Pedaling along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail through forests and farmlands this morning, I could smell the wisps of smoke curling from the tops of burn piles, taste the wet, cool, tree-scented air, hear the crunch of orange and red leaves under my tires, see the moss covered green branches draped over my trail, and feel the bumps and cracks littering the eight foot wide path.
With the wind in my face and bold splashes of red, orange, and yellow fall colors all around, tears came to my eyes as I felt a swell of gratitude to be able to experience the glorious outdoors with all five of my senses again after a several months long hiatus from motorcycling following a crash and leg injury in Vietnam last March.
So, although E-Baby doesn’t come with all the chrome and power of My Baby (my Harley here in the US) or the continent hopping capabilities of Adventure Baby (my Honda in Germany), it’s a sweet ride, nonetheless.
Decked out with three levels of pedal assist, a throttle, a rack and panniers, front wheel suspension, wide tires, a Quad Lock phone mount, a powerful mid drive motor, and a strong battery, I headed out with confidence this morning, knowing that if my legs gave out I would have all the help I needed.
Leaving the Banks Trailhead, I rode past open fields in patches of green and brown, alongside cattle grazing contentedly in pastures, through groves of deciduous trees bursting with color, and over wooden bridges spanning silvery blue creeks.
Climbing above the valley floor pedaling mostly on my own power, I passed lakes and picnic areas with strategically placed chairs and tables for rest and relaxation before crossing the 733 foot long and over 80-foot-high Buxton Trestle, the large, wide sweeping wood slats creating a glorious clacking sound as I whizzed along.
Entering the Stub Stewart State Park, I rode beneath towering Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedars before making my way past the Top Hill Trailhead and beyond to my turn around point about 12 miles from Banks.
With the path then falling in elevation, I coasted much of the way back, finding that I still had almost 80% power in my battery when I reached my car.
On the drive home, I reflected on a message I remembered seeing in a coffee shop in South Dakota on my first cross country motorcycle trip a little over six years ago – “Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you get.” What a great day to be on a bike!
