Only a few minutes into our ride down a lush green-treed street, I spotted a wild turkey hanging out on the side of the road, just pecking around by the trees. My first turkey sighting ever, and I’m really not the expert, but I don’t think it could have been anything else. Gobble.

Shortly after that, a doe ran out in front of us, and a little one followed close behind her, scampering across the road in a frightened little blur. Smart J — he knows that where there is one deer, there’s always another. One of the rules of riding, he says. Luckily, there was no danger – he braked, and we enjoyed a quick glimpse of the graceful animals. How could anyone ever hurt those sweet things…?! Heartless, I tell you.

Further down this same, seemingly teeming with wildlife road, a bird flew right at J’s helmet, and grazed the shield. We both saw it coming, and ducked to the side a bit, but J still blocked the shot, and taught that wobbly-winged bird a lesson I hope he’ll remember, because he might not always be so lucky to just fly right on. With three consecutive (nutty!) experiences fresh in our minds, we turned on to the interstate, and zipped over to the college for my criminal background screening, and fingerprinting. Only the first in a long, detailed series of medical tests and checks. Ah, nursing school…already keeping me busy in an expensive way, but still exciting!

This shot was taken somewhere in Brandon, FL, during one of our sweet vacations. Just thinking about my honey today, and how we will go together, to face life and to love it, no matter where it takes us. …So, I secured our tent rental today, and ordered the bridesmaid dresses last weekend…290 days until the big day!

Taken over a year ago on our Spring Break to Florida. This was in the Panera near USF. We rode the rest of the day under sunny skies, north until we got back to Mom’s. The weather had been good to us for the whole trip, and this day would be no exception. We rode up 41, a way we had never taken before. We made such good time that we were back in Gainesville shortly after lunch. We had our usual Starbuck’s interlude and were back at Mom’s before the sun set. These experiences are what make riding an integral part of our lives.

Having Autumn on the back of the bike, scrunched up against me, hugging turns while hugging my back, is something that I truly miss. I was able to ride yesterday for the first time in quite a while because of the rain. I headed north up 23 to the Jarrell Plantation (closed), over to Indian Spings State Park (not all that), then on to High Falls State Park ($3 to park even a motorcycle!); it was a great ride under the Sunday sun (a better way to spend a Sunday, I know not), but it just wasn’t the same without someone to share it with.

Autumn had been returning from Paris probably about the time I headed the bike back toward Macon, taking a familiar route down 41 from Forsyth. We had ridden toward Forsyth and on to Barnesville during our first date, near two years earlier. I had been a much less confident motorcyclist then, but having her with me made the hot September after bristle with excitement. I still get excited when we ride together, even though I’m a much more accomplished rider now, and Autumn, too, is a cycling veteran. Our relationship was born on the back of a machine, and it will always involve — I feel confident — a strong engine between our legs. Just over a week to go.

I believe this was taken during our first ever ride together to Florida, in the fall of 2003. We had left Mom’s early that morning heading east, ridden through some rain, and made it to St. Augustine Beach before lunch. We spent much of the day in St. Augustine before heading north toward Macon. I realized that we were in trouble when we began losing the sun about 100 miles southeast of home: it began to get chilly. By the time we made it back, we were both freezing, having packed like it was July and not October. After thawing out under six blankets, we had dinner and laughed about it. Among other things, Autumn is also a trooper. We have had other cold rides since, and she always makes the best of it.

Mom took this photo just after Autumn and I arrived on her farm back during spring break of 2005. We had just ridden from Macon that day; I remember it being much chillier when we began: notice that we’re both still wearing our sweatshirts. I remember that being a good, albeit fast, trip. We got caught in a winter rain one morning in Tampa, so we bundled up in our rain gear and hit I-75 north. We made it the 90 miles to Ocala and stopped for a breather at Starbucks. We rode the rest of the way back to Mom’s and watched teevee the rest of the day. Just being warm with my sweetie was the highlight of that trip: as it should be.

Autumn is munching on a pretzel — I believe a Gardetto’s mustard pretzel — during last trip to Florida over spring break. I believe this was our first stop in Douglas, Georgia, to have a snack and relax for a minute. She’s sitting on the steps of a church, I believe. It was a cool day, but sunny, so the weather didn’t bother us that much. This is the last trip we took on the Nighthawk, which should sell any day now. Hove I mentioned what a pleasure it is to fell my baby on the back of the bike, relaxed, showing complete confidence in my riding abilities? One of many things she does so well.

Here’s a picture from our recent trip to Florida for a few days. This was taken on Bradenton Beach. We rode down to my hometown for a day, to take in the beach and see how Sarasota has grown, and boy has it. The weather was beautiful that day, much like Autumn, and we had a wonderful lunch at the Colombia on St. Armand’s Circle. Here Autumn poses on a condemned pier jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico. Since we didn’t have any beach attire, we had to settle for the only concrete available.

Well, I missed Autumn’s call today from England ’cause I was riding home from Atlanta. I rode up to hang out with my brother last evening, then met Thomas for a little while today. I had a good night and a good morning — Tim and I ran four miles, and it felt really good — but I couldn’t wait for Autumn to call, so I figured I’d get home in plenty of time. I left Buckhead about 3:15 and missed her first call at 3:31 and her second at 3:45. Darn it. I’m sorry, sweetie. I thought I’d be home in time to hear form you, but I guess I messed that up.

I figured that this picture from our first ride through the Dragon would be an appropriate one to go with today’s missed call. I miss you, baby.