No Fences

Two simple words that speak volumes to my heart. These two little words bring to mind a feeling that was once rather common but has been sadly lost to such a large portion of the population these days.

Back in the days of the old west, cowboys would ride hurds of cattle across vast open stretches of land. There were no fences to stop them from crossing the country side. They would get up when the sun rose and sleep when the sun set. They never punched the clock, dawned a suit and usually didn't worry too much about shaving either.

Most of us can't just wander the country side living that type of life. Sure there are still cowboys but even they don't get to live that type of life any more.

For me, motorcycles get me about as close to that type of life as I can. If only for a short time, maybe a few hours one sunny day or a weekend in the summer or if I am really lucky and entire week of just venturing out and experiencing life.

No fences... The road has no fences blocking the way between here and there. There is not time clock to punch, it isn't a race to get to the finish line, and normally it ireally isn't the destination that matters at all. It is all about the ride. The feel of the wind, the rumble, whine or even wisper of the motor as the mechanical horse lifts me and my spirit up out of my daily grind and into that mystial place where the worries of the day just drift away.

Next time you are out riding, feeling the road pulling you off to some interisting destination, take some time to forget where you are driving from or heading to. Take some time to enjoy the feel of the moment and enjoy the feeling I like to call no fences. Feel the day to day world slip away. Don't think about your next gas stop or that pot hole you dodged ten minutes ago. Breath deep that single moment and know only the road around you, the land on either side any traffic near by of course and just enjoy that one single moment.

When you have fully experienced that one moment, that one single mile of road, when you have tasted every last drop of freedom that you and your motorcycle can ring out of that one mile of blacktop, simply take a deep breath, exhale and do it all over again on the next mile. And then the next and the next.

We can't always ride in that moment of no fences. It isn't something we can experience in town or on a crowded interstate. But when you are out there in that place where traffic is light or non-existant and the day to day world is not in site, remember to take some time for yourself and experience your own no fences moment. Or several if you are so lucky.