Some may think that it would be easy to sit on the back of a motorcycle and do nothing but it takes a great deal of personal stamina to get on day after day after day. The first day you think that you are going to do all of these personal things that you never have time to do such as reading, memorizing, thinking, but......the wind blows and tears the pages, the mind wanders and memorization fades away, the scents, sounds and scenery distract and the helmet gets heavy, the clothing gets restrictive and the seat (even with a gel pad and bum beads) gets terribly uncomfortable. After a restful evening, a swim at the motel pool and a nice evening meal you feel refreshed and renewed but....the next day you must face the helmet, the head skin, the sunscreen and the ever-present cords; cords for talking, cords to keep warm, cords for music. At some point one must decide how to handle this forced solitude and forced simplicity. One must find the beauty in all of it or one will be totally miserable for the whole of it.
The smells are amazing....the blossoms from the alfalfa fields are sweet and honeysuckle-like. The homes and farms and barns are fresh and rival any folk-art painting. The wildlife offer unexpected treats along the way. Today we spotted a doe with two fawns bounding closely behind as they crossed the road. We saw the sign that read "Watch out for mountain sheep" and there they were.
It takes discipline to try and accomplish something with all of one's free time but it takes courage to put your trust in the driver and to just allow the fleeting thoughts to come and go and to be pleasant and cheerful about the whole riding experience.
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