Dear Diary,
Last year, as I was anticipating becoming 50, I decided I needed to do something big… something I considered of EPIC proportions. Mostly because of having had one of my real sisters (Sally) die due to breast cancer at the age of 50. I just felt so very young at 49. I realized Sal must have also felt way too young to have had to leave her life here. It occurred to me that every day beyond my 50th birthday is a gift. A day Sal never got to have and a day I really need to be thankful for. So I decided I wanted to go on an EPIC motorcycle journey to remember her and celebrate my blessings of health and happiness.
As an aside, I am not certain it is acceptable to deem a journey EPIC until it is over and one has contemplated it thoroughly and over time. But, to my mind, it is EPIC just because I am attempting it…what ever actually ends up happening is icing on the (turning 50) birthday cake of life.
Deciding where to go was relatively simple considering this is supposed to be such a grand trek. I chose to journey back to an area where I grew up, Duluth, Minnesota and the shores of Lake Superior. A place where wonderful, magical things are common place like stars beyond imagining and overwhelming expanses of wilderness that always seem to want to keep me there and hidden once I am enter their midst again. I can already smell the scent of hot pine needles mixing with the cool fresh air coming in over the icy blue lake water. Ahhh! The Lake has an incredible positive energy that feeds my soul. When I'm riding, I experience a similar energy and so I feel compelled to experience the two together.
My traveling buddy and dear friend, Scarlett, and I are trailoring from New Jersey through Pennsylvania to Upper Sandusky Ohio with my hubby at the wheel of the towing vehicle. With a good night sleep under our belt, Scarlett and I will leave Upper Sandusky and then begin the epic journey. We will travel through Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Canada, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania (on the way back) and finally back into New Jersey. Approximately 2,000 miles of road trip. I will be on my nearly comfortable Swarovsky Crystaled 1200L Harley-Davidson Sportster ‘Baby Beast’ and Scarlet will be on her newly acquired, but broken in moving love seat, ‘Sheyns’ which is, in reality, a Honda VTX 1300. And, I am putting my hubby on notice now, if I make it back on that Sportster without damaging my spinal column then, DAG-NABBIT! I get to purchase a moving love seat too! Perhaps even a VTX 1300 like Scarlett’s.
Wink, Wink... right Hon?
Tink
Next Diary Entry: Packing!
Susan and Scarlett. Best of times are wished for you... can't wait to read about your trip adventures ! Love Jean
Posted by: jean | June 30, 2008 at 09:06 AM
You'll have a blast!! I just did the same thing - Louisville KY to White Earth MN - on my 650 Savage. Unfortunately I did it by myself but it was awesome! Like you every day over 50 is a blessing - my Mom died at 52. This bike has really put the FUN back in life.
I'll be thinking of you girls!
Anne
Posted by: Anne | July 01, 2008 at 01:49 AM