I recently took a 4 day motorcycle road trip from home (Issaquah) to Glacier National Park, avoiding all major highways. On the return portion I'd had my fill of the smaller highways, such as Highway 2 (running across most of the US), so I thought I'd deviate from the path more traveled by. I didn't have much of a choice heading west coming out of Glacier National Park; therefore my deviation began in Whitefish, MT. Using the paper map I got from AAA I spotted a solid lined road starting north of Whitefish paralleling hwy 2 & rejoining it in Libby, MT. Solid lined roads, per the legend, means that they are paved, but unimproved. Well off I went to Google and low & behold they had "street view" on this road. Now if some Google camera truck drove down this thing, then by all means I should be able to ride down it on Dante. Dante would be my motorcycle. He's a Ducati Sport Touring bike and he's damn proud of it. To me he is a living entity, that's just the kind of guy I am. In my back pocket was an alternate route involving a bunch more miles but it was there just in case this road turns to shit.
Before I delve into this story let me first tell you that I sit here, unscathed both in body & motorcycle. The road started out like any other country road, standard chip seal covering, no lane markings nor any signage. The total length of this deviation was set to be 80 or so miles and about 15 into it, the point of no return, a sign alerts me that the road will become a single lane...with turnouts. OK, that's fine. Not like there is anyone else out here. Now this is a single lane...in the middle of nowhere. When I say single that is what I mean, a single lane. A shoulder is completely nonexistent. I say to myself, whatever, I'll just hug the ride side and just lower my rate of speed from say 50 to 40.
Episode 1: Enter the Logging Truck
Five miles or so later the logging truck decides to show his face, with a full load of logs. He appeared when each of us came around opposing corners, first catching glimpse of each other with maybe 20 yards separating us. Remember I'm doing about 40 & he's going at least 30, that's 70 total. Instinct told me that it's too late to brake; instead I need to avoid and take to the very edge of the road, tuck in my elbows and duck my head. Pretty sure I kept my eyes open, but I can't guarantee it. Obviously I made it, but that really sucked...OK Pasko, breath.... lower that heart rate. From here on out I go slow in the blind areas and only get on it in the open sections. That was what I learned from that experience.Episode 2: Enter Bambi
Not 2 miles later I'm on a straightaway that allows me to see quite a ways ahead. So of course I take Dante up to 70 (remember it's a single lane with forest on each side), he's a Ducati, he has to go fast. Well out pops a deer. Are you fucking kidding me? She's moving pretty quick, so I judge that she will be off the road just as I pass. Unless there is another one... please don't be another one, please, please, please. Oh Mother Fucker! Out pops Bambi. Seriously? You've got to be kidding me; it was Bambi in all her cuteness. Well out pops my instinct again.
[Side Bar] During my 3 day motorcycle training course the question was asked about road kill, when to avoid & when to hit it. Well the defining answer was: If a family of 4 could eat it in one sitting, then Hit it. If not, then Avoid it.
I'm proud to say that in that split second my cognitive thinking both asked & answered that question & I tucked in and buckled for impact. Fortunately the Bambi gods were smiling and the little guy changed direction on a dime the moment my front wheel was rubbing the fur of his hide. That guy/gal will be a survivor and as far as myself goes, two major hits in a very short time and I'm still functioning. I'm pretty sure I can handle any sort of surprise.
Episode 3: Road Rage Trucker
After the Bambi episode I needed my 2nd undershorts change and wasn't sure there was any adrenaline left in the world to keep me functioning. Some miles went by, my heart rate dropped and the road conditions deteriorated. Tons of potholes, patch jobs & resurfacings. My speed diminished, but I really wanted the hell out of there. I hate this fucking road, it sucks, sucks, sucks. Then up ahead I spot a big moving object. Turns out to be a large semi truck, but a short version without a trailer, kind of a work truck with a boom on the back & whatnot. Well we are still in the single lane territory so I'm stuck. Furthermore he seems to be trying to avoid the potholes by swerving all over the fucking place. One positive thing about this situation is that he will serve as a wedge taking on all on corners & crossing deer, so I can relax a little. Unfortunately Dante has other ideas. He cannot be restrained. If I had a pint for every car we passed on this trip we would all be drunker than 10 [fill in the blanks]. Enter the road planners. The road widens to about 1.5 lanes & Mr. truck driver goes right. At the time I thought he was moving over for me, but now I think he was just trying to avoid a pothole. Dante seized this opportunity, downshifted & went for it. Oh mother fucker, Trucker man didn't approve of Dante's decision & thought a ditch would be a better place for he & I. Nice try fuck face, I've got 916cc's of Italian engineering at my beckoning then add these mad skills on my bike and my practiced ability (on this fucking road) to overcome averse situations and you will be beaten. And beaten he was. [Note] I had to hit the 1 and a half foot gravel shoulder & wasn't sure it would hold, but hold it did. After I skirted in front of that fucker I was on a mission to get the fuck outta Dodge. At this point the road was easily 2 lanes so I hit the throttle and figured there is no way another deer situation could occur, so I high tailed it off that road of hell. Thirty long miles later I was finally done with it.
So the next time the teacher asks you to do a handstand or hold chair again think about all those things you yourself have been through and survived to keep you going or think of all those things you may be able to overcome in the future.