Clarksville, TN – There’s no question that if you live in my part of the country, you realize we experience a special kind of summer. While other parts of the country say “it’s a different kind of heat,” or, “it doesn’t feel that hot here,” in my neck of the woods, it can be BRUTAL!
People who visit Tennessee this time of the year, always comment that “if it weren’t for the humidity, it wouldn’t be that bad.” Make no mistake, it can get HOT here, and when you’re sitting on a motorcycle, with the heat rising from the engine, then it’s a special kind of hot.
But I LOVE it! Because I’m riding and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Now, if I had my “druthers” I would rather ride in cooler weather, but it is what it is.
I took two trips to the Gulf Coast in June. Both times, the heat just brutalized me. Sitting at a traffic light is the worst, no, sitting in stalled traffic is the worst. But at the end of the day, I’m riding my beautiful black thoroughbred and there’s nothing like it!
People look over at me and I’m sure they’re saying, “I bet that guy is roasting!” or, “What an idiot” but I don’t care. I’m not doing this for them.
To be honest with you, when you throttle up and the wind starts churning through your sweat soaked shirt, or you pull your jeans up past your ankles and the wind blows up your leg, it’s a wonderful thing. (It’s the little things you know).
The bottom line for me is that I never EVER thought I would push myself to this lifestyle at this stage of my life. I’ve said it many times before. So the adrenaline rush, the danger, the excitement and all the emotions that come with being a biker, is what I live for.
I can always take a shower, wash my sweaty clothes, or maybe just go jump in the pool afterwards.
I see too many people who’ve reached this stage of their life just sitting around with nothing to do. They don’t want to, or they can’t. I respect that, but that’s just not me.
I don’t know what the future holds, but while I’m willing and able, I’m going to ride.
I discovered this lifestyle at a time in my life when I needed it most, so I’m DAMN sure not going to complain about it (doesn’t do any good anyway).
So I don’t complain so much about the heat, I just ride it out until cooler days arrive. All of these things help us all appreciate the good things in our life. The people I’ve met along the way are a blessing and I wouldn’t have met them if it hadn’t been for this bike.
So, take precautions while riding in this heat. Respect the elements. Hydrate, take breaks, and just be smart with this heat.
If I could live forever, I would ride forever! Thanks for following my journey.
