My ‘zen’ place…

I’ve recently taken up motorcycling, after several years of contemplating the idea. I completed a motorcycle training course, passed my skills test, and now have what we call here where I live an “N” permit–not a full motorcycle license, but I can do pretty much most of the riding I want to do–I just can’t take passengers or ride at night. I still need to complete my road test to get my full Class 6 (motorcycle license). I’m also the proud owner of a new (to me) 750 cc motorcycle that in the month I’ve owned it, I’ve already put over 1,000 kilometres on, just casually riding it on my days off. One of my instructors, who went through the very same course as a novice rider herself six years ago, calls riding her “zen time”. It’s the same for me. There’s something about being out there on the open road that just feels wonderful. I can’t really describe it, but I love it. I feel closer to the places I ride through, more in touch with the world around me, rather than separated as I do in the car. I smell the desert sage (good), and the roadkill (not so good), and everything in-between.