On My Mind... 'Of Course It Did...'

[DDT (12)]

On My Mind…

I penned the item below a few months ago. I still write a bit, but most of the stuff I compose isn’t shared, as it tends to be more personal in nature. Following the return to the ‘Lower 48’ last summer, I’d hunkered down for a brief rest in Orofino, ID, at one of my favorite stopping places.

While hanging out and laying around, forest fires west and north of us had filled the air with pollutants and dramatically impacted the air quality… I stayed put hoping for improvement that never really came… I waited for a small window and shot the gap!

Of Course It Did...

Like there was ever any doubt... There is nothing I've ever found that more quickly or more decisively reverses a case of the 'can't-help-its' like a scooter ride. Back in the day following a trying time at work, I could always count on relief from stress and whatever else ailed me by twisting the throttle and taking a ride that evening... It seemed to work every single time!

Nowadays I find myself needing to cut short a stay wherever that may be so we can return to the open road. The difference between being in a rut versus being in the groove can be hair-thin... but huge in some ways at the same time. The location and/or activities play an insignificant role in this; however, our emotional state and sense of purpose can vary widely, and that is the item in a nutshell that likely makes all the difference.

Being on an endless road trip with no destination, route, or itinerary, and no contemplated 'round trip' aspect to consider, we are free to come and go as it pleases us. Weather and a few other realities do need to be considered, of course, but very little and typically not for very long.

I waited for the Labor Day holiday to pass and an opening in the air quality clouds enveloping that region lately, and we made a hurried dash eastward. I'd hoped the forest fire smoke blanketing the northwest would ease, but there had been no let-up, and none appeared on its way... A brief break was the best I could see in the near term...

It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but it was a modest improvement with the promise of more improvement further east... We went for it! It did get better over time, but it never stayed that way for long. Still, it was better than it had been or would have been had we remained where we'd been hunkered down.

The most noticeable thing was the improvement in my own emotional state! With each new day on the road, I'd felt a genuine lift in my spirits and outlook! Yep, the value of wind therapy had been validated yet again, and the prospects of even better days ahead had been shown to me... Nope, I still ain't ready for a traditional, sedentary lifestyle... Someday, probably... Today, un-uh...

DDT (12)

[HayHauler]

A great read as usual DDT.  Glad to hear from you.  Keep the rubber side down.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

Bruce , you are gifted with a way of words. It's almost as if we are riding pillion. Smelling the smoke filled sky on this adventure.

 Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and many more miles to share with us .

[Rams]

A great read as usual DDT.  Glad to hear from you.  Keep the rubber side down.

Hay 
Jimmyt

What he said. Always good to read your postings Bruce.

Rams

[old2soon]

      Yuppers ya make it FEEL like we with you!  Course me breathin that crud now be no help atall!  Far as that clearin the thinkin muscle lotsa us KNOW That Feelin!!  RIDE SAFE.

[Valker]

Well said, as always. Thanks for giving us a “fix” for our Bruce addiction.

[RNFWP]

Good to see ya pop up on the board.

[Thunderbolt]

Good to see something posted from you sir.  Glad you are still keepin on keepin on.  A motorcycle ride always cleared my head also.  Some days I wish I still had one to hop on and cruise around the block.

[Hook#3287]

The only thing I can think to say is.   

[old2soon]

Good to see something posted from you sir.  Glad you are still keepin on keepin on.  A motorcycle ride always cleared my head also.  Some days I wish I still had one to hop on and cruise around the block.

   

     Git hold of da prez as I KNOW he has 2 fer sale!!  Both be I/Ss! One of em happens to be my Former Phatt Ghurl Green and Pewter! RIDE SAFE.

[Mooskee]

Nice to read your writings again Bruce. It reminded me of something my son told me about when he was in BUDS training to be a SEAL. When someone messed up and one of them said "The're going to beat us." One of his buddies would say "Of course the are. Why wouldn't they." It seems a simple thing, but as a survival technique, it is brilliant. There are some things you can just accept as fact. In his case, no unmet expectations. In the case of riding; will it bring freedom? Of course it will. Why wouldn't it? It is nice to know that constant is available and always effective.

[3fan4life]

The value of Wind therapy is a time proven entity.

All of us who ride can attest to its infinite value.

I can only hope that if I am fortunate enough to spend as many years on this earth as you have, that I will still be enjoying regular doses of Wind Therapy!

[Oss]

always a spirit lift to read your thoughts put on the board

There is wind therapy and then there is holy cow it is so windy the bike won't stay vertical without significant leaning into that darn wind

I try (sometimes successfully) to avoid the latter but the Tappan Zee of 3 + miles and that Bear Mountain Bridge will throw the unanticipated body blows across all compass directions of travel, it seems

But even after those wind adventures I must agree with all of the posters here including yourself,
that having ridden in that wind my mood is better than before I got on the bike   once my BP comes back down

Oss

I need a better wind radar app

[HayHauler]

always a spirit lift to read your thoughts put on the board

There is wind therapy and then there is holy cow it is so windy the bike won't stay vertical without significant leaning into that darn wind

I try (sometimes successfully) to avoid the latter but the Tappan Zee of 3 + miles and that Bear Mountain Bridge will throw the unanticipated body blows across all compass directions of travel, it seems

But even after those wind adventures I must agree with all of the posters here including yourself,
that having ridden in that wind my mood is better than before I got on the bike   once my BP comes back down

Oss

I need a better wind radar app

Windy.com is a good app, even for radar.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Farside]

  Another nice read in the life of Bruce and Alli's Travels. Cough Cough! I don't like riding in smoke and in the pan-handle - S. GA now with the controlled burns I know what you go through. Sounds like a good decision was made. I'm near Albany, GA now so if you get near he area.
   Merry Christams bud! 

[flsix]

Good to hear from you Bruce. As always a good read and words of wisdom.

[John Schmidt]

Hey old friend, are you planning on a Florida destination any time during Feb. and March? Lord willing, we'll be staying in Sanford during that time so would be nice to meet up somewhere for a BBQ.

[Valkorado]

  Carry on, Bruce!

[DDT (12)]

Hey old friend, are you planning on a Florida destination any time during Feb. and March? Lord willing, we'll be staying in Sanford during that time so would be nice to meet up somewhere for a BBQ. [/font][/b][/i]



John,

Oh, you know... I have no notions at present about traveling that way then, however... one just never knows! If I do happen to venture that way, some BBQ with dear friends would definitely be a very nice thing!!! We'll see... Hope y'all are fairing well through the series of Polar Vortex events passing over you.

DDT (12)