I HAD THE BEST EVENING!!

Yeah I'm shouting. I had an horrible day at work. Absolutely dreadful. I had to get home right quick and figure out how I was getting towards the airport. Given the day I figured just drive. But the weather has been great, I haven't been on the bike in three weeks. What the hay, let's go in the bikes.

So how did my horrible day turn into a great evening?

3. Rode my bike...

2. To a great restaurant we have been meaning to try for years!

1. ...with great new friends!!

Meet Pam and her bestest hubby sidekick. This is the one and only Pam from Helmet or Heels fame, that gave me my 15 minutes of fame. :)

This restaurant is cool. We've been talking of going to the 57th Fighter Group Restaurant for over 10 years. It sits on the runway of Peachtree Dekalb Airport. You can watch the planes land/launch about 100 feet from your table. Closer if you are sitting on the patio.

The restaurant was great, but the company was better. We had a difficult time ordering because Pam and I kept talking and forgot to look at the menu. We went with the waitress' recommendation and three of us had the Salmon Soufflé while one lone standout ordered the Stuffed Trout. (And boy was it stuffed!!)

I don't think we paused for breathe throughout dinner, we had so much to talk about. And no, it didn't all revolve around motorbikes. Thank you both for taking time out from visiting with your family to come spend the evening with us. It totally made my day better.

Something New

A couple weeks ago Oilburner and I did something we have never done before.

One of the first perfect days, and it has to be a Monday. It wasn't difficult to make the decision to ride to work. We hadn't ridden during the weekend, opting to enjoy the weather to catch up on some much needed work around the house. Or just sitting on the patio, listening to the birds, soaking up some time and vitamin D. (Covered patio, not soaking up direct sun.)

Sitting at my desk and facing down the 2:30 blahs it seemed such a shame to just head back home again. I was wondering what could be done with the day? We both rode to work. We both went in early and were eligible to leave about 3:30. There had to be something better than just pointing the wheel towards home.

I pinged Oilburner about going out for an early dinner someplace and not snubbing our noses at this perfect afternoon. He was absolutely game.

I started daydreaming about the open air restaurant at the marina in the mountains. A thick burger with steak fries and a good seat on the water was sounding appealing. But a quick search online didn't give me any hope that 1) they were open for the season yet, or 2) if they were open, would be open when we arrived. It was a 90 minute ride up there.

Oilburner and I met up in the parking lot where I work, and we hit the road without a clear destination, I was willing to forgo the marina, but I still wanted pub food. So we thought about the marina at Lanier Islands. We had been there once a couple years ago and found the food good, and the patio over the water excellent.

It has been a long time since we have been to this area and I was navigating from memory. (Memory was all I had considering I left the GPS at home this morning, thinking I wouldn't need it just to ride to work.) I managed to recognize enough landmarks to be successful. Too bad the restaurant hadn't opened for the season yet.

The gatekeeper was a fountain of information and directed us to another pub a couple miles down the road. It was apparent that he was a regular there when the waitress was able to tell us his name when we mentioned how we had arrived here. Gotta love the small town atmosphere that we just don't get to experience in many places around here.

Aahhhh...it was a wonderful afternoon, finding a great, new pub and enjoying a wonderful riding day in a unique fashion.

Ego Boost

Yeah...I haven't been able to spend much one on one time with any bike recently. So the excitement started to increase as I contemplated riding over to a new adventure riding meetup group dinner. Of course, I left work an hour late. And I also had to go to the market for necessities. So I arrived home at 7. Threw the groceries in the kitchen. Put the perishables in the appropriate fridgerated compartment. Left the remainder strewn all over the floor and counters. Slipped my sweaty feet into leather boots. Threw my jacket over my shoulder, grabbed my helmet and ran to the garage.

It is an adventure riding group. I have to take the GS. It is the adventure bike after all. Unfortunately the tank is absolutely empty.

Get the bike out of the garage, close the house and hop on the bike. The new gas station around the corner seems like the perfect stop.

Hop on the freeway at 7:20 and enjoy a spirited ride to arrive someplace 20 minutes away...in 10 minutes. ;)

Didn't quit make it on time, but no matter...the ride was enjoyable.

I consider losing a little face as I have to make a couple of circuits of the parking lot as others watch on. I just can't decide where to attempt to squeeze the bike in. But it isn't worth feeling chagrined about. I've got one HOT bike. And all eyes are on us. Hehe

I don't know. I just can't help but feeling a huge ego boost when I am one of only three girls in a sea of 20 guys...and the only rider. Oh yeah, baby.

And I didn't even get stuck in the garage when I arrived home to stable the steed. :)