9/24/06 Sunday PM.

Beautiful day to ride.  Up early and out.  Yah!  Crisp, sunny So. Cal. Day.  Pumpkin patches and palm trees side by side made me smile.  Nice Twisties.  Long snake of Amazon bkes.  I think I’m in love with my Sporty.  I wonder if they’ll notice if I simply don’t…..return it?

Nancy

Anderson Pea Soup.  World Famous.  Yum Yum.

Natalie

Well here we are at our favourite bar in Buellton.  Ridings been great.  Sunny weather too.  All the girls are awesome as always.  Something about the coast…I just love it.  Headed to Cambria tomorrow night for another great night on the beach.  Cassara, miss you princess.

PS Pippi, Sissy La La  I miss you!!

Stacy

I don’t even know what day it is and I like that!  Today was absolutely fantastic riding weather!  The coast is the best thing ever!!  And to think I thought about moving!!  Now we are in our favourite bar at the hotel in Buellton drinking Coronas , playing pool and listening to the rocking jukebox and laughing my ass off with my new and old sistas!!

Love Tia

Sunday the 24^th, not Tuesday – ok Gig?  She says I am rushing it.  Great weather and great riding.  Solvang was closed but the Split Pea Soup at Andersons was awesome!  Having a blast, wish M & M were with us in the bar, but they have to keep this ride organized.  The ride into Buellton was gorgeous.  Tomorrow I ride bitch with Jude into Cambria – can’t wait!  More fun tomorrow.  Live, Love, Laugh.

Hugs, Chick

These women rock!  The ride has been awesome – we are just riding like we have been doing it forever!  We have mastered the twisties and Big Sur will only make the group shine.  Looking forward to the rest of the week as I know that it will just keep getting better as we ride this gorgeous part of the country.

Ride On!  Gigi.

David, John and I spent a day at Lake Cachuma on a fishing boat shortly after I was diagnosed (’02).  We had a really nice time.  I remember taking photos of the floating toilets and deer on the shore.  It was fun.  But today topped that tenfold. Zooming by on a Harley-Davidson with the wind blowing hard, surrounded by awesome survivor riders.  Just pure clean adrenal rush…

Natalie

9/26/06 Tuesday.

I can’t believe I haven’t had time to write for 2 days!  Right now I’m sitting on a beach in Cambria.  Thought I’d see the sunrise – instead it’s foggy and drizzling.  But surprisingly it’s not a disappointment.  The surf is pounding, the hummingbirds are everywhere and there’s a white seal (or sea-lion – I always forget the difference) resting on the rocks, watching me write this.  In the words of the Rolling Stones – You don’t always get what you want – but sometimes you get need – and I really needed this.

PS – Got to ride on the back of Jude’s Harley yesterday.  Reminded me of when I went fishing with Casting for Recovery.  I said it was OK if I didn’t catch a fish because I was just enjoying standing in the river appreciating the beauty of a good cast.  Then I caught a fish and the beauty of that moment was so unexpected it moved me to tears.  Well, I came on this trip happy to drive the van, never expecting to ride a Harley at 65 mph – it was an amazing gift.  Thank you Jude, Megan and Meredith for making it possible.  And in case you are wondering, I didn’t cry.  It was no less beautiful a moment than when I caught that first trout but I don’t think there’s any crying on Harleys!

PPS Oscar, If you’re reading this, have you given any thought to getting a Harley?  We’ll talk…OK?

Mercedes

David this is better than any video game ever created.  The morning mist, the smell of the sage brush, the variation of color from the sun’s shadows, the flora and fauna, the cold, the hot.  Today was the day of great trepidations.  Big Sur is full of twisty turns.  The  mist/fog burned off and it was sunny and clear.  I sure am glad we were on the mountain not the pacific side.  Fun, fun, fun.  Mom, I miss you.  It sure is something special to see all my new sisters in the rear view mirror.  Wish you could all meet them.  The Spirit is Strong.

Natalie

Riding a bike is definitely the world’s best therapy, I have done so much thinking since I have been on this ride.  I’m loving my new MP3 player and have been singing up a storm inside my helmet (lucky for the girls they can’t hear me).  Kath thanks for your comment on the blog!  Megan sat with us this morning and read all the comments to us before we got on our bikes.  I hope the WIMA girls are following the ride, make a comment if you are.  See you all soon.

Squirt aka Karen

Big Sur today- the artichoke heart of our riding week.  Soooo sweet.  Out to dinner now on the wharf at Monterey – terrific clam chowder!

Nancy

Well as always Big Sur took my breath away.  Even in the cold wet fog.  Something about it just makes you feel so insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  These Amazons are an amazing group.  Everyone the same but so different at the same time.  In Monterey Bay tonight, had a great dinner.  Enjoying the company.  Getting closer to home.  Miss my family and friends but as always I hate to see the ride coming closer to the end.

In the wind…Stacy.

Big Sur – wow what a ride!  Such an amazing day riding along the Pacific with my Amazon Heart sisters in front of me.  Each of them in their own groove, just weaving around the corners brought tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart.  I am honored to ride sweep for this group!  The view from back there rocks!  Besides it gives me the excuse to hang back a bit and then ride the twisties at my pace ; )  Guess I must have been having a bit too much fun today…wore the bolt heads of my floorboards.  Good thing we stop at the dealer first thing tomorrow as the left one is about to fall off!

Ride On!  Gigi.