Friday (cont.)

The evening passed quickly as we worked our way through the Rider Handbook developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The curriculum was well written and the DVDs were well done to reiterate and compliment the lecture.

A few of the more interesting facts that I learned include:

• A person who has several close calls or near misses when driving a car may be prone to similar behavior when operating a motorcycle. (If you’ve ever seen me drive my Torrent or any other four-wheeled vehicle, you understand why this is so fascinating to me. My life somewhat flashed before my eyes!).
• To SEE is to Search for factors that might lead to risky situations; to Evaluate how the factors might interact to create risk, and to Execute an action to maintain a margin of safety.
• Head injuries account for the majority of motorcycle fatalities; helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by 67%.
• A procedure called FINE-C is used to start the engine. It stands for Fuel, Ignition, Neutral, Engine cut-off switch and Choke/Clutch. (Why didn’t anyone teach me this in high school? This would have made learning to drive a clutch so much easier!)
• Crash studies show that running off the road, usually on a curve, accounts for more than 50% of total motorcycle fatalities.
• Never kick at a dog when you’re on a motorcycle. Instead, upset the animal’s timing. Once an approaching dog is spotted, slow down and downshift. Then accelerate past the point of interception.
• Almost 50% of all riders killed have been drinking. The primary effects of alcohol are to diminish visual capabilities and alter good judgment.

Well, our Freedom of Independence Ride is coming up August 29. I’ve got to get myself trained and licensed to go on the ride. Here’s Part 1 of a five-part diary I wrote during my recent motorcycle safety class.

Friday

Some might have wondered whether I was prematurely having a mid-life crisis. Others might have wondered if I was taking on too much risk. But I contend that I was merely feeling restless – perhaps even a bit rebellious – the day of my first motorcycle riding course.After all, that morning I pulled into Caribou Coffee and ordered a Raspberry Mocha (with caffeine and full fat) in lieu of my usual Starbucks® decaf, tall, skinny caramel latte with skim milk and sugar-free syrup.

There’s nothing like 24-ounces of liquid energy to make a girl feel like she can conquer anything that lies ahead. The lyrics to “Born to Be Wild,” played through my mind as I traveled on I-35 north from Des Moines to Hampton. The beat in my head was keeping time with the rain pounding down on my Torrent. The rain didn’t let up as I headed north, so I was actually thankful that the first four hours of the class involved lectures and DVDs.

Four hours is a long time to sit in a high school classroom on a hard-seated chair after having just worked a 10-hour day. And, I honestly wondered how I was going to stay interested – let alone awake – from 6 to 10 p.m. (After all, I’ve been known to fall asleep while playing cards. My friends and family have actually had to awaken me to play my hand or to deal a round.)

But, I was a captive audience from the moment our three instructors introduced themselves and told us why they enjoy riding. Reasons for riding included:
• There’s freedom on the road. You feel free on a bike.
• A bike gives you independence. You can get to places that you could never go by foot or by car.
• Owning a bike is like joining a fraternity. You have a bond, a commonality, with others who otherwise would have remained strangers.

“Welcome to the club,” one instructor said. “Welcome to the passion,” said another. “Welcome to the ride,” said the third.

“Welcome to class!” I thought. If there is one word that describes me, it’s “independent.” I like to be my own woman: Think my own thoughts. Do my own thing. If there’s a second word that describes me, it’s “passionate.” I’m passionate about my family, my beliefs, my values and my job. I’m also passionate about taking on new challenges, learning new things and developing new skills. Yes, this course was right for me!

“Dedicated to the American Farmer.” That’s the heart of The Machine Shed restaurants located throughout the Midwest. One of the leading hospitality brands in the central U.S., The Machine Shed’s flagship property in Des Moines recently planted a small demonstration plot of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds corn. The corn stand will be a great visual addition to The Machine Shed’s visitor path, circling a scenic pond surrounded by classic farm tractors, landscaping and other “adornments” from life on the land. The Machine Shed hosts thousands of restaurant patrons every week, many from small towns and rural areas.

As you can see, Cat Wood-Penton, executive team member at the Machine Shed who is planting the seeds, took Latham’s planting instructions to heart: 30-inch rows, seeds planted 6 inches apart, 1.5″ to 2″ deep. It was a windy day that day, so the audio is a little muffled, but should still work.

We look forward to big, brilliant corn emerging this summer, showing people how Latham seeds perform.