THUNDER THERAPY

Once upon a time... in a land not so far away was a lady rider who was under lots and lots of stress. She was under so much stress, that she was seeing cows when she should have been seeing dolphins! (not really, but I thought it would be funny to tie-in to my Friday post!)  She knew she had to get herself back on track, so she loaded up the Boy, and headed south to Panama City Beach to get some therapy... Thunder Beach Therapy.

 
No appointment necessary... the doctor is always in! The lady rider was so happy to have a really cool place to hang out and listen to the rumbling thunder.  Having been here many times before, it's beginning to be one of her favorite hideaways.

 
As the beautiful weekend unfolded, blue skies and sunshine accompanied the smiles and miles that brought several other stressed out riders together.  Slow cooked meats, ice cold beverages, and toe tapping music was flowing abundantly.  Rejuvenation was imminent!

 
Chillin' and relaxin'... the order of the day.

The lady rider was having such  a good time during her therapy session, she decided to treat herself to a new look.

Yes, the jury is still out on this one, but no fairy tale is complete without the color purple and some butterflies! Tee hee!

After a long day of therapy, the lady rider and all the other riders would seek out their shelters and reminisce over the days events.  What a better way to do that, than with something like this...


Ahhhhhhh... beautiful!

The lady rider and all her riding friends really enjoyed some great thunder therapy, and since Thunder Beach comes around twice a year... they will all live happily ever after. 

THE END!

IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY.

You know that feeling you get, when you run into an old friend, and after a few minutes of talking and catching up, it seems like only yesterday? Or going back home... and getting the feeling like you've never really left.  If you don't know what I mean, it's hard to describe, but after just a few miles on the road with the Boy, it felt like I've never left the saddle!

Harley and I headed out on our first road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway and the Smokey Mountain National Park to commemorate our "Reunion Ride". Quite an endeavor for two out of shape riders to accomplish after a year long sabbatical from riding.

Seven days, six states, and 2211 miles!! Shew! If I didn't have an iron butt before, I sure do now! You would think we were trying to make up for lost time the way we went about it, but even though we were tired... we had a great ride! Getting back on the road with two wheels under me has been quite an experience in itself, but there I was, doing just that... and with all that beautiful scenery to surround me.

I'm so happy to be...

Riding... feeling... smiling... it seemed like only yesterday.

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - MEEET "THE BOY"

I took my first really long ride on the Boy this weekend... 271 miles.  It was sooooo nice! I had a lot of very nice "feel good" moments while I enjoyed my reunion with the road.  Even though it's been a year since Harley and I shared our last ride together, it literally felt like yesterday.  I guess it's the same as riding your bicycle... you don't forget how.

So, without further ado... let me introduce you to "the boy"... my '04 Fat Boy.

BEFORE

Dirty Boy

 AFTER

The Boy... shined up like a new penny!

 I changed out all of the leather trim, seat, and added bags. I'm having the windshield cut down to the proper height for me and I have one more piece of back fender trim I'm putting on.  Other than that, his grooming is pretty much complete.

I hope to put together a slide show of all my changes so you can see how different it really was. I'm still deciding if I'm going to do anything to the handlebars, but I think I will wait until I ride for a while to make that determination.

I'm just glad to be back on the road again... it was an awesome Saturday! Thank you God! Life is good!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - RETIRED!

I became the legal owner (title and all!) of my Luxury Blue Fat Boy Friday! Woo Hoo!  I thought it was going to be great to finally take a ride Saturday, but alas, it wasn't going to happen.

To date, the few times I've ridden the Boy was to test ride, to the Probate office, and straight to the Harley shop to order some parts.  While there, I had my trusty wrencher take a look at him, and he thought it was in my best interest to replace my front tire before I rode it too much. He confirmed my fears... too many cracks from dry rot evident to deem it safe. I knew this bike had been sitting up for awhile, so he's going in today for some new rubber, and an oil change. I guess I'm going to have to wait until Saturday before I can put some significant miles on him.

That hasn't keep me from grooming him though!!

RETIRED

Worn out and retired.

I've removed some old parts, and started putting "my style" on him.  We've been cleaning him up, but it's taking numerous sessions. I'm sure the neighbors thought I was OCD when they saw me sitting next to him... on a stool... with a toothbrush. lol! I mean, how else are you going to get into the frame and the tiny little places without one!

Here's a sneaky peek of him waiting for his turn.

BATH DAY

My turn next!!

You can see Harley's beautiful Ultra in the background. His bike was in immaculate condition and just needed a good washing.  My Boy was not as fortunate, but I love him anyway. I can't wait to ride him... for real!

Have a nice week everybody!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - EYE CANDY

Been holding on to these since last year's Thunderbeach Rally.  Thought today would be a good time share them.  Reminds me of being in a candy store!

EYE CANDY

Mellow Mint Smoothie

Green Apple Tart

Cookies and Cream

Tangerine Terror

These pics were taken during last year's Spring Thunderbeach Rally.  Don't they look delicious?

I hope you all had a nice weekend and can move on to an even better week... life is good!

Lady R

REMEMBERING MY DAD

I just wanted to take some time today to remember my dad. It will be two years this coming February since he passed away, and not a day goes by that I don't have some thought of him.  Going through the year of "firsts" was terrible, but today being his second birthday in heaven, it feels good to be able to remember him and laugh over stories of him (which there are many, trust me!).

For me, my dad was my strength, my motivator, my provider... my hero. He was a firm believer in the motto..."spare the rod, spoil the child", but through it all, I always felt his love.  I'm very proud of the person I am today and I owe it all to him and my mom.  He was a man who lived as though family was the most important thing in his life.  It's amazing what that feels like.

To the man who started it all... my first motorcycle ride (I've shared this before, but here it is again).



And my most favorite picture of all, (probably because it's the last picture I have of me and him together) New Year's Eve 2009.


RIP Papa J - November 3, 1938 - February 20, 2010.
Thank you dad... for all you've done for me. Happy Birthday!

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - LIFE SAVER

Sorry this is a late post... but I'll be busy for a while... taking care of Harley.

LIFE SAVER

He had an accident Saturday. He will be okay... after some road rash, a bruised lung and four broken ribs heal.


He also got a bruise on his brain. After two CT scans, we've been given the okay from the Nuero Surgeon that he is clear. If he hadn't have been wearing his brain bucket... I would've been planning a funeral.

We love riding our bikes and we always wear helmets. I'm so thankful we feel strongly about this. All I've got to say... is it saved his life.

It's your fun and your life... you decide.

Lady R

ABCD - WILL YOU TAKE PART?

Gary over at USA Harley Davidson Tour has come up with a great idea and asked us fellow bloggers and riders to help spread the word. Take a look...

ABCD - Will You Take Part?

Maybe you would like to join in with this.....

A Bloggers Centerline Day, or ABCD, will take place on Sunday 1st May 2011.

The plan is to inspire as many bloggers as possible to go outside and take a photograph of themselves on this day, wherever they are in the world. The photo can be creative, arty, contain more than one person, be in any type of location and can contain anything else you like. It must however contain the centerline of a road and at least part of you, the blogger.

There are 5 rules....

Rule 1 - the picture must be taken on 1st May 2011.

Rule 2 - the picture must be of yourself, and you must be a person that publishes a blog. You can include whatever else you like in the picture, including other people if you wish.

Rule 3 - the picture must include the centerline of a road.

Rule 4 – you should publish the picture on your blog on 1st May 2011, along with a few words about the picture and why you chose that location or pose.

Rule 5 - when you have posted the picture on your own blog, put a comment on http://garysusatour.blogspot.com/2011/04/abcd-will-you-take-part.html and include in that comment the address of your own blog post containing your own picture.

Gary France will then pick his favorite photos and publish these as being the winners. There will be a prize of $100 awarded to the overall single winner, as chosen by Gary.

In order to get this event known as widely as possible, please copy and paste this posting onto your own blog, including the title. Please do that today!

As a reminder to yourself to take the photo and post it, put an entry into your diary for 1st May 2011.

Let’s see if we can get as any people to join in as possible.

Posted by Gary France
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I think this is a wonderful idea and I hope Gary gets a lot of entries. I for one, am already trying to come up with a winning photo idea! May the best creator win!!

Lady R