Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise said that…..”time stalks us, all of our lives.” Time is a companion that travels with us ……. and time reminds us to cherish every moment we have on this earth, because the moment may not repeat itself again. – So, make it so Data!
Today was that spontaneous kind of adventure day. Earlier in the week my Joda teacher friend Kevin invited me to join in a group ride to Borrego Springs, California, on Highway 79.
The Meetup announcement declared for anyone joining the ride, to ride your own ride, and so, most of us planned on doing so. What this generally means is that there’s a whole different range of experience and bike performance abilities spread out amongst the fourteen riders that showed Three different riding groups. Two groups are easily distinguishable to the non riders; the sports bike riders just looks fast standing still. The adventure bike riders look like a modern version of a horse or donkey ready to become beasts of burden. The third type today; the trail rated types (Honda Africa Twin and KLR) make it all look way to easy, on and off the pavement. The guys on these type of bikes can ride, on and off the trail.
My advice now (today) is that whatever lessons life offers, grab onto them, hold them, learn from them and then continue moving forward. We are always in a constant state of living and learning. Each event you get involved is that companion in time.
The moment I finally managed to get around a half dozen racing Porsche cars; suddenly up ahead, I spot some motorcycles. One guy looked to me like Dave, riding a KLR 1290. The second guy with him signals to me with his hand that they are turning left. I quickly slow and turn left before the racing Porsches catch up and pass by. The pavement now quickly turns sandy. The road continues slimming down to about a half a car lane, bushes are now encroaching all around. The dirt riders are now gone. I continue for about a quarter mile and catch up to a guy with full knobby tires. This just doesn’t look right. Kevin doesn’t do dirt I say. It was tough doing a 180 degree turn but, I did it, and headed right back down to highway 79.
Lunch for me was at Carmelitas Mexican food. In my opinion the best all around. Carmelita’s was founded fourteen years ago and every item on the menu is handmade. The margaritas are authentic and the restaurant is cafe style open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
That’s what I love about spontaneous adventure. You can stop when you like, take a picture or watch the scenery or write notes, eat to your heart’s content, and go on with the flow of life.
If you aren’t a Trekkie then you won’t know about the Kobayashi Maru scenario. To be a commander in Starfleet, you must go through the Kobayashi Maru scenario. This test places the captain in a no-win scenario.
Like Captain Picard, we also learn while riding a motorcycle that sometimes you ride the ride that is dealt you. It never makes a difference when riding with a group your age, your bank account, or job status, college or educational levels, or even other accomplishments in life.
Your height, weight or looks account for little but, your riding skills do matter. You become equal to everyone and they become equal to you. No one wants to be that guy. The guy that can’t keep up, whines, bitches or complains. Ride your own ride. No better words were ever uttered.
On an emotional level, riding a bicycle or a road bike has that sensory involvement component. There’s also the natural forces all around that you begin to suddenly take notice. It’s called nature. The way we were meant to play. We riders get to taste the wind. We feel the hotness or the coolness, the desert landscape passes by as fast or slow as you like. Riding is this and much much more.
When Jaylah gives Kirk a tour of the USS Franklin, Kirk is particularly fascinated by a motorcycle he sees on the bridge. And if you’re a modern day trekkie fan then the following may not be foreign to you: “Hey, that’s a PX70. My dad used to have one when he was kid. My mom said he used to put her on the back of it, drive her nuts.”
Trawlercat Personal Blog Chronicles 
“Your height, weight or looks account for little but, your riding skills do matter. You become equal to everyone and they become equal to you. No one wants to be that guy. The guy that can’t keep up, whines, bitches or complains. Ride your own ride. No better words were ever uttered”. Ralph that is pure wisdom, when we get out in the dirt we are all equal.
LikeLike