Discoveries...

[DDT (12)]

                                                      Discoveries…

Among the many discoveries to be made by wandering about this vast, magnificent continent of ours is the realization that… it’s all out there, everything about us human beings… the good, the bad, and the ugly. And, sooner or later the bold, persistent trekker will see evidence of all those features. How much of each there is, the proportionality, seems to this confused passenger aboard spaceship earth to be yet another ‘discovery’ still to be made…

We tend to find what we’re looking for… to see what we seek. When I’m down, blue, or in an outright funk, I do see vividly the darker side of life: The rundown neighborhoods, the abandoned buildings, the tattered clothing of the homeless, the look of sadness, dissatisfaction, and despair on the faces of those for whom life has yielded few if any meaningful rewards… the products of imperfect institutions and flawed human beings… I also see the vultures who prey upon those most vulnerable…

Yes, all that is indeed out there, and it’s enough to break the heart of even the most hardened observer. But, there is so much good out there, too. The generosity and nobility of our species are also on full display, if one looks for them… But, are all those things in equal quantities? Is there as much bad as there is good? Is the unsightliness of failure and dysfunction just as prominent as the beauty of success and triumph? While I do think the good vastly outweighs the other things, I don’t have sufficient evidence for a solid, irrefutable conclusion…

I do know that the amount of each that I see personally appears to be in direct proportion to my current state of mind… my own mental condition. When I’m ‘up’, when I’m in that special groove, life is wonderful, and I see rainbows in every direction… halos over people’s heads, and beauty in all things.  My mind, body, and spirit are in harmony on some elevated plane… I’m happy just to be alive, and I’m deeply gratified to have been able to live the life I have…

I ride constantly in search of that euphoric state that is most readily found when aboard ALI. She is my most reliable refuge from the few negative effects of my self-imposed condition as a rudderless vessel floundering about on the stormy sea of life. Being with her is the only ‘home port’ I claim, and while that can be a disconcerting thought and a lonely circumstance, the liberation it includes and the opportunities it affords more than tip the scales of desirability back the other way.

I can come closer to making sense of things generally, and of ‘life’ in particular, when she and I are alone wandering aimlessly through the fertile intellectual potting soil of the North American highway system… Where the seeds of my best, most personally satisfying thoughts germinate.  Where peace and purpose can be pursued to some acceptable level…

These are not new revelations. I stumbled upon these thoughts early on in my riding career… Even from the very beginning I knew the pursuit of an adrenaline high was not my thing. Nor was the need for speed nor the exhilaration of cheating death. Distraction from ordinary life through the experiencing of superficial thrills was not at all what I needed…

No, what my impoverished, malnourished soul so desperately hungered for more than anything else was answers… and time without distraction to think deeply, objectively, honestly, and to attempt to make some sort of sense of it all… Solo trekking on a two-wheeled wonder machine became the ideal commute, the solution that enabled this eager, earnest, needy student to move from one classroom to another around our wonderful continental campus.

ALI became in time my most satisfactory companion… a magic carpet that transported me to another, far better spiritual place. A place where I could both witness the various aspects of the drama of life on a grand stage, while also having the time to thoroughly digest all that had exposed itself to me. And, to do those things while in an appropriate frame of mind to appreciate what I was learning.

Last month (January 2017) she and I marked our eighteenth anniversary together. We’ve travelled as a couple the length and breadth of our allotted corner of the universe, all the while covering more than 546K miles of mostly asphalt in the process… The legendary durability and reliability of big Hondas made the choice to buy one an easy selection.

We’ve shared the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat together. We’ve even endured a separation that at first appeared to be permanent. Fate and generous other riders, however, have made other possibilities available for us, and so we’ve remained an item through it all.

I’ve been in love with her from the moment I first laid eyes on her on that showroom floor in Hendersonville, NC. The ride back to Florida was our honeymoon, and my journey with her since that long-ago union has been the most momentous, wonderful part of my entire life. Now, talk about a serious and incredibly fortuitous discovery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DDT

[Bighead]

As always Bruce a good read

[The emperor has no clothes]

I love the way you think and are able to put it down on a piece of paper. I always love that I've never heard you say a disparaging word about another soul.   I regret that we weren't able to coordinate a meetup.   Take care my friend.  

[woofred1832]

           WOW! great story, true love. You express what most of us riders feel. We all love the open road and the feeling of cruising on great bikes. I have owned 8 bikes, 6 have been Hondas. Started out on a 450, in 1971, then a 750, 2 others of not Hondas, then back to a 1300, then a 1500, Valkyrie, now a 1832, Valkyrie, witch I will never sell, but to add a second bike for those shorter day rides, I got a classic 1975 original GL1000.

[Valkorado]

 

I remember when growing up my dad always said, "If you look for the negatives in life, I'll guaran-damn-tee you you'll find them". 

You've found a key.  Sometimes bad scenes and circumstances bring on dark thoughts.  Just keep on moving and the scene will change for the better.     Considering your attitude and spirit I think the bright side of life will always be your destination, even if you didn't "plan" it that way!

Carry on!

[Super Santa]

Just keep on sharing, Bruce.  Please.

Love all of your writings.  As others have said, you speak for the rest of us who are unable to express ourselves so eloquently. 

You are the mouthpiece for the spirit of Valkyrism.

[3fan4life]

Isn't it amazing how sailing along a ribbon of asphalt aboard one of our magnificent machines can make all of one's cares disappear?

As usual a great read.

Take care my friend and keep them coming.

[Charlie McCready]

Hey Bruce, keep on keeping on !!  When are you gonna keep on back this way?

[DDT (12)]

As always Bruce a good read

Thanks, my good Bama Bud! You've been doing some serious riding yourself... any stories coming up?

DDT

I love the way you think and are able to put it down on a piece of paper. I always love that I've never heard you say a disparaging word about another soul.  I regret that we weren't able to coordinate a meetup.  Take care my friend. 

Thanks, Rob. I love the way you are always there providing positive feedback! My dad used to say that I was like a bird-dog with two tails... a little pat on the head and look out! Yeah, I was hoping a hook-up would happen, but stuff happens and life gets complicated, so... another time, perhaps...

DDT

           WOW! great story, true love. You express what most of us riders feel. We all love the open road and the feeling of cruising on great bikes. I have owned 8 bikes, 6 have been Hondas. Started out on a 450, in 1971, then a 750, 2 others of not Hondas, then back to a 1300, then a 1500, Valkyrie, now a 1832, Valkyrie, witch I will never sell, but to add a second bike for those shorter day rides, I got a classic 1975 original GL1000.

Among the things I enjoy about posting stories are the replies, like yours... We all are kindred spirits on this board, so the connection is always easy to make... Takes one to know one, and all that... Anyway, I appreciate you responding and sharing a wee bit of insight into your own love affair(s).

DDT

I remember when growing up my dad always said, "If you look for the negatives in life, I'll guaran-damn-tee you you'll find them". 

You've found a key.  Sometimes bad scenes and circumstances bring on dark thoughts.  Just keep on moving and the scene will change for the better.     Considering your attitude and spirit I think the bright side of life will always be your destination, even if you didn't "plan" it that way!

Carry on!

Thanks for those comments! Funny revelation... we find what we look for... I suppose I have a rather strong bias towards looking on the sunny side of things... I just find the view much better! Sounds like we may have another thing in common here...

DDT

Just keep on sharing, Bruce.  Please.

Love all of your writings.  As others have said, you speak for the rest of us who are unable to express ourselves so eloquently. 

You are the mouthpiece for the spirit of Valkyrism.

Ray, my good amigo! I do so much appreciate all of your always flattering replies! Heck, you make me feel like I might have something worthwhile to say!

DDT

Isn't it amazing how sailing along a ribbon of asphalt aboard one of our magnificent machines can make all of one's cares disappear?

As usual a great read.

Take care my friend and keep them coming.

You, too, are another kindred spirit! Over the years, our conversations have convinced me that you indeed do 'get it' and are a natural-born trekker... See ya down the road...

DDT

Hey Bruce, keep on keeping on !!  When are you gonna keep on back this way?

My Hillbilly bud! I'm 'planning' on keeping on as long as my keeper-oner will allow! ALI is still running strong, and I'm now confident she will out last me... So, be careful what you ask for... You know how I can just show up from time to time... and the hills of east Tennessee are among my favorite destinations on the planet! I'll be seeing you, I just don't have a clue at the moment when that might be...

DDT