CentauriBeau

I had a Miata for about a month back in 1996 and have ached for one ever since. My buddy got tired of hearing me say I was going to get one (he’s been hearing it for about the last 10 years) and suggested yesterday that we go down and just check them out… I came home with a 2025 GT and haven’t stopped smiling!

Over just under 3 weeks (June 21st to July 11th) I travelled from Chattanooga, TN to Metropolis IL, Branson MO, Dodge City KS, Colorado Springs CO, Winter Park CO, back to Colorado Springs (my buddy had a short out-patient surgery to reattach his bicep), on to Roswell NM, Blanchard OK, Camden AR, and finally back to Chattanooga. I spent several days at my friends houses in Colorado, and 2 nights in Metropolis, Branson, Dodge City, and Blanchard so I had a day to play tourist and spend some time with my family in Branson and Blanchard. I probably averaged about 350 miles per day on my riding days, but did pull close to 500 twice. While my bike is definitely not a touring machine (more like a cafe racer), by standing on the pegs and making frequent stops, along with an unrecommended daily dosage of Ibuprofen, I made it and had a blast doing so; even if my butt complained.

The title photo was taken by my Nephew in Oklahoma (and yes, it has inspired a gym membership and diet).

Metropolis Superman museum

Dodge City, KS

Deer in Colorado

Roswell

Saucy’s owner was staying at my hotel, cool car

Camden at the Rut

So on my ride home today I’m in the left lane in moderate traffic on a 40mph 4-lane road with a center turn lane. As usual I’m trying to stay just left of the SUV in front of me so I can see the traffic ahead and give myself an escape route in case someone comes flying up from behind. The SUV however, I’m assuming thought I was planning to use the center turn lane (which is share by both sides of the traffic) to pass. So the farther left I would go in the lane, the farther left she went until we were both over the double yellow and half a car width into the center lane. She actually almost hit a truck that was using the center lane to turn. My first lizard brain thought of course was just to blow past this nimrod and show her! Thankfully I took a beat to relax and think it through. Instead, when we came up to the next stoplight I pulled up beside her driver side, opened my helmet so she could see my warm and loving smile and knocked on her window. I told her that I noticed the farther over left I got, the farther she did and then explained to her why I was trying to be to the left (and several car lengths behind of course) of her vehicle. It allows me to see the traffic ahead and gives more reaction time if something is happening. It gives me an escape route if a car comes flying up behind me that likely doesn’t even see me. I was extremely polite and tried to convey this in my warmest tone. For her part, she thanked me for explaining and was also very nice. Just wanted to share this because I’m fully aware of the many other ways it could have gone. I could have let it piss me off and ruin my great riding vibe. Worse, that anger could have distracted me causing me to ride too fast, possibly do something truly stupid like punch out one of her mirrors (ok, that’s just really not me at all, but I’ve seen other riders do it to cars that upset them), or even get in a wreck. All because of a simple misunderstanding easily rectified with a few kind words. And I got to enjoy the rest of my ride with a smile and the hope that maybe she’ll be more understanding as well with the next biker. Of course I also left the light faster and wasn’t behind her anymore either LOL. Happy riding everyone!

I wanted to post my baby and introduce myself. She’s a 2023 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 and I’m absolutely loving her. The pic is from my trip to the Cherohala Skyway Loop and the Tail of the Dragon.