I've been home from Angola for a week now. After a month at work following the completion of the joy ride. A number of things have come up for me, but I must admit sitting in the retained beauty of the vastness of this ride. I admit missing the open road and the beauty of not knowing what is just over the next hill. Or seeing the full extent of what is to come. Both of beauty and requiring in patience and faith. The essence of what life is about.. Beauty, patience and faith.. in whatever you want to have faith in. For me, the return to my bike and riding here in the waning summer days has been different. While I still want to go balls out 100%, I think that I've somehow redefined what that means to me and how I am being on the bike. Strength comes and goes and the job I see for me to find joy is to couple the reality of my physical situation with the level of output I am willing to have. Too much, and Im depleted. Too little, and I may as well be at home working in the garden. The nature of the bike is to continuously remind me to choose and to be present and aware of that choice. To always admire and appreciate that which is around me, and that which I am. Powerful, demure, in relation and vigilant. A meditation. And one especially awesome when I am in balance. and it doesn't hurt to have some blasting music on periodically.
I rode Diablo to the summit on 2 out of the past 3 days. A new dance both times and interesting change in style and pace for me. More of appreciation for the style of riding that Bob does. In balance and more of an appreciation of the riding rather than the goal of completion; which is often my motivation. So, Bobby; thanks for that inspiration, and thanks to you Steve for speaking the word Patience on so many mornings when we were looking into the days ride. Patience, peace & beauty. Awesome.
d
