Riz Page 6

The beauty of the Redwoods, and the coastal greenery and lighthouses of Oregon is something you should all try to experience. Washington was beautiful as well but there was something I noticed that was just a bit troubling. Just inside Washington, I happened to ride through a large forest that had just been harvested for lumber. Now, don’t peg me as a “Tree-Hugger” here, okay. But after seeing all of those beautiful giants in California & Oregon, you couldn’t help but feel a little sad driving through something like that. I know that they harvest in those other states as well, but as I said, after being drenched in such beauty and then experiencing this kind of contrast, it affects you.
	The disappointment was short lived because I soon came upon a forest that had been part of a Reforestation Project, and it was full & lush (Nice to see someone is using their head!). I remember driving through small towns & seeing mail men or garbage men or people going about their daily rituals and thinking, do they know what kind of beauty they are surrounded by? Do they get used to it, or take it for granted?
The times I swung inland, such as when Hwy 1 has to merge with 101 at Leggett, CA had its own share of surprises. It is 27 miles from the coast to Leggett and let me tell you, after riding all day, that stretch of road is a shoulder blade killer! Rich, dense, canopy-covered roads with twists & curves that had speed limit signs which said: “20 mph” and believe me, they didn’t mean 25. At dusk is when you really gotta be on “critter alert,” as Elk were everywhere, along with the ever present eagles & hawks. Your body tells you when its time to start sniffing out a hotel, but it can’t just be any ol’ hotel . . . those of you who know me know its gotta be a hotel with a hot tub. I don’t camp. Call me a pansy if you will (even though I logged 3000 miles on this trip), I just enjoy the finer things in life (That’s why I bought a Harley). The time of year I chose also helped me out in this department. It still wasn’t their peak season, so most hotels offered me great walk-in rates. I stayed in a couple of sea-side Inn ’s, where my room hung right over the ocean for $60-$70 a night when they normally go for around $200 per night.
Yes sir, a bottle of that fine California (or Oregon ) Chardonnay and a hot tub certainly takes the edge off the road. Speaking of wine, wine country was spectacular. I visited several of my favorite wineries and made sure that I tasted enough samples to feel somewhat better about all of the grape that I actually have to pay for back home. This was a great side trip, as was Seattle , where I listened to great music, ate great food & watched them throw the fish at Pike’s Fish Market (and yes, had some of that delicious coffee). All of these things were great, but it was the journey that held the magic. Not one bad experience marred this trip, I think somebody up there knew I needed a little hassle-free time, and if you’re listening; Thank You!
Maybe it was all just timing. Maybe other people could take this ride, or leave it. Certainly it would be hard to recreate all of the circumstances, weather conditions, road conditions and emotions that I experienced. But I seriously doubt that any biker who takes this trip and appreciates the lifestyle the way that most of us do, could not be moved much the same way as I was.
	I have been changed for many reasons that I can’t even explain. I learned that I have never appreciated my life, my world, my country the way that I do now. I know that I have never been more sure of who I am and what cycling means to me. I have taken many wonderful trips before in my life, but I now feel that I cheated myself a bit on what they could have been like.
One thing I learned was that I will never say; “This is the most beautiful place on earth” again. They are still out there. I will find many beautiful roads, take many more ‘moving’ trips . . . all I have to do is look for them. The beauty, the people, the ride, they all came together as a gift to me, and I will never forget it. -Riz