Jonesing for a Long Ride

When I started planning for my 2011 riding calendar there were many rides that I had read about and dreamed of doing. Reading on the many interweb sites I frequent on a regular basis fills my head with visions of two lane roads in places all over the country and the world. Looking at the MTF forum, the Long Rider forum, KawaNOW and many others give us all ideas of that "next great ride of rides" or a bucket list type adventure.

My plans centered mainly around some of the MTF RTE's that are held in the spring riding season. Being out of active coaching now, I thought my weekends would be freed up enough to take a few of these opportunities in this year. Events like the Master's RTE in Augusta, GA, the Moonshine Lunch Run in IL and maybe even Ed's Last Resort Rally in Surrency, GA. Man, my head and heart were on the same page, if not my wallet.

As oft times happens, events planned are interrupted by events of life that are out of our control. As the weeks progressed from the start of the year it seemed one more ride would be missed because of life's interruptions. Moonshine was the first because a dear friend is getting married that day. Master's was next due to a family situation that developed and had to be taken care of that weekend. Ed's may work but I'm not counting on it.

I'm not bitter about this happening. All the things that interrupt my plans are things that are important enough that I need to be part of them or to take care of them. Friends and family are the things that are important to having a good life. It just seems that I get my hopes up and darned if something always comes up.

So with that being said, I am quite simply "jonesing" for a long ride. We did take a long ride to north Georgia and Tennessee in early March but my appetite for a long ride hasn't been quenched yet. Maybe I'll have to do something silly like ride to see my nephew graduate from my alma mater in May, make it a SS2000 or maybe ride to surprise my son in Oklahoma for his birthday in April. Both sound kinda cool.

Who knows? I know I have to get out for a long ride soon!