So... What do you do when....

You have a beautiful day and a 200-something ft high mountain ...

(Note: If you click on the picture and look hard you can see people, left middle, just above the tree line. This give you an idea of the size of this rock.)
Climbing gear and three friends?...

A friend ...
My husband and...
and me!!!
Why... you go climbing, of course. I realize this isn't a motorcycle story. There will not be a motorcycle mentioned, except for right now. The only motorcycling I accomplished this weekend was the errands around town. A friend called, who had just got back into town, and asked my husband and me if we wanted to climb Grey Rock in Garden of the Gods, Colorado. Unbelievably, this park is in town!!! We decided we just couldn't pass up this opportunity. We hadn't been climbing in a couple of years due to a rock climbing accident I had. I am finally better, after surgery on the ankle and much healing. Luckily this ankle problem, while preventing me from climbing at the time, didn't prevent me from motorcycling.
So anyway, here is my husband and friend climbing the first pitch of the climb.
For the first hour, we just did some warm ups at the bottom of Grey Rock. Here I am warming up. Note: after posting this I realized something. This route I am doing is top roped. You can't see it ver well, but I am on a rope. Just wanted to let you know, as this isn't safe without one. There have actually been visitors to the Garden who see climbers and try it without the equipment and then rescuers have to help them out.

Here we are, about 1/3 of the way up and setting up the equipment for the rest of the climb. Your's truely does the lead till we get to the last pitch at the top. Our friend takes that. We are placing the most used pieces where we can get to them quicker on our belts or harnesses. All the way up Grey Rock we are in awe of the great views it has to offer. In many places it just drops off. You don't think about that part and just keep going. This is one of the many mind games you overcome when rock climbing. This rock is one of my favorite places to climb.
Rearranging the slings and ropes.
Here we are on the last leg of the climb. This is Lance doing the lead. You can see where he has placed some slings, draws & cams.
Here is my husband climbing.
Here I am climbing. We are just about to the top at this point.


Success!!! Here is Lance at the very top of Grey Rock (can you tell by the smile?). It is just beautiful up here.
Here is my husband and me at the top, and yes, we are ecstatic!!!
At the bottom we are tired and very happy. It was a great day for three friends to bond and the climb left us feeling complete. While we didn't do any motorcycling, we did have a blast with another high adventure.

Be sure to read the article before this post about MotoFemina. It's about 3 ladies on a new adventure themselves, with motorcycles (lol).

Safe Journeys in Your Part of the World,

Betty :)

MotoFemina Cast

Hi everyone. I just found a fairly new website that I think you find very interesting. http://motofemina.blogspot.com/ It's about three novice women motorcyclist and a project called "MotoFemina. These three women will not only learn riding skills, but also technical skills. They each put together what is called a "posse," that is a team that will help them learn. They are being videoed and the first showing by pod or web cast is scheduled for sometime in July. The one person deemed to have learned the most technical skill and has the most enthusiasm will win a new F650GS in September. It sounds like a hoot and I'm following their progress. They each post their thoughts to MotoFemina. So go check them out.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Wishing everyone a safe and fun Memorial weekend. I hope everyone gets a chance to get out on your motorcycles. My husband and I have plans ourselves for at least one day on our motorcycles. We have so much to be grateful for in our country. Many will knock it, but have they been overseas in another country? They just might keep their mouths shut if they see the horrible poverty and injustices of other nations. Here's just a little prayer:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

(Psalm 18:1-3)

May the Lord keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday weekend and throughout the coming year.

AMEN

Please remember all those who are/or who have served in all our Armed Forces. Keep all those who are overseas in your prayers. There are military people and their families and civilians working for our freedom and we need to pray for their good health, safety, and a safe return to the USA.

Safe Journeys in Your Part of the World,

Betty :)

PS: Photo taken by Biker Betty

Where Has the Week Gone?

WOW!!! This last week went by in such a blurrrr.... I managed to get out on my motorcycle, for errands only, a few times these last weekdays.

I have two sons and both graduated this last week. One from elementary school and the other one from high school. It was so hard and yet exciting to watch my eldest graduate. He, of course, enjoyed every moment and couldn't wait to get his diploma (lol). He goes to college in the fall and his bags are almost packed already!!! (sigh). It's hard to see your first one leave the nest (*sniff*). So both my boys have stepped into the next phase of their lives and it's great to watch them grow into young men.

My husband and I did manage to get on our motorcycles last weekend and I got some great mountain shots. We managed to rack up a fair amount of mileage. In a few days I will post them.

Safe Journeys in Your Part of the World,

Betty :)

The Great Motorcycle Scavanger Hunt Cont...

As many of you know, my motorcycle group (Mountain Shadow Riders, a chapter of Women on Wheels) is doing a scavanger hunt. It started the first of April and ends Oct 31st. There are just over 350 items to find and take a picture of with your personal motorcycle. So on May 8th, we got our two sons off to school and then my husband and I set out to find a few items on the list. What a great day. Kids in school and we get to go out and play (lol). The day started off a gorgeously, clear blue sky and with just a nip in the air. I was glad to wear all my layers and was quite happy.

We go north on Powers Ave, in Colorado Springs, and then get off and head east on Platte Ave. We go just a little ways down and then head south on Marksheffel Rd. Our first destination is the Pikes Peak International Raceway. Unfortunately, the raceway has been bought out and will no longer be used for races. As I understand it, the new owners bought it to let it rot. What a waste. Anyway the PPIR is on the list for the scavanger hunt.

My husband, who is in the lead, and "this is a good thing" (as Martha Stewart has been known to say, lol), decides we are going to take the back roads. We could have easily zipped down I-25 and been there in half the time. Not long after getting onto Marksheffel Rd you come to open prairies. The song "Home on the Range" comes to mind when driving this stretch of road. It's wide open and beautiful. Lots of prairie grass and some trees. Of course, you have the view of mountains to your west. We follow Marksheffel for a while till we come into the town of Fountain.

Then we turn south, left, onto Link Rd. By now we are coming into farming country. You get a very laid back feeling out this way. In fact, the cops were out and in force that day to ensure that feeling (lol). A little ways down Link Rd we come into a small tree grotto. This bird comes at me and I'm getting ready to duck, but it takes a sudden 45 degree turn and starts to fly right next to me. I was flabbergasted, to say the least. It follows along side me for a few seconds and then flys off on it's merry way. I was so thrilled and absolutely spellbound. That was a few moments in time that I hope to never forget.

We follow Link Rd for a ways, until it runs into Old Pueblo Rd. We turn left onto Old Pueblo Rd. This road pretty much takes you straight out to PPIR. While on this road you cross the railroad tracks many times. We slow way down and look both ways, as this is an active track.

Scavanger Pic - Motorcycle at PPIR

It's really pretty out here. We saw a white rabbit scurring around while parked at PPIR. I couldn't get my camera up quick enough to get a picture of it.

I had thought a barn was on the scavanger list and stopped to take a picture. I just love the look of this old barn. Unfortunately, I was so excited about the old barn that I never noticed the roadkill I accidently parked right next to. If you click on the picture, you will see it just by my front tire. I didn't notice it till after taking the pictures and was walking back to my motorcycle. It was to my dismay when I discovered the poor thing.

Scavanger Pic - Motorcycle with a horse

Okay, I was just looking on the list and I can't find horse or livestock, auugg... there are just too many things on this list. It's got to be a horse trailer and bonus if the horse is inside. Oh well (sigh), it was worth the stop. This horse came right up to me and wanted to be petted. She was very nice. Before my husband was ready with the camera, she nudged me on my shoulder with her nose. As you can see, I was standing next to the fence and didn't expect that.

Scavanger Pic - Motorcycle with an Adobe House

Okay, I do know for sure that an adobe house ISSS on the list (lol). Whew, at times I get so confused with all the items on "the list." During our drive we got to experience lots of wonderful (??) farm smells. There were a few farms putting out the "Ode' to Horse Manure" smell. Then there was the "Ode' to Skunk" smell, ahhh... nothing... like it?

Here we are on the way home. We are on Marksheffel Rd. The clouds are coming in. They do this often by noonish. This is the view towards the mountains.

Here we are still on Marksheffel Rd, with my husband waiting ever-so patiently. This is looking back from where we had just been. You can see the open space to our left. It just goes on for what appears forever.

Scavanger Pic - Motorcycle at a Fast Food Restaurant

10 bonus points for "rider with fast food item"

After all that driving, we were starved. Once in town we headed for one of our favorite fast food joints, Taco Johns. It's pretty new to town. When we first got here, and for 5 years thereafter, Colorado Springs didn't have this fine establishment. Was I bummed!! I absolutely love their Super Potato Oles. You know how there's just some foods you JUST can't live without. We would take trips to Denver and Fort Collins just to feed the fix!!!

We had lots of fun exploring roads we had never been on. It was gorgeous countryside and we were very happy to take the long way to PPIR. There was the bonus of finding other things on "the list" along the way. It was worth it. We took off about 10am and got home about 1:30pm. We drove just over 100 miles.

Wishing You Safe Journeys,

Betty :)

Motorcycle Chrome for Mother's Day

I had a real nice Mother's Day this last Sunday. I was so excited when I opened my first present and saw the clock for my motorcycle. I had been wanting one for a while. I did the "happy dance," my husband totally understood and my two sons thought it might be time to admit mom into hospital wacky ward (lol). Okay, so it's just a little piece of chrome, but little is better than none at all I say (lol). You start with the little stuff and work your way up... Oh Honeyyy.....

Here it is. I took a pic of it on my motorcycle. Isn't it great?!!! Going down the road and trying to look at my watch to see what time it is doesn't work so well. My motorcycle jacket has stiff arms and I can't get the sleeve up enough to see it, not to mention that I'm using my throttle hand to do this and slowing down on the road. When you have traffic behind you that ain't cool.

Now you're probably thinking "who needs to know what time it is when you're cruising down the road on your motorcycle?" In my defense, I do errands on my bike and there are times when I need to know that I'm running out of time and need to be somewhere else.

Also, this last Mother's Day I took my son for a ride for the first time. I took him to church. My husband and I installed the sissy bar about two weeks ago. At first the saddle bags hid my passenger footpegs. My husband got the idea to take off the passenger seat and turn the saddle bags around. It did uncover the footpegs, but not quite far enough. Eventually I still need to get the kit that moves my back lights back so the saddle bags can go further back. For short trips, it works for now.

Scavanger Pic - Motorcycle in front of a Church

My son & I had a Boy Scout troop meeting to attend and were able to get this pic for the scavanger hunt. We were wearing protective gear when traveling, but took it off for the photo. My son actually rode on his dad's bike for this trip. Dad's bike has a nice big passenger seat and he doesn't have to fight the saddle bags for foot room (*chuckle*). Family will love this photo with us in our Boy Scout uniforms. I have to chuckle. When I was young and in Girl Scouts I never dreamed I'd grow up and be in the Boy Scouts (lol). They are a great group and I can't say enough great things about them. If you ever get a chance to support or participate in Boy Scout activities, please do. You won't regret it.

Safe Travels in Your Part of the World,

Betty :)