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Average Member
 
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So yesterday was a mental health day for me and that means a ride by myself to the blue ridge mountains. And being a student of Covey, let me start with the end in mind – why do I ride?
The day started by my awakening to find that the weathermen had changed the forecast from 8 hours previously: the day is gonna have off and on thunder storms. Undaunted, I then went to Google maps and the local TV station radar and found where the current storms were and where they were going. As luck would have it, my first destination was where the storms were: Mabry Mill. I thought well that is two hours away so by the time I get there, they will have moved on.
I departed at 8:00 A and no rain just lots of dark clouds. After an hour and one-half, the sun was out and this gave me hope that my plans of dodging any showers was working. But as anyone that lives near the mountains or knows about mountains, this was a STUPID thought. As I neared Stuart, VA I could see the mountain tops in front and the first thought was, “wow, I have never seen clouds that dark,” the second thought was, “why didn’t I bring a camera.” While passing by Stuart on Rt 8 the sun gave way to clouds and eventually wet pavement, but still no rain. The air was much colder (yes, mid summer and usually 80’s this time low 60’s) and I was happy that I packed my coat liner in my bag. As I proceeded up the mountain I left the trailling traffic behind as I could take the twisties much faster than they could. All the time I was thinking, it is getting darker and the traffic coming towards me have their wipers on. Still, I proceeded up the hill. With each drastic hard left sweeping turn, I would turn my head fully and pick my spot to exit the corner and immediately think, “how wet is this pavement, am I too fast, how long has the pavement been wet and is the oil washed off?” Then I would be distracted by the view of the mountain and the green hillside turned to shades of gray with billowing white clouds coming up out of the dark gray valleys – a sight I had never seen. With each blind right hand corner I would think, “at least no one is behind me if I need to slow and hopefully no one is in my lane when I go around the corner.”
I reached the first plateau and it was brighter but I could see adjacent mountains that again were shades of gray and much darker. I rode out of the brighter spot, around a couple of corners and found myself getting rained on with the ceiling much darker. I turned around, and got back to the brighter spot and stopped to put on my liner. I thought that I was about 2 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and Mabry Mill was about 1 mile from there, maybe I could ride through the bad spot and get to my destination. I got back on the bike and attempted the ride again. This time I got about ½ mile further but the rain was much more intense and there was no end in sight to the hell clouds – it was a bad direction. I turned around and decided to ride the mountains and eventually get to the bottom and then home. To end the saga, I did just that with brief periods of rain and some times heavy periods at that, but ya know what? It was all worth it. The ride was cleansing, purifying, and I saw sights that I had never seen before. What a great wet and wild ride.
Last night I was watching “Hot Bikes” and they asked a guy, “why do you ride.” His first response was mine, “freedom.” I said amen and my wife said, “freedom from what?” So I attempted to respond but gave a feeble response at that. So in thinking about it, I have come up with the following:
• Daily stresses, although my own personal perception based on emotions, cause me to feel closed in – work will make you feel trapped sometimes.
• Family life is sometimes a matter of doing for others and not having a balance of personal control: it happens, but the control must be regained.
• Seeing the same things day in and out become accepted constants rather than realities that amazing. The simple joys are stripped from us due to consistency.
By riding, I must shed the stress, all that is real is the ride. I place myself in danger the moment I take my mind off of the ride.
By riding, I am in control of not only the bike, but where it is I go, what I do, and how I do it. Stresses become so much less important.
By riding, I have faced the unknown, returned refreshed, and seen beauty in sights not seen. This returns me to seeing beauty in daily items around me.
By riding, my sense of freedom is returned so that I feel less closed in.
The "Z" MAN - North Carolina
2005 R1200RT
BMW MOA #115950
Olympia, Scorpion, Gerbings, Alpinestars, Amsoil
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Advanced Member
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| Amen Drummer! I've found that when you take someone on a ride and they don't understand and STILL ask for an explanation there is no explaining it to them; thus the t-shirt "IF IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEN YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND." At that point I don't even attempt to explain it would be like "casting your pearl before swine."
OzarkHarleyGuy
H-D Heritage Softail Classic
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/12/2010 7:03:04 PM
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Nice story, Drummer. I'm glad you decided to tackle ma nature and didn't just stay at home. You were rewarded with some beautiful scenes and the opportunity to fend for ourself and the joy of tasting life for a day. Thank you for sharing your day's adventure and your insights. BTW, I ride because I'm not dead yet.
Wife,R1,Kendon,Mountaineer,Alpinestars,Levis,Bose
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 4/1/2010 8:17:28 PM
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Yup!!
glad to see this story. I must say "Rightly marked for sure".
_________________________
Cosmetic Surgery
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Senior Member
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It's practically impossible for anyone who doesn't ride to understand how it feels to ride a motorcycle. Automobile drivers are so separated from the road, the air, nature and from their own vehicle's engine and suspension system. Sure, a true sports car may get you a little closer, but it's still a far cry.
I can remember a few friends of mine who bought motorcycles. There wasn't a lot of rider's courses back then so a new rider had to rely on an experienced friend for training. Their first month or two on the road was so taken up with mastering the clutch and transmission, trying to stay upright, corners, curves, road conditions and traffic that they really didn't get it until that one magical moment...usually alone, when all the cosmic tumblers clicked into place, the bike became an extension of their arms, legs and body, the road - no longer a foreign object but now an integral part of the experience along with the air and temperature and environment.
I knew when they had reached that point just by the look in their eyes as they described their ride. I didn't have to say anything except "welcome to the club".
Now, let me get this right - is it one down, four up?
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Junior Member
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Last year my wife and I rode around Lake Superior. Our jaunt through Canada was a trial: the temperature ran between 50-59 F, all four days, and it rained... All four days we were in Canada. We stopped frequently to warm up, and stretch our cold, stiff limbs. Frankly, it sucked!
Would we do it again? In a heartbeat! I have spent the past six months rehashing/reliving the experiences of that trip. We loved it, even though the conditions were harsh, partly because we lacked effective gear (we didn't expect it to be that cold, or wet, and we assumed our gear was sufficient... "Wrong answer! Thank you for playing. Next contestant, please!"). We learned a great deal about the gear we have, and what its limits are, however.  "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me..." It was our first long tour. It could have been better, but it could have been much worse. All things considered, we did quite well for first timer's. 
We are planning another trip for this Summer, circling the outer perimeter of our home state, Minnesota. We want to explore parts of this state we have never been to before. We have been warned that there is little to see in the Northwest, and Western portions of our state, but we don't care. The sites are the icing on the cake. The riding, the freedom, the experience of cruising, dealing with the hazards, and the control of the ride... It is hard to explain, but we are really anticipating our next long tour. We ride every weekend we can, during the riding season, logging 100-300 miles in a day's ride. It is very difficult to explain to people why we enjoy it so much. Freedom is probably the largest part of it, but there is much more. Thanks for sharing, all. Cheers!
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Senior Member
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Sgtslag - spent a lot of time riding in Minnesota years ago. Beautiful state. My only complaint is that by my count there are only 9,999 lakes.
Now, let me get this right - is it one down, four up?
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