Receiving a motorcycle care package...priceless.

Chinese was the food of the day. My fortune cookie's fortune was a bit odd.

I never receive anything in the mail. Well, other than bills, but those don't count. Maybe it's because my neighbor moved my mailbox without my permission that awesome letters and postcards get lost in the mail...

Anyhow, it wasn't too long ago that the annual Women's Sportbike Rally took place at the Gap. Last year I was really hoping to be able to make the one in 2012; Unfortunately, I had to sit this year out, too.

To my delight, there was a small package in the mailbox with my name on it from a blonde from afar (Funny or spooky? I haven't quite decided). Inside I found all the goodies shared with the riders who were able to attend the rally. Another thank-you to my good friend in Georgia (Thanks, girl!).

This gesture certainly reminded me of the biker's code which can be read at this post.

This blog is brought to you by the lovely (biased opinion, we know) Stone Turtle – Lodging, a small family owned and operated hotel / lodging business near Lawton, Oklahoma, Fort Sill,  the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Meers and Medicine Park. Yeah, that’s right we’re a small lodging business close to all the awesomeness Oklahoma has to offer!!

Just another lovely evening at STR

It was the end of another amazing day at Stone Turtle Ranch Lodging, and the sunset the other day was absolutely amazing; I just had to share.

 Oklahoma has some amazing sunsets, but I haven't seen one this colorful in a while. It was nice to just sit back and enjoy something so simple.

You can kind of see the moon in the background. I saw the coolest shooting star while out riding.

Blueberry's odometer reads 40,157.

Wow! Where have all the miles gone?

We've certainly had some great times. Here's to many more miles!

My current unconventional  guardian "bell."

Engine Rebuild video

Someone shared this Youtube video with me on Facebook. All I can say is this: LOVE IT! Brought back all of the glory of the engine rebuilds I've done with none of the work.

Sometimes city folk just make me sick

So I've lived out in "the sticks" for most of my life. Out where I live, it isn't uncommon to see coyotes, bobcats, tarantulas, and snakes cross over the road. It's just a part of life.

Well, these last couple of years a lot of suburbanites have been moving out. Besides not waving, they have a lot of weird habits.

Today after riding through the refuge, I was behind an old neighbor and one of these new suburbanites. I saw old neighbor drive around something, and the new neighbor slowed down. She then swerved to the right, hit her brakes,put her car in reverse, and then continued on.

As I drove by, cow pastures on both sides, the rattlesnake, which had been cruelly run over, was rattling its rattle with the last breath of life.

My relaxing ride was ruined.

Honey To-Do List

Minus the Honey. Guess that just makes it my to-do list.

Seems like this time of year always finds me with a long to-do list. So Blueberry maintenance:
1. New tires.
2. Cut and adjust chain.
3. New shocks.
4. New front brake disc.
5. New from brakes.

 And, last, but certainly not least:
6. Get a decent job so 1-5 can be afforded.

There's a reason I haven't been riding or blogging much; I've been finishing up my master's degree and have been somewhat busy. Now I find myself searching for a career. It's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. So if you know of any motorcycle- or hotel related jobs, be so kind as to let a rider know!

Just another ride

As I'm riding down my road in the sweltering late-afternoon Oklahoma  sun jamming out to "I fought the law," I pass this older, hefty woman on a Harley. As I continued to the house I noticed that she had turned around and was following me. I'm always up for meeting someone as spontaneous as me so I was planning on stopping. To my surprise, it wasn't a large woman, but rather an older, hefty guy who then proceeded to ask me out for a drink (convenient living on a street with a bar, eh?). I politely declined since I had people to see and things to do.

Hello, Hobart! Almost as in Vice President.

So of all the years I've been riding out to Lake Altus and driving by Hobart, I've never actually taken the time to take a look at this small little town in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. Serendipity was my friend today; I never thought one could learn so much in such a small town. Before I get ahead of myself, let me start by mentioning to all the motorcyclists that HWY 115 north of Meers turns into a mess of gravel shortly before Saddle Mtn and Hwy 19.

On one of the curves these ruins can be found. Well, not directly on the curve, but you get the drift. I've never stopped because I didn't want to give up one of the few fun 90 degree turns. Anyhow, I finally pulled over to check it out. This is the Victory School which was built in 1929. Apparently the little building ruins to the right and left of the school were outhouses.

Welcome to Hobart. Which was named after Vice President Garret Hobart (VP 1897-1899). Turning off onto Main Street will bring you into the heart of the charming Oklahoma town.

If you find yourself in Hobart, I highly recommend stopping by this museum. Going in, I really didn't think one could spend a couple of hours in that small old train depot. You'll find a ton of information on the Southwestern Oklahoma area. Admission is free, but they do accept donations. During the summer, it's open Monday through Saturday. Winter, Monday through Friday. I'd like to thank the wonderful lady in the museum who offered her informative services.

This is a retouched picture from 1916 on the set of one of the first motion picture made on location. The film was called "Buffalo Hunter" and filmed in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. I think they ran out of money and weren't able to complete the movie.

.

 The old pictures found here are all located at the museum. Plus many, many more. If you go, you'll most certainly learn about the Babbs Switch tragedy of 1924 where Santa accidentally started a fire which claimed the lives of 36 people at the Christmas service at the Babbs Switch School. Bad Santa. The memorial can be found between Roosevelt and Hobart.

Places to eat in Hobart!

Sure, there's a Sonic, but why eat at a chain when you can support a local business??? Since I wasn't able to stay and eat in Hobart (next time, I promise!), here are some places to check out:

Bedlam Sports Bar & Grill-110 W 11th St

Big-A-Burger- 418 S. Jefferson

Jay's Bakery-117 W. 5th St

Kozy Diner-214 Main Street

Main Street Grill- 219 S. Main St

Chinese and Mexican food can also be found.

I'd heard of a place called Friendship so I had to check it out since it was on the way home...well, basically. Welcome to Friendship. It seems to be Altus' version of Porter Hill. Maybe with so few neighbors, you have no choice but to be friendly. Not much to be seen here. 3-4 houses, a fire department, and a church.

More pictures on WGR's Facebook album!
This blog is brought to you by the lovely (biased opinion, we know) Stone Turtle – Lodging, a small family owned and operated hotel / lodging business near Lawton, Oklahoma, Fort Sill,  the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Meers and Medicine Park. Yeah, that’s right we’re a small lodging business close to all the awesomeness Oklahoma has to offer!!

Belated 3 Year Anniversary Ride

So the idea that women never forget anniversaries is not applicable to me. I'm sorry, Blueberry! I couldn't imagine owning another bike. At least not at this point in time. Still a little curious about cruisers, but not curious enough to where I'd want to trade in Blue. To another year of awesome rides!

Lesson Learned

It's taken 5 years, but I've finally learned my lesson. I will never again try to organize another ride or meet and greet. EVER.

A couple of years ago, I started a group on Facebook called Riders in Oklahoma. The logic behind it was that I know riders who know riders who know riders and it would be nice to have a group where everyone is welcome. A group where we can share events, stories, or just ask if anyone wants to go ride. The group has grown a lot over the years, but it hasn't spread like wildfire. And, that's okay. We started doing small meet and greets every once in a while. The first one was hosted by a rider at his home in Blanchard on a cold January day. I remember that ride. I even believe it has its own post. Anywho, I decided to offer my premium farm location for a summer meet and greet. 

Everyone thought it was a great idea to get together again. Some people said in advance they wouldn't make it. That's cool. I get it. BUT a lot of people said they WERE coming. So I planned a whole BBQ for about 20 people for this day. Burgers, sides, and drinks were bought (on my tiny budget, that was a small fortune). The grill and picnic tables were scrubbed. The lawn was mowed. All set.

Show time rolls around and no motorcycle engines can be heard in a 5-mile radius. Two hours later, I pack everything back up and leave myself. I felt as though I should have been wearing a prom dress. Figures that I'd be stood up by 20-25 people.Of course, Facebook makes it nice and easy to see what people who said they were coming are actually doing. I was especially mad when I found out one of the riders was partying down at the Lake not three miles from my house. 

Promises, promises, broken promises. The point of this rant (finally) is that if you're waiting on greener grass or you don't want to go then don't say you're coming. It's that simple. Why do people not say no? Is it because they want to leave as many doors open or because they don't want to hurt someone's feelings? Saying no won't hurt somebody. Saying yes and not showing up will, however, hurt someone. I hate when people say things and don't keep their word. Isn't there a saying about only being as good as your word?

I still managed to get a nice short (70-80 mile) ride in. Found some purple clover. I had to google it to make sure they were clovers since I didn't believe it. Random fact of the day: the leaves and roots make a great general immune-boosting tea.

In the end it all worked out, I was able to throw an awesome party for people I actually like a week later.

Oklahoma Summer Evenings

Smell wonderful! There's nothing like a cool breeze and the smell of fresh cut and bailed hay. Love being at Stone Turtle Ranch since it's so close to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge; makes a quick, scenic ride more than possible!

Can you find my guardian "bell?" After losing my 6th or 7th bell, I had to find a substitute. Much better!

Aftermath of the rainy ride

Okay, so my phone did not survive the ride in the rain yesterday as well as I had hoped. Lesson learned: insert zip-lock bags in all jacket pockets no matter how water resistant said jackets claim to be. Good thing I had a prepaid phone and plan which expires in the next day or so. Is that luck or what? Maybe that penny really was lucky? I mean why else would a penny made in my birth year be lying under a tree branch in the middle of the road in the middle of nowhere? Destiny, no?

A short ride in the rain

So yesterday after it rained in the morning (which, by the way, was not predicted), it looked pretty clear for a ride. I get on Blueberry, and I'm a mile into a hopefully 120 mile and it starts to sprinkle. Okay, no big deal. Major showers were not predicted until later in the afternoon.The roads were still kind of wet from the morning rain so I just took my time.

Nothing but rain on my 25 mile ride into town to the meet-up location. By the time I got there I was soaked through. Thankfully, my camera and cell phone are still functioning even after getting wet in my jacket (water resistant my foot). Also learned that my tires probably aren't in the best condition to be riding in rain. The roads got really slick in Lawton. And, people were still driving and tail-gating as if the streets were dry.

Almost no dry spots on my jeans.

Was happy to see a couple other people crazy enough to ride on my way in the rain. All cruisers, though. No other sportbikes seen. Not surprised. The other rider that was supposed to ride with is a new rider, so I didn't think conditions were good for a newbie to be getting comfortable on his bike. Maybe I'm too cautious, but better safe than sorry. I'm starting to think that a lot of motorcycle accidents could be avoided if riders knew their limits and realized that  riding skills come from a lot of factors, but mainly from experience and logging miles. Just my two cents from 5 years of observing riders of all types.

By the time I got home, the rain was back to a sprinkle, and the sun was starting to peak out. Figures. But, it was still a little chilly and it did look a little rainy off to the west. Oklahoma weather. Gotta love it. After that little whatever it was moved off to the east, there was no more rain to be had. So much for that rain in the afternoon prediction. I think somewhere in the forecasting process, the weather people got confused.

To my lovely blog visitors:

To all those who take the time to read my ramblings and browse through my pictures, I'd just like to say: Thank you!

Another hike and ride

2 rattlesnakes, one buffalo, a couple bad-ass rock "cavern" systems, millions of daddy long-legs, and a nest of bats. Yup, I'd say it was a pretty good walk in the refuge. Not to mention the awesome ride. Blueberry is nice and clean (or was) because I finally got around to cleaning it. Love my life.

Found the bat cave... First hike on the refuge where I've run into bats. They were adorable.

Excuse my dirty helmet. Had a passenger on the ride home! Luck be a lady...

More pictures can be found on WGR's Facebook page!

More of Beautiful Oklahoma!

Just some pictures I took this morning on the way to a "waterfall" near Elk Mountain. No climbing today since the mom came with me. We saw a bunch of awesome flowers and I even stepped right over a slumbering rattlesnake. I scared the poor thing to death. That's how scary I can be; Rattlesnakes flee. Be warned.

To the far left is Mt. Scott. To the far right is the "mountain" that can be climbed from the Parallel Forest. From the forest to Mt. Scott and back is about 8 miles. An easy afternoon hike =)

Prairie dogs in the prairie dog town. Watch out for these little rascals, they like to cross the street at all times. Also, if you visit the prairie dogs, it's best not to feed them since their water resources are limited.

Rock frog.

Oklahoma: where the buffalo roam.

More pictures on Facebook album!

What I love about Oklahoma

 

Is that Oklahoma offers amazing riding weather almost 365 days a year!

Yet another close call

I don't know what it is about the coffee group, but it just seems that I always have a close encounter with death when leaving. Today's brush with almost kissing pavement had even me somewhat rattled after all was said and done. I honestly wasn't expecting to get out of that scrape. If riding has taught me anything at all about myself, it's that I have an almost unnatural ability to remain calm, relax,  continue functioning, and keep those rusty gears grinding. My face may be doing all sorts of funny stuff, but my body remains relaxed. Figure it's probably better to face pavement relaxed as opposed to stiff as a board.
So anyways, on to the close call. I turn left out of the parking lot and decide to grab gas at a station at the other end of town and close to the interstate since the turning lane onto Sheridan was beyond full. I'm standing at the light in the left lane and there are a couple of cars in front of me and a few to my right. The light turns green and we all proceed forward. It's lunch hour and the streets are packed. Sure it's not Dallas rush-hour, but still where the hell do all these people come from? Someone decided that he has to turn left into Arby's or that oil-change place right next to it. Not happening, so everyone in front of me is slowing down and stopping while the right lane has moved on and become clear.
I check the right lane, a few cars are moving through the light, but nothing up close and personal. I signal, look again, and switch lanes along with the driver behind me. All is good. I'm moving by the stopped cars in the left lane, when this white car swings out from whatever strip mall is after Taco Bell without so much as a glance in my direction. I look to the left, line's still there. The car seems to be in a major hurry since there were still cars coming through the light. I get as close to the cars in the line on the left while down shifting and applying throttle. The white car was millimeters from my right foot peg when I glanced over and getting awfully close to my rear tire. I relaxed my body and inched a little closer to that line, thanked some higher being that I had decided to wear my leather jacket, and braced for impact. The combination seemed to do it because when I looked back in my mirror the car barely swept past my rear, swung wide, and turned into the parking lot four feet away from where it came out of. A parking lot he could have entered without cutting into traffic. I honestly have no idea how I didn't wind up on the pavement, but very thankful I made it to the gas station in one piece.

I have been observing a lot of drivers lately as I chill out while I ride. I have come to the conclusion that most drivers are complete idiots and don't have the decency to respect the safety of other drivers while they are doing stupid things. Maybe an emotional intelligence test ought to be given when applying for a driver's license?

Oh- Diagram coming soon thanks to an awesome chart a reader made for me ;)

Cookietown, once again.

I think it's safe to say that I am obsessed with this town.  What better way to enjoy a lovely Sunday morning than ride down to Cookietown and have a cookie?

 

I found myself in good riding company. I didn't even get a voiced concern when I pulled out the cookies. Probably thought it was safest not to say anything...

Wandered on over to Chatty and Faxon. Had to stop in front of the old general store/gas station to get a pic. Dig those windows! If my memory serves me right, I don't think I've ever mentioned anything about Faxon, so here goes:
Faxon's population hit its peak of 215 in 1910. The Chicago, Rock Island, Pacific Railway came to "town" in 1903. The town was named after U.S. Senator Chester Long's secretary Ralph Faxon. Senator Long was from Kansas, Senate-wise that is. What is it with Kansas??? Truly, that is the million dollar question. Anywho, the town had two cotton gins, a newspaper (until 1918), an ice yard, a telephone company, a lumber yard, and several grocery stores.

You probably won't believe this, but Faxon is famous. The gas station was featured in..what was that movie? Oh yeah, Fast Charlie the Moonbeam Rider back in 1979 featuring David Carradine. This building had a skating rink upstairs. Not bad for a town so small. Makes me wonder why can't Lawton manage to have anything cool. Not much left of Lawton's old downtown since it was torn down (where was the historic preservation society when ya need it?) to build the mall and whatever else is over there.

More pictures on WGR's Facebook page!
This blog is brought to you by the lovely (biased opinion, we know) Stone Turtle – Lodging, a small family owned and operated hotel / lodging business near Lawton, Oklahoma, Fort Sill,  the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Meers and Medicine Park. Yeah, that’s right we’re a small lodging business close to all the awesomeness Oklahoma has to offer!!

Biker's Code

A rider posted the Biker's Code on Facebook (thanks Lidz!). I haven't read it in a hot minute, but it's time for a double dose.

Biker's Code


I ride purely, and only, because it is fun. I ride because I enjoy the
freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, and the vulnerability
to the danger that is intrinsic to riding. I do not ride because it is
fashionable to do so. I ride my machine, not wear it. My machine is not
a symbol of status. It exists simply for me, and me alone. My machine is
not a toy. It is an extension of my being, and I will treat it
accordingly, with the same respect as I have for myself. I strive to
understand the inner-workings of my machine, from the most basic to the
most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine, so that I
am reliant upon no one but myself for its health and well-being. I
strive to constantly better my skill of control over my machine. I will
learn its limits, and use my skill to become one with my machine so that
we may keep each other alive. I am the master, it is the servant.
Working together in harmony, we will become an invincible team. I do not
fear death. I will, however, do all possible to avoid death prematurely.
Fear is the enemy, not death. Fear on the highway leads to death,
therefore I will not let fear be my master. I will master it. My
machines will outlive me. Therefore, they are my legacy. I will care for
them for future bikers to cherish as I have cherished them, whoever they
may be. I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those
that do NOT ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For those
that do not know me, all I wish from them is to ignore me. For those
that desire to know me, I will share with them the truth of myself, so
that they might understand me and not fear others like me. I will never
be the aggressor on the highway. However, should others mess with me,
their aggression will be dealt with in as severe a manner as I can cast
upon them. I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or
knowledgeable than I am. I will learn from them all I can. I will not
show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than I
am. I will teach them what I can. It will be my task to mentor new
riders, that so desire, into the lifestyle of the biker, so that the
breed shall continue. I shall instruct them, as I have been instructed
by those before me. I shall preserve and honor traditions of bikers
before me, and I will pass them on unaltered. I will not judge other
bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their
profession. I will judge them only on their conduct as bikers. I am
proud of my accomplishments as a biker, though I will not flaunt them to
others. If they ask,I will share them. I will stand ready to help any
other biker that truly needs my help. I will never ask another biker to
do for me what I can do for myself. I am not a part-time biker. I am a
biker when, and where ever I go. I am proud to be a biker, and I hide my
chosen lifestyle from no one. I ride because I love freedom,
independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me. But most of
all, I ride to better understand myself, my machine, the lands in which
I ride, and to seek out and know other bikers like myself.

Author
Unknown-

Route 66...well sort of

A title of Pop's Diner would be more appropriate. So we had a meet and greet for the Riders in OK group; only 11 riders made the effort of meeting up at Pops. The 6 of us who rode out from Lawton logged about 280 miles. That's what I call a decent ride!  Had to take I-35 to help cut down on time (it was already a 2 hour ride one-way).

 

So we took the back roads up to I-35.

 

Pop's was CRAZY busy. And, since we couldn't agree on what to do, we waited forever on a table. Next time I will remember to back a granola bar. Yeah... my priorities before leaving the house were 1) coffee, 2) workout, and 3) check tire inflation (yes, I learned my lesson).

 

These two Lawton riders' bikes almost make me want to buy a chopper...I think I'd look like a dope on one, though. The bike on the right has some pretty bad-ass detail (see album).

 So after we ate, OKC and Lawton riders went separate ways. We caught I-40 (never been on this hwy) and rode out to Hinton. Finally got to see the other half of Hinton. I liked the first half better. With some more time, we could have taken the back roads to Hinton, too. But, time was fleeting. Had some riders who hadn't been out this way before so I had to take them down into Red Rock Canyon State Park. From I-40 and the hwy going through Hinton, you'd never guess such cool landscape existed.

Even got to ride through Apache's Rattlesnake Festival. I need to mount a camera holder on Blueberry somehow so I can take pictures while I ride (sounds safe, doesn't it?). We rode through Binger, Fort Cobb, and some other places where I usually would have wanted to stop, but, yeah...

More pictures are on Facebook!

Nothing special

So Riders in Oklahoma is doing another meet and greet this weekend! I cannot tell you how super duper overly excited I am!!!! Says the girl who never rides. Yes, that oughta be my new nickname. Or the girl who stays home. I've kind of traded in my time with Blueberry for time with a John Deere. I think I get that from my Granddaddy. He always did say he'd be happy to die as long as it was on his John Deere. Low and behold, he was found on his JD deader than a doornail. But, I digress.

And even with all my time spent on the mowing grass, I'm still not done. The best part? I can start my rotation over next week since the grass seems to be on steroids. Anyhow... This meet and greet will be up on Route 66. Looking forward to finally being able to post a route and pics.

My fence keeps growing

...yeah, I'm a hick.

 

and growing...

 

Back to motorcycles...

I'm sad to report that I've been a lazy rider. Not by choice, though! With work (Stone Turtle Ranch), school, an occasional hike, and the mailbox issue, I've been pretty busy. Looking forward to things calming down and being able to explore Oklahoma a bit more.

No more sloppy corners!

Not gonna lie, I kind of miss my blue sprockets...

 

Holy Cripes! My rims are dirrrrty.

Happy to have my Blueberry back and running like a champ (well, except for all those other parts I ought to replace...the benefits of owning a bike, eh?)!

Thank you squids...

...for giving riders like me a bad name.

Yes, I am in the ranting mood once again.

I'm browsing through one of the social networks I am on, only to find a couple of pictures of a totally trashed bike in my area. There wasn't an explanation to what happened only a comment that he watched his friend almost die and the bike is totaled.

So I asked what had happened and said that I hoped his friend had worn all of his/her gear. The response I got ticked me off.

His friend had been doing a wheelie at 80mph and had got cocky and pulled it up too much. His gear, you ask? A helmet. That's got to be some sucky road rash.

Honestly, I can't say I feel sorry for him. Not one bit. A) If you want to disrespect the power your bike has- do it in a controlled area, B) when you decide to do stupid things that could go wrong then you really ought to do yourself a favor and wear protective gear, and C) when you do decide to do moronic things, stop being a selfish prick and think of other drivers who may be endangered by your childish actions.

Meanwhile thanks to riders whose brains obviously haven't outgrown the teeny-bopper stage of their development, I get the dirty looks from cops.

So thank-you.

Got My Sprockets

As soon as they're on, I'll be back in the riding business! I hope to check out some new towns (and actually take some pics this time) soon. It's been a crazy semester! I still need to replace my pulse generator (or reseal the old one). Man, have I been lazy...

Torque won the battle

…Once again.

So I am patiently (okay, impatiently) awaiting the arrival of my new sprockets. On the last ride I determined that riding with the current ones probably stopped being safe a couple hundred miles ago. Yes, I am a squid. But, I couldn’t help it; My bike seduced me.

I had originally thought about going back to stock gearing and pitch, but I couldn’t do it. Okay, okay. I could have done it. I just didn’t want to. The sensible rider on my shoulder said to go back to stock.
That little hell-on-two-wheels demon on my shoulder screamed “TORQUE!”

*sigh*

Riding with the Ducs

I found myself in the company of two Ducati motorcycles this weekend. My sprockets are kind of shot so I just stayed in the back...way back. At least I don't have to drive down to Dallas to have my bike serviced (if I wanted the dealer to service my bike in the first place). I hear the Ducati shop in OKC closed. The only motorcycle shop that serves espresso, and it closes! The audacity.

Seems I always have an excuse to stay out of trouble (shot sprockets, low fuel tank, no rear brakes, new tires, etc).

Yes, I'm also a horrible bike cleaner (at least lately).

So I'm ordering some steel sprockets this go around and hope they'll last longer than my Driven sprockets. I'm kind of going to miss my blue chain... I'm also considering changing my gearing back to stock as well as going back to a 525 pitch, but...I don't know if I want to. I mean I haven't had an accurate speed reading in 1.5 years, I oughta be used to it by now, right?

Because some days I'm just too lazy to pack my own coffee.

Off Topic Rant

Neighbor Rant!

Okay I’ve lived out in the sticks my whole life. Recently our neighbor sold some of his land (the land across the street from us) as 9 lots. Okay, suburbia is coming. I can deal with that.

This dude bought 2 lots directly in front of us. As an introduction, he came over one day a while ago asking to move our mailboxes. Our mailboxes are on county easement. So our answer was no.
Today I wake up to find my mailbox has moved 25 feet north of my driveway.

Seriously? Thanks, bro...

What makes me mad (besides the fact that he dug a hole and moved my mailbox in the middle of the night when he doesn’t even live out here yet) is that if a man were associated with my farm that guy would have never had the nerve to move my mailbox.

Well, you know what? I am woman hear me roar.

Horses vs. Motorcycle

Did I ever mention why I chose 120+ hp over 1 hp?

I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself and how I got into bikes. Bikes have been my obsession since I was 13. My mother will testify that I drove her nuts with my daily bike talk. Persistence wears down anyone. It only took me 365 days of "can I have a motorcycle," Ooh! Look at that bike,""MOTORCyyyyyyycle!!!!!!!" to get her blessing.

I'm a first generation Okie. My Mom's from Germany and has always been fascinated with western books (Karl May) and the idea of living auf einem Bauernhof (on a farm). My Dad was an air force brat and then did his 20 years in the army. The last duty station being Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There's got to be a welcome sign somewhere upon entering Oklahoma that warns travelers about being transported 50 years into the past. For Lawton it appears to be more like 70 years. The internet was a Godsend for those who, like me, kept wondering how a town so big could have so little.

The Compromise.
Dad: No Germany.
Mom: Germany.
Dad: No.
Mom: Yes.
Dad: No.
Mom: Fine, but we're moving to the country.

The city slickers move to the country.
My mom had high hopes of me being a cowgirl. The fact that I never had any luck with horses was a contributing factor to my bikes are awesome thought process. Bikes weren't on my radar while my parents were still together. I don't think a bike would have been an option with my conservative dad. My horse experience was...interesting. In all my years, the closest I ever came to meeting the grim reaper was probably when I was on a horse. It all started when I was 4 and got kicked in the knee by our foal. From there it escalated. I've ridden on the underside of a horse (saddle wasn't all too tight- thanks, Mom). I've been dragged through creeks. I've been dragged through barns. I've been dragged under a clothesline in the horse's attempt to create a head-less rider. I've nearly been trampled by a horse (don't get between a mean horse and her food). Needless to say, I've been through a lot with horses.

What's better than 1 deadly hp? 120+ controllable hp.

WordPress

So, I've been experimenting with a different blogging site.

And, I like it.

Will probably be posting here more often (as well as reviewing previous rides).

Happy Riding!

Coxs Corner

Another Close Call

I stopped counting close calls a long time ago. I don't even consider being cut off by texting drivers as a close call anymore. I call that a fact of life.

But, today I had yet another one. So today after a nice coffee in town I was waiting for a clear window to make a left turn from the parking lot of the coffee shop. It's a four lane with a center turning lane. Turning into the turning lane didn't appeal to me since I'm pretty sure that's why I flunked my driver's test the first time.

So I found a window as soon as this car and truck (triangle) coming from the right had passed. It looked something like this:

All clear. So I lay on the throttle and am almost in the left lane behind that car when out of nowhere the triangle (truck) had slowed down and decided he wanted in my lane. No blinker, just elbowed right in. Trucks, I swear. Just because you feel like you're in a monster truck rally doesn't mean you have to drive like you're in one. And while we're on the subject a F-150 doesn't qualify for the monster rally... just sayin'.
So now my situation looks like this (yes, I can't even doodle with the help of Microsoft Word):

I've had a lot of close calls, as mentioned before, but I've never experienced any sort of adrenaline rush. I have this uncanny ability to remain calm. Time slows down a bit and the only excitement I can muster is "...Well, this isn't good."
Yup. That's about it. And, then I usually weigh my options and react. In this case I did some major leaning to my left when I noticed I was awfully close to the rear quarter panel of that monster rally wannabe truck. Braking didn't seem to fit the situation.

The best part is that the guy never even saw me.

Another Day Another Ride

Yup. I found myself (once yet again) in Cooperton.

Blueberry!

I don’t know what it is with me and this town. I always ride there and have the same damn picture. Note to self: Next time move Blueberry 4 feet to the right…
Welcome to Cooperton!

Winter Gloves

I finally broke down and bought some winter gloves at CycleGear. My first pair of winter gloves ever. Yes, I think I'm becoming a wuss. However, I look forward to testing out my new gloves. I can't even fathom what it's like to have toasty, hell even almost warm, hands while riding in <50 degrees.

Usually, anything under 60 degrees and my fingers are popsicles. I've been itching to try them out since I bought them at the beginning of the week. Wouldn't you know it, we've had the nicest weather since purchase of said gloves. Today it was mid-50s and I couldn't wait any longer. So I hit the road in my Sedici waterproof women's gloves. Oh my! My hands have never been that toasty. With the advent of winter gloves, I totally don't understand why more people don't ride in the winter.

Blueberry Map

This is what my 44,000 miles of riding looks like. Yes, it's kind of sad. However, it totally puts my knowledge of the area into perspective; no wonder I know this area like the back of my hand. The pink marks are the towns Blueberry and I have invaded blessed with our presence.

 

Got some riding ahead of me!

Map- Waurika Loop

 

Click to enlarge. If you scroll down, you'll find the post that goes with this route. 

2 way highway= 2 lane hwy.

Hello 2012!

I can't believe another year is knocking at the door. Well, I guess it's already barged in...In my book, there's no better way to start a new year than with a ride. It's basically a given: if you want a good year, ride on the 1st of January. No ride on the 1st is like asking for bad karma. I have enough bad luck without encouraging bad karma.
I've gotten lazy trying to convince someone to ride with me. I'm not into motivating others to get their lazy rider selves on their bikes. So I'm getting used to riding with me, myself, and I unless someone asks me to ride. Maybe not such a good idea since I tend to be the sensible one when I ride with others. When I'm riding solo, me and myself tend to get I into trouble. Majority vote and all...

Blueberry with part of Team Prospect.