Melancholy Winter Thoughts

BillyIndiana

Road rash heals-Freckles grow back-Ride
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
1,805
Location
Lafayette Indiana
Ride
2015 R3T
I love to ride and love to get lost for a few days on the bike, but my focus is never how many miles I ride.
I find the best days are the ones I get lost in the road. I get up a couple days into the ride and put on the same pair of jeans I stood in the corner the night before and a fresh tee shirt.
Grab a cup of joe and breakfast at some greasy spoon. I get packed up and throw a leg over the bike and bring her to life. I ache a bit, but my butt settles into the saddle without complaint and I head down the road.
I start out in the cool of the morning only to be greeted by the heat of the afternoon or a rain setting in. It doesn't matter I meet it head on. My body and the bike are one. I don't think, I just know the road and move to it.
The road rolls into mountains or plains, or desert, or badlands laid out in front of me like pictures on the wall.
Then I hear a sputter from the engine and I lean over and go to reserve. I pull up to the next pump when it presents itself.
It feels strange, but my feet come off the pegs and touch the ground.
My fingers do not move from the grips until I will them to move.
I reach over and turn off the key and there is silence.
I sit there for a moment and focus my ears on the sounds around me.
I am back in the world for the moment.
I fill your tank, take a pee, get a drink, talk to the old man at the station asking for a good direction to go.
Then I start again.

The miles just melt away. I am 61 years old. Life has been a good ride and I pray that God grants me a few more years and a few more miles to marvel at his majesty.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20201108_133242828~2.jpg
    IMG_20201108_133242828~2.jpg
    472.5 KB · Views: 36
I love to ride and love to get lost for a few days on the bike, but my focus is never how many miles I ride.
I find the best days are the ones I get lost in the road. I get up a couple days into the ride and put on the same pair of jeans I stood in the corner the night before and a fresh tee shirt.
Grab a cup of joe and breakfast at some greasy spoon. I get packed up and throw a leg over the bike and bring her to life. I ache a bit, but my butt settles into the saddle without complaint and I head down the road.
I start out in the cool of the morning only to be greeted by the heat of the afternoon or a rain setting in. It doesn't matter I meet it head on. My body and the bike are one. I don't think, I just know the road and move to it.
The road rolls into mountains or plains, or desert, or badlands laid out in front of me like pictures on the wall.
Then I hear a sputter from the engine and I lean over and go to reserve. I pull up to the next pump when it presents itself.
It feels strange, but my feet come off the pegs and touch the ground.
My fingers do not move from the grips until I will them to move.
I reach over and turn off the key and there is silence.
I sit there for a moment and focus my ears on the sounds around me.
I am back in the world for the moment.
I fill your tank, take a pee, get a drink, talk to the old man at the station asking for a good direction to go.
Then I start again.

The miles just melt away. I am 61 years old. Life has been a good ride and I pray that God grants me a few more years and a few more miles to marvel at his majesty.
Excellent!
 
@BillyIndiana you have a way with words. Thanks for giving me a couple of minutes of peace and reflection especially in the middle of winter. You hit a home run. I could identify with everything you described and it's the truth. That's why we ride. On more than one occasion I've pondered the Glory of our God especially in the early morning as I've travelled through the shadows of the twisties with the sun peaking through the trees and thanked Him for allowing me another day to enjoy my Rocket, my community/country and my friends.... (yes even some of you guys/gals). One of these days, I hope to get down your way and meet up with you while visiting friends there but.... Hopefully this summer, I'll get to travel across Canada again to see my son in Edmonton and then.... your bit of refreshing prose will come to mind and reality again. :)

Take care bro... and great pic of you and your lovely wife.
 
Very nice word picture. I can’t ride like that. My brain does not work that way. I’m never lost and I know the whole day or even week before I start. I guess that takes some of the romance and mystery out of it but I love the puzzle that comes out perfectly as planned.

I need to ride.
 
Back
Top