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| The sheep in Tennessee country were curious when I stopped by |
This may be a lot later than most riders in the southern states of North America, but I went on my first motorcycle ride in 2026 and the first after my aortic heart valve replacement. Wow, it felt great!
In August 2025 my family doctor heard a heart murmur. No other doctor had every mentioned hearing a murmur so it was new development. A echocardiogram was ordered. Two weeks later the doc is telling me I have stenosis in my aortic valve (stenosis is narrowing and stiffening of the valve) which is not good.
A trip to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee for more tests and consultation took place. We were told I had a bicuspid valve, which is a birth defect, instead of a normal tricuspid valve and it would eventually fail. A replacement was needed.
October 22 at 5:30am I checked in for a mini aortic heart valve replacement and later that day I awoke with a new bovine heart valve. Recovery was slow at first but in the last six weeks I have progressed well and have gained endurance and strength. So it was time for a ride!
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| A sunny day and an old country church made for my first 2026 ride photo stop |
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| Fun ahead! No straight roads on this ride |
February 2, 2026 was sunny and temperatures rose to the upper 40's. I geared up for a short ride after the longest period without riding since I first started riding motorcycles in March of 2004. I headed to a nearby road that I enjoy and I could not stop smiling. The Indian operated like it should and I enjoyed the curves with confidence.
Although it was a short jaunt, by design, it made me feel good about my recovery and now I am looking forward to more days that are warmer and hopefully dry. Today has been warmer, but rainy.
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| Short ride but a good one for the first after heart valve replacement surgery |
I plan to get some more miles ridden before the end of March in preperation for a trip to the Texas Hill Country. Some friends and I will be heading to the Texas Hill Country for four days of riding and then two days attending the MotoGP races at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. Of course we will ride the Three Twisted Sisters while in the Hill Country, eat Texas BBQ and some Tex-Mex!
It was great to be back on the motorcycle after 3+ months and I am so blessed the surgery and recovery has been successful. I am also so blessed to have a wonderful, knowledgeable and caring wife to help me through it all, as well as supportive and prayerful children, family and friends. Thank you all!
Ride carefully and prayerfully!
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