little relaxed reading. Got to let "S" stretch out those legs, every once in a while and what better place than a bookstore for my librarian. All in all....a banner day!
Pillion's Perspective-
I will admit it... I was nervous about our approaching first two-up ride, but I was definitely more excited than anything else. I had ridden before and enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I remember having an "Ah, Ha" moment the first time I rode. I finally understood why people rode these dangerous 1,000 lb machines. I could list a number of words that would in some way explain the feeling, but really you don't understand until you are on the bike.
Knowing what to expect was not my concern, in fact my only concern was that "K" was not going to feel comfortable with me hanging on to him at warp speed or worse he wouldn't like it at all.
There was something new, helmet, something old, sister's vintage leather Harley jacket with fringe no less, something borrowed, again my sister's Harley boots, and something blue, jeans. The only thing I was missing was the silver sixpence in my shoe, but with the way our economy is going, I had my ATM card, instead.
We headed out from "K's" apartment to my condo to return my car. You could tell that he was nervous, even though he kept reassuring me that he wasn't. But the fact that he forgot his helmet then misplaced his keys, spoke volumes. My guess, though, is his concerns were different than mine. My bet was that he was more concerned about our safety, than anything else.
Our plan was to hit Muster Day at Camp Mabry then a short ride. So, we headed out by way of a little "get acquainted" tour of my neighborhood. (Good idea, "K")
Riding with someone for the first time, always produces those awkward questions and thoughts in your head, "Where do I put my hands?, How tight do I hold on?, Am I crowding him?..." Then there is the whole adjustment to their driving, as well and how the bike handles... on and on things to consider. I knew from previous rides and riders that they really did not care for their pillion to be hitting helmets. (I really wanted this to work out and for us to be able to go on riding adventures together.) But I was trying to find my place on the bike , there were so many things to think about. Arrgh!
For example, I realized about 3 miles out on Mopac, that oops, I actually had about 3 inches of seat behind me, I was so scrunched up on "K," the poor guy. Then I decided that I needed to do a complete body check and research in my brain for anything that I recalled from previous rides.
- Head, "don't tap helmets", dang, I am trying not to.
- Arms, "don't hold on too tight", darn, I don't know know if he is still breathing
- Legs, "Force your weight to your legs when coming to a stop", ooops, 'tap' forgot about my head
Then we headed down to Camp Mabry for Muster Day, which also made me nervous because I was going to meet some of his Army buddies for the first time. Luckily, there was a huge line and we opted for food instead. I suggested the Hula Hut, it was close by and it was on Lake Austin Blvd. down on the river. Good food, relaxing atmosphere, but most of all it was on one of my favorite scenic roads in Austin. I have to tell you that I have changed my point of view since the bike has entered my life: on the bike it's not how to get to your destination the quickest, but what's the best, most scenic, interesting road to get you there. (My idea is the less we are on freeways and highways the happier I will be, and as "K" later said, "Those are only a means to the end.").
We arrived at the Hula Hut with grins on our faces. As we were removing our gear, there was a light banter between us checking to make sure the grins were sincere. In this banter, "K" shares with me that this was first time he had taken a passenger. I was like, "What?, I asked you about that." He reassured me that I had not. How could I forget to ask such a question? I remember us discussing it, but I guess I had failed to flat out ask if he had taken any passengers or pillions. Despite this interesting new understanding, we could tell that this was going to be a success. It was going to require some adjusting and some equipment like a Sissy Bar, but overall this was going to change our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment