Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Sash a.k.a. @2MuchTina

I have another new cyber-friend I want to introduce to you! Her nickname is Sash and her Twitter handle is @2MuchTina. Sash is from San Diego, CA, but currently on what she calls “our Road Pickle Motorcycle Bohemia, so I’m mobile!” Sasha and her hubby are on serious road trip. You can catch her adventures on her blog SashMouth. 

Sash riding in the California desert

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Technically, I’ve been riding for 2 years. Actually, I’ve been consistently riding about 5 months. I got my license, but didn’t have my own bike to ride. I rode my hubs extra bike, a Yamaha Roadstar, but it was too heavy for me. So I took almost an entire year off of solo riding. I just started riding this last January.

How did you learn to ride? I took a course to learn and loved every minute of it. But I’ve spent many, many years riding pillion. First with my Daddy, then my high school boyfriend and now with my hubs.

What was your first motorcycle? My current motorcycle, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Katie Scarlet

How many have you owned? Just one! But I sold my Mercedes to buy her. I don’t even own a car now.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? My Daddy rode when I was a girl. He had many friends that rode and I wanted to ride with him all of the time. That feeling of flying, being free, never left me. I think it’s natural for most passengers to wonder from time to time what it is like to be the rider. But I always knew that one day I would ride. My time just finally came! Riding is the closest to being at one with my soul as I can get while still being alive. It is the most “alive” thing I do. Every sense is heightened and I take in all the world in a single breath while riding. I can’t imagine life without it now.

Tell us about your riding.  We are riding a 6-month motorcycle road trip around the U.S. currently. We ride about 250-300 miles a day, riding only a couple of days a week. We try to stay in one city for a week at a time and then go exploring while we are there. I love riding, but I deal with chronic pain from fibromyalgia, so I have to pace myself.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Ride your own ride. Don’t try to keep up with anyone, be like anyone, ride like anyone. Be You. Boldly Embrace Your Own Uniqueness and while doing so Ride Your Own Ride. Listen to advice, but weigh it with your own good sense.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I’m currently 3500 miles into our Road Pickle Motorcycle Bohemia Trip, so that’s the longest.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I belong to a few online through Google+, but none offline yet.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Riding from Bisbee, AZ to the NM border on Route 80, I saw the most beautiful scenery. My hubs Highway was in front of me, and I followed him on this two lane road for over 100 miles, taking in all of the wilderness. I saw a snake slither across the road in front of me, I saw two deer, and then a fawn, simply munching in the meadows. But at one point we came over a ridge and all I could see for miles was golden grasses flowing in the wind. I’m from California, so we don’t see things like that. I started to weep, really weep, with gratitude that I was in that place, in that moment, being so grateful that beauty like this existed somewhere, always.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I’m an internet publisher, author, marketer, sales director, motivator and pain in my hubs’ ass. I spend most of my time writing or selling advertising. I give motivational speeches to groups, mostly women and with my hubs we coach clients to build their own blogs and earn an income from them. I’m the very proud mother of a 23-year-old beauty Olivia, who recently married the man who was made for her, David. My book, “Finding Christ Inside” was published in 2009 and it is my poetic narrative explaining that I’ve found spirituality within me, not within the confines of religion.

The many faces of Sash!

P.S. Ladies! Let me know if you’d like to share your story too! Email me at: pamela(dot)court(at)gmail(dot)com < Trying to keep the spammers at bay!

To Courageous Mothers

To the courageous mothers the world over. Happy Mother’s Day!

What gift did your mom give you? Here’s an old post I wrote as a tribute to my mom.

Take a Dirt Road …

I’m hankering for a ride. The weather will eventually catch-up to my dreams and I’ll be on two wheels again. In the meantime y’all who are riding enjoy!

Take a Dirt Road
See Where It Leads
Search for Adventure
See What’s Over the Hill
Take Your Shoes Off
And Play in a Stream
Run through the Woods
Be Wild and Free
Take a Break from the Chaos
Of Everyday Life
Take Some “Me” Time
To Discover the Sublime
And While Exploring the Back Roads
You Might Even Find
More of Yourself
Than You Ever Dreamed
Was Inside
~ The Traveler

Source

Next ten years or last ten years?

My husband showed me this quote by Gary Vaynerchuk and thought it worth sharing.

Quoted from Gary Vaynerchuk

Sure challenges me to look in my heart and dust off a few dreams. Not sure where it will lead, but hopefully to living my life more passionately. How about you?

Source of image

Hold Please

I’m in the middle of a week long visit with my daughter and grandson. I’m loving every minute of our time together.

Giving grandma some love!

Life, work, and blogging are all on hold.

How to Reinvent Yourself

Did I get your attention? Do you ever think things will never change? Well mark the calendar. One year from now you will have replaced 98% of all the atoms in your body. True Story. Every five days your stomach lining is replaced. Your skin replaces it’s self approximately every month … your liver in six weeks … and your skeleton in three months. Now that is change!

Got your body covered. What about your mind? “Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life” is an old Proverb I read frequently. Did you know we have about 50,000 thoughts a day and today’s thoughts are about 98% of the same as the day before. So, unless I intentionally stop and/or change my thoughts nothing is going to change.

I recently started training (way early) for The Color Run 5K that takes place in July using the C25K app. Why so early? Because I didn’t think I could do it. BUT, I put this up on the white board next to my treadmill, “Quit thinking why you can’t and start thinking why you can!” I just completed week 8 of training which consistes of a five minute warm-up, jog 28 minutes then a five minute cool down. Yup. Something I’ve never EVER done in my life and I’m old (getting closer to 60 than 50). What changed? My mind.

Image source: unknown (found on Pinterest)

 

Change your words. Change your world.

Happy Friday friends!

What is Happening to me?

Well I’ve gone and done it now. I’ve signed up for a 5K in July. What was I thinking?! First of all, July in Minnesota is HOT. Secondly, a 5K is about three miles and I can’t even run around the block. Thirdly, at my age? Fourthly, did I mention July’s hot weather, I don’t run or jog, and I’m almost closer to 60 that 50? Oy vay.

The 5K I signed up for is The Color Run | Minnesota. The run will be in over 100 cities across the USA. The first run is today down in Florida and the last race is November 2 in Little Rock, Arkansas. To find a city near you check here. The run supports a charity. The Minnesota charity is Open your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless. Check out this fun video of race highlights:

As of today I have 27 weeks to prepare. Theoretically, it sounds like enough time even for a couch potato like me. So where does one start? You download an App! My choice, C25K Pro Guy Hoffman. It takes you from the couch to a 5K in nine weeks. Three days a week it takes you through timed walking/jogging intervals. I’m doing this on the treadmill because it is not the time of year to be out doing this outside.

I also popped for a pair of ASICS Gel-Kayano 18 Running Shoes in pink.

ASICS Women’s GEL-Kayano 18 Running Shoes

So now I have a goal with a date, a plan to get there, and shoes! Are you doing anything crazy?

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Polly aka Buellbunny

My next guest stumbled across my blog and was totally excited about finding stories about other women motorcyclist! Yay! And she wanted to share her profile too. Fasten your seat belts we are flying to the other side of the world to Puhoi Village, Auckland, New Zealand to meet Polly Whimp a.k.a. Buellbunny … and yes, that is her really named!

Polly and her baby!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? At least 10 years

How did you learn to ride? We have to go through a learner course to get a proficiency certificate, then a year (I think) learner license, a year on a restricted license (means you don’t have to have the L plate on the back and can ride at night and go over 70 km per hour!) and then finally your real license. It is all a learning experience … the way I learnt to ride was with my best mate and partner, an avid bikist for many moons.

Polly and her man – it is a rare occasion to find her on the back of a motorcycle!

What was your first motorcycle? My first bike was a Yamaha FZR 250… I hated it and thought it would kill me.

How many have you owned? I have owned 4 bikes. The Yamaha FZR 250, Honda VTR 250 (I got rid of the Yammy and got this one … FAB bike to learn on), a Buell 500 Blast and my Buell Firebolt XB9R.

Polly and friend Suzy

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I have always wanted to ride, but my parents said no, then when I got older my mother didn’t want me too, so I capitulated.  She was frightened for me … then I had a baby, so I had to put up with the responsibilities rant … and then finally I decided enough was enough and off I went! I actually was a pillion for a while until the chap I rode behind nearly killed us by speeding and almost splatting into a turning truck. That was when I decided that I would rather be in control of my own bike and there was the beginning of my life as a motorcycle addict!

Tell us about your riding. I used to commute because it was the cheaper option, although, even on the bike it was always stressful being in motorway rush hours every day.  My main use is pleasure and holiday riding now. My partner and I LOVE heading off camping … loading up the bikes with all manner of gear. The best ride was to the South Island of New Zealand … great roads, weather and places to stop!

At the start of a trip to the shores of Lake Rotorua

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Go for it … but you have to be confident and make decisions quickly. Its not a thing for women who are timid on the road.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? It was 3 weeks down to the South Island of NZ. My dream trip is the US and Canada.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups?  I do. Kiwibikers.co.nz and Fat Bikers Motorcycle Club for fun.

Polly at Arthur’s Pass

Do you have a favorite riding story? Every ride I have is great … but the South Island trip was the best … except for the day after crossing the Cook Straight and the weather turned foul. We got SO wet that we had to find a warm place to just get our stuff dry and warm up … we looked like drowned rats!

What do you do when you’re not riding? I am a designer and illustrator of kids books. We live on a rural property so another cool thing we like doing is getting out on the deck with a wine or sitting in the spa watching the stars.

Remix: Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Madeleine

We first met Madeleine back on April 22, 2012. I’m doing a bit of a remix of her profile since some things have changed and she’s updated some of her answers. I also wanted to share that Madeleine is going to embark on another adventure this summer and is looking for a rider to join her.  She will be riding to Alaska starting on Friday June 28, 2013. Details will be posted on her site. Madeleine is looking for only one riding companion, not a group of riders. This rider needs to be able to pull their own weight because it will be a budget ride staying in hostels/motels and some camping when necessary. Madeleine rides between 300 to 500 miles a day depending on weather and road conditions. Now back to the profile!

Madeleine from Worcester, MA is our next lady rider! She has taken some long adventurous trips. You can find Madeleine on Twitter @mvelazquez57 or on her blog Miss Rider which is filled with stories and pictures.

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Around 25 years

How did you learn to ride? Chasing my son around the trails riding dirt bikes. Love motocross!!!

What was your first motorcycle? Street bike, Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (hated it). Dirt bike, Yamaha 125 something, don’t remember any more.

How many have you owned? 9 including dirt bikes

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? The thrill, fresh air, freedom, excitement (too many fun words to describe why)!

 Tell us about your riding. Commute to work, mostly on a 50cc scooter now.  Pleasure riding.  But mostly, long distance touring, like coast to coast alone.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Get on two wheels and ride, ride, and ride some more so you can get so tired and sleep at night.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? My longest ride was the summer of 2012. 24,140 kilometers (~15,000 miles) with a ride from the Boston area to the Panama Canal round trip that included Sturgis, South Dakota and Canada, 9 countries, 23 American states. (Check out the details on her blog.)

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? No, I am a solo rider now.  I do have a membership to the American Motorcycle Association and love reading the monthly articles posted by other riders.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Yes, read about it here in my blog. (Check out the pictures too!)  I have so many wonderful riding stories, but this one is my favorite because it involves the animals.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I ski in the winter and teach high school students.

Madeleine standing on a motorcycle!