It little profits that an idle Oldun,
Beside this still house, inside this barren garage,
Housing only small-capacity bikes, I polish and clean
V-twins unto a high gleam,
That look good, get me to work, but deliver not
Neck-vertebrae-crunching acceleration.
I cannot rest from travel. Again I will fly
Into LAX. All riding in the US I have enjoyed
Greatly, have also broken down en route to Sturgis '07
Yet though stranded in Wyoming, was not alone;
When through the miracle of cellphones
And exercise of diagnostic skills I was my own mechanic.
Firing up the 502, I dodged deer and hail in '08
And rode from sea to shining sea in '09.
Much riding have I done in parts of the globe;
Roads of dirt and stones, and cobbles,
Collected tickets not least, but paid them all;
And boasted with my peers:
The older I get the faster I was.
I am part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I open the throttle.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To use the time only to polish, not to ride!
The lights must twinkle on the I-5:
Six lanes of traffic, three lanes moving slow; EMS vehicles
Moan round with many sirens. Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to plan a new route to ride.
Whether by Boss, Chopper, Harley, or trike, push off,
And sitting well in the saddle
Hit the gas; for my purpose holds
To ride beyond the state line
And barrel down the interstates
Avoiding semis and RVs, lest I die.
It may be that a state trooper will flag me down,
That water pump or alternator bracket will fail,
Or unscathed I shall again ride Deal’s Gap and the Dragon’s Tail,
With the great brotherhood of riders, few of whom I yet know.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
I am not the highest mileage rider nor yet a speed king,
The miles I ride are on wheels not trailers.
While weak in tech know-how, yet strong in determination
To ride, to arrive, to celebrate, and repeat...
Thoughts On a Slow Night, In A Distant Time Zone
Thoughts On a Slow Night, In A Distant Time Zone
My 100-proof woman
A bottle of 95-proof whiskey
A tank of 90-proof gas
And 502ci of V8 bike
A bottle of 95-proof whiskey
A tank of 90-proof gas
And 502ci of V8 bike
Re: Thoughts On a Slow Night, In A Distant Time Zone
Aarrr Oldun matey. Indeed the slow river runs deep.
Re: Thoughts On a Slow Night, In A Distant Time Zone
That pretty much sums it up Doc! Well written, and well meant! Now, all we need to do is get Bob Seger to put music to it... You'll both be able to retire! And ride!