I met Tom when my Z-1 broke down over the 4th of July. He answered the
phone number I called on Tenderfoot Mountain Cycles in Salida. A quick fix for
him, we became friends, and he told me if I ever sold my Z, he wanted first grab
at it. And that winter, with over four feet of snow on the ground, I did. And
he still did, so borrowing Don’s truck, we drove over Wolf Creek Pass, and the
200 miles in Colorado winter mode. Doing the deal, it was back over the Pass,
one of the most notorious in Colorado, C.W. McCall of Convoy fame even had a hit
song about it. And back to our cabin in the mountains at 8300’. Where we
struggled getting it down the hill on a BLM road hastily plowed, and there it
would reside until the spring thaw, some four months away. I cannot count how
many trips were taken to the basement in those months, but it was sheer torture
not being able to ride my new bike. By the way, it was a 1981 KZ750, against
which Tom gave me full retail against his retail price, a fair deal for all.
Except both of us had to wait until spring and the snow melted to
ride.....
I was inspired to do this in the dead of winter by an old Kawasaki ad
telling how you could fly to Washington, DC, and buy a new bike cheap enough to
pay for the flight. But only in January. I sold bikes in January, in fact I
have one for sale now, and the phone isn’t ringing. So my deal in January would
work out good for both of us, and like the rest of us in the dead of winter, we
couldn’t ride anyway. I cannot tell how many hours of seat time were sent going
nowhere in those months, but when the first signs of warmer weather, and we
could see the snow melting.....I just couldn’t wait any longer....and out came
the snow shovels.
Now we not only lived at the lake, but on a hill some 100’ feet down from
the road, the first sign of pavement. With weather hitting the fifties, and
snow melting, we dug all day, a three foot wide path from basement to street.
Revealing mud where the melting snow was running, and at 8300” near exhaustion
from the shoveling. I had my youth and ambition going for me, but little else.
So as Theresa and I finally hit pavement, the hour to ride we had all waited for
arrived. And as the bike started, warmed up and I backed it out, the slow,
dirty, muddy, slippery, and dangerous first ride began. With no traction other
than Theresa pushing, we finally made it, and as I looked back after hitting the
street, she was covered in mud. Everywhere, her pants, jacket, inside her
clothes, shoes, and I mean everywhere. But so was my new bike, who initially
got the attention, and that would sit out on the street until the ground dried
enough to ride it back into the basement. But I was riding, there were hints of
spring, and both Tom and I had new bikes to ride. The long answer when someone
asks why we moved to So Cal, it’s is truly all about the ride. And a wife
devoted to the beach....
But with the rip off California registrations coming due, it seems new
bikes in winter are still a hot item around here. Without all the side effects
of winter. Something to consider the next time you think you are a hard core
rider, I might be, but also smart enough to live where I can ride all the time
if I want. And I want!
So when the motorcycle couldn’t come to me, I had to go to it to rescue
it. It took work, devotion, some crazy time, and perseverance. But I attained
the goal I had set out to do, from obtaining the new bike to getting it out to
the street to ride. Somewhere between bragging and complaining here. A
miracle. It seems my desire out weighed my means, only by sheer desire was I
able to make it. Now knowing what I didn’t then. A theme we find in John where
Jesus was faced with feeding 5000. Here we find the crowd hungry to eat, the
disciples without any means of food, and after hearing Jesus teach, after being
witness to his miracles, they become witless to the situation. Imagine 5000
people at the event, and only one kid had the smarts to bring anything to eat.
But five loaves and two fishes later, Jesus was able to do what they couldn’t or
wouldn’t, feed the crowd. A true miracle, as even today I see so many homeless
and needy fed with meager means, but when the physical problem was placed in
Jesus’ hands, the spiritual went to work. One surrendered meal, meant food for
the multitude. An example of how one man surrending his life, would be the
salvation of all who chose to place their trust in him. Jesus saves, but also
feeds, all we need to do is bring our problems to him, and let him have his
way. And not be in the way....
That winter like the 5000 hungry souls, I was in a remote place. But God
sent me two willing hands in Theresa, and we got ‘er done. You may be alone or
in a remote situation, look at your resources and feel empty. But Jesus saw
what his men could not, he saw what he was given, and used it. A miracle, but
not the last, and we haven’t seen the last. He is still in the miracle
business, if only we come to him and let him save us, and serve us. He told the
disciples “feed them!” and how they must have been shocked when they kept
reaching in and finding bread and food. So much we are told they had doggie
bags full for later use. We forget Jesus often after we rescues us, he left
them a reminder to show others, and to feed them too. Remember his conversation
with Peter on the beach, telling Peter to “feed my sheep” three times.
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. One meal that day changed many
lives.....still hungry? He still provides....
So maybe buying a motorcycle in the dead of winter isn’t so crazy after
all. The deal was there, the truck was there, but so was the snow. So God sent
Theresa, and 42 years later next month, we still ride in winter. With one
exception....she rides instead of shovels. For once again Jesus saw my need for
a wife and a riding partner......and the weather to do it in. And still adds
the increase. To which I say, “amen.” It is truly amazing what you will go
through to go for a ride. And you thought you were hard core!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com