Meet Alma

I never really understood why people name cars, or bicycles. I suppose it goes back to naming ships- they're all transportation vehicles. Christening for good luck and all.  My first 'real' bicycle didn't have a name. A Specialized Dolce was my only bike. Dolce seemed good enough, meaning 'sweet' in Italian. And she is a sweet bike. But she won't be coming with me on this trip.

When I took home my Salsa Vaya, I knew she needed a name. Maybe I knew I needed all the luck and protection I could get for an adventure like this. And, I fell in love with her beauty. I really tried to objectively decide between the Vaya 2 and the Surly Disc Trucker, and take the looks out of the equation. Motorrad even offered to paint the Surly however I wanted if it was a better fit for me. But the Vaya stole my heart. 

I wanted a Spanish name, being a "Salsa". A few came to mind- Dolores? (rough translation: pain) Constantina? Too literal. And long. Fernanda is the feminine of 'brave adventurer'- okay, this didn't come to mind, I'm browsing the baby name sites by this point, and I like it, but I'm showing my teaching roots by admitting it has a previous connotation. 

And then came the name Alma. Soul. 

I liked that. It rolls off the tongue. Simple. Short. 

I looked up the name, just to be sure it really meant what I thought it meant; I knew I had the right name when I found this wikipedia entry:

 "The exact origin of the name Alma is debated, but it is most likely derived, in the female form, from the Latin word almus which means "kind", "fostering", or "nourishing".It has been most familiarized by its use in the term alma mater, which means "fostering mother", or "nourishing mother", and in modern times is most associated with a collegiate hymn or song, or to encompass the years in which a student earned their degree. Also, the Arabic word for "the water" and "on the water" are el-ma and al-ma, respectively. It may also be of Greek derivation, where the word αλμη means "salt water."  The name Alma also has several meanings in a variety of languages, and is generally translated to mean that the child "feeds one's soul" or "lifts the spirit."
 

 As I ride, and as I write, I hope this blog conveys why all these facets of Alma are important to me and my journey.