This time it was shorter but much more intense. I had left work late on a Sunday evening and hammered down a windy lake-side road that, with freshly graded gravel, provided less traction for the motorcycle than the loose dirt of deep-country single-track that I so enjoy. For two hours I fought the balance of grip and gripe, sliding through corners and fishtailing down sandy straights at 50-mph in the utter blackness of a moonless Idahoan night. My hands grew numb and my midsection tired, but I had no lights with which to set up a camp nor had I remembered to bring reliable fire-starters. So, I rode through ever-chilling air and the terrifying blackness of rapids of certain death only a few icy feet to my right. At times I want to give up but I found strength in my fortitude and pressed onward.
When I had finally reached camp, much later that anyone should ever be awake, I was greeted by my friend's dog and subsequently my friend himself--the man suffers from insomnia and was wide awake to greet me with friendliness instead of his revolver.
I told him, "never again."
He responded, "I can see it in your eyes, brother."
We shared a large pour of Old Grand Dad and a PBR as I started a fire and laid down my bivy. While he is a talkative fellow, there was an extended period of silence and reflection.
The morning light brought a beautiful day. The wind was mild and only a few small storms pummeled camp with graupel. I had spent more than two hours figuring out a method with which to build a shelter of a rain-fly with naught but my motorcycle. Before any of this was accomplished, much distraction had been had by my buddy's very old and very energ
etic cattle dog.
The only full day also brought a long soak in a hot-spring so full of minerals that I experienced neutral buoyancy in a deep tub only just a few degrees warmer that my natural body temp. That, coupled with the serene peacefulness lacking in both traffic AND cell service, provided the recharge of mana that I had so long been searching for.
While returning to the city may be difficult, it certainly leads to opportunities to explore new possibilities. I definitely remained lazy on the photos for this single-day outing, but I hope they are good ones. There will certainly be more to come, if only I can allow myself to get out there and be free enough. Cheers!
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