Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Riding...

 

If you said, "A book written in 1974 by Robert M. Pirsig - still considered by many to be one of the most influential books written in the past half century," you get no bonus points.  That book was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I'm talking about our "zen" style of riding today.  Yes, we went out on the bikes.  Yes, we took a picnic lunch.  Yes, the roads were twisty and the riding was great.  We have been here two and a half weeks, and have been riding most of those days.  And most of that riding was pushing the bikes pretty hard.  Because... we needed to.

Needed?  Yep; like someone suffering from thirst needs to drink as much water as they can, after a couple months at home, where our roads are straight, flat, and boring, the great roads here have been "quenching our thirst" for riding.

No camera today - this was about kicking back, appreciating the scenery, and just enjoying the "zen" of the ride.  No new roads we haven't ridden this season, just riding routes in a different direction or sequence.  Mother Nature gave us a cooler than normal day (high today was 80º, delightfully cooler in the higher elevations), with lots of sunshine and blue sky.

I did take a few photos with my phone (not while underway); lunch...

I would call today's ride "the Greatest Hits" - familiar fun roads.  A stop to rehydrate and take a couple photos...

 Joan took a selfie...

The angle above isn't quite right to show it, but Mt Rushmore is in the distance, miles away...

From now until after the Rally, there is a lot going on in the Black Hills.  We passed more than a few 3-wheelers: trikes, reverse trikes (with the two wheels in the front), Slingshots, and a bunch of Vanderhall 3-wheelers (more car than bike, with a steering wheel), and other assorted 3-wheelers.  The Vanderhalls went by while we were stopped at that spot above, but my phone was still on the bike... no photo of those cool vehicles.  Well, here's a file photo...

I did get a photo of this Slingshot going by...

Why all the 3-wheelers?  Thanks for asking.  There is the Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally happening the 10th through the 15th.  Seems the most prominent trikes are the CanAm models...

Not my thing, but it is great that they have a rally for them, and in a place where they can experience some great riding.

We also saw more than the usual number of Corvettes today - the Spearfish Black Hills Corvette Classic is July 14th through the 16th.  Some have obviously arrived early.

Other events happening this month in the Black Hills: Hills Alive (Christian music festival), Spearfish Festival in the Park (over 200 vendors), Custer Gold Discovery Days, Deadwood's 100th Days of '76, Badlands Astronomy Festival, and many other local events.  And, of course: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally coming up next month.

There was more traffic today than we've seen, but we still managed to find plenty of open road riding.

The last 20 miles or so, Mother Nature flexed her muscles with some strong winds: 30+ mph cross and head winds, depending on the direction we were heading.  We just slowed down a bit and continued to enjoy the ride.

When we got home, I cleaned up the bikes (part of Joan's valet service that she gets).  We talked about the ride today, and our different approach... we both enjoyed it.  I told Joan how much I am enjoying the CTX; she said, "It shows.  You look and act 10 years younger these days when you're riding."  It didn't add any hair to my head.  ;-)