(Nektoshe's) Pony: A recovery
Last summer on ZKMC's annual ride to Lovitt, on the day we were set to ride the fabulous Lolo Pass my friend Luke and I swapped bikes for the day. He rides a Triumph Daytona, the sports bike equivalent of my Triumph Street Triple. Same motor, same electronics, but different geometry. About the time we were 5 miles up the road, I'm falling in love with the Daytona, thinking, "I gotta get me one of these," I see Luke stopped on the side of the road. On my bike.
Very, very long story short, the motor on my bike was blown. Metal in the oil, a death knell. For Christmas that year, my beloved Iko not only helped me replace the motor, but conspired with the mechanic to drop the bars and sexy up the body graphics to make my broken pony, which I was honor-bound to repair, so very much more than the bike I checked in to the mechanic's. Another feather of love for me, for our riding crew, and for our future of motorcycling together. I love that man of mine.
A few weeks ago we set out to join the ZKMC crew for a ride to Mt. St. Helen's, a gorgeous ride that I've done a couple of times but that Iko, strangely, has not. I'd been dealing with a hamstring/ knee injury and trying to push through it. I dropped my bike before the ride even began, collapsing in front of All City Coffee with only Iko and I in atttendance. I was hurt, scared and furious. I attacked Iko, telling him to go and leave me and my failure behind, that I was exhausted with being a disappointment to him. Red setter of a partner that he is, he took my (undeserved but understood) wrath and refused to leave me. We caught a mid-day show of 'Fury Road'. In the ferry line home I dropped my bike again, my right knee vanishing from duty even as we sat at a dead stop. I screamed "Son of a bitch!" and bounced my head off the pavement. Classy.
It was then that I gave up. I decided to take the summer off riding. Let Iko's brother Griffin ride it to work, to save on commuting fees to and from our new home on Whidbey. I'll drive. If I can't get it together to ride successfully, then I'll rest. I'll ride later. Our summer plans will include the car.
Now it's time for the Lovitt trip again. This one is special, because Norman and Kristen are closing Lovitt at the end of the Summer. They can't afford the fire insurance and are moving their family back to Chicago. There won't be any more ZKMC trips to Lovitt, because there won't be any more Lovitt. The route Nathan has planned is simple and beautiful, a sweeping ride up Highway 20, and little more.
We talked it over, Iko and I. Before I knew what was coming out of my mouth, I said, 'I have to ride Highway 20 at least once this summer. Should be this once." So I'll ride, one more time, one last time, to Lovitt.
To do this I know I must prepare. I must overcome my weakness and get stronger. I've planned a series of jaunts, just exercizes really, to make sure we're both saddle-worthy and ready to tackle the roads we know and love. Today we rode to the Wild Bird store for a new feeder. We stopped at the grocery store. We rode home. We even included a tiny, unexpected run up a lovely wetlands road, and in my helmet I smiled. This is what it's all about. I remember-- I crave this. Next week maybe we'll ride up to Deception Pass or something. Something small, and stregthening. I have always called my bike Nanokas, which is the Potawatomi word for hummingbird, because of the way she sounds. Perhaps I shall re-christen her Nektoshe's, for pony, for what she has become to me.
With every tool in my toolbox, using everything in my power, I am going to Lovitt on two wheels, and I aim to come home unbroken. Just this once.
Very, very long story short, the motor on my bike was blown. Metal in the oil, a death knell. For Christmas that year, my beloved Iko not only helped me replace the motor, but conspired with the mechanic to drop the bars and sexy up the body graphics to make my broken pony, which I was honor-bound to repair, so very much more than the bike I checked in to the mechanic's. Another feather of love for me, for our riding crew, and for our future of motorcycling together. I love that man of mine.
A few weeks ago we set out to join the ZKMC crew for a ride to Mt. St. Helen's, a gorgeous ride that I've done a couple of times but that Iko, strangely, has not. I'd been dealing with a hamstring/ knee injury and trying to push through it. I dropped my bike before the ride even began, collapsing in front of All City Coffee with only Iko and I in atttendance. I was hurt, scared and furious. I attacked Iko, telling him to go and leave me and my failure behind, that I was exhausted with being a disappointment to him. Red setter of a partner that he is, he took my (undeserved but understood) wrath and refused to leave me. We caught a mid-day show of 'Fury Road'. In the ferry line home I dropped my bike again, my right knee vanishing from duty even as we sat at a dead stop. I screamed "Son of a bitch!" and bounced my head off the pavement. Classy.
It was then that I gave up. I decided to take the summer off riding. Let Iko's brother Griffin ride it to work, to save on commuting fees to and from our new home on Whidbey. I'll drive. If I can't get it together to ride successfully, then I'll rest. I'll ride later. Our summer plans will include the car.
Now it's time for the Lovitt trip again. This one is special, because Norman and Kristen are closing Lovitt at the end of the Summer. They can't afford the fire insurance and are moving their family back to Chicago. There won't be any more ZKMC trips to Lovitt, because there won't be any more Lovitt. The route Nathan has planned is simple and beautiful, a sweeping ride up Highway 20, and little more.
We talked it over, Iko and I. Before I knew what was coming out of my mouth, I said, 'I have to ride Highway 20 at least once this summer. Should be this once." So I'll ride, one more time, one last time, to Lovitt.
To do this I know I must prepare. I must overcome my weakness and get stronger. I've planned a series of jaunts, just exercizes really, to make sure we're both saddle-worthy and ready to tackle the roads we know and love. Today we rode to the Wild Bird store for a new feeder. We stopped at the grocery store. We rode home. We even included a tiny, unexpected run up a lovely wetlands road, and in my helmet I smiled. This is what it's all about. I remember-- I crave this. Next week maybe we'll ride up to Deception Pass or something. Something small, and stregthening. I have always called my bike Nanokas, which is the Potawatomi word for hummingbird, because of the way she sounds. Perhaps I shall re-christen her Nektoshe's, for pony, for what she has become to me.
With every tool in my toolbox, using everything in my power, I am going to Lovitt on two wheels, and I aim to come home unbroken. Just this once.