There are moments when I try to disconnect from politics and the inanities of our failed elected leaders, and I am usually facing west with the arrival of this emotion.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Wade. I always took note of his work on NPR and appreciated how his deadpan, yet droll delivery enhanced my interest in his stories. The fact he would leave his motorcycle to you and that you are honoring him with this trip is testament to the value of your friendship. Against the backdrop of the idiotic posturing in D.C., your missive revives my faith in the concepts of civility and brotherly love.
Thanks, Geoff. I don't think you could have said a kinder thing to me, or made a more poignant statement about Wade and the country in which we presently live. I am pointing east toward home tomorrow morning. Will be close to 3000 miles of riding the WG.
The best way to clear the political miasma and invite inspiration is the WG. This appears to be the true gift Wade bequeathed, and through you, to us all. Thank you, Wade.
Yeah, this has been a great way to think about a good man and a beautiful country and subsume the political noise. I have always known I've preferred road noise.
Thanks J.B. as usual great verbage. And your nounage wasn't bad either. Your words took my mind back to when I could travel. The east was never my favorite. Although shooting the gap up the Great Smokies is a great trip. My favorites are always west. I've never gotten to see the big bend. Though I've been through Winslow many times. IH 10, 20, 40, 80, 25, 8, 15 and more state roads than I can remember, or have room for here. The Mars like terrain of southern Utah is so different from the northern forest of Flag Staff. And you've got me going again. You got my mind off that cliff I'm afraid we might fall over if we're not careful. Bribery and dumb assess pulling fire alarms won't get us where we need to go. God I want to go out west. Thanks again Mr. Moore.
I wish you could go out west because it does have a healing effect on whatever ails a soul just to pass beneath ponderosa pines and look at the landscape. Cures me of every lament.
Color me jealous. Must confess I’ve been something of a disappointment to not just one but two separate canyons. First time, about an hour and a half drive from the Grand one…and never got to see it. Stuck in a motel room near the meteor crater in Winslow, AZ attempting to meet a magazine article deadline, while the rest of the party advanced to the GC. Then, as an alternative to biding time in Lubbock while daughter was spending a day on medical school business at Texas Tech, detoured up to Amarillo so my wife could also experience the colorful glory of Palo Duro Canyon that I had on a previous location scout. About an hour and a half drive, sign at entrance informed THE CANYON WAS CLOSED. How can you close a canyon? Due to flooding, only limited entry at the higher level with distant glimpses at the more colorful terrain below, and running commentary on what we were missing. That sudden startling glimpse into the abyss after tooling along the flat high plains so nonchalantly was still worth the trip.
What a special gift Wade gave you and the stories you are sharing with us now as you ride his motorcycle. I met Wade when I lived in Austin in the early 1990’s and one of my favorite memories with him was attending a Willie Nelson concert at The Backyard. I moved back to Denver but saw him again when he was reporting on the Oklahoma City bombing trial. I always enjoyed his NPR reporting and was saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to you and his family.
You have your priorities straight, Jim Bob. That can be hard to do when we're all overwhelmed by the daily grind. I just spent a week backpacking the Four Pass Loop around the Maroon Bells. My air pad had a slow leak and the ground was freezing cold. And I loved every minute of it.
That's a hike I'd love to do. I love Maroon Bells, one of the most beautiful and obscure of our parks. I used to spend parts of August in Aspen staying with a pal and running up that long road to Maroon Bells, trying to get in early shape to keep my cross country and track scholarship. Toughest run I've ever done on a regular basis.
I am glad you're enjoying your trip with WG, not to mention those crazies Danny and Chris you're with.
Your narrative made me think of a drive I took this summer from Durango to Silverton: majestic scenery, astonishing vistas, but always an unguarded drop-off six feet to my right that had the effect of focusing the mind.
We live in an astonishing, once-in-an-eon polity that represents the best effort yet by men and women to govern themselves,* and our leaders insist on veering towards the edge of the path because, as you write, "their concerns remain power and personal benefit." I hope we realize how precious our patrimony is and save ourselves.
* Of course, we may not be the greatest country ever, and this stress test we are enduring may prove that.
Well, this is probably not the place to go into a long harangue about our national delusions, but we probably haven't been the "greatest country on earth" for some time. We've allowed money to ruin our polity, and we've decided we function better as adversaries than as compatriots, which is the disease that is killing us. I hope we come to our senses, though my optimism wanes daily.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Wade. I always took note of his work on NPR and appreciated how his deadpan, yet droll delivery enhanced my interest in his stories. The fact he would leave his motorcycle to you and that you are honoring him with this trip is testament to the value of your friendship. Against the backdrop of the idiotic posturing in D.C., your missive revives my faith in the concepts of civility and brotherly love.
Thanks, Geoff. I don't think you could have said a kinder thing to me, or made a more poignant statement about Wade and the country in which we presently live. I am pointing east toward home tomorrow morning. Will be close to 3000 miles of riding the WG.
I have a tendency to ride my GTL in the upper rpm range because that sound of the inline 6 is so intoxicating. Another great story, keep em coming.
In sixth gear, at 3500 rpm, you can hardly tell there is a motor spinning 160 HP beneath you. Amazing motorcycle. Let's take spin some time.
The best way to clear the political miasma and invite inspiration is the WG. This appears to be the true gift Wade bequeathed, and through you, to us all. Thank you, Wade.
Yeah, this has been a great way to think about a good man and a beautiful country and subsume the political noise. I have always known I've preferred road noise.
Thanks J.B. as usual great verbage. And your nounage wasn't bad either. Your words took my mind back to when I could travel. The east was never my favorite. Although shooting the gap up the Great Smokies is a great trip. My favorites are always west. I've never gotten to see the big bend. Though I've been through Winslow many times. IH 10, 20, 40, 80, 25, 8, 15 and more state roads than I can remember, or have room for here. The Mars like terrain of southern Utah is so different from the northern forest of Flag Staff. And you've got me going again. You got my mind off that cliff I'm afraid we might fall over if we're not careful. Bribery and dumb assess pulling fire alarms won't get us where we need to go. God I want to go out west. Thanks again Mr. Moore.
I wish you could go out west because it does have a healing effect on whatever ails a soul just to pass beneath ponderosa pines and look at the landscape. Cures me of every lament.
Color me jealous. Must confess I’ve been something of a disappointment to not just one but two separate canyons. First time, about an hour and a half drive from the Grand one…and never got to see it. Stuck in a motel room near the meteor crater in Winslow, AZ attempting to meet a magazine article deadline, while the rest of the party advanced to the GC. Then, as an alternative to biding time in Lubbock while daughter was spending a day on medical school business at Texas Tech, detoured up to Amarillo so my wife could also experience the colorful glory of Palo Duro Canyon that I had on a previous location scout. About an hour and a half drive, sign at entrance informed THE CANYON WAS CLOSED. How can you close a canyon? Due to flooding, only limited entry at the higher level with distant glimpses at the more colorful terrain below, and running commentary on what we were missing. That sudden startling glimpse into the abyss after tooling along the flat high plains so nonchalantly was still worth the trip.
What a special gift Wade gave you and the stories you are sharing with us now as you ride his motorcycle. I met Wade when I lived in Austin in the early 1990’s and one of my favorite memories with him was attending a Willie Nelson concert at The Backyard. I moved back to Denver but saw him again when he was reporting on the Oklahoma City bombing trial. I always enjoyed his NPR reporting and was saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to you and his family.
He was a grand fellow. And I am humbled by his gift and have enjoyed this trip to memorialize him and one of his dreams of cycling around the West.
You have your priorities straight, Jim Bob. That can be hard to do when we're all overwhelmed by the daily grind. I just spent a week backpacking the Four Pass Loop around the Maroon Bells. My air pad had a slow leak and the ground was freezing cold. And I loved every minute of it.
That's a hike I'd love to do. I love Maroon Bells, one of the most beautiful and obscure of our parks. I used to spend parts of August in Aspen staying with a pal and running up that long road to Maroon Bells, trying to get in early shape to keep my cross country and track scholarship. Toughest run I've ever done on a regular basis.
I am glad you're enjoying your trip with WG, not to mention those crazies Danny and Chris you're with.
Your narrative made me think of a drive I took this summer from Durango to Silverton: majestic scenery, astonishing vistas, but always an unguarded drop-off six feet to my right that had the effect of focusing the mind.
We live in an astonishing, once-in-an-eon polity that represents the best effort yet by men and women to govern themselves,* and our leaders insist on veering towards the edge of the path because, as you write, "their concerns remain power and personal benefit." I hope we realize how precious our patrimony is and save ourselves.
* Of course, we may not be the greatest country ever, and this stress test we are enduring may prove that.
Well, this is probably not the place to go into a long harangue about our national delusions, but we probably haven't been the "greatest country on earth" for some time. We've allowed money to ruin our polity, and we've decided we function better as adversaries than as compatriots, which is the disease that is killing us. I hope we come to our senses, though my optimism wanes daily.