Wheels and Wings.
Everyone jokes that you should never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly. This month has been sprinkled with a few unfortunate incidences and passings.
I had a friend who dropped his bike in a wobble on the freeway, luckily it was the dead of night on an empty highway and slid into the oversized median. He was able to call emergency services to help him. He will be fine once he gets a new bike and a new set of gear.
An acquaintance who has been battling cancer, unfortunately had finally met his match. He rode his bike/sidecar until his last few days. When I met him almost 2 years ago, he apologized profusely and went to cover part of his face that had been taken by cancer. After telling him that was only necessary if he wanted to of his own accord, he whole demeanor changed. He wasn't so hesitant or cautious; he was bright, loud, he filled the garage, the yard, the whole neighborhood. He would ask about me every time he spoke with my grandfather. When we got the call, it sent us all into the weird self-questioning and doubting type of twilight zone. I couldn't believe it. I never would have thought that would be the end of his days.
During the motorcycle rally this past weekend, I had met a professor who played the bagpipes. We all talked and goofed around. We bullshitted around and told tall tales. Saturday morning he went to ride with some of his friends and shortly after lunch we got the news that he wouldn't be coming back to camp. He had been involved in an accident and had not made it. The camp was silent, we tried to continue the rally as always. We made our way through dinner and closing ceremonies, but it wasn't as lively. His set-up was quietly and neatly packed and ready to be moved from the grounds. We all sent our best and prayed for the young person involved. It wasn't really anyone's fault but just one of those split seconds and one wrong move on both parts. That's all it took. I can only imagine the weight that young driver and the families will carry from this weekend.
All we can do is ride as safely as we can. Dress for the slide, not the ride. All we can do is ride as long as we want and can, so long as it is safe. All we can do is appreciate the time that we have doing something that we enjoy so much. All we can do is hope that we have enjoyed everything we can, gotten our ducks in a row, and hopefully make home to the next ride.
Please take the time to enjoy your ride, your friends and family.
Keep two wheels down and between the paint.
I had a friend who dropped his bike in a wobble on the freeway, luckily it was the dead of night on an empty highway and slid into the oversized median. He was able to call emergency services to help him. He will be fine once he gets a new bike and a new set of gear.
An acquaintance who has been battling cancer, unfortunately had finally met his match. He rode his bike/sidecar until his last few days. When I met him almost 2 years ago, he apologized profusely and went to cover part of his face that had been taken by cancer. After telling him that was only necessary if he wanted to of his own accord, he whole demeanor changed. He wasn't so hesitant or cautious; he was bright, loud, he filled the garage, the yard, the whole neighborhood. He would ask about me every time he spoke with my grandfather. When we got the call, it sent us all into the weird self-questioning and doubting type of twilight zone. I couldn't believe it. I never would have thought that would be the end of his days.
During the motorcycle rally this past weekend, I had met a professor who played the bagpipes. We all talked and goofed around. We bullshitted around and told tall tales. Saturday morning he went to ride with some of his friends and shortly after lunch we got the news that he wouldn't be coming back to camp. He had been involved in an accident and had not made it. The camp was silent, we tried to continue the rally as always. We made our way through dinner and closing ceremonies, but it wasn't as lively. His set-up was quietly and neatly packed and ready to be moved from the grounds. We all sent our best and prayed for the young person involved. It wasn't really anyone's fault but just one of those split seconds and one wrong move on both parts. That's all it took. I can only imagine the weight that young driver and the families will carry from this weekend.
All we can do is ride as safely as we can. Dress for the slide, not the ride. All we can do is ride as long as we want and can, so long as it is safe. All we can do is appreciate the time that we have doing something that we enjoy so much. All we can do is hope that we have enjoyed everything we can, gotten our ducks in a row, and hopefully make home to the next ride.
Please take the time to enjoy your ride, your friends and family.
Keep two wheels down and between the paint.
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