Quick 240 mile daytrip

My schedule originally had me attending an accessibility software training up in Mount Prospect Tuesday. The plan was to ride the motorcycle and get mileage reimbursement for the 100 mile total I would have rode to attend the workshop. A few days before the training the email came indicating the training would be postponed due to low enrollment. My work schedule was already clear so "day trip" became the plan.

Called my Dad to see if he was working Tuesday and wanted to do their lunch thing (my father, grandfather, and brother) meet for lunch once a week in Champaign. I knew I would her it again from my wife as they will only meet at Hooters, but what could I do.

Left home around 8:00 and 42 degrees. If was sunny which help added some warmed. My first pair of heated gloves were still on backorder (rats). From Homewood to Champaign is about 115 miles of pure Interstate 57. Call me boring, but I love riding the interstate once out of the big city traffic. No intersections to worry about and a constant 70 miles per hour.

I first stopped at my daughter's apartment to drop off a winter coat for her as well as some heavy sweaters. Rode of over to Hooters for lunch with the "boys." Afterwards, stopped by the Illinois Motorcycle Rider Program office to visit with the full time folks. Back to my daughter's for the important thing. My granddaughter is in Kindergarten and I wanted to surprise her. My daugher, granddaughter Paige, and I walked to Anasia's school. Seeing Anasia coming out of school wearing her backpack and a smile was the highlight of the ride.


Windows Live Spaces

Of course I needed to take care of a few things for the daughter which made me miss my planned departure time of 3:00. I didn't leave until 5:00 and rode in the dark cold dusk from around 5:45-7:15. The temperature had dropped from the 50's to back in the low 40's. Once the sun dipped below the horizon, the air definitely chilled. Then only real cold part for me were the back of the hands. I thought to ride for a while and take a break to warm up. Then it became an adventure to tough it out and ride straight through.

It was a good day.

PS. The shop called today to say my Gerbings G3 gloves are in.

It's over

Yesterday, I finished teaching my 21st Motorcycle Class of the season. While each class is 20 hours, it usually amounts to 23-24 hours per class. That would be the equivalent of working full time for 12 weeks. Of course the teaching was spread out over the months of April through October. Nonetheless, it was a lot of time doing something that I enjoy.

What on earth will I do with my time now? Two things:

1. Whatever my wife wants to do.
2. Ride as much as I can get away with.

Sounds like a plan.

Not falling too far from the tree

The teaching season is coming to a close. I had left my house by 6:15 to ride up to the Allstate site in Northbrook, IL. The sun wasn't up but the sky was displaying wonderful pre-sunrise colors. As I enjoyed the 50 mile ride up the Tri State Tollway, I began to think about my father. At least for the last 15 or so years, my father worked full time for the City of Champaign and part time as the golf pro for Blue Needles Golf Course. Beside the day job, he has consistently worked at the golf course several evenings and much of the weekend each week once the snow cleared from the fairways.

So I had a small sense of pride as teaching the motorcycle classes has made my life closer in line with my father. I know that he has been in a position to help me at times and make his own life better by supplementing his salary with the second job. A good portion of this years MC class money has went in the director of my daughter and granddaughters as well as my son. With the class money, I would have only been able to say "sorry I don't have anything to help you with."

Like my father, at least our second jobs are things that we enjoy, even if it is work.