Life should be treasured!

THE  CLEBRATION RIDE

Ever wonder when you get up in the morning how much time you have left to enjoy life or just ride your motorcycle?

If you are like me and most other people you probably don’t. I always look forward to the next ride, but seldom think about what if this were my last one.

I had the good fortune to go on a weeklong off road ride with a man named CRAIG that is recovering from cancer. He told me during one of the rides that he didn’t think he would ever get to do this again. He was so thankful for the opportunity to be healthy enough to be out on his dirt bike and enjoying whatever time he is given.

It was a pleasure to watch him ride and a real eye opener on what is important in life when you have gone through something most of us can’t imagine. It kind of makes an old bike, a flat tire or even a rained out ride seem like not such a big deal.

This was Craig’s first ride back since being sick and undergoing months of treatment. There was a small group of us, Craig, Frank, Larry and myself.  We rode in the higher elevations in Nevada, which means really rocky and dry. Slick conditions and sometimes very dusty. As I said, it was a pleasure to watch Craig as he seemed to enjoy every minute whether it was riding, stopping to look, getting stuck, take pictures, explore abandoned mines or rest and eat lunch.

I enjoyed seeing Craig tackle a few slippery, loose, rocky, rutted hills that he didn’t make throughout the day, because he didn’t get mad and start cussing, he just tried a couple of more times. More often than not we all tried a couple of times. Then when he was tired he simply put him bike on the side stand or leaned it on a tree and started walking to the top. It was perfect, he didn’t need to say a word. I got my bike to the top and walked back down the hill to get his bike up to him. It was great to watch him walk up a hill with a big smile on his face while catching his breath. He was having a great time just because he was there! It was an honor to get that bike for a man that had just recovered from his treatments and was out there tackling those kinds of conditions.

We rode in some of the most varying type of terrain you can imagine. On one single day we went from riding in the desert to riding through creeks

with tight trees to riding on what looked like the moon with nothing but barren landscape with only the rocks under your tires. I am not sure I have ever ridden in a place with such a contrast of riding

conditions in such a short span of time. It really was amazing. I really enjoyed this ride and the guys I rode with.

I am calling this the “Celebration Ride” in honor of Craig and his commitment to getting back on his bike and enjoying life. May he have many more rides and as much fun on each and every one!

Enjoy your next ride and don’t take it for granted……….

#33

MX Skills meet the Real Off Road World!

We all know that the military uses Humvee’s and Tanks as part of their arsenal of vehicles. What I never knew was how many different types of vehicles were included that we never hear about.

I recently had the opportunity to observe some of our Special Forces attending a school on proper use and driver training for the side by side vehicle we know as the Kawasaki Teryx. I was allowed to take a few pictures as long as I didn’t show any faces or identifying features, or they said they would come back to hunt me down and kill me!

It was a pleasure to watch some of our troops participate in training. They were truly eager to learn and practice what they were exposed to by the instructors.

I learned from watching and really enjoyed listening to some of the stories that were shared concerning field experiences in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. I was both amused and appalled at some of the things I learned about what takes place in those countries that we never hear about. I am so thankful that these guys are willing to return and do the things they do in places that I have absolutely no desire to visit in this lifetime! They will never receive enough credit for the situations they participate in on a regular basis.

I know from now on whenever I have the chance I will give them a quick wave, salute or a simple thumbs up to let them know how much I appreciate them and the U.S.A.

Thanks guys and God Bless you,

#33