Mountain High

I spent an interesting few days riding New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains on my new, thirty-two year old, BMW R100RT.  We twisted and turned up and down the narrow highways and roads into the most remote and beautiful areas.  The off-season ski resort offered an abandoned road with switchbacks and awesome vistas perfect for the two-wheel enthusiast's riding pleasure. Gazing down at the clouds shrouding white sands of the valley floor we breathed in the clean clear mountain air and lamented the fact that we lived in a far less picturesque environment.  

We did our best to outrun the afternoon thunderstorms and chase the dream of adventure that lay around each curve and over each mountaintop.

Perhaps the most interesting sights were the motorcycles and the riders that attended the Golden Aspen rally.  All manner of two and three wheel motorization were in attendance.  I felt a bit overdressed, as my tee shirt had sleeves…but then again…I didn’t have even one tattoo to show off, so I supposed it all equaled out.

Behind all the strange leatherwear, tattoos and hair...they were genuine friendly people who had a common interest and were more than willing to talk about their “ride.”
Returning home we stopped for fuel where I observed several riders on their trusty machines and I made the remark "look at that old man, he must be seventy".  My riding buddy...after recovering from a violent bout of laughter asked, "How old do you think we are?"  OK! OK!...I'm living a dream with all the other old men on motorcycles.

How blessed I am to be living in such a country and enjoying all of this.   It really gives meaning to the words…”America, The Beautiful.”

O beautiful for spacious skies,


For amber waves of grain,


For purple mountain majesties


Above the fruited plain!


America! America!


God shed his grace on thee


And crown thy good with brotherhood


From sea to shining sea!

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

For all the grace You send my way

Amen.