Sometimes I get to live my biker's dream to get out and ride, and the last two days were perfect. I could ride all the time without a care in the world, but realize I have the responsibilities at hand. So with a work engagement just 400 miles away west of Pittsburg I decided I would take the ride. I left out Wednesday heading north under threatening skies here in VA, but calmer weather to the north. I marked my route which included a stop at my folks house in the upper Shenandoah Valley. I took the familiar route up I-95 to US 17 to I-66 then off to VA 55. My parents live along the cut-a-cross road to US 522 that I would continue on north. After a few moments visit, I headed out and picked up US 522 to West Virginia where I picked up Rt 127 that leads up toward Paw Paw. From there it was up RT 29 and onto RT 51 to I-68 West. I had intended to catch US40 north to RT 119 on to PA Rt 51 to Pittsburg, but missed my exit. I ended up taking I-79 to I-376 to my destination.

After my work engagement I returned back, but this time taking the route I had intended to take coming up. The portion that I missed between Pittsburg and Uniontown, could have been missed on the way back, however I encountered just about every driving situation a biker can encounter. The first hour and a half on my return trip only took me about 45 miles due to stop and go traffic for the tunnel into Pittsburg and then stop lights and road construction to Uniontown. From Uniontown on home it was smooth sailing. With the weather a pristine 80 degrees and the clear skies with wisps of clouds through the Alleghenies and the Blue Ridge made it a priceless day. I made a stop along the way at a quant roadside diner for a late lunch and then it was again to roll down through Paw Paw and back into VA for the homeward stretch. On the north side of Paw Paw on MD RT 51 I had Samuel Hagar on the radio expressing the feeling that I can't drive 55 or in this case 50, and with the speedo at an acceptable speed?for an interstate highway,?I round a twisty to see a MD State Trooper nestled in on a pull-off. I know he had me dead-to-rights as I saw his brake lights come on. But then he gave another tap, and then another and by this time I was at the posted speed limit as I whisked pass him and across the steel bridge over the creek. I believe I saw his hand raised to wave as I gave him a wave in thanks as I faded off over the hill and around the turn.

It is days like these that truly never can be described. The days that you feel the rubber on the road, the bearings turning on the axle, the drive gear pulling the belt in acceleration. You feel it down in your very soul as the movements of the body are as natural as breathing. Your fear is as gentle as breeze your face knowing life and death lays in the balance of a mere inch. The sensation that keeps you on the edge of sensibility and insanity but within the boundary of security that takes you to the place where you will ride again.

It was a day that when I got off the bike and looked back down the road I said, " 'till we meet again."