This past week I had to make an appointment in Killeen, TX which is home to Fort Hood. I figured I’d get down there quick, and play a little bit more on the way home. On the way down I took I-35. I got caught in a little traffic trying to get out of FTW due to road construction but after that it was smooth sailing.
Basically, I slabbed it down there. If you recall reading a previous post (http://invioletlight.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-all-about-ride.html)
about how we ride or why we ride I mentioned that I just don’t understand the mentality of this.
Well, I still don’t. It wasn’t outright miserable, but it didn’t do much for me either. I certainly didn’t find my zen place as slabbing it just didn’t require much mental focus and attention. I didn’t find it much more taxing than driving my truck.
On the way down, it was just a tick under 150 miles and it took me two hours. I filled up my tank and that netted me right at about 40 miles to the gallon on the nose (ok not quite on the nose, but pretty darned close). Conversely my truck gets about 13mpg and that’s downhill with the wind behind me. It’s definitely a money saver to take the bike.
After the meeting I decided to have some fun coming back and play a little bit. I didn’t have all day to waste so I figured I’d hit a key road or two and then just enjoy the scenery of Texas the rest of the way back.
Well, going back took me a little over 200 miles and 2.5 hours. Needless to say I didn’t get nearly as good of gas mileage on the way back even though the winds were with me. I never touched I-35 or any other interstate for that matter. It was all country roads. Some of them were more twisty than others, but since I didn’t have time to dawdle I did try to take some of the more popular country roads back in.
It was on these roads I found my inner peace. My Zen. The reason I ride motorcycles in the first place. Forget the interstate, this is where it’s at. Rolling tarmac, rivers, greenery, smells, temperature differences and feeling like I am part of the environment rather than part of the rat-race.
I have to admit, though, I was laid into a twisty at about 90 mph. The warning on the curve governed the speed at 40mph so I was into it pretty good. Suddenly, my bike stepped out on me and I started to wallow towards the outside of the curve. Thankfully I didn’t panic and my tires hooked back up. I laid it in harder, gassed it, and here I am to talk about it. Talk about pucker factor!! Sometimes it amazes me how exhilarating that is. What is it about skating the edge that does it for me? I have no idea.
In any case, I had a good ride and I got to write it off for business. For all of you that slab it, keep slabbing it. Stay off my roads and out of my way. For those of you that ride the twisties, I hope to see you on the road and flash you a peace sign.
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