I just can’t stay home!

The life of a biker goddess… Ah yes – the roar of the motorcycle engine, mapping out the perfect destination, and praying to God that some asshat doesn’t decide to run me off the road!

I could stay home and spend hours polishing and waxing on my bike, but that’s just too boring. I want to see something, I want to experience the little secrets Mother Nature has tucked away, and I want to meet new people! I was put here on this earth to experience all life can give me!

I have been a busy little biker babe! I’ve attended numerous biker events, took a trip up to Georgia to attend the Shrimp Festival, parlayed my way back into Florida to complete some work projects, then back on the road again to Alabama! For some reason, I believe Willy Nelson wrote, “On The Road Again” just for me. Well, it seems that way every time I head out of my driveway!

Let’s talk about the roads in Georgia! Georgia has some amazing roads for the adventurous motorcyclist. There are some hidden back roads that you can ride for MILES without much traffic or human wildlife. The four-legged animals peek out once in a while and you do need to be careful not to run them over! As for the human wildlife, they are in a class of their own. I don’t’ mind running them over if they get in my way. I love Georgia!

There is one little road in Georgia I fell in love with; Route 40. It takes you out in the country away from the traffic and people. From St. Marys, Georgia, I head out on this scenic highway then venture off on 1/23. It depends on my mood, but I love the water and tend to make my way to areas where there are lakes, tributaries, and ocean. St. Marys is a WONDEROUS place to ride!

Ahh… Alabama or as I like to say – ALA-FREAKIN-BAMA. I LOVE this state! Living in Florida doesn’t really give me the challenges of hills, curves, and beautiful back roads. Yeah, I have some amazing back roads, but they are generally flat and non-descript. Don’t get me wrong; I love my Sunshine State! But when Rand McNally is inviting me to go play, I’m going to go! Route 231 is, by far, one of my most favorite roads in Alabama! It’s twisty, beautiful, scenic, fun, and relaxing to ride! Have you ever taken this route? If not, put it on your “Bike It” List!

I’m totally old skool when it comes to mapping out a destination. I have gone on the Internet and gotten some directions via Google Maps or Mapquest. Most of the time, these inanimate websites send me to boring oblivion. I’m better than that. So instead, Mr. Rand and I spend hours together looking at places that are much more fun to visit and experience.

You won’t see a GPS on my motorcycle! Oh, hell no! Instead, I use small, little colored index cards, written in pencil, and taped to my gas tank. This has been MY form of a GPS for years and it works! In fact, I’ve changed the normal GPS acronym of Global Positioning Satellite System to: Great Places to See. It’s Catnip Cougar’s GPS acronym and I hold all rights to it!

With my awesome stereo system blaring Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird (my favorite part is when Allen Collins takes over lead guitar from Gary Rossington’s intro slide) I know that my groove is on and the roads are screaming for me to visit! How can I go wrong when my stereo system is filled with MY music and no commercials! Yes, Catnip Cougar has her own radio station; Catnip Cougar’s Commercial-Free Consortium. With my I-Pod shuffle, it’s loaded down with artists such as Eric Clapton, Rush, Earth, Wind, and, Fire, and the Bar Kays. Yeah, you may say that I have an eclectic and implicit taste for many forms of music. My music has to attach itself to my soul. It needs to reach down and pull up the inner musical aficionada. And that it does!

As you all know, meeting new people is my lot in life. I picked that straw and I hold dear to me the fact that it is my calling in life! When I stop to fill up my gas tank or grab a snack for the road, I always talk with the locals. Most people are extremely polite and nice. Once in awhile I get a moon-faced goon that just crawled out from under the septic tank lid (yes… the smell is there with him as well) and I usually smile at him thanking God I don’t have to kiss him or do his laundry. A smile goes a long way. For some they know you’re sincere. For others I make it a point to smile ‘that’ smile where they have absolutely no idea what I’m thinking.

One gentleman, in particular, was a delight to meet! He was an older man with a sparkle in his eye. He came over to me while I was enjoying some ice cream and serious people watching. He broke my visual observations when he sat down next to me at the picnic table and started to share with me his days as a flat track racer. He shared with me his joys in racing, competing, and looking forward to the weekends. This was the type of conversation where you don’t interject comments; you listen and learn. These older motorcyclists are gems in the rough. There aren’t many of them left on this earth so it’s important to give them the 15 minutes of fame they deserve. He asked where I was from and if I was afraid to ride alone. I shared with him my philosophy of riding motorcycles and human nature – they go hand in hand in many respects. We said our goodbyes and off we went in separate directions and separate, different, vehicles. This is why I ride and why I love my life!

Well, it’s time for me to start planning another road trip. Mr. Rand is showing me some fun places up north that I need to visit. Maybe I’ll go out and throw another layer of wax on my bike, Nunya. She deserves lots of tender loving care since she always has my back and takes care of me while out on the road.

Wait! What is this I hear? Allen Collins is calling me! God rest his beautiful soul! The Freebird is ready to fly again!