Yep. I have a new love: Harley.  But let me back up a little.

After our encounter with the bear, the guys decided to go hike up the creek a ways and pan for gold. (Since our lunch had ended up feeding the bear. The only gold I like is on my finger or around my neck, not in a muddy pool of water, so I politely declined. So did Josie and Jen. Jen and I ate a couple of the candy bars I’d stashed in my backpack, in case of emergency, which this definitely was. Josie, always conscious of her figure, ate an apple. It seems she brought food of her own, in case.

Then we got bored. Maybe we should have gone with the guys. We were in agreement though that no way would we admit they were that important to us. But what to do the rest of the afternoon? I was wandering around the camp, snapping pictures of unusual flowers and insects, when I spied Casey’s sleek Harley, midnight blue, shiny, tempting. I’ve never ridden a motorcyle. Jen said she had. In fact, she said they went for rides a lot. At first she thought the cycle was loud and scary and preferred her horses. I can identify with horses, cause I love my Sunrise and Stormy.

But she learned to love the Harley. I told her I wanted to ride it. She said it was heavy and hard to control. Now I enjoy a challenge. She warned me she wrecked the cycle the first time she got on it. I said I wanted to try anyway. Josie shook her head. She was more cautious than me, but offered to bandage my arms and legs and head if I crashed. You can’t beat a deal like that.

So Jen showed me how to start the cycle. Showed me the how to make it go, speed up, and slow down. She was right, too. It was so heavy it nearly pulled my arms out of their sockets. Anyway, I climbed on. Jen behind me, because she didn’t want to wreck Casey’s cycle again. Josie gave three cheers, and we started off, down the trail, slowly at first. The wind in my face, the surge of pure energy beneath me, and I got brave.

“I’m speeding up,” I called over my shoulder. The wind whipped my words into the air.

But Jen gripped me around the middle, yelled in my ear, “Slow down.”

I was wild. I was free. I ignored Jen’s warning.

For one minute.

Then I slowed down. I didn’t want to destroy this beautiful machine. I made a wide circle through the trees and headed back to camp.

I love you, Harley.

If anyone reads this, you can believe me or not. But Harley will always have a special place in my heart. No, I’m not trading my horses. But maybe I’ll get my own Harley some day.

SYL