On the road you meet people you never would have in your ordinary life. Those encounters are then extraordinary and enlightening
Two men stand out from this trip. Their names are not important, nor do I suspect they ’ll remember our on the road discussions – but, I will.
As we left Billings, MT heading toward Beartooth Pass we stopped for a photo of the recent snow and ice capped lake. As we started back to the motorcycle a man approached us. He was well dressed and kept, likely my age – he drove a Cadillac sedan. He commented on my motorcycle and said he use to enjoy (his) motorcycles. He explained be lived in Billings, MT and had many motorcycles in the past and stated that he always wanted to ride (motorcycle) the Beartooth Pass. He went on to explain, he was now “too old” and “busted up” to ride the Beartooth. We shook hands and he walked back to his car and travels.
The following day after traveling the Beartooth – which was the BEST road I have ever traveled or ridden, I was loading the motorcycle back up for our return to Billings, MT. As I started back to the hotel room to get the rest of my belongings, I happened upon a rider packing his Goldwing Trike and trailer. He asked if I was a rider and where was I from. He was from Canada, a month my junior and had been on the road for about 6 weeks. He explained that he was retired and had been committed to traveling all 48 of the contiguous states not once but twice. Stating he was on round two and was not just passing through a state to say he was there, but he was spending days exploring and absorbing each state. He admitted it was not cheap to do, said he was not rich, stated his children were self-sufficient and not dependent on him– thus his love / commitment to these nomadic travels. He also shared that he was also motivated to travel by his brothers. Both in their 70s and both suffered early dementia and were in convalescent care facilities.
What did these two men / discussions teach me?
- “Too old and busted up” – I see this and hear this often while I am traveling. Perhaps it is true, I do not know, but I sense it is also used (by some) as a self-absolving excuse to take the rocking chair lane in their retirement life. Its beyond me how you can live near such a great road (Beartooth), love motorcycles and find yourself in a position where you never fulfilled a dream to ride a motorcycle 65 miles – albeit on two or three wheels.
- “Goldwing Triker” – This is the spirit I wish to emulate. A modest man, driven as much by his dreams as his fears of the things in life we can not control. In the brief time we spoke, he shared numerous stories and photos – each with energies and excitement of a far younger man. Showing a photo of himself against a 12’ snow wall in Beartooth – the photo and discussion akin to a child’s first snowstorm.
We cannot control when we will break. But we can control how we live until we are broken.
Perhaps Jack Kerouac put it best “ Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain “
