When it comes to riding motorcycles, riders are at the whim of the weather. Looming storm clouds gave me an “iffy” feeling about a ride. But my weather app said storms weren’t expected until later in the afternoon, so we headed out despite the skies looking ready to open up at any moment. As long as the rain held off, it was a perfect day for a ride. The temperature was in the low 80s and, even with the large clouds, the humidity wasn’t too bad, making the ride quite comfortable.
I remembered to lift up my kickstand before shifting into first starting off the ride right. Before we headed out, I spotted three different butterflies—a black swallowtail, an Aphrodite fritillary, and a cabbage white. I thought that meant I’d have a butterfly filled ride, but those three were it!
However, I did see signs of autumn’s approach. We passed several larger flocks of geese with two different groups crossing the road in front of us. Our engine roars also disturbed a flock of robins who’ve been congregating more as they prepare for their annual migration.
The pine trees have also begun shedding their needles leaving clumps of brown needles along the berm of the roads and a delicious piney scent in the air. But not every scent in the air is pleasant from the seat of a motorcycle. As we rode past where the river abuts the road, I noticed a furry clump on the berm what looked to be a run over muskrat. Heading out for the ride, I did what I always do when spotting anything like roadkill; I held my breath until we were well past.
Soon after passing, we rode past a clump of gardenias in bloom, and I breathed in their sweet scent deeply knowing they won’t be blooming for much longer. I love the colors of the flowers under cloudy skies. They seem like a muted oil painting adding splashes of color to the deep greens but not vivid bouquets dominating the landscape. I looked for changing leaves among the trees but didn’t notice too many though the Japanese maples are beginning to deepen in color.
My ride went well, no mis-shifts at all, though my U-turns were kind of lazy and wider than when I really work them. I didn’t mind; I needed this ride to restore me after my first week back with students; kids are energy vampires and they had zapped me. So my ride was in part restorative. But I did have one major slip up.
As we headed back up the river road, and since we were on the opposite side from the dead muskrat, I wasn’t as focused on my breathing as I should’ve been. I caught a whiff of roadkill through my helmet vents (thank goodness my visor was down). The scent of decay lingered until I passed a large stand of crape myrtles and was able to breathe in deeply their fresh, clean scent. But I’ve learned that even when I desperately need a relaxing ride, I can’t relax my road awareness even for a moment. If I do, the consequences can be nasty.
I did spot several vultures during the ride, but they hadn’t found the muskrat yet. It did remind me of the ride where Bill on the Rocket startled a group of vultures dining on some roadkill once. Even roadkill needs defensive riding when on a motorcycle.
Hopefully, next week’s ride will give further hints of autumn with less unpleasantness.
Flutterby Biker 