Yesterday morning’s commute to work took place in a damp, cool fog. Awareness heightens when the riding environment presses more strongly – rain, cold, darkness, fog, wind, or even traffic. That awareness is as if a light has been turned on in a dark room. It’s quietly exciting and it’s something I have always been drawn towards. When I stop to make photographs I am often searching for evidence of that change in awareness and try to capture the elements responsible for the change. The shift in awareness is consistent while riding. I’ve also encountered in sailing in the ocean in foul weather or backpacking in the winter. It occurs on walks with my wife on cool nights in our neighborhood while looking at the stars. But with riding it always happens and since I ride almost everyday I get to see the world a little differently with great frequency.
I stumbled across a passage in a book I am reading, “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner, that clearly describes the physical, spiritual and emotional response that I experience and I thought I should share it with you.
“…walks along the shore amid tempests of wind and rain, with a fire and a cup of tea and the sure affections of a sheltered house afterward. Exposure followed by sanctuary was somehow part of Grandmother’s emotional need, and it turned out to be the pattern of her life.”
Reading that passage things came together for me in one of those moments of clarity. A pattern has existed in my life. I push myself through exposure to the elements, through physical challenges but there is always a promise of sanctuary at the end of the road. A cup of tea at a cafe, a warm house, a cozy sleeping bag, a dry cabin on a boat. I ride for the shift in awareness, I knew that, but now I know that there is an additional element that is essential to me – the sanctuary of shelter, friends and family.
Everything I needed to know in life I learned from riding a motorcycle. Riding is an oracle that channels and amplifies the really important stuff. It doesn’t do any good if there’s no outlet for it.
Yesterday Katie and I were having coffee, sitting outside and enjoying what was left of the afternoon. The shop is beside a large department store. Ok, ok, it was a Starbucks. It’s our sanctuary from the work day where we reconnect and share experiences. While we were sitting there, my biological mother and grandmother came along. Not long afterwards, Katie’s sister and my nephew came by.
I remarked later to Katie that I enjoyed having two disparate sides to my personality. The iron-faced wild man most people see and the “gentle giant” side that family sees.
It’s an extension of what you wrote. Your photos are inspiring in that they stir emotions when I see them. Better yet, this post has given me the gift of provoking contemplation. I thank you for that.
Dan
Well put. Iguess I can relate to that as well. When it’s cold I always look forward to the Sauna. (Ive got one of those, but no fireplace). Thanks for the passage from the book. I think it strikes me the same way — kind of a “yeah, that’s it!”
Hi Steve – I am enjoying your writings and your photos very much! Isn’t scootin’ and shootin’ just the very best!
Steve,
Your post captures my winter riding experience in a nutshell. Though it got mighty uncomfortable at times, there was always the promise of sanctuary nearby, if needed, and at the end of the journey for sure. That is the only real advantage of riding in the city.
Ride well,
=gc=
irondad: I wish I did not allow such a huge gap between my teenage riding and senior citizen riding…. I need to learn a lot now.
I like stopping at places like Starbucks but more often patronize the cafe at Barnes and Noble. They are great places to relax and catch up and like you indicate you never know who you’ll run into. They exaggerate the small world phenomena.
I’m glad the photos provide some inspiration. I enjoy sharing them with people who really look at them.
pb2: A sauna would be nice. Real nice. I want one of those. I used to have a woodburner several houses ago, I would sit next to it after being out in the cold and just pass out.
sarah: Scooting and shooting go together well for me. I just need to remember to not always shoot pictures of the Vespa.
Gary: Your blog is what got me started and I really related to your winter experience. It is a great time to ride.