It comes so naturally...

[DDT (12)]

                                         It Comes So Naturally…

Days like this are perfect for lying under a shade tree and day-dreaming in between naps... Clear sky, mild temperature, gentle breeze... the kind of weather that inspires poets and other lofty thinkers... Heck, it even inspires me!

I've known many folks over the years who have truly struggled with retirement. For decades, they would look forward to leaving the salt mine, only to find nothingness to be totally unfulfilling and void of anything invigorating or stimulating. I'm decidedly not one of those!

I took to it right off!!! Yep, I was prepared to kick down the exit door if necessary when my time approached, and I've never looked back or thought about returning to the grind once I was through that door. I had a good job and career... no complaints at all. However, I so wanted to 'live a different life', to be 'Bronson', to go and to grow, and to see whatever I could discover... Destiny has graciously granted my desire...

After a couple of hick-ups with ALI… bless her heart, she is getting on in years, and there are naturally the occasional bumps, burps, and bruises to treat… we did get beyond those, with a little help from our friends… And, now we’re wandering on in some direction with acute interest in what might lie ahead, but without a single clue what or where that might be… Perfect!!!

We landed in Bryan, OH, yesterday after an interesting day of zigging and zagging, rocking and rolling, reeling and rejoicing… We loaded up and crossed our fingers, hit the road and made a beeline for Howell, MI, and the waiting lift Big BF had prepared to accommodate ALI. He put her up on the lift, placed her ‘feet’ in the stirrups so to speak, and began his investigation… An hour or a little more later, all smiles and, after a little more chatting, away we rode!

We spent the next couple of hours riding down through rural southern Michigan and into northwestern Ohio. We stopped once while still in Michigan for fuel and a break, and a looksee on the ground directly beneath her engine… No sign at all she might be a cousin to another well-known American bike!

We rode on and wound up here… Funny, I’d missed a sign in town someplace, but I wasn’t sure where or how to correct just then… A funny thought crossed my mind right then, too… I’m supposed to be going this way… there is something down here for us…

Sure enough, as I was looking for a turnaround place or at least a road sign so I could regain me bearings… there it was. A nice, not new motel, one story, all park at the door rooms, and it had a restaurant and lounge. It was all brick, appeared clean and in good shape… and inviting… The ‘Vacancy’ sign was on, so I turned in…

We settled-in, I put our girl to bed, then I wandered down to the lounge for… nourishment. I did enjoy a fish dinner, and it was pretty tasty. I then completed that meal with a couple of ‘grain sandwiches’… desert, you might say…

The staff was professional, courteous, and efficient. They were also a bit busy, so no small talk, and the other patrons were all engaged with their companions… No conversations or discussions, just me alone with my thoughts… and a bit of time to reflect… WOW! Truly a ‘happy hour’ for this dude!

I enjoy meeting new folks, and I do like to chat. I also thoroughly enjoy my solitude, and I can go with either and never miss a beat or think about being lonely or wanting for anything… A great night’s sleep followed, then a wake-up to this spectacular new day!

I should have ridden on… The weather is perfect for that, and I do like to wander… I also have no problem with being lazy either! This day seemed so nice, and I found it nearly impossible to get moving with any purpose… like packing and loading-up, for example… I decided to stay over a day… then I changed my mind and decided to get going… Then I reversed my plan one more time…

Everything just seemed so right, and I really had no particular place to go or be today, so… here I am. There is a nice shade tree just a few yards from my room door, but the landscaping around it is gravel, so no lying out there for naps and ponderment and such… Not a problem, I can do those things just about anywhere… I guess I’m just a natural for this retirement thing, huh…

DDT

[Strider]

What a wonderful read from an deep, amazing gypsy man - who I am proud to call Amigo.  As Gordon Lightfoot sang:

Through the woodland, through the valley
Comes a horseman wild and free
Tilting at the windmills passing
Who can the brave young horseman be
He is wild but he is mellow
He is strong but he is weak
He is cruel but he is gentle
He is wise but he is meek

Safe winds to you and Ali...... 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Great read  sometimes after reading your stories I feel I completed a philosophy class. Thank you Sir. 

[old2soon]

Glad yer livin yer dream. And some of us-vicariously-thru you iz doin the same.  Happy Trails and like that.  Keep on followin that front wheel. RIDE SAFE.

[six2go #152]

OK Bruce, so you're in Bryan until Sunday morning? Heck man, you're only about an hour or so from my driveway. I know you're an early riser, but if it's not too ridiculously early, I would like to ride over to Bryan for a meet and greet(again).Maybe we could get together for "morning vittles". It's been a long time since Paducah.
There is a place right downtown Bryan called "Four Seasons Diner". It gets pretty favorable reviews, I have been there when it was called something else and it was good enough for a couple of Sunday morning breakfast rides.
So if you think it would work out, let me know, either here or by PM and I'll set my alarm tomorrow(I don't do that very often).
I wouldn't swear to it, but there might be a chance that Four Seasons could help you out with your desire for grits.

Let me know one way or another if ya think it would be doable.

Take care,
Doug
aka six2go

[DDT (12)]

OK Bruce, so you're in Bryan until Sunday morning? Heck man, you're only about an hour or so from my driveway. I know you're an early riser, but if it's not too ridiculously early, I would like to ride over to Bryan for a meet and greet(again).Maybe we could get together for "morning vittles". It's been a long time since Paducah.
There is a place right downtown Bryan called "Four Seasons Diner". It gets pretty favorable reviews, I have been there when it was called something else and it was good enough for a couple of Sunday morning breakfast rides.
So if you think it would work out, let me know, either here or by PM and I'll set my alarm tomorrow(I don't do that very often).
I wouldn't swear to it, but there might be a chance that Four Seasons could help you out with your desire for grits.

Let me know one way or another if ya think it would be doable.

Take care,
Doug
aka six2go

Doug,

Absolutely it's doable! It would be great to see you again and get caught up on stuff... Yes, I do tend to rise early... However, I also tend to move slowly and deliberately, so often I don't get away until 8 or 9 o'clock... AM, of course... So, you pick a time that would work for you, and I'll meet you at the Four Seasons... assuming I can find it!  lol  How about that...? Seeing an old friend and getting a shot at some grits too! Life can truly be soooooo grand!!!

DDT

[DDT (12)]

What a wonderful read from an deep, amazing gypsy man - who I am proud to call Amigo.  As Gordon Lightfoot sang:

Through the woodland, through the valley
Comes a horseman wild and free
Tilting at the windmills passing
Who can the brave young horseman be
He is wild but he is mellow
He is strong but he is weak
He is cruel but he is gentle
He is wise but he is meek

Safe winds to you and Ali...... 

Thanks, amigo... Your replies always lift my spirit and bring a smile to my face... I appreciate ya!

DDT

Great read  sometimes after reading your stories I feel I completed a philosophy class. Thank you Sir. 

You are welcome... Encouragement only tempts repetition, ya know... I may keep this up!!!

DDT

Glad yer livin yer dream. And some of us-vicariously-thru you iz doin the same.  Happy Trails and like that.  Keep on followin that front wheel. RIDE SAFE.

Yeah, I'm glad I am, too. I've finally found my niche in life after all those years of feeling like a square peg in a round hole... That old saying, "You don't get old and stop riding, you stop riding and get old..." had been 'talking to me' while I was living in Wetumpka... I was going downhill physically and mentally due to that sedentary lifestyle, and I had to either return to serious riding or allow myself to continue to atrophy... I made my choice, and I haven't regretted it one bit! That recliner will just have to wait!!!

DDT

[six2go #152]

OK Bruce, so you're in Bryan until Sunday morning? Heck man, you're only about an hour or so from my driveway. I know you're an early riser, but if it's not too ridiculously early, I would like to ride over to Bryan for a meet and greet(again).Maybe we could get together for "morning vittles". It's been a long time since Paducah.
There is a place right downtown Bryan called "Four Seasons Diner". It gets pretty favorable reviews, I have been there when it was called something else and it was good enough for a couple of Sunday morning breakfast rides.
So if you think it would work out, let me know, either here or by PM and I'll set my alarm tomorrow(I don't do that very often).
I wouldn't swear to it, but there might be a chance that Four Seasons could help you out with your desire for grits.

Let me know one way or another if ya think it would be doable.

Take care,
Doug
aka six2go

Doug,

Absolutely it's doable! It would be great to see you again and get caught up on stuff... Yes, I do tend to rise early... However, I also tend to move slowly and deliberately, so often I don't get away until 8 or 9 o'clock... AM, of course... So, you pick a time that would work for you, and I'll meet you at the Four Seasons... assuming I can find it!  lol  How about that...? Seeing an old friend and getting a shot at some grits too! Life can truly be soooooo grand!!!

DDT

Alrighty then, I'll try to exit my driveway around 7:30 - 7:45AM. That should get me to Bryan around 9:00, maybe a little earlier. Four Seasons is on a corner on the East side of the main drag. I'm not promising the grits but it's the kind of place that just might have them.
See ya in the AM. Don't look for my Valkyrie, I'm riding a black F6B now.

[DDT (12)]

I just can't help it... I awoke around 5:30 this morning... So far, so good, as I did want to have plenty of time for java, the three Ss, and a wee bit of contemplation... and, of course, to load ALI and find the rendezvous location. I have this 'appointment' later, see, and I didn't want to be rushed trying to keep it. An old friend is coming to town to meet me for breakfast, and... you know...

Funny... for a solitary guy, I sure seem to know a bunch of folks! I've been blessed that way, I guess, as over the years I've come into contact with so many folks all across our magnificent continent. I'm convinced part of that is because so many of them are Valk riders or those of 'similar make-up', and these folks and I just seem to hit it off.

About fifteen years or so ago, I met up with some riders in Pigeon Forge, TN, for a couple of weekend rides over the span of two or three years. There were guys and gals from Texas, South Carolina, Indiana, and other states I don't remember... Not a large group, but a bunch of nice folks that enjoyed each other's company and tastes in riding... We always had a large time. One of those riders was six2go...

I haven't seen Doug in many years, but we're going to remedy that in a couple of hours. Another funny thing... Ordinarily long periods without contact results in bonds dissolving, connections disappearing, and relationships evaporating. Not so with 'our folks'! A decade, a decade and a half, who cares!

It'll be good to visit and catch-up on what's happened during the intervening years. I'm very much looking forward to this meeting... Partly, I suppose, because I'm curious about that seeming tendency we have to not notice long absences and no contact for lengthy periods... Is that really the case? Will things go as well as I anticipate they will, or will they be awkward and a bit stilted? I'm going to find out shortly.

DDT

P.S. Doug also held out the prospect of finding some grits at that restaurant! Now, while that does sound wonderful, and it has gotten me rather excited, I don't have any illusions about things actually working out... We're just too far above the Mason-Dixon Line for that, I'm afraid, but it is kind of nice to hold onto that fantasy for a little while... I'll let y'all know how that works out...