Night Ride....

12:30 AM and Baby was still restless, unready to go home after a great day and many miles of unfettered riding. She motored past home toward God knows where. She roared past 18 wheels and 40 tons of kinetic energy as if it were a double dog dare. The nearing lightning and thunder rumble, evident even above Baby's Rythmic thump thump thump told me it was time to coax Baby home. I conned her onto a quiet country road with a promise of unfettered RPM's. She obliged more willing than I, and red-lined in the first 3 gears as the headlight's beam rose skyward in answer to natures siren call to play.

I could feel the energy in the air from natures uninterrupted light show and smell the ominous change. I forced the throttle back and shifted down, stopping Baby for a moment of silence - in memory of a better than usual day. Without warning I killed her powerplant. With Baby almost silenced, I could hear and feel the rumble of the oncoming storm and see the light show. Disobedient, Baby could not be silenced. Her hot chrome popped and tinkled a background chorus to Earth, Wind and Distant Sky Fire. I love storms and I love lighting. I love the smell of rushing rain. I gauged the speed of the not so distant storm to decide how long I could bask in it's play and enjoy it's impending arrival. Baby shared the moment with me, but longed to move. The lightning extended on the horizon from Due South to North North West. 120 degree's of a panoramic Mega-joule light show.

Then, the wind I had only moments ago felt in my face at 5000 RPM roared upon me as I stood almost alone in the dark of the night. The chill I felt was NOT from the sudden drop of temperature, but because I have in past times felt the wrath of such storms! I felt the sudden rise of fear from deep inside speak to me in unhushed tones of urgency to MOVE! Baby awoke with an eager roar, and safely carried me home before the storm that rumbles the ground even now had the speed to arrive.

This is why I ride. To smell the fresh turned Earth in the sometimes Rain riddled Wind, and feel the harnessed, and occasionally, untamed power of the Fire I ride, that we who share this passion know as The Harley-Davidson V-Twin.

Screw It! Let's Ride!