tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post7924042872017740512..comments2023-10-25T08:13:19.644-05:00Comments on Sojourner's Moto Tales: "So, what... you ride a Ducati?!" and feeling the fear of southern IndianaSojourner's Moto Taleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-16701518507871169442009-06-14T16:23:39.793-05:002009-06-14T16:23:39.793-05:00Jack,
I wrote you a long, honest, heartfelt respo...Jack,<br /><br />I wrote you a long, honest, heartfelt response and it simply disappeared. I will recreate it as best I can and hope that it is received well as it is well-intentioned.Sojourner's Moto Taleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-3803995139573588802009-06-10T11:58:55.094-05:002009-06-10T11:58:55.094-05:00Dear Sharon:
This was a very interesting ride rep...Dear Sharon:<br /><br />This was a very interesting ride report on a number o levels. I think you have made an honest assessment of the BMW philosophy when you said getting the stamp has begun to take priority over the other elements of the ride. <br /><br />This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can becme somewhat compulsive. You must remember that the mad dash is also a thing of beauty sometimes.<br /><br />I recommend you look at the dunes in Michigan. There are between 300 andd 400 feet high at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. That's as high as a 40 story building. You can park your bike, and walk right out on the top. <br /><br />These dunes are absolutely amazing. And they are dunes.<br /><br />Finally, I think you read to much into things. I have an acquaintance who has also given up riding... Due to fear. Sometimes whe a person tells you they have given up the lifestyle, they are saying that they just weren't up to its demands, <br /><br />Motorcycling is a game in which everyone loses eventually. I can stand in a room with 70 riders and ask, who rides more than 20,000 miles per year, and get a near 100 percent response. I can also ask, and who has been involved in a crash that resulted in a night in the hospital, and get a response better than 60 percent. And if I ask, who has dropped their bike while riding, I'll get a respnse close to 99 percent. It happens. It's the nature of the Sausage Monster.<br /><br />I think the word "motorcycling" should eliminated in favor of the expression "baiting the Sausage Monster," because that's what it is. <br /><br />Finally, I don't doubt that there are pockets of racism throughout the United States. They exist everywhere, including the enlightened continent of Europe.<br /><br />There are places in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Lousiana, and Los Angeles were being white makes me a target. Being middle-aged, fat, and white makes me a guaranteed target. That's how it goes. I never think about it. And I never go into those places.<br /><br />I was in London, walking down the street in a near deserted neighborhood, where I had gotten turned around. A cop, wearing one of those stupid but endearing helmets, advised me that this was a highly dangerous neighborhood and that my chances of getting robbed were about 100 percent. He walked me to a train station. I don't doubt for a minute that he would have done the same for you. <br /><br />Working on a job in Germany several years ago, an executive from Belgium asked me what it was like to live in a country controlled by Jews? I told him I didn't live in that country. I wanted to ask him what it was like living n a country who cultural zenith was a 30-day period before the invention of toilet paper, but rose above the temptation.<br /><br />And a visit to Northern Ireland was very instructional in how white people have learned to hate each other, despite having identical lifestyles, and the same last names. <br /><br />Pretty amazing stuff, huh? <br /><br />But I hope for the best, greet everyone with a smile, <br />buy drinks for guys I stand next to at the bar, and say to any woman close enough, "Allow me to reproduce myself."<br /><br />You'd be amazed at how I get by.<br /><br />Fondest regards,<br />Jack "r" (Toad)<br />Twisted RoadsJack Riepehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07531160098262862027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-78057168454201617432009-06-04T07:53:41.470-05:002009-06-04T07:53:41.470-05:00Hi Fleeter,
If I go deep South--you'd better ...Hi Fleeter,<br /><br />If I go deep South--you'd better be leading. That is a ride I'd do with... I admit to issues. I would as we say here, "stick to you like white on rice!"Sojourner's Moto Taleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-91363729133615686182009-06-04T07:51:22.019-05:002009-06-04T07:51:22.019-05:00Bob,
Thanks! It was a totally fun, stress-less ri...Bob,<br /><br />Thanks! It was a totally fun, stress-less ride. And when there is good food around, I eat it! When not, I'd rather not waste my time and the grains, oats, raisins, and nuts become my staple food. If I lived near Shapiro's I'd be in trouble!Sojourner's Moto Taleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-66719317720272181252009-06-04T07:49:31.463-05:002009-06-04T07:49:31.463-05:00Hey Brent,
Thanks. It is a great place...I'll...Hey Brent,<br /><br />Thanks. It is a great place...I'll be heading back often this summer! Breakfast at Shapiro's--definitely a winner! Read your ride report with your brother. Cool!Sojourner's Moto Taleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-88095177451264505582009-06-04T07:47:39.402-05:002009-06-04T07:47:39.402-05:00Jim,
Yes, and some are rather impressive in their...Jim,<br /><br />Yes, and some are rather impressive in their sheer size and beauty! It was a nice ride day!Sojourner's Moto Taleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235661849993752840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-91562614886257804622009-06-03T12:14:05.889-05:002009-06-03T12:14:05.889-05:00** It goes something like this, "I used to ri...** It goes something like this, "I used to ride a motorcycle. Now, I don't. So you should stop too and do as I do as I am the enlightened one." ** <br />It's great the way you can interpret people! <br /><br />By the way, when you get down here . . . "How far south will I be able to talk you into riding with me? Are you ready to visit Selma, Tuskegee, etc?Fleeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535489618564992713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-8558216242913051872009-06-01T14:12:23.261-05:002009-06-01T14:12:23.261-05:00Sharon:You didn't appear stressed today. Nice lei...<B>Sharon:</B><BR><BR>You didn't appear stressed today. Nice leisurely, relaxing ride with great weather. And a bonus belly-full of food for the ride home.<br /><BR><B>"What ! NO GORP !"</B><BR><BR>bob<br /><A HREF="http://www.wetcoastscootin.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">bobskoot: wet coast scootin</A>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05258612401956399482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-83740150010125322572009-06-01T11:43:07.416-05:002009-06-01T11:43:07.416-05:00Sharon, nice weekend ride report. I've been to the...Sharon, nice weekend ride report. I've been to the Dunes many times, and it is a great place to visit with both National and State parks.<br /><br />I had breakfast at Shapiro's Saturday morning with the BMW club. Met my brother there, who was fashionably late. It's funny how he never waits on anyone, but everyone is always waiting on him.<br /><br />After breakfast, we rode the BMW dealer and then took a ride with me riding home later--305 mile round trip from Cincinnati. My story will be posted shortly.D. Brent Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04242825462377669356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32557834.post-13376196390360586392009-06-01T11:20:48.788-05:002009-06-01T11:20:48.788-05:00Looks like another great ride! Had no idea there w...Looks like another great ride! Had no idea there were sand dunes in Indiana. Sounds like jabbering with the locals is part of the fun. Thanks for another great post.cpa3485https://www.blogger.com/profile/00031439889267356735noreply@blogger.com