Morgans wrote:

Here in NC, your are liable to get a bullet in your ass, or run off the
road, doing that crap. I might be one of the ones to run you off, as you
are pulling forward.

Interesting. As one who moved to NC last year (from CA, after 30+ years
there), I find the traffic here pretty relaxed in comparison. The
percentage of combative types is way lower (though they do exist). I do
think that the overall driver skill level is lower here - and I do see
a lot of really stupid accidents in NC (like totally avoidable by
anyone on the ball). One thing I find highly amusing is that, whenever
a few snowflakes fall in the winter, they close the schools and just
about averybody disappears.

I had a direct comparison recently - spent a few days in the LA basin
on business. It was definitely life in the fast lane again (complete
with road rage encounters).

BTW - to answer the original questions, yes and yes. I started flying
in 1967 and bought my first bike in 1970 (would have done so sooner but
for parental opposition, not to mention lack of funding). Have been
doing both more or less continuously since.

David Johnson