talerider The original title of this blog entry was to have been “Riding Out of the Cage”, and the blog’s original intent was to entertain you with the beginning exploits of the beginning of Nostos Softail 2023 journey.
I’ll explain both the term “cage” and the new title’s allusion after I tell you my woeful tale.
To make a long story short—which is quite a miracle for me—Baby Blue isn’t on Nostos Softail 2023.
Everything was ready to go: Baby Blue was given a good mechanical once over for the 2,600 planned journey; everything I needed was packed in two cases, the cases loaded and strapped securely on Baby Blue; the 08 Heritage Softail Awesomed (Awesome is the name of the cleaner I use to get her spick and sparkling); and, I was mentally, physically, and spiritually prepared for the journey.
Then the storms rolled in the night before and continued on the morning the journey was to begin.
I wondered if as with Odysseus I pissed off some god-of-whatever, and he/she was responding with an angry sky of black clouds highlighted with craggy fingers of strangling lightening, and buckets and buckets of rain being dumped on the black ribbons of roads I had planned to travel.
I checked the weather on TV and online. No let up for some time. And, the maddening storm was moving in the direction I was traveling. I saw that storms were forecast for the next three days along the route I had laid out.
After a couple of hours, I made the call: Baby Blue would have to stay home.
I unstrapped the bags, put everything in the cage, gave Baby Blue a good-by hug, strapped myself in the cage, prayed for a Blessed, Peaceful, and Safe Trip, and headed out on my journey.
I’m on a tight schedule. I’m attending two writers’ meetings (the first in Louisville, KY, and the second 1,000 miles away and three days later in Colorado Springs), visiting friends, exploring historical sites, and rejuvenating myself.
Hotels had already been reserved and paid for.
I couldn’t wait two to three days for the storms to subside.
My number one objective, whenever I go on a journey with Baby Blue, is to come home safely. I can ride in rain–light rain not buckets of rain. However, it’s not the rain that is dangerous, it’s the spray of water and muddy dirt from the cars and trucks, even in the slightest rain, that is the most menacing and leads to accidents.
Be a real bummer to come home dead.
As I headed out, I thought, Hey, maybe after Imaginarium in Louisville, I can jet home to Lawton, get Baby Blue, and she’ll take me to Colorado Springs. Yeah! That’s the ticket.
Then Logic and Common Sense–those blasted enemies of lovers, dreamers, and optimists–spoke up with a resounding, NYET! You’ll have to travel hundreds of miles out of your way, lose time, and you won’t make it to the writer’s retreat on time.
So, I’m in the cage for 21 days, 2,600 miles.
“Cage”?
Biker jargon for “car”.
The allusion in this blog’s new title?
One of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes is entitled “Time Enough at Last”, featuring the great Burgess Meredith (who did more TZs than any other actor) playing a character called Mr. Bemish.
Mr. Bemish is a reading-obsessed meek man who doesn’t merely love reading, he’s addicted to reading like a crackhead is addicted to crack.
His overbearing wife and bullying boss both despise reading and believe readers are delusional dreamers.
Finally, an event occurs which provides Mr. Bemish “time enough at last” to read without interference from the wife or the boss.
And in keeping with the twisted endings of TZ stories, something happens to Mr. Bemish and his addiction to reading.
That’s all I’ll say. Not quite a plot spoiler—but close.
Rod Serling’s ending narration states, “The best-laid plans of mice and men . . . and Mr. Bemish . . . ”
I’ve now added “. . . and TaleRider.”
Still, I’m on my journey. I’m visiting historical places and quirky sites, meeting interesting people along the way. I’ll still attend my writer’s get-togethers.
I’ll still meet up with good friends along the way.
And therein is the blessing.
Be well. Be at Peace. Don’t Dream it. Be it.
TaleRider
