I've been asked "Why do y'all do that? What fun could it be to ride your motorcycle a couple hundred miles in the cold and rain, set up a tent and camp and ride in cold, rainy, winter weather?" "How can that be fun?"
I truly couldn't answer at the time, other than using the T shirt slogan "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". But that's too easy, and too cheesy. I tried to put it into words, saying things like "It's just what we do" or "Anybody can ride when the weather's nice - this separates the men from the boys".
I don't know why, but it occurred to me the other night. As you probably know, I read a lot, and watch a lot of movies. There's a character type that is common to most genres. The guy who finds himself in all kinds of dangerous, dirty, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright stupid situations. He's often a guy who could avoid such situations, but doesn't. Sometimes, it's his profession that puts him in the situations. He just can't seem to stay home and be warm, dry, comfy and safe. He's the grownup version of the kid who didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain. He's the hero of the story. He's Indiana Jones looking for treasures of lost civilizations. He's Sir Galahad on a quest for the Holy Grail. He's Aragorn, journeying to Mordor to help fight off ultimate evil. Dr Livingstone, traipsing around the darkest jungles of Africa.
Well, there aren't really any frontiers left anymore. Sure, there are wars, and most bikers have served (some serve still) in the military, but it's just not the same kind of adventure. And THAT, my friends, is why we do what we do. Usually it's fun, but sometimes it gets uncomfortable, wet, messy, even stupidly dangerous. And you know what? At that point, when the outcome of the next hour, or even the next bend in the road becomes uncertain? Yeah, that's when it's REALLY fun.
So, it boils down to this: We are Indiana Jones, Sir Galahad, Aragorn, Huck Finn, Lewis & Clark. We are Adventurers.
I truly couldn't answer at the time, other than using the T shirt slogan "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". But that's too easy, and too cheesy. I tried to put it into words, saying things like "It's just what we do" or "Anybody can ride when the weather's nice - this separates the men from the boys".
I don't know why, but it occurred to me the other night. As you probably know, I read a lot, and watch a lot of movies. There's a character type that is common to most genres. The guy who finds himself in all kinds of dangerous, dirty, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright stupid situations. He's often a guy who could avoid such situations, but doesn't. Sometimes, it's his profession that puts him in the situations. He just can't seem to stay home and be warm, dry, comfy and safe. He's the grownup version of the kid who didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain. He's the hero of the story. He's Indiana Jones looking for treasures of lost civilizations. He's Sir Galahad on a quest for the Holy Grail. He's Aragorn, journeying to Mordor to help fight off ultimate evil. Dr Livingstone, traipsing around the darkest jungles of Africa.
Well, there aren't really any frontiers left anymore. Sure, there are wars, and most bikers have served (some serve still) in the military, but it's just not the same kind of adventure. And THAT, my friends, is why we do what we do. Usually it's fun, but sometimes it gets uncomfortable, wet, messy, even stupidly dangerous. And you know what? At that point, when the outcome of the next hour, or even the next bend in the road becomes uncertain? Yeah, that's when it's REALLY fun.
So, it boils down to this: We are Indiana Jones, Sir Galahad, Aragorn, Huck Finn, Lewis & Clark. We are Adventurers.
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