Shawnworks > Shawnworks's Blog Posts > GS Trophy, Part 2- Timorous Return

August 12, 2008 22:02

Timorous Return

(This is the second in a multi-part series. To read the first, go to http://www.bmwxplor.com/riders/ShawnWorks/blog/show/928)

Floating. In oblivion.

Winds thrash at me, clouds and earth are playthings. Synapses soaked in overwhelm.

I check my altimeter. Time to pull.

With a relieving tug my chute deploys, slowing my terminal decent to a crawl. After a few minutes and I touch down on terra firma. My need for excitement has been quenched, for now.

In only moments my gear is packed and I¹m off for home. Euphoric, I glide along in my trusty Subaru, taking in the sights as I make my way through traffic. Nothing gets to me after a Skydive. You could run outta nowhere and poke me in the eye, and i¹d shrug you off and meander along, content in life.

As I pull in to my carport I catch sight of my Motorcycle. As I walk by I glide my fingers across the headlight, instinctively thumbing them for signs of dust; They¹re covered. The euphoria lessens.

It had been wholly a month since the accident, since my friends performed their 70mph low-side right in front of me. Since I had consciously decided to give up riding.

It not like I gave it up entirely. I worked in the motorcycle world after all, and my job required an occasional ride here or there. And I still remembered the thrills I got from this 2-wheeled passion. I still sold people on the idea every day, helping them to fulfill a dream by introducing them to BMW Motorcycles.

It was the long weekend rides I had turned my back on. The spins down thru Big Sur, Hwy 25, Skyline. The pushing of rider and machine to their symbiotic limit, then further. It was a tough decision, and I was kinda regretting it. But I made it for the right reasons. Too much was at stake, too many narrow misses. I had my fun and it was time to find some new thrills. I was just adjusting is all. I¹d get used to it.

It all sunk in. I had landed an hour before, but only now was I really on the ground.

“Morning! I’m Jim Hyde!”

Jim had been a face only in Magazines, at least for me. Founder of the off-road motorcycle excursion company ‘RawHyde Adventures,’ He had been traveling around the California Coastline, enticing BMW Motorcycle Dealers to help him get the fledgling company off the ground. Today it was our turn.

³Nice to meet you, Shawn, thanks for having me!” We exchanged handshakes. In his late 40¹s with a broad smile, Jim was an instantly likeable fellow. The sort that treated everyone with equal respect, even bottom-rung sales guys like myself. We got passed the pleasantries and gratuitous BS, getting finally down to business.

Jim was peddling the expected stuff; a trip from Southern California to Las Vegas, all on motorcycles, all off-road. Dealers could arrange a group of customers for the trip, tag along, even make a few bucks in the process. Win-Win. I had read about the excursion in a magazine article. It had the effect on me one would expect from an adventure seeker. Yummy. But my off-road skills were nil, to say the least. I white-knuckled it across every strip of dust I came across, and ass-pinched upholstery anytime I slipped. 5 days of that seemed torturous.

“I also have something new, an Off-Road training course for newbie¹s and intermediates. RawHyde Adventure Camp.”

My eyebrows perked. Now we were getting somewhere.

Jim enthusiastically laid it all out for me: 3 Days of all-inclusive training at his private facility in So-Cal. Beginners welcome. Good skills, good food, good times. The hook was set.

³This, I think I need, Jim. And if I have the experience you’re advertising, I¹ll bet I could get a lot of my customers into it too.”

We worked out the details. Class was in less than a month. I’d ride down on Friday, come home Monday. Food and lodging would be waiting. Just me, my bike, and some basic off-road gear. Fun!

And all at once I remembered my friends, lying on the back road tarmac, their broken bike strewn about. And I remembered my vow, my decision to give up riding.

Damn. What to do…

I decided to talk with my wife, the solid keel to my turbulent whimsical passions.

“Maybe this could be your last ride, a ‘farewell’ of sorts,” she offered. “Go have a fun weekend, and let this end on a high note.”

I really wanted this, and she was making it all so easy to have! How could I resist??

The decision was made. I started my packing list.

(For part III, go to: http://www.bmwxplor.com/blog/show/987 )

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