We can talk more about it when you get back from Woodstock.

You’ve got the bar set kind of high in SITS. I’ll have to think about your offer. I’m honored that you suggested it though.

I’ll have to let you do a guess blog post Paul — photos, text, motorcycles, philosophy, whatever.You have lots to say and share.

Michael B:

I see now that I did misread your original statement, as you were tying violent nature to the “enjoyment” of hunting. So for my misunderstanding I do apologize.

However, having said that, I will say that there are millions of Americans who “enjoy” hunting, for all that hunting encompasses (the ritual, being in the woods, the gear, our co-hunters, etc.) — but again, we are not “violent” by nature.

That is my final word on this subject. . . and now we return to Steve’s regularly scheduled input of outstanding photography and two-wheeled philosophy.

Ah, Kitty, I think you misunderstood my comments about hunting. There is no sentence indicating that I’m against it (no need to charge it with emotions). I said that hunting may be necessary.
Hunting for needed food, hunting to control population of over-bred animals, for example. If I lived in wilderness, like Alaska or the Yukon Territories, perhaps I’d be hunting too, to put food on my table. At the same time would I enjoy it? Do I enjoy going to a grocery store and looking for a steak or buying lamb loin chops? I do it because it’s necessary sometimes. If someone enjoys killing that indicates the person
is in a not very evolved state. How can it be otherwise? One can enjoy being in nature and looking at animals, but if that individual enjoys pulling the trigger, seeing the animal collapse and its blood flowing out, that person has violence bottled up inside. How can it be otherwise? The act of killing is violence (please don’t attach emotions to it, look at it from strictly mechanical point of you). Thus, the enjoyment of killing is an enjoyment of violence. Do peaceful people enjoy violence?

I read the comment about bottled up violence but was too tired to comment. I’ve never “felt” violent when I hunted but my memory may be clouded by nostalgic recall since it has been over 40 years since I walked in the woods with a gun. My recollections of hunting are mostly positive and revolve around being with my father and friends. The actual hunting part seemed incidental to the experience. That probably was what I brought to it. I liked being in the woods, I liked the ritual, and I liked shooting the gun though I was a terrible shot.

I suppose I can’t deny the actual shooting of a rabbit or squirrel or deer is violent. I’m familiar with the effect of a projectile. But to ascribe violent intent to the hunter is a stretch. A big one that I don’t agree with. People hunt for a lot of reasons. I know hunters who have little interest in the ritual or the outdoors — they’re after food. And others who fall closer to where I was. And I’m certain there are men and women who bring violent or destructive intent to the field and forest. Just like in any other activity in the world.

Working where I do I’ve spent considerable time over the years with researchers who study deer in the forests of Pennsylvania and hunters are a critical resource in managing the deer population. In some more heavily urban or suburban settings where hunting is not allowed there have been instances of professional bow hunters being contracted to remove the deer. Foresters blame them for the lack of oak regeneration and drivers and riders bemoan the interactions they have with them.

I don’t want to start a hunting discussion but Michael would probably need to illuminate his thoughts around bottled up violence before we can really understand where he’s going. Right now, for me, hunting isn’t anymore violent than the fate of the animals I eat for dinner. I admit having pondered questions about that process from time to time but violence still doesn’t figure into it. For me at least.

I guess I realized it wasn’t really abandoned but it was obvious that the amount of traffic was low. You’re exactly right about the parallel path with I-80 — like you I’ve often thought that stretch of road is beautiful but had no idea that little road was there. Nice to know that there are some more places to explore. A couple side roads are on my list.

Where is that artesian well???

Thank you Michael. I appreciate the words of support.

Ride safe on your V-strom!