A new day.
A new motorcycle.
A new opportunity.
So it is.
Last week: I ended a run at Intel. It was a bit hellish. It always is when I work for them. Writing software is a difficult task. Changing software requirements and unrealistic deadlines are the norm. I did the best I could. I wrote over 5100 lines of code and 30 stored procedures. This doesn’t include all of the prototypes, mock-ups and/or rebuilt pages. It was work. There is not much else to say. It was work. In the end, my time ran out before I could finish the task. I might be asked to return. I might not. At the moment, I really don’t care one way or the other. I need a few days off.
Last weekend: The woman and I went for our normal Saturday ride. Things did not go as planned. The wind in the Gorge was brutal, snapping us across road from left to right and every which way in between. We crossed the river from the Washington side at Hood River, grabbed a bite in town and started toward Mt Hood. By the time we got to the scenic overlook a nasty storm was rolling in. Rain and more wind quickly caught us. It wasn’t too bad until my ears started to pop. I had just finished another round of anti-biotics for my latest ear infection. I thought everything was good, but the changes in elevation proved me wrong, very wrong. It is not much fun riding a bike with fluid coming out of your ears. In fact, it sucks. But there wasn’t any other viable option. We were on a twisty road climbing the Northern face of the mountain as the rain fell, temperatures dropped and the locals blasting down the middle of the road kept trying to run us over. I slowed down and rode. That was that.
When we got up to the Cooper Spur Inn both of us were desperate for a warm, dry place to rest. After 45 minutes and some hot chocolate, we got back on the DL and started heading down to Hwy 35. When we reached 35, the sky was blue, the winds had died down, and my ears were no longer bothering me. Left or Right? Hmm… Right. I don’t want to try the Gorge again with those high winds. Bad choice. It started to snow before we reached Government Camp. Ever ridden, two up, in traffic, while it is snowing? Not pleasant. We did it. Without complaint from my passenger, too. There was a little problem with a fogged visor, but I can understand that one. Helmets are still new to her. We took a short break just below the snow line to rest tense muscles and clear our visors. Otherwise, it was a straight shot down the mountain and into an oversized cast-iron tub. It took 45 minutes before I could feel my toes.
Trivia: Vertigo Corsas are not water proof. Not advertised to be and not in reality either! I did find a nice pair of Sidi Flex Force boots that fit while looking around Portland Motorcycle.
My punishment for the ride was a serious problem with my left ear. I was useless when we got back to town. I managed to walk to the pizza place to pick up our dinner, but that was my limit. I couldn’t ride. I couldn’t even stay awake after I ate. Straight to bed. I couldn’t ride on Sunday either. After feeding me a nice breakfast in the Belmont area, the Woman drove me home. Once we got back here we spent the next few hours watching shows on my Tivo: Globe Trekker and AMA Superbike races… (A woman that actually likes to watch motorcycle racing. Definitely a keeper. I walked in on her watching pro basketball the other day and was shocked. I don’t like watching most pro sports. A little role reversal. LOL)
Today has been a struggle. I picked up a 2006 FJR1300A. Very nice. It is a bit of a long story but my Mom wants to ride, but she doesn’t want to deal with actually learning how to ride. Ergo: I have a new motorcycle. I got up this morning, wrote some documentation for my former Intel gig and went to pick up the new bike. I have ridden it about 40 miles so far. It actually had ’0′ miles on it when I rolled it off of the dealership showroom floor this afternoon. It was so new the oil level was still pegged. It had never been started. The struggle came from not feeling great and not being very excited about this new machine. I had things to do and I am happy to get it, but I feel like dog dookie at the moment. Maybe another hour long ride would cure that little problem.
Alas, I need to talk out the garbage and do my domestic chores… Maybe tomorrow will bring more miles. Maybe…
