I'm Back in the Saddle Again!
8/30/05 - Scott brought Altair home from the MC hospital. He looked so good, I had to sit on him. He's back to his good-lookin' self - with some new bling. Took off the pillion seat and added seat rail and luggage rack.
9/1/05 - Went to orthopod. Got out of walking cast and into an air cast/brace with a regular shoe. YES! Went to therapy (for my leg) and did some new balancing exercises. Definitely need some work on strengthening my ankle. As they say, no pain, no gain. Ugh!
Labor Day, 2005 - Got up early, got dressed and put on my brand new Sidi boots. Nice and snug, good ankle support. Put on my mesh jacket, helmet and gloves. Walked down the driveway and looked at Altair. Pokey, my little orange riding buddy, was strapped on and ready to go. I grabbed the handlebars, straightend them up and swung my leg over. Sat down and pulled the bike upgright. Kicked the kickstand back and thought "OK, this is good." I the pulled back the choke, hit the magic start button, and Altair roared to life. OK, a little pause for the cause here. Straightened my shoulders, pulled in the clutch, put him in first and let out the clutch. I'm moving! I'm riding! The shiney side is still up!!!
Rode around the neighborhood. They are putting in a new subdivision across the street. The streets are in, but no houses yet. Rode down a dead end street with a circle at the end.Didn't stop - made the U "fairly" well, with a little bit of wobble. Rode around a little more, stopping and turning. Pulled up to a "real" road and stopped. Scott pulled up beside me. Heavy sigh! "OK," I say, "lets go to the school and do some parking lot practice." Scott brought the halved tennis balls and off we went. Practiced weaves, curves, fast controlled stops and -- the box. It was a big box, but I got into it. Remembered to look far ahead - not just at the next ball. Scott thought I got hypnotized since I kept doing it over and over and over. It was time well spent, and I felt a lot better.
Scott asked if I wanted to go for a ridie. I said, "Yes." So we went to a little town north of us called Princeton and had breakfast at the Princeton Cafe. Afterward we rode home.
I put 55.2 miles on Altair today. Big deal, you say?! Yup!!! It was great for my first ride after crashing on the Tail of the Dragon!
Part of me wanted to keep riding and riding; but Scott, my practical and wise man, suggested I take it easy my first time out.
But -- I'm still smiling!
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