And Then There Were Two

Our morning started out in Kalispell, Montana with breakfast at Perkins' reataurant, which is not a bad place if you have to find something.

Our plan for the day was to finish off our week of riding together with a ride on one of the most well-known (among bikers anyway) and spectacular roads anywhere -- The Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park in Montana. It was originally built when cars were first invented. It is hard to imagine how they built it with mules and carts as it clings tentatively to the side of the mountain.

I first drove this road on a family holiday 20 years ago. Again, I had thought it would be a wonderful motorcycle road, never thinking I would ever one day actually drive it.

This year's ride provided a different experience than previously and from what I had expected. Spring thaw had been harsh to the road. Much of it had been washed away and so construction challenges were prevalent. There was so much more traffic than I expected, no doubt due, in part to being the US July 4th weekend. Finally, fog, rain, sleet/snow provided the final challenge. The rain gear came out at the beginning of the road, and didn't come off till the end. At least we were colorful --Ben in his "Harley orange" Bob in his red and white, and me in my yellow pvc.

The run was ended at Johnson's restaurant and campground where the potato soup warmed the innards and provided us with one last meal together. From there George and Bob headed back to Kalispell to continue their ride together for another week, while Ben and I rode the 20 miles to the Canadian border.

Ben and I rode to Medicine Hat where we end our vacation week and begin a week of radio station and donor meetings throughout Alberta.

It has been a wonderful experience in many ways. Great men to travel with, good roads to ride, wonderful memories to cherish, and the catharsis of having had nothing to worry about except keeping the shiny side up and my knees in the breeze.

(PS --Thanks to Bob for the pictures!)

Be careful what you dream for...

There have been many times, while driving my car down a particular road I've thought, and even said out loud, "This would be an awesome road to take on the motorcycle."

That thought was in my mind twenty years ago when, while on a family vacation, I drove through Yellowstone National Park. And I didn't even own a bike at the time! Today, I had that dream fulfilled.

I was up early today and began by washing the dirt from yesterday's storm off the bike. I had also tried to repair a detached speedometer cable, but that had to wait until tonight. We left Cody Wyoming with blue skies and big smiles.

At the suggestion of fellow motorcyclists whom we met at breakfast we changed our plan and headed to Chief Joseph park with its scenic highway. And the ride was amazing! The consensus was that it was one of the best rides we have ever been on. There is almost no traffic and the roads themselves are in almost pristine condition.

Completing that we headed into Yellowstone Park. Apart from the intermittent road construction
the travelling was fabulous. We saw a tremendous diversity of wildlife -- moose, bears, deer, antelope, eagles as well as the ever-changing landscape of this vast century-old park. I saw herds of bison, as well as herds of tourists gathered to take their picture. It was a busy place, but to be able to traverse the highways of Yellowstone was actually a dream come true.

But here's the funny thing -- I didn't realize this was something I had thought about doing before until I was doing it. My mind flashed back to my previous visit 20 years earlier, and it clicked. Have you ever had that experience? You've thought about doing something and then forgot about it? It's not deja' vu because I hadn't done it before. Nor did I see myself riding these roads. It was simply a desire, an aspiration.

Someone once said, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." Granted that is intended in a negative context. But maybe there's something good at work here too. Dreams don't cost anything. So why not dream big. You never know -- it just might happen.

Oh yea, I got the pictures into yesterday's blog. Check 'em out.

Took a licking, and it stopped ticking...

Ever wish you could have a "do-over?"

You know, those times you do something, perhaps not thinking, and when it goes wrong, wish you could do it all over again? It seemed like a good idea at the time, and maybe it was, but something changed, so the end result wasn't what you wanted or expected.

That happened to me today.

When we arrived yesterday in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, I mentioned to Ben that his rear tire was worn down. So the plan became to go to the Harley Dealer in Rapid City. A short but windy distance away. We grabbed breakfast first at the Perkins in Spearfish. Completing that we readied ourselves to head to Rapid City to get the tire changed.

I did something I've never done before: I put my iPhone on the dashboard of my windshield as I put on my jacket. I intended to put the phone in my pocket. But something distracted me, likely I was the last one ready, so I hurried...and absentmindedly left the phone on the dash.

As I bounced through a construction zone, something black hit my knee and in my mirror I saw it land on the road. My first thought was, "What was that? Must've been some piece of debris off the road."

But then the thought flashed through my mind, "Where's my phone? Was that my phone?" I felt my pocket. No phone. "Oh no!"

I pulled over and made a quick U-turn and headed back. There was no place to park but I saw the phone on the road so I pulled over anyway. Traffic swerved around me.

Sure enough. There he was. "Maybe he isn't badly hurt" I thought. (BTW My phone is male). But no, he was dead. I knew it when I saw his little black body lying on the asphalt. I knew he was lifeless. He would never ring again. Never again would I hear his cheery little chirps signalling him delivering my mail mail. My constant companion lay dead. And it was my fault.

I carefully scooped him up, cast a quick glance for oncoming cars as I searched for his case. I knew he'd want it. I saw part of it, grabbed it, hopped back on the bike and tried to catch up with the others.

The rest of the day went well. We saw some awesome country, including Mt. Rushmore. And we ended up in Sturgis, the biker's Mecca. We got the tires changed and overall, had a great day of riding. But for me, I wish I could have a "do-over."

I've had that in life too. Maybe you have too. A mistake, a thoughtless word uttered, maybe even an intentional risk. And when it all goes sideways, we wish for a "do-over."

But do-overs only happen in our imaginations, or childhood games. In real adult life we don't get them. What's done is done, and we have to live with the consequences. Self-recrimination usually doesn't help. Neither does blaming others for our mistakes.

So what do we do, when we can't have a "do-over?"

Here's what I've observed about situations needing a "do-over." Sometimes there is mercy, meaning we don't get what we deserve. Consequences don't play out to their logical outcome. Their impact is minimized and in some cases they're even redeemed so that the mistake becomes part of a greater tapestry for good.

Sometimes all that is needed is an attitude-change on our part -- having a humble and contrite heart. A bad situation might be transformed into something good.

So next time, you need a "do-over" in life, check your attitude and change it if need be. If only that worked when it comes to iPhones.