Yearly Goal met, and re-set

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Two years ago a buddy and I did what I jokingly call a " tin butt" ..... 5500 miles in 11 days. That's an average of 500 miles a day, although some days were shorter and some days were longer. I'd have to look it up but I think the longest was about 700 miles and the shortest a little over 300 or so. Lowest temp on the trip was 30 on Pikes Peak, highest was 105 between San Fran and Sacremento (stuck in horrrible traffic uggg). We were also stuck in bumper to bumper Denver traffic in a toad strangler rain that was not fun, and we got chased by tornados crossing south eastern Wyoming. It was pretty grueling. We rode all day every day. There wasn't much getting off and walking around site seeing lol. We saw everything from the saddle basically. It was ride, eat a quick lunch at a McDonalds, ride, get a hotel room and sleep. Repeat next day and every day. we rode about 10-12 hours a day. I was so bushed by the time I got home, I took the next day off from riding (but was back on two wheels the following day lol).

My goal is simple, ride every day I feel like riding and if I don't feel like riding don't. Setting a days riding goal or a mileage ridden goal is a personal incentive thing and something that helps me decide if I really feel like riding some days. You know, when it's a little chilly, and I don't like getting cold, so I question riding, and then I think if I don't ride I won't make that goal, so I get dressed and ride... And I always enjoy the ride. WHen I come home my wife will always ask " How was your ride?" And I always reply " it was good, they are all good"... And I mean it. When I get out on 2 wheels, all is right in my world, whether it's hot or cold, or wet doesn't matter.

Look there are people that are just tougher than other people. Extreme mountain climbers, Marathoners, Iron Man competitors, Iron Butt Rally riders, guys,and gals, who ride motorcycles around the world through third world countries come to mind, but they still suffer, a lot. It is never easy and it is never totally safe, but a challenge some feel the need to accept. I understand that. I am just not amongst them.

Very well-said.

And the fact is, having watched many of these people and the trajectory of their lives for over 30 years, I have seen that this obsessive pushing to reach an ephemeral, ever-retreating goal usually leaves the person in a shambles. Personal health wrecked, finances depleted.

When we're younger we think we'd like to be "up with those guys" in the esteem of our peers. Now I see those "peers" and what's become of them by always having to go over the top, one-up on everyone else, and it has not turned out well for any of them. Not a one.

There will always be someone with more money, better-looking, who has ridden farther, has more bikes, and so on.

But I picture guys like The ferret and think, "Here is a guy who has a level of thoughtful humility that's got him toward the end of the line in pretty good shape, with a lot to show for himself."

There's nothing extreme, no one "great moment" maybe, but it takes a heck of a lot of patience to pass over the temptations to do things that might put family and finances in jeopardy, for a bit of glory among the peers at the frathouse, roadhouse, or elsewhere.

Ulvetanna, those are great words to live by.

Humility. Self-respect. Perspective. Virtue.

Ulvetanna, those are great words to live by.

Humility. Self-respect. Perspective. Virtue. You found it! Ulvetanna. "Wolf Fang"