That First Ride

The beginning , for me , was about adding a hobby and answering the original question of “why not?”. The more i rode that little Suzuki, the more i realized that what was happening was not just a fun thing, a joke, but an outlet in what is and has been hectic life.   The hum of that GS 550  on a quiet rural highway evoked a sense of isolation and freedom that at this point in my life i had never noticed before.

The first time i ventured away from my suburb , i felt unsure of both my skills as a rider and the reliability of my machine.   Once i arrived at my destination, (over an hour away), i felt a sense of relaxation take over.   I made it.   I didn’t know where i was going, but that was not important.  I rode until i felt like stopping and then enjoyed the sites, had some lunch, and then rode home.  On that first trip, i encountered many other riders, on their massive cruisers, touring bikes, and even trikes.   Regardless of the demographics, the type of rider i crossed, i knew that i had made it.   Smiles, head nods, and that obligatory biker wave were all regular steps in my half day adventure on this old Suzuki.

This was just the beginning for me.   I knew that as long as my machine was up for the task, i would push it further and further .

 

My midlife motorcycle journey was just beginning.