Thoughts for the day-Hemingway

Day Eight

I said goodbye to George.  He rode back to his RV and wife.  Alone, I head northeast towards another adventure.

Heading to Cooke City you ride through Lamar valley.  A spectacular valley.  Something from a Hollywood cowboy movie.  But it is not a movie.  It is real.  I am here in awe, sucking it all in.  The expanse of the horizon is stunningly  peaceful.  The buffalo are grazing, a river runs through it and there are some old barns from long ago.

I leave Yellowstone.  A little sad, I am not sure when I shall return.  I do intend to do so.  But I have the Beartooth Highway ahead of me.

The Beartooth Highway is another masterpiece of engineering.  Apparently some folks in Montana started building it without Federal funding.  There is probably no good reason to build this road unless you are in Red Lodge Montana.  It is in pretty damned remote part of the world. They eventually got the Feds to complete it.  I am glad they did.

Butt puckering moments were rare on this trip.  I pulled onto an overlook to take some pictures.  Pulling back onto the highway I was a bit too generous with the throttle.  The rear slid out on some gravel.  I saved it.  Probably would not have hurt…too much. 

So I ride the switchbacks up and up.  I get in a rhythm.  This road definitely does not take the shortest route between two points. 

The pass crests at  10,947 feet.  This is a road that is very unforgiving of mistakes.  I make none.  Another rider is not so lucky.  Near the top of the pass a rider is down.  He has several people attending him.  He is in the middle of the west bound lane and they are moving traffic around him. 

I feel bad for him or her. It is probably a two hour drive for any ambulance.  Then two hours to a hospital.  I wonder if they have such things as life flight that services the tops of mountains? 

The switchbacks seem a little tighter going down the east side of the mountain.  Close to half of the vehicle on the road are motorcycles.  It is too treacherous for RVs.  My kind of road.   

I ride into Red Lodge Montana and get some dinner.  It seems like most of the town is sold out.

It is 60 miles to Billings Montana.  Another hour in the saddle.  I can do that.  I roll in as the sun is setting.  Twelve hours in the saddle.  I feel like a cowboy, a tired cowboy.

 

Now it all makes sense

Sex scandal hall of fames

Under that category of things that bemuse me.

I have been watching House of Cards. “A great man once said, everything is about sex. Except sex. Sex is about power.”  Thanks Frank Underwood.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/ceo-affairs_n_2103360.html?utm_hp_ref=infidelity

Such arrogance.  Such selfishness.  Such manipulation.  They failed as leaders.  They lied.  They  completely disrespected their wives.

Politicians are some of the best adulterers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jess-carbino/top-10-political-sex-scandals_b_5115331.html

No my ex-wife did not make it on here.  Not yet.

I sit back and observe people motivations and life. 

I’ll get off my high horse now.

Day 8

I woke up in one of the best places in the world.  It gets cold in Yellowstone.  On August 1, 2015 there is frost covering the table and my motorcycle.

 

I wash down a quick breakfast of some granola type bars and jerky with some cold water.  I pack up my home for the night.  I am look forward to another great day.  Today, I will find some buffalo, visit a majestic waterfall, and ride the Beartooth Highway. 

The Beartooth Pass/Highway is one of the top scenic roads in the world.  I have planned to drive or ride this road again form many years.  I am ready to go back and do it again.

George comes out and we talk about life.  We talk about women, kids,  divorce and motorcycles.  I tell him I am going through Sturgis.  He tells me that is too wild for him.  He has seen a lot.

He brings me a condensed bible and assures me that all of the answers are in it.  I accept his gift.

He decides he want to go for a ride with me.  I am a little wary as I had my people fix and am good for another week.  I am pretty comfortable about traveling alone. 

Nonetheless, George needs to get out so I agree.  His wife seems content sitting in the RV and watching TV.  She never did step outside while I was there.

We suit up and go visit the waterfall.

 

We tangled with some buffalo with no respect for the right of way. 

 

We visit Yellowstone Lake. 

I buy him lunch and we go our separate ways.

 

Quote for the day

He has a quiet confidence that screams loud

He is humble, but strong

He is stable but rebellious

He is giving , but not naïve

He chooses his battles wisely

He’ll stay silent until it’s time to fight…

And when that time comes; fight he does

 

Jordon Sarah Weatherhead

2015

2015 was a pretty good year. 

I used all of my vacation days.  As I grow older I focus more on experiences rather than material things. 

This is not to say that I am not continuing to pull the plow to pay for those experiences and material things.  Sometimes the harness of that plow is painful and it has left some scars.  I do like my shiny toys but at this point I am pretty satisfied with the fleet and my home.

I took two trips to Florida.  I do like those crashing waves, sunshine, and beach walks.  Key West was fun.

I skied in the mountains of Colorado.

I rode my motorcycle across the plains and into the mountains.  I rode on some of the best roads the world has to offer.  I did it!

My youngest son got married.  It was a beautiful wedding.  His bride is wonderful.

I cruised the Spanish coast on a beautiful ship.  I stood on top of the rock of Gibraltar.  Visited Rome and the Vatican City.   Saw the statue of David. 

I ate some good food, heard some good music, and had some good drink.

Damn, that is a pretty long list.

Some of the things that did not go so well.

 I have had some health issues. 

My love life was not entirely satisfying.  I broke up with my girlfriend right before the holidays. 

My mother had a car wreck and a fall.  She has pretty well recovered but these events serve as reminder that she is only one bad incident from a very significant lifestyle change.