Protect your peace
This morning in my local grocery parking store lot a man volunteered that I was courting danger by riding a motorcycle, and was going to be killed or seriously hurt if I kept it up. I’ve heard this sort of negativity before, but it’s rare. Most of the time folks are generous with their feelings of good will. I smiled, though, and told him I was having a great time riding. One of my aspirations, I told him, was to stay in the moment and not get too far ahead of my stirrups, as it were. Then I told him, ‘Adiós,’ and headed some 10 miles along the road to Hayesville. It was a beautiful ride. It’s best to limit your time around people on a bum trip. You don’t want it to rub off on you.
Sometimes it’s best just to keep on walking
Few of us who were barked at by a dog hanging its head out of a car window as we rode by on our bikes would think of barking back at it. What’s the point, after all? It’s the same with someone who says
something hurtful, who tries to throw shade on us. Do we really want to use our time responding to people who probably would never make us happy regardless of how well we might get to know them. Cut your
losses. More times than not, there’s no need to respond at all. A look and a step that carries us on our way is all that’s needed. You’ll be happier. They’ll be left to wonder, what the heck. And life will proceed apace.
The largest upcoming biker rallies across the nation
STURGIS: (Aug 7-16) Motorcyclist from across the world will be heading to Sturgis, South Dakota, in a few days for the biggest of the big nationwide biker rallies. The event routinely draws in the hundreds of thousands for moRe than a week of excess, camaraderie, noise, music, and parties in the storied Black Hills.
The Sturgis event runs this year from August 7 through Aug. 16.
MAGGIE VALLEY, N.C.: (Sept. 11-13) Thunder in the Smokies takes place in historic Maggie Valley, North Carolina, from Sept. 11-13. The fall rally is among the larges of three held every year in Maggie Valley. The community is on the doorstep of the Blue Ridge Parkway and within the Great Smoky Mountains. The fall gathering features concerts, bike shows, hundreds of vendors and much more.
ROGERS, ARKANSAS: (Sept. 30-Oct. 3) Next up is the Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally in the Ozark Mountains around Rogers, Arkansas. Dates are Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. This is a charity rally that raises big bucks for communities in Northwest Arkansas. It is also family friendly. Bigots, white supremacists, and others of that ilk are not welcomed.
DAYTONA: (Oct. 15-18) Even the sunshine is guaranteed in Daytona, Florida. Bikers come here to “Biketoberfest” to enjoy live music, motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway, and scenic rides along famous A1A, historic Main Street or the Scenic Loop.
GALVESTON: (Nov. 5-8) The Lone Star Rally. A Texas sized biker rally on the Texas coast with the usual line up of custom bikers, music concerts.