My Son Warned About This Motorcycle Trip. I’m Going Anyway.
“David laced into me about our upcoming motorcycle adventure,” Kathy said.
David is my oldest son. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast. Even though he is living out of the country, he has a long reach into our lives. He is also one of those people who is logical, unemotional, and entirely convincing.
“So what did he say?” I asked.
“He said it is too dangerous for us to be flying commercial because of Covid. And we are too old to be taking motorcycle adventure trips. Taking narrow mountain roads, crossing rivers, and riding rutted out jeep trails is not for people our age.”
This touched a nerve with me.
I was already thinking this might just be a dumb idea. After all, I am a street and track rider and not an off-road rider. The only off-road I’ve ever ridden was a half-mile long gravel driveway going to a Christian retreat. And even that put a lump in my throat as the bike slid around and wobbled like it had a mind of its own.
This adventure was real off-roading. We would jump on our rented BMW R1250 GS motorcycle at some remote ranch in the middle of Colorado and ride on dirt roads and through rivers until we crossed the Continental Divide. Then we would head to Utah and ride through the Moab canyons and unguarded dirt trail switchbacks. After two and a half days of this type of hard riding, we would begin riding all paved roads. It is a six-day trip covering 1,587 miles ending in southern California.
And Kathy will be riding pillion (the seat behind me, the rider).
Right after I booked the trip, the excitement of the adventure turned to fear of the adventure. I began having little anxiety attacks as I thought about the narrow dirt road switchbacks. The pictures show these roads have no guardrails to separate us from the thousand-foot drop. I’m picturing myself either focal fixating on the cliff and just riding straight off or being so scared that I am too frozen to move the bike.
I’m thinking, “What kind of husband am I to take my wife on such a dangerous adventure?”
All this was going on in my head the week right after I booked the trip and gave them our deposit. Then Kathy walked in my office with the message from my son, David. To say his message hit a nerve is an understatement as you can now see.
I said, “I need to pray about this.”
I didn’t get an answer.
One night after dinner, I decided to go for a walk. I had pretty much decided to cancel the trip. It was too dangerous. I was being stupid.
So I call the guy that convinced me to take it, David Nour. He is a good friend, talented advisor to F500 executives, relationship expert, multi-book author, and international public speaker. And he is my Rabbi of Fun, his title not mine.
I ranted, “I’m not going. It is too dangerous. Did you read the last email they sent to us? It said things like:
We advise you to get MedJet insurance in case you need to be flown home after your accident.
In the event of a break-down, we’ll try to fix your motorcycle. If we can’t, we’ll need to move on.
There are some treacherous roads and riding conditions. Anything can happen and will happen.
“I’m 67 years old. What the hell did you get me into this time? I’m not going!”
He said, “I understand. Do what you think is best for you and Kathy.”
David usually tries to talk me off the ledge when I get like this. This time he didn’t even try. This made me more convinced that I had made the right decision.
The next day I called the tour company and told them I was canceling. The lady who books the trips asked me to talk to the owner and adventure tour director. Jim got on the phone and asked me, “So what’s up?”
I said, “I’m thinking of canceling this trip. After reading your liability disclaimer, it scared the heck out of me. I’m a street and track rider. What the heck do I know about off-road?”
He said, “You’re a businessman. You know what these liability statements have to say. If it can happen, then you need to agree that it may just happen to you. And by taking this trip, you accept this potential danger that may result in injury or death.”
“Has anybody ever died on this trip?” I asked.
Jim said, “I’ve been doing this for over twenty-five years. The worse we’ve seen is a couple of broken legs but mostly sprains and scratches.”
He went on, “I’ll be on the trip (Jim is 62), and there will be two other experienced guides. They are there to direct you and give instructive tips when necessary. No one will be left behind. And if something seems too difficult, you can either take an alternate paved route or ride in the chase truck. Just know, your safety is our first concern. We will get you through the trip safely.”
Kathy was on the call with me. She heard everything Jim said.
I hung up the phone. Kathy looked at me and asked, “Should we go?”
“What do you think?” I asked back.
We are going on the trip.
To be continued...