Riding is simply a unique experience. At least one of my friends and my sister tried to persuade me to rent a converitble for the trip instead...it's just not the same. Everthing is more personal on a motorcycle. It requires you to be more present in what you are doing and experiencing. I've described it to others as the difference between hurdling through time and space versus being part of time and space (i.e. taking the interstates for the purpose of getting from point A to point B or taking the backroads and stopping when something catches your attention).
Of particular importance is looking through any curve or corner before you get there. This is so important because the bike will go in the direction you are looking. The same principle applies to moutain biking. If you stare at a tree, ditch, hole in the road or another car...guess where you're going? Several times during the ride I've caught myself looking to the middle of the turn and not all the way through it. Now, it's a fine balance to watch for road obstructions (potentially more hazardous on two wheels than four), off road threats, and the ultimate direction of where you want to go. During one of these moments it occured to me that maybe we sometimes do the same thing in life...We think we're looking towards the horizon, but really we're too afraid or mired down in what's happening or about to happen to truly look forward to what could be. Or is it that the possibilites themselves are so unknown or worrisome to us (maybe because they're unknown) that we simply don't want to risk looking that far?
Now the trick here is to not miss the moment; don't get so concerned with what's next that we miss the beauty or experience of the present. A very fine balance, my friend. An example...
I crossed into Kentucky on Route 99 which curved quickly and sharply to the right as another road approached from the left. It happened so fast I missed it and traveled another mile or two before finding a place to turn around...gotta get a picture of every stateline, right? So after missing the sign I am approaching what I initially thought was a pack of dogs on the side of the road and began to slow down to evaluate (dogs tend to chase motorcycles). I realized they were goats. Apparently they snuck out of their barbed wire fence to eat the grass beside the road instead of the grass that was inside their "approved space" - I'll leave you to ponder the obvious for yourself on that one.
When one of them saw me, it looked at the others and they all scampered back inside the barbed wire which was only about six feet from the road. It was almost as if he said, "Someone's coming...back, back, back!" Now after that I eventually found a place to turn around and get my stateline shot. This meant that I pased those goats three times and each time they did the same thing. For some reason this was absolutley hilarious to me and I began to wonder if they were teenage goats. Afterall, during those formative years it's basically our primary job description to test the boundaries and push the limits. So I missed the intial stateline, but had the delightful experience of chuckling at those goats three times!
At another point, I veered off 52 when I saw a sign for Clymos Motorcycle Museum in Red Boiling Springs. A small little venue but really cute town, and they had a mannequin wearing one rendition of a Motor Maid uniform! Go Motor Maids - the longest running women's motorcycling organization in the country...we're also in Canada!
And finally, a word to anyone planning to travel this summer, looking for an investment opportunity or grumbnling about taxes. Apparently it's contruction season on the roads and the stimulous money is being used. I only wish I had stock in the company that makes those ornage and white construction barrels.
This post kindly brought to you by the Edmondson Couthy Library in Brownsville KY - they were kind enough to post a blue directional sign off 70 West which I saw as I looked up from having pulled over at a gas station to jot some notes that I want to include in the blog...perferct timing!
Journey On!
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