hppants
Well-known member
Most excellent ride report, as usual. As a shutterbug wanna-be, I'm envious of your talent.
I've had the pleasure of visiting and touring G/R's playground many (dozens) of times. Although it never disappoints, my most recent trip (last month) has been my best to date. I think Fred's comments about Autumn are quite insightful, and until I read them, I didn't realize that while riding through the wonderful rainbow of color in the Appalachian Range, I was actually feeling precisely what he describes: (1) Excitement that the hot humid weather is finally over, (2) A little bit of despair over the upcoming winter, and (3) an overall sense of urgency to take in as much as possible now before it goes away.
But that pales in comparison to the overall sense of urgency I feel in general. Bike camping in the mountains is now my addiction. Like any addict, I find "sober" times just filler until my next "hit". As I approach the age of 50, I realize that I'm not invincible and much more importantly, the priorities have absolutely changed. My wife and I have raised our kids and paid our proverbial dues to whomever we owed them to. Now its far less about money and sooooooo much more about time.
When I'm riding some back mountain road and I stop in the valley to wonder at the range in the distance, I get a feeling of peace and satisfaction. At that time, I know my place in this world. And it's a good place.
Looking at your pictures reminds me of that good place, and I appreciate it very much.
I've had the pleasure of visiting and touring G/R's playground many (dozens) of times. Although it never disappoints, my most recent trip (last month) has been my best to date. I think Fred's comments about Autumn are quite insightful, and until I read them, I didn't realize that while riding through the wonderful rainbow of color in the Appalachian Range, I was actually feeling precisely what he describes: (1) Excitement that the hot humid weather is finally over, (2) A little bit of despair over the upcoming winter, and (3) an overall sense of urgency to take in as much as possible now before it goes away.
But that pales in comparison to the overall sense of urgency I feel in general. Bike camping in the mountains is now my addiction. Like any addict, I find "sober" times just filler until my next "hit". As I approach the age of 50, I realize that I'm not invincible and much more importantly, the priorities have absolutely changed. My wife and I have raised our kids and paid our proverbial dues to whomever we owed them to. Now its far less about money and sooooooo much more about time.
When I'm riding some back mountain road and I stop in the valley to wonder at the range in the distance, I get a feeling of peace and satisfaction. At that time, I know my place in this world. And it's a good place.
Looking at your pictures reminds me of that good place, and I appreciate it very much.
