Butterflies

The trip is planned, designed and mapped. Bags are packed, tanks full, bladders empty and we meet our travel buddies at the shop. We say a quick but devoted prayer, asking for blessings and safety along the way. It’s 6:00am and we are firing up to leave. Then … it happens….

As we pull out on the service road, this feeling starts to build. Yes, I know, we have the entire trip ahead of us but that doesn’t matter. I feel this anxiousness, an excitement, and it’s good. It comes on quick and I realize …it’s the butterflies.

As soon as it comes about it makes me smile. No one can see it because it’s still dark, but I feel it. We are less than 100 yards into a 2,300 mile journey over several southern states. This is not my first ride, be it long or short...not my first road trip. Why then the rumbling, the turning of the tummy? We haven’t even gotten through all of the potholes on the service road....what’s so special that it gives me butterflies?

I believe it’s the whole package. I’m excited about the road trip. It’s the fun of the ride on the open road....the views to behold. It’s riding with a group, no matter how small or large, but also at the same time, riding on your own. It’s having packed for every type of weather....from chaps to bathing suits...wondering which we will use first. It’s the photos along the way. It’s the guy you meet at the gas stop asking where you’re from and you talk briefly and happily about mutual road trips....and now you have a friend. It’s putting your hand out to wave at other riders on the road. It’s eating anything and anywhere, from the peanuts on the rack to the local diner where you stand down for the night.

I’m excited about all this and more…and it gives me butterflies. Will the bikes be ok? Did we do enough maintenance before this trip? I hope no one breaks down , but we are prepared regardless. Are all of us safe and respectable riders? We try to be for sure.... but then there are the other yahoos on the road. I hope they hang up the phone, stop texting and pay attention to this group coming down the road.

We’re down the road a ways and it’s hot. The miles keep running beneath us and the scenes go past us. The countryside is beautiful. The small towns are quaint. And what exactly was that dead thing smelling up the side of the road? Then reality of the large city sets in. Why is there construction with no one working?? And just why is this detour here?....Why does the GPS not know this!?! (who brought that thing anway?)

Fast forward....arrived at first destination goal. The butterflies are back, and what fun it is! The twists and turns and switchbacks on the road - the slight glimpse of the scenery you pass. Downshifting, throttling through the dips. Jeez this is fun! Get the t-shirt/patch/stickers. Let’s do it again. The crotch rockets go by you. Two have on helmets with colored Mohawks. We meet them later, sharing stories and they are enjoying their ride as much as we are. I named them Thing 1 and Thing 2.

The next destination is coming – we leave late r than planned thanks to the 4-hour delay by Mother Nature, but we heed the warning and respect her wishes. Up comes another place we’ve never been and it brings more butterflies of fun….the mountain pass, the traffic, the heat in the valley, the cold air in the clouds. Take the jacket off – put it back on. More detours – but each leads us to a road unplanned to travel. Now we can say we’ve been there….wherever that was….

Then comes the sad part – the ride home. It’s the same number of miles getting home as there were getting here, but why are these less than fun? Yes, we’ll be home in our own comfortable beds soon, painted ponies back in their own garages, all things back to normal… but this leg of the trip is not as exciting. It brings no butterflies.

All these things are expected – yet unexpected. Each mile is similar, yet different – but all are welcomed. We ride to put miles on the bikes, but to put memories in the book as well. It’s the stories we will tell, the laughs we will belt out and the drinks we toast at the end of the day. We are so fortunate to be able to live in a country where we can come/go as we please. We are thankful to be able to ride our motorcycles.

Maybe I’m the only one who gets butterflies – and that’s ok. Maybe I’m the only one who will admit to it… and that’s ok too. I just know I’ll be happy when they happen again. I’ll be excited for the next round of long miles on my motorcycle…. and the butterflies…..