Long Story, but stay with me:
So, this trip wouldn't have been possible had it not been for a couple of long time friends of mine. I may have mentioned it in another post, but we ran into a couple of old friends a about two years ago at a funeral for a mutual childhood friend. My wife was super excited to see her gal pal (Suzie) again after over 10 years, so we made plans to get together. Turns out, Scott had previously ridden motorcycles. About a month of two after we got together he texts me and says, "Look what I just got." Some POS Honda Pacific Coast that was completely duct taped on the side. Regardless, he and I went for a short ride one day. Fast forward a few months, Scott contacts me and says he and Suzie want to go for a ride; my wife, still had never ridden with me. She really wants to see her buddy, so she reluctantly agrees to get some gear and go. We had a good time, and it was the only time we rode with them. We've seen them a couple of times since then but no riding.
July 23, just a day after we return from our trip, Suzie texts and asks to use my wife's Hi-Viz mesh jacket. She and Scott (inspired by our trip)are going to rent a bike (Goldwing)in San Francisco and ride to Vegas! They just brought the jacket back and both said they had an amazing time, riding all these great roads, over the Golden Gate Bridge, across to Lake Tahoe, blah blah blah, I want to punch them
. Anyway, sounds like we may get together again. Point is, if it wasn't for them, my wife never would have gone on this trip, and we re-payed the favor by inspiring them.