shinysideup The tie that binds
By Ron Davis #111820 ONE
HOT DAY
last summer I was stopped at a red light when a young woman in an SUV pulled up next to me. She leaned out her open window
and asked, “Aren’t you hot?” A quick side note here: this was a question, emphasis on the word “hot,” probably prompted by my wearing an improb- able three-season motorcycle jacket. Regrettably, this wasn’t an exclama- tion, as in “Aren’t YOU hot!” I smiled and said, “Yup, but as soon as I’m on the highway, I’ll be okay.” A few miles down that highway I
had to pull into a convenience store for gas and had another encounter there that I’d bet is just as familiar to any rider. As I was filling my tank, a guy from the next bay over walked up, grinned and said, “Where ya headed?” What followed was a lengthy conversation about my bike, his BMW riding days and the plea- sures and perils of motorcycle life in general, ending with smiles all around and a hefty handshake. These kinds of encounters have
happened so often that when I’m on a bike I practically expect them when- ever I’m at the pump, a wayside, an overlook, a campsite or yes, even at a stop light. The probability of being approached seems to go up exponen- tially according to the amount of gear (or road grime) I’m carrying. I like it. Everyone that approaches me seems to have a story or a question, and though I’m far from being an extro- vert, not the kind of person who seeks out new relationships, these moments can turn a routine stop into an oppor- tunity for a pleasant and often inter- esting chat with a complete stranger.
12 BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
to one of a cluster of fishing cabins set back in the sticks. I had purposefully stopped early in the evening since I didn’t want to try navigating gravel roads and deer cross- ings after dark. No TV, no wireless, no phone service, and for dinner I was facing a bag of granola. I unpacked my stuff, and thought to myself, “Well, now what?” I set to cleaning up my face shield when just then a woman with curly blonde hair opened the door and walked in, taking me by surprise. Startled herself, she said, “Oh, excuse me, I just came to get some ice, didn’t know anyone was here!” We quickly
thing more comfortable,” but ten minutes later Lacy (the blonde) and her husband (John) came knocking, laden with a platter of three artisanal cheeses, locally smoked trout, a bottle of Pinot Grigio and two six -packs of Two Hearted Ale. It seems that Lacy and John, although then “glamping” from a Jeep carrying a couple kayaks and a mutt named Jordy, had been at one time a cycle tourers, crisscrossing the country on John’s beloved K 75. They were motorcycle people. While we sat at my cabin’s picnic table and watched the West Fork of the
Apparently, I don’t even have to be on
the road. This morning a realtor stopped by to look at our house, and when we got to the garage, all talk of septic tanks, land val- ues, and interest rates came to an immedi- ate halt when he spied my beemer. A DRZ400 rider himself, Patrick and I played 20 questions over the merits of BMWs vs. Suzukis for the next ten minutes, and I guess now we’re buddies. Last June while on a solo trip, I pulled in
introduced ourselves, and then she asked, “Is that your BMW out there?” When I told her it was, she continued, “Nice bike. Say, what are you doing tonight?” I looked down at my bug-encrusted hel-
met and said, “Well, I guess this is it.” “Don’t move,” she said, holding up one
finger, “I’ll be right back!” Now, I must admit, I had a salacious
moment there, wondering if this was code for the old cliché, “Let me slip into some-
the club
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124
