Category: Motorcycling

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Riding like there’s no tomorrow

KLR and flag

I was corresponding with a friend recently about motorcycling, and I mentioned that I’m riding now more than I did 20 years ago. “I’m riding like there’s no tomorrow.”

After reflecting on that statement, It gave me pause for thought.

I’m 68 years old. Is this ‘riding like there’s no tomorrow’ an issue? A symptom? Acting younger than my age? Fear of growing old?

Two riding buddies and I had this conversation recently during our Wednesday morning coffee meeting. “When do you think you will quit riding?” Frankly, I don’t see myself quitting. Not for quite some time. But, I realize that a time will come when I cannot ride the taller bikes like the V-Strom or the KLR. I already feel the struggle of swinging a leg over them. I have to mount them like a horse. Left foot on the foot peg like the stirrup of a saddle. Push myself up and swing the right leg over. I’m on.

So, why keep riding? I could go fishing. Or, I could load the fishing gear on the motorcycle and go fishing. I could travel more. Or, I could load some gear on the motorcycle and travel. I could clean the house … or … I could go motorcycling. Okay, I really don’t shirk my household responsibilities. I help clean the house. Then I go riding.

I have enjoyed the two wheel transportation ever since my dad brought that Lambretta motor scooter home when I was 15. It’s something about being in the wind, the out of doors, traveling to destinations near and far. For me, those rides are therapy. I call it helmet time. An opportunity to think things through outside of my household box. AND, I am so thankful for a spouse, my wife Lin, who understands the importance of motorcycling to me. She will often say, “Why don’t you take a ride.” And I usually do.

Yes, I am riding like there’s no tomorrow. But, I do have to wait for the snow to melt. Smile

See you on the highway.

Brent

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What? Another motorcycle?

I saw a picture of a motorcycle that I used to have, and staring at that image made me realize that was the motorcycle I should not have moved along. I wished I still had it. But, I’m happy with my V-Strom.

Then, Clinton County Motorsports called to say they just got in a 2018 model. Yellow. Kawasaki KLR650. Of course, I said I’d be out to look.

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I could not get that KLR out of my mind. I tried for a month to forget about it. And to make things worse, nobody was interested in buying it. It sat there … calling my name … “Brent. Brent, take me home.” So, about a week ago, I did.

2018_KLR650-4

And four days later was able to take it out for a first ride.

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And now, when I look at that past picture, I feel better.

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Let the accessorizing begin!

See you on the highway.

Brent

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Life can be like folding laundry

Doing laundry is one of those life chores that is required … if you want to wear clean clothes that is. So when the dryer is done, you fold the clothes and put them away. But what do you do when a sock is missing?

Socks-2

Missing sock? You look for it. Right?

Every now and then, something in our lives goes missing. Could be a person. An activity. A social gathering. A good friend who has passed. You can search for most of those missing items. The good friend who has passed shall  be missed until … until … well … until you pass and meet all those who have gone before.

You can find missing keys. You can find that sewing club you used to attend. You can find that sweet fishing hole that you never told anyone about. You can find that alternative road through rural America that gets you off the interstate that takes you coast to coast where you see practically nothing. All you have to do is look.

Just look, and you shall find.

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See you on the highway.

Brent