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A few years ago, I began breaking out of the box of a typical pastor's wife (a box of my making, I'm sure) and decided to ride a motorcycle. I'd tried riding with my husband on the back of his bike, but I quickly decided the back was not for me. People couldn't believe their sweet pastor's wife was now a "biker chick." I never could have believed it myself just a short time ago.
But tomorrow I'll take my first big motorcycle ride solo! God urged me to go alone—no husband, no friend along. I'll have to trust God and myself to do this. You'd think this wouldn't be a big deal, but after 20 years of marriage and two kids, I'm seldom by myself, let alone traveling for five days on a motorcycle across four states! I'll cover 500 miles in two days, from Chester, Virginia, to Athens, Georgia, to attend a women's motorcycle event. What does God have in store for me?
June 29, Departure DayI wake up nervous but excited. There's nothing small about the bike I'll be riding—my husband's flaming red Victory Kingpin. Dressed with a helmet, leather vest, and leather gloves, I look like a serious biker.
After several hugs from my 12-year-old daughter, Chelsea, I take off at noon while my husband's at church. She looks so proud of me! My parents will have to wait till after I'm home to find out about this trip. I'm 41, but I don't dare tell my mom what I'm doing or she'll worry.
This afternoon I follow a careful routine experienced riders recommended to me: ride for 50 minutes, then stop for 15 to stretch, walk around a bit, and drink fluids to avoid fatigue and dehydration. After six hours of riding, I pull in at a hotel next to a Cracker Barrel in Gastonia, North Carolina. I check into my room, cool off a bit, and go to dinner.
That's when I discover what I love the most about motorcycle trips—meeting the people God brings to me. When I tell the 70something greeter at Cracker Barrel that I'm on a solo motorcycle trip, she finds me a T-shirt that says, "Real Women Ride Motor-cycles!" I sense a connection between us, so after my meal, we chat a bit about the Lord, and then she lovingly encourages me. I don't know how else to des-cribe what's happening except to say I feel as though I'm receiving a grandmother's blessing on my trip and my life. And with it I receive God's blessing. If I had any doubts about my trip before, they're gone. My Father's riding with me on this great adventure.
June 30Just 200 miles left in my journey. The temperature's perfect, the sky's so blue, and the bike's soooo comfortable. I have to make myself take breaks to stretch and drink water because I'm enjoying the ride so much.
After I find my hotel and check in, I ride to the conference center in downtown Athens. Questions fly through my mind: What will these women be like? How crude and rough are they? Are any of them like me? This is going to stretch me!
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