Cougar tracks: The Blind Date

[Cowgirl]

Prologue: March 28, 2011
So there I am, perusing one of my favourite ADV threads - Single ADV men .....For the wominz of ADV - and I come across this posted by Rat734

WHOOT ~ I think I’ve come up with my best crazy idea yet.

I’m gonna set up my own blind date. The way I got it figured there is some woman in the silent masses that can't wait to meet me. I’m going to make it easy for her.

BLIND DATE WITH THE RATMAN:

WHEN: Saturday April 9th, 2011 at High Noon

WHERE: Zion National Park Checkerboard Mesa parking lot

HOW: I’ll be there. Just show up

NOTE: I know how this will play out. I’m gonna be the first man in the history of ADV that has been stood up by an imaginary woman...


Now the Ratman also posts on another thread I participate in where we've engaged in some flirtatious banter and we've also chatted via PM. He's a very intelligent guy and his writing is fantastic. He sees into the center of a situation and describes it in a very articulate and sensitive way. He, like I, is an incurable romantic. It also doesn't hurt that he looks like this




I show the post to a couple of my co-workers and say "Wouldn't it be wild if I just show up there? What an adventure it would be!"
"Uh, yeah" they reply "Cool" OK, they're not articulate, sensitive or romantic.

By the next day I'm actually starting to take this idea seriously and to their credit so are my co-workers, they're really good friends. I need to leave on Monday, April 4 and I need to be back Wednesday, April 13. It'll be a whirlwind trip but I figure I can fit in a little sight-seeing too, like maybe Death Valley. The first key is to get some leave, if I can't get the leave I can't make the trip, so the leave request goes in. If I get the leave I'll make up my mind whether I'll really go. On Thursday I find out my leave has been approved. The adventure is a GO!

[BordenBmw]

OK, I have to see where this is going?

[Lycan1]

So it's the 19th......

[C-Stain]

And?

[Cowgirl]

Now there's a few things you should know going in. The longest solo motorcycle trip I've ever done is from my home near Victoria, BC to my Mom's house near Horsefly, BC. About 600km (370 miles) one way in one day, stay a few days, drive home in one day. I did that once. The longest motorcycle trip I've ever done was through the BC interior with a friend, about 1500km (930 miles) over 5 days. And I've done 2 other motorcycle trips: one 2 day trip with friends and the trip I wrote about in my other thread. That's it.
Now I'm planning to leave in 3 days on a 5000km (3000 mile) solo trip. My plan is to take I5 south to Sacramento, US99 to Bakersfield, US58 to Barstow and I15 to Zion maybe with a stop in Death Valley, time permitting. Stay in Utah a couple of days then drive home by the same route in 3 days. OK, stop now, I can hear the laughing from here. Go back to the paragraph above and read it again.

[Cowgirl]

I've had a couple of days to think over the logistics of this trip and I decide it would be a good idea to give myself a couple more days. Who knows, there might be other things I want to see. I've never been to Las Vegas and I've read some fascinating trip reports about Toroweap so I ask for 2 more days leave. I don't have to be back until the 16th now but I will have to work the night shift that night if I get back that day. Yeah, yeah, you know I just live to amuse you.

[dakardad]

Ok, as you get to the C'board Mesa parking lot, wave at the rat and keep going. All that way and miss Hwy 12?? Dont do it.
OK ride it together.

[squonker]

Now this is gonna be good!

[Cowgirl]

There's a new post by Rat734 on Single ADV men today.

So I've Been Reflecting today.

Until further notice all Blind Dates with the Ratman are cancelled.

Sorry for any inconvenience...

Crap!! Now what am I going to do? I'm all jazzed up about the trip, I've booked the leave, I've told my friends I'm going, I can't just back out now! Besides I really want to do it.
I hadn't told the Ratman of my plan, that would spoil the intent and the surprise, but now I PM him. I tell him of the trip. I also tell him to put on his tour guide hat, I'm coming anyway.
His reply is typical Ratman and as such is beautiful

Cindy get to me and we’ll have a great time. I knew you would be one that would consider the whole Blind Date thing appealing and not because of anything I might offer but because of this…

You my dear friend suffer from Dreamer’s Disease. I have been a lifelong sufferer myself and recognize the symptoms. We will trade time, money and energy for this mystery of Romance. We will make fools of ourselves in front of others as we proclaim our Love of Romance. The more outlandish the proposal the stronger our belief in it’s potential.

We seek the Dream within us.

The adventure is still ON!!

[omnivore]

My wife just told me to laugh quieter!
Awesome.
In!

[MikeinEugene]

So far so good Cowgirl!

[motorcycletripper]

I am sooooo excited for the next post in this series!!! Way to go Cindy, hope you had the time of your life! Now let's get that ride report posted!! ...Or meet up for a coffee and you can tell me how it all went - this may call for another ladies adventure ride!

[kitesurfer]

today is APRIL 20. what's the rest of the story? you still there?

[manshoon]

I don't think this happened being the Disaster strikes comment and, yes it is the 20th and the date was for the 9th of April

[rodr]

I gotta see how this turns out.