Riding the Talimena Scenic Byway and the Pig Trail in Arkansas

Over Memorial Day weekend, I took my first long ride on my motorcycle. There were 11 bikes and 13 riders in our group from Southern Cruisers. I have had my motorcycle over a year now, and this would be my first extended day ride on my own bike. My total mileage for the 4 days was 1343. The temps were hot, and I was the only woman riding solo (two were riding two-up with their husbands), and I had the smallest bike, a 2011 Triumph America 850.  I have to admit I was a little leary initially after talking to a coworker who also happens to be in my riding club. He couldn't help but be amazed that I would even consider such an undertaking since I had never ridden much over 200 miles in one day. I also had never really ridden twisties at great length. I had dropped my bike in gravel within the first month of ownership, and  do not own saddlebags, nor at the time, a windshield. For now, until I have more miles on the road,  I am a fair weather rider when I am riding..no rain, no wind, no gravel, and no riding at night. I am night blind and there are far too many kamikaze deer in these parts. I love riding but am absolutely unwilling to become a statistic. So, one can understand my co-worker's amazement that I would even consider such a ride.
I became a little nervous after our talk and texted my friend who was leading the ride. I have known this man for 17 years and he even helped me in picking out an appropriate motorcycle which would suit my needs. I asked my friend if I was biting off more than I could chew in wanting to ride the Talimena Highway and Highway 227 in Arkansas. He assured me that the ride wasn't "technically" difficult and that, because of my "athleticism," I would have no problem with the endurance aspect of the ride. After our chat, I was in all the way.

My friends took me to a really cool, new cycle shop outside of Gatesville where I had a pretty neat windscreen put on, and it too me a while to get used to having a windshield. I kinda liked the clean lines of my Triumph America and it does feel differently to ride with a screen that without. Since I am a biker on a budget, I had a friend loan me motorcycle luggage and several people offer to tote it for me on their bikes. I am a lucky woman.

                                                                   Starting out, Day 1 in Nolanville

The plan was that on the first day we would ride to Talimena, Oklahoma, about 350 miles. The next day we rode to Harrison, Arkansas, and the last night, we planned on stopping in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. We stopped in Eureka Springs as well, and I had no idea it was such a biker's haven!

I had no troubles at all riding the distance and the straight-aways every day. I truly had no idea what to expect, and day one seemed pretty easy since we stopped about every 2 hours for a water and potty break. We got to our first hotel in Talimena and then went out as a group to eat at a cool little place called Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner. We ate and laughed and had a grand time.

                                                A stop along the way..............a friend and my bike

                                                             Gruesome find...

                                                         Death by Harley................

                                                        Clowning around....fun times!

                                                           Taking it easy.

                                                  Dinner in Talihina, Oklahoma

                                                     A dessert in the desert???

To be continued.....

More pictures from the ride....

Brock.... R.I.P. buddy!

Jailbreak, Diva Dash, Hell Run and Danskin 2012

The last few months have been crazy busy with work, working out, doing events, finding time for friends and family and riding with my motorcycle group. In the past couple of months, I have done 3 adventure races and a triathlon. I have also gone on a 4 day, 1400 mile motorcycle trip through the Ozarks, and I have changed jobs. Whew!!! I decided to take a few, quick minutes, tell a fraction of the story, and post a few pictures.

In March, several friends and I did the Jailbreak Run in Austin. It was a course filled with numerous obstacles ranging from jumping hurdles, climbing tires, going down a huge slide, crawling through mud pits and rolling in sand, a treat called "The Powdered Doughnut." 

First the mudpit.......

The things I'll do for a medal!

 Then the roll in the sand...AKA "The Powdered Donut."

                                                                           We did it!!!!

                                                         The Jailbreak Medal!

Next up in April was the Shape Diva Dash. Several friends and I headed to Austin for this adventure race geared only for women.  Again there were obstacles all along the course. As a warm up activity the sponsors had teams compete in a tug-of-war contest so that the winners could be entered to win a free pair of shoes.  My team won, but none of us won the drawing for the sneakers afterwards.

                                                       Getting ready for WAR!!!!!!

                                                                    Victorious!!!!

The following weekend, a group of us drove down to South Austin for a lovely little event called the Hell Run. It was mud pit after mud pit after mud pit with a few fires to jump over and walls to climb. Not for the faint of heart!

Yup!!!

                                       Mud pit right before the finish line.....

This past weekend, June 3, 2012, I did my 10th Danskin Triathlon. It was the best medal ever, and of course I had a great time. I got to have my picture taken with Sally Edwards at the end of the race. It was awesome!!!!

                                                  My bike setup....

                                        My friend and me after the race....

                                                     Close up of the medal...

At the finish line, I got lucky enough to have my picture taken with Sally Edwards, the First Lady of Triathlons! I was so excited!!!

                                           Sally Edwards and me, Danskin 2012, Austin

In August 2010, I got to meet Dave Scott at the Rivercities Triathlon in Bossier City, Louisiana.

In October of 2010, I got to meet world class triathletes Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins at the Toyota Triathlon in Rockwall, Texas.

This weekend, I have a 5K on Saturday and then will be making the 3 hour drive to Las Colinas for the Wounded Warrior 10K. It is one of my favorite events to do because it supports such a worthy cause.


Ok....off to get ready for tomorrow. Keep moving!

Jill

Rock and Roll Dallas 2012

On March 25th, 2012, I completed my 58th  athletic event since I entered my first triathlon in July of 2000. I had the great opportunity to once again spend a fun weekend with family and friends. We went to dinner on Friday night in the West End so we could properly carb load, navigated the DART system, and stayed in the newly opened Omni Hotel next to the Dallas Convention Center. My wonderful sister-in-law paid for my two night hotel stay and also an 80 minute hot stone massage after finishing the half marathon.

Rock and Roll Dallas offers only a half marathon, and so they have one of the later start times for a race, at 8 AM. With over 15,000 people and 15 corrals, each separated by a four minute span, and with weather being ever-changing in Texas, the temps quickly climbed and made for a pretty hot time on the road. Picking up each foot and putting them down again for the duration of the 13.1 miles was more a mental exercise than a physical one. Each time I felt the frustration of feeling like I was swimming through molasses, I would see another runner struggling with barriers of their own. I saw a man pushing his wife in a wheelchair while running the entire race. I saw a man, easily in his 80's, take a nasty spill before mile two, and after getting help from others, picked himself up and continue running in spite of busting his elbow wide open with the blood freely flowing down his arm as he ran. Always, always there is inspiration around us if we only open our eyes wide enough to see it and our hearts wide enough to feel it....

I saw passionate people running for a specific cause, whether it be because they were a cancer survivor, lost a loved one to cancer, or were running to save pitbulls. I do love people with a passion in a variety of forms.

The expo was a bit lacking, but I walked away with three free pair of socks, five shirts for signing up for a triathlon in the new series Tri the Rock 2012, two swim caps, some coconut water, gels, and a 15 dollar discount for signing up at the expo. The tri will be in Austin on Labor day weekend. I am way excited about that!

Next up for me is the Jailbreak Run in Austin this Saturday followed by the first annual Austin Beer Fest. I have a truck full of friends and family along for the ride on this one as well. In April, I am signed up for the Shape Diva Dash and the Hell Run. There is never enough time in the day to get it all done.

After getting home Monday afternoon, I unpacked and took a 60 plus mile motorcycle ride around the area to check out the gorgeous blooming bluebonnets. The recent and frequent rains have given us a bumper crop this year, and it seemed to me that looking at them while cruising by on my Triumph made the colors even brighter and my heart just a little lighter. You can't beat that with a stick!

Til next time.....

Jill