On the Road Again-Day Seven

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

While we came to the mountains to rest, even renting a cabin from Stressbusters.com, sometimes, it is not wise to be excessively relaxed. Like riding on the back of a motorcycle. We over estimated our stamina today, choosing to ride 85 miles north to Tellico Falls and then, another 40 miles across the Cherohala Skyway from Tennessee to North Carolina. It was a long ride and though the temperature dropped so that I was actually cold at the elevation of 5500 feet, for the most part we were in the sun and it was warm. Combine that with the wind in my face, and I got really sleepy. Husband forgot to bring my backrest with us so there was nothing between me and the pavement. I kept nodding off and my helmet would crash into the back of husband’s waking me up. At one point, we had to stop so I could chug a Cherry Dr. Pepper. I rarely drink caffeine so that woke me up. In fact, I will probably not sleep for a couple of days. It is funny that I could be so relaxed, because when I first started riding on the back of husband’s bike nine years ago on a vacation to this very same area, I was so nervous that I would sit on the back of his bike and cry. It didn’t help that in those days he had a less than comfortable motorcycle for hauling a passenger, a Honda Shadow. My tailbone rested on the fender and was quite painful. But, the real problem was my nerves. On that trip, I sat at the bottom of the Dragon’s Tail and prayed while he rode up and over the mountain and those millions of curves. Over time and after he invested in a larger sport bike, a Kawasaki, I got where I could ride without crying. Instead, I spent my time giving directions, pointing, shouting and often punching him to get his attention. I kept a folded up map in my hand that unfolded while we drove flapping in the wind. I would scream when big trucks came our way, and often said, “s*#t, s*#t, s*#t”. He just ignored me and kept riding. Even over the Dragon’s Tail with me getting whiplash as I looked at all the biker memorials and my life flashed before my eyes. Later, he bought the Yamaha that we ride now because it had saddlebags allowing me to take a bunch of junk like a hairbrush, jacket and camera. It is also more comfortable, but I never truly relax. In fact, I always take my driver’s license and medical insurance cards, “just in case.” But, today, despite gorgeous scenery and a magnificent waterfall, I was actually dozing on the back of the bike. Go figure. How times have changed. It took time, experience and trust. Just like my relationship with God. The more I trust, the stronger my faith. Especially when I am on the back of a motorcycle.