Indiana Green--Click on Pics to Enlarge

I live in Indiana. It is green here. It is green here because we have gotten plenty of rain. Some parts of Indiana have gotten more than others, and some places have gotten too much, but in Wabash/Kosciusko County we have gotten just the right amount of rain to allow the corn to stretch tall into gray-blue Hoosier skies.

I love nature and I love recording it. Here are some pictures of a ride I took today. It was the first time I encountered deer on the road while riding my motorcycle. Scary. No, I didn't get pictures of deer -- they are too fast and the corn and foliage is too tall.
The above picture is my bike in front of a corn field at the corner of a farmer's driveway.

Below is the same driveway -- just the other side of it. Waaaaaay back behind the corn is the farm house. I love Indiana's long rambling roads and even more I love long driveways that stretch back into the hearts of forests, meadows and pastures, inviting the tired farmer home.

Below is a meadow I came to that I had not noticed before. I was appreciating it's beauty when I realized













There was a sign posted on it:














And it reads: "Classified Wildlife Habitat." No wonder it was so beautiful and so many deer were jumping in and out of it! There were a lot of little bunny families there, too.












Here's a picture of an Indiana soybean field. Look waaaaaay back into the picture -- it stretches on and on -- just like the country road in my rearview mirror.













These animals in this green pasture appealed to me. The bull on the right never took his eyes off me. I didn't realize, though, when I snapped the picture (I was melting from the heat in my full-faced helmet) that we had a "German Shorthair Pointer Cow " in the left side of the photo.













If you look very closely on the second electric pole you will see a hawk perched atop. I snapped it for the hawk, but when I got home, I realized it was also a great shot of an Indiana country road, nestled between two soybean fields.













Today when I rode three vultures/hawks (some sorts of birds of prey) flew right above me in a beautiful formation a little in front of my bike. I could have reached out and touched them. This is the second time hawks have accompanied me on my travels. I'm beginning to wonder if it's some sort of sign, or if I look like a good meal, or if they think I'm a hawk. . .not sure. Any ideas?

The picture below is so awesome because this corn is SO TALL. I was also impressed with this farmer's well manicured lawn in front of it! Talk about curb appeal!















Below is a pic of the same farm, same corn, but I wanted you to see the house beyond it and this huge beautifully manicured lawn in front of it! This is in the middle of virtually nowhere-land -- but it's just beautiful. It says a lot about a person's character when they keep their farm so tidy, don't you think?











I love my bike. I love being a Hoosier. I love that God created so much green for me to enjoy when I ride.

First Solo Ride

I did a solo ride today without my riding buddy husband, and I enjoyed it SO MUCH. I have enough confidence now to know I can handle sticky situations! :-) I fish tailed in an uphill driveway and made it. Whew. I thought the house was abandoned. It had a for sale sign on it -- well, got to the back yard and it wasn't abandoned! Hah! I bet the folks living there wondered if I was a burglar or something. Anyway, I have been looking for a house in the country, and that's why I checked it out. I'm so glad I didn't peek in the windows!

I also managed a U-turn (to the left) in the middle of the road. I rode in some rain, and I got lost and rode on a big highway with semis. LOL. I made it home just fine, though.

I also "tested" my throttle to see just how much pick up she had. Oh, found out, she can GO. LOL. I'm such a weenie, I hadn't wanted to try that yet. It's way too fun. I'm afraid I might be a speed freak after all.

It's so nice to just go and ride on instinct. For the first time today I wasn't worried about a deer jumping out or some critter running in my path -- I was just enjoying the journey and it felt great. I only wish I would have taken my camera.

There was one great moment when I was riding in a grove of trees, and a vulture/hawk (some huge big bird of prey) was flying straight toward me on the road. It was so awesome! He didn't veer off until I got right up to him. At first I thought it was a bald eagle (we have a lot of those around here) but darn, it wasn't. Still, it was an awesome sight. Also got to see a huge Blue Heron take flight as I rode by a creek.

This is riding at its best, I think -- enjoying nature. I'm a nature nut anyway. I keep a nature journal and teach my students to hike and study it. (http://libertyscholars.com) I love critters and plants. (Just another reason I want a house in the country!)

I do know already I want a bigger bike. Maybe next summer. When I go by those semis the bike just scoots across the road. I hate that. Would a bigger windshield help with that or not?

Oh, another question: the choke. I accidentally left it open. It makes me so mad that I forget to shut it. That, and remembering to turn off my turn signal, are two things I'm still working on!

Just wanted to share with my buddies how much fun I'm having!

A Night of Firsts

Tonight was my first out-of-town trip. Okay, we only went 55 miles round trip, but it was a big deal to me! I did a lot of things I had never done before!

My first really BIG thing was to ride my bike at 65 MPH. I have never ridden that fast before tonight. It was also the first time I had ridden on a 4-lane highway. What a blast! I do look forward to the day, though, when I have a bigger windshield -- and when I win the lottery -- a big touring bike! That wind is merciless. But at least now I know I CAN DO IT!

We went from North Manchester, Indiana to Salamonie Lake Dam. There are a lot of great twists and turns on that ride once you're off the 4-laner. I wish I would have stopped and taken some pictures of the roads we were on -- you'd love all the twisties!

I did take some pictures of our destination spot.

Here is a picture of the lake. We stopped our bike on top of the dam. I thought it would bother me to be up high like that but it didn't bother me at all!

This is a picture of my riding buddy, my husband of 23+ years, Eddie. It's all his fault I ride now! He is sitting on his 2004 Harley Sportster 1200. Aren't his little short legs too cute?


















This is a picture of me taken today by my riding buddy. I don't have my own helmet yet, and I don't have my own jacket yet, either. I am wearing my husband's denim shirt. We are getting my gear one little thing at a time. :-) My first gear purchase was my Harley Boots (not shown in this pic!). I love my boots! The sticker on my helmt says, "Hairdo by Helmet." I love it. A wonderful biker chick friend sent it to me. I met her on the "Women Who Ride" forum at Delphi Forums. When I finally get my own gear, I want it to be pink: pink helmet, pink jacket, pink gloves -- everything pink! I would love some pink flames on my bike, too, but can't convince my honey to let me do that. I want people to know I'm a GIRL when I ride!

















This is Salamonie Lake. Lots of good fishing here! It is one of my favorite places to take my kids camping.

















Another picture of the dam.

















Just another pretty picture of the lake. I never thought I'd enjoy riding a motorcycle so much! But everytime we pull in the drive, I wish we could ride some more!

No Longer a Cager-Only

I have begun biking this summer. I have my learner's permit and I have been practicing all summer so that when I take the MSF course in August I won't look like an idiot! I will be using this space to post pictures and stories of my bike journeys and my journeys with Jesus, too!

My husband bought my first bike 4 weeks ago. It is a 2003 Suzuki Intruder VS800. I would love to have a touring bike someday and be able to take long trips! But for now, this has been an awesome bike to learn on.