Wind Therapy It does a body and soul good

by Stacey Kuhns

The Motorcycle Allows Easy Freedom

 

For the past year and a half, my boyfriend and I have been riding all over San Diego on his motorcycle. (He wants me to try riding one myself, but that is not going to happen). I love getting out, breathing the fresh air, and seeing places I have never seen in San Diego.

I have gotten good at riding and taking pictures which gives me great pleasure. The motorcycle allows us to pull off the side of smaller roads to stop and see things, allows us easy parking most of the time wherever we go, and is just a great way to see the countryside.

We have done coastal rides, desert rides, mountain rides, and places in between. San Diego offers all of that. One of my favorite places to stop is off the Sunrise Highway at the Pacific Crest Trail as well as the overlooks all down the highway. Where else can you be standing in a forest yet looking at the desert in the distance?

I have to mention that I am disabled. Long rides are difficult for me but I would not give this up for anything. I have seen more places in the last year and a half than I have seen in the past 20 years prior to riding. If I see a herd of deer or a hawk or something that interests me, my boyfriend just pulls off the road so I can watch and take pictures. It allows for a great deal of freedom.

There is a street on one of the Indian reservations that we ride on and one portion of the road is my favorite. Not for the sights, but for the smell. It smells like plumeria and it is divine. Being out riding and smelling that puts a smile on my face.

I learned the hard way not to put my foot on the hot metal while riding. Of course this happened in Anza Borrego where there was only one place to buy shoes.

At the tidepools near the Cabrillo National Monument

 At one of my favorite places, rain, shine or snow, the Pacific Crest Trail off Sunrise Highway, which overlooks the desert.

 We also ride to the beach a lot, on the spur of the moment, to relax and catch a sunset.

 This past weekend, we rode through Pala, Pauma, and La Jolla Indian Reservations, stopping at the Wilderness Gardens Preserve on the way to Pauma. Just a quiet relaxing place to hike and unwind. There are about three short hiking trails and in the winter, there is a large stream that runs through the area. They have lots of amazing plants and I found the dried moss patterns on the rocks fascinating. (It costs $3 to park here and you need exact change). Inside the preserve, all rocks, plants and animals are protected, so not collecting of any items.

Last year we rode the bike up to Idyllwild and discovered some very cool places on the way. The bike allows the easy freedom to just stop and explore things that interest us.

We also belong to a motorcycle riding club. A great, fun, family oriented group of people and we have done some great rides with them. (Vuclan Riders of San Diego, Chapter 1-24).

We have also ridden up the coast to Long Beach and stopped whenever we felt like seeing something. Some beautiful sights that many folks don't take the time to really see.

 We have ridden the motorcycle to Balboa Park and downtown San Diego and to Padres games. Makes parking very easy in those busy areas. We have headed up Palomar Mountain several times. Always a beautiful ride.

Lake Henshaw after coming down from Palomar

 Seriously, San Diego County amazes me with all the hidden sights that people don't always take the time to see. We even stopped by Lake Henshaw one time because across the street from the lake is the Himalaya Mine, where the public are allowed to mine for tourmaline (I wrote about this place in an earlier Hidden Gems blog).

Wind therapy is something I look forward to. Especially the feeling of peace I get when we are out on the open road, discovering amazing places, people, and things. Sometimes, we hop on the bike with no plan and my boyfriend says "Let's just go get lost." Those are the best days as we never know where we will end up and what we will find. And even though some days are tough for me, getting on and off the bike with my disabilities, I wouldn't give it up because I want to LIVE!