It's About Time...

[DDT (12)]

“With age comes wisdom,” it’s been said… Probably true to a large extent, but that is not absolute, of course, and it’s certainly not accurate in the sense that it totally inoculates us from all the blissfully innocent youthful, recurring ills and errors that may befall us. Still, there is no substitute for experience, and the benefits of that are unassailable. That said, why do I still find myself in this condition?

Not at all like when we’re sitting in the waiting room of a dentist… more like a kid the night before Christmas. Yep, It’s the ‘day before’ for this lover of bike road trips, and I’m fighting the usual urges and inclinations to speed things up… to jump the gun and act on impulse!  Much of the prep work is already done, and what remains must naturally be stretched out and ‘rationed’ along the timeframe still before me… it seems to help ease the agony of just waiting around. I am so ready for this!

It’s been over a week now since last our girl and I scooted along some ribbon of asphalt together, and obvious signs of withdrawal are starting to set-in… I’m confident my throttle wrist has not atrophied enough to pose any potential problems, mercifully, and my overall stamina surely has not diminished very much… (I have taken the sensible precaution of dining rather well in order to keep my strength and energy levels up!) Dang, and this trip, if allowed to fully develop as anticipated, will be one for the record-books! Certain to restore strength and dexterity to my body and soul!!! I can hardly wait!!!

First, I’m going to take two days to ride to Mandeville, LA, starting early in the morning. I’ve laid-out a tentative back roads route, and I’ll most likely follow that… or not… or some of it, or most of it… Shoot, part of the magic of planning a non-plan is the flexibility and surprises that naturally come with all of the uncertainty and the absence of rigidity! Non-planning is perfect for chronic procrastinators, as it allows decision-making to be postponed until the absolute last moment… Even then, we’re not completely locked-in, as we can always change things on-the-fly and/or backtrack!

Another benefit of this sort of trekking is the guilt relief inherent with such a tack… None of the self-recriminations or anxiety-laden exclamations of ‘Aw shucks!’, as we realize we’ve missed a turn or made some other boneheaded boo-boo! Nope, instead of negative reactions to such unexpected occurrences, we have positive exclamations of “WOW!”, and “Holy Cow!”, as we react to unexpected discoveries and delights. As one who studiously studies such stuff, this side-benefit, natural by-product is easily and often overlooked… even by yours truly, but it is real beyond the obvious and joyous beyond description.

Instead of feeling like a pooh-pooh-head for some error or oversight, we instead feel delight at unexpectedly stumbling upon something we’d otherwise have completely missed! I know I’m repeating myself here, but it is quite true that some of my favorite memories have come as a result of missed turns, wrong turns, and U-turns.

I have come to look upon detailed plans as an impediment to maximum discovery, not as an efficient tool, even with the obvious utility and ability to maximize limited time. Absent any time limits, I work hard to resist the ‘logical and reasonable inclination’ to plan, plan, plan… Some planning, naturally, is necessary and good… I just labor intensely to not overdo it!!!

Planning can also be useful, however, in a ‘non-useful’ sort of way for this peculiar thinker… It does afford stimulating mental exercise to occupy one’s time while awaiting actual departure time. Yep, it can keep us busy and encourage us to dream and anticipate, feel abstractly, imagine sites to behold, and eagerly conjure-up notions of what may be soon to come. Even I’ve been doing some of that lately…

There is another technique I employ now and then to absorb excess wait-time… I suppose I should offer an apology to all of you for that, though, as it involves consuming some of your time… I post my thoughts on here sometimes, as I attempt, at your expense, to distract myself from the bothersome drudgery of just waiting around… I hope you can forgive me…

DDT

[Willow]

Good to hear you are ready to embark on the much anticipated but not planned in detail adventure.   

[DDT (12)]

Good to hear you are ready to embark on the much anticipated but not planned in detail adventure.   

Carl,

Yep, I am soooooo ready! Having difficulty holding back today and restraining myself with this strong desire to just leave right now!!! Foreplay, I like to tell myself, but that really doesn't help much... Nope, nothing will do but to... you know that drill well!

While I have 'over-planned' this next big adventure, I take great comfort in knowing little, if any at all, of that plan will survive AOS! At least I will very soon be out and about and not, as our friend John Schmidt once said, about out! Sure hope that continues through the summer at least! Thanks for the positive thought!!!

DDT

[..]

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
etc.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I forgive you. 

[Earl43P]

Good on you, Bruce. 

Twas wise to wait for that weather front to blow through. We still have stiff breezes today.
I'd be jealous...but my bride recently informed me that she was departing tomorrow without me for the Easter visit to SW Pa. I'll just have to motorcycle up there on Friday to meet her, then return late Sunday without her.

The original plan was to drive north together then resurrect the 93 from its winter slumber and ride it home for a rear tire (balding ATT) and water pump (leak) change. Fortunately, I got the better part of that deal (continuing to defer maintenance while STILL riding & NOT driving). Maybe I'll throw that 93 on the local Craigslist and hope for a buyer (CHEAP!! MAKE OFFER!!) while I'm up there.....

Give my regards to Dennis and Sheila and have a safe journey.

[DDT (12)]

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
etc.

Paul,

Yep, that tune has rolled around in my noggin' more than a few times in the past... and most recently! It will feel sooooo grand to be... you know... Heck, anybody reading this knows! Anyway, in another couple of hours (have to wait for the solar orb to rise and the morning traffic madness to tone down a bit), I'll be smiling broadly as we glide along... I'll probably be humming 'On The Road Again...' by then...

DDT

I forgive you.  

Rob,

Somehow I just knew you would! Thanks! You are one of the ones I 'write to' when I compose my thingies... Yep, for me it seems to work best when I write as though I were discussing something with particular people... I think it might have to do with my early postings that actually started out as transcribed emails I'd written to someone (usually a close friend) and later decided to post. Anyway, it is fun to relive stuff, and having an approving audience helps greatly! Thank you for your service...

DDT

Good on you, Bruce.  

Twas wise to wait for that weather front to blow through. We still have stiff breezes today.
I'd be jealous...but my bride recently informed me that she was departing tomorrow without me for the Easter visit to SW Pa. I'll just have to motorcycle up there on Friday to meet her, then return late Sunday without her.

The original plan was to drive north together then resurrect the 93 from its winter slumber and ride it home for a rear tire (balding ATT) and water pump (leak) change. Fortunately, I got the better part of that deal (continuing to defer maintenance while STILL riding & NOT driving). Maybe I'll throw that 93 on the local Craigslist and hope for a buyer (CHEAP!! MAKE OFFER!!) while I'm up there.....

Give my regards to Dennis and Sheila and have a safe journey.

Earl,

"Please don't throw me in that briar patch!" Yeah, funny how we can be 'left' by our dearly beloveds and come out of it all so well! Good luck with your travels, and thumbs up for being so noble regarding your spousal unit and accommodating of 'her' needs!!! Good luck with your GW, too...

That was a rather nasty weather front that just blew through the southeast! Much worse north of us, but we did get some rain and cooler temps... A wee bit of lightening, wind, etc., but nothing compared to what our northern neighbors received... Anyway, It should be a good day to be in the saddle, and in another three hours we'll already be out there doing what we do...

I'll add your name to the list of well-wishers for Dennis & Shelia... So many folks know them, as they are two of the best folks around!!! Thanks for your reply... I'll be seeing ya down the road...

DDT

[Wizzard]

To me an unplanned trip is pure joy. Happy trails Bruce. 

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
It is good to know that you are getting back “out there” and back in the stride of doing what you love to do. 

In just a few weeks, it will be “about time” for me to embark on an adventure that, for me, will be epic.  The plan is more of a concept than a plan, as you well know.  The adventure is a dream that has tantalized and teased me for years but has always remained beyond my grasp, .... until now, .... and maybe this time,.... it is looking like this time,... I am going to be able to grab this dream and live it for a short time, .... a few months maybe even.

Ahh but, no time for idle speculation and rumination for me now! I have a ton of obligations and chores that have to be completed in the few weeks remaining between now and “about time” for me.  I have been way busier than a beaver repairing a blown out dam!  Murphy has joined me too, so some things have not gone well,...... like a new tire that “just isn’t quite right” and is going to be replaced. 

I am looking forward to my upcoming road trip though, much more so than any but my closest friends realize.

Thank you for this post Bruce.

Bigwolf

[DDT (12)]

To me an unplanned trip is pure joy. Happy trails Bruce.  

Randy,

Yeah, you get it, alright! Still, for all the protesting I do about that natural, even necessary, tendency, and for all the virtues I extoll regarding not doing any... I can't seem to totally avoid it myself either! Truth be told, I do carry-on more than I should about that sort of thing, I guess, but... like you said! More of a goal than a reality, I'm afraid... Oh well, at least I do constantly change things (details mostly) on-the-fly, and I don't allow boo-boos to throw me into a tailspin... like just yesterday, for example!

DDT

Bruce,
It is good to know that you are getting back “out there” and back in the stride of doing what you love to do.  

In just a few weeks, it will be “about time” for me to embark on an adventure that, for me, will be epic.  The plan is more of a concept than a plan, as you well know.  The adventure is a dream that has tantalized and teased me for years but has always remained beyond my grasp, .... until now, .... and maybe this time,.... it is looking like this time,... I am going to be able to grab this dream and live it for a short time, .... a few months maybe even.

Ahh but, no time for idle speculation and rumination for me now! I have a ton of obligations and chores that have to be completed in the few weeks remaining between now and “about time” for me.  I have been way busier than a beaver repairing a blown out dam!  Murphy has joined me too, so some things have not gone well,...... like a new tire that “just isn’t quite right” and is going to be replaced.  

I am looking forward to my upcoming road trip though, much more so than any but my closest friends realize.

Thank you for this post Bruce.

Bigwolf

Jerry,

Yeppers, it most certainly is grand to be back at it!!! I do love this 'career path' I've chosen so much, and... Well, I had 'one of those days' just yesterday, and I'm inclined to attempt to describe it... but... I'm getting the feeling I'm carrying-on perhaps a bit more than I should and interest in this ongoing commentary of mine is starting to wane... I can certainly beat a dead horse as well as the next guy, and I admit I have been pounding the proverbial lifeless equine carcass a bunch lately.

Your interest and enthusiasm for what lies just ahead is infectious! Heck, I'm feeling even more excited myself just observing/gauging your actions/reactions! I suppose you also realize there are probably at least a couple of folks who are jealous as Hell of us! Imagine that... That 'Time' is in view now, as we are rounding the back-stretch... Now, if my surgeon will just cooperate, and... Dang! I'm as nervous as I am excited!!!

DDT