In having gotten the BV250 last October and not having had the opportunity to take the course which would score me the motorcycle endorsement on my license until May I was essentially a reverse vampire for over half a year in having to be back home each evening before sundown. With dark arriving in this part of Pennsylvania between 4 and 5 PM when the days are shortest, I didn't have a whole lot of time to ride anywhere after work. Add to the mix that I had to take my daughter to and from school on my own way to school every day and that I couldn't carry a passenger without the official "M" and I was even more limited. Factor in the bad weather days as well and my riding dance card went empty on a lot of days and even for a few weeks at a stretch when we were in the middle of "enjoying" the kinds of temperatures that melted the road ice by day and then froze it up again at night.
I like riding after dark not only because I can thumb my nose at the old limitation but because I find it uniquely peaceful. Yeah, there's the alertness that has to be a bit more keen when the sun is down, but overall there's a special kind of serenity I find in night riding, even now when it's chilly enough to need a jacket. The riding introspection that I wrote about a long time ago seems even deeper in the dark. I can't say that I'm figuring much out by way of personal philosophizing, but I do enjoy chasing after my thoughts as they lead me to wherever they're going. When I'm not so tired as to be falling asleep on the couch before Jeopardy's over, I'll be out and about by moonlight when I can be!
3 comments:
I love driving after dark. It's also nice on a bike but no so much as a car for me. I guess it's the farm roads I ride. Most of the biggest, juiciest bugs are out then.
There's fewer bugs on the freeway. Maybe because all the traffic blows them away. Who wants to drone down the interstate at night, though? Or anytime for that matter?
Joe, like you I enjoy riding at night. There is something about the focus required, the feel of the evening air...
Joe, thanks for this post. I just recently rode at night. Being enveloped by the cool dark was a great feeling. My wife doesn't like me to do this too much, but it was a nice experience.
Post a Comment