Pat Henderson's Life and Motorcycle Travels Blog

Twisted Throttle Open House

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:31:00 +0000

With some extra cash in my pocket these days, I’m looking to upgrade my riding wardrobe and replace a few items on the motorcycle. So when I noticed Whitehorse Press and Twisted Throttle were both holding open houses, I was excited. I read more closely I noticed they were both on the same day. We had to choose; north or south? Having never visited Twisted Throttle, it seemed a no brainer. Off we headed to Rhode Island. We arrived late morning, and already the lot was full and the place was jumping. After checking in, getting our wrist bands and raffle tickets, we set off to see what all the commotion was about at the opposite end of the lot.

What we found were the trials club* doing their stunts around and over the obstacles. I get vertigo just watching them do their thing. It was amazing to watch. We got a little education too. These trials bikes cost $8000. These bikes are not street legal, so you have to be really into trials to invest eight grand. Also, the gas tank holds a grand total of one quart of gas. The bonus was when the announcer asked if anyone would like to try to balance one of these trials bikes. I was standing right in front of the rider, so I raised my hand. It was surprising how much they do weigh as these riders move them around like they are feathers. I didn't manage to balance too long, but had a sense that if I could get 10 minutes I’d be doing OK. It was fun!

After our free lunch and a bit of browsing, we headed back to watch more stunts. This time, it was Chris “Teach” McNeil performing incredible stunts on stock motorcycles. He clowned around at the start, and I cracked up at his rendition of a novice biker trying to tame the motorcycle. It was a hoot! Check out the video I've posted on YouTube* to see for yourself the talent this guy has on a motorcycle.

While I didn't find any new apparel for myself, I did get a 25% discount on a new rear tire that will ship Monday to my home; no shipping charge. I was pleased with the personal service the Michelin rep gave me, even walking out to visit Blaze. I did suffer a bit of scolding when he saw her though, as Blaze is in dire need of new sneakers.

With clouds gathering and Blaze with treadles tires, we decided to head home mid-afternoon. I didn't want to take more risks than necessary. I had a great time at Twisted Throttle and hope to visit again in the future.

*Videos embedded

Cabela Tales

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:42:00 +0000

This past weekend the Fearsome Foursome (as Lee likes to call us) took to the super slabs and hightailed it to Cabela’s in Hamburg Pennsylvania. Cabela’s is a favorite of Lee’s and since we were celebrating (birthday), it was his destination of choice. Cabela’s is definitely a “man’s” store, so the guys were happy as clams the whole weekend. Deb and I enjoyed watching them enjoy themselves, and we had a few good chuckles over their antics.

This was my first adventure to Cabela’s and I have to admit, I was impressed. The place is most certainly a tourist destination as much as it is a sporting goods store. This particular Cabela’s is the largest in the nation at 250,000 square feet. The animal displays (taxidermy), are superb. The aquarium and historical bits of information need more than one visit to truly appreciate. The employees go out of their way to make you feel welcomed and not once did anyone complain or even bat an eyelash at the goings on in their store.

Some of the scenes from the weekend keep rolling through my mind like movie trailers. There is Lee, posing like a Jedi Warrior in his camouflage jacket. Then there are the guys with rifles in hand and talking like bad boys. Or how I caught them wearing coonskin caps and challenging each other over whose tail was the longest. Andy found a kids pop gun, snuck up behind me and let loose. The noise made me scream, (yes, just like a girl) and I jumped a foot at the loud POP.

Debbie always has me laughing with her witty observations. In the African display area, the animals are fantastic and so life like in their poses. There is a majestic lion perched on a rock outcropping posed in a perfect roar stance. Across from this scene are the lionesses taking down their prey. As Lee was admiring the mighty lion, Deb pointed out that it was the lionesses taking down the prey. We both observed that is was the women taking care of things and bringing dinner home. I couldn’t help but jump in with my own observation that the pose was really the lion telling the ladies what a great job they're doing and how he’ll be rewarding each of them tonight! Lee was not to be outwitted, so in the aquarium as we observed the pike, barely moving in the tank. He gave them voice in true Pixar fashion. “Don’t move anyone! Maybe they won’t see us and leave.”

We came back in the morning and had breakfast in the café. If you have the app Foursquare on your smartphone, check in, and get a 30% discount at the register. You have to show the clerk the code on your phone, so do that first. They have a decent breakfast buffet on Sunday mornings. After breakfast, we made our purchases and headed back to the slabs for home. That doesn’t mean the fun is over. At any rest area with a decent table, we can find Lee taking a load of his feet.

All in all, the weekend totaled 722 miles. Not bad for the first good ride of the season.

Friday Afternoons

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:53:00 +0000

What ever happened to the concept of the 4 day work week? There are companies that do have such a thing, but it hasn’t caught on quite as much as I’d hope. So here I am on another Friday, when the inbox is stagnant, the phone remains quiet, and I’m scratching my head at how to be productive. It’s tough when one is raised with a strong work ethic. So, I pretend to strategize, plan ahead, and follow all the concepts of Stephen Covey. But let’s get real, I’m looking out the window at the beautiful spring day and dreaming of the weekend and where I will ride.

We have finally managed to get the bikes out on a few excursions. The last vestiges of snow have vanished and the song birds are out in full force. Yet, winter doesn’t seem to want to loosen its grip. This seems to happen just when I get out on the open road. In addition to the danger of sand at the intersections, and last autumn’s leaves, Andy and I have been hit by hail, if for a brief moment, but still it was hail. So to see a Friday as beautiful as today and be confined makes it hard to keep to my own standards

I’m going to confess that I had to check up on the motorcycle world. I discovered that Antiques Roadshow will have a special on April 29^th, broadcasted from the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

Also at this year’s rally, women who have been influential in the motorcycle world will be featured. These aren’t the big name movers and shakers, but the everyday person who has had an impact on the motorcycle world.

In addition, I’ve made some decent headway into planning our motorcycle vacation. I’m looking at Kentucky this year. The Daniel Boone National Forest it attracting my attention with everything from waterfalls, natural arches to caves. The roads getting there look absolutely inviting. But alas, my moment of daydreaming needs to end; time to break off here and get back to the work ethic.

Live Life!

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:08:00 +0000

Is there something you do or dream about that makes you think “now this is the life!” I have those fantasies too. At other times, I have to pinch myself because I just can’t believe we’re on our dream trip; like our visit to Sturgis for example. Well, I reached another milestone this week as the two things I love to do most got a bit of a global presence when SafecoInsurance’s LifeLIfeLocal.com site when live this week with its new look and feel. There on the first page is a story with my byline.

There’s more to come too! I’ll be writing for LiveLifeLocal.com in the coming months. What better gig is there than writing about motorcycle adventures? For me there just isn’t anything I’d rather do more. If you’re looking for some ideas on where to ride and what to see, check out my posts and that of the other contributors. There’s a little something for everyone from RVing, boating and car trips. The site lets you focus on the area where you live for a narrow focus, or you can broaden your dreams and check out other parts of the country.

In the meantime, while you’re visiting the website read my posts and check out the photos. There are map points too so you can see exactly where I’m writing about. Take notes so you can visit yourself. Like castles? Then start with Gillette Castle and the Devil's Hopyard. If the waterfall attracted your attention in this story, then the next one to read is Letchworth State Park. Are mountains more to your taste? Then Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina is a must read, and the photos are gorgeous. When you’ve read these three you might have worked up an appetite. No worries, I’ve got just the place for you to visit. Take a Rib Run to Curtis’ BBQ. Please feel free to leave comments here and at LiveLifeLocal! Let us know what you think!

It’s Spring Already (for pity's sake)

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:23:00 +0000

Our snow blower gave us trouble this season, so the driveway has a narrow swatch carved out, big enough for one compact car. At the end of the drive is the storage shed where we house the motorcycles. I can only see half the ramp. The snow on each side is still waist high where the snow was thrown while digging out storm after storm. I pull into the yard after a long day and immediately my brain cries, “its spring already for crying out loud. Start melting!”

Even if we could roll Blaze and The Vulcan out into the driveway, it’s covered with ice. Even if the driveway were clear, the road out of here is nothing but mud. Oh joy, mud season in New Hampshire. While I love living out in the boondocks, it does come with challenges sometimes. I tell myself to suck it up and do something productive. Since Andy needs a new helmet, I take him off to the Kawasaki dealership in the next town over. The sleds are still on the showroom floor. (That’s snowmobiles for those who live in milder climates.) The clerk has to go digging in the storage inventory to find what we want. In the end, Andy finds something he likes and that fits well. One motorcycle related activity done and I’m feeling better already.

When we get home I fish out the box we got ourselves for Christmas and which I haven’t yet opened. It’s a Sena SMH10 Bluetooth Motorcycle Headset. Several rider friends of ours have enjoyed using theirs, and we have become tired of the wires hanging from our helmets while using the walkie-talkies. I start reading the manual. I like to follow instructions. Andy likes to dive right in. We compromise. I start with charging the units. I’m surprised at how giddy I feel watching the indicator light turn from red to blue. Then we move on to installing the clamp to our helmets. After that, Andy can’t wait, and begins putting it all together. I still read out loud, as I know the boom mic will not be installed as his last. Things start coming together nicely.

Then we are back to the manual so we can understand how to work these things. There are so many options that I want to take advantage of, but for right now, we just need to talk back and forth. A few false starts and we have it where we feel we like it. Not the voice activated option. Sometime I like to sing to myself on the bike. Sometimes Andy has a few choice words when drivers cut us off. Neither of us wants to hear the other unless necessary. So we select the tap. Then we put on the helmets and move around the house testing it out. As it turns out the day is not so bad. We’re wearing helmets after all. It’s a start. And the snow can’t last forever.

Chasing Off the Winter Blues

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 21:06:00 +0000

It’s March 8th, and yes, I know the calendar does not say its spring yet, but do we have to get hammered again with another winter storm? Sure I made it to the office, but there are only five people here. The thought that has sustained me all day is that tomorrow we are heading over to the Northeast Motorcycle Expo in Wilmington Massachusetts. The next morning, as if in response to my eagerness, the sun appears and the temperatures shoot upward. Like icing on the cake, we meet up with Jan, Alan, Lee and Deb.

As motorcycle events go, this is not the largest event around, but if you’ve missed them all for one reason or another, something is better than nothing. I had money to burn in my pocket. Sadly I didn’t find anything that suited my tastes. However, Deb pointed us to a new product she stumbled upon that we found some interest in, ergonomic grips. Lee picked up a pair, and Debbie is now sporting new grips on Thor.

One aspect of any motorcycle show is the bikes in competition. Taste here is as varied as there are people. Some of these have me thinking of friends with cool cameras and the fun things to photograph. Of course there aren’t just bikes to look at. I won’t go into detail, let’s just say cleavage was involved. Then Andy spots two Amazon women. Honestly, I don’t think there are men that tall. Not only that, but if I were going to stick out in a crowd like that, I’d have selected a different outfit to wear. I’ll say this; no one was messing with ‘em.

With the afternoon rolling around, our stomachs were saying it was time for lunch. We all headed off the Whole Foods where shopping around is as much fun as visiting the cold and hot food bars with the curious assortment to select from. It’s easy to over eat because one tends to want to try a taste of everything. While Whole Foods might have interesting selections, I’m still looking forward to chasing smoke and eating BBQ. Come on spring! Where are you?

Smoke Chasing

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:38:00 +0000

We riders don’t need excuses to get on the motorcycle when a beautiful day presents itself. However, we seem to have to explain why we aren’t home, where we are going, and when we will be back. Yet, people who take off for the beach on a gorgeous day don’t seem to have to explain why they are throwing off responsibility in the same way we do. The difference between beach lovers, and motorcyclists is that beach lovers are not always looking for a new beach. Riders on the other hand are always looking for new roads and places to visit. So when I read on the NER forum than one of the guys had signed up for the Smoke Chasing Grand Tour, my mind started working overtime.

The Smoke Chasing Grand Tour is a self-paced challenge to visit 20 BBQ joints during a specific time frame. There are a few rules of course, a fee which supports a charity, and a few prizes which are more for bragging rights than value. To make things interesting a few side challenges are tossed in for extra fun. When I signed up I discovered that only 20% are ladies, only ¼ of those ladies are solo riders and the rest are 2-up.

When my mind started working overtime, here are a few of the things I thought about.
1. I have a sense the summer will be crazy with no time for a more detailed trip.
2. Last season we were scratching our heads about where to head off to at the spur of the moment.
3. My pal Dave is a rib loving fan and we don’t get to drag him off riding as much as we’d like. I thought I’d dangle this carrot of him.

I checked in with Dave and he was onboard and willing to take photos too! While investigating more, the forum offered up a great link to all the BBQ joints in NH and in 7 surrounding states! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I started reading that list in amazement at the BBQ places in New Hampshire alone. My stomach started rumbling and I thought about Curtis’ in Putney Vermont, one of Dave’s favorite places. When Curtis’ came to mind, it had me looking down the list for seasonal places that cook outside like they do. What do you know! There are several. I’m flagging these to create routes we can take to visit them.

While my stomach was rumbling thinking or ribs, I get an email from Dave. It appears his stomach must be doing the same and he suggests a rib run to KC’s in Manchester NH to get us in the mood. On Saturday Dave picks us up and we head over to KC’s. The food is finger licking good and the photo opportunities abound. When I saw the shovel appear, I knew this Smoke Chasing Grand Tour Challenge is going to be fun. I can’t wait to see how each of these places makes themselves unique.

Passion is Ageless

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:17:00 +0000

I’m sitting comfortably on a sofa at the dealership, typing away on my iPad, while my car is being serviced, when a young man approaches me and asks;

“Does that thing work?”

“The iPad?”

“No, the keyboard. Cuz I’ve read some reviews that were not that favorable.”

“It works great!” I tell him.

I continue on telling him that I use it all the time because I write.

“In fact, I’m working right now writing my next article. I’m a contributor for a public website. “

“What do you write about?” he asks.

“Motorcycling.”

There is a moments silence and he blinks a couple of times.

“Really?” he asks.

“Really.” I say.

Then the usual questions about what I ride, and where I ride. In mid-sentence he holds up a finger in a “wait a minute” gesture and disappears into an office. He reappears a moment later and holds out for me a color snapshot, edges cured, of a vintage Triumph. We start talking bikes and the both of us are really enjoying ourselves.

“I had an unusual upbringing,” he tells me.

“I think most kids would say that.”

“No really, my Dad is a bit different.”

“Again, I think most kids would say that.”

“Do you know Sammy Hagar?” he asks.

“I’m not too sure,” I say.

“He was lead vocalist for Van Halen before he went off on his own. My Dad is a musician and played back up for Sammy. I grew up a roadie. My Dad’s passion is vintage bikes. Indians, the real ones, Panheads and Triumphs.”

He spent his youth restoring bikes with his Dad. His favorites are Triumphs. We’re really enjoying our conversation, swapping tales of motorcycling. His description of his Dad has me telling him that he sounds like all my classmates. This has us looking at each other suspiciously. It turns out his Dad is only a couple years older than me, and he himself is 30 years old. There’s a pause in our conversation.

“Please don’t be offended,” he says. “But…”

“I’m old enough to be your mother?”

His cheeks turn a bit pink. He shrugs an acknowledgement.

“Yes, but we’re talking bikes, and you get it!” he says.

I do indeed get it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: Next time you’re at MacMulkin in Nashua, be sure to look for Doug Wiltz. He’ll want to sell you a car, but I know his love is motorcycling. Tell him I say hello.

Taking the Edge of the Winter Doldrums

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:56:00 +0000

The Early Days
For a lot of motorcyclist this time of year is tough. Many suffer from PMS. That would be Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. Some try to relieve the symptoms by visiting a motorcycle trade show in the area. There are even those who travel out of state to attend a show and pay big bucks for fancy hotels just for the pleasure of sniffing leather and wearing shades to cut the glare from all the gleaming new motorcycles on display. They run their hands along the smooth tanks and fenders, gawk at chrome covered accessories and trash talk with each other about some ride they mastered on the twisties.

I have to admit, I do like a good trade show and I had planned to visit one this weekend. To my dismay, my husband flipped the calendar to February and I realized that I lost a week someplace and missed the show. I’ve been cruising the internet for more shows, and discovered one in our area come March. I’ve marked the calendar, and since it’s near my birthday, I’m likely not to forget what week we’re in when the time draws near.

My PMS hasn’t been too bad this winter though as I’ve been reliving rides from years past. As I scroll through the photos and remember each ride, I almost feel the warmth of the sun on my back despite the cold snap outside. Why am I reliving the past this way? It’s all for my new writing gig with CuratorPR. As one of Curator’s content contributors I get to write about what I love most, motorcycling. Talk about the best job in the world! The site is due to go live soon and I’m waiting anxiously to see my blog posts on-line.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying all the photos again. Mountain vistas, waterfalls, covered bridges, rivers, ferries, lakes and ponds; ribs, diners, pork rinds, grits, burgers; faces, friends; all of these trigger senses that contribute to great memories. I’m dreaming of my next new destination. Each time we set out on the bikes, we discover another treasure in our own backyard.

I’ll keep writing to fend of PMS. I don’t care what prediction the groundhog has for us. For me, spring is never so far off I can’t dream. The map’s up on the screen, the rally brochures fanned out, a few touring magazines litter the floor and the cold snap can’t last forever.

A New Year, A New Beginning.

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:07:00 +0000

I had goose bumps ripple over my flesh when I reread my post from this time last year. I had forgotten most of its content; on the surface that is, but subliminally, I seem to have soaked up my own advice, and its rewards are beginning to show. I will share more in a few minutes on what is going on with me, but first, with the New Year of course comes advice I want to give you so that I can also soak it up again for myself. The value of which will only be clear to each of us when we look behind us.

                I, like everyone else, have things in my life I would like to accomplish. Yet, not unlike the majority of the population, I spend too much time looking back and bemoaning missed opportunities, or crying over failed expectations. At the beginning of the 2012 I became tired of this and took advice that is serving me well. A geek friend of mine (said with loving affection and geek is not a bad word as some believe) gave as a gift a program he wrote then installed on my home PC. It’s a nice little script that emails to me on a schedule I specify, affirmations throughout the day. I select the affirmations that have meaning for me alone. This constant reminder throughout the day has helped me make strides forward in my goals, and modify habits from bad to good. I feel calmer, less stressed, and enjoy everyday life more than I have for years. What kind of affirmations you might ask? Here are two of my favorites.
                “It is the constant dripping that hollows out the stone.”
And
                “Accept life's nuisances but don't give them more power than they deserve. Stay positive.”

                The result of all my affirmations is that I feel more relaxed and centered than ever. What about those goals of mine? How are these affirmations getting me to where I want to go? It seems one drip at a time. In looking back, I can now see that I needed more personal growth, a better understanding of what I want and why, and when I was ready, the universe delivered.

I am currently working on inking an agreement to blog professionally for a national website. This agreement is currently being reviewed. And while due diligence is being attended to, I don’t think it is premature to say that the parties are in accord. It has been a dream of mine to share more broadly the wonderful motorcycle excursions we take throughout this amazing Country of ours. This is a magnificent opportunity to do just that; in word, photo and map.

While I’ll be sharing motorcycle adventures to a greater audience, I will not forget my friends here. Come back and visit now and then, because this is where the personal antics will continue to be shared. In the coming days, I will post the link where you can follow me nationally. Thank you to all of you who share a love of motorcycling and have continued to follow my blog over time. I also owe a great thanks to the New England Riders, who took me under their wing when I was but a novice, and always made me feel accepted. Some of my first best stories came from our association. I’m off now to renew my affirmations for 2013. Try this for yourself. Let me know how it goes. I’m always pleased to hear from you.

Preparing for Motorcycle Travel

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:14:00 +0000

A comment from a reader about motorcycle trip preparation was such a great question that it had me putting fingers to the keyboard again. Thank you to MarvinLWright for taking time to read and comment of my most recent post. Marvin wants to know how we survive long road trips and what type of gear we bring. Surviving takes planning and that is only one of the steps in the process for any great trip. You have already made some great moves in immersing yourself in a motorcycle vacation adventure, and that is to read everything you can on the subject. Here are some of the major points to consider when planning any trip on two wheels.

Prepare. Preparation is key to any successful trip. I like making lists, and I check them off as I go along. I double check them before departure, read them aloud to my riding partner, who then may have an item or two to add. There are many great books about long distance travel, and magazines galore focused entirely on the subject. Not only is the content useful and informative, some of the ads associated with the articles can sometimes offer useful items for purchase.

Deciding on a destination is just the beginning of your adventure. Read more about the location and sightseeing opportunities along the way in the area you plan to visit. Check online for tourist information offered by the state you plan to visit. They can send brochures at no cost to you that offer a wealth of information. Of course these will be for the general traveler, so once you know where you want to go, do some search of motorcycle destinations in the area as well. This will result in tips on great motorcycling roads. With this information in hand you can begin your route planning.

Mapping out your trip is important. Sometimes we plan ours with strict limitations in mind, especially if there are time constraints. At other times our routes will be more flexible. It’s whatever you need, but don’t skip it. If you have a GPS use it and the software. Segment your route by days on the road. Understand where you plan to stop each night and research lodging so you are not trapped into traveling another 100 miles because you didn’t realize there were no places to stay in the area. (This usually happens in the middle part of the country but has happened to us in upstate NY.) Some people like to make reservations. I personally don’t like being tied that tightly into a schedule. I’ve never had much of a problem finding decent lodging on the fly. With today’s technology such as smart phones and GPS, it’s easy to find a place to stay or a place to eat as well as where the nearest gas station is located.

How far you want to travel from home all depends on your endurance ability. Only you know your limits. If you want to increase your daily saddle time, start long before your travel date. Take extended weekend trips that involve overnight stays. Not only does this help you understand where your endurance levels are, but the learning experience helps build confidence in your ability to plan successful adventures. Know the laws in each state in regard to motorcycle law. This will keep you out of trouble.

Comfort is paramount if you are going to be putting on the miles. If during your extended weekend excursions you discover that your backside can’t take another minute after 100 miles this is a serious concern. I have an after-market saddle I like very much. There are several makes available. Read the reviews and decide which is best for you. If you don’t want the expense, you can purchase a saddle seat pad. My husband uses a sheepskin gel pad he likes very much and so does his own backside. You also will want to pay attention to such things as foot pegs versus floorboards, and handlebars adjustment. You may even want to consider handlebar risers. You need to keep the stress out of your shoulders and back if you want comfort on long distance riding.

While we are covering motorcycle comfort, don’t forget to prepare the mechanics of the bike for road worthiness. Get a tune up, change the oil and filter. Check the tires for wear. Take time to check every nut and bolt to make sure they are tight and snug. Even after all this, things vibrate loose, so don’t forget to pack the tools. Add a flashlight too, as these things never happen under the best of circumstances. The small LED type are great and don’t take up much room.

I have adequate saddle bags which I find very useful on long trips. I keep one strictly for emergency items, and the other for items I want to access quickly while on the road. In the emergency bag for instance, I keep a tire pump, along with patch kit. This is only good if you have tubeless tires. A first aid kit is a must, but something I hope you never need. Although I keep pain relieve in there too, and that can come in handy anytime. Again, don’t forget tools. Something always seems to wiggle loose on long road trips. I haven’t had a trip yet when I didn’t pull out the tools. Other items in no particular order that I use consistently in this saddle bag are, windshield bug cleaner, bungee cords, extra gloves, rain gear and a long sleeved shirt for the sudden chill and something for the neck. The neck items are important. If it gets too hot, soak a bandana and wrap around you, if it’s cold, pull the neck fleece out. Layers are your friend.

In the every-day quick access bag I keep chargers for my electronics to charge on the road if need be. The cell phone for instance can drain if you are in a poor reception area and the phone is searching for the nearest tower. If you don’t have an accessory to charge items on the bike, install one. You can plug your tire pump into this too. If traveling during times of weather fluctuation I may have a warm weather jacket that I swap for the cold weather jacket during the day. This bag is for whatever is needed quickly. Some women keep their purse here. I’ve recently dispensed with the purse and wear a hip bag. This also helps me learn how to travel light.

I have successfully packed enough clean clothing in a tour pack to get me through an entire week. Many hotels have guest laundry so that is never a problem. Even then it’s more my persnicketiness that takes over where cleanliness is concerned. One never needs more than a couple changes of riding pants. Shirts are another matter for me personally. I like changing daily along with socks and underwear. Roll these instead of folding for the tour pack and you will find enough room left for wants, like your laptop. As an added precaution, I roll and put into zip lock bags. Then if it rains, I have dry clothing to change into. Don’t forget the toiletries, but remember you don’t need the family size toothpaste. In all things think small.

And speaking of clothing let’s not forget the riding gear. There are all types of riders out there, from “all gear all the time” to no gear at all beyond that required by law. I fall into the conservative range. Jacket, gloves, boots and helmet always, with denim jeans preferred. I have a pair of Kevlar liners (long john type) but these tend to make me feel overheated. They are great in the spring and fall as they add warmth plus are not bulky under the jeans. Or try Kevlar enforced riding jeans. I have worn these, but again, if it’s hot out you will be too. With riding gear is all a matter of preference in my opinion. With that said, plan for the area you are visiting and adjust accordingly.

Now for a word or two about items that aren’t necessary but help make trips more enjoyable over all; electronics. I don’t go anywhere without my GPS. I have a terrible sense of direction. My husband could sail us across the sea using only his finger in the air, but my comfort level is better when I can see he is right. If you don’t have a smartphone, you are missing a lot of handy information. The smartphone lets us keep tabs on the weather, quick need to know information like where the nearest gas station is located. The GPS can do this too, but the smartphone is always up-to-date. It can substitute nicely for your camera and makes one less thing you need to bring. You can find and then call all the area hotels and get the best rate. The uses for the smartphone are infinite.

My husband and I like keeping connected so we communicate with bike to bike communication. We will be updating this equipment soon as it is so essential for us. The type we are looking into has Bluetooth capabilities so listening to music, taking a call (is that is what you would do on a bike) or just exchanging information between bikes is all wrapped up in one unit. Some folks have electronic cold weather gear such as heated vest and gloves. I do not have any of these, but it is something to consider if you would like to extend your riding season. A 12V Power Socket Adapter is handy if you want electronics along on your trip. If you don’t have one, they are easy to install.

If you plan to travel with more than a spouse or significant other, I strongly urge you to take these people along on your extended weekends. This will allow you and them to experience all the idiosyncrasies one might have. If they still like you at the end of the weekend excursions, you’re golden. When planning the vacation assure you are all on board with every aspect of the trip. Don’t discount the small stuff either, because these are the very things that can suddenly loom large. For instance, my husband can get on the motorcycle and ride until the sun goes down, while I like the sun still above the horizon and some relaxation time before bed. If something comes up that no one anticipated, talk about it and compromise. There are a million ways to say things right, but it only takes one bad way to ruin friendships. Choose your words carefully. Often things work out better than you anticipated. The worst thing you can do is leave something unsaid.

I had fun reliving some memories while outlining some motorcycle travel tips. While these are broad generalizations, I always welcome feedback. Not only does it help me, but other readers too. In closing, above all else ride safely and with constant alertness. Take brakes, drink lots of fluids, and have fun. If you’ve prepared well, the only thing left is to have a great time!

Tail of the Dragon, Blue Ridge Parkway and Beyond

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:42:00 +0000

I haven’t been blogging much. It seems I preferred to kick back and enjoy life a bit more. Since my friend Dave did such a good job of chronicling our trip to the Blue Ridge, I asked his permission to use his Facebook posts; and he agreed. I have added my own Facebook posts at the end where we parted ways. Enjoy, and visit my pictures on Shutterfly.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 1

605 miles today per Pats GPS. We stopped for the night in Harrisonburg, VA. Good day in the wind. The Harley ran great.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 2

Nice easy 400 or so miles today. Chillin in Marysville, TN for the night. Found the 'Fullservice BBQ' joint for dinner. Good pulled pork & ribs in an out door setting.
Tomorrow we ride 'The Tail of The Dragon', 318 turns in 11 miles. Oh yeah Bubba. Lots of Darwin Awards "winners" have earned their place in history on this stretch of asphalt.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 3

Today we rode 'The Tail of The Dragon' and had a great time. Pat has been worried about how she would do on this challenging road, and it is a serious challenge. Well I can report that she 'Slayed the Dragon' grandly! Same for Andy, he rode it like he owned it.

I was very satisfied with my performance on it as well. It had been six years since I last rode it, and it was cool to prove to myself I can still conquer it.
Next, we made our way to the 60 miles of seemingly endless sweeping curves of the Cherohala Skyway. A must do ride if you are in the area.

Tomorrow we are hunting waterfalls, then the first leg of the Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 4

Rain. That's how we started the day, we were on the waterfall ride so I guess rain was inevitable. We stopped at 'Loafer's Glory' talking to a local about rides and good places to eat. I found 2 favorites at the store, home made Pork Rinds and Fried Pies... Food for the soul.

We hit the recommended City Restaurant, a diner, for breakfast then back on the road.

Next up, a little detour due to road work heading to the first waterfall. The detour was just as challenging as the Dragon, but in the rain, fog and with more 4 wheeled traffic. Quite a ride…Pat was great leading on that road, I’m impressed with her riding skills! Well we did eventually find a couple of waterfalls. See the pics post for those.
Next we rode over to Cherokee, NC, and did a little browsing and gift buyng in the Native American craft stores, and it was a nice change from ridding in the rain.
Then we took off for the first leg of the Blue Ridge. Did bout an hour of riding and stopping at overlooks. Took lots of pics at Waterocks Knob, at over 5000 ft, with clouds rolling in, up and over the mountain. Then down to Sylva, NC for the night. Found a great court house across from the motel. Dinner at Lulu’s on Main, and now for some well deserved rest.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 5
We started the day in Sylva, NC, with breakfast in a nice little diner, after a significant thunder storm during the night, leaving lots of fog.
Next, back to the Blue Ridge where we exited the day before. We rode, stopped at overlooks and admired the wondrous views and took lots of pics.
I tried taking more photos while riding and managed to get some good shots. Somewhere even as we rode through the many tunnels along the way. See the pics post for a couple of those.
We chatted with various riders we met at the overlooks. We heard about a rider from Norway, and when we stopped at Graveyard Fields for Pat & Andy to do a short hike to a waterfall the guy arrived. His name is Helge, and he is on his third trip to ride the US. His first trip was in the 60's when he came to the US to buy a Harley because they weren't available in Norway. He said he stayed 7 months riding all over the US. He still has that bike.
Now Helge is riding a pretty new Harley and has been on the road for 3 months but is about to head home and ship his bike back with him.
We said g'bye to Helge and headed north. I tried making a movie of us riding while steering with one hand again. And it looks good on the camera, but I can't get downloaded to the iPad, so that will have to wait until I get home.
We went up Mt. Mitchell, 6684 ft, the highest point east of the Mississippi. Gorgeous views.
We are in Spruce Pine, NC, for the night. Tired, but had a great day.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Vacation, day 6
We started our day with intentions to have breakfast at Grandfather Mountain, our morning destination. So we took off for the BRP in early morning calm and the coolest temps of the day.
The BRP in early morning with just the sounds of a vtwin engine thumping away, the sun low on the horizon, and the sights & smells of the forest is a very special place.
We stopped at a few overlooks, and chatted with a couple guys headed south that are from upstate NY.
We got to Grandfather Mountain, paid our fee and ascended, and immediately discovered the ride up would be 'interesting'...
We stopped to take some pics at the split rocks... See the photo post. Then we toured the museum which is quite nice, had some chow and took off for the summit.
The road has about 10 switchbacks/hair pin turns that make the Dragon look tame. They are much tighter and much steeper, I'd guess 12-15% grades, and any loss of concentration or throttle control and you are done... or down which is not where you want to be, trust me.
The summit has a great swinging bridge that is 5280 feet ( one mile ) above sea level. Pat was brave and crossed it, but she did stick close to Andy.
We scrambled around the summit rocks, enjoyed the wind and vistas, and took a lot of pics.
Then it was time for the ride down... I'm here to report we all made it up and down unscathed, but our nerves were a bit challenged!
Then we hit the road and put in another hundred miles on the BRP. Along the way I made a video of Pat & Andy riding the Linn Cove Viaduct.
We ended the day at Mabry Mill, walking around the water powered grist mill and other buildings.
We are spending the night in Hillsville, VA.
Tomorrow I head home while Pat & Andy continue up the BRP into their second week of vacation. I wish them safe travels... Ride safe, and keep the rubber side down.

(Here is where I pick up from Dave.)

Could not post day 7 as I had no wifi, or even smartphone hotspot. Tower signal was only 28%:-( Thanks David Headley for posting each day of the trip. After we parted ways with you, we finished the Blue Ridge. Saw some glorious views of Roanoke after we took another road with hairpin turns just for the view. Then we started on Skyline Drive, stopped to see Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's headquarters in Elkton VA. Got off the road for the night. Rained after we were tucked in for the night. Today, not a cloud in the sky. But did I roast. Broke more of my own rules and rode without jacket or gloves. Just to damn hot. But back to the day...we got off Skyline Drive around 11:00 and Lee showed up 45 minutes later. Spent some time swapping stories, although Lee's are more colorful as you can imagine. Then we waved him goodbye and spent the day on the Civil War Trail in Front Royal. Tomorrow we are off to PA to see the 9/11 memorial in Shanksville.

Aug 5^th
Today we left Front Royal to make our way to Shanksville. We had a wonderful ride over and stopped at one Civil War memorial and a great farm stand where Andy sampled Cherry Apple Cider and dug into his pocket to buy a 1/2 gallon. When we arrived in Shanksville, with only 3 miles from our destination we decided to stop and eat since it was noon. How fortunate for us. There we met Don and two of his brothers. Don's brother was at home on "that day" and new something was not right with that plane. He watched it go down. For the next hour Don told all his family stories. The brother who witnessed the plane crash has moved to Arizona and only comes for the summer. He will not go back to the old house. He just can't. Also as the town became "locked down" as FBI etc decended on them for the recovery, Don and his daughter just home from high school (around 3:30 that day) saw a large "white plane) fly not more than 1,000 feet over the site. He believes to this day it was the President on Airforce One. When we arrived at the memorial, the skies opened up which seemed fitting; and as we listened to the park ranger and she held up photos of some of the 40 passengers I was glad for the rain running down my face. It's a hard place to visit, but I am glad I did.

Aug 6^th
We are off the road a bit later than usual because we tried to pack in a full day. First stop; Williamsport, PA. That is where the Little League stadium is where they play the world series. There is also a museum that was interesting. We even walked the infield. Then we headed to Scranton because I needed to get a stamp at Steamtown National Historic Site. I sure wished Aiden had been with us. He would have LOVED all the trains. We are down for the night at a nice motel on lake Wallenpaupack. That is on route 6 (PA). We have hit the jackpot with nice roads. Yesterday after we left Shanksville, we decided to take a couple of routes that we later found out at our motel was listed in PA as a motorcycle destination. (160 to 53). Eating too much on this vacation too. I also like to try the local bears. We are thinking of the Catskills tomorrow and then home to get ready for Kyla and Aiden. But really, the true measure of when your vacation is coming to an end, is how much cash is left in your wallet. :-)

Aug7th

Made our way along the Catskills today. Stopped at Monticello to watch the horses exercise around the track. Dropped a few bucks in the slots; three total. I'm not much of a gambler. Lost of course. Had ice cream for lunch at a great little place called the Ice Cream Castle. I had Apple Crisp flavor. Yum! Then we found a lighthouse along the Hudson to add to my collection of lighthouse photos. This was in Saugerties NY. We love to stop at road side oddities, some I didn't photograph. Finally as the sun made its way to the western horizon, we finished the day along a lovely stretch of route 20 and dropped off for the night in Lee MA. Had supper at Joe's Diner which had many a famous face framed on the walls. The staff was friendly and I ate meatloaf, which was breaking my no beef/pork rule. But it was darn tasty. Heading to the Henderson Homestead tomorrow. Back to carrot juice, sprouts and oatmeal. I'll post a few photos I collected from today.

Aug 8th

We arrived home on Wednesday, after a pleasant ride along familiar back roads. No hurry this day. Just an easy relaxed ride home. The reflection starts and the fond memories of spending time on two wheels. It will be nice to have a few days without any agenda before I get back to the rat race next week.

Be sure to see all the photos in the previous post.
Thank you to David K Headley for taking time each evening to chonicle our trip.

Blue Ridge and Beyond

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Click here to view these pictures larger

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 13:32:00 +0000

"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. "

(A. Lincoln)

Our days have been quietly marching by; not unnoticed, or ignored, rather viewed from new perspectives. Since our ride with Lee to Connecticut in May, not much group riding has been on our agenda. A trip to Laconia and a hop out to Vermont for ribs with Dave were the only other social activity beside family commitments that we engaged in. Mostly Andy and I have been taking quiet rides, enjoying the solitude. Vermont, Massachusetts and the mountains of New Hampshire have all been our destinations. My mind has been in a more reflective mood as of late. My audio book listening while I commute is lending itself to this state of mind.

Yesterday, we shook off the bikes for the Lee’s Benz and headed to Lime Rock Park in Connecticut to check out car racing to see what all the fuss is about with respect to race cars. The company I work for, which races a Corvette, was scheduled to participate at Lime Rock. I managed to get my hands on 4 tickets and off we went. Most of our time was spent in quiet appreciation for each other’s presence, with only a few hours at the race track. I enjoyed seeing the Compuware Corvette in action.

The day wasn’t without its challenges. An hour into our trip to Connecticut, I realized the tickets were sitting on the kitchen table. Yet with the help of Eckhart Tolle, whose audio book I have just finished, my response was not the meltdown I typically fall prey too. My anxiety ridden self is slowing transforming to better ways to handle challenges. Tolle has to be one of the most influential and enlighten individuals of our modern times. I feel privileged to have been helped by listening to him.

I am looking forward to our trip to the Blue Ridge in a few weeks. Yes, I still have anxiety, especially when contemplating traversing the Tail of the Dragon. Those who ride with me know I’m no peg scraper, yet I feel confident that I can master all 318 curves in those 11 miles taking them one at a time. We are all capable of doing what we need to do in any given moment. So I won’t dwell on the 318, but on each one individually as it presents itself. I will also enjoy the week with Dave that he can spend with us. Should Lee find a way to connect with us in the second week; well that will just be icing on the cake.

For now, I will continue planning our trip. I’m working on the GPS files I will need. One for getting to the start, The Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, Diamondback and the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. I’ll plug in Dave’s contributions from his trip a few years ago of exits with gas stations, and restrooms. With help from the POI factory for a few other points of interest the planning is often almost as much fun as the doing. Yet nothing is as enjoyable as sharing experiences with those whose company you enjoy the most. That is what I am looking forward to the most.

Blaze Set Free

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Cars, trains, ships and planes, all have been our vehicles of transport as of late. The planes were to and from the west coast, a rental car, the Midway (aircraft carrier) and the train ride around Safari Park. We saw family, tourist sites, mastodon bones, signs warning of rattle snakes and mountain lions. Yet, when Lee said “let’s go to Connecticut this weekend” he was talking about getting there by motorcycle. No other mode of travel ever sounded so enticing.

Andy and I were itching to get on two wheels again, so neither of us needed convincing. When I slid the doors open to let Blaze free, she looked so forlorn; her fenders dusty, the seat cold. It had been a while since she’d escaped the confines of the stall. I am often struck by how motorcycles “feel” to me. Jade always felt like a young untamed colt; alert, ready for anything. Blaze is more stoic; seasoned, patient and always compliant no matter the situation. I tenderly brushed her clean of dust and pollen, spritzed the windshield to removed the dead bugs, and off we went.

Last year, EasyEd had taken us on some fine Connecticut roads, and we wanted to revisit a few of them. Connecticut is one beautiful state. Andy leads us on a hightail out of New Hampshire until we exited to route 44. Lee took over the lead at that point and we lunched at the Vanilla Bean. After a great lunch, a stop at the Gillette Castle was in order with the obligatory ferry ride across the Connecticut River. From there we meandered our way to the coast, enjoyed the smell of the ocean, and a glimpse of a lighthouse from our saddles. We retreated to our respective rooms to refresh and then headed out for an evening meal, this time with Debra for a foursome and enjoyed our meal, at Saigon City, despite the establishment’s chaos and confusion. Deb having taking the brunt of being delivered a drink she didn’t order, and her meal requests ignored. I ended up enjoying rice instead of the rice noodle clearly labeled on the menu.

The next morning, with Deb back off to NH, we mounted our steeds and headed off to see if we could get closer to that lighthouse. No such luck, so Lee pointed us toward the Devil’s Hopyard, where he understood we could enjoy the cool spray of a waterfall. Once we had enjoyed fully nature’s beauty, I suggested that Lee and Andy might like to glimpse the Frog Bridge. With that Lee pointed us toward Connecticut route 66 and the ride along these roads to our destination were magnificent indeed. While Lee seemed unimpressed with 11 foot frogs sitting sentinel on thread spools, Andy did get a kick out of the sight. With the day marching on, we lunched late and took to the highways once more, opening up the throttle and returning from whence we came. Blaze is tucked back in, feeling better for having kicked up some dust, but by no means satisfied with being confined again.

Cool New App for Motorcycle Enthusiasts

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Lately the itch has set in. I’m antsy, can’t concentrate, and am prone to daydreaming. I can’t point to any one factor for this recent emotional state, but feel it’s a combination of a number of factors. For one, the weather in March for a few weeks seemed more like June, and we got out on the motorcycles and enjoyed being back on the open road. Second, my company recently increased their vacation allocations and I’ve been beside myself with the possibilities this presents me with the added time off I’ll be enjoying this year. Oh the places I’d like to travel; the people I’d like to meet, and the food I’d love to experience across this incredibly diverse continent or ours!

My restlessness had me scouring the web for the ultimate destination. To my great joy and delight, I stumbled upon Motorcycle Roads.com . I was instantly drawn in. The site is neat and clean, easy to navigate and full of useful information without a lot of fluff. Let’s get to brass tacks, it says to me, you want to ride, we have some great suggestions! It didn’t take me long to sign up as a member to receive the e-newsletter although I could see a ton of other benefits I can take advantage of right there at the website.

When I thought I had just died and gone to heaven, I saw the sidebar add for a mobile web app! Where my eyes deceiving me? Absolutely not! I kept reading. “MotorcycleRoads Mobile web app (AKA MCR Mobile) is more than just a navigation aid; it gives you a ton of travel info you can access on the fly for a flawless, fantastic journey anywhere in America!” The app offers perfectly formatted viewing for your device, has route descriptions, photos, video and supporting facts. The routes are rated for scenery, road quality, and include attractions and amenities. And if that isn’t enough for you, there are links to the local weather forecast and rider comments. Some of these valuable comments provide feedback advice on restaurants, pubs, speed traps and safety hazards.

In addition to the great features I’ve just listed, you can customize with your own “My Roads Wish List” and “Roads I’ve Driven.” You can flag roads that look interesting or exciting to you and add them to your personal list. OK, I was IN. For $2.99 this is a great value! Then I hit a roadblock. The app is currently available only for iPhone or iPod Touch. Shucks! I’m walking around with my Android device. I do like my Android so what to do? Not to worry. They are working on apps for other devices such as Android, Blackberry, iPad and Palm. I signed up at this link so that I can be notified when the app is ready for my device. It was easy!

While I’m waiting for this app to be delivered for my device, I hope a few of you will take advantage of this and let me know how you like it. And by the way, my company is the industry leader in application performance management, and is expert in mobile app devices. So if while you’re using it, you run into any quirks, we can help get them ironed out. I want this app and if you are like me, you want it now and you want it dependable and reliable. After all, we don’t want any complications to come between us and the open road.

Another Small Victory

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:58:00 +0000

On February 28th, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law H.B. 187. The new law prohibits law enforcement agencies from establishing checkpoints where the only vehicles subjected to inspection are motorcycles. I have spoken on the topic before of our personal liberties being chiseled away bit by bit. Imperceptibly, one by one, laws are being enacted that restrict our liberties, so it’s with interest that I read this article recently in the motorcycle news feeds. One by one the ways in which we unwittingly relinquish our freedoms should be enumerated, and awareness raised in the small victories measured against it.

I want to stress here that I am not against pulling people over and ticketing them when clear violations are evident. Cars, trucks and motorcycles should all be in good running order with valid inspection stickers. People should not take to the roads under the influence and put the lives of innocent people at risk. Targeting groups of any kind without cause however, should be guarded against.

The impetus for the measure that introduced the bill in the Virginia house, came after The Arlington County Police Department set up a motorcycle only checkpoint during the Rolling Thunder ride on May 28, 2011. Motorcyclist who participate in this event, ride to Washington DC every year during Memorial Day weekend to bring awareness to prisoner of war/missing in action (POW/MIA) issues. Indeed, it is the very veterans of past wars who are riding so that their fellow servicemen will not be forgotten. Paradoxically the very people who represent freedom preservation are those who are violated against.

I am happy to say that New Hampshire along with one other State, North Carolina, have similar laws on the books. And while the checkpoint was defended as looking for safety violations, the motorcyclist were pulled over in groups and corralled, despite their safety inspection stickers prominently displayed. Communities would be better served if funds were spent on motorcycle rider training and safety along with driver (vehicle operator) awareness programs. Considering that approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile this last seems equally as important as motorcycle training.

http://usridernews.com/2012/03/13/virginia-outlaws-motorcycle-only-checkpoints/

May in March

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:48:00 +0000

In all my riding years, we have celebrated kicking off the riding season in March. Typically we are dress in layers, stop often to stamp our feet or to hold our numb fingers just above the exhaust pipes. So when the weather forecast predicted unseasonably warm weather, we were excited to head out on Sunday with our friends Dave and Lee.

When we started to get ready for the ride it was not yet 40 degrees. That of course is perfectly fine. It is March after all. I put my long Kevlar undies on under my jeans, wore the hot chili socks, and layered the top with a thermal undies shirt, long sleeved tee and sweater topped with the riding jacket. Our plan was to ride to the coast and I predicted a stiff sea breeze for which I was ready. Who would have thought it would reach 80 degrees that day!

We headed out toward Hampton via the secondary roads. It was pleasant but odd at the same time. Typically on these byways you can get a scenic glimpse now and then through a break in the tree line. Yet, because it is March, there is no foliage yet, and we had views one doesn’t usually see from a motorcycle along this route. As we approached Hampton, it was clear that we were not the only ones thinking of the beach. In the distance we could already see the kites skipping along the horizon, straining to be free of their tethers.

The temperatures quickly climbed, and we started to shed our layers once at the beach. We enjoyed a stroll, people watching and kite admiration until our hunger pushed us on to find a place to eat. We headed north along the coast yet at any place that was open this early in the season, the line of people stretched out the door and down the walk, so we pushed on to Portsmouth.

By the time we arrived in Portsmouth, I was becoming drenched and needed Andy’s assistance to remove the thermal undershirt without removal of the top layer. It was a class act for sure, and my modesty remained intact. Finding a place to eat here wasn’t easy either, but we found Me and Ollie where they treated us nicely and we were off again.

In Rochester we parted ways with Lee, and Andy Dave and I wiggled the rest of the way home. Of course Andy and I needed an ice cream fix at Hayward’s which hit the spot on this HOT day. The lines here too were long, but not one person was heard grumbling.

This March week has remained exceptionally warm and it begged a late Thursday afternoon ride. So off again we went, just Andy and I, around the area to put in a couple of hours of saddle time. Summer jacket, no layers, and some of the best therapy I’ve had in a very long time.

Social Networking

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:53:00 +0000

Dear Diary, I finally made a meeting of the Monadnock Writers Group; first one this season. Enjoyed seeing everyone and listening to co-authors B. Eugene McCarthy and Thomas Doughton speak about their book, From Bondage to Belonging: The Worcester Slave Narratives. The Q&A sessions afterwards is always interesting too, as you get a sense of what others are thinking during the talk by the nature of the questions they ask. As always after one of these meetings, I feel the itch to get in front of my monitor with a blank word doc before me, waiting to transform it into something of my own.

Back in the car I head to Milford from Peterborough. I need to get the car washed. I have a booklet of car washes I got for Christmas. I love keeping my little car clean. I see I’m not alone with the thought of a clean car. There is a line waiting their turn. I have to make a left turn into the lot. The traffic is heavy and I can’t seem to find a break in the flow to get by. Finally, a pick-up truck flashes his lights and waves me through. As I proceed on through, an SUV behind him stamps on the accelerator and jack rabbits around, nearly colliding with me. With hearts pounding we all sit there momentarily then I move on into the lot. The driver of the pick-up is looking at me with concern and relief and patiently waits for me to get by.

I notice a number of motorcycles on the road today. It is such a nice day for February. I turn over in my mind the rest of the day’s plans and wonder if I too can fit in a ride. After my near collision while trying to make a left hand turn, I remember that this is the doom of many motorcyclists too. I have also noticed how much sand is on the roadways, another thing to be concerned with if you are riding this time of year. As I wait in line at the car wash I try to picture in my mind if the driveway was still ice covered when I left home earlier.

I stop at the market to stock up for tonight’s movie. An old woman, bent at the waist and hanging on to her basket for dear life, asks me to reach a canned good on a top shelf. She thinks it wonderful to be tall. I smile. I don’t feel exceptionally tall, but I suppose if the average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall, then I guess 5 feet 7 inches would be considered tall.

On the way home, the car in front of me is stopping at every intersecting road to let someone out of a side street. I’m annoyed at first. This is the main drag after all, and no one usually stops to let people out at the side streets. I think of my near miss earlier, and I let my boil calm to a simmer. Then I start cracking up, laughing out loud all by myself in the car. I’m laughing because I remember a friend being in a sour mood, and me giving him some advice to feel better. I had instructed him to do a deliberate act of kindness sure to make he feel much better afterward. Well, he had to stop by Costco and decided to try this with five people. Yet, Costco was unusually empty that night, and he could not find ONE PERSON to do a random act of kindness and left in a mood fouler than when he arrived. Maybe this guy in front of me couldn’t find five people at Costco either! I patiently sit and smile to myself as we continue along, letting people into traffic, one deliberate act of kindness at a time.

I take a walk in the neighborhood along the quiet country lanes, greeting the few people I meet along the way. I rejoice at the sight of the taps in the trees heralding spring and the maple sugaring season. In the evening, we enjoy a movie at home with friends. Good wine, great conversation and a sense that all is right with the world. So ends my own version of a great social networking day.

What the Jedi Teach Us

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +0000

You might all be surprised to learn that the only Star Wars movie of the trilogies that I have seen was the first release in 1977. Considering my dearest friends are geeks (and I use this in the most endearing term) it’s hard to believe. Often, one philosophy or another is referenced with an explicit mention of Star Wars, and it goes right over my head. I don’t often go to the movies or even rent them, so references to movies going over my head are not uncommon. I usually shrug it off. Yet, Lee uses Star Wars often when trying to explain something to me. When I read Stephen Covey reference it in his book The 7 Habits I started paying more attention.

As time went on Lee often had to tell part of scene to help me understand the particular philosophy he was expounding in the moment. This is time consuming, and some of the context gets lost in the translation. This is how we decided to view the movies together, and watch for particular spots where the philosophies are being exampled. Our first experiment happened last night. Our movie for the evening Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones. Poor Deb looked bored, as I’m sure she has seen this a million times, and living with Lee must hear these referenced time and again. Andy, while understanding what we were about, was finding his analogies with WWII, Hitler and Mussolini. He began to ponder what moves people to desire total power and dictatorship over mass populations.

With all this we tried to stay focused on our mission. The movie was paused time and again as we spotted concepts of thinking we have talked about in the past or habits we are trying to recognize in ourselves and move away from. We see Anakin warned to guard against his negative thinking. We watch him blame others for his actions, and react to his emotions in the moment. He blames Obi-Wan Kenobi for holding him back, he annihilates an entire village, men, women and children in retaliation for the death of his mother; the anger seething behind his eyes. He jumps ahead in an armed confrontation with Count Dooku, against Obi-Wan’s orders, and loses his hand.

The power of the force is strong in Anakin, yet he doesn’t manage it well. He is reckless. There are moments when we see focused concentration on his powers especially when paired with Obi-Wan. It is then that we see the master’s skill at training his student. Yet once out of sight, the student disregards the lessons, and allows his powerful emotions and arrogance to rule him and misuse the power of the force within him.

We will continue with the trilogies to learn what we can from them. For now, we will watch ourselves so as not to blame others for our own actions and circumstances. When struck by powerful emotions, will not give in to the moment, but think our way through to places that serve us better. After all, when reacting in the moment, we never know what we are really sacrificing. We all need to guard against our negative thinking and to get through life with both hands intact.

“How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?”~Satchel Paige~

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:02:00 +0000

"Grasshopper, you have made much progress. You listen more so that you will be heard. You recognize your assumptions and question them. You have learned to make emotional deposits so that in a crisis your emotional bank account is not over-drawn. You are growing Grasshopper and I am pleased. Your journey is well underway. Yet it is a journey without end.”

“Master, your words are of great encouragement to me. That the journey is without end is becoming evident the more I walk the path. We never stop our leaning if our desire is to master ourselves.”

“Grasshopper, I too am please at the words I hear. You are ready for the next exercise. And since the teacher also learns as he teaches, I will take part in the exercise as well. Here is what we will do. Together, but separately, we will sketch out our ONE year goals, our FIVE year goals and our TEN year goals.”

With that, I opened a mind map program as it helps me when I know not where I’m going. From the center I branched out; one year; five years, ten years. I stared as blankly at the outline and it stared back at me. I started typing. The one year goals are more easily identified. That is not to say they are easy, just easier. I know where I am now. I can see the short term goals; those work focused, family focused and personal. I started here, filling out the mind map with clarity.

With the five and ten year goals, the horizon is a bit more fuzzy. I stare at the five year bubble on the mind map for long stretches of time. Could it be possible for some of these short term work related goals have opportunities to take me five years? Where is it I want to be in five years? Then like a sucker punch or being cold cocked, the realization of how old I would be in five years struck me. Sweat broke out on my brow and a sinking feeling of dread came over me. A mental image came to mind of me walking the earth, that dreaded age on my breast pocket like the giant A on Hester in the Scarlet Letter.

I closed the mind map for two days. Each time I thought of it, I asked myself some questions. How can I look at this better? What questions can I ask myself that will change the way I’m looking at growing older? Then Arnold John Kaplan sent me a friend request on Facebook. Arnold is 95 years old. If that number is giving you images of old and feeble, then you would be very wrong indeed. Not only does he work out at the gym (with weights) everyday, he spends his time working at his passion of 75 years; photography. He also produces photo-education slideshows for camera clubs and entertainment slideshows for civic groups.

A new image formed and in my mind and I tore the scarlet numbers from my breast, stood straight and tall, and began to type furiously into my mind map. You can be damn certain that I will be putting more effort into my gym workouts too. Oh, and that thought about the elevator at work the other day when I felt lazy? Made a quick detour and continued my daily climbing of the stairs! Thank you Arnold John Kaplan for the wake up call. As the “master” (who is 60) tells me often, “why do people associate age with deterioration?” Which, by the way, he often tells me from a handstand or some maneuver on the rings. Pardon me now, this Grasshopper needs to get back to that 1, 5 10 and 20 year plan!

Photographer of the Week 2008

Some Lessons We Learn from Our Grandchildren

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:16:00 +0000

In my last post I spoke about reaching our goals, and how time plays a role in achieving them. Our goals can often seem so out of reach as to be unattainable. Sometimes it can feel as though we are deluding ourselves in the belief that we can reach them. I write about these concepts on how to stay focused for me as much as anyone else. I am not immune to the negative self-talk we give ourselves on a daily basis. We often are unaware of the little voice inside spewing all that negativity. Listen to your inner voice. I bet you too will be shocked to discover how poorly you speak to yourself. Listen also to what you say out loud. It’s a sure indicator of what is going on inside.

This negative self-talk is the end result of years of conditioning. Someone may have suggested we are not capable, smart enough, or that something we want is unattainable. We believe it. Maybe we make a mistake and are told we are stupid, dumb, or useless. We accept what others say about us instead of knowing who we are. We should be challenging these beliefs or rejecting them altogether. We should set our feet on the path of what we know to be true about ourselves and embark on a wonderful personal journey of self-discovery.

This lesson was reinforced when I saw again the video of my grandson’s first attempt at crawling. I knew instantly its value in teaching all of us about staying focused on our goals. In the video my grandson cannot coordinate his knees. When he pulls one knee forward the other comes too, so that he looks almost like he’s hopping. Would he have cared is someone told him that this wasn’t the way to crawl? Did he say to himself “oh I’ll never be able to get it right!” Of course not! He persists. At one point he tips over and plants his face squarely into the carpet. He doesn’t cry or get deterred, but gets up, and keeps going. Three quarters of the way to his destination, he pops into a sitting position, surveys the landscape, notices the progress he’s made and rewards himself with clapping hands. Then back to his knees until the toy he’s after is in his hands.

Children teach us so much about life. They have not been poorly conditioned by the judgments of others. Their little hearts are pure, and they live deeply in the moment and concentrate on each step they need to take. They don’t worry about the wrinkle in the carpet that might catch their feet. They are single focused in perseverance. Learn from them. Keep your eye on your goal. Don’t let others tell you how to get there. If the goal is a long way off, take small incremental “baby” steps in reaching it. Don’t give up at the first wrinkle in the carpet. Stop occasionally and notice how much closer you are to reaching your destination. Give yourself applause for sticking with it. After all, even babies are capable of reaching that which they are after. I’m not sure about you, but as for me, I will keep this image in front of me to stay focused on my resolutions as I head into the New Year.

How Long Will It Take?

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:17:00 +0000

A friend and I, by an outside view, could appear to be our own private book club. It’s true; we are on a path that has us reading some of the best books on the shelf to self improvement. Yet we are serious in our efforts. We are learning so much about ourselves. What we believe a thing to be, how we came to believe a thing to be, what we believe ourselves to be, and how we are challenging the very nature of all these beliefs. Mostly, what I am discovering about myself is how the beliefs I hold are not “global” truths about a topic, but really some fabrication of my own mind. I had never challenged or even considered some of these beliefs to be challengeable. Sound confusing? It sometimes can be, even for us on the journey.

My “new year of resolutions” is coming to a close. It’s been an excellent year for challenging myself, and seeing where I have come from and where I am now. Most notable to me is the realization of just how many fears hold me back, keep me from where I want to be, and once even resulted in illness. The thing about fear is that we don’t walk around saying to ourselves, “oh, I have to stay away from that because…” . We keep our distance from many things in the course of the day out of fear and never recognize it IS fear. We are blind to ourselves in this way. So imagine my shock when out of the blue, it occurred to me that one of my goals has been elusive because I’m walking around with an unacknowledged “fear” of my own.

What my fears are and toward what topics are not really relevant, only that I am now recognizing I have them. I learned the hard way in April, after a bout of shingles, and that I might possibly have brought this on during a period I considered close to crises. The crises of course had been a manufacture of my vivid imagination. Much of it was my own mind playing the fear game of imagined outcomes. Most of what we fear it turns out is what we “think” could happen up ahead. I had a lot of time to think during the illness, and decided to “get over myself” so to speak. I got back up, walked back into my life, and looked each day in the eye. I don’t assume any particular outcome anymore. I visualize what I want, not what I don’t want.

On the path to “better” there are humorous moments too. Like the constant reminder not to give up too soon.

“It will take two years to reach your goal” my friend is always saying to me.

He’s trying to keep me bolstered in the realization that our progress isn’t always visible in the day to day things, but over time looking behind us we can see the tremendous progress we have made. The two year mark was reinforced last week while my husband was watching golf. Tiger Woods had finally won his first tournament since the big scandal. When was that? You guessed it. That was exactly two years ago!

With the new year approaching I realize that I will need to extend my “new year of resolutions” at least for another year. I’m going to do as I do in business and assess where I am, make modifications where needed, and set new goals. But the journey will continue. For as in the words of my dear friend Lee Mowatt, “our up ahead has to look better than our behind.”
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Reading List for your own journey:

360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell

Attitude is Everything by Keith Harell

Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain

Developing The Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Go Put Your Strengths To Work by Marcus Buckingham

Healthy At 100 by John Robbins

Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Maximum Confidence by Jack Canfield

Meditation in a NY Minute by Mark Thornton

Mind-Mapping by Michael Gelb

Quantum Memory Power by Dominic O’Brien

Ready for Anything by David Allen

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John C Maxwell

The 7 Habits by Stephen R. Covey

The Angel Inside by Chris Widener

The Biology of Belief by Bruce H Lipton Ph.D

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

You Don’t Need a Title To Be A Leader by Mark Sanborn

You, The Owner’s Manual by Roizen and Oz

How Much Can One Person Do?

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:11:00 +0000

I’m sure this has happened to you. You anticipate the weekend thinking of all the things you want to do, and stressing about all the things you need to do getting in the way. This particular dilemma is causing me a considerable amount of angst these days. Typically in November I begin to play catch-up, but with the weather being unseasonably warm, it’s almost a crime not to take the motorcycles out for an afternoon. So there goes another day when little is accomplished and the chores stack up, not to mention cutting it close to the wire on the bills sitting in the queue.

It was during a typically long commute that I felt as though a melt-down was imminent, thinking I could be writing the next great novel, spending time on staying fit, or just getting some much needed R&R, when I heard again this story. Maybe you’ve heard it too. A teacher puts a jar on the desk and fills it with rocks. When the jar is full of rocks he asks the students if there is anythng more he can put in the jar. The students look at the jar and it’s obviously full, so they tell him that of course he can’t fit anything else in there. He then pulls out a container of gravel and pours it into the jar. The gravel trickles into the air pockets left by the larger stones. He asks his students again if they think the jar is now full. Amazed, they nod their heads and tell him certainly it is full now.

“Oh is it?” he says, and pulls a container of fine sand which he pours into the jar. The sand filters down and into the jar. Again he asks his students the same question, but they are on to him now.

“We don’t know what else can fit in there, but I’m sure there is something.”

The teacher grins and pulls out from under the desk a pitcher of water and pours it into the jar.

In the link above, this story asks us to consider what the “big rocks” in our life are and to make sure to put them in first. Yet, this same story has been used in moral and ethical questions and ingenious ways to manage time. It has also been used to challenge our perceptions as the teacher did with his students. What we see and believe can so often be challenged in ways that surprise us. It had me looking at a typical day in my own life. The jar full of rocks so to speak. Those rocks can seem so big and so heavy; I can’t imagine how I can ever manage the gravel, sand and water. My perception it seems is skewed.

For those of you connected to me on Facebook, you’ve noticed me talking about cleaning the house of unwanted junk that has collected over the years. I know you’ve all cleaned a closet or two in your life and know what a job that can be. It can eat up a good chunk of the day. Yet Andy and I don’t have big chunks to devote to this, but we could spare 15 minutes a day. (If you think 15 minutes can’t make a difference, think about what one drop of water a day can do to your roof over time.) So productive is our 15 minute sessions that we actually look forward to it each day. It’s not taking away from our life, we spend time together, and we learn a few funny truths. Closets are a lot like empty jars. We put the big rocks in and over time we test the theory of how full it really is.

PS: A special thanks to Lee, who always challenges my perceptions and offered up by example how to find the lost minutes of time in the hours of my days.

Observations in the Dark

noreply@blogger.com (PatnWilton) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Sitting in the dark for a week can offer a wealth of information to a person if they are attuned. The historic October Nor’easter here in New England, plunged us into darkness for days on end. Trees, power lines and poles all came down like dominos. Here in Wilton, not only did we lose power, we lost land line and cell reception. Ham radio operators arrived and set up at the fire station to serve as our emergency communication with the outside world.

This might sound like a nightmare to many, but there are hidden gems in being confined to the dark in the evening with nothing but your spouse for entertainment. And before your mind goes down the wrong path, let me assure you the entertainment was enjoyed fully clothed. One of the benefits I find in being in the dark is that when speaking with your spouse by candle light, without the distraction of TV, is that he looks you in the eye and actually participates in the conversation. I discovered my husband has a sense of humor. (Or he rediscovered this on his own.) We reviewed our day, or I read short passages of my favorite book by candle light after which we would chat about what we thought it meant to each of us. We assessed our current state of affairs, talked about the future, and aligned our goals in harmony with each other.

The result of our week without power also showed us just how much useless junk we have laying round. Just think a minute of everything around you that depends on electricity. Not one of these things is of any use without power. Just how much we really “need” some of these things became quite apparent. This led to a conversation about “cleaning house” of the useless things we hang onto. How much of the items we have tucked away are of any use to us? We dust around them, move them around to make room for other “stuff” and sometimes even forget something is there, only to be discovered by accident 20 years later. In the dark, looking each other in the eye, we pledged to devise a plan to clear away the clutter that holds us back from really being free to do what we wish because we are spending all our time taking care of our useless possessions.

When the lights were restored and we looked around, the pledge we made looked like a daunting task we would never accomplish. While the notion seemed to make sense in the dark, the reality of what we really faced was more frightening in the light of day. After some contemplation, I took an idea from a friend who had cleaned his whole garage by spending 15 minutes a day picking away at it. Yet I knew I needed to embellish that if I were to keep Andy focused and engaged. With that in mind, I hatched a plan that worked for both of us and hooked right onto one of our future goals.

So far the plan is working. Each evening we point to a spot in the house. Then I set the timer on my cell phone for 15 minutes. We go to the spot, and start holding up objects. When we are in doubt, or someone starts to get sentimental, we ask ourselves this question. “Do we really want to pack this when we move?” If the answer is “no” we get rid of it. We have no plan to move anytime soon, yet it’s in our long range plan. If the perfect opportunity arises, we will now be ready to take advantage of it in a New York minute.

The temperature this morning is 24 degrees, yet forecasted to rise into the 50’s. When the mercury reaches that point, we are off on the bikes to enjoy a ride, possibly for the last time this season. Another benefit comes to mind as I wait for the sun to warm things up. The less stuff I have to be responsible for, the more time I have to really enjoy life.