Conversation with a Campground Host: Redefining Disability

Riding/Climbing/Hiking Icicle Canyon in Leavenworth, WA

The morning sun slowly warmed away the chilly summer night air of Icicle Canyon, beckoning me to come out of my little one-person tent.  Upon seeing me stumble out, the campground host, a old man with a peppered beard, hobbled to my site with the obvious intent to collect my dues. I pulled out my National Park Access Pass, a disability card, and handed it over. He looked at me sternly and asked "What's this?"

"An Access Pass."
"No, where did you get it?" His suspicion heightening.
"Sir, I am Deaf."

Eyes popped wide, he took back a step.
"Wh-... I.... Uh.... But... How do you ride that thing?" He stammered, pointing at my purple motorcycle.

While handing over my campsite dues, I explained I ride just as safely, if not safer, by relying on my other senses. I feel the vibrations, I sense when the bike needs to shift gears, and I'm constantly visually aware of my surroundings. Besides, who can really hear over the rumble and roar of a motorcycle anyway?

Dumbfounded at my Deafness, the old man confessed he was puzzled as why he couldn't wake me up by shouting through my tent walls and told me he had planned to come back later with the police.

"So, what are you doing out here? Hiking?"
I replied that I planned to hike today and rock climb tomorrow.

"Climbing?! You... Uh...!!! That's too dangerous for you if you can't hear!"

"Nope! I've been doing it for a while and have worked out effective communication."

"Don't you have a boyfriend?"

"Nope"

After a short awkward pause, the old man's eyes skirted the ground. Stammering as he walked away like a dog with his head down and tail between his legs, "well, you're.. Uh... Too... Uh..... Um... Uh.... Pretty not to have one"

Pffft...

Since when do I need to have hearing and a man to be awesome?? 

I have a disability. Go ahead, slap that label on me.  I shamelessly admit it. However, I don't let it stop me. It took a lifetime of learning and positive reinforcement from family and friends to let my disability strengthen me, not weaken me. 

There was a time in my life when I was too shy to admit I was Deaf. I remember sheepishly telling my teachers I couldn't hear well and then slink quickly back to my desk as the school environment mumbled around me. I was too scared to try and do things I really wanted to do, such as try out for the school play. 

Things have changed. Drastically. 

Being immersed with Deaf pride at Gallaudet University  has empowered me to be ME.  

I've figured out what my personal communication needs are and have learned not be afraid to communicate that to others, whether it be at work, on the mountain, or simply running errands around town. But most importantly, I've stopped believing that having a disability is my limit. 

If others choose to believe that then just go ahead...Climb your mountain and prove them wrong. 

Motorcycle Wisdom

People often ask me why I ride. There are all sorts of answers out there. 

"It's fun"
"The wind in my hair"
"Better gas mileage"
... or my original answer: "It was cheaper than a car" (three motorcycles and lots of gear later, that answer has probably lost some of its validity)

But one day while navigating pot holes through a windshield splattered with bug guts and raindrops, it hit me.  My motorcycle has become my rose colored glasses that I see the world through. 


1. Be kind, even to those who cannot repay you. 

I brake for turtles!  Shenandoah Mountains, VA 

2. Sometimes life takes you through scary dark journeys. Just keep riding... eventually you will see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Rattlesnake Tunnel in the Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia 

3. Sometimes you just have to ride the open road on the verge of the unknown. I rode this orange Honda Shadow on unknown roads to follow a career adventure. It didn't work out.... But guess what? The road didn't end. Just keep riding. Life goes on. 

4. Life doesn't always give you ideal riding conditions. You'll go through all sorts of weather. Don't give up. Remember those close to you.  My landlord at the time added cheer to a dreary snowy situation by surprising me with Christmas ribbon that matched my motorcycle. When things are tough, find a reason to smile. If you can't find one, create one.

5. During my work in New Mexico, I felt so alone. I lived and worked in a rural area. I longed for riding partners and adventure partners. Sometimes instead of wistful longing, you just have to make your own with the patient process of teaching.  

After many skittish attempts, Cisco finally learned to ride the motorcycle with me! 

This is a lesson I'm continually learning in Seattle... I'm teaching friends to be climbing and adventure partners!


6. The day started in grey cloudy Seattle... I was in the midst of a depressed funk. On a whim, I packed my purple Shadow with camping gear and decided to find the sun. After riding through a cold and rainy mountain pass, I found sunshine and warmth on the other side! When you're sad and depressed, take an active role and find your sun, whatever that may be for you.

Leavenworth, WA

7.  So many times I've muttered to myself, "I wish I had a car." Three motorcycles later, I've learned necessity is the birth of creativity. Now it's a game to me to see what I can pack on a motorcycle. Finding the silver lining is more fun than complaining :-) 

No car, no problem! Transporting a vacuum cleaner across Seattle 

During my days as a rock climbing guide in Virginia, I would pack gear for up to eight clients on my Honda Rebel!

Spontaneous farmer's stand stop  in New Mexico

Four wheels move the body.  Two wheels move the soul.  ~Author Unknown

Because you shouldn't GPS, text, and ride

"Tattoo" Directions

Life has been a little nerve-wracking lately... for lots of reasons. My roommate noticed the fervor of my nerves linger past midnight one recent evening. I awoke to a “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster resting on my laptop.

This brought back memories of critical moments of following this sound advice. When I was first learning to ride, I decided to adhere to a strict rule: Do not ride on any road I wouldn’t dare bicycle. I figured motorcycling is mostly dangerous because of the “others”. By eliminating the risk of collision with 18-wheeler trucks and speeding cars by riding low-speed and scenic back roads, I hoped to significantly reduce the risk as a newbie rider. At least in terms of mathematical equations, I think it makes sense.

After a few days of only practicing on the local roads around the condo, I decided to go for a practice ride to Carderock and back, a beloved local after-work climbing destination for cliff-starved Washingtonians. Riding out there was pure joy! Pleasant temperatures, sunshine, forested roads with majestic views of the Potomac River in all of its high water glory!

Coming back, panic threatened.
The sun shone.
The trees sprinted by.
The road twisted and turned.
I followed.
Crap.

I accidently merged onto Interstate 495.

As soon as I realized what was happening, my initial reaction was to panic.
“I’ve only been riding a week in the parking lot!”
“oh-no...”
“trucks!!”
“fast cars!!!!”
‘oh my!”

So that’s how Dorothy felt when she realized there where lions and tigers in the woods around her.

As I leaned into that final curve to merge, a tattoo flashed into my mind that I saw the day before on one of my customers: “Keep calm and carry on”. It dawned on me. Do not panic!  

My Seattle roommate left a reminder on my laptop one recent morning

I have a towel, right? Keep calm, carry a towel.... for some reason at the moment I felt satisfied that all I needed to know at the moment was outlined in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Indeed, I did have a small towel in my saddle bag!

Talk about going back to the basics.

My mind raced back to the current situation. The only thing I could do was to keep calm, enjoy the moment, and carry on to the next exit, right?

Rolling the throttle, I tested the limits of my so-far faithful 250cc Honda Rebel. 45 mph. 50. I was already beyond the fastest I’ve been. 60. 65. 70! 75!! I flew past the cars until I realized the speed limit was 55mph on that particular stretch.  oops.

Two miles later, I reached the next exit, relieved to once again be in my security blanket of back-roads. Mission accomplished! And it felt good.

But now I faced a new problem. Despite being on back-road safety after two miles of beltway adrenaline, I was now.... completely lost.

After consulting my phone map, I realized it would require a series of left and ride turns to get back on track onto a familiar road. Unlike in a car, a motorcyclist cannot casually glace at a phone, GPS or a map during a red light or stop sign. I quickly realized I’m not very good at memorizing a series of random left and right turns on unfamiliar roads, so I found myself even more lost... and as a result, getting stuck in Georgetown rush hour traffic. As a motorcyclist in Washington, DC I now know that M street at rush hour truly is hell on Earth with snarling hot acidic fumes threatening to suck the life out of me on a summer day.

The next time I went somewhere new, I carefully consulted a map, familiarized myself to the furthest extent I could, and wrote cue cheats on my left wrist (so I wouldn’t have to let go of the clutch while pulling up my jacket sleeve). It’s so easy to just lift your jacket sleeves while at red light or stop sign.

If anyone asks, I just say it’s my biker tattoo.

Beauty in the Crash

“What the hell? I can’t afford this!”

“Ooh shit. Christina. Get up. Christina!!! You’re in the middle of traffic”

“Why is my motorcycle sliding away from me. Why am I sideways?”

“Omg, I wrecked”

“Am I supposed to hurt?”

When the sun rose, I remember thinking it would be an awesome day. I glanced over at the night stand to re-read the lesson plan I had written the night before. I was psyched to try it, to see how my first lesson and teaching experience would go.

But instead, all of the above thoughts were jumbled together in one large thought…  a thought I didn’t think.  Or understand. Or really process happening while it was happening.  But it did happen. There was my bike on its side in an intersection. I was not on it. And I wasn’t standing up.

The next few minutes were a blur. People were helping me up. Paramedics were putting on gloves trying to look at my bloody knee and hands. The cops were asking me if I wanted to go to the hospital.  No I didn’t want to. He was sweet… He realized I wasn’t thinking clearly. He got down to my level and said it would make him feel much better if I agreed to get checked out.  Apparently I agreed because next thing I know, I’m being asked who the president is on my way to the ER. I was too numb and shaken to feel anything.  

So what happened?

I was approaching the intersection and wasn’t sure if the truck was coming or stopping. You can never be too sure with New Mexican drivers. Many of them think stopping is optional. I braked. But I braked on a weird and slippery small town cross walk (concrete, metal, or whatever it was). Apparently I used too much front brake, so the bike slid one way while I slid the other. All it took was a second.

The x-rays revealed nothing broken, just some bad bruising. I’m sore all over, it hurts to talk and breath with my chest so sore, but hey, life is still good.  The stupidest thing? A week before I burned my summer riding gloves on the exhaust pipe . I wore my winter gloves to Artesia, but decided not to wear them from the coffee shop to my client’s house since it was only half a mile and it was hot… seriously, what could happen in half a mile?  So I have no one to blame except myself that my hands are currently wrapped up in bandages.

I’m thankful to see beauty in the crash. How? I experienced the kindness of strangers, friends, and those who make it their job to ensure public safety. My landlord dropped everything and came running when he found out I was in the hospital. A friend was ready to drive to me from Denver to make sure me and my bike would be ok. My landlord’s friends showed up on the dime when I realized my bike wouldn’t start and got it running. My landlord’s son’s friend (who has experience with motorcycles) came right over to make sure the bike would still be safe to ride and fixed the smooshed gear shift for me. My boss was on text call all day with me constantly checking in. And reading so much love and well wishes on Facebook, texts, and email while lying in throbbing all-over-the-body pain was touching and encouraging.   I didn’t ask for all of this. The love just flowed!

Life is beautiful.  I am thankful for quality protective gear (helmet, thick armored jacket) that saved me from harm.  The love and beauty surrounding me will get me through the night and the following days of healing. I am grateful. Thank you.

Meet Otono!

Otono, the Honda Shadow Spirit

Leia was adorable. She had good gas mileage (65-110mpg depending on conditions). She was blue. She was simple. This Honda Rebel was the best a girl could ask for in cheap and reliable transportation.

Well, almost.

At 250cc, she was perfect for the getting between places in the backroads of Virginia and DC. As for the highways of New Mexico since there are no backroads? Not so much. Cars and trucks were flying past me, further driving my insecurity of feeling swallowed by the road. The miles seemed longer in the wide open spaces of the fifth largest state in the nation.

Logic and reason said to get a car. My volunteer “salary” with Americorp disagreed. So, I went into a motorcycle shop in Albuquerque to look at winter riding gloves to make my cold weather riding slightly less miserable. I got the gloves... and more.

A 2006 Shadow Spirit glimmered in the sun. To make a long story short, I negotiated a very good deal if I traded in my Honda Rebel. I gave the salesman a difficult time since the bike is orange with flames and my Joe Rocket riding jacket is pink with flowers. The fashionista in me cringed with horror. Guilt hung in his eyes so he made the deal even sweeter by throwing in a one year warranty with Honda.

Fellow fashionistas, cover your eyes when I ride by! I’ll be gone before you know it, roaring down the road on my 750cc motorcycle! I can pass trucks instead of being caught in the side winds. I can get out of the way of drivers who are in my way. People can hear me rumble from a long ways away.

The long lonely roads of New Mexico!

I have to admit. It feels good!

I know this is not a permanent solution. I still have my sights set on a car someday. At the right time with the right budget, it will happen. I promise to try my best. So many of you are worried. I know... trust me, if I had the budget for a car, I’d get one right now! I appreciate the concern. What I don’t appreciate is people nagging me for my “awful” motorcycle without offering a solution given my current financial situation. You’re not the only one who is nervous about the crazy New Mexican drivers. Instead of chiding me, just send me prayers for an extra layer of guardian angels. I’m willing to take donations for a car fund too :-)

In the meantime, I will rumble and roar on Otono. Otono, Spanish for “autumn”, seemed so appropriate of a name since I moved to New Mexico in autumn and the bike is indeed an autumn color :-)

Ride on!

Braking for turtles with Leia the Honda Rebel

Pride Comes Before a Fall

Ready to ride after the MSF course

I strongly recommend the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) courses. Not only will you learn how to operate a motorcycle, earn a license, lower your insurance rates, and hopefully erase any bad habits you might have picked up elsewhere, you will learn to become safer driver, no matter the size of your engine (or ego).  

I went from knowing absolutely nothing at all about manual transmission to operating a motorcycle (slowly) around a parking lot. Kudos to both the patient guidance of the Northern Virginia Community College instructors and to my boyfriend for taking the course with me to reinforce what I learned! Sadly, I was the only girl in my class to successfully complete the course. The other two girls were kicked out for not being able to control the bike. Even after numerous drops, they were both too proud to “downgrade” to a smaller bike.

There is truth to the saying “Pride comes before a fall”.  Literally.

For more information about the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, available courses for beginner or advanced riders, motorcycle safety, and to find a course near you:

http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.aspx

Take a course.  Don't let pride be your downfall. 

Learning the Clutch: Going Uphill from a Stop

Starting out from a complete stop on a hill  is difficult for the new rider. One morning, I struggled to get the bike moving past the stop sign, continually stalling the bike. A cop noticed my struggles and blocked the intersection; he wouldn't let anyone through until I crossed. Talk about peer pressure!!

20 minutes later, I made it!

I learned the hard way what I still needed to practice, preferably without a back-up of about 20-30 cars as my audience.

Training techniques that worked for me:

• Wear all of your protective gear, even if just practicing at slow speeds in a parking lot.

• Practice on a slight incline in a parking lot. Release the choke out all the way. Allow the bike to roll back while slowly releasing the clutch to gain confidence the bike will go forward, even after rolling back. A released choke allows this to happen easily and should ONLY be used for training purposes to get over the feel of the bike rolling backward than forwards.

• Once you master the coordination of releasing the clutch and rolling the throttle, put the choke back to normal. Riding with the choke out causes engine damage.

• Practice again finding the “sweet spot” between the clutch and throttle, this time with the choke back in the normal riding position. Soon, you will be able to control the bike so there is minimal rolling backward movement.

• Check your owner’s manual for choke procedures and recommendations.

Everyone has their own way of learning to control the bike on a hill from a complete standstill. These techniques happened to work for me, but I'd love to hear what other training tips others have figured out!