When planning for our longer rides, I figure 300-400 miles per day, leaving
time to eat, stop and visit as we want, and not be in a hurry. It is a popular
idea and one I have long proven wrong that to make time you must use the
interstates, but who wants to ride a boring road with no curves? So picking
older roads and figuring them in the equation has become the norm. With those
you meet along the way sometimes not as normal as you. Which is a good
thing....
We were riding south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a beautiful road with a
speed limit of 45 mph. Take parallel roads and the speeds increase, but don’t
have quite the charisma, or the “I can say I’ve been there affect.” Not our
first ride on it, but this turned out to be the most fun. Stopping for pictures
and to watch the fog lift, a Sprint ST like mine pulled in next to us and the
conversation began. He was a local, out early for a run before the tourists
showed up and blocked his fun. And his offer was too good to pass up, “do you
want to ride with me? I know all the lines to take on this section.” So
trusting his bike and ability, he led, we tried to keep up, and had a great
ride. Like none other on the BRP. Let’s just say we ignored all speed signs
and followed his lines, and they were true. He was a bit ahead at times, but we
would catch up, finally he got off, a friendly wave and disappeared into the
valley below. We had just ridden a slow road at fun speeds, not endangering
anyone, not passing anyone illegally, and saw a side of the BRP many dream of
but are afraid to attempt. Just two guys on Triumphs on an early morning
ride.....who says slow roads can’t be fun?
Ivan Stewart, aka The Ironman, once explained going less slow to me. If a
section was safe at 55, get every 55 out of it you could, going less slow. But
don’t try to make up time going too fast in the same section, know the course
from prerunning, your abilities, and what your car can do. Later make up for it
on the straights, hitting top speed if you can. Makes sense, and his record
speaks for itself. Just the opposite in real life, as yesterday in the rain I
was passed and then watched as this small car was weaving in and out of traffic,
crazy on a dry day, insane in the rain in So Cal. But when we both got off, we
both sat at the same light until it turned green. His hurry up and wait
procedure endangering himself and others. I guess everyone is fast until the
light turns red....
Quoting Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, who quoted Ecclesiastes, “there is a
time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” I wonder
how many of us knew it was the Bible Roger was quoting, it sure sounded cool.
But as he takes us through the four pairs of comparisons, we can see there is an
appropriate time for everything. All based on living and dying. After my near
death experience and open heart surgery, I can tell you that you have no control
over the day you die. I hadn’t planned to go through the ordeal, but it was
part of God’s plan to draw me closer to him, and to testify of his greatness.
Of the difference that Jesus Christ makes in a life, and giving life. But again
I never asked to be born. Again determined by God for a time and place. Ever
feel like you were born too soon? You weren’t, for you are here and now where
God wants you. Preplanned for your enjoyment, just the opposite of many times
and things we would have planned. If asked “would I change anything?” I can
honestly say “no,” for I am content with my life in Christ. It wasn’t always
that way, but as you learn to trust, as the spirit leads instead of your ego,
the path laid out for you becomes life to the fullest. Not to say it is always
smooth, but always worthwhile. If given my way, I probably would end up
selfish, cruel, vicious, and unbridled. But in God’s timing....all is well with
my soul.
So embrace the time to live, and also the time to seek and the time to give
up. Our lives are bounded by our birth and death, but the in between times are
given to our choices of how to live. So it makes perfect sense to me to not be
bound by time on our rides. To leave time to be flexible. As I look back, many
of our trips have had changes due to weather, new roads or places discovered, or
places to eat only 200 miles out of our way. God had it all planned that way,
he calls it a time to live. And who knows better about life than he who created
it and gives it to us. One early morning on a 45 mph road with the right guide
changed all that. Just as God’s ways are not man’s, our schedule is not his.
Man plans and God laughs. Sometimes at us, but mostly with us. A smile too big
to contain. Proven one morning on a slow road. Truly a slow road can be fun
when God is along. After all, don’t you go on vacation to vacate, to get away
from daily routines? Now if only the RV’s blocking my way could do the same
thing....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com