Organizing Chaos and Pushing on a Rope

The ramp up is over and it is here!!!!! The 70th edition of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Races!
One of those events of organized chaos that help clear the mind and repair the soul. The feeling of
daredevil freedom that comes from doing 85 mph down the road with the wind in your face, the roar
of the engine, the heat of the exhaust and then sharing a spot of shade with another like minded
individual just can't be beat. For that brief period you aren't anything but part of the machine, the
road and the air. I've been flying and soaring, sailed a boat, and driven the biggest to the fastest
cars and trucks, give me my Valkyrie singing a song as we go down the road. When we are out
you can signal a greeting to other riders, that you could share a beer and know, with a
true biker, what you see is what you get, no pretense, no bull.

This year the rally will attract, by my estimate of the traffic as of Saturday, around 350,000 people
of all ages, sizes, genders, nationality, and ethnicity. Of those about 150,000 truly get what it
means to be a biker, the rest are just there for the concerts, the booze, and notoriety. The wanna-bes
have fun but leave without their soul being cleansed - don't matter how many t'shirts you buy. But
the rest may never go to a concert, a party or even have a beer but will leave with spending only
for gas, some groceries and maybe a place for the bedroll but they leave with the sense of
brotherhood, knowledge there is a place for the god-damned-independents of the world and a
really good soul cleansing.

So off and on this week I'll be in Sturgis, I'll stare at my share of bare or barely covered boobs, listen
to some good music, look at shiny accessories for Val that I can't afford, look at the bikes (a true
biker notices the ride before the rack on it) get ideas for customizing, come to the conclusion that Val
is just fine the way she is. Then I'll thank the Gods and Goddesses that I live in some of the best
motorcycle riding country in the world an take Val out so she can sing her song of freedom.