The
The view didn’t last long as Route 119 started to run away
from the river and soon I was in the hills that stretch toward the
The road was one of the better ones I have been on. It was
not a popular road and free of traffic even though it was a holiday
weekend.
Me and Libertad had it pretty much to ourselves and I opened
the throttle up a bit, letting her wind through the gently twisting
road.
She seems to respond to roads like that, especially when
there is no one else around. Because the road is not heavily traveled,
it is in
good condition and easy on my back.
My body has been a concern on this trip. It is showing signs
of betraying me and I am not happy about it.
The back was bad before I left, but I got a massage and that
seemed to put it back in place. I have been careful not to overextend
it and do
a series of stretches in the morning to loosen it up. I have my duffle
bag on
the passenger seat and that acts like a support so my posture is good
when I am
riding.
The biggest problem has been the beds I am sleeping on at the
various hotels and motels.
Mattresses that are soft, or thin or warped are usually in
the places I have been staying at and that has done more damage to my
back than
the bike has.
The bike has done its share to other parts of my body.
Gripping the handlebars six to seven hours a day has caused my hands to
go
numb.
Typing at night isn’t helping either, but that is just a
minor annoyance that I can get past. My feet though have been a bigger
concern.
The foot pegs on my bike were extremely fashionable, but with little
function.
I changed out the pegs in
It bothers me a great deal that I am getting older, though
obviously it is inevitable. I am almost certain I won’t be the first
person to
live forever, but for many years thought there was an outside chance.
Now I am resigned to my mortality and it has become evident
in how I live my life.
No longer do I take those unnecessary chances to cheat death,
though some would argue that riding a motorcycle across country would
fall into
that category.
Not really, though. The open road is always safer than a city
full of cars with distracted drivers. The roads are open and though
nothing is
guaranteed, I like the odds of the two-lane sparsely populated country
road,
versus a
Life really is about playing the odds. I have always taken a
shine to the longshot, but as I advance in years, even money or 2 to 1
looks
better and better.
It is my fear that the edge is deserting me and that would be
tragic. I think everyone should have a little drama in their life, it
makes it
more interesting.