Healy-Guttman Blog

Since Jack can’t be the only one with all the fun over here, I needed to feel the need for speed too! OK, speed is a realitive term here. My new little toy is a Yamaha TW200 and it’s perfect for me (notice the basket on the back!).

Hey, I took the motorcycle safety class last June and in two days I had my endorsement. Then, you are allowed to run free on a motorcycle on the streets… YIKES! The first attempt at riding was a bit of a fiasco, with the purchase of what Jack thought would be the right “starter” bike for me. A Suzuki V-Strom 650… Let’s just say, it is just a tad over my head right now, and Bo, the strapping go-getter that he is, promptly claimed ownership since it fit him perfectly… OK, it’s still in my name! Speaking of names, I need to find a name for my cute new zoomer, any suggestions?

Everyday I’m getting more and more confident. The first day, I rode to the dump (about .5 miles) and around our street. The second day, we rode to Honaunau and back (about 8 miles), then went the loop (still in the general neighborhood, but about 10 miles) yesterday we went up to the highway and to the store, gas station (I only needed .7 gallons to fill up!) and down Napopoo Road, a nice hilly road with tons of turns… Today, we road all the way to Kona by way of Holualoa (the not so busy route, again with lots of turns and twists in the road)… going to Kona and back was about 40 miles round trip! I encountered all the great learning skills of going 55 on the highway, stopping at lights with a semi behind you, cars pulling out or stopping to turn, bumper to bumper traffic, you know all the good city skills! I feel really good and when my trusty side-kick (Jack) is not with me on my solo run (maybe tomorrow) I’ll have the confidence to go forth!!

And, maybe, just maybe I’ll have an adventure in the near future and we’ll find a good name for her…