The Other Side of the Handlebars

Initially, becoming a part of Chick and Alice was about my dream to take off on my motorcycle and ride until I was done riding. Along with the opportunity to give back and help provide a path for others to cease being a victim and for them to start making their own choices about what they will be a part of.

I fought my way through severe and chronic pain, multiple surgeries, and drug addiction in order to get physically strong enough to ride daily, camp, and do my part on the 50-state ride. This summer, I proved I could do it. It was all about the ride.

Then my right hand (my throttle hand) blew up. The only fix is surgery and a long, tough recovery. Within a few weeks, it had become obvious to me first of all, that there wasn’t going to be enough time for me to fully recover and ride out of Minnesota on my bike. Let alone being able to sustain riding every day and everywhere I go over the next couple years. I was going to have to drive the truck. Man, that really rips my dream apart. What about riding? First of all, I’m still taking my bike. I’m putting my bike on a trailer so I can ride when I can ride. But, man… Giving up being on my bike for the entire ride which was my fucking dream. I had to sit with that one for awhile.  Accepting that my physical limitations, particularly with arthritis, nerve and tendon damage in my throttle hand, was a significant impact to my ability to continue to be able to ride. It’s been my passion since I was a teenager and I’ve been riding over 45 years. It’s impossible for me to imagine not riding.  I’ve often stated “you’ll have to pry my cold, dead fingers from the handlebars.” Then there’s the ego… Being a 70-year old woman on a 50-state motorcycle ride, being an example for my generation… Oh, Fuck! I can’t! All of a sudden, I’m inadequate. It was a lot to process.

Alice and I started talking about all the advantages of having the truck on the ride. More room for our gear. Don’t have to load down the bike. Now we can contemplate what else we can bring to help make the road trip more successful. We’ve got shelter when caught in thunderstorms. Emergency transport for breakdowns. A temporary back-up bike for Alice when she needs to move on, but the bike won’t. Charging ports, even a regular plug-in for other electrical devices. Our gear will be protected from the elements and we have options for not sleeping on the ground (thinking of the desert and all their creatures). It solves the issue of how we were going to get to Alaska and the time it would take. We can load both bikes and drive through Canada a lot quicker than other methods. The list goes on. Since our stress test ride to Connecticut and back, we’ve often discussed how nice it would be to have a support vehicle. But the odds were pretty slim of finding anyone else crazy enough that we could trust to volunteer to hit the road for a couple years on their own dime. Well, I guess we found that person in our own backyard. If I was crazy enough to commit to the motorcycle ride in the first place, I’m pretty sure my crazy covers this change of plan, admirably.

We also had the conversation where Alice reminded me about the fact that I’m still “Chick,” I already staked out my intent to be “Chick” on the road, my truck license plate says so. Not being on my motorcycle, doesn’t take away from that.  I’m still part of Chick & Alice Adventure’s, just riding differently.

So, I processed. Hidden deep in my soul is still the longing to be on my bike, riding as long as I can. But I also cemented into my being the knowledge that I am still following my dream, and now with more passion and excitement for what is to come. I’ve expressed my doubts before (as has almost everyone around me) about whether I’m really capable of being on the road for a few years at my age, with the physical issues I have. With the comfort and convenience of driving the truck and the possibility of being able to ride when I can, I think I may just be unstoppable. Watch out!

The focus for me has become less about the ride and more about what we’re going to be doing on the road. That part was always there, but often overshadowed by the powerful aphrodisiac of riding and riding. I’ma gettin’ it, now. I am so excited about the possibilities of what the two of us can do to raise awareness. I saw us in action on our 8-day road trip vacation which included participating in a protest (which was a huge eye-opening experience for me). A lot of satire as we committed to “Chick & Alice” with a commitment ceremony at a Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Complete with an Elvis Impersonator. Pivoting when hotels were too expensive to stop, just to sleep for a few hours. Taking a different route, driving through the night. A complete adventure and so many more to come. Who knows what we will get up to. The possibilities are endless and I am so excited for what is to come.

And, maybe I’ll get to ride Chief Joseph Highway one more time. Meanwhile, here I go in my blue truck and excited as hell!

Love and Peace,

Chick