The Goldwing

The GoldWing wasn't new, but the previous owners (one owner, we met them) had decked it out nicely. It was two tone beige and a medium brown. My favorite was the extra wide, deeply cushioned seats. It also had armrests that lowered to each side of the passenger. With them down I could have fallen asleep (if I could sleep sitting up, which I can't) and not been able to fall off that bike. It was actually more comfortable on long trips then a car seat.

I should mention that we had helmets. Nice ones that plugged into the sound system and also allowed us to voice activate to each other and with a push of a buton we could talk to others on the CB. But, we only used them when we were riding with others and needed communication with the group or couple we were riding with. Besides it would have been rude to shut ourselves off from them. When the two of us rode alone, we left the helmets in the side saddles. People often asked us why. It wasn't mandatory in Ohio. The extra weight on my head made my pain worse and spoiled my pleasure in the ride. And you hear and feel and smell more of the wind and nature around you without the helmet. (Which wasn't always good.) Whenever anyone told me it was stupid to put my life on the line like that, I had an answer for that too. I've lived my life in pain. I am more afraid of living with more pain then I am of dying. If I was in an accident, I wanted to die suddenly. Have it over all at once. I don't expect anyone to understand that who hasn't lived years in pain. The first time we arrived at my parents on the GoldWind, bareheaded, the subject came up. Dad just shook his head, but Mom gave me a hug and it was never mentioned again. (I still feel the same way. You can argue about more damage without death, but the odds were for a quick death.)

The passenger seat is set a bit above the drivers seat. I should have had a view over Bears head. But Bear is 6' 2" and I'm just 5' 5". All I could see was the back of his head. It never bothered me, he only blocked the road in front. With my armrests for support it was easy to lean out if there was something he wanted me to see up ahead. Riding out in the open, there is always plenty to look at and I loved those rides. Most of them anyway. There were a few memorable ones, like the one I've already mentioned. (I'll get back to them.)

There was one couple we rode with the most. And we went on a few Poker Runs. Later we got re-aquainted with one of Bears older half brothers by riding with them. (After Bears Mother went into a nursing home and couldn't be hurt by what she would have considered a betrayal.) But, we never joined the local GoldWing Chapter. It was too demanding of our time. Too structered. Telling us when to ride and where to ride. Wanting us on committees. For us, a motor cycle ride was better if you just left home and could end up anywhere.

Oh, let me pass on a little tip I learned by riding without a helmet. When men get on a motorcycle, they are more aware of the road and what's around them. Alertness is absolutely necessary to safty. (He's gonna yell at me, but Bear was a better driver on a bike then in a car. OK, that's my opinion.) But men still tend to drive to fast. Speed creeps up on them. When Bear would reach a cetain speed, I'd give him a thunk on the head. How did I know just when to thunk him? I couldn't see around him to the gages and he couldn't figure out how I knew and always at the same speed. It was easy. When his earlobes would start flapping in the wind.....I knew! My secret was out when he overheard me tell Mom.