October 2nd (dia dos) - Departure from Canada
Up and about around nine thirty, Ky had already been up and running around for many hours... How she manages to accomplish everything she does in a day always amazes me... This woman is go-go-go !
I'm a bit slow in the mornings if you haven't noticed... A cup of coffee, some time to think things through, what I have to accompish, what needs doing... and just taking my time. Well I got my chance, we chatted a bit over breakfast and started the process of leaving such a comfortably wonderful little haven that Ky has created. Believe me, we wanted nothing more than to stay for days! The seven hour ride yesterday took it's toll on us and we were quite stiff, it'd been awhile since I have done a long ride and my body just wasn't accustomed to it yet.
Mihai's front tire is having a little trouble setting it's bead and we tried to work it out for an hour or so, but we suspect it may just be a defective tire. Hoping it won't be a problem later! So we packed up and said some more goodbye's and off we were at twelve!
Mihai and I have both realized how important it is to be compatible with each other over the next five weeks, and one of the best factors is we both enjoy sleeping in! ;-) Actually am beginning to notice a lot of similarities between the two of us and can't see any disputes in the future, we've both been very agreeable on just about everything -- from where to eat, when to stop, when to wake up... and more importantly our sick and twisted humor!
Riding is something that I not only live to do, but love to do. There's something so peaceful about cruising down the highway, watching the beautifully changing colors of the leaves alongside the road, making eye contact with an eagle high in the sky and for a brief moment we've shared existance together and just thinking about everything and anything. While on the road I have not only solved the majority of my lifes complications, but have done so with suprising ease. Everything just makes so much sense, and with such clarity and simplicity. There is a road ahead, and a road behind. I spend a bit of my time glancing behind me, but my eyes are always ahead, looking to the future, the next bend in the highway, the next city... I can and have road forteen, sixteen hour days before and imagine I will do so again. Not for a brief second do I begin to drift, not for a minute am I bored. WIth nothing to do, nothing to read, no TV to entertain me... I never get bored. I get sore, extremely sore, and exhausted... But my thoughts keep me alive, keep me active. My entire body controls every movement of the bike, she responds to every shift of my body, my right hand for the front brake, my left hand for the clutch, right foot for the rear brake and left foot for the shifter... I can shift my hips ever so slightly to take me through a bend, can press down on a foot peg to go even deeper into a curve... I have complete control of my environment, complete control of my life out here. Riding a bike gives me Freedom. The road gives me a purpose and a destination. The wind in my face, the sun in my eyes, I have never felt so alive, never spent so much time outside, breathing such fresh oxygen, enjoying the beauty of the land and everything within it.
Into the creeping sunset as we crept down the highway like vagabonds, attracting attention everywhere we go.
Hitting the border and passing through customs with ease, we take our bikes down the I-75 to Cincinnati where we will spend the night. The weather gets warmer, even hot -- especially while within the crumbling city limits of Detroit. Things are different here, once we hit Ohio we cross a lot of bikers without their helmets... One was daring enough to greet us by pulling a wheelie right by us. Welcome to the United States of America, live free or die!
We've hit a Knights Inn for the night with promises of a fulfilling continental breakfast awaiting us in the morning, and after making friends with the neighbours, I've spent the remainder of the night chatting with a dear friend of mine on the phone and spending an exhilirating short ride down the street to the Taco Bell without a helmet!
Looking ahead on the news, there are predictions of trophical storms in Mexico, but we're ready. We're exhausted having spent ten hours on the road this day, we're sore, the bodies still have not become accustomed, but we are ready for anything!