Roads Go Ever On by J R R Tolkien

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone.
Let others follow, if they can!
Let them a journey new begin.


Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road or secret gate;
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

My 1979 Piaggio

Deb Gray Quote

Deb Grey's memoir of a motorcycle life

This is an edited excerpt from a speech given Aug. 21, 2009, by Deborah Grey, former MP and Order of Canada recipient, to the American Motorcyclist Association's International Women and Motorcycling Conference in Keystone, Col.

Her keynote was a highlight of the International Street Party, organized by the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada.

The MCC is a national advocacy organization committed to uniting motorcyclists and to promoting, protecting and preserving motorcycling.

We are extraordinary women. In riding motorcycles, we have learned to do something that only a very small percentage of the female population has done.

So, whatever we fear, we can face it, then forget it – put it behind us, and move on.

Here's my RIDE: Relatives. Instructor. Dared to run. Exit stage right.

Relatives – My father was an alcoholic; my mother raised five kids single-handedly in Vancouver in the '60s. I spent time on my little bicycle, thinking, talking, screaming, praying, and forgiving.

I could ride it off and ride it out. My sister had a friend who took me for a ride on his motorcycle when I was 13, and I was hooked for life. This is my 42nd season of safe, trouble-free miles.

Instructor – I moved from Vancouver to north-eastern Alberta to teach at Frog Lake Reserve. Instead of being just a teacher, I became a learner, and had my Grade 4 students teach me how to fish with my bare hands. I had lots of challenges, and faced them by going for long motorcycle rides: thinking, talking, screaming, singing, praying. Whatever the fear or challenge, I could ride it off and ride it out.

Dared to run – After teaching for 10 years, a neighbour dared me to run for the new Reform Party. I was terrified; I knew nothing of politics and wondered how I had ever won. Six months later, I looked across the aisle in Parliament and wondered how they had ever won!

I learned to face my fears and deal with issues and the media directly, relying on my gut for wisdom. The most valuable lesson I learned in my political career is that "not all of your colleagues will be your friends." Learn it now and learn it well.

My bike became my safe place: thinking, talking, screaming, singing, praying. No matter what, I could ride it off and ride it out.

Exit Stage Right – After 15 years, I felt it was time for a new chapter. I faced the fear of not knowing what I could do now.

I feared it, faced it and then forgot it.

I went out at the top of my game and did not look back. I have no regrets. I have more time for riding, doing charity rides, being home with my husband. When I get scared, or frustrated, or discouraged, I ride my motorcycle: to think, to talk, to scream, to sing, to pray. I can ride it off and ride it out.

How about you? Any regrets? Quit your job if you hate it – you're not fooling anyone. Quit the toxic relationship if you have tried to make it work, but it is sucking the very life out of you. Re-connect with someone, make a call, send a card.

Somebody mentored you – now you go and mentor somebody else, whether it is riding, responsibilities, retirement or relationships. Be a bridge builder. Live your life forward so you never regret it backward.

�deb@debgrey.com

Colorado

Cache La Poudre

Back on the Pony Express Route

It started in Saint Joesph, Mo and went thru Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and on I stopped in Colorado

Pony Express

Harold Warp Pioneer village in Minden, Ne

Saint Joseph, MO

Leavenworth, KS

World War 1 Museum

Kansas City, MO

Montserrat Vineyards

Camping in Missouri Knob Noster State Park

Trying to find the road in Missouri

Lamberts

Butterfly Palace

Branson and Ozark MO

Riding thru the Ozarks in Arkansas

July 2010 trip

My Route

Last years two week scamping trip went so well I am taking another this year. I left yesterday morning from Dallas, Tx and I am sitting in my tent in tne National Forest Park right outside Hot Springs, AR.

This is the view I woke up to this morning




My goal was to make it to Petit Jean State Park but it was 5:30 and I did not feel like going another hour. I decided to stop right out side of Hot Springs. I choose a spot next to some other hard core bikers. They wined and dined me.



These are hard core Mary, Brenda and Troy.


They have been on the road from Fallon, Nevada for three months out of there 6 nonth planned trip. They all ride Goldwings with sidecars and pull their bed behind them. Really nice people




I am packing up to head on down the road, here is my last picture of my AR camp

Colorado Trip

I am back but still have not got over the awesome scenery I rode through. On my trip I had people ask me why I was riding alone, was my husband and I having problems and what he thought about what I was doing.

My husband and I are doing great. He tells me he is proud of me for doing the trip because that is what I wanted to do. He and I both wish he could of made the trip with me but his job does not give him the freedom to take off the length of time my job does.

I would do it all over again. I did not ride the whole route I planned because of making detours. Next time I will make it to Estes Park.

People I met that did not ride-The men said I was crazy, the women said I was a Hero.

Things I have learned:
1. If you ride with your saddle bags on backwards, they will blow open and you can lose a shirt on the highway without knowing it.

2. I don't need to pack 3 pair of shoes and so many clothes.

3. Try to charge the cell phone off the same circuit the runs the GPS will blow a fuse

4. Repack the same way every time. I thought someone stole food from my saddle bag but when unpacking for the night found the food in the duffel bag. Then I had more stuff to carry because I could not eat all of it before I had to pack up again.

5. Make sure not to try and park the scooter on soft ground without putting it on the center stand, it will fall over

6. When you put the scooter on the center stand, make sure your are not loaded down and parked facing uphill. It is hard to get the scoot off the stand by yourself.

I will add to this as I remember what other silly things I learned along the way

The first day I wanted to make sure I got out of Texas so I could camp. I spent the first night at Ute Lake at Logan, NM.


The next day I rode to to Santa Rosa and visted the car museum. I really did not think I was into cars that much but looking at these cars brought back memories of my uncles and my first car which was a new 1969 Camaro 327. While in Santa Rosa I rode to Santa Rosa Lake State Park to check it out and then headed out to Santa Fe, NM. I stopped in Santa Fe after riding around a bit. I thought it would be an interesting place to spend more time in the next day. It was July 4th so I watched the fire works that was shot off from the high school in town
I ate a Tomasita's and was happy to find they had stuffed sopapillas. I had not had one since the late 80s when I left Colorado. I was surprised they did not serve chips but was told that they had to be ordered. They did serve a sopapilla with the meal. The food was good.
It was an interesting place, I could not tell a restaurant from a business because the buildings all looked alike.

The next day I head out on 84 to ride into Pagosa Springs, CO. It was pleasant enough. When I went around the curve on the top of this rode, I rode in awe at the red mountains

I camped at Mesa Verde Colorado for a couple of days. I kind of freaked out when they told me I had to lock my food up because of the bears. I have a trunk on the scooter but I could just picture the bears pushing my scooter over trying to get the food. I had not been to Mesa Verde since I was 12 and it was as interesting as I remembered it. I took the bus tour and went down into Cliff Palace. We had to climb ladders and walk down some narrow steps to get to the ruins.

I decided to change my route and head up to Grand Junction, CO. I have cousins there that I had not seen for 40 years. I am so happy I made the decision. It was just like I had seen them yesterday. They are awesome!

One cousin lives pretty close to The Colorado National Monument so I took a ride up there.

When I left Grand Junction I headed to Grand Mesa from suggestions from the Cuz

It was another beautiful ride