Some Thoughts on the Road

Yesterday morning as I rode to the county jail to do volunteer work, I had some wonderful memories in my thoughts.  Not only being Easter, it happened to be our 40th anniversary.

 Some thoughts on the road:

• I'm thankful that Amber agreed to marry me.
• I can't believe she's put up with me all these years.  
• I'm thankful God has blessed us with our family.  
• Forty years ago I didn't know that my love for Amber would be greater today than it was then.
• I wouldn't change a thing.

These years have gone by way too fast.  Treasure each day.

God's speed.

Sunday Morning Ride

I rolled out this morning at about 7:20.  I'm a volunteer chaplain at the county jail.  Every other Sunday morning I do chapel service.  This wasn't my usual morning though, I was filling in for the guy who usually does the 3rd Sunday.

We live on a hill and as usual this time of year, low-lying fog in the valley can be a photographic treat.  

It was the first cold morning of the fall season.  The ride to the jail is only about 16 miles and takes about 20 minutes.  I figure I can take just about anything for 20 minutes if I'm riding.  Since I stopped so many times to take photos my hands got a little cold.  Eventually I didn't want to let go of the heated grips.  Has someone come up with a way to get the foot pegs red hot?

Some might find volunteering at a jail a little different but I really look forward to it.  After all, they're a captive audience.  Sorry, a little jail humor.  The staff at the jail are hard working nice people.  I respect the work that they do and their commitment to keeping the jail safe and secure.  Many of the deputies ride which makes for a nice commonality.

I also look forward to these Sunday morning rides.  Though I ride this route often, on Sunday mornings it unfolds much better than other times.  One never knows what the elements and the early morning light are going to reveal.  And as I've written before, it feels like this time is more solitary than usual.

Once out in the country the temperature got as low as 34F.  This made my temp gauge flash and show the blinking snowflake icon.  No snow this morning though, here is the first sunlight hitting Mt. Hood about 80 miles to the east.

About a mile down the road I stopped again to capture the sun just peeking over the horizon.  I'm looking forward to more Sunday morning rides and what will come with them.  Isn't it great to be riding and enjoying the beauty of the world in which we live?  I don't ever want to take any of this for granted.  Each moment is a gift and I'm grateful.

God's speed.

Early Sunday

My watch said 7:15 but my body said 6:15. The temp gauge said 33 (F) and my body was in full agreement. There were no clouds but fog was in the valley.

And when I got down off the mountain it was nice in the fog with the sun breaking through.

I've written much about my feelings and thoughts on these Sunday rides so I won't bore you with that again. I just wanted to post a few photos to share the moment.

Bluekat commented somewhere the other day about being happy if it stayed daylight savings time all year.  I feel the same way.  I think we did that briefly during the Nixon administration.  And as I remember moms were upset because kids were waiting at bus stops in the dark.

I like the light that daylight savings time has.  More light is good... for riding and photography.

Sunday Morning Ride

 

When I left the house this morning for my ride through the country to the jail, there wasn't rain, fog, or even an nice sunrise. In other words, there was no drama. Since I haven't posted here in a week I was wondering if there would be a unique spot to get a photo that might give some sort of a topic. I continued to ride and think... ride and think... with more riding and thinking. After all that's what this blog is supposed to be about. 

Then I realized that I might not have anything to post from this ride so I relaxed and enjoyed the sights and sounds as usual. I say sounds but actually it was the roar of the wind around my helmet that I happened to notice today. Even with ear plugs when the windshield is adjusted just right the wind has a similar distant roar as on a commercial airplane. Kind of a nice treat to add to the piloting experience.

Just before entering the city where the jail is located there's a natural wetlands that I've written about before called Jackson Bottom Slough. The road at this point is a straight shot right through the wetlands to the city.

Because the road runs north and south it gives good opportunities to see some nice sunrises and sunsets with waterfowl included.

 

The sunrise didn't make a showing this morning with the cloud cover we had but the solitude of the early morning ride and the peaceful scenes were just the right combination to begin the day. Whenever I write about these Sunday morning rides I usually have the thought that I should try this on other mornings too. I do leave early some mornings during the week but there's too much traffic and mental interference. And Saturday mornings are nice but people can usually be out on the road early then too. Then I realize that early Sunday mornings are unique for being on a country road and enjoying the beauty of the things around us whether large or small. 

Today's Morning Ride

 

This morning as I left for the jail about 7:00 it felt almost balmy at 50 (F) with a slight drizzle. As usual, before I left the house I waffled back and forth on whether to ride. The negative pull is it might rain too much and be too dark and even be too foggy in the country. The other thought is after the jail when I go to church the Beemer is the only motorcycle in the parking lot. What if people think I'm crazy riding on a rainy day? Then I think, "Nah, I'm riding."  When it comes to riding I don't care what people think and besides these Sunday morning rides are a personal time of reflection and joy if I may use that word. Joy is not a macho word that guys usually use. Joy is different than happiness. Happiness relies on external things while joy comes from within even in spite of external stuff.

 

As I've written here before I can't express the solitude and feeling of gratitude during this time. I've been riding for less than two years and I don't know how long the good Lord will let me continue but I am grateful for the enjoyment riding provides. I wish that I had stuck with it when I first rode as a teenager but there must be a reason that didn't happen.

 

I guess with riding more senses are being used than when driving. There's the visual stimulation of the beauty around us and the feeling that you're in it instead of just watching it. Then there are the smells, the sound of the exhaust and the vibration while straddling the motor. And finally there's the feeling when accelerating and the feeling of soaring while leaning in and out of curves. All of this is something that not everyone experiences.

Many years ago I use to run everyday for exercise. As with most runners there comes a time when you face knee surgery on one or both knees. When I had my first surgery I remember the doctor telling me that I was part of a subset of the population. Depending on the mileage that runners do it puts them into another subset so that you become a subset of a subset. You get the picture. As riders of motorcycles and scooters we are a subset of the population. Not everyone gets to experience what we do on two wheels.

I really like reading each of your blogs and how riding fits into your lives.  As I write that last sentence I realize that riding and blogging puts us into another subset. And with all of this there's another reason for gratitude. 

Sunday Morning Ride

When I rolled the Beemer out of the garage to head to the jail yesterday morning I could see through the trees that a nice sunrise was developing. It was a brisk 36 (F) but dry and clear as I got on my way. The route takes me west for about the first 10 minutes, so I saw the sunrise develop through an occasional glance at the side mirrors. This shot was taken from a different spot than previous photos as the road goes north. The tree line is different but Mt. Hood is still there in all her majesty.

To see another image from this ride you might visit my other blog, My Digital Worldview.

Sunday Morning Drive

 

The drive through the country to the jail this morning had a mixed bag of fog with ice on the road. Last night I was thinking I might ride but that wouldn't have been a good idea. Riding is always the first choice but sometimes prudence wins out.

 

Looking forward to global warming again. This week should be "nice" as nice goes in December.

Sunday Morning Divine Light

 

As I was leaving for church this morning, the fog mixed with the diffused light from the sun and created an interesting effect.

 

We live on a flag lot so our driveway is fairly long. This morning God gave a unique lighting moment to an ordinary part of landscape that I normally take for granted.

In old testament times God said that the rainbow would be a sign to man of His covenant that He would never again flood the earth. Rainbows are more than a beautiful display of light.

I left the house late this morning even with the change to standard time, but I paused to take a few pictures. The foggy driveway was a reminder of how He can call attention to the beauty of creation while I'm usually concerned with the busyness of life.

Riding and thinking.

Sunday Gift

Yesterday morning was another glorious Sunday ride with God providing the show. This image is almost in the same spot as two weeks ago.

Do you think this is just the sun's light reflecting off of gases and molecules in the atmosphere, or could it be God saying He loves us and He's here?

Riding and thinking...

Sunrise and Tall Grass

As I rode up the driveway this morning a little after 7:00 the temperature on the bike's gauge was 37 degrees. Fall is definitely here.

I do some volunteer work at the county jail every other Sunday morning. These Sunday morning rides are a special time. There's a sense of solitude and a feeling of more awareness than other times of the week. I generally see only a few cars on Sunday mornings so the danger they pose is almost nonexistent. It's a 16 mile trip through the country with interesting photo opportunities.

As I rode west this morning I could see the sunrise developing in my side mirrors. I started thinking of places up ahead where I could get a good view. As I continued to ride, the reflection of the red glare became visible on everything ahead. I was concerned about losing an opportunity before the road turned north where I could get a better angle. Just after the turn north I saw this scene. The bonus was Mt. Hood visible on the horizon.


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We helped our youngest daughter move to a different apartment this weekend. As we made the many trips up and down the steps on the slope down to the apartment, I noticed a cluster of Pampas Grass that became back-lit by the setting sun.

With the afternoon breeze they became slightly out of focus.

This ornamental grass blooms in the late summer and early fall and will be gone for the year in about a month.

When I think about the ride this morning it helps take away the muscle soreness from the move this weekend. I told our daughter we're getting too old to be doing this but that didn't seem to fly with her. It's a good thing she doesn't move often. But she knows we're always available.