bmwrider88
06-12-2009, 01:12 PM
"ruminations from inside a full-faced helmet"
tom banks, june 2009
originally posted on britbike.com
having covered many miles lately, i've come to recognise what a lover-ly overall experience i've been having on my motorcycles...one might say i've spent TOO much time alone inside my full face helmet? these are a few of the things that have crossed my mind lately....
riding about, following the example of the yellow swallowtail, and the scent of multi-flora rose, going where the front wheel goes...summer is in full swing, everything is in bloom, from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain. from flowers in roadside ditches to laurel in the wood...the riotous bursts of rhododendron blooms, the big black threat of a thunderstorm looming. yesterday's lilac gave way to the honey locust, which has yielded to catalpa blossoms and honey suckle vines. strawberries and cherries are coming right up...
now riding the valleys, tickling the foot of the mountain with the exhaust note, wafting thru clouds of heaven sent summer scent. fresh-cut grass and sunsets and misty mountain hopping over countless ancient appalachian ridges, crossing the rivers on old covered bridges...riding out of the woods thru farm country with the first cutting of hay all baled up and waiting for the winter wheat to turn. corn coming up and farmers all plowing, cows and horses and sheep out grazing... amish buggies and dump trucks, boom-box cars and harley riders, bicyclists and dog-walkers all share the same space with farm vehicles.
while the miles keep piling up, it all whizzes by in the blink of an eye...the sun bursts, the rain storms, the fog and the heat. is there reason to think that this could be beat? the mist in the morning the birds, bugs and bees...the deer are cavorting, wade, WATCH out for them PLEASE! the good roads, the bad roads, the big roads, the little roads. sign of the times: active work zone when light is flashing! road crews, fresh laid black-top or tar and chip. sometimes just plain old dirt roads. the front roads, the back roads, in traffic or not...rolling the miles out like nobody's bizness, just going no place or riding to work, riding with friends or going alone, i just try to recall that there's no place like home.
and so i will spend as many summer days and nights as i can out riding these great old bikes
on these endlessly winding hiways and byways...and give thanks all the while for being so lucky at my age and time, to have such a good life. i'll ride with the red-tail, honor all the critters. i'll salute all my neighbors be they the two-legged or four legged, or NO legged variety, i'll respect the black snake for its ability to catch mice, and try not to run him over as he warms himself on hot road surfaces on a summer afternoon...i'll go solo when i can or bring along Miss C, who ices the cake of this amazing life and sure does her own share to make it all so worthwhile. at the end of the day when i park my bike, and look back on the ride, i'll try to remember what it might be like for those who aren't as lucky to be living so well, and be thankful for having made it home safely.
and if it takes me a while to wipe this grin off my face, just roll with me baby. give me a minute. TAKE a minute to look deep into my eyes and maybe, just MAYBE you'll see the dotted yellow lines from that last passing zone flashing behind my irises. or catch a fleeting glimpse of the leaping gnome that represents the little boy inside me, who somehow just won't grow up or attempt to deny the true wonder of it all....
tom banks, june 2009
originally posted on britbike.com
having covered many miles lately, i've come to recognise what a lover-ly overall experience i've been having on my motorcycles...one might say i've spent TOO much time alone inside my full face helmet? these are a few of the things that have crossed my mind lately....
riding about, following the example of the yellow swallowtail, and the scent of multi-flora rose, going where the front wheel goes...summer is in full swing, everything is in bloom, from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain. from flowers in roadside ditches to laurel in the wood...the riotous bursts of rhododendron blooms, the big black threat of a thunderstorm looming. yesterday's lilac gave way to the honey locust, which has yielded to catalpa blossoms and honey suckle vines. strawberries and cherries are coming right up...
now riding the valleys, tickling the foot of the mountain with the exhaust note, wafting thru clouds of heaven sent summer scent. fresh-cut grass and sunsets and misty mountain hopping over countless ancient appalachian ridges, crossing the rivers on old covered bridges...riding out of the woods thru farm country with the first cutting of hay all baled up and waiting for the winter wheat to turn. corn coming up and farmers all plowing, cows and horses and sheep out grazing... amish buggies and dump trucks, boom-box cars and harley riders, bicyclists and dog-walkers all share the same space with farm vehicles.
while the miles keep piling up, it all whizzes by in the blink of an eye...the sun bursts, the rain storms, the fog and the heat. is there reason to think that this could be beat? the mist in the morning the birds, bugs and bees...the deer are cavorting, wade, WATCH out for them PLEASE! the good roads, the bad roads, the big roads, the little roads. sign of the times: active work zone when light is flashing! road crews, fresh laid black-top or tar and chip. sometimes just plain old dirt roads. the front roads, the back roads, in traffic or not...rolling the miles out like nobody's bizness, just going no place or riding to work, riding with friends or going alone, i just try to recall that there's no place like home.
and so i will spend as many summer days and nights as i can out riding these great old bikes
on these endlessly winding hiways and byways...and give thanks all the while for being so lucky at my age and time, to have such a good life. i'll ride with the red-tail, honor all the critters. i'll salute all my neighbors be they the two-legged or four legged, or NO legged variety, i'll respect the black snake for its ability to catch mice, and try not to run him over as he warms himself on hot road surfaces on a summer afternoon...i'll go solo when i can or bring along Miss C, who ices the cake of this amazing life and sure does her own share to make it all so worthwhile. at the end of the day when i park my bike, and look back on the ride, i'll try to remember what it might be like for those who aren't as lucky to be living so well, and be thankful for having made it home safely.
and if it takes me a while to wipe this grin off my face, just roll with me baby. give me a minute. TAKE a minute to look deep into my eyes and maybe, just MAYBE you'll see the dotted yellow lines from that last passing zone flashing behind my irises. or catch a fleeting glimpse of the leaping gnome that represents the little boy inside me, who somehow just won't grow up or attempt to deny the true wonder of it all....