Carol Watkins lives in Knoxville’s Cedar Bluff area in a condo with a one-car garage—make that one-motorcycle garage. Been married and divorced three times, one son. Had a cat once. He died. If you want to know anything else about her, read it in her column or take her out to dinner.
Spike Speaks
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009
Dear Santa: First of all, I want to thank you for having all the motorcycle stuff available for my human to look at. She got so engrossed in her virtual shopping experience that she didn’t even pick out a new bike. I was worried there for a few days. She rode a few bikes that looked pretty impressive: the new Victory Vision, the Kingpin, the Triumph Bonneville, Thunderbird, and Rocket, and even a three-wheeled Can-Am thing that didn’t even look like a motorcycle. Full story »
Getting From Here to There
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
I’ve spent a lot of time lately nesting, after moving, putting things away, throwing things out, giving stuff away. I’ve been inspecting everything I own, deciding whether I want to move it next time. I already have everything I really need. Home has become a place to crash in between doing what I have to do (work), and what I want to do (ride). Full story »
Camping Out, Pt. 2
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009
had an idea when I started out that I would stay at Indian Boundary near Tellico Plains the first night, but I at least wanted to check out the motorcycle campground. Cherohala Motorcycle Resort was way more fun than any regular campground, even though there were only two other people there for the two nights I stayed: Cyrano and Penny. What a great pair! Full story »
Camping Out
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
ifteen hundred miles in 12 days, and never more than a day’s ride back home. I have never had so many people be so nice to me. Ever. And they were all people I had just met—motorcycle riders, mostly. Some former motorcycle riders, some wannabe motorcycle riders. Some that would never ride themselves (so they say) but still think it’s cool to live on the road with everything you need to survive bungeed to your passenger seat. Good People. They’re still out there. I literally found gold. Full story »
Maintenance Freak-out
Friday, July 17, 2009
A few weeks ago, Spike was making that kind of dry noise that sounded like he needed oil. So I checked it. No oil! What? Are you kidding me? What happened to it? What do I do now? Who do I call? I know, I’ll get on the Internet forum and ask help from a complete stranger so no one I know will know how stupid I am for not checking my oil. (I’m so ashamed.) Of course, they took me seriously and gave me good advice on what to check when there actually is no oil. “Take the air cleaner cover off and check under it….” Okay, there are these weird-looking bolts holding the cover on that I don’t have a clue how to get off. Full story »
The Harley Mystique
Monday, June 29, 2009
What is it about a Harley... Mystique? Nostalgia? The Stuff? The Love Affair with a Steel Horse-Riding Cowboy? The way you can feel the hoofbeats of the engine in your chest? The Options, the Models, the big Dealer Showrooms? The way they love you back by reaffirming everything you love about Harley through their marketing? Full story »
Riding With the Pack
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Spike likes his alone time with me, when we can go where we want, be back whenever. He also likes hanging with his buds, the excitement of getting ready to be somewhere, meeting up with friends. It’s altogether two different experiences. Most times Spike and I go out alone, sometimes for a short evening ride just to see the sunset, sometimes on an unexpected day off with nothing on the agenda that can’t be successfully put off. Full story »
Being More There on a Motorcycle
Friday, April 24, 2009
There are many reasons people ride motorcycles: to see how fast they can get there; to beat everybody there; to see how much noise they can make getting there; to see how much enjoyment they can get out of the ride; to see if they can make it there and back without killing themselves; to see how many heads they can turn; to pretend like they’re in an alternate universe where every drop of life is worth savoring, everyone is friendly, and the world is a beautiful place where everyone respects them for how cool they are; and my current favorite, you’re not in a car. Full story »
Ordinary Danger
Monday, March 23, 2009
Of course, riding a motorcycle is a dangerous thing to do. So’s life in general. Nobody’s getting out alive. Life will scare the bejesus out of you if you think about it. So don’t think about it. Do something fun. Sure, speed is fun, for a short stretch down the interstate, but it gets boring. Full story »
On-the-Road Therapy
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Okay, Spike, it’s your turn now. Just look how you sparkle in the sunshine. You’re so pretty. You looked like brand new to me when we first met. Somebody took real good care of you; 1986 was your birthday. I didn’t get to see you until you were 20 years old. You had 8,400 miles on you that first day we met. You didn’t want to start right off because you had spent too much time waiting for someone to notice you weren’t running. I have certainly tried to do my part to make up for your neglect. You have 18,974 miles on you now. Full story »
Finding True Happiness Aboard a 1980 Suzuki
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
Poor Spike. He thinks I don’t like him anymore. He just waits. And pouts. And shivers. We have been acquainted now for almost two years. I took a second job and sold Maurice to get him. Maurice was my learner bike. He taught me how great it was to get home without killing myself. Full story »