Road Captain USA.com

Heaven is surely made of asphalt…and they call it the Blue Ridge Parkway.  A motorcyclist’s playground of 469 miles of twists and turns along a two-lane limited-access road through the Blue Ridge Mountains…it is sometimes referred to as “America’s Favorite Road.”  Construction began on the parkway 75 years ago as an effort to create jobs during the Great Depression (this year is the 75th anniversary).  The idea was to connect the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  The Blue Ridge Parkway picks up with milepost 0 in Waynesboro, VA where Skyline Drive leaves off, then it winds its way through Virginia and North Carolina.  Given a near perfect weather forecast at the same time as an opportunity over spring break, Jay & I decided to check it out.

Saturday began like a typical spring weekend, with a State HOG Rally committee meeting scheduled for early afternoon and a First State HOG Road Captains Meeting/Field Trip to scope out our planned poker run route in the morning.  We showed up to Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson Smyrna at 10:00 AM with the bikes loaded down with gear for a 4-day trip.  (That is to say my Super Glide had its normal tailbag packed and Jay’s Low Rider was loaded up with saddlebags, sissy bar bag, and a duffel bag strapped across the passenger seat with bungee cords.  He was my pack-mule for the weekend!)

We met up with most of the other Road Captains for a short meeting (aka shoot’n the poop in the parking lot), then headed out along the 52-mile route across rural mid-state Delaware that had been planned by our Head Road Captain’s oldest son Nicholas.  Fifty-two miles seems just the appropriate length for a poker run to me for some reason, and this particular route was great…beautiful scenery, easy roads, not too much traffic, and not too many turns either.  The day was a bit chillier than expected (barely reaching 70 degrees when the weather forecast called for 80 degrees), but the company was quite enjoyable and they all bid us safe travels for our trip.

As the rest of the group made their last turn up Rt-13 back to the dealership, we headed the other way down to Dover, DE to check out the host facilities for this year’s DE/MD State HOG Rally.  By the time the day’s obligations had been met, the sun was beginning to make its descent across the sky.  It was 3:15 PM before we got geared back up again and headed out on the road.

The first part of the trek brought us right back along some of the roads that had been included in the planned route for the poker run.  Then we rode down US-301 and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  After a short dinner/gas break in La Plata, MD we re-grouped and changed up some parts of the planned route.  The sun was getting ready to set and we didn’t want to be trying to read maps and directions in the dark.  So we created a less scenic (and actually longer) route that had far fewer turns. It’s a good thing Jay stopped at AAA and picked up some maps to bring with us.

Jay put me in charge of planning the trip, so I was also charged with leading the way.  At about 7:30 PM we were rewarded for our efforts as we were heading west straight into a beatiful purple pink sunset that was just amazing. By about 8:30 PM after leading for 5 hours and leading along unfamiliar and very dark country roads for near an hour, I was toast and I asked Jay to take over for me.  We had only one more road to go that connected to I-64 which would take us to our hotel for the night. It was a very dark hilly country road that pushed us outside our comfort zone (we usually do not ride at night, especially on out of state trips).

We arrived at the Inn at Afton at exactly 10:00 PM as they were locking the doors to the lobby.  It was old and weathered but clean…situated at the top of a hill overlooking the mountains directly between Skyline Drive (to the north) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (to the south).  And so Day 1 was in the books as 349 miles…

Keep posted for more on this story.

Tags: Mrs Road Captain, Trips & Places To Go by Diana Green
8 Comments »

Motorcyclists come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds.  There are men and women, young and old.  There are those who were born into a motorcycling family, and those who came upon it on thier own.  One might say that Harley owners all have lots of “disposable income” in order to be able to afford such an expensive luxury, but I have met many a biker for whom that is completely not the case.  A motorcyclist is a motorcyclist deep in the soul, and when that is the case they will make whatever sacrifices are needed in order to feed the need to have their knees in the breeze.

Right here in our moto-blogger community it is evident that motorcyclists come from all different levels of education and many kinds of occupations, such as those listed below:

• Annuities company employee
• Assembler of scientific measuring devices
• Car salesman
• Coffee shop owner
• Dental hygienist
• Interactive art director/web designer
• Insurance adjuster
• Motorcycle safety instructor
• Motorcycle shop owner
• Photojournalist
• Plumber
• Printing Estimator & Purchasing manager
• Purchasing manager
• Restaurant server 
• Teacher - 5th grade
• Teacher - high school math
• Truck driver
• Vehicle test engineer

Now here’s a quiz…   Can you guess which bloggers belong to which occupations?  Check out the motorcycle blogs below, and see if you can match them up!

1. B.B. - BB’s Road Trip
2. Becky - Biker Chickz
3. Crusty - Crusty the Biker
4. Chessie - Chessie’s Tales, Motorcycles, & Rides
5. Dean (D-Day) - Musings of a Contemplative Biker
6. Doug - 40 Years on 2 Wheels
7. Dave - Road Grits Cafe
8. Irondad (Dan) - Musings of an Intrepid Commuter
9. Joker - My Harley-Davidson Mystique
10. Lady Ridesalot - Glider Rider
11. Liz - Rippin Kitten
12. Mark - Mr Motorcycle
13. Paul - Arizona Harley Dude
14. Rick - Keep the Rubber Side Down
15. Ron - Rides, Roads, & Ronman
16. Stephanie - The Many Thoughts of Harley Girl
17. Road Captain (Jay) - Road Captain USA
18. Mrs Road Captain (Diana) - Road Captain USA

First person to get all 18 correct wins a prize. Diana will judge the answers. Send answers to editor@roadcaptainusa.com

Tags: Mrs Road Captain, Websites & Blogs by Diana Green
10 Comments »

Sunshine on my face, wind blowing through my hair
I believe I can fly

96 cubic inches of power rumble between my knees
I believe I can fly

Gliding along a two-lane ribbon of asphalt
I believe I can fly

Cruising in formation with my brothers & sisters
I believe I can fly

Leaning through twisties and s-curves
I believe I can fly

Legs outstretched on highway pegs
I believe I can fly

Tilting wings like Blue Angels rolling through a turn
I believe I can fly

Slaying the Dragon
I believe I can fly

Riding mountain roads that take me through the clouds
I believe I can fly

Reaching the crest of a hill where the road meets the sky
I believe I can fly

Being a part of the scenery, not just an observer passing by
I believe I can fly

Whenever I throw a leg over my Harley
I believe I can fly

Tags: Mrs Road Captain by Diana Green
7 Comments »

Sitting back to reflect I could only conclude that the last time I threw a leg over my Harley had been prior to Thanksgiving!  It was about that time that Joker was lamenting putting his bike up for the Massachusetts winter, and I very clearly replied that I was not ready to do that yet. 

First there was rain & cold and holiday shopping to do, and opportunity never presented itself.  First State HOG had a ride planned for Christmas Day, but it got cancelled due to the 2 feet of snow on the ground!  This was followed by what seemed like an eternity of below-freezing “high” temperatures and the feeling that I must be living in Alaska as opposed to Delaware.

The traditional New Year’s Day Ride was also postponed – twice – due to extreme weather and poor road conditions.  That didn’t much matter to me anyway, because I was busy every weekend renovating my townhouse in Baltimore to prepare it for sale.

Then came the day of the re-re-scheduled New Year’s Ride, and the sun was shining bright in the sky.  Temps were in the mid-50’s and four dozen FSH members showed up for the ride to Dover to take over Where Pigs Fly for lunch!  But alas, I was not amidst them.  No less than 4 people called or texted at some point that afternoon to report on what a great ride it was and inquire why we were not there.  Jay and I were stripping wallpaper and re-grouting a bathroom floor.  Two months and still a parked motorcycle…

Martin Luther King Day came and I had off work.  The weather was quite pleasant and several of my friends were heading off on two wheels to the beach for lunch.  I was all set and ready to go with them until I woke up that morning.  Every bone in my body ached from the renovation work, and I was so exhausted I could hardly move.  It would have been irresponsible and dangerous for me to operate a motorcycle while in that condition.  So another week went by with my kickstand firmly planted on the ground in the garage.

Perhaps I should just follow Joker’s lead and winterize the Harley for a few months?  The weatherman predicted that it would barely get above freezing for the next 10 days.  I have no heated gear, and not even the greatest pair of gloves.  Wind chill charts for 30 mph put the “real feel” temperatures in the teens.

But Road Captain Kevin had planned a “Chilly Willy Ride” on Saturday.  I was jonesing to ride so badly that I threw caution to the wind (as any good biker would do), put on many layers of gear, and headed out on my Super Glide despite the 32-degree temperature that morning.  About a mile from my house a very warm feeling came over me and spread a huge smile across my face.  It was the overwhelming thought that “two wheels move your soul.”  My soul could have moved mountains that day!

Tags: Mrs Road Captain by Diana Green
4 Comments »

If you would have asked me a year ago where I’d be at this point in my life, my response would have been vastly different than what it has turned out to be.  I’d say “dramatic” is the most appropriate word to describe 2009.

There were many riding “firsts” for me – riding in the rain, crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, taking my own bike on an overnight trip, dropping my Harley, hitting the 10K mark on my new bike, and leading my first chapter ride.

My Super Glide has seen some dramatic changes too.  She has gotten a shiny new chrome fender rack & layback license plate frame, a sport bag mounted to said luggage rack, an engine guard, and 360-degree cruise pegs.  I have grown quite accustomed to cruising with my legs outstretched on my highway pegs!  There was also the handlebar-mount camera that permitted me to take some great live-action shots and video, until the bracket broke and I lost it somewhere along Rt-222 in Pennsylvania!

I was lucky enough to partake in some amazing experiences, like HOG Primary Officer Training and the Harley-Davidson 2010 model launch party in New York City.  I learned to play “butt-darts” and got to ride a Harley (complete with Wisconsin manufacturer plates) around The Big Apple!

I also experienced some tragedy.  The emergency room at Christiana Hospital became an all-too-familiar place after 3 separate incidents involving friends and fellow members of First State HOG.  (Thank goodness they have all recovered nicely.)  But my very dearest friend was not so lucky.  She was killed by a reckless and negligent driver while riding her beloved Softail Deluxe named “Beauty.”

While the loss of such an angel weighs heavy on my heart, a part of me can’t help but be a little envious.  She died quickly and painlessly while doing what she loved to do most – riding with her family and friends.  When it’s my time, I want to go out like that.

So in some ways I find myself way ahead of where I expected to be entering 2010, and in other ways I lost some of what I had gained.  In any case, it’s dramatically different than what I had expected!

As I enter the new year I look forward to putting that replacement camera back on my handlebar.  I hope to add a CB radio to that handlebar as well.  And it would be really awesome to get a backrest for my solo seat so I can ride my next 10,000 miles in comfort.  I look forward to becoming a grandmother for the first time.  I plan to complete my training and become patched as a Road Captain, and also get certified as a motorcycle safety instructor.  I will continue to mourn the loss of my good friend, but also celebrate her life and embrace her spirit by continuing to work just as hard as she would have in making First State the best HOG chapter ever!

Fairwell 2009!

Tags: Mrs Road Captain by Diana Green
4 Comments »

Back when I joined First State HOG, I hadn’t even considered the possibility of taking a weekend getaway on a motorcycle.  And yet only a few months later, there I was hopping on the back of my hubby’s Low Rider® and heading off with a group of riders toward Mansfield and Pennsylvania’s Little Grand Canyon!  On that weekend I discovered that there was much more to motorcycling than local bike nights and afternoon rides around town.  Those beautiful mountains in which I had gone camping many times as a child were now seen with so much more of a breathtaking perspective.  I wasn’t driving through the hills and trees, I was a part of them.  We made great friends with members of the Endless Mountains HOG chapter, and for the first time realized the extent of the brother/sisterhood that binds us together.

Only a few short weeks later, we were off to ride through the clouds along Skyline Drive in Virginia.  And in the spring, it was back to visit our friends in Mansfield for what we all fondly refer to as the “Soggy Bottom” ride.  Travelling two-up on a Dyna®, I learned very quickly how to pack practically nothing and still have what I needed for a several-day trip.  I learned the importance of really good rain gear.  I learned not to carry a cell phone in my back pocket while riding.  And I learned just how much it sucks to ride passenger for long periods of time on a 4-by-5-inch leather-covered brick with no way to stretch out (or even move) your legs!

Motorcycle trips to Rhode Island, Connecticut, New River Gorge, and more broadened my horizons and played a large role in developing my passion for riding.  The addition of Kuryakyn Swingwing Footpegs and a Roho Airhawk seat cushion on the Low Rider® made the terror on my middle-aged body tolerable.  But I yearned to ride my own bike on an overnight adventure.

Just after returning home from five wonderful days in West Virginia, I traded in my 883 Hugger for a brand new Dyna® Super Glide®.  The new bike with its lower center of gravity, better stability, and more power was a delight to ride!  My confidence and skills grew quickly.  I rode on Interstates and even crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but for several reasons the opportunity to take a trip didn’t arise practically all riding season…until…

On Labor Day weekend 2009, hubby and I headed off for the three-day weekend to visit an old college roommate in CT.  We had been planning this trip for several weeks – preriding portions of it and scoping out routes.  I can’t tell you how proud I was to load up my own bike that morning.  We headed out up I-95 through PA, then took River Road north along the Jersey side of the Delaware River.  Travelling mostly along CR-513 through New Jersey, the two of us then crossed into New York and onto one of the most gorgeous roads I have ever seen – Seven Lakes Drive through Harriman State Park and into Bear Mountain.  There is something romantic and almost magical about taking off on a couple of Harleys®, side-by-side with your most special someone and becoming a part of the lakes and trees while you cruise along that ribbon of pavement as it winds its way through the hills and valleys.

Across the Bear Mountain Bridge and into Clarence Fahnstock State Park we picked up Dennytown Road to US-301.  Our connecting road looked perfectly harmless on a map, but immediately after turning onto it, the pavement turned to loose gravel.  Then the road narrowed to barely a lane wide and became a severely cambered dirt road as we twisted past yellow caution signs reading “limited sight - 5 mph”.  An SUV came flying towards us from the other direction & nearly ran us off the road.  I was very glad to hit solid pavement again, and Dennytown Road did not disappoint!  The twisties and s-curves were well worth the horrific approach.  I’d have to describe nearly every turn in order to do justice to the amazing route that took us from Delaware to Connecticut and back.  Let’s suffice it to say that we couldn’t have planned it more perfectly… except for the dirt road.

We arrived just in time to meet our friends for dinner at the local Oktoberfest celebration.  They knew we were riding, but were surprised to find that I had ridden my own bike.  I would be remiss if I didn’t offer kudos to our fabulous hostess…Margie could give Martha Stewart a run for her money!  It was much too short of a visit, but a very relaxing good time.  We were treated like royalty the whole time we were there.
On Monday morning Jay & I headed towards home, making sure to stop at Washington Crossing along the way. 

By the end of the trip I was tired and a little bit sore, but extremely proud of my newest accomplishment.  Next summer we’re off to Niagara Falls for 6 days, and sure as shootin’ I will be riding my own bike!

Tags: Mrs Road Captain, Trips & Places To Go by Diana Green
No Comments »