TechJunkie
Well-known member
When I bought my Feejer in '08 my wife wanted nothing to do with it. She took one ride and at 40mph was holding on so tight to the grab bars that after just a couple of miles down the road and back home she almost couldn't let go.
Last year she asked to take a ride. I was shocked but quickly obliged. By the end of the ride she didn't want me to stop but night was quickly approaching. What changed? I really can't tell you but it was a 180 degree difference and I was not complaining. By the end of the year we had put a couple thousand miles on the bike with short day trips.
This year we decided to take two weeks for vacation. One week in Panama City Beach and one week taking back roads home to Indiana. Her list of needs included new Olympia riding gear, boots and gloves. She also asked for floorboards and a backrest. Thanks to forum members Dave "08FJRME" for great floorboards and Gary "Garauld" for an incredible backrest and tail rack. Before vacation we took a 300 mile checkoff ride with all gear and farkles installed and everything went well.
We started our trip early on Friday June 15th. We hit the interstate and headed to Indianapolis around 465 to 65 south. Since our son and his girlfriend were going as well we gave them the address to the hotel in Athens, AL and decided to ride our own pace. With just a few stops for food and gas we ended up in Athens, AL a little earlier than we expected. As I was preparing to take the off ramp to Athens my wife spoke up and told me she wished we hadn't made reservations since she really wanted to ride on. 430 miles into the trip and she still good to go. I was shocked and pleased.
Saturday we finished the ride to Panama City Beach. About 20 miles out it started to rain. We had put our liners in our Olympia gear at our last gas stop and was prepared. It finally started to really rain. This is the first time she has ever been in rain on a bike. I was somewhat apprehensive. She would either love it or hate it and I was about to find out. After just a few minutes I heard her laughing over the Autocomm. She said "I love it, it is like playing in the rain." Another win!
We had a good time in Panama City Beach but by Wednesday she wanted to hit the road again, go somewhere. I had plans so we stayed put until Saturday. On Saturday we pulled out of Panama City Beach and headed North towards Athens, NC. I decided that if she loved all of this so much she might really love the Dragon. When I told her my plans you would have thought I had given a child their Christmas present early. Andrews was about a 420 mile trip from Panama City Beach on 231. Once again she loved it and said being on the bike brought her complete peace.
On Sunday June 17th we got up and hit the dragon. Since we were South of the Dragon we headed up and then down. Of course we had to stop and purchase the obligatory tee shirt, stickers and patches. She wanted to be sure she had something to prove she had earned her Dragon stripes. After a few pictures we headed back up the dragon and after a short break at the lookout headed back down and ran the Cherohala Skyway to Telico Plains where we had lunch. We then headed back to US 129 and she asked to run the Dragon one last time. We ran it and headed back to Andrews for the evening.
On Monday we ran US 441 through the Smokey Mountain National Park to Pigeon Forge. From Pigeon Forge I decided to run back roads through Tennessee to the coal roads of Virginia and Kentucky. We stayed in Norton Virginia on Tuesday.
The back roads of Virginia and Kentucky were a blast. My wife said she loved the twist and turns and the scenery was amazing. We even hit a few detours due to bridge work. This added a couple of hours to our trip on Tuesday and we loved it. On Wednesday we headed out to the coal roads of Kentucky. This was equally great and really shows you another side of life. That evening we stayed at Grayson Kentucky. The back road portion of our trip was over. On Thursday we hit the interstate and before we knew it vacation was over and we arrived safely at home.
By the time we arrived home my wife had ridden just over 2,300 miles and was sad we had to stop. She is already planning other trips for us in the near future. Our youngest son graduates next year and I have a feeling we will be burning through the tires in the very near future.
After all was said and done she told me that the trip was only possible due to the floorboard from Dave and the Backrest from Gary. Thank you to both for helping make our vacation successful and something to remember. :yahoo:
Last year she asked to take a ride. I was shocked but quickly obliged. By the end of the ride she didn't want me to stop but night was quickly approaching. What changed? I really can't tell you but it was a 180 degree difference and I was not complaining. By the end of the year we had put a couple thousand miles on the bike with short day trips.
This year we decided to take two weeks for vacation. One week in Panama City Beach and one week taking back roads home to Indiana. Her list of needs included new Olympia riding gear, boots and gloves. She also asked for floorboards and a backrest. Thanks to forum members Dave "08FJRME" for great floorboards and Gary "Garauld" for an incredible backrest and tail rack. Before vacation we took a 300 mile checkoff ride with all gear and farkles installed and everything went well.
We started our trip early on Friday June 15th. We hit the interstate and headed to Indianapolis around 465 to 65 south. Since our son and his girlfriend were going as well we gave them the address to the hotel in Athens, AL and decided to ride our own pace. With just a few stops for food and gas we ended up in Athens, AL a little earlier than we expected. As I was preparing to take the off ramp to Athens my wife spoke up and told me she wished we hadn't made reservations since she really wanted to ride on. 430 miles into the trip and she still good to go. I was shocked and pleased.
Saturday we finished the ride to Panama City Beach. About 20 miles out it started to rain. We had put our liners in our Olympia gear at our last gas stop and was prepared. It finally started to really rain. This is the first time she has ever been in rain on a bike. I was somewhat apprehensive. She would either love it or hate it and I was about to find out. After just a few minutes I heard her laughing over the Autocomm. She said "I love it, it is like playing in the rain." Another win!
We had a good time in Panama City Beach but by Wednesday she wanted to hit the road again, go somewhere. I had plans so we stayed put until Saturday. On Saturday we pulled out of Panama City Beach and headed North towards Athens, NC. I decided that if she loved all of this so much she might really love the Dragon. When I told her my plans you would have thought I had given a child their Christmas present early. Andrews was about a 420 mile trip from Panama City Beach on 231. Once again she loved it and said being on the bike brought her complete peace.
On Sunday June 17th we got up and hit the dragon. Since we were South of the Dragon we headed up and then down. Of course we had to stop and purchase the obligatory tee shirt, stickers and patches. She wanted to be sure she had something to prove she had earned her Dragon stripes. After a few pictures we headed back up the dragon and after a short break at the lookout headed back down and ran the Cherohala Skyway to Telico Plains where we had lunch. We then headed back to US 129 and she asked to run the Dragon one last time. We ran it and headed back to Andrews for the evening.
On Monday we ran US 441 through the Smokey Mountain National Park to Pigeon Forge. From Pigeon Forge I decided to run back roads through Tennessee to the coal roads of Virginia and Kentucky. We stayed in Norton Virginia on Tuesday.
The back roads of Virginia and Kentucky were a blast. My wife said she loved the twist and turns and the scenery was amazing. We even hit a few detours due to bridge work. This added a couple of hours to our trip on Tuesday and we loved it. On Wednesday we headed out to the coal roads of Kentucky. This was equally great and really shows you another side of life. That evening we stayed at Grayson Kentucky. The back road portion of our trip was over. On Thursday we hit the interstate and before we knew it vacation was over and we arrived safely at home.
By the time we arrived home my wife had ridden just over 2,300 miles and was sad we had to stop. She is already planning other trips for us in the near future. Our youngest son graduates next year and I have a feeling we will be burning through the tires in the very near future.
After all was said and done she told me that the trip was only possible due to the floorboard from Dave and the Backrest from Gary. Thank you to both for helping make our vacation successful and something to remember. :yahoo:
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