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HeartWood
A blog about cultivating
creativity, connection and contentment
wherever you are

A Chapter Closes

8/7/2019

18 Comments

 
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​You know that old Bob Seger song, “Roll Me Away”? It’s been running through my mind lately. Only this time, I’m not the one rolling away. My dearly beloved motorcycle rolled out of our driveway for the last time a few weeks ago, destined for a new owner’s garage. 
PictureBeing bike-less is a first for us
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​Now, for the first time in our twenty-seven years together, Ray and I have no motorcycles, as he recently traded his last two in on a side-by-side quad. 

​It’s a strange feeling, a little sad and yet absolutely right. In the seven years since we moved to Newaygo County, I’ve gotten so involved in other activities—yoga, hiking, kayaking, photography, plus this blog and the book project I’m absorbed in right now—there just hasn’t been time for the long motorcycle rides I used to enjoy so much. 
​But there’s more to it than that. Lately, being out on the road, even in a car, has started to feel a lot more hazardous. I don’t know if it’s my age, the increasing number of distracted and aggressive drivers, or both, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an experience on the road in recent years that left ­­­me thinking, “Thank goodness I wasn’t on a motorcycle!"
​So I put the motorcycle up for sale, and before I had time for second thoughts, a young man was pulling into our driveway with a motorcycle trailer and a wad of cash. This would be his first motorcycle, he said, and seeing his excitement brought me joy. For good measure, I threw in saddlebags and a heap of other accessories and sent him and the bike off with my blessings.
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The happy new owner
Now, my motorcycle days are memories. But what memories! 
PictureEver wonder what a gift-wrapped motorcycle looks like? This.
​It all started when Ray gave me my first bike—a Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster—the first Christmas we were together. (So much for that $100 gift limit we’d agreed upon.) I had yet to learn to ride, but riding had been high on my hope-to-do-list for a long time. So I signed up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse at a local community college the following spring, practiced in parking lots until I got up to speed, and then took to the road.

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Sitting on the bike for the first time. The tattoo was new then, too.
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Parking-lot practice
​Together, Ray and I took motorcycle trips to Milwaukee, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and around the perimeter of Michigan’s mitten. I rode to work in Ann Arbor, and took long, meandering rides all over Southeast Michigan.
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Setting up camp in Sturgis on one of our motorcycle trips
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Taking a break on our ride around Michigan's mitten. My T-shirt reads: "A woman's place is on the road."
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​When I outgrew the 883, which Ray had customized for me, I sold it and moved up to a 1200 Sportster. With custom paint and Ray’s touches, it became my dream bike—just the right size and weight, with forward controls, a comfy seat, a stylish Sport Bob tank, spoked wheels, fringed lever covers, and other cool details.
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The 1200 Sportster, just the way I wanted it
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Fueling up for a ride on my beautiful bike
​At one point, I joined a women’s motorcycle group, the Chrome Divas of Motown, and though I’d always preferred riding solo or with Ray, I came to enjoy the camaraderie of our group rides and social activities. When my “bonus daughter” Michelle (Ray’s daughter) joined the Chrome Divas, riding together gave us new common ground.
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Getting ready to ride with Michelle
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Sharing a moment after a gas stop
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Chrome Divas, ready to ride
​Riding gave Ray and me a lot of shared experiences, too, and it certainly made gift shopping easy. There was always one more bike accessory or piece of riding gear to be bought. One Valentine’s Day, Ray heard a jewelry store ad on the radio: “This Valentine’s Day, buy your sweetheart something shiny.” So naturally, he headed to the Harley dealer and brought home the perfect gift for his sweetheart: a chrome tachometer cover.
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One birthday, I got a new gas tank, a speedometer, and various other motorcycle goodies.
​We covered a lot of asphalt over the years, and every memory of every ride—even a couple that resulted in broken bones—is a treasure.
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Aftermath of a mishap
​Now, it’s on to new dreams. That wad of cash I got for the bike? It’s going into my fund for a trip back to Samoa. But before we take off on that journey, come with me on a trip back through my motorcycle memories.
​Ready? Cue up Bob Seger, roll on the throttle, and let’s ride!
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Our first motorcycle trip together -- to the Harley-Davidson 90th anniversary celebration in Milwaukee in 1993
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Those are all motorcycles on the left side of the highway -- all on their way from the fairgrounds to Milwaukee's Festival Park. We're in there somewhere!
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Taking a break along the way
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Ray in a sea of motorcycles at one of the Milwaukee events
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Taking the ferry across Lake Michigan on our 1994 trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota
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Sturgis street scene
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Can't go anywhere without buying a T-shirt
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Or two
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Indulging in road food
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Making the scene
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In between longer trips, we took in rallies closer to home, like the Ogemaw Hills Motorcycle Rally in West Branch, MI
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Ray at the rally
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The 883 Sportster, after customizing
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I had the top of the gas tank painted to match my tattoo. (The gas tank came out better.)
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We even had a motorcycle on our wedding cake
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And continued the celebration at West Branch
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West Branch
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Inadvertently (I swear!) wearing matching T-shirts on the first day of our Oklahoma trip
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A gas stop on a thoroughly soggy day in Indiana. Riding rain or shine was part of the adventure.
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Ray calming down after a nerve-wracking ride up a steep, narrow, and twisty mountain road in Arkansas
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Goodbye to the 883. Ray helps the new owner load it up.
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The 1200 -- still new but already being transformed
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An early ride on the 1200
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We had fun taking these dual-sport Yamahas with us to northern Michigan
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Riding up north
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But I was always a Harley girl at heart
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Crossing the Belleville bridge was the beginning of many memorable rides
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We discovered Muskegon Bike Time almost by accident on a house-hunting trip
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We were glad we did -- great festival!
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Ray strikes a pose at Bike Time
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Our trip around Michigan's mitten was our last motorcycle trip together
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Scenes like this made us fall more in love with Michigan every day.
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Coffee stop in Glen Arbor
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Another rainy day
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. . . that finally drove us off the road and into a dry motel in Alpena. The rain was so blinding we couldn't make it one more mile to the Holiday Inn with indoor pool and restaurant. Bummer!
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Then it was back on the road
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And finally, safely home. This jubilation also sums up my feelings about all our motorcycle days.
18 Comments
Marsha Reeves link
8/7/2019 09:21:39 am

And what a chapter that was! You guys had a whole lotta fun!

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Nan
8/8/2019 11:50:11 am

Yes! And still having it -- just in different ways.

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Susan Stec
8/7/2019 09:37:59 am

❤️ thanks for sharing. I miss my motoring days. There’s nothing like the freedom of leaning Into a sharp curve, the wind in your face, and the road under your wheels.

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Nan
8/8/2019 11:52:03 am

You said it, Susan!

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Margaret Hrencher
8/7/2019 12:40:42 pm

Loved all of these wonderful pics! What a great adventure you had. On to many more!

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Nan
8/8/2019 12:31:10 pm

Glad you enjoyed them, Margaret. It was fun looking back at those days and trying to figure out who those crazy people were!

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CindiMc
8/7/2019 02:25:53 pm

What a delight to join you guys on your “rides,” through the amazing photos and thoughtful words. I am having a difficult time knowing you and Ray are “bike-less.” I was honored to be an honorary Chrome Diva.
It isn’t just age that is responsible for your thoughts re today’s drivers. It’s the crazy drivers! A driver pulled out, across three lanes in front of Dale, was hit by oncoming traffic and flipped twice. She was stopped at a stop sign, but decided to go??? Go figure...

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Nan
8/8/2019 12:33:28 pm

Crazy, indeed! Almost every time I go out, I see someone passing at high speed in a no-passing zone -- on hills, in blind curves. It's like they have no concept of even basic driving rules.

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bex
8/9/2019 09:56:46 am

I almost got hit 5 times in a Costco parking lot yesterday - in a bright blue car - by people speeding diagonally across the lot or turning left without looking or driving across the lot between parked cars. Last week I saw a county sheriff's deputy wind up a ticketing event on an expressway exit ramp. He was driving a huge, marked SUV with double light bars on the roof. We both turned north at the end of the ramp. He did not even make it across the bridge before he had to turn on his lights and get his ticket book out again. His body language as he got out of his vehicle spoke volumes. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, PEOPLE?!" Good call on choosing vehicles with air bags and bumpers.

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Sally Kane
8/8/2019 04:25:05 pm

I had so much fun looking at these photos of you and Ray!! Your joy and enthusiasm jump - or should I say rev - right out. What a fabulous tribute to this very significant part of yours and Ray's life together. Even though you had told me about your motorcycle days, I had not undersood the full scope of it all. It was fascinating to see the motorcycle woman side of you. Clearly, you were at one with your bikes and riding. Loved the photos.

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Nan
8/9/2019 06:48:35 am

Yes, the bikes and I were bonded! I'd almost forgotten just how much until I looked back at all these photos.

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Sally Pobojewski
8/9/2019 06:23:52 am

This has to be my favorite blog post ever! I love the photos of your adventures together. You and Ray make a wonderful couple.

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Nan
8/9/2019 07:58:38 am

And believe it or not, we still have things in common, even without the bikes.

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Janet Glaser link
8/9/2019 08:53:17 am

Love love love these FAB photos and reading about your adventures on motorcycles. What wonderful memories you made on those machines. The motorcycles are so cool as are the owners. I also enjoyed seeing the hairstyles through the years. Cute. I'll be sharing this link with my motorcycle owning buddies. I know how you feel with that hole that only can be filled by riding your bike. I feel a great loss after selling our camper, but yes, it was time.

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Nan
8/9/2019 09:28:22 am

Ray's hairstyles, or mine? LOL!

It's a loss, but really the chapter had closed a while ago, so the loss doesn't feel so acute right now. It does feel like time to move on.

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Sue Schneider
8/29/2019 04:40:17 pm

What a marvelous journey through your motorcycle days. I’m delighted to see your trips and adventures. You are an incredible woman who continues to intrigue and bring delight into my life. The next bright star is your book!

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Nan
9/3/2019 06:29:27 am

Thank you for always being so supportive, Sue! You intrigue and delight me, too.

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Katherine Myers
10/2/2019 03:14:14 pm

I enjoyed revisiting this post, though all I remember about my first (and last) ride on a Harley was 'get me off this before I die!' Obviously I didn't have your adventurous spirit! Good friends now own and run the Days End Campground in Sturgis....

Reply



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    Nan Sanders Pokerwinski, a former journalist, writes memoir and personal essays, makes collages and likes to play outside. She lives in West Michigan with her husband, Ray.

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