First, there's the acceleration. I'm a guy, so I like the acceleration. Sure, I appreciate the benefits, but it's also just plain fun. That's a rush that I never want to outgrow.
It was too good an opportunity to pass up, even though it put me way out of my comfort zone. I went knowing nobody, but hoping to meet some nice folks. It was the Texas Adventure Ride, based in Junction, Tx. From there, over 200 people took their Dirt bikes and Dual Sport bikes down a bunch of dirt roads, creek beds and twisty pavement, just for the joy of it.
Sometimes certain activities are asked of me, as a member of our community. Though these duties are not productive in the immediate, personal sense - and are, in fact, a bit of a hassle - they do add value to to the community as a whole.
... and sometimes it's determined relaxation.
Say it with me - "Aaahhhh......." - Ok, the folks most likely to be reading this are probably saying "Eww". Oh well maybe somebody 'got it' and was able to enjoy the experience with me...
The combination of circumstances was a bit too perfect to deny the opportunity, so I set some time aside - an hour is usually sufficient - put my folding chair on my front porch, along with one of my sofa cushions for lumbar support. The temperature was perfect tonight, and the crickets would keep me company with their mellow chirruping - there was little other sound.I then went back to the kitchen, fished a beer from the fridge, (Shiner 98 - a sassy brew with a mirthful bouquet and a confident finish) popped it's top and set it aside. Then I pulled out a cigar from a specially designed and overpriced humi-baggie. After clipping the cigar and testing it's draw, I used a long match to start lighting it. It didn't go so well - I don't like these matches and so I switched to a normal butane lighter with its consistent flame. After getting a good cherry on the end, I grabbed the beer, went out to my porch and took a seat.
The cigar was a Padron 6000, a lovely figurado made from Nicaraguan tobacco. I know enough about cigars to know what I like - this one was not too mild, not too strong, but rich. I took a puff, held the smoke in my mouth for a second, then I adjusted my embouchure and used my tongue to push out a nice little smoke ring. I watched it while it shifted and distorted, then faded completely as a result of entropy or brownian motion (I can't remember which, it's been a long time since high school physics). As the last tendrils of smoke disappeared, I sunk deeper in my chair, put one of my feet against the railing and took a long slow breath. The slight breeze was like a divine caress as it moved across the exposed skin of my legs and arms, adding to the pleasure of the moment.
So time passed - I would take a puff, then another and then wait for a little bit, allowing the fire on the end of the cigar to cool down some. Then I would repeat this, but follow it with a drink from my bottle - and time continued to pass, as my thoughts slowed and allowed me to catch up. A car would occasionally pass by, but I would ignore each one. I was almost invisible because my porch light was off and the tree in my front yard hid me from the street lamp. I was left alone, allowed to observe and survey the street right in front of my house as my mind wandered far, far away.
I spent some of the time expressing gratitude to my maker for the breeze, for the tree in my front yard, for the money to spend on trivial things like cigars. A melody drifted through my head - Chris Isaak's Blue Spanish Sky. "It's a slow, sad Spanish song - I knew the words, but I sang them wrong..."
Slowly, as the fire crept closer to the fingers holding my cigar, and the beer warmed a little, losing it's savor (perhaps its finish was a little over-confident) - I came to know that the moment had expired, this pleasure had come to an end. It did, however have the lasting result of a taking me a significant metaphorical step further away from the brink.
Cheers
... So when I do actually finish a book, it's a momentous occasion. Glen is a first-time author, and a very thoughtful guy - not on exactly the same socio-political page as I am, but I can appreciate where he's coming from, and I think he's the kind of guy who would appreciate where I'm coming from.This is a good read, even if you don't ride or travel.
It's hard to have fun on a sportbike and stay within the law, so I traded mine in - fortunately, goofing around in a pasture is completely legal and more fun than a barrel of monkeys! (it's the hayfield behind my mom's house)
Here's another pic, because I just figured out how to embed them...
Another cool advantage is that this one will take me a lot farther off the beaten path - I intend to go back to Big Bend and get some pictures that don't have any road in them.
After nailing up the first of four 3'x16" pegboard panels, I decided to put the others off until tomorrow afternoon, thinking that maybe hammering away in my garage at 10pm wasn't exactly neighborly. Hm. Maybe I'll work on recording some music. Or maybe I'll update my blog. Yep, that's what I'll do.
I have a terrible confession to make. I'm actually ashamed of the fact I'm about to reveal. In twenty years as a musician, I have maintained (not by choice) a stubborn mental block regarding the use of multi-track recording. And this is in spite of the fact that technology now makes this a kindergarden-level excersize.
Wow, so I never finished my trip story - apologies to anyone following my progress. To be honest, my account was a bit boring - I really wasn't putting much heart into the telling. And now, it's been, what, a month since I've paid any attention to my blogsite dealy.
Kanab, Ut
