Wed. Aug.19th 2009
@ Fred Meyer eating a sandwich.
Dropped off the bike at the Harley Dealer. $100 an hour they charge for work! Man alive. What can you do huh?
The Helmet guy at the dealer looked at me and said, "You're a traveler right?" when asking my know edge of the locality. He was pointing me towards a motor sports shop on the outside of town where I might be able to find a new face shield to replace mine which was all scratched up.
The title struck a chord. I'm not a motorcyclist, or a scientist or explorer....I'm just a traveler. As if a body in motion is a perfectly acceptable thing to be...so common in fact that there is a name for these people. Travelers. It fit like a glove.
It's time to plan the escape route.
The locals frown when I tell them I want to ride out before winter. They expect the first snows in maybe a week or so, and full on winter in 3-6 weeks. I'd planned on spending some time here in Fairbanks, but Fireweed has gone to seed, and I've got to get out. My buddy gives me word that no one really expects I'll get out of here with the bike. Man. How do people even know I was coming?!
I always new it was going to be close coming here this late in the season. That was a decision made back in NY....back in June. But then the setbacks in San Fransisco, and Seattle, both taking longer than expected. Dispite the odds though, the risk paid off by making it here, alive, in one piece, and in perfect repair.
All I can think about now is getting back on the bike to ride across the U.S. I'm looking forward to that more than the entire rest of the trip. It's the only thing I ever expected or wanted on this journey. Not that I would/could trade this adventure for all the tea in china.....and I'm not expecting the lower 48 to compare to the Andes, Amazon, or the Northern Rockies(BC, Yukon, AK).
There is the great desire to see my country! I want to see with my own adult eyes this land which I plan to spend the rest of my life in! It's romantic and silly I know, but the idea has been the call to adventure. It got a hold of me, and there will be no peace till the conclusion!
I don't know. These are all big ideas for a little guy. I'll contend, from birth -> death that I will be the least unique person to grace this sweet earth. I don't have refined tastes, manors, speech or written word dispite a good upbringing. My personal endeavors to learn or gain new skills have proven time and time again how uniquely ordinary or average I am.
The line a body must cross to fight against one's nature or accept will always allude me.
At the end of the day, there will be no peace unless something is learned or created. Sleep has never come to be during daylight hours. There is always something which needs mending or making, or further study. And, when those are exhausted, there is one's precious family to love & waist time with:) Family is one of those for granted bonds that can withstand droughts and famine. But even the hardiest plants flourish with love and attention!
Ahh! It's not good to think too much. It get's a body into trouble.
My god I am enjoying this adventure. The inspiring people I meet. The unbelievable adventures and tales of brave ancestors and trail blazers on the Yukon and Alaska. Renewing old friendships, and changing old ones.
Searching for expectations or meaning in unexpected disappointments has been interesting also. On any other adventure there has never been time for that sort of reflection or to ponder "why".
Ha! Anyway! I've got an escape to plan!
