First ride

Or perhaps I should title this post, Labor Day Redux.  Last Labor Day, we had a grand ride through Newton County, Arkansas.  Back then, I wouldn’t have imagined the same time next year not only would we have a grand ride again, but this time I would be caption of my own ship.  This was my first ride on my new bike, a Kawasaki Ninja 250.

My inaugural trip was a shorter loop than last year, but we still rode for a few hours. Heading out at early morning, I rode with my husband in front and my father-in-law in back.  My son rode on the back of the bike (my normal spot) of my husband’s bike.  For a beginner, having a lead and a back bike was most comfortable for me.

First we rode east out of Fayetteville on Highway 45 and north nearly to Eureka Springs, then south through Withrow Springs State Park, on to Huntsville, where we ate breakfast at Granny’s.  Then back west again toward Fayetteville through Elkins.  Each time we stopped for a breather, I got encouraging critiques from my felllow riders.  And when putting some of their suggestions into place, I felt a little more confident and a little more comfortable.

Best parts of the ride: smelling the smoky breakfast campfires burning in Withrow Springs, biscuits and gravy at Granny’s, maneuvering corners, accelerating, time with my family.