My Motorcycle Blog: Memorable Rides
by Donald Ray Burger
Attorney at Law

* November, 2006 blog * * October, 2006 blog * * September, 2006 blog * * August, 2006 blog * * July, 2006 blog * * June, 2006 blog * * May, 2006 blog * * April, 2006 blog * * March, 2006 blog * * February, 2006 blog * * January, 2006 blog * * December, 2005 blog * * November, 2005 blog * * October, 2005 blog * * September, 2005 blog * * August, 2005 blog * * July, 2005 blog * * June, 2005 blog * * May, 2005 blog *

My Christmas Morning Run

December 31, 2007:
It was our year to host Christmas. My parents, my sister and her husband, my brother and his wife, and my uncle and his wife were all in town. In fact, they were all at the house. Each year we rotate the location of Christmas, and, year after year, we all manage to get together for the season.

People had started arriving on Friday afternoon, and everyone was here by Saturday. We had already shared lots of good food, good wine and good times by Christmas Eve. It was around 11:30 pm when everyone went to bed that night. I distinctly heard the pronouncement by Doug that there would be no getting up before seven, and that there would be a one gift penalty for whoever violated the rule. Nonetheless, I figured I could get in an early morning ride before the crowds appeared for coffee and Domaine Chandon Brut.

I was wide awake at six. I had pre-positioned my riding gear the night before. I slipped out of the covers and into my Draggin' Jeans, long johns, PolarTec Windblock shirt and my riding boots. After a quick "Merry Christmas" to Maria, Sarah and I went outside to get the paper. I then fixed Sarah her breakfast. Everything was quiet as I let the dog out the back door while I checked the air in the tires. The tire pressure was fine. The outside air was forty-one degrees. I let Sarah back inside, and told Maria to sleep in because Sarah and I were the only ones up.

I grabbed my helmet and jacket from the hall closet and returned to the garage. I opened the garage door and duck-walked the Harley out of the garage.

Reversing directions, I wheeled the bike around so it pointed toward the street. I got off, closed the garage door, and returned to the bike. I put on my gloves and stuck the key in the ignition and thumbed the run switch on. It was barely 6:15 a.m.

I didn't think it would show the proper Christmas spirit if I cranked up the Harley there in the driveway, so I duck-walked my bike to the end of the block and shifted from neutral to first. It seems to me that the bike is less noisey starting in first than in neutral. I hit the started switch and the engine came to life with a familiar sound. I immediately headed down the street, leaving the bike in first gear.

The streets were deserted. Few lights were yet on. I was a little surprised by that. I am by habit an early riser, but I was always especially eager to get up early on Christmas morning. Apparently my gift curiosity was not shared by many Heights residents.

I saw two women walking their dogs. I raised my visor and gave them a smile and a wave. We exchanged Merry Christmases as I continued down the residential steet, still in first gear.

I had timed everything so I would turn mile 7400 this morning, which I did at 9th and Beverly. I did this while only racking up one mile on this short run--and all of it in first gear.

As I headed into the cul-de-sac, I turned off the run switch and coasted into the driveway in stealth mode. After parking the bike, and noting that the odometer still registered 7400 miles, I entered the house and changed out of my riding gear.

Only Sarah and Maria were up to greet me. It appeared that no one else would know to assess me my one present penalty. And I was sure they wouldn't tell, being used to my odd ways by now. Time to start the coffee and get ready to "officially" greet the day. Hope you had a great December 25th, and that you also got in a Christmas Day Ride. See you on the road. And don't forget to think.

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For the November, 2006, blog entries, click here.

For the October, 2006, blog entries, click here.

For the September, 2006, blog entries, click here.

For the August, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the July, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the June, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the May, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the April, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the March, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the February, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the January, 2006, blog entries, click here.

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For the December, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the November, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the October, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the September, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the August, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the July, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the June, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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For the May, 2005, blog entries, click here.

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*Note to Law Enforcement:

All statements of speeds on various streets are simple estimates, and solely for novelity purposes. Actual speeds vary, but are always lower. I'm sure that legal speed limits are never exceeded, anything in this blog to the contrary nowithstanding.