splitting

I haven't ridden in a long time. I had a motorcycle safety class this morning and my coworker, through profound generosity, lent me his bike to ride for a couple of days.
I was beat last night and this week work was a bitch so this morning. I woke up at 8am. Missed my class but got some desperately needed sleep.
The day was hot and clear. The weather has been like this for weeks and I've been filing up with the sense that I'm missing the opportunity to ride. Today I had the means and the desire so this afternoon I was off.
Now last night I picked up the bike and rode on the freeway at night on a poorly lit stretch of the 71. I could feel my pulse pushing through my neck. The elevated overpass transitioning to the 60, heights freak me out and knowing I was up and on a motorcycle that could easily lose control keep me on edge. A few times the asphalt grooved and jerked the bike to the side or up causing a few episode of tense puckering on my part.
I was freaked but really down deep. I loved it. When I got home I felt like I accomplished something. I stayed alive, yes, a minor achievement but there were times when I wanted to pull off take a safer route but I pushed and kept to the original plan and did it.

This afternoon, I went to Cooks Corner. Down the 5 to the 55 up in the hills. The day was as promised. Hot but with my jacket open, perfect. A new band was playing covers of Zeppelin and the like. What a day.

After an hour or so, back on the road.

55
5..
Traffic.

Now I will readily admit.
I'm a pussy on a motorcycle.
I"m new. I don't push it. I rarely go over 70mph and I stay to the right when I can.
But..
I was feeling it. That nerve that will sometimes get hit that says...Go ahead...try it.
The nerve has a pretty good record so...
BUMP...BUMP...BUMP...
FUCK! The lane markers were uneven and as I was over them I knew I was going to go between cars, over the markers that could push me, left, right, fuck, I don't know.
BUMP ...BUMP ...BUMP...
Traffic slowed....
BUMP...BUMP ...BUMP...
Opening....on the right...

BUMP....BUMP....BUMP...
SUV on my left...truck on my right......BUMP ....BUMP ...BUMP....Truck moved....and I was three wide in two lanes....then I was clear....

Anyone that has been riding for a while can see this is a minor accomplishment hardly worth noting for two seconds in a conversation let alone to write down but FUCK YOU....I did it...and I did it again....
A long row of cars. Traffic. 20 mph...
BUMP...BUMP...BUMP...
This was it ...this was the real shit. ....
White car in the fast lane....VW sedan, grey in the second lane...
BUMP...BUMP ....BUMP...
White car moves over....and I'm in the crease....passing...passing...passing...FUCK! I'm doing it...I'm that guy!
Then open road!
wow! I nearly shit myself twice and I was three across a couple of times hoping neither one of my comrades in traffic would take a call, change a station or fart, swerve and kill me, but hey...this is living.

I'm not going to make a habit of this but from time to time....I like to see how the odds are treating me.
Peace fuckers...

blog

I helped my brother set up his blog. His looked really good so I decided to take a look and see what I could do with mine. Been a while since I played with it.
Life is much the same. Nothing new to report. No trips or events really.
Tonight, fireworks at my oldest friends house. The guys, barbeque, and fire. What more could you ask.