Monday, October 13, 2014

all in a day's ride



















Freeways-I can remember reading about them when I was young, and how they were the roads of tomorrow.  Enacted by a request from then President Eisenhower, we needed an infrastructure in case we ever went to war on our own shores, and the Interstate Highway System was created, and roads started in 1956.  I can remember how excited we were when I-78 went in, bypassing most of old US 22, going through wide open fields, two lanes wide of no stop  lights, no businesses to get off at, and very few billboards.  It took us through land we hadn’t imagined, it was out in the country in many places, and was referred to as limited access.  And for a while only sections were open, making us appreciate the freedom of no stop lights for miles, then being routed back on old 22 and waiting in heavy traffic.  New and improved used to really mean that, and freeways were just that.  And they bragged you could drive from the Atlantic to the Pacific and never encounter a stop light-bring it on!  But with no lights, and limited access, came a new standard-boredom.  Set the cruise and go.  No longer did you pass such icons as the Flagship, or Leaning Tower of Pizza.  You went past miles of openness, limited exits, and it took a while to get used to finding your way.  New street names, even new names of towns took some getting used to.  And exits now had numbers, which until only a few years ago took on the miles travelled instead of numerically in order.  Starting in the west and going east, or south to north, if you got on at exit/entrance 33, and needed to get off at exit 96, you could do the math, it was 63 miles.  Giving a “how long until we get there?” question new and more accurate answers. 
So Cal is well known for its freeways, and really to us they are just big surface streets.  Take the 78 to the Golden State, to the San Diego Freeway and you are in LA.  In places up to 7 lanes wide-for faster travel or actually the world’s widest parking lot much of the time.  The average speed in LA on their freeways is all of 17 miles per hour.  Not what you have in mind when you want to go out for a leisurely ride.  But I can get to LA form Sa Diego using surface streets and never touch a freeway.  And it may not take much longer.  A different ride, at a different speed, slowing down to get there faster.  Which brings us to last Saturday, riding our Bonnevilles.  We started the day and C and G Ford’s Open House where Andrew works.  We frequent old car shows each week end, and after great BBQ lunch, it was still early, the weather great, and we were in no mood fro freeways.  Give us slower today, a ride where we didn’t have to think much, and could just cruise.  And the Bonnies were just the ticket.  Going through Escondido, up over the hill into Valley Center took us to a different world.  No cars were out today, they must all be at the malls, for it was great.  Lots of bikes, particularly near Palomar, but it seemed all speeds were down today, and we just cruised.  On roads like Rice Canyon where on the Tiger I go 70-80 safely, today I rode 45 and felt fast in places.  I looked at the homes and trees, and saw things I miss at 80.  Suddenly I was so relaxed that shifting into 4th in places felt fast, so 3rd it was, helping to keep the speed down, but still using all my tires in turns, a much slower fast, with no traffic to concern myself with.  All in a day’s ride, with no freeways to deal with-and the 100 miles of roads lasted all afternoon.
De Luz Canyon is a beautiful ride, from Fallbrook to Temecula, or vice versa as we rode it.  Picking up elevation quick and leaving Temecula behind, soon you are on winding roads of outer suburbia, past ranches, and soon just you and the road.  No exits with signs or mileages, no signs at all, with only one fork in the road to take, actually a T, hoping the left meant Fallbrook, but not really concerned if it didn’t.  We were just out riding, away from it all, and it felt great.  No lanes to split, no traffic either way for miles, the sound of the exhaust echoing at times off the canyon walls-my kind of music.  With each of us riding our own ride, and although I was riding faster than Theresa never felt hurried, and only stopped a few times for her to catch up.  Riding our own rides, with no pressure, no schedule, and no particular place to go, and all day to get there.  A quick ride through Fallbrook, stopping at an antique store we usually speed past, and finding a treasure trove of goodies.  And then down old 395 and home-rested and worn out all at once.  A peaceful ride for an afternoon....reminding me that it is the road, and not the destination that counts.  That day the road was the destination.  Reminding us of how you can never go home, but you can still take great roads to get there.
We were on very few straight and narrow roads that day.  I still believe to this day God invented curves for motorcycles to ride on.  And for years struggled with the scripture “for the gate is narrow, and the road is straight to God.”  How could scripture mislead me so badly, why were there curves if straight was the best?  Until he reminded me one day, and again last week.  The road is straight to Jesus, only one way, so that you don’t get lost.  And the shortest way is a straight line between two points-here and heaven.  But he added curves so we can enjoy life, be tested, and have to rely on him to make, we cannot do it on our own.  For straight and narrow roads lead to a gate that is straight and narrow-the only way in.  Not like the border crossing, where 17+ lanes await you, the gate is narrow, so stay straight!  Also you get to choose the best lines when riding through life, finding like riding, if you enter the curve correctly, you can exit faster.  So choosing the right lines is important.  Too far left-oncoming traffic.  Too far right-you run off the road.  Staying the course, riding straight and narrow, and as any racer knows, turning curves into straight lines.  For curves are just a bunch of straight lines at changing angles.  So adjust you speed carefully.  Works in riding, works in life, works with Jesus.  You don’t have to ride too fast into a turn to see God like some racers do.  And although we each take a different road to Jesus, there is still only one way to heaven, and he is it!  Fast or slow, freeways or back roads, with him we will finally get there.  But the road ahead looms, and for some it is scary.  For some boring, for some an adventure.  How is the procedure, who is the destination. 
Some day we will look back at life as all in a day’s ride when we get to heaven.  Riding at God’s pace rather than rushing at ours.  Jesus never hurried, and was never late.  He never delayed, and always arrived on time, God’s time.  A fact Martha and Mary were to learn with their brother Lazarus.  Life is more than mileage markers, and roads can be taken slower and faster at the same time.  For us Saturday’s ride was all about the ride, showing us it is all about Jesus.  And that no matter what road, how fast, or how slow, when it leads to him it is the right road.  Many will offer quicker ways, detours that sound appealing, or even alternative routes.  Stick with Jesus, the only way.  When we get to heaven I don’t anticipate anyone asking “are we there yet?”  We’ll know, there will be no doubt.  Until that day, enjoy the road you are on with him, and enjoy life.  Straight and narrow leads to the gates of heaven, it is the curves that make the ride there worthwhile.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com