“Gotta keep rollin, gotta keep ridin’, keep searchin’ till I find what’s right
And as the sunset faded I spoke to the faintest first starlight
And I said next time, Next time We’ll get it right”
-Roll Me Away by Bob Seger
These are strange times indeed my friends. It’s my sincere hope that the tragic events of this spring will soon come to a close and we can all get back together, meet up, socialize, ride, meet for a beer; but as I write this we are in the midst of a crisis that is putting its ugly hand on all of us in one way or another.
My riding partner Bob Walden expressing his opinion. He’d have loved this article.
The last month has been unusual to say the least in many respects. A month that’s introduced “social distancing” into the vernacular. As a motorcyclist I can’t say life has changed very drastically, I think we are by nature social distancers, preferring to get away as often as possible on a bike and inside a helmet. I go to work, I stop by Lost Tavern, I go home, weekends I ride. Social distancing was/is easy for me except for the missing proximity of a smiling face or the warm embrace of those I’ve become accustomed to seeing as the weekend rolls around.
I’ve read comments by fellow motorcyclists over the last few weeks complaining about not being able to ride; but I never stopped. The thought made little sense to me. I’ve withstood some criticism for doing so; but I’m ok with that. I couldn’t imagine stopping living to wait out anything in life. Life is for living and I’m never more alive than when riding. That isn’t to say I’ve been irresponsible; I just believe it’s ok not to give up something that hurts no one and provides so much.
Social distancing doesn’t mean suffering off the bike, it just means keeping your distance and that’s easy enough to do from the saddle under a helmet. Even a short ride around the block can be a suave for the soul in a time when self-sacrifice is being asked of everyone. In response to the question “what if you crash and need hospitalization?” I can only respond with facts 1) I’ve been riding for over 20 years, 2) I’ve covered over 200,000 miles, 3) I’ve been down twice and never needed so much as a band-aid, 4) There has never in my lifetime been so few cars on the road. 5) There is plenty to be done around the home that can, and often does, result in serious injury. So I continue to ride to the office, to the market, as intently and as focused as always.
There are critics and judges everywhere, particularly on social media, which is why I take breaks from it now and then to remember what it feels like to just simply be, on my own terms without a second thought given to those would choose to explain how I should act, what I should ride, eat, drink, believe or enjoy. There is laudable self-sacrifice and there is self congratulatory, meaningless self-sacrifice. I admire the former; but have little respect for the latter.
If there is any good to be seen from the Covid-19 outbreak it’s that many people thought of others, did what was being asked of them without complaint. Lately though I’ve seen others going a step further. Opera singers giving impromptu performances for their neighbors, people supporting local restaurants and businesses they don’t wish to see closed after this is all over, all manner of volunteering, creativity and honest self-sacrifice.
The owner of the company I am fortunate to have worked for over the last 3 years, my friend Ryan Robinson, recently suggested we buy lunch for the local police in my hometown of Hellertown, Pennsylvania (where one of our offices is located). I reached out to the police chief and we arranged for his officers to order and pick-up lunch and dinner on RTR Energy Solutions at Crossroads Hotel, a local staple we visit often for the best pizza you’ll ever taste on us. No strings, no favors, no compensation, just an honest act of kindness to put smiles on some faces and to let them know, as we seldom take the time to, that they are thought of.
There’s no specific reason people do such things; but the great reliever of pain is, always has been, and ever will be love. Motorcyclists have a great capacity for love. I’ve written a few hundred pieces in which I’ve tried to speak to that impulse and where it comes from. It’s an elusive concept to define but I sure do love trying.
Whether we are compassionate souls who discovered riding as an outlet, or troubled souls who were calmed by having discovered it, we should keep riding, both in times of crisis and of calm, if for no other reason than to put more love back into a world that needs as much of it as is possible. Keep riding.
Note: For those who would choose to judge: Some states and localities have laws in place right now (that I do not agree with) against anything other than “necessary travel”. We all need food and supplies, you can ride without breaking any “rules” (don’t waste a keystroke trying to educate me otherwise). Peace.