Rural Gladwin

Well, the inevitable seemed to arrive today. Temps looking out the window were mid thirties and the forecast was calling for snow. By nightfall the northern mitt would have 3 inches, and scattered flurries here in middle Michigan.

Today might be the last time this season that I would get to mount up and take my ride for a final spin.
"You accept the risk while
the reward seems to be the
freedom of the ride and some
rather primal sense that you
have become more alive
for having taken the risk..." After that it would be time to tuck Harley in. A well prepared niche in my neatly groomed garage awaited. I guess I was especially sad at the passing of Fall this year, simply because Harley was still so new. I had only taken delivery of this bike at the very end of summer.

I had managed 1100 miles to date, and it was time for Harley's return visit to the dealer. My first service check since I took delivery would include fresh oil, the installation of a winter battery harness, and a few other odds and ends.

It was bitter cold and windy as I fired up the big VTwin. The engine breathed heavily, kinda like it was awakened from a deep slumber. Harley leaned sleepily on the kickstand at idle while I layered my clothes well. The piercing winds outside convinced me that it was to my advantage the ride to C&S would be short.

There were other things moving inside me though. Those feelings convinced me that the fantastic Fall rides I had just weeks earlier would be deeply missed.

I remembered my first 2 wheeled trip to the rural Gladwin area. It was 8:45 am on a Saturday and 57 degrees outside. The sun was shining and the brisk fall air was plentiful. A few clouds dotted the morning sky as I prepped for one of my longer solo rides on my new bike. Both my sisters and their families were camping up in that direction, and none had met Harley yet. Harley had become the newest family member of mine, so it was appropriate to introduce him to all those in my greater family at large. My Mom and Dad had already had that opportunity...lol.

Moving outland, I selected a scenic route on two lane blacktop amid the heart of Amish country. Despite the deer crossing danger I opted for the rural countryside so I could poke along and stay a bit warmer on the drive north.

It was pretty chilly indeed. In an oddly interestingly way however it was a very provoking chill. A chill that seemed to somehow awaken my senses to more fully appreciate the dawn of the beautiful fall morning. I am always amazed that when riding Harley I am continually stirred from a rather lethargic sense of comfort (that seems to dull my soul) into a much more raw but endearing zone of sensory stimulation. One just kinda feels more "alive".

I had the two lane roads all to myself, happening by chance upon but one Amish carriage. It transported two country women to some presupposed agrarian destination. The cold wind made my eyes water. It was a small distraction as I viewed the open sky so rich in blue hues. The dapple of sun penetrating the leaves of shadowy trees warmed my heart.

I do tend to get a bit paranoid of deer in the country in the early morning. But I suppose even those worries tend to serve their purpose. I observed the remains of several bugs splattered against my batwing. The insects seemed too small to dare assault the might of my two wheeled thunder. Yet as life would have it, I too could be just as easily splattered by the morning antics of some bush feed deer. I would have about as much chance as the insects did.

Bike training schools speak well on the issue of risk management. The points made there are best taken seriously. Still, I suppose it is the risk in riding that somehow adds to the adventure. There is always that "edginess" in riding Harley. You accept the risk while the reward seems to be the freedom of the ride and some rather primal sense that you have become more alive for having taken the risk.

It was a nice visit with family. Harley attracted a big crowd and got lots of attention while parked comfortably, glistening in the morning sun.

There was left but one stretch of country road before I would intersect the highway and make my way home. The sun started warming my leather while the heat of the V Twin nurtured my legs. It was a pleasant warmth that chased away the inner chill from the ride north. The expressway lay ahead, amuck with traffic and road construction. It was the faster - though less adventurous way.

Even Mt. Pleasant seemed less drab on the way home that morning. The sun was vibrant and the rumble of the motor beneath me made me too happy to be sad. I seemed to hold a special secret that day, believing most everybody in town missed the best part of the day. They were bike-less and asleep in some lethargic comfort zone, confined within the city limits.

Well, that was then. Now it was time to park Harley, plug in the battery harness, and prepare for a long winter's rest. Knowing this had probably been our last dance till the dawn of Spring made me feel bit discomforted. The clutch felt cold in my hand as I slipped the tranny into neutral. I dismounted, closed the garage door, and went in the house. Grabbing this months issue of a favorite Harley magazine there seemed like only a few things for me to be able to do now. I could read about bikes, dream of future riding adventures, and reflect fondly on the few rides that I was able to enjoy before the snows had hit.

Like the time Harley and I were in Houghton Lake. Ooops...well.... maybe next month.

-JR
Posted 12/04/2003

Dr. Joseph Rivard, PhD, is an educator, motorcycle enthusiast, and former competitive handgunner. He has written extensively on topics related to the field of education, and now enjoys writing for pleasure about his newest passion - riding his Harley across the backroads of Michigan.

Joseph was born and raised in Michigan, but feels he is only beginning to appreciate the hidden beauty of the rural areas now that he is seeing it from a two wheel perspective. Joseph lives in Mt. Pleasant and looks forward to meeting new friends and fellow riders as he seeks out the best in 2 lane blacktop across the state. When not riding or working, Dr. Rivard spends much of his personal time with family, which includes his best buddy {who gets around on four paws}.

©Copyright 2006, Joseph Rivard, all rights reserved. No text, graphic, or video found on this site may be archived or redistributed without written consent of the publisher, Lee Wonnacott, Kannapolis, NC. Copyright 2006.