TheBanyanTree: Riding together....

[Sachet]

The first time we rode together, he thought I was the better rider. 
Simply because I take turns faster and lean more. But, once I tipped 
over on his super steep, twisty-turny gravel road (the motorcycle road 
from hell, mind you), he knew that it was all a matter of perspective. I 
*know* he's the better rider. He uses more common sense than I do and 
has learned not to challenge me to a race, because as he says "Once I 
hit 80, I know I better slow down because you'll ride your bike into the 
ground before giving up." It's not intentional on my part.....I just get 
caught up in the cascade of feelings - the speed, controlling all that 
power, the compulsion to win and the pure downright, outright, joyous 
fun of riding with someone who understands me so well.

He takes me by surprise when he does things like that. I'm not used to 
being looked after, protected or my probable reactions anticipated and 
considered to such a degree.

Sometimes we take turns with who takes the lead. He's learned to keep me 
in sight in his mirrors at all times. I once informed him of the 
recommended "rule" of checking your mirrors every 7 seconds and he 
laughed at me. After losing sight of me twice and scaring himself to 
death, he now checks his mirrors every 5-6 seconds. I know because I 
counted when we rode today. <g>

The first time he lost sight of me was when we were riding on the Blue 
Ridge Parkway and I had to go to the bathroom so badly, but I knew there 
was no place coming up, so the woods were my only option. I could not 
get his attention with honking or waving, so I gave up and pulled into 
the next overlook and ran off into the woods, out of sight. A few 
minutes later I heard his bike come rumbling up and him yelling out 
asking me if I was ok. He said he about had a heart attack when he 
looked for me and I was no where to be seen.

The next time I scared him was when we were riding down the highway and 
I got tired of keeping pace behind him and swerved into the other lane 
to ride beside him. He said that one minute I was there behind him and 
the next time he looked I was gone. I noticed him letting up on the 
throttle and his head turning from side to side trying to find me and 
the look of relief and surprise on his face when he saw me beside him. 
Evidently he cusses a lot more now, than he used to. Go figure. ;-)

He rides a Harley and I ride a Honda, so our bikes sound different. My 
bike rumbles with a deep grumble that I find both soothing and 
exhilarating. And when I first start it up, it purrs like a sleek 
contented cat. His bike has a more metallic sound to it. It's a deep 
bass, but somehow different than mine. When we are riding together, I've 
noticed that I can create a resonance between the two bikes if I 
maintain just the right distance between us. Too close and the sounds 
are too intense & loud. Too far away and all I can hear is my bike. I 
need to be close enough to hear his bike so that I can match his 
movements more precisely. As I come up behind him and try to find that 
sweet spot, it sounds like the bikes are arguing...until I move a little 
closer and the resonating rhythm settles into place. I can feel it as 
well as hear it.

We've developed our own sign language to use that is effortless now. He 
warns me about gravel or other road hazards, turning (hand signals are 
easier to see than lights), stopping, points of interest and my most 
favorite is when we come to someplace I've never been and there is a 
beautiful vista before us and he sweeps his arm above his head and stops 
with his palm facing up, as if he's presenting me with a priceless gift. 
It makes me smile every time, because he "gets" it - he sees beyond the 
seven wonders of the world and knows that there are at least seven 
million wondrous things for us to explore.



Riding the Cherohala Skyway together....
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2296216679590.124045.1074294432&type=1&l=6adb3dc483