Vegas Baby!

We went to Las Vegas last weekend and had a great time.  We flew in late via Allegiant and picked up a car and headed to the Tropicana Hotel.  I planned on midnight crème Brule but they didn't have it so I settled for a margarita.  I can't believe I'm going to complain that there was too much tequila in the drink.  Way to strong, too much salt. 

The next morning we awoke to beautiful weather and went for a walk to find breakfast.  The view from our hotel was pretty awesome.

 

We had breakfast at the Rainforest Café and sat next to the statue of Atlas.  The fountains were very loud but pretty. 

 

 

There were beautiful fish tanks.

 

And elephants.

 

There were small T.V.'s in the bathrooms. (VEGAS!)

 

Charlie found me a "Walking Dead" slot machine.  He put in $5.00 in for me and that is all the gambling I did with money that weekend.

Just couldn't resist taking pictures of that lady!

 

                                 I saw a window washer at the top of the Luxor - wow!

 

We walked over to the MGM Grand and did the CSI experience.  It was pretty fun.  Then we went over to the Luxor to see the Body exhibit.  That was pretty fabulous and we spent a couple hours there examining the bodies.

 

We had a lovely dinner at the Tropicana and drove over to Planet Hollywood to see "Evil Dead: The Musical".  Charlie got us VIP tickets in the "splatter zone".  They gave us white t-shirts to wear over our clothing but it didn't do much good.  Every time a character died - we got sprayed with a warm red colored liquid.  By the end of the show we were soaked down to our knees.  It was so much fun.

 

Saturday morning we drove out to the Hoover dam and momentarily stepped into Arizona.

 

What an amazing sight it was.

 

There was algae on the water but it looked kind of like artwork.

 

 

We spotted a Bugatti near the bridge. 

Lots of motorcycles - and it was a great day for it!

Weird to see a beware of Rams in road sign.

 

In the middle of the next picture is a tiny white dot.  That's what a skydiver looks like when they jump from a plane at 15,000 feet - and that's exactly what we did!

 

We went to Skydive Las Vegas just about 20 miles out of Vegas in Boulder City.  They were very professional and do a great business.  I was a little surprised at how many people were there to jump and at least half of them were young girls.

 

 

 

After a thrilling morning we went back to Vegas and stopped at the Harley Davidson dealership to get a t-shirt.  It was an amazing store.

 

We headed back to the hotel to do some reading and relaxing.

Found a Batman and Robin slot machine.

 

We spent the afternoon reading and relaxing then ordered room service for dinner.

 

Sunday morning we got breakfast and I went for a walk.  I got all the way down to the Harley Davidson Café, got some pictures and walked back to pack up to go home.

 

What a great trip.

 

Bike needs TLC - and a get well card.

It's January and most motorcycles are snowed in.  I haven't ridden despite the unseasonably warm weather here in Medford, Oregon.  It has been in the mid to high 50's and my bike is not in my garage. 

My poor Fiona is in the shop.  There was a recall late last week concerning the brake system and upon further inspection, my bike was one of the ones affected by a bad banjo pin in the master cylinder. 

I really don't even know what that means.

I feel like sending her some get well soon flowers.

It's so sad, with sound of my new pipes roaring in my head, and the awesome sunshine in the afternoon when I get off work.  Sob.

Pictures of old rides make me feel better.

 

I took a fun ride last September with my Dad in Northern California.

 

This is a picture of the church that was in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds".  I remember seeing that movie as a small child - and never looked at birds the same way, especially in large groups.

 

I know it's just a matter of time before my Fiona is home, but in the mean time I'll be dreaming of rides to come with the sound of my new pipes humming!

 

New pipes!

I got new pipes for Christmas.  I ordered them and took my bike to D&S Harley Davidson and was able to pick it up the next day. 

The new mufflers are slip on Vance and Hines, a new air cleaner to let the engine breathe and a computer chip download.  I also had my 15,000 mile service done.  It was raining when I picked it up so I didn't get in a ride - just home.

A couple days later the sun was out and I got off work and it was a beautiful day.  I had to try out my new pipes!

I invited my husband to join me and we went for a ride around the valley.  I told him I really wanted a picture of my motorcycle next to the big blow up Santa at the Christmas tree lot on the way home.

At the end of our ride, he headed home. I headed for Santa!

I wanted a good picture so I rode up the sidewalk and pulled off into the dirt.  I immediately realized I had made a mistake.  The surface was soft and my tires sunk down.  I was surprised the kickstand held it up.  Oh well, I was already there so I might as well get the picture!

 

After taking a quick pic I tried backing up onto the sidewalk again but it just sank deeper.  Forward was the only way, and I ended up doing some off-road action through bushes to get back on the sidewalk.  I would have been so embarrassed to have to call my husband to help me get it out of the mud!

 

The pipes sounded great.  I rode by a lady walking her little dog and the dog jumped!  The chip download and new air cleaner has increased my power and actually made all the gears much bigger. I hope it's not too loud for long rides.  As an added Christmas present, my husband bought me a new air cleaner cover with a Willie-G skull on it to match the other side.

 

Tom, at D&S said they could always baffle the sound a bit if I wanted it a bit more quiet.  In the mean time I sound like a total bad-ass!

 

 

 

 

I didn't know I was a spurned dike!

My extreme disappointment in my purchase of "Iron Horse" magazine compelled me to write a letter to the editor.  I did not expect a reply but this was posted in the next issue:

My letter:

I live in a small town in Southern Oregon so I frequently don't have much of a choice in motorcycle magazines.  I'm an avid motorcycle fan and very open to all types and styles of riding and motorcycles.  To each their own is my motto.  It doesn't matter what you ride, it's that you ride.

Last week I picked up your magazine and finally got around to reading it tonight.

Wow... What a total disappointment.

The models weren't real bikers (no biker would dress like that).  Funny, the men all appear totally dressed!  (I added some penis' just to make it more interesting). It was also odd that one woman appeared in your magazine seven times.  Could you not find more women who wanted to dress slutty and pose by choppers?

There didn't seem to be any REAL biker stories (just bragging stories about bikes they built).  I can't give you any real suggestions to make your magazine into one I would read, and you probably don't care anyway.  If you are looking at entertaining chopper building sexists - good job.

Enclosed is your magazine - you can have it back.  I must tell you that I have NEVER written a complaint letter before, but my disappointment in your magazine compelled me to write this.

Lesson learned for me, I won't buy it again.

Sincerely,
Sandi Roush
"Real" Motorcycle Rider

Yes, I did return the magazine to them with notes in the pages about how many times the same model appeared and circled all the crotch shots and drew penis' on the guys (that was the margarita's talking). I'm AM an opinionated female motorcycle rider and I was on a mission.

Here is the response published in the magazine.

When I opened this, I just tossed in the garbage as trash but then I thought the readers may get a kick out of reading the sexually confused banter of spurned dike... In tepid response to your missive, let me just say that it's obvious that you have never sat on a bike nor have ever been around bikers.  You seem to have a thing for the female genitalia and circle every body part of the girls in the magazine in apparent lust for things you can't have or don't have. And of course these models don't ride, just like you.  But unlike you, there are hot which guys like to see.  Why you chose our magazine to vent your pent-up sexual frustrations I don't know , but there are many other magazines you could have chosen to have a Dr. Phil moment with.  Ok I got it. You struggle with your sexual identity by drawing female and male genitalia all over our pages as if it will help you cope with your life-long crisis.  Maybe it does, but please next time you get cramps and a need to vent, pick up Playboy or Maxim; they would probably enjoy the rantings of an old depressed dike.

Chopper Building Sexist administration

Maybe I'm not a typical woman rider but I have been married 27 years (to a man), I put about 1000 miles a month on my motorcycle (so I do ride - a lot), and am quite happy with my sexual identity (which shouldn't matter to a motorcycle magazine). 

To strike out with such venom sure shows what he doesn't know about the new wave of bikers on the rise.  We are normal women who are members of a growing number of motorcycle riders.

Yes of course they can have their opinion but it should be stated on the front - "A magazine for super-sexist chopper building braggarts"  At least that would have given me a warning.  I'm not saying you shouldn't read the magazine either, but your sexual orientation shouldn't be their issue.

If you are a woman that rides, do me a favor and send this guy a note.  I'm sure he would like to hear from you.  Tell him Sandi sent you.

     BACKTALK@IRONCROSS.NET

DMV

I can't believe I lost my drivers license!  I had it out to test drive a car a few weeks ago and then next time I needed it, it was not in my wallet.  Sucks!

I had to go down to the DMV in Medford.  I got there late in the afternoon after work and the place was pretty packed.  What I hoped would be a quick in and out started to look like a long stay.  The number board said they were helping customer #185 and I had been given #212.

Anyways, I was sitting among the hoards of people, trying to stay comfortable and noticed a guy sitting across from me.  He had dirty pants, maybe had been worn for days, well worn

boots, a wallet chain at his waist, a Harley Davidson t-shirt and a motorcycle jacket.  A biker!

As I sat there, thinking that this guy was a real biker, he probably sweat motor oil.  He probably had a job where he used his hands, like a construction worker, mechanic, or the like.  He wore his dirt on the outside of his clothes.

It occurred to me that when I ride my bike my jeans are clean, my shirts are freshly laundered and my vests (leather and denim) still look new, even though I have had them awhile.  My clothes look clean and I thought that was probably a good thing.

I can't exactly wear my work dirt home - being a surgical nurse my clothes might be covered in blood.  I might look like a walking crime scene.  Random EMT's might think I have already been in an accident!

Maybe it's a good thing I'm a clean biker chick.

June Ride

My Dad came up from Sonoma to join me for my June ride!  Instead of hitting the road, we did day trips from home.  More comfortable than staying in a hotel!

On Thursday the 19th we headed out around 10:00. 
The riders:  my husband Charlie on his BMW 1200RT, my father in law Chuck on his Can-Am Spyder, my father on his Suzuki V-Strom and me on my Harley Deluxe.

From Medford we headed South on Hwy 5 to Hwy 96 (Klamath River Highway) to Happy Camp, California.  It was about 60 miles of beautiful twisty roads with a river on one side.

We stopped for lunch at the Pizza place in Happy Camp and it was good.  They had sandwiches and slices of pizza.  It was much nicer than the Deli we went to last time!

After lunch we "went over the mountain" on Greyback Road towards Cave Junction, Oregon.  It was another 40 miles of twisty roads with great elevation.  The road from Happy Camp, California to Cave Junction, Oregon is a seasonal road and is closed due to snow in the winter.  It is a great road and worth the trip!

We stopped for a little break in O'Brien, Oregon to stretch our legs then turned on Fish Hatchery Road to New Hope Road to Hwy 238 and home through Jacksonville.

It was a great day, just a little over 200 miles and very fun.

Day 2 Friday
Chuck couldn't join us today so we were only three.  Our destination was Crescent City, California.  We went through Grants Pass to Hwy 199 through Selma and the Redwoods to Crescent City.  We all had fish and chips on the pier at a restaurant called The Chart House.  It was delicious and a lovely view as well. 

We took Saturday off.  Charlie and Dad went golfing in the morning and I got to sleep in late and have a lazy cup of coffee.  When they got back we gathered up our guns and went to the shooting range.  Dad got to sight in his rifle and we made lots of noise in the hills around White City. 

We went riding again on Sunday.  The three of us headed out once again and this time our destination was Crater Lake, Oregon.  It was Harley Davidson World Ride Day so I had to put in my effort!  We had breakfast before we left. 

We actually headed south on Hwy 99 to Ashland, Oregon and went North on Dead Indian Memorial Highway (a nice twisty uphill road).  We made a stop at Lake of the Woods and took some pictures of the lake.  The lake was pretty busy with lots of potential fish catchers and boaters. 

Hwy 140 to Hwy 62 took us past Klamath Lake and up to Crater Lake.  The lake was stunning.  The water was completely flat and had the most beautiful reflection of the mountains and sky.  We rode around the west side of the lake stopped for some photos and headed back towards home via Hwy 230 and back to Hwy 62.

 

We thought we would stop for lunch at Becky's but it was crawling with people so we kept going.  We tried Prospect but the restaurant was still closed (new management hasn't opened it yet I guess).  My dad needed gas so we stopped in Shady Cove and had a late lunch at Miguel's on the river.  It was nice sitting on the patio, watching the people floating by on their rafts.

We had such beautiful rides and I'm so glad I got to share them with my Dad, husband and father in law.

November Trip 2014

 

 

November Trip 2014

Wow, can't believe the weather was so great!  I headed out Tuesday afternoon.  It was very overcast and I was actually worried it would get worse but the skies got more blue as I went south.

I was shocked at how low Lake Shasta has gotten so I stopped for a photo.

 

I stopped for a photo in Yreka and kept heading for blue skies. 

 

I spent the night in Redding at a Rodeway Inn.  It was a little cheaper than I usually stay but it looked pretty safe.  I got into my room and it was a little questionable.  I sat down on the bed to watch T.V. and my head rested on the headboard and my hair kind of stuck to something sticky.  I got a towel to cover up the sticky spot.  Gross!

I had a very late lunch at a Chinese food down the street and got lunch for a homeless guy sitting at the nearby bus stop.

I picked up some cranberry juice at a mini-mart/gas station and made cosmopolitans in my room with the small bottles of Vodka I brought with me (no need to find a bar for a drink!)

This morning I laid a towel on the shower floor to make me feel a little better about the bathroom then packed up my bike and headed home.  

 

It was a beautiful day and the sky was blue.  I pulled over at the Mt. Shasta viewpoint to put on my sweat shirt.

I pulled over in Weed to put on my jacket as it was getting a little crisp going up the mountain.

Somewhere around Yreka I rolled over 16,000 miles so I pulled off the freeway to get a picture.  I considered myself lucky to be right near an exit as I got to 15,999! 

 

I was calculating in my head and I have put about 1000 miles a month on my bike since I bought it.  It sure has been awesome.  I feel so confident and I can say that the purchase of my Harley is among the top 10 things I have done in my life!